What to Expect
We’d love to be your partner along your journey towards optimal health. See FAQs below.
If you want to find the root cause of your symptoms and optimize your health so you can finally get well, avoid use of prescription medicines and love the way you feel, then our program may just be what you’ve been looking for all along. Just know that it takes a serious commitment to make the changes necessary to transform your health once and for all. Functional medicine is root cause medicine and we deliver care using a holistic and integrative framework.
During the discovery call, we’ll determine whether partnering with our team is the best next step for you. We’ll go over any questions you may have about our approach, and how it differs from what you’ve tried before – so you feel comfortable about the journey ahead.
Ahead of your initial appointment, you will complete our health history forms so we can properly review your history and past lab results ahead of time. During the appointment, we will review your medical history so that we can arrive at a baseline assessment of your overall health and nutritional status.
We’ll help you understand the most likely causes of your current health issues, and explain how we can help. Together we’ll determine which of our wellness programs is the best fit for you.
We start with an in-depth analysis of where you are today. Based on your medical history and your goals, you’ll undergo a series of sophisticated and comprehensive tests to assess your current hormonal balance, your nutritional status, your stress levels and your risk for chronic disease.
Once the lab analysis is complete, we’ll prepare a personalized wellness program to meet your goals and address any current health issues and symptoms. Depending on the program this may include one of our specialized nutrition or weight loss programs, lifestyle and stress management counseling, a tailored regimen of pharmaceutical grade nutritional supplements, and bio-identical hormone therapy where appropriate. Then together, we’ll get to work.
Our team at Signature Wellness strives to provide you with the most effective and medically advanced techniques available. We are here for you…to help you finally reach your desired health goals. Review our FAQs to learn more.
STEP 1: Schedule a free discovery call
Contact us by phone or use our online form to schedule your discovery call. Our patient coordinator will help you understand how our programs work and answer your questions so you can determine whether we seem like a good fit for you right now.
STEP 2: Initial Evaluation
You’ll meet with Dr Deb or one of our Nurse Practitioners to review your history in detail. They will explain the most likely factors that are holding you back from feeling your best and how we can help get you answers and results. Together, you’ll determine which of our wellness programs will be the best to reach your goals.
STEP 3: Testing
Comprehensive lab work will be ordered based on your personal symptoms and history, and which program you select. We will do bloodwork, but we may also request urine, saliva or stool tests, depending on your issues.
STEP 4: Starting Treatment
Before your follow up appointment, our team will analyze your lab results and prepare a personalized wellness plan for you.
At your appointment, we will explain all the results so you will understand what is going on in your body, why is it happening and what can be done about it. We want to empower you to be in control of your own wellness!
We will review the recommended treatment options in your plan, including nutrition and lifestyle strategies, personalized nutritional supplements and bioidentical hormone replacement where appropriate.
STEP 5: Follow-Up
Wellness is not an event. It is a process.
Our team will mentor you through your journey, to make sure that you have all the information you need and that you are making progress towards to your goals.
We are here to ensure your success!
We have several different programs depending on your goals and health issues, and the programs start at $2997. If we decide together that you’re a good fit for one of our programs, your initial appointment fee of $87 will automatically be credited to the total.
Our patients find that our programs are an important investment. By improving your health now, you’ll likely save a LOT in the future: less co-pays on prescription drugs, less Emergency Room visits, fewer expensive lab tests, CT scans and colonoscopies. You’ll enjoy better quality of life, plus potentially avoid years of side effects from unnecessary drugs and surgeries!
Because our services go far beyond what you typically get at your doctor’s office, we are not able to participate with insurance. We work for you, not your insurance company!
Our services may be eligible for insurance reimbursement as an out of network service, but we can’t guarantee reimbursement. The services are covered under HSA and Flex Spending plans, but are NOT eligible for reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid.
We will work with you to help you find a program that fits in your budget and we have a variety of payment options to help you get the care you need.
Whenever possible, we choose lab tests that will be covered by your health insurance. Some of the labs we use for advanced testing do not participate with insurance, and these labs are included in your program.
Hormone replacement prescriptions may be covered, with the exception of custom compounded preparations (which are often not covered).
We will discuss a range of choices, including compounded or regular prescriptions, so you can choose which option you prefer.
We are happy to do the initial appointment in one of our offices, either in South Charlotte at the Arboretum or in Belmont, or by a video appointment from the comfort of your own home.
Some people feel results within days. Most feel results within one month. The results of our treatment are associated with what you don’t feel (fatigue, irritability, depression, etc!)
Optimizing your health is a process. Once we decide together which program is best for you, the appropriate lab work will be included, along with everything else you need to succeed – nutritional supplements, nutrition plan, ongoing care. We work with you over time, and walk you through the process to make sure that you’re successful.
