Looking for a crunchy pediatrician in Charleston, SC…

[Momma2Bostons]

Preferably one that is open to an alternate vaccination schedule.
Thanks in advance!

[mbbinsc]

I have not seen him, but have heard that Craig Koniver (Primary Plus) is a supportive MD. Hope that helps.

[StarMommy77]

new doc

Just made our first new patient visit for mid-Feb.. The gal helping me .. could not have been nicer.. and I asked her if he accepted non-vaxing patients and families.. and she said 90% of his practice does not vaccinate!! OMG! I am in Tears! I am so excited!!!!
843-767-7650

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2...craig_koniver/
Dr. Craig Koniver of Summerville thinks many patients have become frustrated with conventional methods of treating illnesses.
Koniver runs Primary Plus Organic Medicine, which offers patients options in organic medicine. Many patients with ailments are going to doctors and getting prescriptions without considering alternative forms of treatment, he says.

"Western medicine is very disease-oriented," Koniver says from his medical office off Dorchester Road in North Charleston.

A third-generation doctor originally from Delaware, Koniver was led to study organic methods of treating illnesses after having his first child.

"We wanted to raise our daughter in a very natural way," he says.

At Primary Plus Organic Medicine, Koniver frequently treats patients who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and diabetes.

While he writes prescriptions for pharmaceutical drugs, he encourages patients to consider alternatives such as chelation therapy, which can help thin the blood, and amino-acid therapy, which can help regulate chemical levels in the brain.

Koniver received his undergraduate degree at Brown University and his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Koniver made his way to the Lowcountry after living out West for several years. He opened the doors to his family practice in 2006.

http://www.healthgrades.com/director...D-708D2021.cfm

[angel01051977]

So is Koniver the only ped around that accepts non-vaxers?  I need to have one that accepts new patients (and bills INSURANCE) once we move.  Does Koniver take insurance (like Aetna, BlueCross or any other standard insurance company)?

[greenhands]

Unfortunately Dr. Koniver just changed his practice policies with regards to insurance as of 12/1/10.   He no longer bills ANY insurance, and patients must choose from several bundled plans of care.  If you are 100% nonvaccing, I would speak with Mary Jo Gunselman, the Nurse Practitioner at Sandlapper Pediatrics.  I have also heard wonderful things about Dr. Martine Hutton if you are opting for a delayed/selective route. 

[Fairsailing188]

I second the Mary Jo recommendation.  A friend of mine doesn't vax at all and Sandlapper is where she takes her girls.  We selective vax and go to Dr. Dino Copses at Sweetgrass Pediatrics in North Charleston.  I'm not thrilled with the other docs in the practice but love Dr. Dino.  He knows our parenting/medical philosophy and does a great job of giving me the APA recommendation and then what he's seen in research, if different.  The only thing I would say is if you want to do a selective/alternative schedule you need to have done the research in advance.  He doesn't recommend any schedule other than the APA but is open to it as long as you know what you want to do. 

[Momma2Bostons]

We actually ended up with Dr. Dino at Sweetgrass, too! He's fantastic. Very laid back. We've seen a few other drs there but Dr. Dino is def our fave.

[marysc]

I have started going to Dr Koniver recently and am SO grateful to him for tracing 90% of my problems to prescription drugs.  I'm 78 yrs old and my body just doesn't react to these powerful drugs like a 30-yr-old.  I was in the hosp in Dec 2010 for surgery (entirely successful) and was sick for the next 5 months with horrible rash, digestive upsets, fatigue and exhaustion, so short of breath I could hardly walk across the room.  I had been put on a drug (amiodarone) with dreadful side effects and didn't realize it.  Other drs of course gave more drugs to "cure" the side effects, and they just made things worse.  None of them would even talk to me about drug side effects, even after I began to suspect them on my own.  Now I'm off the powerful drugs and on Dr Koniver's probiotics to heal my poor abused body without killing it.  He is my new primary care doctor.  I feel safe and protected now, instead of like a rabbit sacrificed on the alter of pharmaceuticals!