Thank you for taking the time to read this and we hope this explanation help you better understand how your lab results are posted.
We are contracted with Healthlab which is the same lab as Northwestern Memorial Hospital. As a result, you may receive notifications about lab results that are released through the Epic medical record system before it has been released to us at I-Squared.
Additionally, even though you may have a complete set of labs done at your visit, they are processed in bundles. Therefore, you will receive notification that your labs are released and attached with recommendations after they are reviewed by your provider. But there may be more than one notification and review of results from the same laboratory draw.
Specialty / Functional laboratory results are not available for release through the electronic medical system like conventional testing. These include: Functional Medicine testing like Genova diagnostic, Genetic tests, specialty Hormone testing, specialty Lyme testing, and Mold testing. These results may be released to you directly from the specialty lab or emailed to you by your provider.
We appreciate your understanding and hope this clarifies the lab process. We have addressed this with Healthlab and unfortunately this is how their system is set up.
Please contact us with any concerns.
Sincerely, The I-Squared Medical Group Team
09/15/2023 Patient Update
Dear Valued Patient,
I opened I-Squared Medical Group in 2019 with my partners Angel Rivera, DO and Sejal Gehani, FNP because we wanted to offer patients the best in personalized and comprehensive medical care.
I am truly grateful for the ability to build such a great practice and create a unique environment that allows for a deeper relationship with my patients. The aspect of my job that is most fulfilling is being trusted to share in their journey, delve into each person’s underlying needs, and create individualized plans to help them heal.
As you know, this approach is highly personal and focused on addressing every aspect of one’s health: root causes, deeper diagnostics, innovative treatments, and preventative measures. But it also requires more time and intensity dedicated to the healing process. After much soul-searching, I am making the difficult decision to transition to a full concierge medical model as of January 1st, 2024 to ensure that I can dedicate more time to providing the highest level of care to my patients. This includes being able to devote more time to: treating complex issues or chronic conditions, reaching out to specialists to ensure smooth transitions or consultations, ensuring that the appointments are not hurried, that patients have time to ask questions and have them answered fully and succinctly, that they would be able to have access to care when they need it.
While I realize that this is a major change, I am letting you know so that you have ample time to consider the options and make the best choice for you.
Then as you make the transition, I hope you consider staying with I-Squared for your continued health and wellness needs. The first option is I-Squared Membership—which offers enhanced access to myself and our patient care team, telemedicine visits, priority scheduling, exclusive discounts and a range of resources to achieve optimal wellness.
— There are two levels of membership, depending on the level of engagement that works for you: I-Squared Life or I-Squared Concierge. Both membership models have the same foundational benefits. More details are available here.
— The concierge model works in conjunction with your current/active health insurance. The second option for patients who wish to continue as part of the I-Squared community is to transition to another skilled physician / provider within our practice. My colleagues Angel Rivera, DO and Daisy Wynn, MD are currently accepting patients and can ensure you receive excellent, seamless continuity of care. Unfortunately, Lyme and Mold specialists are more difficult to find but we have provided some options.
We are also continuing to work on expanding our team to provide the best possible support to our patients.
I am grateful for you, my patients, and the trust you’ve placed in me personally and our team at I-Squared over the years. We hope to continue that relationship as your partners in wellness moving forward.
Sincerely, Dr. Patawaran
We understand that I-Squared Medical Group offers a unique medical model. We have provided some alternative option if you chose to explore them:
Northwestern Internal Medicine — 312.926.3627
Presence Medical Group Internal Medicine — 773.248.6913
Northwestern Osher Center for Integrative Health — 708.260.8196
Whole Health Chicago — 773.296.6700
Case Integrative Health — 773.675.1400
Northshore Integrative Health — 847.657.3540
Bian Chicago — 312.625.0845
For Lyme and Mold, patients can access the following provider networks:
In addition to communicating through the patient portal, voice calls, and over email, we now have a quick and easy text-based communication option called Klara. This platform allows you to communicate very quickly with staff for scheduling, requests, and questions. This is a quick tutorial on how to use Klara and our phone extensions.
We provide this service because it allows our medical team more real time communication with patients. If you have multiple questions and don’t want to deal with call backs and voicemails or days of communicating back and forth over the phone, Klara might be for you! It makes communicating quicker and easier. Here is an informational tutorial on how to use Klara.
— If you call our office number 773.377.8000 from a smartphone you have the option of using Klara. Press 1 to end you phone call and start texting. You can also select an extension to talk to someone. If we are on the phone or with a patient and cannot answer your call, please leave us a voice message and we will call you back.
— No app needed! Klara is a HIPPA compliant, secure platform that does not require you to add an app on your phone. Simply click on the blue link to start a conversation. To confirm your identity Klara will ask you for your name and birthdate once a month.
— You may press the paperclip icon on your phone to take pictures to send to us or attached documents.
— You may text us questions after hours or in the early morning prior to the clinic opening. We think this option is great for those that are super busy.
— Voicemail receipts! Yes, it’s a bit redundant, but when you leave us a voicemail you will also get a text with a link. If we are not returning your call promptly enough, you always have the option to click the link in your phone and message us your request.
— When you message us on Klara we are on the other end responding to you, just like a regular text message. After we read your message and assign it to a staff member, we will send out a confirmation response that we have received your message. This means we have eyes on your request, and someone will respond back to you!
For your reference our extensions when you call us are:
1 — To receive a text message and end your phone call, please press 1. This is the fastest way to communicate quickly with a member of our medical team.
2 — To reach the front desk for appointments and questions, please press 2.
3 — For the apothecary and membership programs, please press 3.
4 — For billing please press 4.
5 — For the medical assistant voicemail, please press 5.
