In order to save your and our valuable time
we decided to answer frequently asked questions on our website.
1. How many providers are in the practice?
Answer: I am a solo practitioner as an M.D. We have a PA that started with us in 2017. His name is Sagee Kahalon. I have trained him personally and he is a welcome addition to the practice. He is taking new patients into his practice and he handles the day to day overflow in the office as well. My private practice in Cedarhurst was established in 2005.
2. What happens after hours? Can I page you at nights?
Answer: yes, if you have a true urgent issue and can wait for a call back (we try to keep it under 10 minutes) We can be paged via the answering machine at the office. Just dial 516-374-2228 and press the number 3, then state the nature of your emergency. I appreciate if you do this for TRUE emergencies, not general questions (we provide Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl dosing, and instructions on common illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhea on our website).
3. What happens when you go on vacation? on weekends and holidays?
Answer: When I am on vacation, our Physician Assistant sees patients. Our Physician Assistant sees patients on nights and weekends too. His night hours are from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm and his weekend hours are from 9:15-10:15 on Saturday nights (seasonally) and 9 am - 5:00 pm on Sundays.
4. If my child is sick, can I see you on the same day?
Answer: Yes. We offer walk in hours so you will not have to worry about making an appointment every morning, and if this time does not work for you, we will be happy to help you schedule a visit at a better time.
5. What are your office hours?
Answer: Our office hours are:
Sunday: 9 am - 5 pm
Monday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Friday: 9 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 90 minutes after sundown for 2 hours (seasonally)
No Appointment Necessary From 8:30 am - 10:00 am Mon - Friday. 9 am - 5 pm Sundays.
6. How long does it take to get an appointment for a physical exam?
Answer:We try to accommodate exams as quickly as possible, however, during certain times of the year, before camp and school for example there may be a longer wait than usual. The PA does complete physical exams as well.
7. What Hospitals do you see newborns in?
Answer: I admit babies and patients under my service at South Nassau Communities Hospital. I do have adjunct privileges at LIJ Cohen Children's and Northshore University Hospital, but I only see newborns there when there is a medical issue. Routinely, these hospitals assign a hospitalist that tends to the newborn much more quickly than us. I am happy to do my utmost to help if there is any need or issue during your hospital stay.
As for admissions for older patients, if the problem is mild i.e dehydration that requires IV fluids, or skin infections that require IV antibiotics, I admit patients under my service at South Nassau Communities Hospital. If the issue is more complicated, i.e - a child with heart disease - I refer the case to Cohen Children's Hospital.
8. What is your opinion and office policy regarding childhood vaccinations?
Answer: I strongly believe in the importance of vaccination and the benefit that society as a whole derives from vaccines. I do not accept new families to the practice that refuse routine vaccination (with the exception of influenza vaccine). I also do not allow new parents to defer vaccinations later than 2 months of age.
9. Can you tell me about the style of medicine that you practice?
Answer: first and foremost, I try to treat every patient with dignity and educate the parents so that they could understand why I choose to treat or not to treat a certain infection or problem. I discourage parents from using antibiotics unnecessary, i.e for mild ear infections or for colds. I try to go above and beyond my duties to manage your child's issues at the office and avoid hospitalizations or frequent Emergency room visits. A few examples of what I mean by this:
Answer: we accept most insurance plans, but to ensure that your insurance is accepted, please check this list:
PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS
WE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT PLANS
11. Can you tell me more about yourself?
Answer: Sure, here is some information, for more details about our staff members, please press on the "About Us" tab above.
Dr. David Elazar Simai was born in Tehran Iran in 1976. With the onset Iranian Revolution, his family emigrated to Jerusalem, Israel in 1979. He attended Dugma Uziel Elementary School, walking in the famous streets of Nachlaot and developed a special bond with the under-served community. His father, Dr Elias Simai, a well known OB/GYN helped build the beautiful, state of the art birthing center Misgav Ladach Hospital in Jerusalem.
Dr. David Simai emigrated to New York in 1989 at the age 13 years old and was determined to follow in the family tradition as a physician.
Dr. Simai is married and enjoys playing Tennis, Basketball, Hiking, and writing captivating stories for local newspapers. Dr. Simai acts as a Chazzan (Cantor) and Baal Koreh at Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere.
Education & Honors:
Work Experience:
Our office manager will be happy to entertain more of your questions.
Please call our office manager - Sheryl Weisberger at 516 374-2228 to discuss any other questions you may have.
Answer: I am a solo practitioner as an M.D. We have a PA that started with us in 2017. His name is Sagee Kahalon. I have trained him personally and he is a welcome addition to the practice. He is taking new patients into his practice and he handles the day to day overflow in the office as well. My private practice in Cedarhurst was established in 2005.
2. What happens after hours? Can I page you at nights?
Answer: yes, if you have a true urgent issue and can wait for a call back (we try to keep it under 10 minutes) We can be paged via the answering machine at the office. Just dial 516-374-2228 and press the number 3, then state the nature of your emergency. I appreciate if you do this for TRUE emergencies, not general questions (we provide Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl dosing, and instructions on common illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhea on our website).
