“Functional medicine is slow cook, not fast food,” says Dr. Lara Salyer as she talks about the challenges of running a fee-for-service model in functional medicine. While it’s a common approach, this model can struggle to support the ongoing, holistic care that functional medicine requires. Dr. Salyer emphasizes practical strategies, like booking follow-up appointments before patients leave and setting clear expectations for long-term treatment. She also highlights the value of using digital tools to keep patients connected between visits.

Beyond these tactics, Dr. Salyer explores creative options such as group visits and loyalty programs, which can increase patient motivation while fostering a sense of community and accountability. Are there areas in your practice where you could incorporate more of these ideas? Dr. Salyer encourages practitioners to be open to different models—whether it’s fee-for-service, membership-based, or a blend—so they can create environments that truly engage their patients, leading to better care and a more rewarding practice.

Quotes

• “We have an initial tidal wave of enthusiasm when we open our practice, because anybody that is into health and wellness is curious and they’ll book appointments with you. But after that initial tidal wave of interest, we often have this shrinking of our revenue, and not as many patients making appointments. That’s an opportunity to look at your systems and see where we can make improvements that will lead to more revenue and patient flow.” (01:54 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “You have to be proactive in scheduling. There’s no two ways about it.” (04:33 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “Functional medicine is slow cook, not fast food. It’s much like you would envision seeing a physical therapist. They’re not going to teach you your exercises once and then say bye-bye. They usually want you to come back, reassess the pain, the mobility, check your form, see if those exercises still apply, and maybe give you new ones. It’s the same exact thing.” (06:18 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “Use digital tools as much as you can. Start curating a private video archive of online classes. They can do some of that heavy lifting for you in between office visits. So patients feel supported, and they feel less embarrassed that they don’t know anything.” (09:24 | Dr. Lara Salyer)
• “You deserve to have the practice of your dreams, whether it is fee-for-service, membership, packages, whatever works for you. And let’s borrow Lego company’s mission, which is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. That is you, my friend. You are a catalyst, and you are transforming healthcare.” (15:35 | Dr. Lara Salyer)

Links

Brainstorm: https://drlarasalyer.as.me/discovery

Catalyst Advantage 1:1 session (use "LISTENER" code for discount!): https://drlarasalyer.as.me/advantage

Connect with Lara:

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com

The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst

Instagram: @drlarasalyer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer

TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor

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