Concierge medicine isn't new into the region, but Dr. Miki Fato of Medico believes that with film crews rolling in and the G-20 around the corner, a practice like hers couldn't be better positioned.
As a concierge physician, Fato is a personal, primary care physician on constant call. Boutique or concierge medicine, which first became popular in Seattle ten years ago, isn't for everyone. It's an alternative for busy executives on the go, families who want a high level of personal care and can afford to pay for it out of pocket, or for people passing through, such as film crews or visiting journalists.
That's Fato's niche.
"People don't realize how many visitors come to the Pittsburgh area for short periods of time, from cameramen to physicians to executives," she says. "There are a lot of individuals who are here for a time who may not really have a primary care physician. That's the service that I provide."
Concierge patients pay an out-of-pocket annual retainer for services, a fee that isn't covered by health insurance. In turn, they have round-the-clock access to a physician, can make same-day appointments and receive highly personal attention.
"Each Medico physician is limited to only 50 patients," says Fato. "It's like having your own personal physician, someone who knows you intimately who makes your health a priority. We are your guide as you navigate the healthcare system."
Fato spent 20 years working for the UPMC and West Penn health systems before founding Medico. She hopes to grow the company and hire more physicians in the coming years.
She most recently worked with several well-known actors on the set of Warrior, which finished filming here. "It's a niche I'm really interested in growing. The patient-doctor relationship is critical to the care of the patient. That's what inspired me to start Medico, providing the best medical care that I can provide."
Writer: Debra Diamond Smit
Source: Miki Fato, Medico