How CityMD Is Building Healthier, Kinder Communities

CityMD was founded in 2010 by a passionate group of emergency medical physicians. Their mission? To provide communities with quality medical care through convenient access and an exceptional experience. Today, CityMD has continued its commitment to treating patients with respect and genuine kindness while offering exceptional urgent care services and a cost-effective ER alternative. This has enabled them to grow from one Manhattan practice to more than 85 locations in the greater New York area and in Seattle, Washington.

Patch caught up with Joseph Passanante, MD, senior vice president of Medical Operations, Northwest Region, to learn more about CityMD and the opening of their new Capitol Hill location.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

Dr. Passanante: CityMD has been in the Seattle area for three years, and just opened up a fifth location in Capitol Hill. I have been living and working here since 2015, relocating from the New York area to open up our very first center in Ravenna. We are thrilled to be a part of the Capitol Hill community and look forward to providing our new neighbors with high quality care and an exceptional experience, during the day, in the evenings, or on the weekends.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?

Dr. Passanante: My first career path was in business. But, I soon realized I needed to do more with my desire to meaningfully help people. After leaving business I became an EMT, then a paramedic, and kept taking coursework until I ultimately earned a spot in medical school.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

Dr. Passanante: To build healthier, kinder communities.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult you’ve faced in your job?

Dr. Passanante: One of the biggest challenges in medicine today is access to care. As a physician, I wanted to be a part of the solution and work for a company that provides healthcare where, when, and how patients need it most.

More than an urgent care, CityMD serves as a conduit to quality healthcare networks. With our partner CHI Franciscan, we are working hard to connect the healthcare dots beyond the urgent need. Patients may come to us for a twisted ankle X-ray, but know they also need help with managing other issues such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. We have an entire team we call “Aftercare” that helps arrange primary care or specialist appointments. Better access translates into better health for our communities.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

Dr. Passanante: I will never get tired of seeing that grateful look on a patient’s face when they realize that “CityMD gets it.” It’s a lot of fun taking great care of patients and doing it with a quality and pace that tends to surprise people. Many people have had “broken” experiences in healthcare -- it is rewarding to change their expectations for the better.

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Patch: How would you say your business or organization differentiates itself from the others?

Dr. Passanante: First and foremost, we are dedicated to serving kindness and providing high quality medical care through convenient access and an exceptional experience.

At CityMD, we believe that quality care shouldn’t stop when the patients’ visits end. And we know that patients need a helping hand to guide them through the complicated maze of healthcare. So the doctors and clinical assistants in our centralized Aftercare Department help create a straight line through the maze and facilitate the next steps on the path back to health by assisting patients with the coordination of referrals, pre-approvals and other follow-up appointments. After a visit to any CityMD location, our expert team handles patient follow-up care, including relaying test results to patients and sharing them with their PCPs and other providers, answering care questions, assisting with completing forms, scheduling specialist appointments, and obtaining authorizations for medications and advanced imaging (ultrasounds, CTs, MRIs, and more) when necessary. If a specialist or additional testing are needed, they connect patients with high quality physicians and facilities that accept their insurance and meet their other needs and preferences, such as location.

Patch: What's the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

Dr. Passanante: Ignore the clock. Don’t shy away from great endeavors because of a scary timeline. You are going to turn 40 anyway.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

Dr. Passanante: We at CityMD are excited about helping patients avoid inappropriate emergency room visits when possible. We have partnered with FD Cares -- a King County initiative -- to help decrease unnecessary trips to the ER. FD Cares can direct patients to CityMD when an urgent care visit appears to be a safe alternative to the emergency department.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Passanante: Visit our website and our Capitol Hill location. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Watch the video below.

Our Partnerships

In 2015, CityMD partnered with CHI Franciscan Health to bring its unique urgent care model to the Seattle community and meet the region's growing need for convenient, accessible, high-quality health care.

In May 2017, CityMD’s Kent location received the Business of the Year Award from the Kent Chamber of Commerce.

Image Credit: CityMD