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Docs Physicians - Beth Israel Medical Group
Rating Details »
Categories: Doctors, Medical Centers
Neighborhood: Chelsea202 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10011
(212) 352-2600
- Nearest Transit:
-
23rd St-7th Ave (1)
23rd Street (PATH)
23rd St-8th Ave (C, E)
- By Appointment Only:
- No
19 reviews for Docs Physicians - Beth Israel Medical Group
I have been using DOCS for last-minute emergent issues for years. It's tough getting a doctor's appointment in NYC, even with your primary care physician, and if I have something that needs to be taken care of immediately and not in three days (like a UTI, sinus infection, etc.), I go to DOCS 34th Street.
I have always had good experiences. Sometimes I have to wait for over an hour, but it's a walk-in place, so that's what I expect. Today I needed meds for a sinus infection. I called and the receptionist (who answered promptly and was courteous) told me that the wait was 20-30 minutes. I arrived at 11:10 a.m., was in the treatment room at 11:23 a.m., saw the doctor at 11:28 a.m. and was on my way back to work by 11:45.
I wouldn't use DOCS as a substitute for a primary care physician for physicals or more serious issues, but I highly recommend them for walk-in care.
I am NOT a fan of Beth Israel but my experiences with DOCS over the years have been quite good. The wait was not that long, the nurses were pleasant and the doctors were professional.
This is a clinic and I think they do a pretty good job.
They diagnosed a friend of mine with pneumonia a few years ago. She has asthma and they probably saved her life.
After failing to treat a UTI with home remedies, I decided to suck it up and go see a doctor. A friend recommended DOCS to me and even though I read some of the negative reviews on here, I decided to give it a try. The fact that they are open 24/7 and accept walk-ins was very appealing to me because of my busy schedule. I braced myself for a long wait, though.
I was pleasantly surprised! I showed up at about 8:30 or 9pm, and I waited MAYBE half an hour (probably less) to be seen. The staff was professional and efficient. The doctor was fast (which might unnerve some people, I guess, but I was glad). And there's a 24 hour CVS just down the street for filling prescriptions!
I probably wouldn't go here for a regular check-up, but for minor health concerns it seems like a good place to go. Seems to me that going later in the evening like I did is also your best bet.
I went this past Saturday, because i had a high temp and a bronchial cough. After waiting nearly 3 hours in the lobby to see the doctor, the doctor literally said to me 'nothing is wrong with you, but here's a zpak' The doctor was completely careless, rude, and didn't even look at me once. I would have been better staying home in bed.
I went to another doctor for a second opinion. What a waste of time/energy (that i don't have)/money.
Horrible. Just horrible. The receptionist at the front is on some sort of power trip, she won't even take your form, until SHE CALLS you. Which may be 2 hours. Or more. Then another 3 hour wait for the doctor. And if you even DARE to ask how long it will be, you get MAJOR ATTITUDE. Plus they have a sign with "no cell phone use" and some annoying woman is yapping away. AVOID!!!
DOCS is sort of like a hypochondriac's 7-11.
I go there when I can pretty much diagnose myself, but need a doctor to write a prescription ( strep throat, pneumonia, crabs...er....I mean.... nevermind).
They WILL see you, no matter what. Which is 75 percent of the battle here in NYC where getting a doctor's appointment is like attempting to get into Lotus (is that still a club thingie? I don't get out much.)
You will wait. Oh sweet god, will you wait. I once read an entire Genre Magazine cover to cover. Afterwards I had a strong desire buy vodka and a vacation packages to Mykonos. In other words, bring a book.
a couple of years ago these guys saved my life. had some chest discomfort for a day or two, trouble sleeping, achiness, and after a few tests (which showed everything to be fine), they told me to go to the emergency room to get blood work done "just in case", which i thought would be a waste of time. Turned out I had had a mild heart attack and the next day during an angiogram, I needed emergency triple bypass (90% blockage in main artery). Thanks, DOCS.
God this place is AWFUL. This place falls under the " Beth Israel Medical Group " and got lots of press recently for opening up a 24 hour 7 day a week primary care office. Well it was late at night (2am) and I've been sick for a few days and I decided to go clear up some things since I was up.
Long story short - the nurses were rude and MEAN. I asked a few questions and the woman's body language and tone were read "what are you an idiot?" all over her face even though they were basic simple questions. If you go after ten pm there's a $100 facilities fee which isn't written anywhere other than the bill (after you've seen the doctor) and not disclosed beforehand. I have no idea if my insurance will cover that.
And does everyone here hate their job or did I just get unlucky? I just got this cold feeling from this whole place. I wanted to get out as fast as possible. Thankfully I didn't have anything too serious and just wanted a second opinion. I definitely wouldn't come here if I was really sick.
I much more prefer Callen Lourde in the area if you need a general clinic. Their wait is a bit longer but they are cool and IF YOU HAVE NO INSURANCE CALLEN LOURDE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO HELP YOU OUT.
All in all I would not recommend. I wish I had waited another 6 hours or gone to the ER instead. They were mean and unhelpful and I came home a wreck.
Has anyone ever been to those clinics in grocery stores in the Midwest? The kind where you pay $15 to get some antibiotics for your UTI/strep?
DOCS is the expensive version of these in New York. The guy nurses there are so sweet, they'll quickly write you a bunch of perscriptions for your OBVIOUS conditions, its a very good LIMITED SERVICE CLINIC.
The ethical conundrum is that DOCS vaguely pretends that you can go in there with a serious condition and they'll catch it. As Kate F. can attest to, that's not true. Do not go to DOCS if you have a potentially serious or complicated illness!
