New Outpatient Center Re-energizes the Faculty Practice

Imagine you’re a busy professional working in Midtown Manhattan with a jam-packed schedule. You wake up one morning thinking you have strep throat. You frantically call your primary care doctor, who might not have any openings for a week.

Fortunately, a better option exists for patients like this who want to squeeze medical appointments in between meetings.  

ColumbiaDoctors Midtown – the medical practice comprising of faculty from Columbia University School of Nursing, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the College of Dental Medicine, opened its new doors last month in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Replacing the former faculty practice space on East 60th Street that housed CAPNA (Columbia Advanced Practice Nurse Associates), the outpatient center is now situated in a much larger location with access to thousands of workers in midtown offices.

The center offers same-day appointments, coordinated visits for those seeing multiple specialists, a comfortable waiting area and ample natural light. Services are available from early morning to evening and on Saturdays.

Four advanced nurse practitioners provide services on the first floor of the facility including physicals, pre-op evaluations, women’s wellness exams, immunizations, travel medicine, sick visits, and specialist referrals.

“Moving to the first floor of the new building has re-energized everyone,” said Janice Smolowitz, DNP, senior associate dean, who oversees the practice. “Meeting our new neighbors has been really exciting and the more intimate shared space has fostered great collaboration.”

Practitioners from the building’s other specialties including cardiology, psychiatry, radiology, and women’s health have made patient referrals to the nurse practitioners on the first floor for primary care.

Word-of-mouth also brings patients to the faculty practice.

Many of the patients seen by Kristine Takamiya, DNP, Director of the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program have followed her from the previous location.

“Many patients say they like coming to the new space because it’s closer to their work,” said Takamiya, DNP, who serves as an NP at the practice.

She will start placing students at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown for their clinical rotation during the summer semester who will work under close supervision with the NPs that presently work there. All patients will be asked for permission prior to a supervised student visit.

According to Takamiya, who has worked at the faculty practice since 2006, the practice is among the most popular placements.

“I think they like it so much because they get hands-on experience and truly get to do everything—from making recommendations for travel medicine vaccines to administering a comprehensive physical,” said Takamiya.  “A facility like ours really offers one-on-one interaction with the patients.”

And that personalized attention is certainly attractive to patients.

“Patients always benefit from NPs who specialize in primary care, disease prevention and health promotion,” said Smolowitz. “Since we offer same-day appointments, lab services and referrals to our colleagues at Columbia Doctors and NY-Presbyterian Hospital all under one roof, we can offer even more to our patients.”