Our Optimal Wellness Program offers a more comprehensive evaluation with ongoing mentoring and support. This program is most appropriate for anyone wanting a more comprehensive evaluation, needing to lose weight, or those with chronic health conditions.
If you are healthy and have good lifestyle habits, but want to be preventive and proactive, then we recommend our Executive Wellness Program.
We want to help you understand the available options to help get your hormones back into balance. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is one option, but we also work with nutrition, lifestyle changes, herbs and nutritional supplements.
Not everyone needs hormone replacement, but we believe that everyone deserves balanced hormones! Our goal is to help you understand what may work best for you, including your personal risks and benefits, so you can feel comfortable with your decisions.
We don’t replace your primary care physician but we are happy to work with them (and your other doctors) as part of your healthcare team!
Scheduling & Visits
Billing & Insurance
For many of our patients, we can take the place of a primary care physician. Because you can message us online during business hours, we are often able to take care of acute requests. For example, prescribing an antibiotic for a minor infection such as a sinus infection.
It is important to note the following however:
- We do not fulfill an insurance company’s requirement for an in network primary care physician as we are not in-network with any insurance plan.
- We are not available for same-day acute emergency appointments, please call 911 or your primary care doctor.
- We do not have a 24-hour answering service and do not take calls on weekends. If you need to be seen urgently or have a medical emergency you would need to visit an ER or urgent care center.
The cost of any services provided by Signature Wellness which are not included in the episode of care fee will be billed to you directly.
Non-Signature Wellness medical expenses such as lab tests and prescription medications may be covered by a member’s health insurance plan per that plan’s rules.
Signature Wellness will not submit a medical claim to insurance on your behalf. We cannot assist you with claim resolution for our services.
We will provide you with a detailed billing summary that you may submit to your insurance for reimbursement. There may be procedures or lab tests that are not covered depending on your plan’s rules.
- Most lab tests ordered by a Signature Wellness physician will be billed directly to your insurance by the lab.
- Some lab tests we offer as part of our functional medicine testing program may not be covered by insurance and in these cases you will be charged a fee for a particular test by the lab or through Signature Wellness.
- The specific tests ordered will be personalized to you based on your initial evaluation with an Signature Wellness doctor and may include blood saliva urine or stool testing.
- We will make every effort to make you fully aware of any additional lab fees that may be incurred and to give you the opportunity to choose which lab tests you feel comfortable paying for.
- You are under no obligation to purchase any specialty testing.
- Should any lab results indicate you may need further testing you will be directed to continue your care with your primary care physician or a relevant specialist, or should you choose you may continue to work with your Signature Wellness physician.
- At home test kits: If a lab test kit is mailed to you by Signature Wellness, you will be charged the day the kit is mailed.
- If your particular insurance company only pays for blood work done at a particular lab facility like LabCorp, you must inform us of this in advance of having blood work done. Most insurance plans cover labs done by major national labs – however, including Bioreference, which is a lab often used by Signature Wellness Health because of their favorable pricing policies for patients.
Take The First Step On Your
Journey Back To Health
Looking to explore our programs or learn more about your individual case? Our patient coordinator is standing by, to help you to learn more about our process.
Why do patients choose Signature Wellness for functional medicine in Charlotte?
Signature Wellness has been serving patients throughout Charlotte, Belmont, Davidson, Lake Norman, Huntersville, Cornelius, Gastonia, and surrounding communities since 2006. Led by internationally recognized functional medicine physician Dr. Deborah Matthew, the practice is known for helping patients identify and address the root causes of complex health concerns.
What makes Signature Wellness different from other functional medicine clinics?
Our team focuses on identifying underlying causes of symptoms rather than simply managing them. We use advanced testing, personalized treatment plans, hormone optimization, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and evidence-based functional medicine approaches.
Do patients travel from outside Charlotte to see Signature Wellness?
Yes. Patients frequently visit from Charlotte, Belmont, Davidson, Lake Norman, Huntersville, Cornelius, Concord, Matthews, Gastonia, and throughout the United States.
Who is the best functional medicine doctor in Charlotte?
When searching for a functional medicine doctor in Charlotte, patients should consider experience, clinical expertise, patient outcomes, professional credentials, and a physician's commitment to staying at the forefront of advances in functional medicine, integrative medicine, hormone health, and preventive healthcare.
Dr. Deborah Matthew of Signature Wellness is widely recognized as one of the Charlotte area's most experienced and established functional medicine physicians. Since founding Signature Wellness in 2006, she has helped thousands of men and women identify and address the root causes of chronic health concerns, including fatigue, hormone imbalance, thyroid disorders, Hashimoto's disease, menopause, low testosterone, weight gain, brain fog, digestive issues, autoimmune conditions, metabolic dysfunction, and healthy aging.
