Zion Asher Family Physicians, Inc.

11/07/2025

💙 At Zion Asher Family Physicians, we always do our best to work with your insurance to get medications covered — and most of the time, we’re successful.

But when insurance refuses to cover something you truly NEED, we don’t stop there.
We find a way — through discount programs, coupons, or direct cash options — to make sure you still get the care that matters most.

Because your health shouldn’t depend on what a third-party payer decides. 💪
That’s what real care looks like.

𝐒𝐨 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲…

Apparently, one of my patients is “overusing their rescue inhaler,” and I should “consider prescribing a long-acting inhaler.”

Cute idea — except they already have one. The only problem? The insurance company denied it months ago.

So my patient pays cash because I found it reasonably priced elsewhere. Which means… the insurance doesn’t know they’re on it, because, well, they’re not paying for it.

Sometimes I think insurance companies just want to 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙 they’re part of the care team — sending little suggestions like they’re actually helping, while patients pay hundreds each month for coverage that rarely covers what they need most.

This is exactly why I love practicing medicine in the Direct Primary Care model.
No middlemen. No “permission slips” to practice medicine.

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 — even when insurance fails to cover something as basic as an asthma inhaler.

11/01/2025

🌟 Happy National Direct Primary Care Day! 🌟
Today marks the first-ever National DPC Day—a celebration of healthcare freedom, stronger doctor-patient relationships, and the growing movement to bring care back to healthcare.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) is transforming how patients and physicians connect:
💙 No insurance middlemen
💙 Transparent, affordable monthly membership
💙 Unlimited access to your doctor when you need it most
💙 A focus on trust, prevention, and personal relationships

November 1st was chosen to align with the start of Open Enrollment—a perfect time to explore new healthcare options. As the DPC movement grows nationwide, we’re proud to be part of this change, helping patients experience healthcare that’s simple, accessible, and truly centered on you.

Join us in celebrating this exciting milestone! Learn more about the DPC model and how it can change the way you experience primary care.

👉 https://www.zionasher.com/what-is-dpc

10/31/2025

✨ Healthy Halloween Hack ✨
Feed your trick-or-treaters real food first → protein and healthy fats help slow that sugar spike 🍗🥑
Then grab a flashlight, wear something reflective, layer up and enjoy the fun!

Wishing you a safe, low-stress, joy-filled Halloween from all of us at Zion Asher Family Physicians 🎃🧡

10/29/2025

Thinking about Tirzepatide or Semaglutide but not sure what’s safe or appropriate for you?
We offer free consultations to see if our practice is the right fit for you!

Zion Asher Family Physicians offers personalized tirzepatide and semaglutide weight-loss programs. Learn how to avoid side effects and support lasting results.

10/27/2025

🌿 Motivational Monday 🌿
“Being ‘high functioning’ while exhausted isn’t resilience — it’s survival mode.”

Some people don’t look sick.
Some people don’t “seem” overwhelmed.
Some people are praised for how much they carry —
when the truth is, their body is barely hanging on.

We live in a culture that celebrates output more than well-being.
Carry more.
Do more.
Bounce back faster.
Push through.
Don’t slow down — just “perform.”

But your nervous system knows the difference.
Hyper-productivity often isn’t strength —
it’s the body saying, “If I stop, everything might fall apart.”
That’s not thriving.
That’s fight-or-flight with a polished finish.

Long-term “high functioning” burnout can look like:
✅ Always busy, never resting
✅ Tired but wired
✅ Difficulty slowing down without guilt
✅ Perfectionism or pressure to hold it all together
✅ Short fuse, low tolerance, emotional swings
✅ Brain fog or trouble concentrating
✅ Running on caffeine, adrenaline, and obligation

And physiologically?
That constant “ON” signal becomes inflammation, hormone disruption, poor sleep, weight changes, mood shifts, gut dysfunction, and eventually — a total crash.
✨ Rest is not proof of weakness.
✨ Slowing down is not falling behind.
✨ Taking care of your body is not “indulgent.”

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop performing long enough to heal.
You don’t have to earn rest.
Your body was designed to cycle through safety, recovery, and restoration — not live in emergency mode.

This week, give yourself permission to step out of survival mode and into actual care.

10/24/2025

Wellness isn’t a quick fix — it’s a process of restoring balance and supporting your body at every level.

At Zion Asher, we take a root-cause approach to help you rediscover energy, focus, and vitality. By addressing what’s really driving symptoms, we help you feel better, think clearer, and live well — and this can often result in healthy weight loss. 🌿✨

About 6 months ago I didn’t like how I was feeling: low energy, not quite myself, and I knew something needed to change.

The first thing I did was address my foundation. I started a custom blend of adaptogens and vitamins designed specifically for my body and needs — something different than what might work for anyone else. From there, I began practicing mindful eating, made some simple snack swaps, and noticed something amazing: I wasn’t craving snacks at the office anymore. My energy felt stable. My focus improved.

There were also some deeper, more personal things I worked through, things that aren’t for social media, but made a big difference for me spiritually and emotionally.

About three months ago, I felt well enough to start running and exercising again; and that’s when everything began to click.

This journey has reminded me that weight loss shouldn’t always be the end goal. When we focus on supporting our whole health — body, mind, and spirit — the physical changes often follow naturally. Typically resulting in less effort and less frustration.

My goal wasn’t a smaller number on the scale. It was to feel like me again; clear-minded, energetic, and well.
And I’m so grateful to be back there. ❤️

No GLP-1 agonist needed! 😁

10/24/2025

🚑 ER Wait Times Too Long? Direct Primary Care Is Here to Help 🚑

According to a recent Springfield Daily Citizen report, ER wait times in Springfield are longer than ever https://sgfcitizen.org/in-depth/the-wait-times-at-springfield-emergency-rooms-are-long-heres-why/. For minor injuries like lacerations, waiting 6–8 hours can lead to complications, such as increased scarring due to delayed treatment.

