Olde Richmond is the hidden gem of the River Wards. It is where you go for Stock's Bakery pound cake and a quiet stroll. The blocks off Memphis are some of the most peaceful in Philly. Residents here value loyalty and continuity. You want a doctor who is going to be around for the long haul, not a corporate revolving door. Fishtown Medicine is run by Ashvin Vijayakumar MD ("Dr. Ash"), a board-certified internal medicine physician you can text directly. Most visits happen by video. When you need an in-person exam, we come to your rowhome.

What anchors your week in Olde Richmond?

Olde Richmond runs slower than Fishtown next door, and thats the point. Our 19125-east members tend to live on quieter blocks where the same families have been on the same stoops for two or three generations. The Memphis Street block rhythm. Stocks Bakery on Sunday for the pound cake. The corner store for the basics. Cohocksink Park for the kids. The parish-life cadence that some of our older members have kept for 40 years. We do the slow-burn primary care work that fits this rhythm; the relationship matters more than the speed. The Aramingo corridor. The practical side of the neighborhood. Target, Lowes, the supermarkets, the diners. Most of our Olde Richmond members do their weekly errands on Aramingo, and we hear the same question often: how do I keep my parents healthy on this block as they age? Multi-generational care planning is real here in a way it isnt in much of the rest of the River Wards. The Fishtown-priced-out younger crowd. A growing share of our Olde Richmond members are first-time homeowners who couldnt afford Fishtown proper. Theyre 5 minutes from Frankford Ave nightlife but living the quieter rowhome life. Most of them came to us through a Fishtown referral and stayed because the care travels across the neighborhood line easily; the practice is the same regardless of which side of York you live on. The Olde Richmond pattern is loyalty, continuity, and quiet pride. We dont try to perform Fishtown energy here. We match the block.

How do I get to Fishtown Medicine from Olde Richmond?

Most members never need to. Care happens by text, video, and home visit. If you ever want to meet at the Fishtown office, your options:

• Walk via Frankford or Aramingo (about 20 to 25 minutes).
• Drive across Lehigh or Aramingo (about 5 to 7 minutes).
• SEPTA 25 bus on Aramingo (about 10 minutes).
• Bike along Aramingo or Frankford (about 8 minutes).

Where do members go for labs and imaging?

Olde Richmond is well covered:

• Quest Diagnostics in Fishtown and on Aramingo.
• LabCorp locations in NoLibs and Center City.
• Mobile phlebotomy to your rowhome.

For imaging, we send orders to Jefferson, Temple, or independent imaging centers, with cash-pay rates if you are uninsured.

Will I actually see Dr. Ash, or a rotating cast?

You see Dr. Ash. Every time. That is the whole point of the model. The big systems on Aramingo and Lehigh rotate residents and PAs. We do not.

Deeper Questions for Olde Richmond Residents

I have a chronic condition (hypertension, diabetes, COPD). How does this work in 19125?

We manage most chronic conditions inside the membership: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, COPD (in coordination with pulmonology when needed), GERD, lipids, hypothyroidism, anxiety, depression, and chronic insomnia. The shift compared to traditional primary care is more time, more access, and continuity with one physician.

Are there health concerns specific to older Olde Richmond rowhomes?

Yes:

• Lead paint and lead pipes in pre-1978 rowhomes. We can order a blood lead level if you are renovating or planning to conceive.
• Asbestos in older basements and pipe wrap.
• Mold in slow-leaking roofs and damp basements.
• Industrial soil legacy in some Olde Richmond lots near former industrial sites. If you garden, raised beds with imported soil are smart.

What about air quality near I-95 and the El?

Eastern Olde Richmond runs close to I-95. Particulate exposure is real. If you have asthma, allergies, or unexplained chronic cough, we screen for it and talk through practical mitigation.

Is Olde Richmond walkable enough for daily movement?

Walkable for groceries and coffee. Less walkable for big destinations. The Delaware River Trail and Penn Treaty Park are 10 minutes away by bike. We build movement plans around what you actually have access to.

I have lived here for decades. Will you respect that history?

Yes. We treat your history as data. Many older Olde Richmond members come on with 20 years of records and 8 to 12 medications. We take the time to review the whole picture and often deprescribe what is no longer serving you.

I am caring for an aging parent in Olde Richmond. Can you help?

We see adults 18 and older, including many in their 70s and 80s. Home visits are excellent for older parents who find traditional offices exhausting. The relief for adult children is significant.

I want longevity care, not just sick care. What do you offer?

The longevity layer:

• ApoB and Lp(a) for cardiovascular risk.
• Insulin sensitivity to catch metabolic dysfunction early.
• Hormones (testosterone, thyroid, cortisol).
• DEXA for body composition and bone density.
• VO2 max guidance.

How does Fishtown Medicine compare to Aria Jefferson primary care?

Aria Jefferson is a fine community resource for hospital and specialty care. Their primary care runs on insurance economics: short visits, large panels, weeks-long scheduling. We are direct primary care: long first visits, same-day text access, no rotating residents.

I do not have a primary care doctor right now. Where do I start?

Start with the warm invitation call. Even if we are not the right fit, we will help you figure out what is. No pressure.

What about TRT or hormone optimization?

Yes. For men, we run advanced hormone panels and address the systems behind low T (sleep, insulin, stress) before reflexively prescribing testosterone. For women, perimenopause and menopause are managed directly with evidence-based hormone therapy when appropriate.

What if my doctor at the IGA recommends you?

We get a lot of word-of-mouth referrals in Olde Richmond. The neighborhood talks. We are happy you are reading.

Meet Your Physician

Ashvin Vijayakumar MD (Dr. Ash) is a board-certified internal medicine physician based in Philadelphia. He built Fishtown Medicine to be the kind of long-haul neighborhood doctor that Olde Richmond actually deserves.