How a Private Fast-Track Clinic in Herzliya Speeds Up Diagnosis

People who live for weeks or months with unexplained pain often face a frustrating cycle of appointments, referrals, tests and waiting. A new private service at Herzliya Medical Center, called Medical NOW, aims to compress that process by placing the workup, specialists and tests under one roof, with high availability and a single team managing the case.

Shai Hageuel, the unit’s operations, administration and service manager, said the service is for anyone who develops a medical problem, such as abdominal pain, headaches or back pain, and wants a fast answer from one point of contact. She said many patients arrive without a clear diagnosis and do not know which specialist or test should come first. The unit’s job, she said, is to create continuity between the initial inquiry, triage doctor, tests, results and follow-up treatment. "The biggest advantage for the patient is that the whole process is under one roof," she said.

Dr. Elad Goldberg, an internist in Medical NOW, said referrals range from simple orthopedic problems to complex internal medicine cases. He said the first visit with an internist is crucial because it determines the rest of the diagnostic process. After the initial assessment, the doctor examines the patient, orders relevant tests, and the medical coordinator arranges them at Herzliya Medical Center. Once the results are in, the doctor calls the patient with the findings and recommendations, and if needed refers them to the appropriate specialist.

Hageuel described one case involving a 30-year-old woman who noticed swelling in her neck. She saw a triage doctor the next day, had an ultrasound that same day, and a biopsy was scheduled two days later. The results showed a finding that required oncology treatment, and the triage doctor together with an ENT specialist referred her to further care at a suitable hospital. The article stresses that not every symptom signals serious disease, but says this model can reduce uncertainty and shorten the path from concern to diagnosis.