New Patient Information & Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in becoming a patient at Sage Nutrition. We understand that starting care can come with many questions, so we’ve created this guide to clearly explain our process and help you determine if our office is the right fit for you.

What Does Sage Nutrition Help With?

We work with patients seeking a more personalized, root-cause approach to health concerns such as:

  • Weight loss resistance
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Fatigue / low energy
  • Thyroid concerns
  • Digestive issues
  • Blood sugar / metabolic health
  • Inflammation
  • Stress-related symptoms
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Chronic health issues not fully resolved elsewhere

There are many other conditions that we commonly see listed on our website. Our approach combines functional nutrition, lifestyle strategies, and clinical evaluation to support meaningful, long-term improvements in health. 

What Happens at the First Visit?

New Patient Visit – 60 Minutes
Fee: $397

Your first visit is a comprehensive one-hour appointment that may include:

  • Detailed health consultation
  • Review of your current symptoms and goals
  • Medical history review
  • Review of previous labs, imaging, and records (if provided)
  • Neurological examination (if indicated)
  • Orthopedic / musculoskeletal examination (if indicated)
  • Nutritional and lifestyle assessment
  • Initial impressions and discussion of next steps 
  • Care plan recommendations (at the second visit)

This visit is designed to gather the information needed to fully understand your case and determine the most appropriate path forward.

What Happens at the Second Visit?

Follow-Up Visit / Care Planning Appointment

At your second visit, we will:

  • Review findings from your initial evaluation
  • Discuss the most appropriate care plan options
  • Decide on next steps based on your goals
  • Review and order any recommended lab testing

This may include:

Standard Medical Laboratory Testing
(often ordered through commercial insurance)

  • LabCorp
  • Quest Diagnostics

Functional Specialty Testing (when appropriate)

  • DUTCH Testing
  • ZRT Laboratory
  • Mosaic Diagnostics

Testing is only recommended when clinically appropriate and necessary to guide care.

What Are Care Plans?

Care plans are designed to provide structure, accountability, and a more cost-effective way to work toward your health goals.

Plans may range from:

  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 9 months

Getting Started

We can begin your care at this visit. This includes:

  • Reviewing the daily journals requested at your initial visit
  • Evaluating your current supplement program
  • Providing hands-on treatment to initiate your care

If you are currently taking any supplements, please bring them with you so they can be reviewed and incorporated into your updated plan.

Following this visit:

  • You will begin your recommended supplement program
  • Continue completing daily journals as needed
  • Starting to implement suggestions for home care

Please note: Supplements are available through our office but are not included in care plan fees and are purchased separately.

What Does Ongoing Care Look Like?

Once you begin care, your program follows a structured, step-by-step process designed to create meaningful and lasting improvements in your health.

Because each patient’s history and needs are different, care is fully personalized. However, most patients move through three general phases:

1. Fine-Tuning Phase (Initial 3–6 Months)

This is the most active and important phase of care. During this time, we:

  • Build and refine your personalized nutrition and supplement program
  • Closely monitor how your body is responding
  • Review your diet, symptoms, and progress
  • Make targeted adjustments to improve effectiveness

Visits are typically more frequent during this phase to allow for precision, momentum, and a strong foundation for long-term results.

2. Healing & Observation Phase

As your program becomes more stable, care transitions into a phase focused on continued healing and progress. During this time, we:

  • Monitor your body’s response over time
  • Make strategic adjustments as new patterns or layers emerge
  • Introduce additional support when appropriate (including lab testing or referrals if needed)

Visit frequency is usually reduced during this phase, while still maintaining guidance and accountability.

3. Maintenance Phase

Once significant improvement has been achieved, care shifts toward maintaining and protecting your progress. This phase focuses on:

  • Preserving the results you’ve achieved
  • Preventing regression
  • Supporting long-term health and resilience

Maintenance is individualized and may involve visits ranging from monthly to a few times per year depending on your needs.

Throughout care, the focus remains on identifying and addressing underlying causes rather than simply managing symptoms. As your body improves, your program is adjusted accordingly—allowing for a more efficient, personalized, and sustainable path to better health.

Patients who experience the best results are those who remain consistent with recommendations and stay engaged with the process over time.

How Much Are Follow-Up Visits?

Standard follow-up visits are:
$150 per visit

Patients enrolled in care plans receive discounted visit pricing to make care more affordable and practical.

Do I Need to Commit to a Plan Immediately?

No. Recommendations are reviewed at the second visit so you can make an informed decision about what level of care best fits your needs, goals, and budget.

Do You Accept Insurance?

We may use your commercial insurance for eligible lab testing through LabCorp or Quest when appropriate.

Office visits and functional specialty testing are generally not insurance-based unless otherwise specified.

We can provide you with a receipt for services.

Should I Bring Previous Labs or Records?

Yes. Bringing previous labs, imaging, medication lists, and health records is very helpful and can reduce unnecessary repeat testing.

You can attach these documents to a message in your patient portal which is HIPAA compliant. All documents will be ultimately converted to digital forms in your chart.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

This depends on several factors, including:

  • Your condition
  • How long it has been present
  • Consistency with recommendations
  • Nutrition and lifestyle factors
  • Lab findings
  • Individual response

Some patients notice improvements relatively quickly, while more complex cases require longer-term support.

How Do I Know If This Is Right for Me?

You may be a good fit if you are looking for:

  • A personalized approach
  • Root-cause investigation
  • Guidance beyond symptom management
  • Accountability and structured support
  • Long-term health improvement

How Do I Get Started?

The first step is scheduling your New Patient Visit (60 minutes – $397) and your second visit (60 minutes) to review findings, care plan options, and get started with your care.

We look forward to helping you take the next step toward better health.