Primary Care Partners is affiliated with Behavioral Health and Wellness to provide integrated, whole-person care for our patients. 

Integrated behavioral health care is a model of primary care that includes assessment and brief counseling for individuals who experience physical issues such as chronic illness or chronic pain, as well as patients who experience mental health issues such as depression, addiction, trauma, anxiety, life adjustment challenges, or other mental health difficulties. Behavioral Health Clinicians (BHCs) closely collaborate with physicians and other medical providers to execute shared goals in patient care. BHCs are often pulled into an exam room for a warm handoff to meet a patient or family. The BHCs provide diagnostics, urgent appointments, brief interventions, and can also provide follow-up, short-term counseling. The behavioral health staff will often see the patient, with their medical provider, at the next appointment.

All Primary Care Partners divisions provide this service. Spanish-speaking therapists are also available. Because we value the integrated model, all appointments must start within your medical provider’s office. 

The goal of integrated care is to identify patients who are in need of behavioral health services and to engage both providers and patients in shared decision-making for the ultimate whole-person care. Providing this service as part of your trip to the doctor allows for more effective and timely care, reduces the stigma commonly associated with seeking these resources, and maximizes resources for the health and well-being of our patients. 

Therapeutic Botox® refers to the use of Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox®) for the relief of migraine headaches and neck pain that causes headaches. In these diagnostic situations, the drug works by not only relaxing muscles that may spasm but through other mechanisms as well. The Botox® can also block stinging impulses that travel to affected painful areas, as well as to deactivate natural chemicals produced by the brain that cause migraine headaches.

Botox® is a nationally recognized treatment for the prevention of migraine headaches and chronic head pain. Most private insurances cover the Botox® drug, however, there likely will be a fee for the administration of the product. For more information on coverage for this treatment, call your insurance company today and ask for an explanation of benefits.

If you experience 15 or more head pain days in one month and these headaches last for 4 hours or longer, you could be a candidate for this treatment. Ask your primary care provider for a referral today!

Primary Care Partners is proud to offer Care Coordinators for our patients.

Care Coordinators help patients navigate the, sometimes confusing and overwhelming, healthcare system. Care Coordinators assist our high-risk patients in effectively managing their health care needs. The primary goal is to promote the best possible outcomes through coordinated efforts of the patient’s health care team. 

Care Coordinators generally assist our patients who receive care from multiple sources, either long-term or temporarily, or who use medical services frequently. Chronic conditions may be costly if managed poorly. Care Coordinators work to manage and maintain relationships between medical providers and to create care plans that reflect the patient’s desires and needs. 

We communicate and connect with the following:

• Primary Care Providers
• Specialists
• Medical Office Support
• Home Health Agencies
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Community Resources

Ask your primary care provider about Care Coordinators to learn more and find out if you are an ideal candidate for this service.

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a therapeutic approach designed specifically for young children, ages 3 to 10, facing social, emotional, behavioral, or relational challenges.

Using play—the natural language of children—and a supportive therapeutic relationship, CCPT creates a safe and consistent environment where children feel fully accepted and understood. This acceptance, combined with the therapeutic use of play, allows children to explore their thoughts and emotions through symbolic actions and creative expression.

Play therapists create an inviting, carefully arranged space with materials thoughtfully chosen to support each child’s unique developmental journey. Rooted in person-centered principles, CCPT encourages children to achieve their fullest potential, leading to lasting, positive change. The therapeutic relationship in CCPT serves as the primary source of healing, promoting increased emotional resilience and improved overall functioning.

To become a certified Child-Centered Play Therapist, professionals must hold a mental health license, complete 30 hours of specialized CCPT training, complete 30 hours of supervision, and pass a certification exam. To maintain this certification, therapists are required to continue their education in child-centered play therapy. Shannon Hoffman, Licensed Professional Counselor, is proud to provide CCPT services to patients at Western Colorado Pediatrics.

If you think your child might benefit from CCPT, please make an appointment with your provider at Western Colorado Pediatrics by calling (970) 243-KIDS (5437). Please contact your health insurance provider to check if mental health treatment is covered before making an appointment.

Are you struggling with COVID-19 recovery?

Many people recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks, but others have lingering symptoms for many more weeks or even months. Our goal is to provide an all-encompassing approach to your care through Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) rehabilitation services for your recovery needs. 

Our COVID-19 Recovery Team can assist you, address a wide variety of symptoms, and help get you on the road to healing with a personalized recovery care plan. 

Call your doctor’s office for a referral.

Dental Hygiene at Western Colorado Pediatrics

Oral care is a major component of overall health and well-being both early and later in life. Dental hygienists are integrated into our care at Western Colorado Pediatrics. These hygienists can help parents of young children facilitate the prevention of oral diseases in children by presenting home care education and fostering the skills and knowledge to ensure parents and families have the tools they need for optimal dental health. Preventative screening and fluoride application options are offered to all of our patients and at both Grand Junction and Fruita locations, regardless of insurance. 

