Welcome to our patient service guide, designed to answer your frequently asked questions and ensure you have a seamless experience at our medical office, conveniently located on East 72nd Street. We understand navigating healthcare can be complex, so we’ve compiled this information to assist you with everything from contacting your physician to understanding our policies. Our dedicated team of physicians and nurses on East 72nd Street is committed to providing you with exceptional care. Below are answers to common questions to help you manage your health needs effectively within our East 72nd Street practice.
Contacting Your Doctor’s Office for Medical Advice on East 72nd Street
Can you contact your doctor’s office for medical advice? Absolutely. Our physicians and nurses at our East 72nd Street location are available during office hours to address your medical questions. If you’re feeling unwell and believe you need to be seen, please contact our scheduling staff to arrange an appointment. If you wish to speak with a physician or nurse prior to scheduling, don’t hesitate to call our office directly on East 72nd Street.
Alt text: Doctor attentively listening to a patient in a brightly lit consultation room at an East 72nd Street medical office, emphasizing patient-centered care.
If our team is currently assisting other patients and unable to answer your call immediately, please leave a message. We are committed to returning your call as promptly as possible and will make every effort to get back to you quickly.
In the event of a medical emergency, it’s crucial to seek immediate attention. Please proceed to the nearest emergency room without delay. For residents near East 72nd Street, NewYork-Presbyterian ER is readily accessible.
Urgent Medical Questions After Hours at Our East 72nd Street Practice
What should you do if you have an urgent medical question outside of our regular office hours? Our East 72nd Street office ensures continuous care. When our office is closed, an on-call physician or our dedicated nursing service is available to assist you with urgent medical concerns.
Our internal medicine and pediatric practices utilize a specialized nursing service for after-hours coverage, including late nights and overnight support. Furthermore, a physician is always on call for backup and to handle more complex medical situations. Rest assured, the on-call physician is either your primary physician or another experienced physician from our East 72nd Street practice.
If you experience a medical emergency after hours or feel you need immediate emergency room care, please go directly to the NewYork-Presbyterian ER or the closest emergency room to your location near East 72nd Street. You can inform our office of your visit the next business day so we can ensure continuity of care. The emergency room staff will also notify us if they deem it necessary for follow-up.
Alt text: A compassionate nurse assisting a patient, illustrating the after-hours support system available to patients of the East 72nd Street medical practice.
Appointment Scheduling at Our East 72nd Street Location
Is it necessary to make an appointment to see a doctor at our East 72nd Street office? Yes, patients are seen by appointment only to ensure that we can dedicate the appropriate time and attention to each individual’s healthcare needs.
To schedule an appointment, please call our office number. Our friendly scheduling staff will assist you in finding a convenient time to see your physician. When you call to schedule, especially for your first visit to our East 72nd Street office, please have your health insurance card readily available so we can efficiently verify your insurance participation and coverage details.
For non-urgent appointments, such as annual check-ups or wellness visits, you have the convenience of scheduling online at any time through Weill Cornell Connect. This online portal provides 24/7 access to appointment scheduling and other patient services.
We are committed to seeing you as close to your scheduled appointment time as possible. However, medical emergencies can occasionally cause delays. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise that may affect your appointment time, we will make every effort to minimize your wait and appreciate your understanding.
Our staff will inform you of your expected arrival time, which includes time for updating your demographic and insurance information and completing any necessary paperwork. This streamlined process helps ensure your visit is efficient and organized from the moment you arrive at our East 72nd Street office.
Please be aware that arriving late for your appointment may necessitate rescheduling to avoid inconveniencing other patients and disrupting the physician’s schedule. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, we kindly request that you notify us as soon as possible, ideally at least 24 hours in advance. Frequent missed appointments without prior notification may result in restrictions on future scheduling.
You can easily cancel or reschedule your appointment by calling our office directly or by using Weill Cornell Connect, our user-friendly online patient portal.
Alt text: A patient scheduling a medical appointment online using a laptop, highlighting the convenience of digital appointment booking for the East 72nd Street medical practice.
Continuity of Care with Your Doctor on East 72nd Street
Will you see the same doctor each time you visit our East 72nd Street medical office? For the best possible continuity of care, it is our policy that all physical examinations and routine visits are scheduled with your designated personal physician. This is the physician you selected during your initial appointment with our practice. Maintaining a consistent relationship with your personal physician ensures a deeper understanding of your medical history and ongoing health needs.
