A Doctor for the Whole Family: Why Family Medicine Still Matters
In an age of fragmented care, Dr. Kelli Peiffer is bringing back the kind of relationship-based family medicine that puts your whole family’s well-being at the center. Learn how her concierge model supports every generation with time, trust, and continuity.
Last updated October 2025
At West Side Concierge Medicine, I often meet patients who tell me they miss having a doctor who knows their whole family. Someone who cared for them when they were younger, saw their parents, and maybe even cared for their children. In many ways, that kind of relationship-based family medicine feels like a thing of the past, but it doesn’t have to be.
In my practice in Fairlawn, I’ve built a model of care that brings back that sense of connection, continuity, and calm. Whether I’m helping a parent navigate midlife health changes, treating a teen’s sports injury, or managing a grandparent’s chronic condition, my goal is the same: to understand each person as part of the larger picture that is your family’s health.
What Family Medicine Really Means
Family medicine is a specialty that spans every stage of life, from adolescence through older adulthood. As a board-certified family physician, I’m trained to manage the full spectrum of health concerns: preventive care, chronic conditions, women’s and men’s health, and coordination with specialists when needed.
This breadth of knowledge allows me to provide consistent, connected care for entire families. It also creates an opportunity to see how genetics, environment, and lifestyle influence health across generations. When I understand your family history and daily routines, I can identify patterns, anticipate risks, and tailor recommendations that make sense for your household.
At its core, family medicine is about continuity. It’s about having one trusted partner who understands your values, your story, and your long-term goals, not just your lab results.
Why Family Medicine Still Matters
In a healthcare system that has become increasingly fragmented, it’s easy to lose sight of the value of consistency. One doctor manages your thyroid. Another handles your blood pressure. Someone else looks at your mental health. Each plays a role, but often no one is considering the whole person or the entire family.
That’s where family medicine stands apart. When one physician coordinates care across the lifespan, patients benefit from:
Consistency: You don’t have to re-explain your medical history at every appointment.
Continuity: Subtle changes are noticed sooner because your doctor is familiar with your baseline.
Convenience: One trusted office for everything from checkups to chronic care.
Connection: Your doctor understands your family dynamics, making care more personal and effective.
At West Side Concierge Medicine, this model extends beyond clinical expertise to encompass comprehensive care. It’s about building relationships that last, where your family feels supported through every transition and milestone.
Concierge Family Medicine in Fairlawn
Concierge medicine builds upon the foundation of family medicine, providing the time and access it deserves. Instead of juggling thousands of patients, I intentionally limit my panel size so that I can be available when you need me. That means same- or next-day appointments, unhurried visits, and direct communication by phone, text, or email.
Your membership includes:
unlimited office visits
coordination with specialists
review of lab results and imaging
proactive follow-up to ensure your care remains seamless.
It’s an approach that prioritizes connection over volume—and it works exceptionally well for families who want a consistent, calm, and supportive experience.
When you have one physician caring for your household, managing your health becomes simpler. Parents can schedule preventive screenings while scheduling sports physicals for their kids. Chronic conditions can be monitored more closely. And everyone benefits from the same compassionate, evidence-based approach.
Care for Every Generation
One of the things I love most about family medicine is how it evolves with my patients.
I might start by caring for an individual who joins to address midlife health concerns, fatigue, sleep issues, or hormonal changes. Over time, their spouse comes in for annual visits and management of their cholesterol. Then their teenager needs a checkup before starting a new sport. Before long, I’ve met the entire family.
That continuity allows me to understand how each person’s health influences the others. A parent’s stress level might affect their child’s sleep. A family history of heart disease might prompt earlier screening for adult children. Knowing the family context helps me design effective and personalized prevention plans.
In a world where healthcare often feels transactional, this ongoing relationship creates stability and trust.
When Family Care Becomes Preventive Care
Preventive medicine is most effective when it’s consistent. When your doctor knows you and your family, it becomes easier to notice early warning signs and make small, proactive changes that protect long-term health.
For example, when I know a family’s health history, I can help identify shared risks for conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid disorders. Together, we can track trends, adjust habits, and make evidence-based decisions before issues become urgent.
That kind of personalized prevention is the heart of concierge family medicine. It’s not just about treating illness when it appears; it’s about staying ahead of it.
A Partnership That Grows With You
At West Side Concierge Medicine, family care is about more than convenience. It’s about establishing an ongoing partnership founded on understanding and trust.
When your doctor knows you, your family, and your story, medicine becomes something more profound than a series of appointments; it becomes a relationship that supports you through life’s changes.
Suppose you’re looking for a family doctor in Akron or Fairlawn who offers the time, access, and continuity that modern healthcare often lacks. In that case, I invite you to learn more about concierge family medicine. It’s a model built for real life, flexible, proactive, and deeply personal.
Schedule a complimentary meet-and-greet to learn more about how concierge family medicine can support your household.
Call 330-593-CARE (2273) or visit www.wscmakron.com to get started.
