Dr. Acey Albert, primary care physician, at his office in Palm Beach.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Linda Haase
When Dr. Acey Albert volunteers at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, he works in makeshift conditions: The medical tent is pitched on a pier and chaise lounges are transformed into exam tables.
Here, at his medical office in Palm Beach, things are a bit more upscale. But, in keeping with the locale (it’s steps away from the Four Seasons and the Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa), there is a tropical flair — the artwork is colorful and the walls are awash in color.
The practice, part of the Bethesda Health Physician Group, opened about a year ago. Albert, who has a medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics, feels right at home in Palm Beach.
“I know the Palm Beaches well,” says Albert, who was born in Miami and grew up in Jupiter (he even attended a debutante cotillion at The Breakers).
These days, the Jupiter High School grad spends lots of time on the island. He sees patients at his Ocean Boulevard office (when he gets to eat lunch out, he enjoys the restaurant at Palm Beach Par 3) then he usually runs on the island after work.
Afterward, the 42-year-old heads for his hometown where he lives with his wife, Allison, and their 14-year-old daughter, Julia. Weekends are often spent outdoors, going to the beach or stand-up paddleboarding.
Albert has been an athlete for years — he ran cross country at Jupiter High and at University of Florida, where he got a bachelor of science in exercise and sport sciences. He competed in the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon, among others.
Although he has the utmost respect — and awe — for those robust souls who endure Ironman events, he’s much more comfortable helping out in the medical arena.
“They are just amazing athletes and it is great energy to be around,” says Albert, who previously practiced with Kaiser Permanente in Denver, where he was the regional expert in the management of hypertension.
Almost all of the Ironman participants come through the tent — for everything from dehydration to stitches (one was a 74-year-old contestant hit by a car who had to be cajoled to stop running and receive medical care), says Albert.
In Palm Beach, Albert sees a diverse clientele, including patients who live just across the bridge. “There aren’t a lot of physicians here but there are a lot of patients who need care on the island,” he says.
His office prides itself on efficiency. “While we have a lovely waiting room it is often a lovely, empty waiting room. And it’s not because we aren’t busy. We do a good job of bringing patients back to the exam rooms quickly,” he quips. “This is a concierge level practice without the concierge fee.”
Dr. Acey Albert’s office is at 2875 S. Ocean Blvd., Suite 208, Palm Beach; 588-0411 or draceyalbert.com.
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