Duane Reade

Mariam Said at the DR Walk-​In Clinic at Duane Reade on 86^th Street in NYC could not have been kinder or more helpful to my elderly father. She made a huge difference in helping him take care of himself. So grateful.

The staff is speedy and the lines. Go fast! Great make up products and candy! Also good first aid section!

I’ve been using this Duane Reade Walk-​in clinic for the past 5 years, and, have never had a problem! The Medical Assistant/​Registrar is quick and to the point and the Physicians working are always thorough and to the point. The reason for my visits have ranged from inner ear infections to severe strep throat — I’ve never been turned away, even when I’ve come close to the time when they take their last patients.
The practitioner I saw during my last visit was a Physician Assistant; however, they also have MDs on staff. The wait time was nil — I arrived at 9am and I was in and out in under 30 minutes.
The only issue I have is with the pharmacy — the wait times are typically long; however, it depends on the time of day you go. In the evenings seem to have longer wait times.
Be warned: This Duane Reade walk-​in typically takes their last patient about and hour before the clinic closes. So please plan accordingly.
All in all, my visit was stellar and I will continue using this walk-​in.

While you would think what can they do wrong, you would be surprised. 3 different times I have bought food from them only to have it spoiled when I opened it at home. The response I received was «sorry». Now I tried to use the inhaler I bought at the pharmacy, but it did not work. The first pharmacist I talked to sent me away and told me to return the next day. The second, the next day said there was nothing they could do.
Beware of anything you buy there as you are on your own.

I went into this Duane Reade today to use the walk-​in clinic. It is closed for the summer. Silly me, getting sick in the summer. Used City MD down the block — quick, helpful, and open even in the summer!

I recently learned that Dr. Krishtul is no longer working at Duane Read clinic. However, he has a beautiful office just around the corner at 1036 Park Avenue (corner of E. 86^th Street), Suite 1B where he sees patients full time. He can be reached via phone at 917−545−0262 or email
. His office visits are very thorough and you will never feel rushed. He also makes house calls!

**REVIEW IS FOR THE WALKIN CLINIC**
This review is more circumstantial and therefore should be read in context. The place is under construction when I went in, which was about a couple of months ago. Therefore, I would probably avoid this place until October 2011.
When you have an ear infection and someone is working a buzzsaw 5ft away from you it’s the last thing you want.
The doctor was late coming in, and I had to wait an hour. Fortunately I was the first one there in the morning. The other people who had arrived (about 3 people) all left by the time the doctor finally came in. The woman at the front desk had no idea how long he would be. When I did meet with the Dr. he said something about traffic and sat down with me for about 5 minutes, looked at my ear, said it looked red, and then prescribed me some medicine.
It was convient, and a last resort, as I would have never gotten an appt for my doctor. So I am thankful for the service.

I am a visitor in New York City from California. I needed medical care but don’t know where to find it. So I thought I would consult with the local pharmacy. As luck was with me, the Duane Reade at 86 x Lexington had a walk-​in clinic. Dr. Krishtul was super. He let me tell my story and quickly diagnose my medical problem. The entire medical staff was nice and efficient.

I came here to see the doctor since they have a walk in service, it’s close by, and I had a running fever for 2 days. They ask you to provide your credit card info upfront, which scares me because I’ve never seen a walk in dr. And if my insurance rejects it for some reason, I don’t love the idea of $ 84 738 293 billed to my credit card. Most of the people sitting in the little waiting area are Duane reade employees hanging out (maybe on break? Maybe not?). Waited a solid hour, even though it’s only me and dr employees in the waiting area. The dr diagnosed me in 2.5 nanoseconds– and since I was dying I was ok with that.

