INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE & PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY
OPENING SUMMER 2022
OPENING SUMMER 2022
OPENING SUMMER 2022
OPENING SUMMER 2022
redefining
CHRONIC CARE
Welcome
Welcome to a practice that will change your child's medical experience.
Rheum to Grow is the only practice in the country that uses BOTH traditional and integrative medicine to treat children with autoimmune conditions. By blending conventional pediatric rheumatology therapies with evidence-based complementary ones, Dr. Singla teaches her patients to be proactive in their medical care, resilient in the face of chronic illness, and most importantly, achieve better physical, mental, and emotional outcomes. Her methods were crafted not just through extensive medical training, but also from life experiences as a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
Her mission is to help children and families better handle the ups and downs of a chronic illness through education, empowerment, and support.
At Rheum to Grow, the goal is to give our patients the tools needed to live and THRIVE with a chronic illness!
Meet Dr.
Singla
Dr. Saimun Singla is a triple board-certified physician in general pediatrics, pediatric rheumatology, and integrative medicine. She is the only pediatric sub-specialist in Houston with this level training that can provide your child with the most comprehensive care for their chronic illness(es). This is important to note as some physicians offer integrative care without formal education or training in this specialty.
Her
motivation
Before founding Rheum to Grow, Dr. Singla was an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Rheumatology for many years at Texas Children's Hospital. This gave her incredible insight into caring for chronically ill children. During this time, she was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis herself. As a patient of her own expertise, she gained first-hand knowledge of the ups and downs of living with a chronic illness as well as the giant gaps in care that conventional medicine left unanswered. That is when Dr. Singla realized she was practicing and living in a "sick care model"--one that focused on acute disease management rather than broadening it to also include disease prevention and health maintenance. This moment was the birth of Rheum to Grow.
Naturally-minded and scientifically-grounded, using the best of Western & Eastern Medicine.
an integrative
APPROACH TO YOUR CHILD'S CARE
In contrast to traditional medical practices where the primary focus is often on managing sick symptoms, Dr. Singla uses an integrative approach to treat children with chronic rheumatic conditions. This means tending to each child’s short and long-term needs by incorporating conventional therapies as well as complementary practices, all based in evidence. In addition to the use of labs, imaging, medications, and procedures, we address various factors that affect your child's health—the often-overlooked areas that can aggravate or alleviate chronic illness. These include their dietary patterns, exercise, sleep, stress, environment, emotional/self-regulatory abilities, resilience, and social support. This whole child approach makes their input an integral part of each visit, which teaches them independent coping skills early on. We not only optimize acute disease management, but also chronic.
At Rheum to Grow, we also offer the same integrative approach for children and families with non-rheumatic illnesses. Dr. Singla’s unique integrative medicine training allows her to offer other avenues toward a healthy lifestyle which can complement your pediatrician or pediatric specialist’s care.
Initial Consult
The initial consult consists of a comprehensive history and physical exam using the integrative approach.
Individualized Plan of Care
A plan of care is crafted after
Dr. Singla and patient/parent(s) discuss treatment goals.
Follow-Up Visit
The first follow-up visit is scheduled based on the child's diagnosis and needs.
Rheum to Grow?
Why Visit
Faster disease control
Less disease
flares
Less reliance on pharmaceuticals
Realistic coping strategies to build resilience
The single biggest reason families come to us is because of the time and depth Dr. Singla spends getting to understand your child's symptoms and answer your questions. The second is because she is the only pediatric rheumatologist in Texas with extra board-certification and expertise in Integrative Medicine. Third is for the ease of access and communication with our staff, unlike larger practices.
At Rheum to Grow, we don't just focus on the symptom(s) at hand-- we take a step back and assess if lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, physical activity, and stress/anxiety have an impact on your child's symptoms and diagnosis (for the now and future). Just like a traditional pediatric rheumatologist, Dr. Singla orders labs, imaging, medications, performs joint-injections, and refers to other specialists, but she also teaches you how to symptom track, focus on nutrition related to autoimmune conditions, supplements as indicated, mind-body tools to address the uncertainty of a chronic illness, performs acupressure, and so much more!
Due to the level of detail, time, and comprehensiveness of your child's care, Rheum to Grow does not accept medical insurance. This means full payment is due at the time of the visit. This model is also known as a cash pay or out-of-network practice.
At Rheum to Grow, a flat fee is charged for each visit, and all fees are transparent, meaning that there are no copays, deductibles, facility fees, or surprise bills. Multiple visits may also be bundled together for a lower overall fee. After the initial consult, Dr. Singla typically sees her patients every 3-4 months for follow-ups, so about 3-4 times per year total. If you have out-of-network insurance benefits, you can submit a receipt (called a superbill) and your insurance may reimburse part or all of the visit. Our office can help give you the information needed for this process.
WHY PAY CASH IF I HAVE
Medical Insurance?
In general, why would you pay more for any service? It comes down to your needs and values. Would you rather a doctor focus on one symptom to contain the visit to 15-20 minutes? Are you okay waiting for 2-3 days to get a response to questions about your child's health? Are you fine waiting weeks or even months for an appointment?
If you value in-depth and detailed visits, prompt communication, and timely availability with your child's specialist, then the traditional insurance-based practice may not be the right fit for you. Prioritize your needs, and pick accordingly.
The direct nature of this practice (i.e., no middleman insurance company to dictate length or cost of the visit) translates to a smaller practice volume, a strong doctor-patient relationship, extended appointment times, and next-day or same week appointments. With this arrangement, Rheum to Grow is able to deliver much higher quality of care for your child’s chronic condition. In general, our goal is to play offense and be as proactive as possible in your child's health while playing defense when it's necessary.