Mr. & Mrs. Wohlfahrt
They met while studying medicine and even then they shared an ambition to achieve more in the field. With a wealth of experience in the Czech Republic and abroad, including the prestigious Mayo Clinic, then Peter and Mariana Wohlfahrt anchored themselves at Concierge Medicine Europe, a private clinic in Prague. Their goal is not only to prolong the life of clients, but also to ensure that as many of these years as possible are spent in health and full activity.
Specialist in practical medicine and nephrology and winner of a number of domestic and foreign awards in the field of cardiology make not only a family but also a perfect working tandem.
After graduation, Associate Professor Mariana Wohlfahrt and Dr. Peter Wohlfahrt, in addition to gaining clinical experience at the patient's bedside, also devoted themselves to scientific activities, where they achieved many successes. They have a number of professional articles in prestigious scientific journals, professional monographs and lectures abroad. Yet they humbly admit that top-quality health care is not without empathy and a real partnership between doctor and patient.
“Our approach is very personal and family. We try to talk to patients in a clear and partner way, we emphasize the simple explanation of complex medical problems and through this education we motivate patients to actively participate in the care of their health,” explains Mariana Wohlfahrt, who also focuses on lifestyle medicine.
“Our goal is not only to treat, but above all to prevent diseases and to keep patients healthy and active for as long as possible,” adds Peter Wohlfahrt. “Thanks to careful listening, detailed approach in diagnostics as well as the help of modern technologies, we offer clients truly personalized care.”
TAKE OWNERSHIP OF ONE’S HEALTH
During a comprehensive entrance interview, Concierge Medicine Europe not only asks traditional questions related to physical health, but also discusses sleep, stress management, emotions and relationships.
“We do not hesitate to ask more personal questions about lifestyle,” says Associate Professor Wohlfahrtová.
Such a detailed interview has only one goal – to create a tailor-made health plan that the patient understands and participates in.
All the findings of specialist physicians are then linked and interpreted by a general practitioner who plays the role of a comprehensive health care coordinator. ”Such a model is often lacking in the Czech health system and patients appreciate that it saves time and energy that they would normally have to devote to circulating specialists,” adds Mariana Wohlfahrtová.
WHAT IS YOUR VASCULAR AGE?
The medical duo believes that investing in health today brings benefits in the form of a longer, high-quality life. “Because the proper functioning of the blood vessels affects the activity of other organs, we often say that a person is as old as their blood vessels are,” says Peter Wohlfahrt. At the clinic, they perform vascular age tests using specific biomarkers and modern imaging methods targeting systemic inflammation.
“Most prevention programs target only the underlying risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity and smoking. However, there is a large proportion of people with low levels of these factors who may still be at increased risk of cardiovascular events. Bagging laboratory results in at-risk patients could lead to stroke or myocardial infarction over time,” explains Dr. Wohlfahrt.
When a patient at risk is given the opportunity to communicate clearly with a specialist, they rarely choose to downplay or ignore the problem. ”Involving innovative diagnostic methods using artificial intelligence helps doctors to explain the individual risk to the patient and motivate them to follow the recommendations,” adds the doctor.
AI-POWERED HEART MONITORING
The clinic also uses other modern technologies. For example, when monitoring heart rhythms, doctors use devices linked to artificial intelligence, which allows long-term monitoring of the heart action instead of the normal 24-hour examination. It also detects sporadic cardiac arrhythmias. “The patient is not limited by wearing a measuring device; the heart belt, which is similar to an athlete's belt, is not perceived,” reassures the cardiologist.
To motivate them to improve their physical performance, they rely on the measurement of maximum oxygen consumption, the so-called VO2 max. This is a stress functional examination. “Aerobic fitness, measured using this indicator, is among the most important predictors of longevity. The least fit 20 percent of the population are at four times higher risk of death than the fittest two percent,” points out Wohlfahrt, who also specializes in preventive cardiology in his work at IKEM in Prague. The good news is that the indicator can be increased by training.
MEDICAL DETECTIVE
At Concierge, great emphasis is placed on explaining the causal role of obesity in the development of civilizational diseases. Doctors know that if they actively help an often long-term frustrated patient to fight obesity at the beginning, they will not only fundamentally reduce the risk of developing civilizational diseases, but they will also kick-start the patient's determination for the coming years. "It is a mistake to turn a blind eye to such a crucial risk factor, to deny the patient the possibility of effective treatment, and to leave the entire burden of tackling obesity entirely to him," adds Mariana Wohlfahrtová.
Diagnosis and treatment of digestive disorders form a proportional part of everyday practice. "Of course, we cannot do without laboratory, imaging and often endoscopic examinations, which in many cases do not reveal the cause of the problems. Here again comes the role of a medical detective, who, with a detailed and personalized approach, helps to identify the cause of the problems, often in collaboration with allergo-immunologists, gastroenterologists and psychologists. Advances along this path help us to objectify the analysis of the gut microbiome – mapping a billion bacteria in the human gut that affect immunity, digestion, mood and general well-being,” explains Dr Wohlfahrtová.
The clinic is also sought after by people who suffer from sleep problems. “Often these are patients with chronic fatigue or sleep disorder. Here, beyond the normal diagnostic procedures in the general practitioner’s office, we use home monitoring of sleep apnea,” the couple says.
“We constantly try to keep up with the latest trends. In the work of our clinic, we combine the best of evidence-based medicine with a human approach that the Czech health system often lacks,” adds Wohlfahrtová.
DON’T WAIT FOR ILLNESS
One of the main advantages of the Concierge Medicine Europe clinic, apart from a number of specialists from top hospitals in Prague, is the unusually pleasant atmosphere between them and patients. Thanks to a personal approach, the team of doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, lifestyle counsellors and nurses eliminates the anonymity typical for large medical facilities.
“We know our clients personally and we are available to them not only in surgeries, but also nonstop on the phone in case of an emergency. This model of care is only possible because of our size and setting, which is based on the values of family medicine,” explains Associate Professor Wohlfahrtová.
And when does a duet become a symphony? When doctors, nurses and patients find a common note.
And this was also the statement of one of the clinic patients: “Doctor, that was really a concert,” were the words spoken after the surgery, which was indicated and provided by cardiologist Wohlfahrt. A pathological finding, which, if not operated on, would expose the patient to a very high risk of stroke.
According to Dr. Wohlfahrt, awareness of the value of investing in health is growing in the Czech Republic. Whereas years ago the willingness to pay for premium care was the exception and the standard was a passive approach to waiting for illness, today people increasingly realize that prevention and quality care are not only an expense, but a long-term investment in work potential and life comfort.
“Patients understand that if they invest in health today, they will avoid the financial and time loss associated with illness in the future,” adds Dr. Wohlfahrt.
From everyday experience and communication with patients, it is clear that personal approach drives. This is also evidenced by the fact that the clinic recently opened its second Prague branch in Smíchov, and patients from opposite corners of Prague today do not have to commute to the original one in Pankrác.
“Health is an investment that returns. Our mission is to help patients live not only longer, but also better,” add the couple.
