A Medical Office that Defies the Expectations

Finding the right doctor is always very difficult. I’ve often found myself in a small doctor’s office with an unfriendly receptionist who, disturbed by my intrusion, would grimace upon seeing me. And with that welcoming face for a greeting, I would sit anxiously waiting to see the doctor while filling out paperwork that I might not fully understand, but of which clarification would require my asking the cheery person at the front desk. With such negative vibes filling my system and a glance about the sitting area producing a picture of a tiny room, overfilled with chairs and tired people, the expectation of having a good meeting with the doctor always seem to drop precipitously.
IYAR Medical, P.C. changed that perception. During the summer of 2008, I was searching for a rehabilitation program to help in healing my injured ankles. I found an IYAR advertisement in the local paper and the proximity of their office, along with their possession of an Aqua Therapy pool, sparked my curiosity. Scheduling the appointment was very easy: they were very accommodating in my proposed time and date; finding the office was equally easy, located at 72nd Road and 112th Street, the office is right off Queens Boulevard. Upon entering the facility, I found myself at peace standing in a spacious lobby, painted white, decorated by bamboo stocks and featuring a running waterfall imbedded into the wall—all decorative choices that I learned were made to create a Zen-like environment. In moments I was smiling too after meeting the receptionist who greeted me with a genuine smile and friendly hello. With such an introduction, I was ready to meet the doctor.
I was introduced to Dr. Lagoduke: IYAR’s physician whose experience spans over fifteen years and two continents, with fourteen years spent heading a medical practice in Moscow, Russia. The doctor was helpful in directing my course toward rehabilitation, including setting up a meeting between IYAR’s full-time physical therapist and me. On the premises, the facility houses a rehabilitation area run by the PT. Under his supervision, patients are able to work out using a variety of training equipment - from the standard treadmill and elliptical bicycle to an advanced balance machine. At my consultation with the PT, I found him to be very receptive to my needs, identifying the problem and carefully constructing a plan to help improve the stability of my ankles: I was given a regimen that I would follow upon each visit to the office. Massage therapy was also provided by trained professionals who were friendly and willing to help at every opportunity.
The best part of the rehabilitation was time spent in the pool. The pool is located under a large glass canopy roof from where streams of light beam down upon the limpid water. The Aquatic Therapy pool is the only one of its kind in the Queens area: it has counter currents and warm water, making it enjoyable to be in the water and providing a place to work out joints, ligaments, and muscles without feeling the pain. Music plays and nature hangs above as you exercise—it is a beautiful, serene image that helps better position the mind for the sometimes tiresome and often grueling process of rehabilitation. IYAR also offers the use of a sauna to help in detoxification, relief of pain, and skin rejuvenation. There are showers available as well.
I have always been a skeptic of medical offices but IYAR and its staff impressed me: they treat every patient as a member of their family, something that is nearly nonexistent in today’s world. Iyar means “light” in Hebrew and fittingly, IYAR the office is a beacon of light for those seeking a medical facility that will care about them and their health.