MedRite Urgent Care

I wish I could give Chaya Franklin (who is the head manager) 5 stars, but she doesn’t have her own Unilocal!page. So, by giving 3 stars, I’m justifying that this little update is worth reading although NOT for this location in particular. It’s been a little over a month since my visit and I honestly would still never think about going back to this location. However, I would consider dropping by a MedRite at another location in the city due to the customer service I received from Chaya. She reached out to me both on Unilocal!and via email, which then moved to a personal phone call, where we discussed my visit & she genuinely expressed her apology & her dissatisfaction with my experience. She explained how she is dedicated to refining each location & that the staff will be under closer review in the future. She refunded my copay & is offering to cover any bills that I may receive for my visit as well. And, what kind of took me by surprise was when she said, «But, physically, how are you doing? Are you still in pain?» She also offered herself as an open door; if I should ever need immediate attention sans emergency room, I can call her directly & she’ll recommend a location & doctor for me. So, that was pretty awesome of her. I can never respect Dr Kaiden, but I have a LOT of respect for the management.

I am surprised by the negative reviews, because my experiences here have been pretty good.
I’ve been here twice. Each time, my wait time was very short. I probably saw a doctor within 5 minutes of my arrival. The staff were friendly and efficient.
My only real negative is that there is a kind of assembly line atmosphere: they try to get you in and out as quickly as possible. On the other hand, my visits were pretty straightforward. For my first visit, I told the doctor that I thought that I had an ear infection. He looked at me ear and told me that I had a textbook ear infection. He then prescribed an antibiotic, and I was out within 15 – 20 minutes. The meds worked and I was fine. The second time was for a really bad cold.
Two things I liked: One, when I left they gave me a printout with my diagnosis and telling me how I should take care of myself (basic stuff, but still nice). Two, I got follow-​up calls within a day or two after my visit. I really liked getting a follow-​up call.
I had no problems with paying or insurance.
If you just want to have something quickly looked at, this place is pretty good.

I thought this place would be great by looking how clean it was, but boy was I wrong. Untrained assistants, and (They act like they know but dont) know-​it-​all doctors. A waste of time honestly bc they told me something I saw on the Internet. And very rude. You wouldn’t speak to a patient this way. Just to prove it, of the doctor doesn’t come into the room and announce your name, ask them…“do you know my name?” Probably not. They don’t even check your chart where the nurse asked you like 20 questions. Waste Of Time.

Did my immigration physical exam here. Easy appointment. Very friendly and professional staff. Recommend!

Their website states «wait times are only minutes». My wait was about 30 minutes. I was only seen by a PA-​C, not a doctor. They faxed my prescriptions to the pharmacy so I didn’t have to bring over the prescription list there myself. Staff was friendly. But service was slow for an urgent care center.

Well. I just got my bill of $ 515 to diagnose strep throat and give me a prescription. Might as well have gone to the emergency room for that price.

This deserves zero stars. Literally, worthless.
I got a very deep cut in the palm of my right hand from broken glass on Saturday evening, and I didn’t think it was that big of deal, but because it was on my right hand It wasn’t healing and it wouldn’t stop bleeding. So Monday morning I made an appointment to have them look at it, and properly clean it if needed — or tell me what I could do (You know just medical help in general) I call to see if they do walk-​ins, and they said of course and that they would be waiting for me… So when I got there I waited about 15 min, not too bad. And they nurse took me into the office and had me sit in the chair. She was training someone so they were going over the steps you go through with each patient the questions you ask… She hooked me up to the blood pressure machine and the heart monitor. She mumbled something about it not working and then took me out of the contraption. Thinking she would do something in substitute of the broken machine. I waited. She didn’t. She then started filling out this automated sheet they seem to have to do for each patient… asking me questions about my health… my cycle… my family health history… Then she goes «We can’t give you stitches for the cut because it’s been past 7 hours.» I figured that was the case… but mind you… they didn’t even look at it at this point… And she tells me to be careful around glass and that the doctor would be in soon. At this point I figured that That was a waste of time and that the doctor would actual do something productive or anything really. Nope. 10 min past and the doctor nurse, and trainee come in and the doctor leans against the counter across from me, introduces himself. He then states he cant give me stitches because its been past seven hours, and that would endanger the cut because it might have bacteria in it that we would be sealing in if we stitched it up. Made sense. I told him that it wouldn’t stop bleeding though because it was my right hand and i was afraid it wouldn’t heal. He said to just keep it clean and covered. (I had been) Mind you at this point no one has asked to see it, and hasn’t seen it. The doctor then says «I think it would be a good idea if you watched yourself around broken glass, it can be sharp» I thought he was joking… but he was serious. I DIDNT KNOW BROKEN GLASS WAS SHARP. seriously… I cant. Anyways then he starts to leave, and I say «Wait… don’t you actually want to look at it? What if it’s infected?» He then turns back around and says «Oh. I can take a look if you want» So I show him and he states that it is indeed deep and to just keep it clean. Then they escorted me out to the front. They didn’t even wrap it or clean it, or look at it until I basically shoved it in their face. Im so mind boggled by their services. Like I wasn’t dying but for god sakes at least look at the reason Im there and wrap it?! Or clean it?! Or say something other than «Don’t play with glass.» A few weeks later I’m hit with a 300 $ bill. And I call and it was originally $ 600 but my insurance paid half. But still… they honestly charged that much to tell me to not play with broken glass. ARE YOU YOU KIDDING ME?! This place is a joke. Don’t ever go there.

