By: Julie Sagoskin
In the wake of the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic, one of the most pivotal lessons many of us have learned is just how pertinent it is to have a trusting and valued relationship with your primary care provider.
As March began and the first COVID-19 patient was confirmed in New York City, many people were asking themselves, how do I find a good physician? Can they guide me on what to do? If I leave the city, are they still accessible? What happens if my loved ones or I get COVID-19?
Tina Sindwani, MD and Louis DePalo, MD, FACCP are the Premier concierge physicians at The Health Center at Hudson Yards, a new venture by the Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest health systems in New York City and a leader in the research and innovation to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
While the world was grappling with the gravity of this unknown virus, Drs. Sindwani and DePalo, along with the entire Mount Sinai Health System, had already begun tracking the global virus and meeting regularly with colleagues to understand the characteristics of the virus and how to best care for and communicate with their patients as it could spread quickly.
Together, Drs. Sindwani and DePalo have an impressive and diverse medical portfolio. Dr. Sindwani previously developed the concierge medical program at UCSF. Dr. DePalo is a pulmonologist and previous clinical director of the Mount Sinai – National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute. These powerhouse physicians have now joined forces to lead the Premier concierge health care experience in New York City, along with a team of specialists, to create a top-of-the-line, personalized health care service that redefines the way members engage in their health.
“I have always been fascinated by evidence-based integrative medicine and caring for the whole body. Health is extremely personal, and I enjoy building lasting relationships with my patients and working together to tailor treatments and recommendations that work for each individual,” explains Dr. Sindwani, Premier Director and internist at The Health Center at Hudson Yards.
While concierge medicine is not a new concept when it comes to providing personalized care, The Health Center at Hudson Yards has created a unique and unparalleled Premier experience. Premier memberships, which are limited in availability due to their high-touch patient-provider relationships, have a personal physician in either Dr. Sindwani or Dr. DePalo. Members can receive 24/7 care either within the private practice, virtually through video visits, or within the comfort of their home or office. In addition to an expanded team of primary care providers, the Health Center boasts a resident psychologist, dermatologist, nutritionist, physical therapist, gynecologist, cardiologist, and X-ray technician on-site. Meanwhile, the Concierge Health Navigators are able to promptly schedule Premier members with top specialists throughout the greater New York City area, such as oncologists, neurologists, and more.
“Medicine and the act of visiting the doctor is no longer reserved for only when you fall ill,” says Dr. DePalo, Medical Director, internist, and pulmonologist at The Health Center at Hudson Yards. “Dr. Sindwani, myself, and all of the providers at our practice are integrating health care practices into our members’ lifestyles. Concierge medicine affords me the time to know what my patients enjoy and what role I can play in advising them on health and creating the most fulfilling and long-lasting life for them.”
The Health Center at Hudson Yards is Mount Sinai’s flagship membership-based, concierge medical practice. Located within 55 Hudson Yards and overlooking the Hudson River, this practice is not your typical medical facility. The building was newly constructed in 2019 and officially opened its doors in July of the same year. The Health Center team partnered with NBBJ to architect a smart medical suite that was technology-enabled with privacy and ease in mind. Members enter the space through a dedicated elevator and are escorted to the appropriate room for their physician visit. The Health Center intentionally lacks a waiting room because appointments start on time; however, they built in a private executive lounge for when a member desires additional privacy. The space is also outfitted with more than 30 original art pieces curated by Kevin Barry Fine Art, including commissioned works by artist Tracie Cheng.
The Health Center has purposefully designed a new kind of luxury health care experience that is the gold standard in care and tailor-made for busy New Yorkers. Whether within the medical practice or extended to the hospital, the team at The Health Center will ensure a VIP experience for their Premier members.
That has been especially true during the extraordinary time of COVID-19. For Premier members, The Health Center has called on their network to assist in providing in-home COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody testing with the most accurate tests available. Additionally, with many New Yorkers travelling east in the summer and more recently, to escape the pandemic, The Health Center has extended their care services to the Hamptons.
Provider bios:
Tina S. Sindwani, MD
Dr. Sindwani is one of the pioneers of concierge health, having worked at one of the first concierge primary care practices in an academic setting at the University of California San Francisco. Over the course of 10 years, her role evolved from Associate Medical Director to Medical Director and the practice grew from 150 to 1,100 patients. She was integral in creating a future-forward lifestyle management program including preventive genomic testing. She relocated to New York to lead the Premier concierge experience at The Health Center at Hudson Yards and is additionally an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Louis R. DePalo, MD, FACCP
Dr. DePalo, who is routinely listed among the top doctors in America and the New York metro area, most recently served as the System and Site Clinical Director of the Mount Sinai – National Jewish Health Respiratory Institute, and Professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Infectious Disease, Icahn School of Medicine. DePalo serves as Medical Director of the Health Center at Hudson Yards. He is a UNOS-certified physician with clinical interest in advanced lung diseases including ILD, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, vasculitis, sarcoidosis, bronchiectasis, refractory asthma, and lung cancer. Dr. DePalo also served as primary care provider for complex patients coordinating multidisciplinary care teams to provide optimum care. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Medical College and has a graduate degree in Human Physiology. He has extensive research experience in cell and molecular biology.
In his free time, Dr. DePalo enjoys exploring culture through cuisine (especially cooking), riding his motorcycle, and indulging in a good book. He is also an avid drone photographer.
Patient Quotes:
“Prior to becoming a member at The Health Center at Hudson Yards, I spent an exhaustive amount of time trying to find providers that I trusted and were covered by my health insurance plan. Finding specialists was especially difficult. I am thrilled that I found Dr. Sindwani and the team of specialists at The Health Center. She is truly engaged in my health and looking out for my best interests. I also can’t say enough about having her available through the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel like patient provider relationships may become the new BFFs.”
- Patient of Dr. Sindwani
“I feel so at ease when I see Dr. DePalo. He has become a trusted friend and health confidant. I don’t say that about any of the other physicians I have seen in my lifetime.”
- Patient of Dr. DePalo
The Health Center’s VIP Premier health care experience is being valued more than ever before.
To learn more about The Health Center at Hudson Yards, visit www.healthcenterhudsonyards.com. For information on the availability and cost of Premier membership, email membership@healthcenterhudsonyards.com or call 646.819.5100, ext 1.
