Maine Mobile Health and Virtual Care

08/25/2026

When work and home start to mix…Busy 10 hour ER shift today and now I have a patient at home, who will likely not pay for services either 🤣

08/18/2026

Title: Why "Fit" Matters in Healthcare and why I am so grateful for such caring, kind and supportive patients 💕

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on what it means to truly care for a patient. In a world of "red tape" and rigid medical constraints, my goal has always been to practice medicine in a way that feels genuine, human, and deeply connected.

I believe that healthcare isn't just about symptoms or charts—it’s about knowing the person. It’s about understanding your life, your stresses, your hopes, and your dreams. When there is a real, human connection, the care is better, the outcomes are stronger, and the experience is more meaningful for both of us.

However, I’ve realized something important: I am not for everyone, and that is 100% okay.

Recently, I had an experience that reminded me how vital "fit" is. If a patient feels like I’m not their person, they’ll naturally hold back. They might feel nervous to share the details that are actually the most important factors in their health.

The same applies to me. If I feel that I’m not the right "vibe" for a patient—or if I feel like I’m being judged or measured against a standard that isn't authentic to who I am—my focus shifts. I start worrying about whether I’m "satisfying" them rather than focusing on the best clinical decisions. When that happens, I can’t provide the quality of care you deserve.

I want my patients to feel comfortable, heard, and seen. If you are looking for a provider who values a deep, human connection and wants to partner with you on your health journey, I would love to work with you.

But if I’m not your person? That is totally okay. No hard feelings at all. We both deserve to find a dynamic that feels right, safe, and effective. If I am the right fit and we hit it off, God help me because I’ll be running late the rest of the day 🥴 But, those connections are what keep me going on these late late nights and early mornings, long days, bad days and days I have to call and give crappy news to people. I recently had this drop off from a patient and the kindness and appreciation from people for just simple kindness and care is beyond words.

Thank you for trusting me with your health and for letting me be my true, genuine self in this practice.

08/15/2026

Let me shout this from the rooftops 📣
Foraker Wellness, PLLC

This girl knows her stuff! As someone with urgent care and several years of pulmonary specialty experience, I truly value colleagues who not only care about their patients but go above and beyond. When I shared a couple of days ago how fortunate I am to be connected to such an amazing group of professionals, Jackie is one on this list- she is one of my go-to resources.

Let me tell you a story (with permission from patient and family but he wishes to be referred to as “Colonel”I recently referred a complex patient to Jackie- “Mr. Colonel Cool.” I met him less than six months ago, and after hearing his story, I knew something more complex was going on—his P*P and local allergist weren't hitting the mark. He had simply been "thrown" inhalers by the VA and diagnosed with asthma without any formal testing. As someone with six years of experience in occupational medicine, I know to be cautious with veterans—I’ve seen the long-term impact of bad exposures.

Jackie performed a thorough work-up and proposed a diagnosis that is quite rare, but she insisted on further testing. This man and his wife have been through the wringer; they even traveled to Boston for specialized care, where the specialists agreed that Jackie’s diagnosis was likely on the mark.

Two weeks ago, the patient’s wife reached out. After being ghosted by the specialist in Boston, they were in a major bind. I was on my way to NH with the kids—I believe it was even a weekend—when his oxygen levels dropped, he developed new edema, and there were signs of systemic progression. What did I do? I called Jackie. Without hesitation, she rattled off, “Okay, this is what you need to start immediately…”

Jackie is a phenomenal resource for colleagues. She is known in the provider community as someone who is always willing to take the call, help, and provide direction for the betterment of patients and our community.

She accepts insurance, takes referrals, and offers reasonable cash pricing. If you have chronic or acute respiratory issues, a persistent cough that worries you, or think you may have sleep apnea, she is your girl.

08/15/2026

Stay tuned…within the next 6-8 months I anticipate this being another offering for our direct primary care patients! 💕

When a patient complained to Mark Deutchman, MD, of pain in their upper right abdomen, he pulled out his trusty point-of-care ultrasound device. With dozens of possible causes, Deutchman spent a few minutes passing the wand over the patient’s stomach, finally hovering under the liver. Several gallstones appeared. He referred the man to a surgeon, avoiding bloodwork, results wait time, and a referral to radiology for imaging.

Over the past two decades, experts have predicted the ultrasound would become the “21st-century stethoscope,” and the new standard in primary care and family medicine, with head-to-toe applications. But those premonitions have not come to fruition and use in the US lags behind other countries.

But a new cadre of primary care clinicians is becoming equipped to use the tech because of residency training requirements and workshops. Tap the link to read more: https://mdsc.pe/4i75KGT

08/15/2026

08/14/2026

Let’s talk about health insurance and the real numbers behind your care. Do you actually understand the full scope of what you’re paying for?

The longer I’m in this, the more insane it feels. For most working families, you’re getting hit all the way around. What’s the full scope of what you’re paying for in terms of your healthcare?! It starts with your taxes. We all pay into Medicare and state-funded programs like MaineCare to support our community’s health. But there is a disconnect between the money leaving your paycheck and the reality of how healthcare providers are reimbursed.

One key fact, DHHS again capped or held some provider payments in mid-May because of a $62 million shortfall, including some hospital claims over $50,000.

So, when you have employees to pay, and bills to pay, what do you do?! 😬

The "Hidden" Math of Healthcare:
When government programs like Medicare or MaineCare reimburse hospitals at rates that often fall below the actual cost of providing care, those facilities face a massive financial burden. To keep their doors open and pay their staff, they have to "cost-shift." This means they charge commercial insurance companies significantly higher rates to make up the difference.

