Patient Education
Work Case Studies
By Helen B. Paslay, DNP, FNP-C
Advances in healthcare technology have made it possible to evaluate aspects of brain function that are not always visible through routine laboratory testing or standard imaging studies. One such technology, BrainView™ provides clinicians with valuable information about neurological health.
BrainView utilizes quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), a non-invasive assessment that measures the brain’s electrical activity through sensors placed on the scalp. The recorded brainwave patterns are analyzed and compared to age-matched normative databases, allowing clinicians to identify areas where brain activity differs from expected patterns.
Research has shown that abnormal brainwave activity may be associated with conditions such as attention-deficit disorders, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, traumatic brain injury, cognitive impairment, and certain neurological disorders. BrainView does not diagnose these conditions independently; rather, it serves as an additional clinical tool that may assist healthcare providers in evaluating symptoms and developing individualized treatment plans.
BrainView offers a more comprehensive picture of neurological health. While these assessments are not intended to replace traditional medical evaluations, they can provide additional insights that may help clinicians better understand complex symptoms and monitor responses to treatment.
As healthcare continues to move toward personalized medicine, advanced diagnostic tools such as BrainView may play an increasingly important role in identifying functional changes early, supporting more targeted interventions, and improving overall patient care.
About the Author
Helen B. Paslay, DNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 18 years of healthcare experience. Her clinical interests include preventive medicine, chronic disease management, functional medicine, cognitive health, and personalized approaches to patient care.
By Helen B. Paslay, DNP, FNP-C
Advances in healthcare technology have made it possible to evaluate aspects of nervous system function that are not always visible through routine laboratory testing or standard imaging studies. One such technologie, VitalScan™, provide clinicians with valuable information about autonomic nervous system health.
VitalScan evaluates the autonomic nervous system, the network responsible for regulating many automatic bodily functions including heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, digestion, sweating, and stress responses. The autonomic nervous system consists of two primary branches: the sympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the “fight-or-flight” system, and the parasympathetic nervous system, commonly known as the “rest-and-digest” system.
Using a combination of heart rate variability analysis, cardiovascular reflex testing, and sudomotor assessments, VitalScan can provide information regarding autonomic balance and peripheral nerve function. Abnormal findings may be associated with conditions such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, chronic stress, cardiovascular disease, dizziness, fatigue, and certain neurodegenerative disorders.
VitalScan offers a more comprehensive picture of autonomic health. While these assessments are not intended to replace traditional medical evaluations, they can provide additional insights that may help clinicians better understand complex symptoms and monitor responses to treatment.
As healthcare continues to move toward personalized medicine, advanced diagnostic tools such as VitalScan may play an increasingly important role in identifying functional changes early, supporting more targeted interventions, and improving overall patient care.
About the Author
Helen B. Paslay, DNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 18 years of healthcare experience. Her clinical interests include preventive medicine, chronic disease management, functional medicine, cognitive health, and personalized approaches to patient care.
By Helen B. Paslay, DNP, FNP-C
Testosterone and estrogen occur in both men and women, although normal levels and treatment goals differ. In men, confirmed low testosterone may cause low libido, erectile problems, infertility, fatigue, reduced muscle, mood or concentration changes, and weaker bones. Low estrogen in men may also affect sexual desire, body composition, and bone health. In women, low estrogen—often during menopause—can cause hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, painful sex, menstrual changes, and bone loss. A blood level alone does not diagnose “low testosterone” in women; evidence mainly supports treatment for carefully evaluated postmenopausal women with distressing low sexual desire.
Pellets are small cylinders containing testosterone, estradiol, or both. After numbing the area, a clinician makes a small incision near the upper buttock or hip, inserts the pellets beneath the skin, then closes and covers the site. They gradually dissolve and release hormone for approximately three to six months. An FDA-approved testosterone pellet is available for certain males with documented hypogonadism. Estrogen pellets and testosterone pellets used in women are generally compounded and are not FDA-approved for those uses.
Injections deliver testosterone or estradiol into muscle or beneath the skin on a schedule. Depending on the product, levels may rise after a dose and fall before the next. Injections require repeated dosing but are easier to adjust or stop. Pellets avoid frequent shots and provide longer delivery, but require an insertion procedure and cannot be readily adjusted or removed. Pellet risks include bruising, bleeding, infection, scarring, extrusion, and excessive hormone levels; injections may cause site pain, bruising, and level fluctuations.
