New Patient Practice Guide

Everything you need to know before your first visit

Who We Are

Cooper Center for Metabolism (CCM) and Seattle Performance Medicine (SPM) are a specialized metabolic medicine practice founded by Dr. Emily Cooper, MD in 2003. We focus on the underlying metabolic causes of obesity, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and infertility.

We are not a primary care clinic. We work alongside your primary care provider to address metabolic dysfunction that your PCP may not have the time or specialization to address in depth. We track our outcomes and strive to be the most evidence-based metabolic medicine practice we can be.

Our team includes:

  • Emily Cooper, MD — Medical Director. Board Certified in Family Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Board Eligible Sports Medicine. Founder of CCM, SPM, and the Diabesity Institute.
  • Alisha Boxley, ARNP — Nurse Practitioner. Specializes in metabolic medicine, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk.
  • Kainoa Pauole-Roth, MS — Exercise Physiologist. Aerobic evaluation, strength assessment, and individualized training consultation.
  • Jennifer Huddy, MS, RD — Registered Dietitian. Personalized nutrition using a non-diet, metabolic approach.

Who We Help

We work with patients of all ages affected by metabolic conditions, including:

  • Obesity and weight imbalance
  • Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes prevention
  • Metabolic syndrome (elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, or fatty liver)
  • Infertility with a metabolic basis
  • Low blood sugar reactions and hypoglycemia
  • Hormonal imbalances affecting weight and metabolism
  • Athletic performance optimization (via the SPM app channel — open to non-patients)

Our Clinical Approach

Our approach is built on the science of metabolism — not on calorie restriction or willpower. We measure the biochemical and hormonal factors that regulate your metabolism, body weight, and appetite, and we build individualized treatment plans based on your personal and family history, your health history and what your labs show.

We evaluate: blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and insulin, thyroid, cortisol, reproductive hormones, and general chemistries. This detailed workup, combined with your personal and family health history, identifies personal disease risk factors, and guides a focused treatment plan.

Obesity is classified by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association as a “multi-metabolic and hormonal disease state.” Treatment is not a quick fix — medical improvements such as better cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar often occur before body weight changes. Most patients experience significant reductions in disease risk, and the medical treatment approach takes time and requires consistent follow-up.

What to Expect as a New Patient

Your Establishment Visit

All new patients begin with an establishment visit that includes your initial provider consultation plus a comprehensive in-clinic lab draw. The SPM establishment fee below is a one-time fee, separate from your monthly membership.

Please be aware of two additional billing items at your first visit:

  • (1) Quest Diagnostics bills separately for running the lab analysis and these charges go to your insurance or are billed to you directly by Quest.
  • (2) Inter Science Institute (ISI) bills separately for AgRP testing, a specialized neurotransmitter test we recommend for all new patients ($250, paid directly to ISI by check or credit card at your appointment; SPM does not collect or profit from this fee).

Provider & Establishment Fee (Initial Visit + In-Clinic Lab)

Emily Cooper, MD:  $620

Alisha Boxley, ARNP:  $545

Lab Appointment Preparation

Your first visit includes a comprehensive in-clinic lab draw. Please prepare as follows:

  • Arrive fasting. Nothing to eat or drink other than water after midnight the night before.
  • Discontinue biotin supplements 2–3 days before your lab appointment.
  • Bring a solid meal that includes starchy carbohydrates, protein, and fat — something you typically eat. No smoothies or protein shakes.
  • Coffee and tea are fine with your meal, but water only afterward.
  • There will be a fasting blood draw, followed by post-meal blood draws at 30, 60, and 90 minutes.
  • You will provide a urine sample for urinalysis of basic chemistry.

Meal examples: Breakfast sandwich with English muffin, egg, and cheese · Oatmeal with milk, nuts, and fruit · Chicken, rice, and broccoli. We do not prescribe low-carb diets.

Your Membership

Beginning June 1, 2026, all care at Cooper Center for Metabolism is delivered through a monthly membership. Membership is what gives you access to your care team, services, and discounted rates.

Full Membership — The Default for All New Patients

Dr. Cooper, MD

$ 149

per monthIncluded Service Visits: 4 per year

Alisha Boxley, ARNP

$ 129

per monthIncluded Service Visits: 4 per year

Your 4 visits can be used as Plan A (4 clinical provider visits) or Plan B (3 clinical provider visits + 2 flex visits for nutrition or exercise). Same price either way — choose at the time of enrollment.

