A concierge doctor for Fisher Island residents is a physician who provides direct, scheduled access for routine care, preventive medicine, and telehealth without the wait times or appointment queues of a standard primary care practice.
Fisher Island’s geography shapes the decision differently than it does for mainland Miami. The island is accessible only by vehicle ferry from the Watson Island terminal, which introduces a logistical layer that standard urgent care and hospital systems do not account for. A concierge relationship with a physician-led clinic on the mainland removes that friction for the medical situations it can handle: prescription management, lab reviews, IV therapy, telehealth consultations, and same-day visits coordinated around your ferry schedule.
This guide covers what concierge medicine means in practice for Fisher Island residents, what TrufaMED offers through its Surfside clinic, how ferry logistics factor into care planning, and the specific situations where a concierge membership adds measurable value versus when other options apply.
What a Concierge Doctor Does
Concierge medicine, also called direct-access medicine, reorganizes how you interact with a physician. Instead of scheduling weeks out and spending 8 minutes with a provider per visit, concierge members have direct phone and telehealth access, same-day in-clinic appointments, and a physician who knows their medical history before any appointment begins.
The model covers the services that standard primary care and urgent care address: preventive screenings, lab panels, prescription management, minor illness treatment, referral coordination, and health optimization planning. Many practices add in-clinic procedures, on-site imaging, and IV therapy to the same visit, so a member can address multiple care needs in a single trip.
What concierge medicine does not replace is emergency care. A cardiac event, stroke, or trauma requires 911 and the nearest emergency department. The concierge relationship adds value in the space between those emergencies and standard scheduled medicine: the visit that needs to happen today, the lab result that needs a physician’s interpretation before a specialist appointment, the prescription that needs review before travel.
For Fisher Island residents, that space between is where the access advantage matters most. A 45-minute trip that includes the ferry wait plus mainland transit to a standard clinic is a different calculation than a 90-second telehealth call with a physician who already has your chart, followed by a same-day in-person visit if the situation calls for it.
The physicians at TrufaMED who oversee the concierge program are board-certified clinicians. Dr. Uri Gedalia (CMO) is a Board-Certified General Surgeon. Dr. Shane D. Naidoo (Medical Director) is Board-Certified in Emergency Medicine. Both are actively involved in patient care at the Surfside location.
Fisher Island Medical Logistics
Fisher Island has a population of roughly 700 year-round residents, with a larger seasonal presence from October through April. The island has its own security force, fire department, and emergency medical response team. For life-threatening emergencies, 911 reaches island first responders, who coordinate patient transfer via ferry or Coast Guard helicopter to mainland facilities.
The vehicle ferry operates continuously between Watson Island and Fisher Island, 24 hours a day. The crossing itself takes approximately 6 minutes. Wait times at the ferry terminal vary by time of day. Walk-on passenger trips move faster than vehicle trips, particularly during peak morning and late-afternoon periods.
The category of medical situations that residents most commonly need but that the island cannot provide on-site includes same-day lab draws, X-ray and imaging, IV therapy, physician evaluation of a new symptom, and prescription management for ongoing conditions. These are not emergencies, but they benefit from same-day resolution rather than a scheduled appointment weeks out.
TrufaMED’s Surfside clinic at 9445 Harding Ave is approximately 8 to 10 miles from the Watson Island ferry terminal, a 15 to 30 minute drive depending on causeway and Collins Avenue traffic. A member who takes the walk-on ferry and arranges ground transport can typically reach the clinic within 30 to 45 minutes of leaving their Fisher Island residence. For most non-emergency situations, that transit time is acceptable when the destination is a clinic with on-site lab, digital X-ray, ultrasound, and physician-supervised IV therapy available in the same visit.
The alternative, an emergency department visit for a non-emergency condition, typically involves 2 to 6 hours of wait time, a higher out-of-pocket cost structure, and a high-acuity clinical environment. A telehealth consult to triage the situation first, followed by a coordinated same-day clinic visit if needed, is a more functional system for most Fisher Island residents managing non-emergency care needs.
How TrufaMED Serves Fisher Island Residents
TrufaMED operates a physician-led urgent care and concierge medicine clinic at 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154. The clinic is Florida’s only Joint Commission-accredited urgent care, a designation that requires independent audit of clinical quality, patient safety protocols, and operational standards. Details about the accreditation and the clinic’s history are available on the About TrufaMED page.
Concierge members at TrufaMED have access to same-day scheduling, direct physician communication, and the full on-site diagnostic suite during clinic hours. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM; Saturday, 11 AM to 11 PM; Sunday, 12 PM to 8 PM. The extended Saturday and Sunday hours accommodate residents who travel to the mainland on weekends and prefer to handle medical matters without adjusting a work schedule.
In-clinic services available to concierge members include:
- Physician-supervised IV therapy in Miami, including the Myers Cocktail, hydration formulations, NAD+, glutathione, amino acid blends, and custom nutrient protocols
- Digital X-ray and on-site lab draws with rapid result turnaround
- Ultrasound for musculoskeletal and soft tissue assessment
- Preventive and executive physical examinations
- Prescription management and specialist referral coordination
- Travel medicine consultations and vaccine administration
TrufaMED does not use rotating locum physicians for its concierge program. The relationship is intended to be longitudinal, with the same physician team tracking your health history over time. For Fisher Island residents who maintain a primary residence off the island for part of the year, continuity of a single physician team across both seasonal periods is a practical advantage.