Western Colorado Pediatrics also collaborates with MarillacClinic to provide dental hygiene services to all patients on Medicaid.  

Additionally, all Western Colorado Pediatric providers and medical support staff have successfully completed the state program certification, Cavity Free at Three, and offer this education to all of our patients. The Cavity Free at Three model includes clinical evaluation, fluoride applications, and education to parents of children under the age of three.

A personalized approach to pregnancy and childbirth

During your pregnancy we work with you to personalize your pregnancy and delivery experience. We will collaborate with your current primary care doctor to ensure continuity during your pregnancy and during the first days of your baby’s life.

Our physicians provide obstetrics that includes prenatal planning, pregnancy care for the mother, delivering babies, and care during the postpartum period. We believe that the new baby’s pediatric care begins during pregnancy, and so we focus on a healthy baby as we partner with mom for a healthy pregnancy and positive birth experience.

Your doctor will address multiple topics during your appointments, such as safe eating and physical exercise, screening tests that you will require, and what to expect during labor and childbirth. During pregnancy, medical checkups and screening tests help keep you and your baby safe. Prenatal appointments also include education and support about how to manage multiple facets of your pregnancy.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please talk to your primary care physician about scheduling an appointment with one of our providers.

Learn more about our Family Centered OB program here.

Food for Life is a direct service nutrition education program of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

With over one million people being diagnosed with cancer and 25 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the United States each year, there is an urgent need for a new direction to battle diseases. The Food for Life is an innovative approach to a medical challenge. It aims first to prevent disease. When a disease has been diagnosed, it works to improve survival.

Curriculum

Designed by physicians, nutrition experts, and registered dietitians, each of our curricula includes information about how certain foods and nutrients work to promote health and fight disease. The classes work to translate complex scientific nutrition information into simple and easy meals. Each Food for Life nutrition and cooking class features a nutrition lecture and live cooking demonstration all within a supportive group setting.

Classes taught by Susan Sayers, MD who is also a practicing physician with Family Physicians of Western Colorado, a division of Primary Care Partners. In each session, Dr. Sayers demonstrates how to prepare and cook three plant-based recipes. At the end of each class, participants are able to enjoy a meal together while discussing nutritional topics.

To learn more about Dr. Sayers’ Food for Life classes, click here.

If no classes are listed at this time, please click here to join the waitlist to be the first to learn about new Food for Life classes!

ZERO TO THREE HealthySteps® is a national, evidence-based program created to provide support to parents of newborns and toddlers by meeting them where they most likely access care, their pediatrician’s office.

This program achieves improved outcomes for young children and their families through the combined expertise of a child development specialist and pediatric primary care provider. Together, they help children reach their developmental milestones or connect parents with appropriate resources to help all babies have a strong start.  

This is a free program available to patients who are a part of Western Colorado Pediatrics and Family Physicians of Western Colorado. Referrals from other PCP divisions also accepted.

HealthySteps appointments can be scheduled immediately before your well-child appointments. Additional services through HealthySteps include informational materials, access to phone support, and referrals to community resources. 

For more information please contact (970) 243-5437, or ask about the HealthySteps program during your next well-child appointment.

Located in Grand Junction in the heart of our PCP Care Village, Nutrition Therapy & Wellness provides information and support to patients who are facing a wide range of health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, difficulty with losing or gaining weight, eating disorders, or other diet-related diseases or concerns.

Our dietitian, Vanessa Carter, is the cornerstone of our Primary Care Partners’ nutrition program. Learn more about her work and education here.

A physician referral is required for consultations with our dietitian. Check with your insurance to confirm benefits for medical nutrition therapy (CPT codes 97802 and 97803). 

Nutrition Services and Programs:

BREAKTHROUGHS

BREAKTHROUGHS is a 10-week weight management class for adults who have a BMI of 30 or greater. Led by a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Therapist, and a Physician board certified in Obesity Medicine, this program incorporates nutrition education with behavioral health to create lifelong healthy eating behaviors.  

COST: The program costs $75 for all 10 sessions and is limited to our valued PCP patients. 

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: Optional pre and post cholesterol panel is available to participants through Diagnostics & Mammography.  Cost is $25 for each when associated with the BREAKTHROUGHS Program.

WHERE & WHEN: Classes are offered on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 PM located at the PCP Care Village at 3150 N. 12th Street in Grand Junction. Check-in at DOCS on Call. Call (970) 255-1576 to register.

BODY COMPOSITION SCAN ANALYSIS

Are you interested in finding out how much muscle and body fat you have? Grand Junction Diagnostics & Mammography can accurately measure your body fat, muscle mass, and bone density with their new DEXA Scan. Click here to review a sample Body Composition Report and here to see a sample DEXA Scan. 

COST: Scans cost $75. For an additional $25, you can review your report with our dietitian.

SCHEDULE A SCAN: Call Diagnostics & Mammography to schedule your scan at our PCP Care Village, located in the heart of Grand Junction, where you can receive comprehensive care under one roof:  (970) 241-6014.

