Pediatric Functional Medicine FAQs

  • GI disorders: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Constipation, Diarrhea, Celiac disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    Skin Disorders: Rashes, Keratosis Pilaris, Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema

    Brain and Mental Health Concerns: ADHD/Autism, Anxiety/Stress/Depression, Headaches, PANS

    Allergic Disorders: Asthma, Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis, Allergies

    Obesity and associated conditions: High Blood Pressure, High cholesterol, Pre-Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes, PCOS

    Autoimmune Disorders: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Thyroid conditions, Arthritis

  • Incorporating the latest advances in science, functional medicine takes a completely new way to view chronic health conditions. The underlying principle is that chronic health conditions are the result of physiological imbalances throughout your body, creating a inflammatory response and causing your symptoms. Conventional medicine labels these symptoms as your diagnosis, but that doesn’t tell you what is causing the inflammation to begin with. This inflammation presents differently for all people, hence all the disorders that can be helped with a Functional Medicine approach. Inflammation can be caused by a single lifestyle choice, genetics or can be caused by many different combinations of influences such as: food sensitivities to poor diet, lack of essential nutrients, stress, emotional and environmental toxins, as well as a sedentary lifestyle.

  • Functional Medicine is not a quick fix. It is an investigational process, a partnership with families. The longer a disorder has been present, the longer it can take to correct. It is a journey for the whole family, as many new health habits need to be established, so that lifelong health and vitality can be achieved. Now, MANY health concerns can be avoided all together through healthy lifestyle habits!!! I help guide families to restore their child’s health and vitality using a personalized, Functional Medicine approach. I focus on lifestyle influences, genetics and the environment to determine what is causing the disease or chronic conditions. I can also use the latest advancements in diagnostic testing to uncover underlying dysfunctions for chronic wellness issues – so we can uncover overlooked factors that can have a dramatic impact on your child’s health.

  • Monthly membership, direct access for questions/concerns $50/month

    $400 Initial comprehensive health assessment & plan.

    Follow-ups $200.

    Functional labs: Cost extra & prices vary ($100-$900). Labs are priced at my practitioner discount cost from each laboratory and I have a $100 assessment fee per lab for the more complex labs that will require an in-depth assessment & plan. The extra fee is applied to the: Organic Acid, Comprehensive stool study, Infections/Co-Infections, Hair Heavy Metals, SNP/Epigenetic Testing, Toxins (chemical, metals, mold.) The extra fee does NOT apply to: Food Sensitivities, routine blood screening labs (CBC, CMP, anemia check, thyroid, ect…), Micronutrients

    Supplements: Cost extra. I use a few supplement stores that have quality supplements and also allow me to have a practitioner discount (15-30% off retail) for my patients. Wellevate, New Beginnings Nutritionals, CellCore & Microbiome Labs.

    The initial visit is a long one. I like to break this up into a phone call for history gathering (60-90 minutes) and an in person for physical assessment, around 90 minutes. I have 3 locations we can meet. Mondays in Grandview, MO, limited time on Tuesdays in Leawood, KS or more available times in Peculiar, MO.

    Follow-Up appointments can be in person or over the phone. These last 30-60 minutes.

    Functional labs are not necessarily needed initially (unless you want them.) If the recommended foundational lifestyle changes & supplement recommendations can be incorporated slowly over time, one will typically see positive results. The functional labs can typically help us find answers quicker, especially if we are looking for any toxins (mycotoxins, yeast, fungal, environmental chemicals, heavy metals, infections). Gut microbiome (comprehensive stool study) labs can also be done, but…if one has chronic symptoms, we can assume there is a microbiome dysbiosis/dysfunction going on. Sometimes the comprehensive stool studies do find pathogens or parasites that are causing trouble that we need to deal with. Tick borne infections & co-Infections are an important test to look at for many common symptoms. Epigenetic testing can also be completed. Any functional lab you have discovered can be ordered.

  • HSA, FSA, credit or debit cards are uploaded to a secure online portal for monthly and visit billing. I will accept cash for the visit fee.

  • No, I do not participate in any insurance plans.

    I am considered an out-of-network provider on most health plans. Your insurance company may reimburse you for out-of-network services, but this varies widely with each insurance plan. If you have any questions about out-of-network reimbursement, contact your individual insurance representative for additional information.

    If needed, I can provide an invoice for medical care, vaccinations and prescriptions that you can submit to your insurance company.

  • The state of Missouri requires that I have a collaborating physician, my collaborating physician is Carissa Stanton, MD of Mindful Pediatrics KC .