Uma SitaulaDNP, FNP-C

Why Namaste Telehealth

After roughly eight years of experience managing patients with complex health issues in acute and sub-acute care settings as a nurse practitioner, I wanted to do something meaningful with the education, knowledge, and experience I had gained.

Through both personal and professional experiences, I saw how difficult it can be to navigate the American healthcare system, particularly for people who are uninsured or underinsured. Some patients would go several years without recommended screenings or even basic blood work because they could not afford to see a primary care provider.

To help fill this gap in healthcare and provide more equitable access to care, I created Namaste Telehealth. Making healthcare more affordable, especially primary care and preventive screening services, has always been central to my vision.

As Namaste Telehealth has grown, that vision has remained consistent: to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for people who might otherwise delay or avoid care because of cost. I am proud that Namaste Telehealth provides another way for patients to access care when financial barriers might otherwise prevent them from seeking it.

Leadership begins with the whole person

As a Doctor of Nursing Practice, my more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, including over 10 years as a nurse practitioner, have influenced the way I approach leadership, patient care, and healthcare decision-making.

From a leadership perspective, I have learned that building a team around a shared vision is essential. True leadership often requires making difficult decisions, managing uncertainty, learning from failure, building strong teams, and continuing to lead even when there is no easy answer.

Creating a healthy work environment is equally important. In my experience, positive encouragement, clear expectations, and constructive feedback can bring out the best in a team and create a more productive workplace.

When it comes to patient care and clinical decision-making, my experience has taught me to look at the entire clinical picture rather than treating a laboratory value or imaging result in isolation. It is important to treat the patient as a whole and provide holistic, individualized care.

For example, I have encountered situations where a patient’s laboratory results were abnormal, but the patient’s symptoms and overall clinical presentation did not match those findings. In those moments, I have learned to pause and ask whether the laboratory result accurately reflects what is happening clinically, especially when the patient is not showing symptoms that would normally correspond with the abnormal finding.

As providers, we must treat the patient, not the laboratory result alone. At the same time, abnormal findings should never be ignored. They need to be interpreted alongside symptoms, clinical history, repeat testing when appropriate, and trends over time.

“As providers, we must treat the patient, not the laboratory result alone.”

When access has its limits

More than 90% of the patients I see through telehealth are self-pay patients who are either uninsured or underinsured. We offer discounted laboratory testing and imaging, along with low-cost primary care and screening services.

However, one of the biggest challenges arises when a patient has abnormal results and needs to be referred to a specialist or sent to the emergency room, but may not be able to afford that next level of care. Finding specialists who accept self-pay patients can also be very difficult, and there are times when both the patient and the provider can feel helpless.

For example, I once had a patient whose screening blood work showed significantly elevated liver enzymes. She was also experiencing abdominal pain, and there were clinical signs suggesting a possible inflamed gallbladder or the development of gallstones.

I recommended that she go to the emergency room, but she did not want to go because she did not have insurance. She asked whether I could order an abdominal ultrasound instead, but based on my clinical judgment, I believed she needed an emergent evaluation. I declined the non-urgent ultrasound because I was concerned that waiting could be dangerous in her case.

She ultimately required gallbladder removal surgery.

Situations like this are particularly challenging when working independently with underserved populations. They highlight how difficult it can be when a patient needs a higher level of care but faces financial barriers to receiving it.

Bridging the gaps in care

When patients have telehealth visits with me, my focus is on the presenting problem. I am always asking myself one question: “How can I help this patient within the scope of my practice and with the resources I have?”

I try to make the most of our time by taking a relevant history, observing the patient’s physical ability to function, and performing as much of an appropriate virtual examination as possible. Based on my clinical judgment, I order laboratory testing or imaging when indicated, prescribe medications when necessary, and make referrals when appropriate.

This can all be done from the comfort of the patient’s home between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., seven days a week, for a $40 visit fee. Laboratory testing and imaging are also offered at significantly discounted rates. X-rays start at $40, and MRI studies can be obtained for under $300.

This gives patients access to a doctoral-prepared, board-certified nurse practitioner with more than 10 years of experience through a video visit, often at a much lower cost than an urgent care or emergency room visit. My mission is to provide access to affordable care regardless of a patient’s economic or social status.

For example, if a patient with hypertension runs out of medication but cannot see their primary care provider for another two weeks, I can help bridge that gap until they are able to follow up with their regular provider. If a patient with diabetes does not currently have a primary care provider, whether because they are visiting Colorado or do not have insurance, I can review the appropriate laboratory work and manage their medication within the scope of my practice. If someone is injured while playing sports or after a fall and does not have insurance, I can order lower-cost imaging when appropriate to help rule out a fracture.

This model provides a convenient and affordable way for patients to connect with a provider when they need care, which I believe is what sets Namaste Telehealth apart from more conventional approaches, particularly for people who are uninsured or underinsured.

Trust, privacy & ethical care

The telehealth platform I use is HIPAA-compliant and places a strong emphasis on protecting patient information. I have a designated private room within Sasa MedSpa where I conduct virtual visits to help maintain patient confidentiality.

Patients receive the practice policies and consent forms before their appointment and are required to complete them prior to the visit. During the visit, patients are required to verify their identity by showing me an ID. I match that information with the patient’s chart and visually confirm that I am speaking with the correct patient.

I also introduce myself and clearly state my professional credentials. These steps help establish trust, but clinical judgment remains central to providing ethical care and supporting informed decision-making.

My approach is also shaped by more than 10 years of experience managing patients with complex medical conditions.

Learning through connection

Continuing education, professional development, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals all play an important role in my work as an independent provider with Namaste Telehealth.

I have built a network of healthcare professionals, including cardiologists, oncologists, and nephrologists, whom I can reach out to for informal professional input when needed for self-pay patients. I have also maintained relationships with colleagues, physicians, pharmacies, laboratories, and imaging centers that help support care for self-pay patients, including access to discounted medications, laboratory testing, and imaging.

I regularly participate in continuing education and review medical journals and clinical guidelines to strengthen my knowledge and stay current with recommendations related to patient care.

These efforts have helped strengthen my clinical knowledge, professional relationships, and the quality of care I provide.

Technology with a purpose

My telehealth platform offers some AI-enabled services, but I have not incorporated them into my practice yet. I think these emerging technologies show promise, but I am still cautious about determining how much they truly improve patient care.

Before implementing them, I would like to hear more real-world feedback from patients and healthcare colleagues and better understand how these tools affect the quality of care.

For me, new technology should be adopted thoughtfully and only when there is a clear benefit to the patient.

Stepping beyond the familiar

Looking back on my journey, one of my biggest moments of professional growth was leaving my long-term position as a provider at a stable private practice where I was comfortable. Stepping out of that comfort zone and beginning my entrepreneurial journey was very challenging.

I did not have everything figured out, and that made me nervous. I had the idea and the vision, but I did not have all the answers, and I was uncertain about whether I would be successful.

Over time, I realized that it is okay to learn along the way. I also learned that it is okay to use the tools, resources, and people around you to help find solutions to problems.

Most importantly, I realized that success is not only about individual achievement. It is also about the impact I make in people’s lives and the legacy I am building.

The principles that continue to guide the way I care for my patients are compassion, respect, professional integrity, and empathy. Treating patients holistically and truly listening to them helps build trust. I believe every patient deserves to be treated with respect.

I strive to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care and create an individualized plan for each patient. That approach has been shaped by years of education, clinical experience, and a continued commitment to lifelong learning.