A Look at Some of Manhattan's Urgent Care Centers

by Amanda Woods "In the past, the emergency room wasyour only option for receiving care for anyminor or not-so-minor injury," said MarkMelrose, D.O., co-founder of Urgent CareManhattan on the Upper West Side. "The ERwas the only game in town." Today, about 40 percent of visits to hospital emergency departments are for nonurgent or semi-urgent problems, resulting in unnecessarily overcrowded emergency rooms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For many conditions, urgent care is a more suitable option. Urgent care centers offer treatment for a variety of ailments, ranging from strep throat to broken bones and fractures. In some centers, physical exams for schools, summer camps and employment are also provided. Urgent care is not a new concept-it has existed for about 25 years, according to Bill Foresman, the administrative manager of Mount Sinai Urgent Care-but it has recently taken off both nation- and citywide, Melrose said. Urgent care centers are open to walk-ins, and patients are usually seen within minutes of their arrival. Citywide urgent care is a necessity that fits into the rhythm of Manhattan life, said Samuel Fisch, the CEO of MedRite Urgent Care in Midtown East. "An urgent care center is definitely a model that belongs to New York City," Fisch said. "People [have] busy schedules and it's so hard to get in to see a doctor. We felt it's a service that's needed in the city more than any place else." Many issues play into the surge of urgent care in the city. "You hear of the financial strife of hospitals closing, and they're having trouble providing efficient care to all patients," said Anthony Ruvo, M.D., a co-owner of New York Doctors Urgent Care. "Patients still need to be seen in a timely manner." Previously, it was too expensive for urgent care centers to open a Manhattan office. The financial crisis has actually helped that situation, Melrose said, and many urgent care centers can now afford to open up. Many of the urgent care centers that have cropped up in Manhattan are staffed by board certified emergency physicians-a huge plus in a city filled with large medical institutions, said Douglas Kaiden, M.D., a doctor at MedRite. Below is a list of some of the urgent care centers on the Upper East and Upper West sides and in surrounding neighborhoods. Urgent Care Manhattan Upper West Side-199 Amsterdam Ave., 212-721-4200, www.urgentcaremanhattan.com Urgent Care Manhattan is a walk-in medical center that provides pediatric and adult care for common illnesses, minor emergencies, wound repair and X-rays. Patients can also receive travel vaccinations, diabetes and cholesterol screenings and blood tests and lab analysis. Students are welcome at the center for school and summer camp physical screenings. Alcohol and drug testing, along with HIV screenings, are also available at the facility. CityMD Upper East Side-336 E. 86th St., 212-772-3627; Upper West Side-2465 Broadway, 212-721-2111; Columbus Circle-315 W. 57th St. Another Upper East Side location (1150 3rd Ave. at East 67th Street) is set to open in the fall. citymd.net CityMD physicians treat injuries, common illnesses and pediatric needs. They also provide X-rays and conduct health screenings for employment, STD testing and flu and mononucleosis screenings. The facilities also offer travel vaccinations. Besides the four locations mentioned above, CityMD also has an office on West 23rd Street in the Flatiron District. MedRite Urgent Care Midtown East-919 2nd Ave., 212-935-3333, www.medriteurgentcare.com MedRite treats non-life-threatening illnesses including upper respiratory infections, the flu and migraines and injuries such as sprained ankles. X-rays are also available on-site. The doctors on staff are board-certified emergency physicians, said Douglas Kaiden, a doctor at MedRite. The office is open seven days a week, and patients can come in for school, sports, occupational and other physical exams. Patients have the option to fill out a check-in form online before they arrive at the office. New York Hotel Urgent Medical Services Upper East Side-952 5th Ave., Ste. 1D, 212-737-1212, travelmd.com/site1/home/new-york-hotel-urgent-medical-services This center handles minor medical emergencies for city tourists, and its doctors follow up with patients' primary care physicians back home, providing detailed reports. New York Hotel Urgent Medical Services also offers 24-hour in-room medical care-doctors usually arrive at the hotel room either within the hour or at the patient's requested time. The doctors carry portable medical equipment, and most medications are immediately available. EMERGeCARE Upper East Side-210 E. 86th St., Ste. 203, 212-510-8092, www.emergecare.com This center treats various medical needs, ranging from the common cold to bites and stings to dehydration. Most major insurances are accepted here, but those who aren't insured pay an all-inclusive $125 fee. Manhattan Physician Group Upper East Side-215 E. 95th St., 212-996-8000; Upper West Side-154 W. 71st St.,212-496-4600. www.mpgcares.com Here, patients can receive treatment for common illnesses. General and vascular surgeries, as well as social services, are also available at the Upper East Side location. Internal medicine services are offered at both locations. DR Walk-in Upper West Side-775 Columbus Ave., 212-932-8060, www.drwalkin.com This urgent care center is located inside a Duane Reade pharmacy. Here, patients can receive general checkups, treatments for back and joint pain, physical exams for work and school and blood sugar testing, to name a few. The Urgent Care Center of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Upper East Side-1275 York Ave., 212-639-7081, www.mskcc.org/doctor/department/department-medicine/urgent-care-service Memorial Sloan-Kettering patients are treated for problems related to cancer, medical and surgical illnesses and side effects of cancer treatments. Staff at the center evaluate patients' hospital records, take a brief medical history, do a physical exam and conduct tests based on the physical symptoms. Then, the staff will determine whether the patient should go home or be admitted into the hospital. Mount Sinai Urgent Care Upper West Side-638 Columbus Ave., 888-407-1848, mountsinaifpa.reachlocal.net/about-us/locations/upper-west-side/urgent-care This is a brand-new urgent care facility. Many of the urgent care doctors here also treat in the hospital's emergency department, but at the urgent care center, they are able to treat patients more quickly and with greater privacy. This center has a unique perk-access to Mount Sinai's clinical pathology and diagnostic services. One Medical Group Columbus Circle-1790 Broadway, Ste. 182, 212-530-0624, www.onemedical.com/nyc/doctors One Medical Group offers same-day appointments for patients in need of immediate attention. On the center's website, there is a link to the member services portal, My One, which allows patients to sign up for an appointment whenever they like. Using MyOne, patients can enter their medical history online and, after their appointments, follow up with doctors and schedule their next visit. New York Doctors Urgent Care Greenwich Village-65 W. 13th St., 212-414-2800; new office at 205 Lexington Ave. (Murray Hill) to open July 16. www.nydoctorsurgentcare.com At this office, the two doctors, Anthony Ruvo and Alvaro Alban, treat immediate health needs such as acute lacerations, minor fractures and occupational-related injuries. The doctors-both with experience in emergency medicine-also handle common illnesses such as allergic reactions, bronchitis and upset stomachs. Patients usually wait only 10 minutes in the casual, café-style waiting room to be seen by a doctor, Ruvo said, and they usually spend no more than an hour total in the office. Emergency Dentist NYC 212-486-9458;www.EmergencyDentistNYC.com Located near Union Square, Emergency Dentist NYC specializes in treating all dental emergencies, traumas and pain relief. Seven days a weekincluding weekends and holidays.