What to Expect, How It Works, and Why It’s Different
If you’ve ever left a doctor’s office feeling rushed, unheard, or still confused about your own health—you’re not alone. It’s the single most common frustration we hear from new patients at AIDENDO.
At Advanced Institute for Diabetes & Endocrinology, we do things differently. Here’s a complete walkthrough of what your first visit looks like, what our Direct Care model means for your wallet and your care, and why patients consistently tell us:
“No one has ever talked to me about diabetes the way you did today.”
Direct Care vs. Insurance-Based Clinics
Most endocrinology practices operate on an insurance-based model. You wait two to six months for an appointment—sometimes up to a year. You get 15 minutes. They check your A1C, adjust a medication, and say, “See you in six months.” That’s the system. And for many patients, it’s not working.
AIDENDO operates as what’s called a hybrid Direct Care practice. For most patients, that means we contract directly with you for consultations rather than billing through an insurance company. You pay a transparent, fixed fee—and in exchange, you get something the traditional system can’t offer: time, depth, and comprehensive care.
Here’s What That Looks Like in Practice
At an insurance-based clinic, you might wait two to six months just to get in the door—and when you do, the visit is typically 15 to 20 minutes. At AIDENDO, new patients are seen in approximately two weeks, and the initial consultation lasts a full 60 minutes.
The scope of care is fundamentally different, too. A standard insurance visit might cover an A1C check and a medication adjustment. At AIDENDO, your visit is a comprehensive assessment that covers every system your condition touches—from eyes and kidneys to heart and bone.
And when it comes to cost, traditional practices bill through insurance with unpredictable copays, deductibles, and surprise charges. At AIDENDO, pricing is transparent and fixed: $400 for a 60-minute new patient consultation and $275 for a 45-minute follow-up. No surprise bills. No deciphering an EOB.
For cash-pay patients: While consultations are paid directly, your insurance still covers labs, imaging, medications, devices, and orders. Jackie, our front desk coordinator, takes your insurance card on file at check-in specifically so all of those items can be billed to your plan. You also receive a superbill through Reimbursify so you can submit for potential reimbursement from your carrier.
Do You Take Medicare?
This is one of the most common questions we get—and the answer is yes. This is the “hybrid” part of our Direct Care model.
For patients with traditional Texas Medicare, we continue to consult under their insurance policy. That means Medicare patients get the same comprehensive, unrushed care that AIDENDO is known for—without paying out of pocket for their consultations. It’s a significant benefit, especially because getting into an endocrinologist through the traditional system can take months.
On top of that, we help Medicare patients take full advantage of covered benefits that many practices never even mention—most notably, Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management services through our proprietary app, DIA Direct. The app collects blood pressure and blood sugar readings between visits, giving our clinical team a continuous window into how you’re doing. That means we can catch problems early and adjust your care before a small concern becomes an emergency—or before an A1C that was heading in the right direction suddenly goes through the roof.
Both Remote Patient Monitoring and Chronic Care Management are covered Medicare services. Our Medicare patients get seen quickly, monitored closely, and cared for comprehensively.
Your Visit, Step by Step
When you walk through our door, you are not going to be in and out in 20 minutes. This is an investment in your future, and we treat it that way.
Step 1: Check-In With Jacque
Jackie handles all of your check-in logistics and gets your insurance card on file. This ensures that labs, imaging, medications, and any orders we place can be covered by your insurance plan. It’s seamless—you focus on your health, we handle the paperwork.
Step 2: Meet Nurse Pam
Pam is more than a nurse—she’s also a certified insulin pump trainer and health coach. She’ll go through your full demographic and contact information, confirm the right pharmacy, review your allergies, and take a detailed look at every medication and supplement you’re currently taking—including whether you’re actually taking them, how often, and at what doses. This matters more than most people realize!
Step 3: Your Consultation With Dr. VanDyke
This is where the depth begins. Dr. VanDyke will walk through your full medical, surgical, family, and social histories. For diabetes patients, that means:
- When were you diagnosed?
- What medications have you tried—and what happened with each one?
- Were there coverage issues we can help resolve?
- What symptoms are bothering you right now?
- What does your daily life look like—work, stress, sleep, activity?
Every detail matters because the goal isn’t to check a box. It’s to build a complete picture of what’s driving your condition.
Step 4: Comprehensive Disease Assessment
For diabetes care, this isn’t just about blood sugar. Diabetes has its fingers in every pie. Dr. VanDyke assesses every system the disease touches:
- Eyes — diabetic retinopathy screening
- Kidneys — nephropathy and kidney function
- Nerves — neuropathy symptoms and progression
- Heart — cardiovascular risk and coronary disease
- Bone — metabolic bone health
This is the standard of care as outlined by the American Diabetes Association in their guidelines issued every January. It’s not “extra.” It’s what every diabetes patient deserves. Most practices just don’t have the time to do it.
Step 5: Screening for Hidden Contributors
Dr. VanDyke then screens for associated endocrine and metabolic conditions that could be fueling or complicating your primary diagnosis. Depending on your clinical picture, this might include:
- Fatty liver disease (MASLD)
- Sleep apnea
- Coronary artery disease
- Lipid disorders
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Cushing’s Syndrome
- Other endocrine conditions based on your signs and symptoms
The philosophy is clear: pay attention to every sign and signal that can point us toward controlling or eliminating the underlying contributing factors—not just managing symptoms on the surface.
After Your First Visit
All patients at AIDENDO are here for the long haul. Depending on your condition and where you are in your care journey:
- Diabetes patients are typically seen every 3 months, with more frequent visits (even weekly) for those who are significantly uncontrolled or need additional support.
- Weight management patients are seen every 2 weeks early on, then less frequently as results build.
- Diabetes patients are enrolled in DIA Direct for two-way communication between visits, so problems don’t become crises.
Under one roof, AIDENDO has access to lab, nephrology, wound care, and bariatric surgery—so patients don’t have to drive all over the Metroplex to manage their care.
Who Is This For?
AIDENDO serves two primary patient populations:
Medicare patients with traditional Texas Medicare are seen under their insurance policy—no out-of-pocket consultation fees. They benefit from comprehensive diabetes care, Remote Patient Monitoring through DIA Direct, continuous glucose monitoring technology (including the implantable Eversense sensor), and consistent follow-up that keeps them out of the hospital.
Cash-pay patients who are tired of the insurance-based hamster wheel and want to invest in real, comprehensive care from a board-certified endocrinologist—without the 6-month wait for an appointment.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
Now seeing patients in 7 states via telehealth: TX | CA | CO | OR | WA | OK | NM
Get your consultation in weeks—not 6 or 12 months.
469-THYROID (469-849-7643) | 817-380-4880
aidendo.com