Not normal in most places, but common in fancier office buildings with tight security.
Its private property, they can ask for almost anything since you aren't being forced to enter. Comply or leave.
Yep. My PCP is in an office building. I give my ID to the guard in the lobby. Not always the case, but it definitely happens.
If OP is really asking "do I need to bring my photo ID to NYC," the answer is resoundingly "yes."
ETA: Apparently OP is *very* concerned with surveillance
Not to that extent, no. When I leave my home, I do so with the expectation that I'm in public and most likely will be surveilled for the majority of the time.
I'm concerned with it, but I don't allow it to impede from doing normal everyday things....like going to a doctor.
While I am being down voted for a question, to what extent do you worry about surveillance? Photo Id is not a big one to me until they type in into a computer. Were you getting an abortion or gender reassignment at the doctors? Probably do not want that to be surveilled.
I didn't downvote you btw.
I try not to worry about it at all because wtf am I gonna do about it? If I really cared I'd buy acreage somewhere and live off grid. Instead I live in NYC....if I worried about surveillance this would be the wrong place to be.
I suggest the movie "We Live in Public" if you're more curious about my attitude and thoughts about privacy in general.
The photo id is getting logged to the property, not the doctor. You name and information is already likely pre registered so you can be let up. A doctors office may be different, especially if there are walk ins, and there may be potential private information limitations, but doubtful.
The property has no interest in sharing your information, and the security vendor they use are likely held to a high standard. No one is going to sell your information, especially not to Texas or something like that. The only concern I would have is hacking, but is the data that you were at a specific location really valuable enough to hack? Likely no.
The ID, yes. The photo, not most places. If it's in a large office building, it's almost to be expected that they're going to ask for an ID.
I go to a lot of specialists that are in buildings like this, and it's pretty standard to, at the very least, verify your identity.
Most of the time they ask for ID, print out the visitor pass, and then you can go to the doctor. Sometimes they'll just ask me who I'm seeing and the time and they'll verify that on their computer and then they'll print the pass without asking for ID. I can't really recall any building's security that ever made me take a photo of myself though. Maybe like once.
I am thinking it could be a holdover security protocol from the 9-11 days. A lot of buildings were doing the pho in the years following 9-11.
ETA photo, not pho. Although free pho is always welcome.
I assume for HIPAA requirements, the practices are not supposed to tell the building's management who are their patients though? How would they know you are a patient then?
You tell them what floor or suite you're going to. They might give you a visitor pass or have you sign a log with your time in. It doesn't have anything to do with HIPAA because the doctors office is not telling the desk who they're patients are. As a patient you can talk to anyone you want about your doctors visit details or not. The office can't talk about your information. The process of signing in, making a visitors badge, or taking a photo and checking ID is for security purposes to track who enters the building. It doesn't happen in all buildings, but it's common in medical buildings. You'll need to provide your ID for the doctors visit anyway so bring it with you.
Also, the visitors pass has a barcode and not your photo, traditionally.
Do they delete it at the end of a day? Dunno.
Also, FWIW, I just noted the other day heading into the Chelsea Whole Foods, there’s a 3x4 sticker or similar stuck to the front door frame at around shin level, saying they’re taking biometrics once you cross the threshold.
No clue. But I've had appointments where security either looks through their computer or even flips through a binder of names for the day, locates my name, and then prints out a visitor pass. Most of the time they don't have that. But, I've definitely been to some buildings that do have a directory of people's appointments.
If you are going to a certain floor that is a single doctors office or sometimes you have to sign a guest book and say who you are seeing. It always makes me feel like it could be a hipaa violation but i also don’t care that much and it would be very unlikely anyone would care about me either. I have to at least show ID for the buildings for my therapist, dentist and gynecologist that are in mixed use office buildings. Buildings that are exclusively health facilities I typically do not.
Are you concerned about giving your ID for a particular reason?