Women with a uterus generally need a progestogen with systemic estrogen to protect the uterine lining. All hormone therapy requires individualized screening and monitoring. ACOG favors FDA-approved menopausal treatments over compounded products and recommends alternatives to testosterone pellets because safety data are limited and pellets cannot readily be removed.
About the Author
Helen B. Paslay, DNP, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than 18 years of healthcare experience. Her clinical interests include preventive medicine, chronic disease management, functional medicine, cognitive health, and personalized approaches to patient care.
Examination new patient: $90
Examination established visit: $50
Plus (not all inclusive):
- Illnesses & infections- $50–$150
- Injuries & pain $50–$150
- Back pain evaluation $50-$150
- Bug bites & stings $50-$150
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) evaluation $50–$150
- Minor burns $50-$150
- Minor cuts, blisters & wounds $50–$150
- Pelvic pain evaluation $50- $150
- Skin abscess treatment $150–$250
- Splinter removal $50–$150
- Sprains, strains & joint pain $50–$150
- Suture & staple removal $50–$150
- Swollen veins & leg pain treatment $50–$150
- Testicular pain evaluation $50–$150
- Tick bites $50-$150
- Skin, hair & nails $50-$150
- Acne $50–$150
- Athlete’s foot $50–$150
- Chicken pox $50–$150
- Cold, canker & mouth sores $50-$150
- Hair loss $50–$150
- Impetigo $50-$150
- Lice $50 $150
- Minor psoriasis $50–$150
- Nail infection treatment $50–$150
- Poison ivy & poison oak $50-$150
- Rash, skin irritation & dermatitis $50-$150
- Ringworm $50–$150
- Rosacea $50–$150
- Scabies $50–$150
- Shingles $50–$150
- Skin tag removal $99
- Sunburn $50–$150
- Swimmer’s itch $50–$150
- Wart evaluation $50–$150
- Tests, screenings & physical $50–$150
- Annual wellness exam $90
- General medical exams(excludes annual physicals)$90
- Camp physicals $90
- COVID-19 antibody testing and treatment $90
- Sports physicals $50
- Ear wax removal $50 (1side)-$100 (both ears)
- Epinephrine injection pen refills $90
- Food sensitivity/nutritional consult $90
- Hepatitis B screening $90
- Hepatitis C test screenings $90
- Start to Stop smoking cessation program $50–$150
- Smoking cessation assessment $90
- Smoking cessation follow-up $50 each visit
- TB testing include TB test placement (first visit)$90
- TB test reading $50
- Annual TB risk assessment $90
- Titers & immunity testing $90–$150
- Weight loss assessment $90
- Weight loss follow-up & coaching $50 each visit
- Chronic conditions $50–$150
- Arthritis evaluation $50–$150
- Asthma monitoring and treatment $50–$150
- Cholesterol screenings and treatment $50–$150
- CHF monitoring and treatment $50–$150
- COPD monitoring and treatment $50–$150
- Diabetes screenings and treatment (glucose)$50–$150
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy $50–$150
- Fatigue evaluation $50–$150
- High blood pressure monitoring and treatment $50–$150
- High cholesterol monitoring and treatment $50–$150
- Hyperthyroidism,
- Hypothyroidism $50–$150
- Osteoporosis $50–$150
- Parathyroid disorder screening $50–$150
- Post-stroke or post-TIA care $50–$150
- Vaccinations & injections:
Birth control, (oral meds only) $90 - Flu vaccine $50
- Pneumonia:Pneumovax®23 $130,Prevnar 13® $190
- Post vaccination side effects $50–$150
- Shingles Vaccine $150
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) $90
- Vitamin B12 injections $25
- Kenalog injections 80mg IM $50
- Ketorolac injections 60mg IM $50
- Testosterone 200mg IM $150 (must meet criteria)
- Testosterone IM injection only $50
Travel health:
- Motion sickness $90
- Traveler’s diarrhea $50–$150
Men’s & women’s services:
- Chlamydia & other STI treatment $50–$150
- Irregular periods evaluation $50–$150
- Menopause treatment $50–$150
- PMDD (premenstrual dysmorphic disorder)$50–$150
- PMS (premenstrual syndrome) $50–$150
- Pregnancy evaluation $50–$150
- Urinary tract & bladder infections $$50–$150
- Yeast infections $50–$150
Pain Procedures:
- Trigger Point injections >3 muscle groups $150
- Shoulder/knee joint steroid injection $100-$175
- Greater trochanteric bursa steroid injection $100-$175
- Olecranon bursa aspiration or steroid injection $100-$175
- Knee Viscosupplementation$100-$175
- Botox injections for headaches (please inquire)
- PRP joint injection (please inquire)
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