Introducing Coffee Sponsor: North Star Family Medicine!
North Star Family Medicine is a medical office in the Brainerd Lakes Area whose focus is to establish the physician-patient relationship.
They are a private medical practice where people can get a higher level of care at a lower cost. Which enables them to be far more flexible and don’t have to sacrifice care for the directives of corporate medicine.
The mission of North Star Family Medicine is to provide comprehensive, outpatient medical care which empowers patients to improve their health based on a strong patient-physician relationship.
A Note from North Star Family Medicine
A few weeks ago, someone asked, “What happens when I arrive at North Star Family Medicine? Do you accept health insurance? Do you bill health insurance?” We thought to ourselves, this is a great opportunity for a blog post!
When you arrive at North Star Family Medicine, you park at the front door in a nice, small, convenient parking lot. You don’t need to walk miles to your car or through multiple hallways to arrive at the clinic. Our Receptionists, Julie and Jenny, personally greet you with a warm, welcoming smile. No kiosks here! Jenny and Julie quickly complete your check-in. For new patients, there are a few pages to complete, and we ask for your insurance card and driver’s license. For existing patients, Julie and Jenny know you, ask if there are any insurance changes, and proceed to discuss plants, football, or current events. There are coffee, tea, and water in the lobby for you to enjoy while you wait.
Once you are checked in, one of our Nurses- Sam, Madi or Georgi, take you to your room. On the way, you’ll stop for a quick, private weight check! They’ll obtain your blood pressure, pulse and temperature, update your medical history, review your medications, and document the reason for your visit.
Dr. Lelcu will come into the room and discuss the reason for your visit. She spends time listening to your concerns, completing a physical exam, answering questions, and placing any orders necessary for further evaluation. Labs are sent to our partner Quest and, depending on the lab test, results are typically received in 1-2 days. North Star Family Medicine has an x-ray machine in clinic, and images are taken and reviewed during the visit. Other imaging orders, such as CT scans or MRI’s, are sent to the patients’ preferred location to be completed. Finally, any referrals are placed to specialists or therapists, for further evaluation and treatment.
After the visit, Dr. Lelcu completes the charting and documentation. Then, the coding team reviews the chart and completes the necessary information for our billing team. The bill is then sent to the patients’ insurance company for review. This process is completed within 1-2 days of the office visit, ensuring that patients receive an Explanation of Benefits and bill in a timely manner. Julie and Jenny are available to answer questions and correct any billing concerns.
Labs, imaging results, refill requests, and patient phone calls are received and responded to in a timely manner by a person calling and notifying the patient of any results. This gives the patient an opportunity to ask questions regarding the results. Our goal is to have these issues resolved by the end of the clinic day.
Located at 4682 Wilderness Ct. Suite 102, Brainerd Mn 56401, North Star’s Clinic Hours are as follows:
Monday – Thursday: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am to 12:00 noon
Closed Saturday & Sunday
To learn more about North Star Family Medicine, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
Thanks to North Star Family Medicine, coffee will be FREE for members in April, May, and June of 2026 (.50 per cup for non-members).