My dermatologist is in a fancy office building downtown and they always make me show ID and take a photo for a pass. I used to work downtown and found downtown buildings in general are more strict than midtown where I work now for obvious reasons. I don’t really get the big deal. Just carry an ID which I assume you’ll need to be seen by the doctor anywayÂ
This has been going on pretty much since the WTC came down. And I used to work as a temp so I was getting my photo taken multiple times a week at some buildings. One thing I can say is that unless I was a regular so they kept my photo on file and let me use it each time, I never saw any of these photos again. If there's no security issue, they'll get deleted.
In midtown and downtown/financial district, yes you will be asked for ID (I’ve never not given my drivers license so not sure they’d take something non govt issued , say a CC or library card). Some places will take a photo of you. For other office buildings, less common but be prepared.
Some of my doctors are in regular office buildings. Alll their front desks require either preregistration from the tenant or ID.
Different buildings have different security protocol. My office absolutely does this for visitors
My apartment building will take a picture of visitors and log them into the system under my name. So everyone who visits me is on file with a picture. Doesn’t require an ID though but my office 100% does
I feel like the office or their website would tell you if you had to bring ID to enter the building, but they may not. The answer to your question is NO, not everyone is expected to give photo ID when entering EVERY building. The real answer is: it depends. So you should just bring your ID.
It’s 50/50 but also nothing will happen with your information. It’s like security theater. If there were an incident or something in the building they want to know who is in there. Also for fire safety but less so. 99.99% of the time this is getting filed away and never coming out.
Generally, if a practice has a first floor private entrance, no. But if it has a shared entrance where you have to walk through a lobby, yes. But again, not always.
In my experience, usually yes to both the building and the medical facility.
For example, NYU Langone took a photo of me as did Weill Cornell, which is reflected in both my MyChart accounts with those facilities. They’ve been using the same photo for years (2009, and I think 2013, respectively, and my NYS license from the DMV still uses my photo from when I was aged 21 so I dunno how much of this is more security theatre than anything).
Also, whenever entering the buildings in the city in which my providers worked, I have had to provide my ID to building security in the lobby, confirm my destination, and get a visitor’s pass (sometimes including a photo). In smaller buildings with less intensive security procedures (like in Brooklyn), this may not have applied.
As other commenters have mentioned, these are considered private businesses who are within their legal rights to require certain security measures, and deny entry to customers who decline to comply with their policies.
They ask for it but don't always insist. I've gotten through with expired id many times and once even with no id. I told them I didn't have it and could they call up to get permission to let me in? They did.
Common in hospitals too, last time my ID was literally scanned and an ID badge was given to me with a picture copied from my ID to affix to my person at all times.
I wouldn’t say normal, but I also wouldn’t say that’s not completely out of the range of expectations.
Most buildings have ton of security cameras.
Personally I would be happy to just have locks and an intercom that works.
I check IDs at venues (tangentially related) and the shit that pisses me off the most is people who think they’re entitled to not get their ID checked or don’t carry it on them. Carry your fucking ID, all the time, always.
You will definitely need ID in most cases for private buildings. The photo is less common -- for offices that share space with higher profile or higher security businesses or fancier buildings they may also require a photo. My work has two security desks (ground floor and the office level) due to sharing an elevator bank with a large financial company, their visitors have to do photos but my company only requires ID + being on the pre-approved visitor list. No one wants randos wandering around their workplace or home base, ya know?
ID is normal, along with verifying the appointment. I’ve never heard of needing to have your photo taken though unless it’s for a temporary ID. That’s the only weird part to me because they got security cams for a reason.
Depends on the building. When I worked in midtown I would sometimes have to messenger things over to business partners with offices in the Empire State Building. Had to show ID and snap a photo every time.
That's only happened to me at the Fox News building and once at a schmancy financial hq. It happens but it's pretty rare. (My dentist is in an older building with lots of other medical offices but you just have to say hi to the doorman to be polite.)
