Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Levine
Hi Alison, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Dr. Alison Levine, MD – board-certified pediatrician and holistic practitioner.
I started Fig Tree Pediatrics because I am passionate about fostering healthy, joyful lives for children and their families.
This has been my passion since before medical school, and I pursued my medical education with the goal of combining medical expertise with a holistic approach. After pediatric residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, PA, I came to Colorado and worked at the Emergency Department of Children’s Hospital Colorado. While I loved the fast pace and high acuity of emergency medicine, it renewed my commitment to excellent primary care for children, as many of the children coming to the emergency room could have been better served by an excellent relationship with a pediatrician.
I returned to primary care pediatrics at a typical large practice in Boulder where I built wonderful relationships with patients and their families. However, the typical fee for service model has many inherent problems that create barriers between physicians and their patients. Packed schedules, long waits, high costs for visits, inability to reach a physician by phone are among the many issues that create excess costs, worry and work for parents and physicians alike.
I started Fig Tree Pediatrics so that I could prioritize patient and family centered, wellness focused, personalized care every single day. This integrative philosophy ensures that my patients receive comprehensive, evidence based care that respects their individuality and nurtures their overall well-being. I’m deeply committed to building a supportive and inclusive community. I believe that connection and collaboration will create a healthier future for our children.
At Fig Tree Pediatrics, every child is treated like family. I strive to create a warm, welcoming environment where parents and children feel heard, respected, and empowered. At Fig Tree Pediatrics I partner with kids and their families to nurture the health, happiness and wholeness of our young people together, guiding them to thrive in every aspect of their lives.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! Medical training is arduous – medical school and residency require 7 difficult years. I also had my oldest two daughters while I was still a medical student, so I entered residency not only as a new physician with new responsibilities, but as a mother of two toddlers. After residency I began working in the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital because I loved emergency pediatrics, but also because it allowed me to work nights and weekends and be home with my (by then) 3 daughters during the day. There’s lots of exhaustion and burnout for physicians, and I definitely started to feel that, especially in the spring of 2020 when I was working in the Emergency Department during COVID. Transitioning to primary care in Boulder had it’s own challenges. Starting Fig Tree Pediatrics was a dream that I had for a long time, and brining it to reality has involved learning a lot about owning and running a business. With all the challenges along the way, I’m happy to report that I’m having a lot of fun doing what I’ve always been meant to do.
We’ve been impressed with Fig Tree Pediatrics, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Fig Tree Pediatrics we practice Direct Primary Care, prioritizing the doctor patient relationship in service to high quality, efficient, compassionate care for all of our patients. Families pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to all of our services rather than paying for services individually. Healthcare needs don’t always arise during regular business hours; being able to easily communicate with your doctor is a game-changer for busy parents. Whether you have a quick question or need advice on a more complicated issue, we’re here to support you every step of the way. We believe that healthcare shouldn’t be transactional, and our membership model is a reflection of that. Our commitment to the long-term health of your family includes upfront pricing, increased access, personalized care, and the peace of mind that comes with it.
Fig Tree Pediatrics represents the nurturing, supportive and inclusive health care home that we have created. Just like a fig tree provides shelter and nourishment, we strive to create safe and caring relationships with families. The fig tree’s deep roots and long life represent our commitment to providing steadfast and reliable care throughout childhood and adolescence, laying the foundations for a healthy future. Ultimately, Fig Tree Pediatrics embodies our values of complete, compassionate, reliable care ensuring that every child receives the support that they need to flourish.
Why a membership model? How does this actually look?
Here’s an example.
It’s saturday afternoon and your child has hives all over – for no known reason. In the traditional model, you would likely call the on call doctor or nurse triage, and be directed to the emergency department or urgent care. You’d wait in a crowded waiting room, be seen for a few minutes, be told how to keep your child comfortable (or perhaps worse – get a bunch of invasive and expensive tests that your child didn’t need.) You’d be told to follow up with your pediatrician or an allergist next week. You’d take time to schedule those appointments and miss school and work to attend them. Over a few days you would have spoken to multiple nurses, doctors and receptionists that don’t know you or your child, you’d have spent many hours in waiting rooms and on the phone and would end up with significant medical bills. And forget about the plans you had for the rest of the weekend…
In the direct primary care model, you’d text your pediatrician directly and include a picture of your rashy kiddo. You’d hop on a call or a facetime with Dr. Levine and make a plan together. You would likely not need a trip to the emergency department, a specialist, or anything else. Dr. Levine would send a prescription to your pharmacy if needed, and would call you the next day to check in. And if anything got worse – you know you’d be speaking right to your own doctor.
At Fig Tree Pediatrics, I really love about bringing together new technology with the old school doctor-patient relationship:
I have video otoscopes so that parents can take a video of their child’s ear drum and send it to me, to either diagnose or follow an ear infection. Sometimes we don’t need to use antibiotics for an ear infection, because a parent can send me daily videos to monitor improvement, and then start an antibiotic only if truly needed.
A picture is worth a thousand words – or at least sometimes it’s worth a few phone calls and an office visit saved. In a typical practice, you’d have to bring your child to the office for a simple concern like pink eye or a rash, partially because in that model the doctor only gets paid by insurance if you walk in the door. In the membership model, that’s not a concern, so there’s no reason to miss work or school for something that can be diagnosed with a photo and a quick phone call.
The benefits of the membership model for pediatrics are endless. When parents don’t have to worry about copays, long waits or speaking to or seeing clinicians that don’t know their child, care is just better. My patients almost never end up in the urgent care or emergency department, specialist visits are rare (because I can just call a specialist on their behalf), and parents and patients miss much less work and school because we are able to schedule convenient visits or avoid a visit all together by using technology!
In a typical practice a pediatrician has 2000-3000 patients. Even the best pediatrician can’t know every patient as an individual. Fig Tree Pediatrics aims for membership to be around 250 patients so that I can truly know each and every one. There’s not a waiting list yet!
The office is so kid friendly! Many kids ask me if I live there! (I don’t.). There are toys, couches, craft supplies, snacks and more to help children feel relaxed throughout their visits. I used to think that crying was a norm in a pediatrics office – not anymore! Most kids don’t cry, even with their vaccines, because they feel so relaxed in the office. I also take the time to use evidence based methods to reduce discomfort with procedures, which typical busy offices don’t have the time or interest in doing.
I include home visits for all visits for newborns through 6 months old – including their vaccines. New babies and their caregivers shouldn’t have to leave the house in those first few precious weeks and months. Home visits are available to older kids for a small additional fee.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of the most formative experiences for me growing up was attending overnight summer camp every year. I went to camp in the woods in Canada and spent summers hiking, canoeing, camping, swimming in the lake, singing and dancing, climbing, putting on plays, doing crafts, learning and making life long friendships. There was so much warmth and community, laughter and growth. That’s really where I could become my truest self. I think giving kids that kind of freedom – to be away from parents, screens, their usual sports and activities – to just be in nature, explore new interests without judgment and form meaningful community is essential.
Pricing:
- Pricing is based on a membership model. Current membership rates are: – 0-1 year olds $250/month, 1 year old and up: $170/month which is inclusive of all services.
- Paying annually reduces rate by 10% ( 1 month free)
- There’s no contract or minimum membership length. I wouldn’t want anyone to stay if they’re unhappy with the care.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.figtreepediatrics.com
Image Credits
Alex Segall