Went in on Friday, and the doctor ran lab tests that he deemed urgent, and tried to get me the results on Friday. Didn’t come in, which makes sense, but he told me to call back Sunday. I call back Sunday, and the girl who answers tells me I have to wait 3 – 5 business days. The doctor calls me back on Monday, but I missed the call because I was in a meeting, and I call back a few hours later. The girl who answers lies and tells me that my results aren’t in yet. They seriously need to replace whoever is answering their phones.

STAY AWAY from here!
I went to this place because I cut my knee on some rusty metal in a cab. They shoved one aspirin down my throat and gave me a tetanus shot. Well, that apparently costs 500 dollars. I have a health insurance plan, but the insurance refuses to pay it (they are asking ME to justify the costs of this Medrite procedure).
My husband was at Medrite as well because he had a strange bump/​rash for a while. He told the doctor that he had been to Florida and that it was maybe a spider bite. The doctor just said: yes, it’s a spider bite. He didn’t care at all. The rash didn’t go away, he saw a regular doctor (I don’t call Medrite doctor regular doctors anymore, I don’t know what’s going on there), and the real doctor diagnosed eczema as soon as he glanced at it and gave him meds!
It’s a scam and their billing is ridiculous.

Went here because I heard a weird pop sound in my foot and was barely able to walk the day after this occurred. Check in was easy and quick. Medical assistant came in right away and was followed soon after my the doctor (who was with me less than 5 minutes). I was told I had a bad sprain, had an x-​ray of my foot and an ace bandage put on it and given directions to take it easy.
About a month later I got a bill for $ 430.00 (yes I have insurance) and was charged $ 80.00 for an ace bandage… yes, an ORDINARY ACE BANDAGE which is roughly $ 8.00 in cvs or Duane Reade, GASPPPPPP…
I don’t care if my foot is torn off by a bear that mauls me… I will limp or crawl to the local ER before I visit a med rite again.

12÷9÷2014
I came in distressed and consulted with Dr. Douglas Kaiden, a fromer ER doc, who runs MedRite.
I was really undone because I had developed shingles and an undiagnosed secondary bacterial infection that was draining pus on the right side of my head following the path of the trigeminal nerve. I could not stop it, no matter how many warm compresses I applied. My culture was not back yet. I had seen other doctors and taken a full course of antivirals and steroids. Still, nothing stopped this rampaging infection. It was really bad, draining from several holes in a huge inflamed area that rose to at least ¾ inches on the right side of my head. It was horrible looking and frightened me.
I could have been sent to a hospital, but right then and there in the Second Ave and 48 St. MedRite office Dr. Douglas Kaiden donned his surgical gloves; gave me local shots of anesthesia and lanced the abysses, then packed the draining wound, bandaged it and sent me home with an appointment to come back in a couple of days. Like a miracle, it finally started to heal.
On my way home he called to tell me that my lab results were just back and instructed me to go immediately to my local drugstore, Health Source, where a specially selected antibiotic would be waiting for me that was ideally suited to fight the antibiotic-​resistant bacterium that the culture revealed were infecting me. The antibiotic I had been taking could have been harmful. Without Dr. Kaiden’s prompt careful attention and bold compassionate action I don’t know where I would be now.
Today a dermatologist told me that I most assuredly would have been in a hospital with all the tribulations and risks that go with that if Dr. Kaiden had not strategically intervened. I will always be grateful to Dr. Kaiden and to MedRite. I could have died. He is a fine doctor, a true healer in the best sense, a treasure who has the gifts of knowledge, courage, compassion and real medical skill to offer his lucky patients.
We are fortunate to have him in the neighborhood.

Went here for a urinary tract infection. Doctor only gave me three days of medicine and the symptoms weren’t fully gone. Called up to get a couple days more of medicine because it was getting better but I just had slight symptoms. The receptionist told me I had to come back and get another urine analysis even though I was there and got one a two and a half days before. So I need to come back and pay for another urine analysis Because they didnt give me enough days of medicine. Place is a scam I have never had this happen before.

Great there is no wait and conveniently located in the middle of things. Physician was fine and nurse really exuded calm & competency. Haven’t received a bill from them yet but insurance said that they’ve paid in part.
One bad thing common to all doctor’s offices is that the receptionist simply couldn’t tell us how much anything would cost, and didn’t charge us anything at the clinic — told us we might get a bill. Great.

