Speck Health, P.S.
Frequently Asked Questions for Cardiology Patients
What is the Speck Health approach to cardiology care?
With over 25 years of experience as a cardiologist, Dr. Sarah Speck believes that the best and most
effective way to treat or prevent heart disease is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Speck started her
own practice, Speck Health, with the belief that in order to manage one’s health, one must have the
knowledge and guidance to do so. Speck Health focuses on helping patients prevent illness by achieving
and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We call this our healthy lifestyle program which involves
personalized exercise and nutritional counseling. Our practice is built on relationships that we want to
sustain with our patients. The current health care system is generic and not responsive enough to offer
the high level of personalized care that Dr. Speck and her staff want to bring to our patients.
What services are provided for patients in Dr. Speck’s preventative cardiology practice?
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Pertinent visits regarding cardiovascular health concerns with flexible scheduling upon request
Communication about cardiac concerns by phone, web, and e-mail with Dr. Speck and staff
After-hours on-call availability
Periodic review of pertinent laboratory and other pertinent diagnostic/preventative data
Navigation of cardiology care: medication management and coordination of cardiac
hospitalization, procedures and care with other providers
Electronic access to medical records
In office blood pressure checks
Annual fitness assessment and exercise prescription
Exercise education session
Annual nutritional analysis with the exercise physiologist
Monthly e-mail communication with the exercise physiologist
Optional additional fee-based imaging, health coaching, training and educational services
available
Will my insurance or health plan pay the cost for preventative cardiology services?
Yes. Speck Health accepts the following insurance payers for billable services: Aetna, Cigna, First Choice
Health Network, Medicare, Premera, Regence, and United Health Care. Usual co-pays will apply per
your policy and insurer.
How can I join Dr. Speck’s internal medicine and cardiology practice?
New patients are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To enroll in this practice, you need
to sign a membership agreement stating that you are willing to participate in our program. If you would
like to receive the enrollment forms, please contact our office manager, Lizzy Sandstrom, at 206-4665936 or at lizzy.sandstrom@speckhealth.org.
What services are included in the healthy lifestyle program?
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Body metrics
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Resting metabolic rate
ECG monitored stress test including aerobic capacity
Exercise prescription
Exercise education
Nutritional analysis
Monthly monitoring of your exercise regimen
What is the fee for the healthy lifestyle program?
To inquire about the healthy lifestyle program fee, please contact our office manager, Lizzy Sandstrom
at (206) 466-5936 or at lizzy.sandstrom@speckhealth.org. This fee is not billable to insurance. Only
cardiology related medical appointments are billed to insurance as are labs and standard diagnostic
imaging.
Will Speck Health bill my healthy lifestyle program fees on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis?
You may elect to pay your fee monthly, quarterly or annually by credit card or check. Invoices will be
sent to you accordingly.
Will the healthy lifestyle program fees be covered by my corporate benefits?
Maybe. You should check with your employer’s HR or benefits department to determine whether any of
your benefits cover these fees. In some cases, these fees may be paid through an employer Section 125
plan and may be compatible with your flexible spending accounts (FSAs), medical savings accounts
(MSAs), or health reimbursement accounts (HRAs). The fees may also be payable through your health
savings accounts (HSAs). You will be provided with a statement for your benefits administrator at the
time of your lifestyle consultation or any time thereafter. Again, please check with your benefits advisor
or employer’s HR department to determine whether any of your benefit plans will cover the additional
fees. Also, it is important to note that although these fees may be reimbursable through your FSA, you
cannot pay them with your FSA debit or credit card. Reimbursement for fees from your FSA must be
obtained through your FSA claim submission process, and then, only if it is determined that it is an
appropriate expense.
Do I have to participate in the healthy lifestyle program in order to see Dr. Speck as my cardiologist?
We strongly encourage our patients to take advantage of these healthy lifestyle program services,
however, it is not required. These are services that Dr. Speck feels are important to your individualized
cardiac care. There is no discount to the monthly membership fee for those who choose not to
participate in the healthy lifestyle program.
Can I meet with Dr. Speck before I decide?
If you have not seen Dr. Speck in the past 3 years, you may see her for a one hour consultation to review
your cardiac concerns and discuss how she would approach them with you. This visit will be billed to
your insurance, and you may decide after that whether to continue with ongoing care with one of our
programs.
Please call the office at 206-466-5936 to schedule.
Where is the office located? Is there parking?
We are conveniently located at the corner of 8th and Madison just off the I-5 Freeway Madison Street
exit. Our address is 805 Madison St., Suite 400, Seattle, 98104. There is parking in the building on the
first floor off of 8th street. There is an elevator from the parking lot directly to the 4th floor AND we
validate parking.