This is where Direct Primary Care steps in. As a DPC provider, we offer:

Same-day or next-day appointments: Get treated promptly without the long ER wait.

In-office procedures: We can stitch up lacerations and perform other minor procedures right in our office.

Personalized care: Your doctor knows you and your medical history, ensuring tailored treatment.

By choosing DPC, you can avoid unnecessary ER visits, save on co-pays, and receive the care you need when you need it. Let's keep our ERs available for true emergencies and ensure timely care for all.

Emergency room wait times at Springfield's hospitals are worse than the state and national average.

10/22/2025

⚖️ Hormone Replacement: When Done Right, It Makes All the Difference

We’re seeing more and more people interested in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — and for good reason. When done properly, it can make a tremendous difference in energy, mood, sleep, focus, and overall well-being for both men and women.

But here’s the truth: not all hormone replacement is being managed the same way.

We’ve seen situations where patients are placed on hormone therapy with little to no monitoring. In some cases, the treatment plans being used can actually increase the risk of complications such as blood clots, stroke, or heart attack when not managed correctly.

At our clinic, we take a safety-first, evidence-based approach to hormone therapy. We carefully evaluate labs, symptoms, and risk factors before starting treatment — and we monitor appropriately and consistently throughout care.

Our goal is simple: to help you feel your best safely and responsibly.

If you’ve been curious about hormone therapy, or if something about your current plan doesn’t feel right, we’re happy to review it with you and ensure it’s being managed the right way.

Disclaimer: In addition to Direct Primary Care membership, hormone replacement therapy does incur additional costs for labs, medications, and a monthly management fee. This therapy requires special licensure, more intensive oversight and closer monitoring by our physicians beyond the scope of standard primary care.

10/21/2025

Motivational Monday 💛 | Have Grace — People Carry More Than You Can See

Sometimes the people around us aren’t short-tempered or withdrawn because they want to be — they may be running on an empty tank physically or emotionally.

We never truly know what someone is holding:
• A heavy life situation they’re trying to quietly survive
• Compounding stress and exhaustion
• Or even a physiological issue — like iron deficiency — that literally impacts their brain’s ability to make neurotransmitters, affecting mood, focus, energy, and emotional regulation

Grace is not excusing poor behavior — it is choosing compassion first, remembering that biology and burden often play a part before we ever see the symptoms.

✨ What if instead of reacting, we paused and asked —
“Is this a hurting person?”

The world would soften.

Today, choose Grace and Compassion.

10/17/2025

💡 Labs, Testing, and Your Health—Your Way 💡

At Zion Asher Family Physicians, being a cash-based clinic means we don’t have to wait for insurance approvals to get your labs done. But just because we can doesn’t mean we’ll do everything under the sun—we always make recommendations that are truly needed, keeping your care both smart and affordable.

That said… if you want it, we can absolutely make it happen. ✅

- Curious about your MTHFR gene? We can run it right here in the clinic. (We also stock vitamins and supplements formulated for those with the MTHFR gene mutation too!)
- Want a full vitamin panel to see exactly what your body might be missing? We’ve got that too.
- Thinking about food sensitivities? We test for up to 144 foods, not just allergies, so we can guide whether you need to avoid something entirely or just eat it less often.
- Want to check your hormones before to see if you need to be on Hormone Replacement Therapy? We can do that too; in more than one way depending on what your concerns are.

And here’s the thing— if you’re a member, these options are always available. Just ask us.

Don’t see a test you want? No problem—we’re innovative, we’re resourceful, and we’ll find a way to get it for you at the best price. Your health, your choices, your care—on your terms.

📞 Call us today and let’s talk about what’s right for you.
417-730-1989

10/15/2025

💡 Why a Direct Primary Care Membership Adds Value, Even If You Have Insurance 💡

Your insurance is great for emergencies, surgeries, and hospitalizations—but traditional insurance-based primary care often doesn’t give you the attention you need. Research shows that patients with a Direct Primary Care membership are 73% less likely to be hospitalized compared to fee-for-service primary care patients.

Because we limit the number of patients in our practice to ~600 vs. ~2,400+ in an insurance clinic, we can:
✅ Manage chronic medications closer with less burden on you.
✅ Provide same-day access, personalized guidance, and continuity that insurance offices just can’t.
✅ Offer a higher level of care than fee-for-service offices.

We are not a replacement for insurance, we are for patients who want accessible, high-quality primary care—the kind that prevents complications, keeps you healthy, and saves you unnecessary ER visits by being on-call for when you need us. It is like having you're own personal Doctor in your pocket.

Your membership is about peace of mind, efficiency, and expert care, even if you have insurance covering everything else.

10/13/2025

🌿 Motivational Monday 🌿

Somewhere along the way, “busy” became a badge of honor. We fill our calendars, overcommit our time, and tell ourselves we’ll rest later. But the truth is — being constantly on the go isn’t strength. It’s stress.

Your body was designed to heal, but healing doesn’t happen in overdrive. When we never slow down, our nervous system stays stuck in “fight or flight.” Cortisol stays high. Inflammation rises. Digestion slows. Hormones fall out of balance. And the body, in quiet protest, begins to whisper — fatigue, pain, brain fog, anxiety — all signals saying: “Please, rest.”

Rest isn’t laziness. It’s biology.
It’s where your cells repair, your mind resets, and your spirit realigns. 🌸

This week, give yourself permission to say “no” without guilt. To remember that your worth isn’t measured by productivity — it’s reflected in your peace.

You were created to rest — and in that rest, your body heals. 💫