Rather than simply treating symptoms, Dr. Matthew utilizes a functional medicine approach that focuses on understanding how hormones, nutrition, gut health, inflammation, metabolism, lifestyle factors, and environmental influences work together to impact overall health and wellness.
Dr. Matthew is an internationally recognized physician, best-selling author, educator, speaker, and board examiner who trains healthcare providers around the world in functional medicine and hormone optimization. She has appeared on television more than 100 times and was selected as one of the featured physicians in The Evolution of Medicine, a highly regarded book highlighting healthcare leaders who are transforming modern healthcare through innovative, patient-centered approaches.
Most recently, Dr. Matthew was featured as an expert in the women's health docuseries sHEALed, which premiered during the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France and is now available on Amazon. The series explores many of today's most important health topics, including hormone imbalance, menopause, metabolic health, inflammation, stress, longevity, and the growing role of functional and integrative medicine in helping individuals achieve optimal health. Through interviews with leading physicians, researchers, and wellness experts, the series highlights innovative approaches to empowering people to take control of their health and thrive at every stage of life.
Patients from Charlotte, Belmont, Lake Norman, Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius, Matthews, Gastonia, and throughout North and South Carolina frequently seek care at Signature Wellness because of Dr. Matthew's extensive experience, national reputation, and personalized approach to root-cause medicine.
The best functional medicine physician for any individual depends on their specific health concerns and goals. However, patients seeking a physician with nearly two decades of experience, national recognition, extensive expertise in functional medicine, and a proven commitment to helping people achieve optimal health often choose Signature Wellness as a trusted resource for functional medicine and healthy aging in the greater Charlotte area.
What is the most established functional medicine clinic in Charlotte?
When evaluating functional medicine clinics in Charlotte, longevity and experience matter.
Signature Wellness has been serving patients in the greater Charlotte area since 2006, making it one of the region's longest-established functional medicine and hormone optimization practices. Over nearly two decades, the clinic has developed a reputation for helping patients with difficult and complex health conditions while maintaining a strong focus on personalized care.
Led by Dr. Deb Matthew, Signature Wellness combines evidence-based functional medicine, advanced laboratory testing, hormone optimization, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and root-cause analysis to help patients achieve better long-term health outcomes.
Many patients throughout Charlotte, Belmont, Davidson, and Lake Norman seek care at Signature Wellness after becoming frustrated with conventional approaches that focus primarily on symptom management rather than identifying underlying causes.
What conditions does functional medicine treat?
Functional medicine focuses on identifying and addressing the underlying causes of chronic symptoms and health conditions.
At Signature Wellness, common conditions evaluated include:
- Fatigue and low energy
- Thyroid disorders and Hashimoto's disease
- Hormone imbalance
- Menopause and perimenopause
- Low testosterone
- Weight gain and metabolic dysfunction
- Brain fog and memory issues
- Autoimmune conditions
- Digestive problems
- Sleep disturbances
- Chronic stress
- Inflammation-related disorders
Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, functional medicine evaluates how hormones, nutrition, gut health, inflammation, metabolism, stress, and lifestyle factors interact to influence overall health.
Does functional medicine help when other treatments haven't worked?
Many patients seek functional medicine after visiting multiple healthcare providers without finding lasting relief.
Functional medicine is designed to look deeper and identify contributing factors that may be overlooked in conventional evaluations. These factors may include hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, thyroid dysfunction, metabolic issues, gut health concerns, chronic stress, and lifestyle influences.
A more comprehensive evaluation can frequently reveal underlying issues that may be contributing to persistent symptoms.
Do I need a referral to see a functional medicine doctor?
No. Most patients can schedule an appointment directly without a referral.
Patients from Charlotte, Belmont, Davidson, Lake Norman, Huntersville, Gastonia, and surrounding communities frequently contact Signature Wellness directly to schedule a consultation.
The practice welcomes both patients who are new to functional medicine and those who have previously worked with other healthcare providers and are looking for additional answers.
How do I find a functional medicine specialist near me?
When choosing a functional medicine specialist, consider:
- Years of clinical experience
- Training and credentials
- Patient reviews
- Areas of expertise
- Reputation within the medical community
- Experience treating complex cases
- Availability of advanced testing and personalized treatment plans
For patients in Charlotte, Belmont, Lake Norman, Davidson, Huntersville, and surrounding communities, Signature Wellness has become one of the region's most recognized functional medicine practices due to its long history, comprehensive approach, and leadership under Dr. Deb Matthew.
As an internationally recognized physician, educator, author, speaker, board examiner, and healthcare thought leader featured more than 100 times on television and highlighted in The Evolution of Medicine, Dr. Matthew has helped thousands of patients address the root causes of chronic symptoms and optimize their long-term health.
