Boo-boos, ouchies, whatever you call them, they sure happen to kids a lot. And as professional and skilled as the city’s great hospitals are, there’s no denying that emergency departments are slower and more overcrowded than parents would like. Fortunately for city families, they’re not the only places that children and adults all can go for medical attention (in non-life threatening situations) anymore.
Urgent care centers are open to walk-ins, and patients are usually seen within minutes of their arrival. That’s exactly why Samuel Fisch, the CEO of MedRite Urgent Care in Midtown East and soon in Midtown West, believes that they’re a model that fits seamlessly into the rhythm of Manhattan life. “People [have] busy schedules, and it’s so hard to get in to see a doctor,” he says. “We felt it’s a service that’s needed in the city more than any place else.”
Nationwide, there’s been a drop in the number of doctors to meet the growing demand for healthcare, which has made alternatives to emergency rooms and standard medical practices all the more necessary. Interestingly enough, the rise of urgent care centers in the city itself has much to do with the downturn of the economy. Previously, it was too expensive for urgent care centers to open a Manhattan office. The financial crisis has actually helped that situation by lowering retail rents, Melrose explains, and many urgent care centers can now afford to open up.
These centers become especially useful in a city like New York, says Dr. Judah Fierstein, Director of the new Mount Sinai Urgent Care Center on the Upper West Side. Many people don’t have go-to primary care doctors to turn to, and, for those who do, it’s difficult to get same-day, evening, or weekend appointments. Another bonus? “Nationwide, the total cost of care [at an urgent care center], including charges covered by insurance, averages $600 less than care at an ER for the same complaint.”
Fisch adds that not only are urgent care facilities useful, the service that they provide also is on par with the high standards on the Manhattan lifestyle. “Many urgent cares are staffed by board certified emergency room physicians, so you’re getting the same level of expertise that you would had you visited the ER,” agrees Dr. Michelle Brosnan of CityMD, which has six offices throughout the city. She urges families with “mini-emergencies” like stitches, abscesses, and ankle sprains to take advantage.
Here’s where you can do just that:
Urgent Care Manhattan
199 Amsterdam Avenue; 212-721-4200, urgentcaremanhattan.com
Urgent Care Manhattan is a walk-in medical center that provides care for common illnesses, minor emergencies, wound repair, and X-rays. Patients can receive travel vaccinations, diabetes and cholesterol screenings, blood tests and lab analysis, and school and summer camp physicals.
CityMD
336 East 86th Street, plus 4 other locations; 212-772-3627, citymd.net
CityMD physicians treat injuries, common illnesses, and administer flu and mononucleosis screenings. Pediatric services include treatments for conditions like asthma, sprains and fractures, and minor head injuries. The facilities also offer X-rays, travel vaccinations, and physicals for school, camp, and sports.
MedRite Urgent Care
919 Second Avenue, plus 1 new location opening April; 212-935-3333, medriteurgentcare.com
MedRite treats non-life-threatening illnesses including upper respiratory infections, the flu, migraines, and injuries and provides various physical exams. On-site X-rays and online check-in forms are also available. The doctors on staff are board-certified emergency physicians. Open every day of the week.
New York Hotel Urgent Medical Services
952 Fifth Ave., Suite 1D; 212-737-1212, travelmd.com
This center handles minor emergencies for city tourists, and its doctors follow up with patients’ primary care physicians back home, providing detailed reports. 24-hour in-room care is available—doctors usually arrive at the hotel within the hour or at a requested time, with portable medical equipment and most medications.
EMERGeCARE
210 East 86th Street, Suite 203; 212-510-8092, 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
154 West 71st Street, plus 6 other locations; 877-458-8674, 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 the UWS and UES locations.
DR Walk-in
775 Columbus Avenue, plus 12 other locations; 212-932-8060, 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 services.
The Urgent Care Center of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue; 212-639-2000, mskcc.org
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.
Mount Sinai Urgent Care Upper West Side
638 Columbus Avenue; 212-828-3250, mountsinaifpa.reachlocal.net
Many of the doctors at this brand-new urgent care facility also treat in the hospital’s emergency department, but at the urgent care center, they’re able to treat patients more quickly and with greater privacy. The unique perk: access to Mount Sinai’s clinical pathology and diagnostic services.
One Medical Group
1790 Broadway, Suite 1802, plus 5 other locations; 212-530-0624, onemedical.com/nyc/doctors
One Medical Group offers same-day appointments for patients in need of immediate attention. An online member services portal, My One, allows patients to sign up for an appointment whenever they like, enter their medical history beforehand, then follow up with doctors and schedule their next visit after the appointment.
New York Doctors Urgent Care
205 Lexington Avenue, plus 1 other location; 212-684-4700, nydoctorsurgentcare.com
At this office, the two doctors experienced in emergency medicine treat immediate health needs such as acute lacerations, minor fractures and occupational-related injuries. They also handle common illnesses such as allergic reactions, bronchitis, and upset stomachs. Patients usually wait only 10 minutes in the café-style waiting room.
Emergency Dentist NYC
8 Gramercy Park; 212-486-9458, emergencydentistnyc.com
Located near Union Square, Emergency Dentist NYC specializes in treating all dental emergencies, traumas, and pain relief. Seven days a week including weekends and holidays.