I went in to see Dr. Galuchon/Holliday with some female issues and she casually prescribed me some medication which made my life a living hell for 2 months. She was completely oblivious to the fact that I temp and have awful insurance and when I tried to tell her that I would need to come after work, she snarled, "just take some time off." Yeah, lady, people with lots of time off and great insurance are the patients who go to DOCS.
One month into the agony/hell, she told me to "tough it out" and got up and left to go to lunch. Two months into the agony/hell I was in, I asked her for some new medication and she told me that the other meds put me at risk for cancer.
THANKFULLY, I made an appointment to go to Planned Parenthood. My doctor there cursed out DOCS and was horrified that Dr. Galuchon told me I was at risk for cancer, which was completely untrue, and was completely IGNORANT of the well-known side effects of the meds she put me on. Ladies, go to Dr. Goodchild at Planned Parenthood in Bleeker. If I catch you going to Dr. G at DOCS for your female stuff, I will slap you upside the head!
Who doesn't like a walk-in off the street doctors office. I had pink eye on a Sunday morning walked in and put my name on the list. Then I went out ate lunch at RUB BBQ walked back to DOCS and waited about 30 more minutes. I just have to say that is much better than having to wait until Monday to be seen by my doctor. You are going to wait, but in a pinch this is great. Dr. Strauss was great.
Here's the deal. I've gone to DOCS on 34th street twice and been impressed by the care that I've been given. Both times, however, my illness was pretty cut and dry (run of the mill strep etc.).
I'm currently just starting a job, and don't have insurance yet, but got very sick last week. I went to DOCS on 23rd because I'd closer, and my fever was 103. The doctor, who shall go unnamed, misdiagnosed me and prescribed me a very expensive antibiotic ($150) that ended up being completely inappropriate for the condition. I ended up in the ER two days later, getting various IV medications and alarming looks from other doctors who heard what I'd been prescribed. I called the doctor who saw me, prior to going to the ER, many times and never received a call back.
I am a community health care worker, and I understand the pressures we are all under. Despite the fact, that I ended up near thousands of dollars in the whole due to his misdiagnosis and shotty care (he asked me if I had a fever, when it was on a sheet in front of him, provided by the NURSE, he proclaimed my lungs clear when, in fact, they were decidedly unclear), I decided to simply write him a letter stating that I understood what had occured but I wanted to caution him against making future snap shot judgements.
Don't give up fully on DOCS. If you need to see a DOC, and don't have insurance, or even if you do but can't seem to get an appointment, I'd say that it's worth going in, especially if what you are suffering from isn't all that complex. However, the doctors are a little nicer and perhaps better at the 34th street location.
Good for minor things only. I do have pretty good insurance so I would probably never come here if I thought I had anything serious. However if you need a prescription for something simple like strep or pinkeye this is a good place to go. The place doesn't feel particularly clean and the doctors aren't particularly nice but if you already know what your condition is and just need a prescription it works fine. I figure the wait is less than any ER around town that you would have to go to if you don't have an appointment. My first wait when I went on a weekday was about 2 hours. I just went on a Sunday afternoon and my wait was probably only 45 minutes. Not too bad. I try not to touch anything while I am here and wash my hands thoroughly before I leave and use a napkin to open the doors. I advise you do the same.
I've been going to DOCs for over 7 years, basically for the convience. Although, I'm once again questioning dropping out, due to the unproffesionalism and rudeness of their staff.The office manager Tammy, is the rudest person I have ever met and Alfonso never wants to ask for a referral even though my insurance requires it. Last time i was there a male nurse said right infront of me that domestic violence is ok, and "women enjoy it" and 'ask for it. REally, where do you get your staff at?
I had a pretty awful experience here. I had just moved here and my insurance just kicked in. Since I was a first time patient, no one would take me immediately to treat a UTI.The wait was 3 hours, which I didn't mind as a walk-in. However, the receptionist actually yelled at me when I asked her what her estimate of the wait would be. I was feeling really unwell and doctors make me nervous so by the time I got in there I was just totally stressed out. The attending nurse was also rude and very impersonal, even though it was obvious that I was getting kind of worked up. The physician ( I think it was Cheng?) asked me what I considered inappropriate questions, and was incredibly unsympathetic. I would go into greater detail about it but it was just too weird. And when I asked for a referral, he wouldn't even take the time to suggest either a doctor or even an office. This place seriously needs to work on their patient care.
Really good care, but the wait time is usually pretty hefty. Bring an iPod, book or Chinese finger trap.
I never had to go to Docs for anything major, but I have been there twice - first time was as a walk-in, and the second time as an appointment. I only had to wait about an hour for the walk-in. My doctor both times was Dr. Chuey, and he seemed very friendly and knowledgeable. I was prescribed some pills that seemed to work. I don't have much of an opinion aside from that since, like I said, it wasn't anything major, but my experience was just fine!
Okay I know I was a walk-in but I thought it would be about an hour wait.
It was over three hours of a wait, plus an additional 30 minutes wait for the doctor to grace me with his presence once I got into the room.
One of the receptionists is kind of a bleep too.
I'm still sick right now or I'd try to be wittier with this review. So in conclusion, make an appointment beforehand unless you want to devote four hours of your day to this place.
I had a great experience here as a walk in. When I needed a referral to get my poor back into physical therapy, Dr. Altstein hooked me up. He was great, and yes I had to wait as a walk in, but that's what walking in is about. They told me honestly it would be a while, and that they weren't sure exactly how long it would be. It was about an hour and a half, but then Dr. Altstein saw me quickly and happily, and sent me on my way to physical therapy. What more can I ask for?
The great thing about DOCS is that they always take walk-ins. I've never waited more than an hour and the service is friendly and professional. Recently I went in, got a prescription, and a few days later the doctor called me personally to see how I was doing and if the medication was working.