What This Means for Your Wallet:
Even if you have "good" commercial insurance, you’re paying for things it seems several times- in taxes, premiums of your own insurance and then the out of pocket reality.

1. The Premium: For a family plan, the average worker’s share is roughly $132 per week (with the total premium often exceeding $500/week).
2. The Out-of-Pocket Reality: Once you pay your premium, you still have to meet your deductible—often $3,400 or more for a family. After that, you hit "coinsurance" (where you pay a percentage of the bill) until you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, which can be as high as $21,200 for a family plan in 2026.

🩻MRI Example:
Imagine you need an MRI for your knee. Because hospitals are forced to charge commercial insurance inflated rates to offset low government reimbursements, they might bill your insurance $5,000 for that scan. You are then responsible for your coinsurance percentage of that $5,000 until you hit your massive out-of-pocket maximum. If your co-insurance rate is 30%, you’re share for this will be $1500 on top of your deductible.

💵Cash pricing option:
That same MRI, if you say, “what is it if you don’t run it through insurance and give me the cash rate?!” That same MRI at cash pricing might be $400

The Shocking Truth: 💵
If you were to walk into that same facility and ask for a "cash-only" rate—bypassing the insurance middleman entirely—that same MRI might only cost you $400. . *keep in mind, this will not be able to be applied to your out of pocket max without going through insurance.*

The current system relies on you paying high premiums and high out-of-pocket costs to subsidize a broken reimbursement model.

At our Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice, we believe in a different path: transparency, lower costs, and a direct relationship between you and your doctor—no hidden math, no insurance games. We see patients that are both insured and uninsured and like to help you understand your plan and how to save you the most money. While you may pay a membership fee, it could pay for itself just in that. While I never encourage patients to drop health insurance coverage, it’s important to understand all factors.

👉know your numbers- pricing, deductible (individual and family and what those mean), coinsurance %, out of pocket max.

👉Always ask to see what the cash pricing is, consider and ask about pay now discount (many local hospitals provide 10+% discount if paid at time of schedule or registration.

08/13/2026

Guess what?? Shocker of the day—

I’m not for everyone, and I’m certainly not everyone’s vibe. Why? Because I’m me.

Do I know that I’m a confident, highly skilled advanced practice provider? Yes. Do I know my limitations? Absolutely.

I’m lucky to have an incredible network of colleagues—people much smarter than me with deep specialty experience—who are always ready to jump in when needed. That was proven this week as I onboarded a new patient who reached out on a Sunday, I saw them mid-day Monday and guess what..they saw my specialty friend on Tuesday on their lunch break.

Do I work my tail off and go to the ends of the earth when my patients need something? Without question.

Am I perfect? No. Am I fancy or uptight? Definitely not. Am I usually running late? Always. Will I show up at your house in a sweatsuit and hair in a pony tail if you need me at night? Damn right. Did I work till 1:30am because my patients needed stuff and my day was too busy to get to it?! Yup and I’m tired but that’s okay.

Here’s the thing: I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay. What I love about my practice is that I get to pick my people, and they get to pick me. I believe they choose me because of who I am and how I show up. I’m real—I even swear sometimes.

Most importantly, I want my patients to feel comfortable enough to be their authentic selves, just as I am mine. I want to know about your family, your stresses, and your dreams. I want to know what’s really going on in your life. By being real myself, I hope to create a space where you can share without fear of judgment. That’s what makes good medicine.

If you feel like I’m too fancy, too critical, or too judgy, if I was perfect appearing, you aren’t going to tell me the truth. And to be honest, if I feel like you’re judging me for not being "fancy" or "uptight" or “smart” enough, I’m too busy feeling the pressure to please you to provide the real, unbiased, and safe care you deserve.

So, if we meet and it doesn’t feel like a match, no worries at all. It’s alright—just say so. If this sounds like the kind of care you’re looking for, reach out.

My favorite days are the ones filled with "my people"—the ones who feel like close friends and family. The ones that I would stay up until 1:30am to please because I adore them, not because they scare me or make me feel like they are going to judge me.

That is exactly why I started this practice ❤️

08/07/2026

Did you know, as of July 1st (8 Months after seeing our first patient) we have logged over 360 patients?!

Thank you to those of you who have trusted our care through July and welcome to all our new DPC patients that have started their journey with us. We look forward building a relationship with you.

08/07/2026

We might not be able to teach you how to swim, but we can definitely teach you how to save a life! 🫀

We offer a full range of American Heart Association courses, including:

• Heartsaver (First Aid, CPR, AED)
• BLS (Healthcare Providers)
• ACLS
• PALS

Don’t wait for an emergency to learn these vital skills. If 5 year old Nora can learn Heartsaver first aid and CPR skills, so can you!

08/05/2026

When I took the leap to start my own practice 24 years into my healthcare career, my mission was simple: care for my patients exactly how I would care for my own family. ❤️

I’ve seen it all in medicine—the good, the bad, and the corporate shifts. I’ve worked through the crazy days of H1N1 and the chaos of the pandemic in urgent care and Emergency Medicine. It hasn’t always been easy, and there have been moments of doubt, but I always return to my "why."

This is the medicine I want to practice. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I am truly making a difference for my patients and their families.

I am so lucky to have such a thoughtful, appreciative community.

A special THANK YOU to the patient and his wife who surprised me with this beautiful bouquet and very special card today—it truly means the world to me and reinforces why I wanted to do this work 💐