NEW PATIENT VISITS | MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY
Your First Visit at Atrium Medical:
What to Expect, What to Bring, and How to Switch PCPs
Published by  Atrium Medical | Medically reviewed by Dr. Shilpa Paradkar Singh, MD
- Accepting New Patients
Same-day often available
- Insurance Coverage
Most major plans accepted
- Record Transfer Handled
We coordinate with your prior practice.
- Clear Next-Step Plan
Labs, referrals, or follow-ups
Fast answer
Atrium Medical is an independent internal medicine practice at 160 East 56th Street, 12th Floor, in Midtown East Manhattan, currently accepting new patients. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available.
If your previous PCP went out of network, retired, or you are establishing care for the first time, we can usually get you in within 24 to 48 hours. We accept Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, Medicare, and most major commercial plans. Our team verifies benefits before your visit.
You do not need to have your medical records in hand before your first appointment. Bring what you have. We can start care and coordinate the record transfer afterward.
On This Page
- Are you accepting new patients?
- What to expect: before, during, and after your first visit
- What to bring
- Insurance: what we accept and what to do if your PCP went out of network
- How to switch your PCP in four steps
- Medical record transfer: how it works and how long it takes
- How to choose a primary care doctor in NYC
- Do I need a PCP if I am healthy?
- Telehealth, referrals, and prescription refills
- New Patient FAQ
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes. Atrium Medical is currently welcoming new patients. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available for appropriate concerns. If you are switching from another practice due to a network change, mention this when you call — we prioritize those transitions.
To check availability and book: call 212-457-1722 or book online
What to expect: before, during, and after your first visit
Before your visit
You do not need to prepare extensively. Bring what you have. If you have recent labs, imaging reports, or specialist notes, bring those. If you have a medication list, bring it. If you have nothing except your insurance card and ID, that is enough to start.
If you registered online, new patient intake forms may be sent to you in advance through the patient portal. Completing these before the appointment saves time.
During your visit
A new patient visit is a planning and relationship visit, not a quick checkup. The appointment typically includes:
- Full medical history review: prior diagnoses, hospitalizations, surgeries, family history
- Medication and allergy review
- Discussion of current concerns, symptoms, and health goals
- Physical examination when clinically appropriate
- Review of any labs or imaging you bring
- Plan for next steps: labs, referrals, imaging, preventive care, or a follow-up visit
Plan for 30 to 45 minutes. If your history is complex or you have several active conditions, your clinician may recommend a follow-up to make sure nothing is rushed.
After your visit
You leave with a clear plan. Lab orders, specialist referrals, prescription updates, or a scheduled follow-up will be in place before you walk out. You should leave with a clear next-step plan, not a vague instruction to follow up someday.
If follow-up is needed after labs return, Atrium may reach out by portal message, phone, or recommend a brief televisit.
What to bring
To make your first visit efficient, bring:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Insurance card
- List of current medications and doses -- include supplements and over-the-counter medications
- Recent labs, imaging reports, or specialist notes if available
- Names of any specialists you currently see
- Pharmacy name and location
- Vaccination records if you have them
No records yet? That is fine. We can start care based on your history and order updated baseline labs. Records can be requested after the visit. Do not delay your appointment waiting for paperwork.
Insurance: what we accept and what to do if your PCP went out of network
Atrium accepts most major commercial insurance plans including Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, and Medicare. Coverage varies by specific plan. Our team can verify your benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.
PCP network changes have become increasingly common in New York City. If your doctor left a hospital system, retired, or went out of network with your plan, we routinely help patients make that transition. Tell our team when you call and we will prioritize getting you in.
If you are unsure whether Atrium is in-network for your specific plan, call before scheduling. We will check.
How to switch your PCP in four steps
Switching PCPs is less complicated than most patients expect. The four steps:
Step 1: Book your new patient visit. Call 212-457-1722 or book online. If you are switching due to a network change, mention it — we will prioritize your slot.
Step 2: Bring what you have. Photo ID, insurance card, medication list. Records you don’t have yet can be requested after the visit.
Step 3: Sign the record release form. We send a Release of Information request to your prior practice. See the transfer timeline table below.
Step 4: Update your insurance PCP designation if required. HMO plans require you to notify your insurer of the PCP change. PPO plans typically do not. We can help if you are unsure which applies to your plan.
Medical record transfer: how it works and how long it takes
Record transfer is straightforward. You sign a Release of Information (ROI) form at your first visit. Your prior practice or hospital sends records to our office electronically or by fax. We review and incorporate them into your chart.
| Institution type | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|
| Independent practices and small groups | 2 to 7 business days |
| Large group practices and community hospitals | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Large hospital networks (NYU, Mount Sinai, Weill Cornell, etc.) | Up to 30 days |
If time-sensitive records are needed urgently — recent labs, imaging, or specialist notes — we may ask you to obtain those directly while the full transfer is pending. In many cases we can help you draft the request, or give you the exact wording if you prefer to handle it yourself.
Will you refill prescriptions while records are being transferred?
Often yes, depending on the medication and clinical context. Some prescriptions require documentation, a recent exam, or recent labs before refilling. We handle this case by case with patient safety as the priority.