Plan A — Provider-Focused Care

4 clinical provider visits per year

Best for patients with:

-Active medication titration

-Recently diagnosed conditions

-Frequent monitoring needs

Complex cases requiring regular clinical oversight

Plan B — Integrated Care Team

3 clinical provider visits + 2 flex visits per year

Flex visits may be used for:

-Nutrition consultations with our registered dietitian

-Exercise physiology consultations

-Any combination (2 nutrition, 2 exercise, or 1 of each)

Best for patients who are stable on treatment and want broader lifestyle and behavioral support.

Every Full Membership includes:

  • Included provider visits (Plan A or Plan B, chosen at enrollment)
  • Care coordination and prescription management between visits
  • Prior authorization processing
  • Secure portal messaging via Hello Health
  • All administrative services
  • 10% discount on all à la carte services

Membership is month-to-month with no annual contract. 30 days written notice via the Hello Health EMR portal is required to cancel.

Essential Membership — Reduced-Frequency Tier

Essential Membership is a reduced-frequency tier for established patients who are clinically stable and only need 2 provider visits per year. It is not a reduced-rate option — eligibility is based on clinical stability, not cost preference, and is determined by your provider, not by self-selection.

To be considered for Essential Membership, patients must have been active with the practice for 3+ years and meet specific clinical stability criteria determined through a chart review by their provider. If you are a long-standing patient and would like to know if you qualify, please contact our office.

Optional Service Packages (Members Only)

Packages are optional prepaid bundles that deliver 25% savings off standard rates — a deeper discount than the standard 10% member rate that applies to individual à la carte services.

Packages are purchased as a one-time payment (not a monthly add-on). Once purchased, the sessions are added to your account for you to use over the next 12 months. Unused sessions expire 12 months from purchase date and do not carry over.

You can purchase packages anytime through our website at coopermetabolic.com/packages, or ask at the front desk.

View All Service Packages

Scheduling Your Package Sessions

Members: After purchasing any package, contact our front desk at (206) 632-4575 to schedule your sessions. All member appointments are booked through Hello Health.

Non-members (DEXA, Exercise, and Metabolic Testing packages only): After purchasing, call our front desk at (206) 632-4575 to request a coupon code for the SPM app. Download the SPM app, enter your coupon code, and self-schedule your sessions.

Members — accessing Nutrition and Lab Draw packages: The purchase link for these packages is password-protected. Your member access code is included in your Patient Handbook (New Patient or Established Patient). Enter the code when prompted, then complete checkout on Hint Health. Contact the front desk to schedule your sessions. If you can’t find your code, call our front desk at (206) 632-4575.

Insurance and Payment

We are a direct-pay practice. We do not bill insurance and do not accept insurance payments.

  • We can provide a superbill (itemized receipt) for you to submit to your insurer as a non-network provider. Reimbursement is not guaranteed and depends on your plan.
  • We have formally opted out of Medicare. Medicare patients may be seen, but Medicare will not reimburse for services rendered by us. A Medicare Private Contract is provided at registration.
  • A credit card, debit card, or bank account (ACH) on file is required before your first appointment.
  • Monthly membership is charged automatically on the same date each month.

Accepted Payment Methods

We accept payment via bank transfer (ACH), debit card, credit card, and HSA/FSA card.

Credit card transactions include a card processing surcharge. ACH, debit, and HSA/FSA payments are not surcharged.

The Hello Health Patient Portal

All patients are required to register with Hello Health PortalConnect — our secure communication platform for messaging, records, and care coordination.

  • Portal fee: $69/year (individual) or $99/year (family) — paid directly to Hello Health, separate from your SPM membership.
  • Registration link: portalconnect.net
  • Use the portal to message your provider, upload outside lab results, access visit summaries, and submit membership cancellation requests.

Prescription refills are handled by your pharmacy, which contacts us directly via fax or e-prescribing. Do not use the portal to request prescription refills — contact your pharmacy instead and allow 48–72 hours for processing.

Important: Washington State Requirement

All patients must be physically present in Washington State at the time of every appointment, whether in-person or via telemedicine. This applies even to Washington residents who are traveling out of state at the time of their appointment.

If you are traveling and need to reschedule, please contact us in advance. Conducting appointments outside Washington State is not permitted under state licensing regulations.

Visit Us

Cooper Center for Metabolism
19930 Ballinger Way NE
Second Floor
Shoreline, WA 98155

Phone: 206-632-4575
Fax: 206-632-4576
Email: info@coopermetabolic.com