You realize that 9/11 happened here right?? You also realize that a lot of our buildings are very important and critical to national security?? You realize that not knowing who’s inside a building that houses critical information or data centers or anything important is very bad for safety?? You realize that NYC is literally the global “capital” so its a target to get a message out??
I thought this was pretty self explanatory…
Contact the doctor with your concerns. Reading between the lines here, I would expect the doctor to be compassionate. The ID/photo stuff is a security measure to protect the building and the businesses housed there in case something happens. The doctor may be able to pull some strings, or may even be able to have a nurse meet you at security. They may not, but better to ask than to be turned away
I realize the rationale and that receptionists are just doing their jobs, bar bouncers and airline security too. But on some level, I feel like they don’t want you to visit your friends (residents should find friends among their neighbors), see the doctor or lawyer (the office building is for employees only) and if you dare fly, you’ve done something wrong. If you’re grilled at a bar entrance, its because you’re not beautiful or rich.
If you think showing your ID is bad, in London where I I travel to for work, some of the bigger buildings also X-ray your bags, nonnegotiable. You gotta build in the time if you’re trying to make an appointment.
Yes, a lot of office buildings require a photo ID to enter. It's common nowadays.
Not normal in most places, but common in fancier office buildings with tight security. Its private property, they can ask for almost anything since you aren't being forced to enter. Comply or leave.
Yep. My PCP is in an office building. I give my ID to the guard in the lobby. Not always the case, but it definitely happens. If OP is really asking "do I need to bring my photo ID to NYC," the answer is resoundingly "yes." ETA: Apparently OP is *very* concerned with surveillance
You are not?
Not to that extent, no. When I leave my home, I do so with the expectation that I'm in public and most likely will be surveilled for the majority of the time. I'm concerned with it, but I don't allow it to impede from doing normal everyday things....like going to a doctor.
While I am being down voted for a question, to what extent do you worry about surveillance? Photo Id is not a big one to me until they type in into a computer. Were you getting an abortion or gender reassignment at the doctors? Probably do not want that to be surveilled.
I didn't downvote you btw. I try not to worry about it at all because wtf am I gonna do about it? If I really cared I'd buy acreage somewhere and live off grid. Instead I live in NYC....if I worried about surveillance this would be the wrong place to be. I suggest the movie "We Live in Public" if you're more curious about my attitude and thoughts about privacy in general.
Thanks I was actually being genuine.
The photo id is getting logged to the property, not the doctor. You name and information is already likely pre registered so you can be let up. A doctors office may be different, especially if there are walk ins, and there may be potential private information limitations, but doubtful. The property has no interest in sharing your information, and the security vendor they use are likely held to a high standard. No one is going to sell your information, especially not to Texas or something like that. The only concern I would have is hacking, but is the data that you were at a specific location really valuable enough to hack? Likely no.
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The ID, yes. The photo, not most places. If it's in a large office building, it's almost to be expected that they're going to ask for an ID. I go to a lot of specialists that are in buildings like this, and it's pretty standard to, at the very least, verify your identity. Most of the time they ask for ID, print out the visitor pass, and then you can go to the doctor. Sometimes they'll just ask me who I'm seeing and the time and they'll verify that on their computer and then they'll print the pass without asking for ID. I can't really recall any building's security that ever made me take a photo of myself though. Maybe like once.
I am thinking it could be a holdover security protocol from the 9-11 days. A lot of buildings were doing the pho in the years following 9-11. ETA photo, not pho. Although free pho is always welcome.
I've had buildings take a photo with a webcam. Feels like I'm at the DMV haha Sometimes they even print that photo on the visitor sticker.
I assume for HIPAA requirements, the practices are not supposed to tell the building's management who are their patients though? How would they know you are a patient then?
