1.) What is Organic Medicine?
Organic Medicine is a positive, natural and holistic approach to health and well-being. We focus on becoming well and optimizing our health through the use of natural nutritional supplements, good food choices, proper exercise regimens and positive thinking. We strive to get to the root cause of any medical and health concern and reserve prescription medicine for when it is absolutely necessary.
2.) Do you accept health insurance plans?
Dr. Koniver is a preferred provider with many health insurance companies including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Health Care, Wellpath, Tricare Standard and many other plans. We do not accept Medicaid, MUSC Options and Tricare Prime. As of January 1, 2010 we will no longer be accepting any NEW Medicare or BlueChoice patients as we have fulfilled these spots with current patients.
Many of the lab services are covered when performed by Dr. Koniver as well. Health insurances do not currently cover the costs of nutritional supplements or the IV nutrition we sometimes recommend.
3.) How is Dr. Koniver different than other doctors in the Charleston/ Summerville area?
Dr. Koniver truly seeks to educate his patients about the wonders of natural health and well-being. He is committed to finding the root cause for any type of problem and does not hand out precsription medicine to cover up symptoms. Dr. Koniver seeks to help patients find their optimal health and well-being through the use of nutritional supplements, proper food choices, structured exercise regimens and thinking positive thoughts.
Dr. Koniver is the only physician in the area to specialize in Organic Medicine, a term he created. As such, Dr. Koniver sees both children and adults who are looking for natural ways and means to navigate their individual health and well-being.
Dr. Koniver enjoys working with patients and establishing relationships with patients. Dr. Koniver does not wish to see as many patients as possible, but rather enjoys taking his time with each patient.
4.) What should I expect at my first visit with Dr. Koniver?
You will arrive to our office in North Charleston where your demographic information is entered into the computer system (10-15 minutes). Next you will be brought back to a patient exam room where Dr. Koniver will meet with you and talk with you. At that time, you and Dr. Koniver will decide on what is the best approach for any concern you have. If that plan includes drawing blood for lab work, the blood will be drawn at the office. Depending on any other testing you are going to complete, you may be given one or more test kits to complete at home. Dr. Koniver will go over all of these test kit instructions with you before you leave.
After your visit, you will check out at the check out desk at which time you can purchase any of Dr. Koniver’s pharmaceutical grade supplements. At that time you will also be expected to pay any health insurance co-pay if there is one required by your plan. You will then make a follow up appointment, if needed, and that is it.
Depending on the nature of your visit, first time office visits generally last from 30-60 minutes.
5.) Do I need to be fasting to have blood drawn?
You need to fast (not eat any food, but okay to drink water) after midnight for any cholesterol/ lipid panel and/ or fasting blood glucose/ sugar test. None of the other tests Dr. Koniver orders require you to be fasting.
6.) How long does it take to get test results?
That depends on each test. Most often, Dr. Koniver likes to go over your test results with you personally so a follow up appointment is usually made after your visit so that you can go over your results with Dr. Koniver.
Sometimes Dr. Koniver will not make a follow up appointment but will notify you by mail or by telephone with your results. This generally applies to any Annual Physical Blood work and sometimes to follow up blood work. It will then take up to a week to be notified of your lab results. Do not call the office if it has been less than a week. And be on the lookout in your mailbox as many times routine blood work is mailed to you with a personal note from Dr. Koniver.
7.) Will Dr. Koniver write/ refill prescription medicines for me?
Yes, Dr. Koniver does write prescription medicines. Due to the problems associated with both calling in and faxing prescription medicines in to pharmacies, Dr. Koniver will give you enough refills until he wants to see you again. For example, if you take blood pressure medicine, Dr. Koniver will write for usually 6-11 refills so that you can have your blood pressure medicine refilled for that period of time. But once you hit the last refill, you will need to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Koniver.
Dr. Koniver is very interested in your health and he does not take writing prescriptions lightly–by this he likes to spend time at different intervals evaluating how well the medicine is working for you and if there are other options to manage each condition.
8.) What should I do if I am feeling sick and need to be seen?
Please call the office 843-767-7650 and hit extension #10 to make an appointment. Dr. Koniver no longer sees walk-in patients as that has slowed down the appointment process. If an appointment cannot be made for you in a short period of time, you will be advised to go to a local urgent care. There are times when Dr. Koniver does call in prescription medicine when he cannot see his patients on that same day.
9.) How does your phone system work?
Extension #10: appointments, results and to order supplements
Extension #11: Medical/ nursing questions. medical records questions
Extension #13: billing and insurance questions
10.) How do I order supplements?
Many supplements are available to be purchased online through our website here (include link). Or you can call 843-767-7650, extension #10 to order by phone. You can always come in to the office and purchase them as well.
11.) How can I learn more about the lab testing Dr. Koniver runs?
We have a dedicated web page with sample reports located here
When you meet with Dr. Koniver, he will tell you if your insurance will cover the test (based upon medical necessity) and if not, what the self-pay cost will be.
12.) I am from out of town and would like to see Dr. Koniver–does he see out of town patients and how does that work?
Yes, Dr. Koniver has patients from many different parts of the United States. Some choose to come down and meet with Dr. Koniver in person and some meet with Dr. Koniver through phone and email. We will soon have an “Out of Town Patient” guide up on the website. For now, if you are from out of town and would like information, please email Dr. Koniver a brief story of what is going on, what you would like to accomplish to:
askthedoctor@primary-plus.com and Dr. Koniver will get back to you within 3 business days.
13.) How long does it take to get a new patient appointment?
Since Dr. Koniver’s advice is highly sought after, the patient schedule tends to fill up quickly. As a result, new patient appointments are generally scheduling 4-6 weeks out. Dr. Koniver understands that there are a lot of patients with pressing issues, but since he likes to spend so much time with patients, he limits the number of new patients that he sees in one day to four per day.
14.) Will my insurance cover the different laboratory tests of the Organic Performance Lab?
In general, most insurance companies do cover the different tests as long as there is medical necessity when run by Dr. Koniver. Many of these lab tests are expensive, so Dr. Koniver will be able to tell you if your situation and your insurance company warrant the covered lab testing. There will be no surprises as Dr. Koniver will tell you the cost of the tests before running any lab tests.
