You woke up not feeling well, or your child has a fever, or you’ve got an injury that needs evaluation, and you’re trying to figure out the right care path. The traditional options — a primary-care appointment (often days out), an urgent care visit (waiting rooms, transit time), or an emergency room (expensive, slow, and usually overkill) — each have meaningful friction. Sickday is built around a different option: licensed clinicians who come to you, plus telemedicine for the conditions that fit virtual evaluation, plus continuity that follows you across the care journey. This 2026 guide walks through what Sickday is, how the service works, and how to think about when to use it.
Important: this guide is educational. It does not replace direct evaluation by a licensed clinician. For specific concerns about your health, the right next step is to speak with a clinician — Sickday’s, your own primary care provider’s, or in emergent situations, by going to a hospital emergency department or calling 911.
What Sickday Actually Provides
Sickday is a NYC-based concierge medical service that delivers medical house calls and telemedicine through licensed clinicians. The service spans most of Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, with neighborhood-specific coverage detailed across the urgent-care location pages.
Three things distinguish the service from traditional NYC care options:
- The licensed clinician comes to you. Home visits cover most of the conditions that would otherwise require an urgent care visit — non-emergent illness, injuries, evaluation of concerning symptoms, follow-up on existing conditions.
- Telemedicine is integrated. For conditions that fit virtual evaluation, a video consultation with a Sickday clinician can resolve the issue without an in-person visit.
- The same care team follows you. Continuity of care across visits, including documentation that flows with you to your primary care provider when needed.
Who the Licensed Clinicians Are
Sickday’s care is delivered by licensed clinicians — medical professionals appropriately credentialed under New York State licensure. The clinical team handles the range of conditions a high-quality urgent care setting would address. For specifics on the clinical staff, see the about page.
When to Use Sickday (and When Not To)
The right care path depends on the situation. As a general framework:
When Sickday fits well
- Non-emergent illness symptoms — sore throat, fever, cough, congestion, stomach issues, urinary symptoms, skin concerns, ear pain
- Minor injuries — sprains, strains, cuts requiring evaluation, minor burns
- Follow-up after a previous visit or ER discharge
- Conditions that need evaluation but don’t require imaging or specialty services
- Situations where leaving home is inconvenient — caring for young children, mobility issues, weather, schedule constraints
- International or out-of-state travelers needing urgent evaluation in NYC (see travelers care)
When to seek emergency care instead
Sickday is not a substitute for emergency care. The following situations require going to a hospital emergency department or calling 911:
- Chest pain, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, or radiating arm pain
- Sudden severe headache, especially with confusion or vision changes
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath at rest
- Signs of stroke (sudden weakness on one side, slurred speech, facial drooping, sudden vision loss)
- Severe abdominal pain
- Major trauma, significant bleeding, or any injury that may have caused internal damage
- Loss of consciousness, severe confusion, or altered mental status
- Allergic reactions with breathing difficulty, facial swelling, or signs of anaphylaxis
- Severe burns or any electrical/chemical injury
- Any situation where you feel emergency-level concern about your safety or your family member’s safety
For general guidance on when symptoms warrant emergency care, the CDC and NYC Department of Health publish accessible resources at cdc.gov and nyc.gov/health respectively. When in doubt about whether a situation is emergent, calling 911 is the right answer.
The House Call Process
For an in-home visit:
- Request a visit. Through the Sickday website, app, or phone. Describe what’s going on; a Sickday team member assesses whether an in-home visit, telemedicine, or other care path is appropriate.
- Schedule the visit. Same-day visits are typical for non-emergent situations. For more flexible timing, scheduling can extend further.
- Licensed clinician arrives. Visit takes place at your home (or hotel, office, or other location).
- Evaluation and treatment. The clinician evaluates symptoms, conducts appropriate examination, discusses findings, recommends a plan. For conditions requiring medications, prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy of choice; for conditions requiring further evaluation, referrals or coordination with primary care are arranged.
- Documentation and follow-up. Visit documentation is provided; follow-up coordinated as appropriate.
The Telemedicine Path
For situations that fit virtual evaluation, telemedicine provides faster initial assessment without in-person visit. The clinician can evaluate symptoms via video, ask the questions that determine the right care path, and either resolve the situation virtually (prescription, advice, symptomatic care guidance) or recommend escalation to an in-person visit if needed.
Telemedicine fits especially well for:
- Symptom triage when you’re not sure if an in-person visit is needed
- Follow-up consultations on previous visits
- Conditions where physical examination provides limited additional information
- Travel situations where in-person care is impractical
- Mental health conversations and check-ins
What Conditions Sickday Evaluates
The clinical team handles the range of conditions a high-quality urgent care setting would address. Specific care areas are covered on dedicated service pages:
- Injuries and illness — the bread-and-butter urgent care conditions
- Family and primary care — ongoing primary care relationships and family care
- Sports injuries — evaluation, treatment, and referral when needed
- IV therapy — including hydration and specific therapies
- Remote X-rays — imaging arranged when needed
- Travelers care — for international and out-of-state visitors
For the full care catalog with what each category specifically covers, see care types at Sickday.
Service Area
Sickday serves Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Specific neighborhood coverage:
Manhattan: Manhattan, East Village, West Village, Greenwich Village, NoHo, SoHo, Financial District, Lower East Side, Tribeca, Union Square, Midtown, Manhattan Valley, Lenox Hill.
Outer boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island.
Memberships and Care Packages
Beyond per-visit care, Sickday offers memberships for individuals and families who use the service regularly, and care packages for specific use cases. Corporate programs are available for employers covering employee health benefits. For the deeper view on how to choose a concierge healthcare model, see choosing concierge healthcare in NYC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sickday an emergency room replacement?
No. Sickday is for non-emergent care — situations a high-quality urgent care setting would address. For emergencies (chest pain, stroke symptoms, major trauma, severe difficulty breathing, etc.), the right path is the hospital emergency department or 911.
How fast can Sickday respond?
Same-day visits are typical for non-emergent situations. Telemedicine consultations can be scheduled faster — sometimes within an hour of request during business hours.
Does insurance cover Sickday?
Coverage varies by insurance plan. Sickday provides documentation that supports out-of-network reimbursement claims; specific coverage details should be verified with your plan.
Who are the clinicians?
Sickday’s care is delivered by licensed clinicians appropriately credentialed under New York State licensure. Details on the clinical team are at the about page.
Can Sickday be my primary care provider?
Sickday provides family and primary care services for individuals and families who want an ongoing primary care relationship with the service.
What if I’m not sure whether to use Sickday or the ER?
When in doubt about whether a situation is emergent, the right path is calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency department. Sickday’s intake team can help you assess between non-emergent options (in-person visit vs. telemedicine vs. waiting for primary care availability), but emergency-level concerns should not be triaged through a non-emergency service.
How do I get started?
Contact Sickday or use the request form to schedule a visit or telemedicine consultation. Memberships available for ongoing care relationships.
Talk to Sickday
For non-emergent care needs, contact Sickday. Browse the types of care, the relevant Manhattan or borough-specific page, or the FAQ. For emergencies, go to your nearest hospital emergency department or call 911.