For pediatric patients, it is essential that infants and children are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for all appointments. This ensures the most accurate exchange of information regarding the child’s health and well-being during the consultation.
If you are an adult scheduled for a physical examination or a cholesterol test, we kindly request that you fast or eat lightly for at least 4 hours prior to your appointment. This preparation allows us to obtain the most accurate cholesterol results during your visit. You are permitted to drink water, black coffee, sugar-free beverages, and take your prescribed medications at any time before your appointment.
Same-Day Sick Visits vs. Urgent Care Centers Near East 72nd Street
How quickly can you see a doctor if you’re not feeling well? Should you consider an urgent care center instead of visiting our East 72nd Street office? At our practice, all of our physicians allocate time in their daily schedules specifically for urgent or same-day sick visits. If your primary physician is unavailable at the moment you need care, another qualified colleague from our East 72nd Street team will almost always be available to see you promptly.
Choosing to visit our office for urgent care needs often results in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to standalone urgent care centers. Furthermore, our practice has the advantage of maintaining your comprehensive medical records and history. Because we know your medical background intimately, the care you receive in our office is frequently more efficient, safer, and better tailored to your individual health needs.
For medical needs that arise after our regular office hours, we may, in some instances, direct you to an urgent care center or, if necessary, to the emergency room. This guidance ensures you receive the most appropriate level of care in a timely manner, even when our East 72nd Street office is closed.
Alt text: Doctor carefully examining a patient’s throat during a same-day sick visit at the East 72nd Street medical office, highlighting the availability of prompt medical attention.
Specialist Referrals from Our East 72nd Street Office
How can you request a referral to see a specialist? If your insurance plan requires you to obtain a referral from our office before consulting a specialist, please request all non-urgent referrals at least 72 hours in advance. You can conveniently make this request by phone or through our secure patient portal, Weill Cornell Connect.
Requesting referrals through Weill Cornell Connect is particularly efficient and often leads to quicker processing of your referral request.
Depending on the specifics of your medical condition, we may require that you be seen in our office for an evaluation first before we issue a referral. This step ensures that the referral is medically appropriate and beneficial for your health needs.
Prescription Refills at Our East 72nd Street Practice
How do you request a prescription refill from our East 72nd Street office? We encourage patients to request prescription refills during their office visits whenever possible. This proactive approach helps ensure you have an adequate supply of your necessary medications and allows for timely discussion of your ongoing medication needs with your physician.
If you find yourself needing a refill at other times, please contact your pharmacy directly and ask them to submit a refill request to our office. Pharmacies can efficiently send electronic refill requests directly into our electronic medical record system. This electronic process enhances safety and streamlines service, ensuring accuracy and speed in processing your prescription refills.
Alternatively, you can also request a prescription refill using your personal Weill Cornell Connect account or by calling our office directly. Our team is here to assist you with your prescription needs in the most convenient way possible.
Alt text: Close-up image of prescription medication bottles, representing the prescription refill services available at the East 72nd Street medical practice.
Insurance and Payment Policies at Our East 72nd Street Medical Office
What insurance plans do we accept at our East 72nd Street location? What is our payment policy? We participate in a wide range of insurance plans to accommodate the diverse needs of our patients. For detailed information regarding specific insurance plans we accept, please feel free to ask one of our knowledgeable staff members. You can also check our website for an updated list or visit your insurance company’s website to confirm in-network providers. Before making decisions about new insurance plans, we recommend speaking with our staff, as online resources and insurance directories may not always reflect the most current information.
Co-payments and payments for services not covered by your insurance are expected at the time of your visit. If you prefer to be billed for a co-payment, please note that a $10 service charge will be added to your bill to account for the additional administrative costs.
If you are uninsured or are covered by an insurance plan in which we do not participate, full payment is required at the time of your visit. For your convenience, we accept various forms of payment, including cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Please be aware that your office visit may generate a bill from our office for physician services, and you might also receive separate bills from laboratories for necessary blood work and from radiology facilities for any imaging studies ordered. We exclusively utilize in-network laboratories and radiology facilities to minimize out-of-pocket expenses for our patients. However, depending on your specific insurance plan, these services may still be subject to co-pays or deductibles. If you have questions regarding these ancillary service bills, we recommend directing your inquiries first to your insurance company and/or the service provider for clarification.
