The Medical Office at The Interchurch Center is located in Room 241, 475 Riverside Drive, between West 119th and West 120th Street in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan.

The Medical Office was created 40 years ago to screen and oversee the health of missionaries in the field, and to provide periodic evaluation and examination of those personnel and their dependents. As the building has evolved, so has the Medical Office. In addition to caring for mission personnel, the office provides occupational health and safety to employees of tenant agencies of The Interchurch Center, and is the primary care clinic for students of the Manhattan School of Music. The general public may come to us by appointment, and with a charge, for Travel Consultations and Immunizations.

The Interchurch Center Medical Office is overseen by the Board of Trustees and the Executive Director of the Interchurch Center, and personnel of the TIC Medical office are recruited and appointed by the Executive Director in consultation with the Center's Personnel Committee. All contractual agreements between the TIC Medical Office and our client agencies are conducted through and approved by the Office of the Executive Director.

All billings for services to client agencies, which are generated by the Administrator for the TIC Medical Office, are reimbursable to the Interchurch Center, which in turn pays for the direct support of the TIC Medical Office and underwrites its expenses. Any billings for services from our Physician Consultant which are provided in private medical offices are the responsibility of that private office staff and are directly reimbursable.

The staff of The Interchurch Center Medical Office consists of a part-time physician/consultant, a part-time registered nurse, a full-time nurse practitioner, an administrator, and a secretary/receptionist.

Open to both the general public and to employees of TIC tenant agencies, TIC Medical Office provides expert consultation and immunization to travelers off on holiday or on business. These services are offered by appointment only. Consultation and immunizations carry with them a charge, payable in cash at the time of service. Fees are subject to change, depending on the cost to the Medical Office of individual vaccines. Hours of service are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 3 PM. The office schedules no appointments during the 12 Noon- 1 PM lunch hour.

Employees in The Interchurch, (and occasionally for students from the Manhattan School of Music). Such walk-in encounters will be screened immediately by the Registered Nurse and, when necessary referred to the Nurse Practitioner or the Physician Consultant.

Following interview and examination, treatment recommendations may be made directly, a private physician will be recommended with a referral note, or the individual's own physician will be contacted.

For Emergencies or when deemed necessary the TIC Medical Office personnel will go to the tenant offices, perform an emergency evaluation, and return the individual to the TIC Medical Office or arrange transport to an emergency room.

For work-related injuries or illness, first aid will be provided by TIC Medical Office personnel after which the individual will be referred to an appropriate surgeon or physician in cases involving Workmen's Compensation.

We will always make the effort to write or phone the personal physician with information or important observations concerning the health of the individual.

Treatment of institutional employees by the Registered Nurse or the Nurse Practitioner will conform to our own Treatment Protocols, or will require direct approval by the Physician Consultant.

Through health maintenance counseling for substance abuse, smoking, diet, exercise, cholesterol testing, stress management and lifestyle modification.

FITNESS CENTER
The TIC Medical Office maintains and overseas a small fitness center located in the Medical Office. It contains a treadmill, an aerobic stepper, an Aerdyne Bicycle and a floor exercise mat. The use of this equipment is open to any employee of a tenant agency within TIC without charge. The employee must fill out medical history and informed consent forms and participate in a formal orientation to the equipment given by exercise trainers. Forms are available in the Medical Office. Once the forms and orientation are completed, time on the equipment is scheduled in advance in the Medical Office. Hours for the Fitness Center are Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3:40 PM.

FITNESS CLASSES
Under the auspices of the Medical Office and Tara Bach, Certified Trainer and Licensed Exercise Physiologist and her staff of Certified Trainers, exercise classes are held on Mondays from 12 noon-1 PM, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon-1 PM and from 1 PM to 2 PM.

There is small registration fee for these classes (approximately 5 dollars a class), open to any employee of a TIC tenant agency. The classes consist of easy toning and stretching exercises and relaxation techniques. All that is needed is comfortable clothing and a towel to lie down on. Check the elevator for location.