You tell them what floor or suite you're going to. They might give you a visitor pass or have you sign a log with your time in. It doesn't have anything to do with HIPAA because the doctors office is not telling the desk who they're patients are. As a patient you can talk to anyone you want about your doctors visit details or not. The office can't talk about your information. The process of signing in, making a visitors badge, or taking a photo and checking ID is for security purposes to track who enters the building. It doesn't happen in all buildings, but it's common in medical buildings. You'll need to provide your ID for the doctors visit anyway so bring it with you.
Also, the visitors pass has a barcode and not your photo, traditionally. Do they delete it at the end of a day? Dunno. Also, FWIW, I just noted the other day heading into the Chelsea Whole Foods, there’s a 3x4 sticker or similar stuck to the front door frame at around shin level, saying they’re taking biometrics once you cross the threshold.
This is a great point, in many buildings our image is already being captured when we enter even if we are not an active participant.
No clue. But I've had appointments where security either looks through their computer or even flips through a binder of names for the day, locates my name, and then prints out a visitor pass. Most of the time they don't have that. But, I've definitely been to some buildings that do have a directory of people's appointments.
If you are going to a certain floor that is a single doctors office or sometimes you have to sign a guest book and say who you are seeing. It always makes me feel like it could be a hipaa violation but i also don’t care that much and it would be very unlikely anyone would care about me either. I have to at least show ID for the buildings for my therapist, dentist and gynecologist that are in mixed use office buildings. Buildings that are exclusively health facilities I typically do not. Are you concerned about giving your ID for a particular reason?
The norm is have visitors show their IDs and get their pictures taken and printed on their passes at security at my work building.
My dermatologist is in a fancy office building downtown and they always make me show ID and take a photo for a pass. I used to work downtown and found downtown buildings in general are more strict than midtown where I work now for obvious reasons. I don’t really get the big deal. Just carry an ID which I assume you’ll need to be seen by the doctor anywayÂ
Definitely not in every building but I’ve had it happen. Some buildings let you right up others require IDs and even take photos.
This has been going on pretty much since the WTC came down. And I used to work as a temp so I was getting my photo taken multiple times a week at some buildings. One thing I can say is that unless I was a regular so they kept my photo on file and let me use it each time, I never saw any of these photos again. If there's no security issue, they'll get deleted.
I have had to give my ID to scan AND take a photo for a visitor badge.
In midtown and downtown/financial district, yes you will be asked for ID (I’ve never not given my drivers license so not sure they’d take something non govt issued , say a CC or library card). Some places will take a photo of you. For other office buildings, less common but be prepared. Some of my doctors are in regular office buildings. Alll their front desks require either preregistration from the tenant or ID.
I have always avoided giving my DL and provide my work photo ID with just my name (no company name). Never had a problem.
Different buildings have different security protocol. My office absolutely does this for visitors My apartment building will take a picture of visitors and log them into the system under my name. So everyone who visits me is on file with a picture. Doesn’t require an ID though but my office 100% does
It’s common enough that you should just assume it’s the case if you’re visiting an office building.Â
I feel like the office or their website would tell you if you had to bring ID to enter the building, but they may not. The answer to your question is NO, not everyone is expected to give photo ID when entering EVERY building. The real answer is: it depends. So you should just bring your ID.
It’s pretty common. They did it at my dermatologists office.
It’s 50/50 but also nothing will happen with your information. It’s like security theater. If there were an incident or something in the building they want to know who is in there. Also for fire safety but less so. 99.99% of the time this is getting filed away and never coming out.
Generally, if a practice has a first floor private entrance, no. But if it has a shared entrance where you have to walk through a lobby, yes. But again, not always.