3. What happens when you go on vacation? on weekends and holidays?
Answer: When I am on vacation, our Physician Assistant sees patients. Our Physician Assistant sees patients on nights and weekends too. His night hours are from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm and his weekend hours are from 9:15-10:15 on Saturday nights (seasonally) and 9 am - 5:00 pm on Sundays.
4. If my child is sick, can I see you on the same day?
Answer: Yes. We offer walk in hours so you will not have to worry about making an appointment every morning, and if this time does not work for you, we will be happy to help you schedule a visit at a better time.
5. What are your office hours?
Answer: Our office hours are:
Sunday: 9 am - 5 pm
Monday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am - 8:00 pm
Friday: 9 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday: 90 minutes after sundown for 2 hours (seasonally)
No Appointment Necessary From 8:30 am - 10:00 am Mon - Friday. 9 am - 5 pm Sundays.
6. How long does it take to get an appointment for a physical exam?
Answer:We try to accommodate exams as quickly as possible, however, during certain times of the year, before camp and school for example there may be a longer wait than usual. The PA does complete physical exams as well.
7. What Hospitals do you see newborns in?
Answer: I admit babies and patients under my service at South Nassau Communities Hospital. I do have adjunct privileges at LIJ Cohen Children's and Northshore University Hospital, but I only see newborns there when there is a medical issue. Routinely, these hospitals assign a hospitalist that tends to the newborn much more quickly than us. I am happy to do my utmost to help if there is any need or issue during your hospital stay.
As for admissions for older patients, if the problem is mild i.e dehydration that requires IV fluids, or skin infections that require IV antibiotics, I admit patients under my service at South Nassau Communities Hospital. If the issue is more complicated, i.e - a child with heart disease - I refer the case to Cohen Children's Hospital.
8. What is your opinion and office policy regarding childhood vaccinations?
Answer: I strongly believe in the importance of vaccination and the benefit that society as a whole derives from vaccines. I do not accept new families to the practice that refuse routine vaccination (with the exception of influenza vaccine). I also do not allow new parents to defer vaccinations later than 2 months of age.
9. Can you tell me about the style of medicine that you practice?
Answer: first and foremost, I try to treat every patient with dignity and educate the parents so that they could understand why I choose to treat or not to treat a certain infection or problem. I discourage parents from using antibiotics unnecessary, i.e for mild ear infections or for colds. I try to go above and beyond my duties to manage your child's issues at the office and avoid hospitalizations or frequent Emergency room visits. A few examples of what I mean by this:
- If your child has an asthma attack, I will try my utmost to stabilize him or her at the office by nebulizing them and monitoring their oxygen. I arranged for the office to dispense nebulizers so that you could walk home with the necessary equipment to last the night.
- If your young infant has fever under 6 weeks but appears stable, I will attempt to work up their infection at the office by performing a blood and urine test, and administer an antibiotic rather than automatically refer the patient for 48 hour hospital admission
- If your child suffers a laceration, I will try to either repair the laceration at the office, or arrange for a qualified plastic surgeon to meet you urgently and help suture the wound asap.
- I keep a database of specialists that accept the insurance plans that I work with, so my patients will not have to pay out of pocket if they do not have to.
Answer: we accept most insurance plans, but to ensure that your insurance is accepted, please check this list:
PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS
- Aetna - all plans
- Cigna - all plans
- Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield - all plans
- GEHA
- GHI - all plans
- HIP - PPO and EPO only (we do not accept HIP medicaid or CHP)
- Meritain Health
- Oxford Health Plan
- United Healthcare private, not the community plan
- UMR
- 1199
- We DO NOT accept MagnaCare
- We DO NOT accept Multiplan, Total Plan, or GHI Total Access
- We DO NOT accept workers comp or no fault insurance
WE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT PLANS
- Amerigroup/Healthplus - all plans
- Fidelis - all plans
- Healthfirst - all plans
- Wellcare - all plans
11. Can you tell me more about yourself?
Answer: Sure, here is some information, for more details about our staff members, please press on the "About Us" tab above.
Dr. David Elazar Simai was born in Tehran Iran in 1976. With the onset Iranian Revolution, his family emigrated to Jerusalem, Israel in 1979. He attended Dugma Uziel Elementary School, walking in the famous streets of Nachlaot and developed a special bond with the under-served community. His father, Dr Elias Simai, a well known OB/GYN helped build the beautiful, state of the art birthing center Misgav Ladach Hospital in Jerusalem.
Dr. David Simai emigrated to New York in 1989 at the age 13 years old and was determined to follow in the family tradition as a physician.
Dr. Simai is married and enjoys playing Tennis, Basketball, Hiking, and writing captivating stories for local newspapers. Dr. Simai acts as a Chazzan (Cantor) and Baal Koreh at Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere.
Education & Honors:
- High School - Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim - Queens, Class of 1993. High School Salutatorian Award. Honor Roll.
- B.A. - Yeshiva University, Class of 1996. Awarded the prestigious Magna Cum Laude distinction. Dean's List.
- Medical School - State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Class of 2000.
- General Pediatric Residency - Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 2000 - 2003
Work Experience:
- Attending Physician at Ezras Choilim Health Center, Monroe, New York 2003 - 2009.
Our office manager will be happy to entertain more of your questions.
Please call our office manager - Sheryl Weisberger at 516 374-2228 to discuss any other questions you may have.