I came here after I heard MedRite was offering free flu shots on November 18^th which reminded me I need one! The whole process was easy and straight forward. I registered online and walked in without too much wait time. I highly recommend this center for any quick appointment.

Disclaimer: I used to be an urgent care/​Primary care nurse
The receptionists were great. They were fast, helpful, and friendly.
The Medical assistant or nurse that took me back was so underwhelming. She seemed like here mind and thoughts were a million miles away and was just going through the motions with me. She wasn’t speaking a thousand words a second and treating me like a number like many dotor’s office, but rather she was lethargic and slow and clearly distracted (bad day?) It took her a while to take my vitals and a brief history of my problem and she stepped out
The Physicians assistant came in to talk to me for… less than 60 seconds to tell me that my symptoms had a definite cause and treatment and she rushed out. I had a very straight forward medical problems with a very simple treatment so I knew it would be quick, but not that quick.
In and out in an hour… this is definitely efficient. They are not there to hold your hand and talk to you about your life issues, they’re there to find out whats wrong, patch/​treat what they can, and refer you to someone for longer term care. This is a mentality you have to go in with.
4 Stars because the assistant was not on top of her game

Worst experience, beware HUGE scam.
I first went in 6 months ago because I was afraid I had an infection. I specially asked the receptionist if the cost of the visit would be covered by insurance and said yes.
A young man looked at my finger and said I was young enough that any infections kind of just go away on their own.
Before I had the chance to ask anything else he left. About a month later I got a bill for almost 800 dollars. Alarmed I went into medrite to ask about it. The girl in the front desk said there was no bill and the account was clear.
3 months later I got another bill with the same amount. I was told to call billing. Ruthy in billing seemed to be used to complaints because she immediately changed the total cost down to 150 $. (Ruthy was the only good thing in my medrite exp)
I went back to medrite and payed cash. The girl in the desk grabbed an old letter envelope with some cash inside and stuffed my 150 $ in there. I insisted on a printed receipt and when they handed the paper receipt to me I asked if it could be labeled, signed and stamped, she looked at me I guess wondering why i wanted so much extra assurance with my receipt.
Today I got a past due bill for150 $. I called medrite they said they remembered me coming in a few days ago to pay, they remembered because of the extra signatures I asked for. That was not me they remembered because I payed several weeks ago. Clearly someone else also felt the need for extra signatures and reassurance. Gee, I wonder why.
I called Ruthy (again the only redeeming thing in all of the medrite debacle). She said yes it was cleared but no one had updated the account. I still felt unsure so Ruthy offered to send me an email stating my account is clear .
Now hopefully I can leave this whole thing in the past without getting another bill 3 months from now.

I came here to be diagnosed because I had a sore throat and weird lumps forming on my hands and feet. The doctor couldn’t have cared less. He checked my breathing and looked at my throat. Then he left after a minute. 10 minutes later of waiting the assistant comes in to discharge me and ask me for my $ 50 co-​pay. The doctor disregarded my bumps on my hands and feet and basically rushed back into his mancave to get back to his Clash of Clans game on his iPad.
They apparently operate under a stopwatch. Hey doc, you just made $ 300 in one minute. New record? You must be happy with yourself cheating your patients the way you do.
Tl;dr — Waste of money and time.

I have never seen a more disrespectful doctor in my life. It felt like he was mocking me for every single thing. Because of this doctor, I will never go to medrite again. I suggested and begged for another doctor and of course, I got this guy. He is sarcastic, doesn’t believe a word you say, and outright rude. I left wanting my copay money back so badly, but unfortunately insurance doesn’t take that. Any other time I have an emergency, I will plead for another doctor. Stay away from Dr. Kaiden. I have met with 1 – 2 nice ladies, but this guy is untrustworthy. However, if you’re in the mood for obnoxious entertainment– feel free to go.
*by the way, this is Dr. Kaiden I am talking about. Some of the others are fine.

Really friendly staff and super quick to get me into the exam room. The problem was a misdiagnosis that left me miserable for a whole weekend. I had swollen tonsils and glands that made it difficult to swallow and eat/​drink. They did a strep test (negative) and told me it was viral instead of bacterial, and that it’d get better on it’s own. It didn’t get better– it got much, much worse. I finally got a hold of some antibiotics and they worked great.
Good idea and great service, just wondering about the quality of doctors.

I had an infect ion and decided to pop in here since my regular doctor is on vacation. I was expecting tons of people and a long waiting time. I got seen in about 5 minutes time. The staff was courtesy enough and they see tons of people a day so I wasn’t expecting a personalize visit. The DR that saw me was nice and had me in and out pretty quickly. I got diagnosed and they sent the prescription to a nearby pharmacy for me to pick up. If you need urgent care, I would highly recommend stopping by in here.
I’m not sure on the cost effectiveness of this place since I have amazing health insurance from my company and everything is covered for. Another Unilocaler mentioned that it’s about $ 140 a visit. I would call and ask if cost is a concern.