I just posted my review for the 50^th and Broadway DR walk-​in clinic, who sent me out the door after insisting they didn’t offer the services the website said they did. However, the 86^th DR location did offer those services, and were immensely pleasant and personable to deal with, besides. I quite honestly spent more time waiting for my prescription to be filled (and found) than I did in the waiting room and doctor’s office combined. Dr. Alexander Krishtul was pleasant, personal, answered all of my questions, gave me a discount on my medication when he found out I didn’t have insurance, and we even had a nice, conversational chat. I had been stressing out for days about my injury and the Duane Reade walk-​in clinic was a massive help.
Two weeks later: I had to go back for a refill on my antibiotics prescription. I did not have an appointment but was told to just come in if I needed to, and was in and out quickly, with no hassle. Dr. Krishtul remains great, very personable, and either remembered my earlier visit, or familiarized himself with my chart enough to fake it, which is all I ask. The only real problem was with the pharmacy, who, for the second time, could not seem to find my prescription and left me waiting awkwardly at the counter, shouting my information as it was hunted down.

Another typical Duane Reade. Nothing special to write about. I prefer the one on 86^th and 1^st.

I can’t say enough good things about the 86^th St walk in practice. I don’t have health insurance right now and my GP charges a small fortune to see a physician’s assistant, so I decided to give this a try when I developed a horrible sore throat that would not go away on its own.
The first time I went I saw Dr. Jamie Elefethriou, MD, who couldn’t have been nicer. The wait time was minimal and the receptionist was very nice as well, as was the medical assistant (male, did not catch his name, but a really friendly guy). Dr. Elefethriou prescribed antibiotics (she even came up with a few coupons since the only antibiotics I can take due to allergies are really expensive ones) and told me if I didn’t improve to come back and see Dr. Alexander Krishtul, who directs this particular clinic.
When I didn’t improve after a week, I went back, explained my situation to the receptionist and saw Dr. Krishtul, who also could not have been nicer. He has an excellent manner, spent a lot of time with me and determined I needed additional medication. I am already feeling better.
This is an excellent practice with terrific doctors, and they have my old GP beat hands down! I think I will start coming to him and switch doctors. These guys really helped me out in a pinch and took very good care of me, and I am extremely appreciative!

I don’t have a primary care physician and found myself going to the clinic at Duane Reade for a sinus infection that would not go away. It was crowded due to being the Friday of a holiday weekend (thanksgiving) but they moved along as quickly as possible. Docs spend as much time with you as regular doctors’ offices due these days and I always feel as if I get good care.
Don’t want to have to return, but if I get sick again I will.

I don’t have a primary care physician, and my last experience with one was not positive. I avoid the doctor like the plague, but sometimes you need antibiotics, so what can ya do? I decided to check out one of these Duane Reade walk-​in clinics. Short wait, the staff was really nice, and the doctor was outstanding. Her name is Dr. Patricia Leone and I couldn’t recommend her more highly. Really really kind, clearly knows her stuff very well (but not afraid to acknowledge that some issues might require a specialist), and just seems genuinely concerned about making you well. Next time I need a doctor, I will be seeking her out.
As for Duane Reade’s pharmacy, I don’t find that as enchanting. Maybe because I always feel like I’m getting ripped off there. When are we going to get a Wal-​Mart in NYC so I can take advantage of those $ 4 prescriptions?