What a Concierge Membership Covers
Concierge membership at TrufaMED is structured through the concierge services program, with tiers that differ in level of access and included services. Current pricing and tier details are available on that page.
Direct physician communication. Members can reach a physician by phone or secure message for non-emergency concerns without going through an answering service. Response times for secure message during clinic hours are same-day. For calls made during clinic operating hours, the expectation is same-shift response.
Same-day appointment access. Members are not placed in the standard scheduling queue. When you call during clinic hours, the goal is a same-day appointment. For Fisher Island members arriving by ferry, a confirmed arrival window can be set in advance, reducing the time spent waiting at the clinic after transit.
Preventive and wellness planning. The concierge relationship includes time for annual physical examinations, lab panel reviews, and health planning discussions that a standard walk-in visit does not accommodate. This is where the model’s value compounds across years of membership. Preventive catches, pattern recognition across lab draws over time, and medication adjustments before a problem escalates are the clinical outputs that matter.
Telehealth for appropriate situations. Not every question requires a ferry trip. Members can consult with a TrufaMED physician via telehealth for prescription questions, lab result reviews, symptom triage, and follow-up conversations. Florida telehealth regulations apply; controlled substances require a qualifying in-person encounter under state prescribing standards.
Insurance and payment. Concierge memberships are fee-based. TrufaMED accepts several major insurance plans for billable services performed during visits. Details on accepted carriers are available on the insurance page.
Enrolling from Fisher Island
Enrollment in TrufaMED’s concierge program begins with a consultation, which can be conducted via telehealth or in person at the Surfside clinic. The consultation covers your medical history, current prescriptions, and the specific features of the membership tier you are considering. No intake paperwork queue is involved. The clinical team handles enrollment directly.
Most Fisher Island residents who enroll do so at the start of the seasonal residency period, in September or October, so the physician relationship and records are established before the winter months when the island’s population is at its highest. Establishing the relationship in advance also means telehealth access is available immediately if a health question arises during the busiest part of the season.
To schedule a consultation or ask about current membership availability, call (305) 537-6396. The Surfside clinic is at 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TrufaMED offer mobile IV therapy to Fisher Island?
TrufaMED offers mobile IV therapy to South Florida locations. For specific questions about service availability to Fisher Island addresses, call (305) 537-6396 to confirm current logistics. In-clinic IV therapy at the Surfside location is the standard for most members, with the full suite of formulations and physician supervision available at the same appointment.
What happens in a medical emergency on Fisher Island?
Fisher Island has its own emergency medical response team. For any life-threatening situation, call 911. Island first responders coordinate patient transfer to mainland facilities via the vehicle ferry or, for critical cases, via helicopter. A concierge physician relationship does not replace emergency services. What it provides is a physician who can be contacted after an emergency to coordinate follow-up care, communicate with the treating facility, and manage the post-event medical record.
Is a concierge medicine membership covered by insurance?
The membership fee for concierge medicine is typically not covered by insurance plans, including Medicare. It is a direct-pay arrangement between the member and the clinic. Individual services performed during a visit, such as lab work, imaging, or IV therapy, may be billed to insurance depending on the plan and the specific service. The TrufaMED insurance page lists accepted carriers and coverage details.
How long does it take to get from Fisher Island to TrufaMED in Surfside?
The Watson Island ferry terminal is at approximately 1 MacArthur Causeway. TrufaMED’s Surfside clinic at 9445 Harding Ave is approximately 8 to 10 miles north of the terminal, a 15 to 30 minute drive depending on causeway and Collins Avenue traffic conditions. Walk-on ferry passengers who arrange ground transport can typically reach the clinic within 30 to 45 minutes of leaving their Fisher Island residence. Confirming an appointment arrival window in advance removes any waiting time at the clinic after the transit.
What is the Joint Commission accreditation?
The Joint Commission is an independent nonprofit organization that accredits healthcare facilities based on audited standards for patient safety, clinical quality, and operational practice. TrufaMED is Florida’s only Joint Commission-accredited urgent care clinic. For residents choosing a concierge clinic, the accreditation provides an independent verification of clinical standards that self-reported quality claims do not. Details about the clinic’s accreditation history are on the About TrufaMED page.
Can TrufaMED concierge members use telehealth while traveling internationally?
Florida-licensed physicians can provide telehealth consultations to established patients outside Florida under certain circumstances, depending on the jurisdiction the patient is in during the visit. If you travel internationally for extended periods, discuss this scenario with the physician team at enrollment. For most international travel, a pre-departure in-person consultation is the most straightforward approach. TrufaMED offers travel medicine consultations that include destination-specific guidance, required vaccines, and prescription planning for the trip duration.
What is the difference between concierge medicine and urgent care at TrufaMED?
Urgent care addresses immediate, non-life-threatening conditions that need evaluation the same day. Concierge medicine is an ongoing physician relationship covering preventive care, chronic condition management, prescription oversight, and health planning over time. TrufaMED offers both from the same Surfside location. Many Fisher Island members use the concierge program for their primary care relationship and the urgent care walk-in service when a same-day situation arises that benefits from on-site imaging or lab work the same visit.
Fisher Island residents who want physician access without the uncertainty of standard scheduling, extended ferry trips for non-urgent visits, or emergency department waits for manageable conditions can reach TrufaMED at (305) 537-6396. The Surfside clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 9 PM; Saturday, 11 AM to 11 PM; Sunday, 12 PM to 8 PM. Concierge membership inquiries are handled by the clinical team directly. The address is 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154.