Consultation

Dr. Berens offers consultations to evaluate for hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in-person at the clinic in Littleton or by telehealth. The person MUST be located in Colorado for the evaluation if it is done by telehealth. The consultation is a one time meeting for diagnosis of hypermobility and any suspected other rheumatologic conditions with recommendations for further treatment made to the referring provider. She uses the hEDS checklist from the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Dr. Berens will not continue to see people as patients following a consultation due to a full patient panel. She does NOT offer genetic testing and can make recommendations whether it may be helpful. She will not order any medications, lab studies, x-rays, or MRIs. She will not make any referrals but may suggest referrals to other providers who are knowledgable of hypermobility and conditions that occur with it. If a rheumatologic condition is suspected or diagnosed, Dr. Berens will recommend referral to another rheumatologist.

Requirements before people will be scheduled:

Referral is required as lab testing will be needed as below before a patient will be scheduled

Lab testing - results must be sent to Dr. Berens before a patient will be scheduled. Fax 720-405-4283

  • Antinuclear antibody by IFA with reflex (not ANA direct)

  • Rheumatoid factor

  • Cyclic-citrullinated peptide antibody (CCP)

  • SSA and SSB antibodies

  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

  • C-reactive protein quant (not cardiac)

X-rays - helpful but not required. The actual images are important for Dr. Berens to review. The pictures can be uploaded through the patient portal once a person is scheduled.

  • Any joints that are painful

  • C-spine and L-spine with flex ex for neck and back pain

When the referral and lab results are received, Dr. Berens will reach out to schedule.

For the appointment:

Patients will be sent a questionnaire to fill out in the patient portal. There will be a link in the scheduling email. It must be done before the appointment. If it is not complete, the person will be rescheduled.

Consent to treat form and agreement for consultation only will be sent via email from Bold Sign for signature.

It is helpful for the person to wear shorts or skin-tight pants so that Dr. Berens can see if the knees hyperextend and short sleeves to evaluate elbow hyperextension.

If in-network, insurance will be billed for the consultation. Any copays are due at the time of service.

A report with recommendations will be sent back to the referring provider.