Rainier Medical

About Rainier Medical

What is Rainier Medical?

Rainier Medical is a weight management practice at 5713 Wollochet Drive NW in Gig Harbor, Washington. Valerie Sutherland, MD, is the prescribing physician. Her listed credentials are Diplomate status with the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She has practiced obesity medicine full time since 2015. The practice focuses on conditions linked to excess weight, including pre-diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and high cholesterol.

The clinic runs four named programs. Expeditions is a very low calorie diet in which participants replace their meals with prescription medical food, such as shakes, puddings, soups, bars and snacks. Summit is a more gradual option that does not require medical supervision, blood work or an EKG, but it does require checking with a primary care provider or Dr. Sutherland first. Peak is for anyone with an individual health, fitness or well-being goal. The Weight Maintenance Program covers patients after active weight loss. The clinic also lists a diabetes prevention and reversal program, telehealth visits and aesthetics services.

In its own words: "We prescribe and manage all FDA approved medications for both short term weight loss and long term weight management." The clinic does not name specific drugs. It mentions generic oral options and newer injectable medications. Its Google listing shows a 4.1 rating from 27 reviews.

This listing is for its Gig Harbor office at 5713 Wollochet Dr.

What does it cost?

The clinic does not publish prices, and it does not state a consultation fee. Nothing it publishes says whether medication is part of any program cost. It bills insurance, and in its own words: "We will bill our services to contracted health insurance companies as a courtesy." It does not say which insurers it works with. It recommends checking your policy's section on weight management medications before your first visit, because it notes that many plans exclude them.

Once a patient reaches the goal weight range, the clinic enrolls them automatically in its maintenance program at no charge. That program is designed to keep weight within ten percent of goal. The clinic does not state cancellation terms.

What should you ask before you book?

Ask whether Dr. Sutherland writes and manages your prescription, and who answers your questions between visits. Ask for the monthly fee in dollars and whether it includes medication. Ask whether any medication is brand name or compounded, and where it is filled. Ask what the first visit, each follow up and any lab work or EKG will cost. Ask which insurers the clinic bills and whether your plan covers weight management medication. Ask how to cancel and what happens to your maintenance enrollment if you do.

The clinic requires new patients to have an in person visit, so ask whether your first appointment must be in person. If it has been 3 years or more since you last saw Dr. Sutherland, the clinic treats you as a new patient for insurance purposes. Office hours vary, so call (253) 319-3339 for current times.

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you want a physician-led weight management practice near Gig Harbor and you are comfortable asking about prices, medication coverage and an in person first visit before you commit. It is a weaker fit if you want prices or drug names up front, or if you are looking for hormone, peptide or longevity care, which the clinic does not describe.

Sources: rainiermd.com

Services Offered

Location