This is an UPDATE to my 1÷23÷2010 review of Duane Reade Walk In Medical Care:
After I wrote my Unilocal review, I also decided to use the «Contact Us» feature on the DR website, thinking, «Good luck in ever hearing from them.» Well, I was contacted within 2 days by Maggie Bertisch, MD, the medical director of the NY Walk-​In Medical Care, the operator of the DR clinics. For my troubles, she offered a complimentary visit and to cover the cost of any prescriptions, stating, «We pride ourselves on high patient satisfaction.» Although by this time my symptoms were nearly gone, I decided to take advantage of the free offer to try out the DR clinic, which I did on 1÷26÷10. Although I still think the receptionist and medical assistant could bone up on their bedside manners, they were professional in manner. I was impressed by the fact that during the blood pressure check, the oxygen level of my blood was also checked, (this indicates how well the lungs are working, as pneumonia can be a complication of the cold virus) as I had been feeling tired and unable to breathe well until late the day before. The doctor I saw, Dr. Leone, was friendly, professional, efficient, and a good listener. She took a detailed history, going over the information I had filled out in the questionnaire, using a computer to store the information. She even had the assistant re-​check my temperature since I looked and felt well, which didn’t indicate fever. She also examined my breathing and checked my nostrils. As there was irritation there and post-​nasal drip, she gave me a prescription and also suggested an over-​the-​counter saline medication. Note: I would shop around and see if you can get a better price from another pharmacy before filling the prescription at DR. Their prices tend to be on the high end. The prescription was filled in a timely manner. I really didn’t need to use it more than 2 days. *Interesting feature:* yesterday I got an automated phone call from DR reminding me to come in and refill my prescription. I am feeling much better! I would consider using the NY Walk In Medical Clinic at DR again. But it might be a good idea to call ahead or be prepared to butt heads with the receptionist.

I lost almost lost all of my nine lives on my way to this clinic. Stitches, Bronchitis, Double Ear Infection… you name it, I’ve been here for it.
The service is fast, the doctors are amazing and they take my insurance! It’s also incredibly convenient to fill your prescriptions since the pharmacy is right across the aisle.
I’ve been there so many times… there is talk of naming the blood pressure machine in the Waiting Room after me.

Whenever I think of a drugstore, the name ‘Duane Reade’ always pops up first because they’re everywhere in NYC! And yet no where else it seems. None of my friends from outside New York have any idea what a Duane Reade is; weird considering it manages to compete with Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens.
But anyway, this particular Duane Reade took over what used to be a movie theatre located on 86^th St, right where the subway line is, so its pretty centrally located (but that hasn’t stopped the chain from having several other stores located on or nearby 86^th st). Its also a fairly large store with a pharmacy so you should easily be able to pick up whatever you want from styling products to medicine to grocery items.
The store itself is always clean and the shelves are well stocked and tidy, but while the grand majority of items are located upstairs, the registers are downstairs. This wouldn’t be much of a complaint if this store didn’t have escalators that seem to mysteriously and regularly break down. And usually has only one register open to take care of a long line of customers that quickly fills up the downstairs area and blocks access to the escalators. However, those minor issues don’t really matter unless you’re trying to pick something up during rush hour time when everyone who’s getting on or off the subway seems to decide to make a supposedly brief detour into Duane Reade. As for the people who work there, I’ve gotten everything from helpful to sullen. I guess their mood depends upon the time of day, but whatever I don’t care — I’d probably get annoyed pretty quickly myself if I worked there.

this is for the walk-​in clinic, not just the store!
okay so i decided to venture up here when i learned about the walk-​in clinic. im sooo sick and the last thing i want to do is go to an emergency room and since i dont have a pcp yet this is my best choice for urgent care. if you’ve tried to find an urgent care center in NY you probably ran into the same problems as me – limited options and sketchy ones at that.
so like i started before, i got to duane reade and walked up to the desk and the med tech was on break so the actual doctor was there to help me. 3 simple forms later (standard medical history etc.) i was in the doctors office within 5 minutes. his name was dr. reimann and he was so nice and helpful. although no one was waiting he could have simply asked me simple surface questions, but he was completely thorough and was patient when i had questions. he wrote me some prescriptions and they were filled asap.
when i got back to the desk the med tech was back, and she was really nice too. bottom line – skip the ER, this was fast and easy, and with health insurance all i had to pay was my co-​pay.

Good pharmacy, nice people behind the counter, most of the time my orders are on time; most everything is on the second floor, but it beats the basement. I always pay at the pharmacy, the line at the registers downstairs is almost always long.
They also have a walk in clinic upstairs and a water cooler by the pharmacy.

Note to the guy riding the subway next to me:
If you are going to hold the railing above your head, please remember to put on deodorant before boarding. (Hint: You can buy that here.)
Thank you.