EMPOWER
What empowers you?
Empowerment involves positive self-reflection and encouraging you to make positive choices. EMPOWER does this through goal-setting and action steps.
Unlike any weight-management program of it’s kind, your six months with EMPOWER will create lifelong accountability, to help you to grow and change.
More than anything else, we are here to join you on this journey.
We are here to help.
Everyone’s body and relationship with food is unique, so EMPOWER is a comprehensive personalized, non-surgical weight loss program, optimized to fit your personal needs, including nutrition advisement, fitness recommendations, obesity medication management (*FDA approved products) and accountability. EMPOWER is uniquely embedded within a primary care office by a provider who is skilled in managing the spectrum of diagnoses that may contribute to an unhealthy weight, including metabolic syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and depression.
Six-Month Program outline
EMPOWER is designed as a 6-month progam to allow both the provider and the patient time to develop a weight management program that is effective and to reinforce healthy habits that patients will continue for a lifetime.
EMPOWER is designed to promote healthy behaviors that help you lose weight safely, maintain the weight loss and reduce risk of weight related health issues, such as diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. Goals will be achieved through lifestyle improvements, behavior modifications and, when appropriate, medication management to help reduce appetite and curb cravings. The program utilizes body composition measurements to guide success and alter treatment course as needed.
The program is led by Angela Burch a 23-year, Michigan Board Certified Physicians Assistant with a Certificate of Advanced Education from the Obesity Medicine Association.
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EMPOWER starts with a, comprehensive 60-minute visit to hear your story and discover your goals.
Together we build a medical chart based on your past history, summarize the steps of the program, measure your body composition and complete optional lab studies. From that evaluation, we discuss daily nutritional needs, fitness recommendations and share our goal setting worksheet. Options for medications are introduced at this initial visit.
EMPOWER is an HSA eligible program. Any testing or lab work may be submitted to insurance if applicable or patients will have the option to pay cash at a significantly reduced rate, often 90% less.
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During your second visit we review lab results, your written goals, prescribe medications, if appropriate, and establish a plan to keep track of nutrition and physical activity.
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Subsequent follow up visits are 30-minute sessions, every month. We review your food and activity diary, review and adjust goals to support behavioral changes, re-assess body composition, titrate dose of medication and recheck labs as needed.
In-between office visits we will be active too, with check-ins through the AthenaHealth patient portal to provide encouragement on accountability goals, review your food diary and share dietitian led videos.
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Additional benefits to the EMPOWER program include:
Access to Direct Primary Care membership for all of your healthcare needs
Dietitian led videos with helpful tips and tricks to improve your confidence
Access to discounted memberships at select area fitness centers
Care coordination with your routine healthcare providers as needed
Access to patient portal, after-hours on-call support and electronic health record.
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Your time and commitment is your biggest investment in EMPOWER.
Concierge members: $400
DPC Members: $550
Non-members: $950
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No compounded medications are authorized within the Empower program. Branded medications and off-label use of FDA-approved generic medications are prescribed, when appropriate, to assist in healthy weight management.
Laurie Birkholz & Associates is a full primary care office, where patients have a direct relationship with their provider.
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This consultation is a 60-minute meeting during which we review your medical history, discuss barriers to your weight loss, complete a biometric body composition analysis and share a personalized treatment approach to weight loss with medication advice if appropriate.
Visit fees can be applied to the 6-month EMPOWER program, if enrolled on the same day.
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Ongoing consultations include:
Medication management and dose titration
Reviewing results and your written goals
Reviewing and evaluating your nutrition and physical activity
Coordinating with your primary care provider on medications
Reviewing biometric composition
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EVALUATION
Members: $95 / per visit
Non-members: $295 / per visit
30-MINUTE FOLLOW-UP CONSULTATIONS
Members: $55 / per visit
Non-members: $150 / per visit
Patients can apply consult fees to their HSAs if available. Any testing or lab work may be submitted to insurance if applicable or patients will have the option to pay cash at a significantly reduced rate, often 90% less.
obesity Management Consultations
Also managed by Angela, this option provides clients with an initial, 60-minute, in-depth medical analysis and follow-up meetings à la carte.
“I have lost and gained on every diet program on the market. This is the first time anyone ever delved into my childhood and into my present life. We talked more about what was going on in my head vs what I was eating. I truly felt “empowered” when I left her office. I use her daily strategies for coping with life which then bleed over to nutrition.”
- T.P., Empower Participant
REVIEWS
Empower has changed my life. My results from this program have been nothing short of extraordinary. This program isn’t just about shedding pounds; it’s about equipping me with the knowledge and tools to make lasting changes for an healthier, happier life. Understanding the science behind weight loss has allowed me to break free from fad diets, meal plans and unsustainable practices. I am healthier, have more energy and have the ability to keep up with my grandchildren.
- D.S, Empower Participant
“A huge THANK YOU to Angela. I’ve lost 15 pounds so far and counting. She’s easy to talk to, she listens, and she doesn’t suggest what she thinks is best for you. You two work together as a team. I am very thankful for my results.”
- J.M., Empower Participant