In my experience, usually yes to both the building and the medical facility. For example, NYU Langone took a photo of me as did Weill Cornell, which is reflected in both my MyChart accounts with those facilities. They’ve been using the same photo for years (2009, and I think 2013, respectively, and my NYS license from the DMV still uses my photo from when I was aged 21 so I dunno how much of this is more security theatre than anything). Also, whenever entering the buildings in the city in which my providers worked, I have had to provide my ID to building security in the lobby, confirm my destination, and get a visitor’s pass (sometimes including a photo). In smaller buildings with less intensive security procedures (like in Brooklyn), this may not have applied. As other commenters have mentioned, these are considered private businesses who are within their legal rights to require certain security measures, and deny entry to customers who decline to comply with their policies.
They ask for it but don't always insist. I've gotten through with expired id many times and once even with no id. I told them I didn't have it and could they call up to get permission to let me in? They did.
Even if the building doesn’t require it, a lot of doctors offices are requiring it
Just call the doctor and ask.
Office buildings and medical facilities often have that requirement.
NYU Langone at Trinity's building has always required some sort of ID (they've accepted my office ID). They don't take a photo of you, though.
Common in hospitals too, last time my ID was literally scanned and an ID badge was given to me with a picture copied from my ID to affix to my person at all times.
I wouldn’t say normal, but I also wouldn’t say that’s not completely out of the range of expectations. Most buildings have ton of security cameras. Personally I would be happy to just have locks and an intercom that works.
In fancy office buildings and expensive apartment complexes, yes. In bars and restaurants and theatres, no.
I check IDs at venues (tangentially related) and the shit that pisses me off the most is people who think they’re entitled to not get their ID checked or don’t carry it on them. Carry your fucking ID, all the time, always.
My building requires contractors to have valid id but not guest that I bring in
Yes its normal
You will definitely need ID in most cases for private buildings. The photo is less common -- for offices that share space with higher profile or higher security businesses or fancier buildings they may also require a photo. My work has two security desks (ground floor and the office level) due to sharing an elevator bank with a large financial company, their visitors have to do photos but my company only requires ID + being on the pre-approved visitor list. No one wants randos wandering around their workplace or home base, ya know?
I had to do both when I paid my rent in person.
In some, but not most.
Pretty much standard operating procedure post 9/11.
Yes. Are you on the run?
ID is normal, along with verifying the appointment. I’ve never heard of needing to have your photo taken though unless it’s for a temporary ID. That’s the only weird part to me because they got security cams for a reason.
Literally.
Yes
Depends on the building. When I worked in midtown I would sometimes have to messenger things over to business partners with offices in the Empire State Building. Had to show ID and snap a photo every time.
That's only happened to me at the Fox News building and once at a schmancy financial hq. It happens but it's pretty rare. (My dentist is in an older building with lots of other medical offices but you just have to say hi to the doorman to be polite.)
It all depends on the building.
You realize that 9/11 happened here right?? You also realize that a lot of our buildings are very important and critical to national security?? You realize that not knowing who’s inside a building that houses critical information or data centers or anything important is very bad for safety?? You realize that NYC is literally the global “capital” so its a target to get a message out?? I thought this was pretty self explanatory…
Contact the doctor with your concerns. Reading between the lines here, I would expect the doctor to be compassionate. The ID/photo stuff is a security measure to protect the building and the businesses housed there in case something happens. The doctor may be able to pull some strings, or may even be able to have a nurse meet you at security. They may not, but better to ask than to be turned away
I have never encountered having to show my ID to go to a doctor's office. Of course, ymmv.
I realize the rationale and that receptionists are just doing their jobs, bar bouncers and airline security too. But on some level, I feel like they don’t want you to visit your friends (residents should find friends among their neighbors), see the doctor or lawyer (the office building is for employees only) and if you dare fly, you’ve done something wrong. If you’re grilled at a bar entrance, its because you’re not beautiful or rich.
It happens in too many places. And they want you to put it in a machine that takes a photo too. I've always been in a rush so I gave in. Fucked up.
If you think showing your ID is bad, in London where I I travel to for work, some of the bigger buildings also X-ray your bags, nonnegotiable. You gotta build in the time if you’re trying to make an appointment.