It is important to understand that insurance plans vary significantly, offering a wide array of benefit packages. We encourage you to be familiar with your insurance coverage or to check with your insurance company regarding coverage details for services such as travel vaccinations, routine wellness visits, laboratory work, and other medical services.
In the event that you are seen in our office and your insurance company does not cover the visit or any ordered tests, you will be responsible for the full cost of the service.
Click here to see a copy of our Financial Policy Agreement.
Receiving Your Test Results from Our East 72nd Street Office
When can you expect to receive your test results? Your physician or a nurse from our East 72nd Street office will personally contact you with your test results as soon as they become available and have been reviewed. For your convenience and quicker access, you can also view your test results through your secure Weill Cornell Connect account. Please note that for patient confidentiality and accuracy, our staff members are not authorized to provide test results over the phone.
Alt text: A patient viewing medical test results on a tablet, illustrating the accessibility of health information through the online patient portal for the East 72nd Street medical practice.
Accessing Your Medical Records at Our East 72nd Street Practice
How can you request access to your medical records from our East 72nd Street office? Your medical records are treated with the utmost confidentiality. The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rigorously protects your health information, restricting practices from releasing any information without your explicit written consent.
To obtain a copy of your medical records, please complete the records release form in its entirety. Ensure all required fields are filled out accurately to avoid delays in processing your request.
Once completed, you can email, fax, or mail the form to our Privacy Office using the contact information provided below:
Weill Cornell Medicine- Privacy Office
1300 York Avenue, Box 303
New York, NY 10065
[email protected]
Fax: (646) 962-0635
For any questions or clarifications regarding your medical records request, please call the Privacy Office directly at (646) 962-9820.
Your request will typically be fulfilled within 3-10 business days. Please inform us if you have any urgent needs, and we will do our best to accommodate them.
Form Completion Services at Our East 72nd Street Office
Can our East 72nd Street office complete forms for school, camp, employment, or other purposes? Yes, we offer form completion services to assist our patients with various documentation needs.
There is a standard service charge of $10 for routine form completion. If you require expedited service, we offer a faster turnaround for $50 (same or next business day service, subject to physician availability in the office). Payment for form completion services is due at the time the forms are submitted to our office for processing. Please allow 7-10 business days for standard form processing.
Hospital Affiliations of Our East 72nd Street Practice
Are we affiliated with any hospitals? Yes, our primary affiliated hospital is NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, located at 525 East 68th St. This renowned medical center is closely linked with our East 72nd Street practice, ensuring seamless coordination of care when hospitalization is necessary.
Our internists and pediatricians collaborate with a dedicated group of hospital specialists who provide expert care for our patients when they are admitted to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. These hospital-based physicians are specialists in hospital medicine and maintain daily communication with your primary physician to keep them updated on your care and treatment plan. Your primary physician at our East 72nd Street office remains readily available by phone to discuss your hospital care with you and address any concerns.
Our OB/GYN physicians share coverage with another full-time faculty group. This collaborative arrangement ensures that one of these physicians is always available to address urgent gynecological problems and to provide comprehensive labor and delivery coverage for our patients.
Physicians at our Tribeca practice location are also affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital (NYPLMH). Our OB/GYN physicians at the Tribeca practice deliver their pregnant patients at NYPLMH, offering a convenient option for patients in that area.
Online Access and Communication with Our East 72nd Street Office
Can you contact our doctor’s office online for appointment scheduling, test results, or other inquiries? We strongly encourage all our patients to sign up for Weill Cornell Connect, our secure, online patient portal. This powerful tool enhances communication and streamlines many aspects of your healthcare management.
Through Weill Cornell Connect, you can conveniently schedule annual physicals and wellness visits, as well as non-urgent follow-up appointments, all from your computer or mobile device. In addition, the portal allows you to request prescription refills and referrals electronically, view portions of your medical record including medications, immunizations, and test results, send secure messages directly to our East 72nd Street office, and even pay your Weill Cornell Medicine or NewYork-Presbyterian hospital bills online.
Weill Cornell Connect is also available as a user-friendly app for your mobile devices, providing you with on-the-go access to your health information and our services. You can easily sign up for this invaluable service during your next office visit or directly through our website. Embrace the convenience and enhanced control over your healthcare by joining Weill Cornell Connect today.
Alt text: Smartphone displaying the Weill Cornell Connect mobile app interface, showcasing the digital patient portal for the East 72nd Street medical practice and its mobile accessibility.
