Concierge Medicine

Interview with Doctor Shelly Miller

We recently had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Shelly Miller and learn more about concierge medicine. We were truly impressed with Shelly and the care model that her team provides. Previous to this meeting, we had no idea that concierge medicine was so in-depth and personalized. We are consistently looking for the best people to recommend to our clients and will certainly recommend Dr. Miller in the future. It is important that we do this back-end work, so when our clients have a question or problem that we can’t answer, we have great suggestions to offer. We wanted to share what we learned and asked her to join us for a guest blog interview. Today we will be talking about Concierge Medicine with Dr. Shelly Miller.

Can you tell us a bit about your background in medicine and why you became a Doctor, more importantly, a concierge doctor?

I actually started my career as an archeologist, and studied anthropology in college, which ends up being an excellent background for medicine. I then decided to study international health and got a Master’s degree in Public Health. That led me, circuitously into medicine. 

I always loved working with children so pediatrics was a comfortable place to land. 

To be honest, I had heard of concierge medicine for adults but was not aware that it existed for children. I happened upon Burgess Pediatrics and was excited about this model of medicine. It is a way to provide medical care that meets the needs of a patient much better than the regular medical system

How is a concierge doctor different than a regular doctor?

The difference is huge! It is like going back in time to the old fashioned medical model. I have all the time in the world to work with your child and your family to meet your medical needs. I have very few patients, so that I can get to know you and spend as much time as you need to answer all of your questions. Time with your doctor is essential. I spend at least an hour for each check-up and can spend more if needed. There is never a limit. No rushing. You don’t have to wait two months to schedule a visit.  I can see you the same day your child is sick if needed. I can see you every day. One of my goals is to keep you from having to go to the Urgent Care of the ER. 

Also, you have access to me 24/7. How much better is it to talk to a doctor who knows you in the evening when you have a sick child than to go to Urgent Care and see someone who you have never met? My patients email me with less urgent concerns or call if they are more worried and need an immediate response.   

How could this type of care benefit a new family?

When patients know they can access me anytime, it decreases the stress in their life. My nurses are also there to answer questions and take care of many minor details to help navigate the complicated medical world. If you need a referral, we will take care of it. 

If you have a more complicated child, I can help you with organizing needed consultations. When I have time, I like to go to the consultations with you as well. 

Concierge medicine during covid-19

In these days of Covid-19, we can also do things in the way that we feel are the safest way to provide medical care. We do as much as we can by zoom. If I need to see you, we have set up a tent in the parking lot where there is better ventilation. Our patients seem to be very happy with this option. We can even do shots in the car if that works best for you. Since my practice is independent, we have the flexibility to do what works best for the patients. We are doing Covid-19 swabs in the office rather than sending you out to the community to find one.

How are payments made for this kind of care? Do you accept insurance?

I do not take insurance. We have a monthly or annual fee for service. There are no co-pays. Everything is covered except for immunizations. We give you a bill for that, which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. 

Some of our patients request a superbill at the end of the year that documents all of their medical visits. This can be submitted to your insurance as well. Patients sometimes also use HSA or FSA accounts to cover the cost.

Are your visits home visits or office visits?

If I see a new baby, I see them at home for the first month of life. There is no extra cost for this; it is included as a regular service. It is a challenge for new parents to think of getting out to an office with their newborns. We have some patients who choose to have all of their visits at home only. I have a home-visit only option also if that works better for you. 

What is the age range of your patients?

I see children from newborn age through college. Actually, we have some patients who are out of college and still come to see us since it is so much easier for them. They must like coming here!

Is there anything else you feel is important for new families to know about you or your work?

I would love to talk to you about my practice. If you are interested, please contact Burgess Pediatrics at 650-321-9555, and we will set up a complimentary zoom or phone call so you can ask any other questions you may have. You can also check me out on our website.

A huge thank you to Dr. Shelly Miller for joining us! For more great tips on all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, check out our other weekly blogs!