Parkinson’s Program: LSVT BIG

LSVT BIG is a program designed to help people with Parkinson’s disease move and function more normally. It’s offered through our Physical Therapy and Specialty Center, a division of Primary Care Partners dedicated to rehabilitation. The program is a research-based, exercise program designed to get you moving better and improve your balance.

The facts about LSVT BIG

• LSVT programs have been developed and scientifically researched over the past 20 years with funding from the National Institute of Health.
•  The program translates bigger movements into real-world, everyday activities.
•  LSVT BIG has documented improved scores on tests of motor function that include faster walking with bigger steps, improved balance, and increased trunk rotation.

What should I expect?

• A daily commitment to exercise. 
• Intense, but tailored exercises to you as an individual.  
• Constant feedback from your LSVT BIG certified therapist to improve your quality of movement. 
• Improved balance, mobility, and function by the end of the program.

After Treatment

LSVT BIG is a lifetime commitment that will give you many more quality years of life. After your physical therapy ends, there are a few options to help you continue your exercises.​

• LSVT BIG FOR LIFE
  • A group exercise class that allows you to perform your exercises with feedback from a trained LSVT Clinician.
• LSVT BIG HOMEWORK HELPER
  • A DVD that allows you to follow an instructor right in your own home.

After completion of LSVT BIG it may also be helpful to schedule periodic follow-ups for assessments and tune-ups with your physical therapist.

What does the program include?

• A 4-week program with four, one-hour sessions per week.
• A standardized evidence-based protocol.
• High-intensity sessions with one-on-one feedback.
• Daily homework practice.

The Exercises

Seven daily exercises and a functional component compose one treatment session. Exercises are performed with big movements, sustained holds, and high repetitions. Exercises are expected to be performed with energy and BIG effort; however, exercises may be modified by the therapist to match the patient’s abilities.

When should I start treatment?

Patients typically notice the best results before severe symptoms begin; however, it is never too late to start. The sooner the treatment begins the easier it is to restore movement and have successful outcomes.

What About Insurance?

Given the required treatment frequency, monitoring your insurance coverage will be key to avoiding unexpected charges. Our office staff will assist you by pre-authorizing treatment and tracking visits.

Certified Clinician

Laurel Sampson, MPT 

Laurel is trained and certified in LSVT BIG. She is looking forward to serving people who suffer from Parkinson’s.

For more information about LSVT BIG go to www.LSVTGlobal.com

Reach Out and Read (ROAR!) is a national program that partners with pediatric providers to encourage the importance of reading out loud because “books build better brains.” 

In partnership with ROAR Colorado, Primary Care Partners provides a new, age-appropriate book to your child at every well-child visit from age six months to five years. PCP encourages diversity in books and has bilingual options as well as books with varied family dynamics.

Literacy is a foundation for success, and the Reach Out and Read Program understands children who have consistent exposure to reading out loud will build bonds with parents and caregivers who read to them as well as be more prepared for upcoming school years ahead. 

By working with physicians, the program is able to pass along to caregivers the importance of language and literacy in the early childhood years.

Primary Care Partners has joined forces with MediCorHealth to bring the latest technological advances to the privacy of your own home. Covered by Medicare, remote patient monitoring is a program designed to remove the hassle of constant trips to the doctor’s office by gathering patient data outside of traditional, in-person appointments.

These hassle-free and user-friendly medical devices can collect important health data and deliver this information to your provider, so that your provider is better equipped to understand and manage your health status on a daily basis. This data also allows them to identify medical conditions before they become a true emergency. 

How Remote Patient Monitoring works:

• You will receive a smart blood pressure device, glucometer, or weight scale in the mail. This device is at no cost when covered by Medicare.
• You utilize your device to gather a few readings each week.
• The device will send these readings to your provider. The device is monitored weekly.
• If a reading requires attention, you will receive a call from your care team. 
• Your provider and their medical staff will work with you to gather information to understand if there is indeed a health issue that requires attention.
• Additionally, each month you will receive a phone call from a Medicor healthcare professional to educate you regarding your care plans.

Please discuss remote patient monitoring services with your provider at your next appointment. 

Spanish Speaking Providers

Doctores que hablan Espanol disponibles

Primary Care Partners has Spanish-speaking providers and staff members to assist you at check-in and during your visit, no matter what provider you see. Please contact your provider’s office for more information. 

Tenemos proveedores de habla hispana y miembros del personal para ayudarlo en el check-in y durante su visita, sin importar qué proveedor vea. Comuníquese con el consultorio de su proveedor para obtener más información.

WeCan!™ or “Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition®” is a local program designed for families and communities to help children reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Children ages 6 through 18 and their caregivers are provided with tips and activities on a weekly basis to encourage healthy eating habits, increase physical activity, and spend time away from screens. Every Wednesday, children engage in fun, interactive games, and activities, such as cooking demonstrations, gardening, or dancing.

Contact Western Colorado Pediatrics, a division of Primary Care Partners, for more information at (970) 243-5437, and follow us on Facebook to learn more.