Program FAQ

Oshi Health is a virtual digestive health clinic that provides personalized care to patients who are struggling with gastrointestinal (GI) conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or other common digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, or bloating.

Oshi Health is open to Firefly Health members with a Care Pass living in eligible states. You must be 18 years or older to sign up for Oshi Health. For more questions about state eligibility, please contact us at enrollment@oshihealth.com.

Oshi Health uses a team based approach to personalize care to each individual’s needs. To do so, we start with an initial visit with the GI Provider where we focus on getting to know you, your health history, and your goals for your healthcare. From there, a personalized care plan is established and other GI care team members may become involved to support your achievement of your goals. Our priority is ensuring that you are connected to the right care team members with a focus on improving your quality of life and restoring control over your symptoms and GI health.

While we’d love for you to continue to engage in our program, we fully understand that things come up that may prevent your ongoing engagement and/or you may choose to discontinue participation. In this case, you would notify your Oshi Health care coordination team via chat within the app and we will process your request.

If you are experiencing any gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or already have an established diagnosis, you may benefit from easy access to a specialized GI care team. No one likes the discomfort, stress, and anxiety of having pain, nausea, or other GI symptoms. We understand how difficult it can be to feel nervous about what you eat or feeling anxious about whether or not there is a restroom nearby. With Oshi Health, having your own dedicated GI care team that knows you, will provide you with the assurance that your wellbeing is the number one priority, that your questions will be answered, and that your symptoms will be diagnosed and treated by a team of US-based, board-certified, GI specialists.

After you sign up, you’ll have 24/7 access to your personalized GI care team through the Oshi Health app. Your GI care team will work with you to develop a care plan to help you take control of your digestive issues and get back to what’s most important in life.

Your care team will include access to highly qualified GI care team members, including Gastroenterologists, GI Specialized Providers (including GI Nurse Practitioners and GI Physician Assistants), GI Registered Dietitians, GI Behavioral Health Providers, and GI Health Coaches, all working together to deliver integrated care aimed at helping you achieve symptom control. Additionally, you’ll be partnered with a care coordinator to help you navigate your health journey, including medical record retrieval, external referrals, and procedural needs. And if your care plan requires prescription medications or diagnostic tests, including labs imaging and procedures, your team can provide access and referrals, as needed.

If you receive a Care Pass from Firefly Health, you will not need to pay for any services you receive through Oshi Health (including virtual visits, symptom tracking, instant messaging with care providers, etc.). However, if you receive care outside of Oshi Health, such as necessary lab tests, in-person physical exams, or medications from your pharmacy, your standard insurance copays or deductibles will apply, and you will be able to request a Care Pass for these services through Firefly Health.

Yes, your Oshi Health provider can prescribe medications, just like any other medical practice. Your provider can also order labs, radiological imaging studies, and other clinical tests, when necessary, at a local GI clinic.

For many patients, telehealth will be sufficient to handle their care needs. Through telehealth, your providers can order medications, labs, imaging, or other diagnostic tests. There are some cases where in-person care is required for patient safety. In these cases, Oshi Health and Firefly Health will help find you an in-network provider. If you go to a provider Firefly Health recommends, this provider will also be eligible for a Care Pass to ensure $0 cost to you.

Protecting the privacy and security of your information is extremely important to us. All data collected in the course of this program is stored on HIPAA-compliant systems in accordance with US law. Your information will not be shared or released without your consent.

Gastroenterologists are board-certified physicians with dedicated specialty training in the management of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Their training includes conditions such as colon polyps and cancer, hepatitis, gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), peptic ulcer disease, colitis, gallbladder and biliary tract disease, nutritional problems, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and pancreatitis. After medical school, Gastroenterologists complete a three-year residency in Internal Medicine, followed by an additional three-year fellowship (speciality training) in Gastroenterology. Gastroenterology fellowship is a highly competitive and rigorous program in which trainees learn directly from nationally recognized experts in the field. They learn to treat and diagnose a broad range of conditions and receive dedicated training in endoscopic procedures. Your Gastroenterologists have all completed their fellowship training in the United States and are board-certified from respected organizations.

GI-Specialized Providers are licensed professionals with specialized training and significant experience in caring for patients with GI conditions. At Oshi Health, we have both GI Physician Assistants and GI Nurse Practitioners. Our GI-Specialized Providers complete an additional advanced degree followed by experiential training in Gastroenterology. Your GI-Specialized Providers are all based in the U.S. and have undergone further extensive training at Oshi Health on how to incorporate nutrition, lifestyle, and health coaching into your management plan. They will work alongside the Gastroenterologist to provide high-quality care that is timely and personalized.