How to choose a primary care doctor in NYC
New York City has no shortage of primary care providers. The credential on the door is one input. What matters more in practice:
What the credentials mean
| Credential | What it means |
|---|---|
| MD | Doctor of Medicine. The traditional physician training pathway consisting of several years of medical school and clinical internships followed by residency training. |
| DO | Doctor of Osteopathy |
| NP | Nurse Practitioner. Advanced practice nurses with additional clinical training. Can evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe in most states. |
| PA | Physician Assistant. Licensed to diagnose and treat, typically working alongside physicians. |
Credentials matter, but so do continuity, access, judgment, and whether your clinician has time to understand the full picture.
What else matters
- Continuity: will you see the same clinician over time, or rotate through whoever is available?
- Access: can you get appointments without waiting weeks?
- Backup: what happens when your solo clinician is out, overbooked, or unavailable?
- Team support: is there staff to help with insurance, referrals, prescriptions, records, forms, and follow-up?
- In-house labs and services: blood draws, testing, and preventive care in one place.
- Telehealth: can a follow-up happen without another trip to the office?
- Specialist coordination: does your PCP coordinate referrals and keep the clinical picture connected?
- Independence: is this a physician-owned practice or a hospital-system satellite? See independent primary care in NYCfor what that distinction means in practice.
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Do I need a PCP if I am healthy?
Many healthy New Yorkers ask this. The answer is yes, and the reason is not about sick visits.
Many significant health problems develop without symptoms for years: high blood pressure, prediabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, sleep apnea, and certain cancers all progress silently. A primary care physician tracks your labs, blood pressure, and weight trends over time and catches changes before they become harder to manage.
Primary care also coordinates specialist care and ensures the right screening tests happen at the right time for your age, sex, risk factors, and family history. For more on what an annual physical actually includes, see the dedicated page. For a direct comparison between primary care and urgent care, see urgent care versus primary care.
Telehealth, referrals, and prescription refills
Telehealth is available when clinically appropriate. Lab review, medication questions, mild follow-up, and certain symptoms can often be handled without coming into the office. An in-person visit is still needed when an exam, blood draw, urine test, blood pressure check, or vaccine is required.
Atrium coordinates specialist referrals across NYC. Dr. Paradkar Singh’s clinical affiliation with NYU Langone and Lenox Hill Hospital provides access to strong referral networks across Midtown and the Upper East Side. Referrals are coordinated with context — not just a letter — so the specialist knows why you are coming.
Prescription refills are handled on a case-by-case basis. Most established medications can be refilled at or after the first visit. Some require documentation, lab monitoring, or a recent exam.
New Patient FAQ
Yes. Atrium Medical is currently welcoming new patients. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available. Call 212-457-1722 or book online.
Yes. We also accept Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, Medicare, and most major commercial plans. Coverage varies by plan. Call us and we will verify before you schedule.
This is increasingly common in NYC. Call Atrium at 212-457-1722, mention you are switching due to a network change, and we will prioritize getting you scheduled. We regularly help patients who are coming from large health systems including NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and Weill Cornell navigate the transition.
Yes. We routinely help patients make this transition. The record transfer process is straightforward and our team can assist with the request.
Photo ID, insurance card, medication list with doses, any recent labs or imaging, names of specialists you currently see, and your pharmacy information. No records yet? That is fine -- we can still start care.
That is common. We can start care based on your history and symptoms, order updated baseline labs, and request records after the visit. You do not need everything in hand before your first appointment.
Plan for 30 to 45 minutes depending on the complexity of your history. You will leave with a clear next-step plan -- labs, referrals, prescription updates, or a scheduled follow-up.
You sign a Release of Information form at your first visit. Your prior practice or hospital sends records to our office electronically or by fax. Timelines range from 2 to 7 business days for independent practices to up to 30 days for large hospital networks. We can help you draft the request if needed.
Often yes, depending on the medication and clinical context. Some medications require documentation or recent labs before refilling. We handle this case by case.
For HMO plans, yes -- you need to notify your insurer to designate Atrium as your new PCP. For PPO plans, this step is usually not required. If you are unsure which plan type you have, we can help you figure it out.
Yes, when clinically appropriate. Lab review, follow-up conversations, medication questions, and some symptoms can be handled by telehealth. An in-person visit is needed when an exam, blood draw, or testing is required.
Yes. Many important health problems develop without symptoms: high blood pressure, prediabetes, high cholesterol, and thyroid disease can progress quietly for years. Primary care tracks your health over time, ensures the right screenings happen at the right time, and coordinates specialist care before problems become emergencies.
Call 212-457-1722 or book online. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available. If you are switching PCPs due to a network change, tell us when you call and we will prioritize your scheduling.
Sources and official references
Ready to establish care? Book your new patient visit.
Same-day and next-day appointments are often available. If you are switching PCPs due to a network change, tell us when you call — we will prioritize your scheduling and help coordinate the transition.
Atrium Medical is located at 160 East 56th Street, 12th Floor, in Midtown East — three blocks south of the 59th Street subway hub on the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, and W lines. Book online or call 212-457-1722.