GI Registered Dietitians (RD) are experts in nutritional care with extensive knowledge in GI and digestive health. Your GI Registered Dietitian will provide tailored dietary advice to help you identify foods that trigger your symptoms, and generally, help with finding the right foods that work for you. Registered Dietitians are US-licensed, hold nationally recognized certifications from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and have completed accredited, supervised practice programs. The GI Registered Dietitians at Oshi Health take this training one step further by undergoing sub-specialized training in GI.

Your GI Registered Dietitian will most likely ask you to keep a regular journal of your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and diet. Together, you’ll explore the nuances of your specific condition to define a care plan that meets your individual needs. You and your GI Registered Dietitian will review and discuss your current diet and gauge whether or not it’s working for you, as well as what potential adjustments you might make to prevent or alleviate your GI-related symptoms.

GI Behavioral Health Providers are certified medical professionals who study the mind and behavior. Oshi Health GI Behavioral Health Providers are US-licensed and have a doctorate degree in psychology or other mental health specialties. They also complete further specialized training in how to apply behavioral health modalities to patients with GI symptoms.

As the healthcare and GI community continue to learn more about gut health and the strong relationship between the gut and brain, there is a greater need for incorporating psychological intervention—including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Mindfulness, and other therapeutic modalities—as part of the total GI care plan. You will be able to address core mental health concerns like stress and anxiety that might be contributing to heightened GI symptoms, as well as learn how to cope with psychological concerns that might be brought on by your GI condition.

Your GI Behavioral Health Provider will work with you to determine which treatment approach is most appropriate for your specific case and communicate that approach to your broader care team. Your GI Behavioral Health Provider will help you manage your symptoms and provide you with specific strategies and techniques to do between sessions to maximize their effectiveness on the gut-brain connection.

Our GI Health Coaches have expertise in health behavior change, and help members manage their symptoms through lifestyle, diet, and other behavioral adjustments (like sleeping better or reducing stress). As a part of our integrated GI care team, our Health Coaches partner with you and your other Oshi Health providers to help you meet your care goals.

The primary form of communication with your GI Health Coach will be in-app messaging, with an option to have a virtual visit when needed. Your coach will work closely with you to find the right resources, tips, and goals to optimize your GI care. You may be asked to keep a journal of your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and diet so that your GI Health Coach (and the other members on your care team) can identify what adjustments may be necessary to improve your health and wellbeing. Your GI Health Coach’s objective is to create reasonable tasks to make your overall GI care plan easier and more straightforward. While GI Health Coaches are equipped with extensive GI knowledge, they are not licensed, or responsible for giving you medical advice, prescribing treatments, ordering tests, or performing the work of a clinical professional.

GI Care Coordinators will help you manage the logistics of care, while also supporting our internal clinical staff to ensure fluid coordination between the various professionals working on your team. We know that sharing your medical history, scheduling appointments, filling out insurance forms, navigating benefits/coverage of your health plan, and finding local test sites can be challenging. To help with this process, your GI Care Coordinator will help facilitate these tasks for you. Oshi Health GI Care Coordinators only with GI patients and therefore understand the unique circumstance of GI care including endoscopy, infusions, GI medications, and symptoms.

Yes, Oshi Health provides additional support beyond traditional GI practices. We can share records with your existing GI clinician to support ongoing care.

For many patients, telehealth will be sufficient to handle their care needs. Through telehealth, your providers can order medications, labs, imaging, or other diagnostic tests. There are some cases where in-person care is required for patient safety. In these cases, Oshi Health will help find you an in-network provider.

Yes, your Oshi Health provider can prescribe medications, just like any other medical practice. Your provider can also order labs, radiological imaging studies, and other clinical tests, when necessary, at a local GI clinic.

Our providers can address a wide range of urgent and acute concerns. Because we offer next-day appointment availability and 24/7 access to our clinical team, we are a great option for urgent needs. If you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms that you believe need immediate attention you can always reach out to Oshi Health at (646) 876-8455. By navigating the options, you can connect with a medical provider who can provide advice and help guide your next step, which could include helping you determine if an expedited appointment might be needed or if immediate emergency care is warranted.