Home > DC Providers > Physiatrists

Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD

Accepting New Patients

(Dr. Richard D. Zorowitz, M.D.)

(718 Ratings)

Specializes in: Physiatry (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine

Tulane University School of Medicine (1985)

Professional interests include: shoulder instability, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord injury, and more.

102 Irving Street Northwest Suite 1332
Washington, DC 20010

(202) 877-1621

Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD is a physiatrist in Washington, DC specializing in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation) and spinal cord injury medicine. He graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1985 and has 40 years of experience. Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD is affiliated with MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Health and MEDSTAR MEDICAL GROUP II LLC.

Office Locations

Unable to locate address.

Address:

3800 Reservoir Road NW Pasquerilla Healthcare Center - 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20007

Address:

102 Irving Street Northwest Suite 1332
Washington, DC 20010

Some issues Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD can help you with:

Joint Injections

A joint is any area of the body where two bones connect. Due to injury or disease, the space between the two bones can sometimes become swollen and inflamed, which leads to pain and a loss of mobility. Injection and aspiration are two tools that physicians use to treat joint pain locally without needing to perform surgery.

Both injection and aspiration are techniques that involve inserting a needle connected to a syringe directly into the joint. Aspiration involves the removal of excess fluid, and injection is the placement of medication directly into the joint space via the needle. Both procedures may be performed at the same time. In both cases a local anesthetic may be used, the skin will be cleaned and disinfected, and then the needle will be inserted. In some cases, especially if the injection or aspiration is in a large and deep joint such as the hip or spine, ultrasound may be used to guide the needle to the exact location desired.

In some cases, irritation to the joint can cause fluid to build up so significantly that the joint hurts and can no longer move well. Aspiration removes some of the excess fluid and relieves the pressure. In addition, aspiration can be used to provide a sample of joint fluid if it needs to be examined microscopically for the presence of white blood cells, bacteria, or crystal formations.

Certain injuries and diseases that affect joints are inflammatory in nature, such as rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis or gout. These diseases may be helped by the local injection of anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected joint. In this case, corticosteroids such as methylprednisone are usually used. Relief from the pain may be felt right away and may last for weeks or even months.

In some cases, such as with osteoarthritis, the cartilage buffer between the two bones wears down and pain comes from bones rubbing against each other. In this case, injection of a lubricating agent such as hyaluronic acid may be beneficial. It provides a slippery cushion between the bones to relieve pain that can last for months.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury medicine is a branch of medicine that treats damage to the spinal cord from an injury or a nontraumatic myelopathy, which is any disorder that affects the spinal area. The spinal cord is a section of nerve tissue protected by the vertebrae (spinal bones). Trauma to the spinal cord, typically caused by compression or bent vertebrae, prevents the body and brain from communicating. This can result in pain, loss of sensation, and impaired physical function and movement. Acute spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a leading cause of permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries may develop from accidents or myelopathies, disorders that provoke spinal compression. Traumatic incidents such as falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, and bullet or stab wounds can cause an acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury medicine seeks to stabilize the spine and to alleviate the symptoms of spine damage. Practitioners of spinal cord injury medicine are called spinal cord injury specialists. Spinal cord injury medicine is an interdisciplinary field, meaning physicians of various specialties may be trained to treat spinal cord injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord may initially be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. Patients can also undergo spinal exams to evaluate their sensory ability and strength. Injuries to the spinal cord can be complete (no feeling or sensation) or incomplete (some feeling or sensation remains). Conditions spinal cord injury medicine specialists may treat include:

Paralysis, such as paraplegia (loss of function in the legs), or quadriplegia (loss of function from the neck down)
Spine fracture or trauma, which can lead to impairment and/or significant pain
Spinal infections
Myelopathies, such as herniated disks, spinal tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylosis, and degenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

Treatment for spinal cord injuries often involves surgery, either directly after an injury occurs or at a later date. Surgery for spine injuries is intended to ease spinal compression and stabilize the spine. Surgical procedures can involve shifting vertebrae, removing bone, or altering spinal placement with implantable devices. Patients with significant spinal trauma may require urgent surgical intervention.

Surgical treatments can be complemented by rehabilitative physical therapy to improve mobility. Spinal cord injury specialists also treat complications arising from a spinal injury, such as respiratory or bladder conditions. Some patients with spinal cord injuries may require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury specialists aim to help these patients successfully adjust and lead an improved quality of life. An emerging treatment for spinal cord injuries is neural prosthetics, which replicate patients' lost nerve function. Neural prostheses may be used as artificial body parts or assistive devices that patients may cognitively control. Other assistive devices include wheelchairs and scooters.

Spinal cord injury specialists may collaborate with physical therapists, radiologists, neurologists, urologists, and orthopedists.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"While there's no cure for spasticity, working with your care team to find the best treatment options for you can help provide comfort, relief and independence," said Richard D. Zorowitz, MD,...”—"Spasticity 101: A debilitating yet treatable common condition after a stroke", The Berkshire Eagle, February 2023

“Richard Zorowitz, M.D., has clinical focus on the rehabilitation of stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury.”—"CIONIC Appoints Scientific Advisory Board Members with Decades of Diverse Academic and Practical Experience in Neurology, Mobility, Rehabilitation, Therapy, and Engineering", Associated Press News, May 2022

“The government-sponsored study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., also breaks new ground because it is one of the "very, very few controlled trials" that have been conducted...”—"Stroke theory: Use the bad arm", Los Angeles Times, November 2006

aspiration	27
doctor visit	223
hospital care	1116
injections	83
inpatient care	1116
minimally invasive procedures	56

**Gender**
Male	232
Female	245

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	349
Black	110
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	176
From 75 to 84	118
85 and over	52
Less than 65	131

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	40
Ischemic Heart Disease	58
Depression	51
Chronic Kidney Disease	44
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	23
Heart Failure	40
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	49
Dementia	18
Cancer	13

aspiration	25
doctor visit	254
hospital care	1630
injections	24
inpatient care	1630

**Gender**
Male	267
Female	267

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	382
Black	132
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	170
From 75 to 84	157
85 and over	71
Less than 65	136

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	74
Stroke	39
Ischemic Heart Disease	63
Depression	47
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	27
Heart Failure	37
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	46
Dementia	19
Cancer	13

doctor visit	302

**Gender**
Male	154
Female	184

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	110
Black	190
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	128
From 75 to 84	48
85 and over	24
Less than 65	138

doctor visit	427
hospital care	16
inpatient care	16

**Gender**
Male	117
Female	117

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	89
Black	128
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	66
From 75 to 84	37
85 and over	21
Less than 65	110

Hypertension	62
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	37
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	36
Dementia	25
Cancer	5

aspiration	16
doctor visit	423
hospital care	15
injections	15
inpatient care	15

**Gender**
Male	125
Female	109

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	86
Black	123
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	76
From 75 to 84	33
85 and over	19
Less than 65	106

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	40
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	36
Dementia	27
Cancer	6

aspiration	15
doctor visit	460
hospital care	15
injections	14
inpatient care	15

**Gender**
Male	117
Female	108

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	85
Black	115
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	73
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	14
Less than 65	103

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	36
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	39
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	33
Dementia	32
Cancer	9

**Gender**
Male	104
Female	112

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	91
Black	100
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	77
From 75 to 84	38
85 and over	15
Less than 65	86

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	43
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	41
Chronic Kidney Disease	32
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	5
Diabetes	39
Dementia	37
Cancer	8

doctor visit	325
hospital care	70
inpatient care	70

**Gender**
Male	95
Female	86

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	69
Black	89
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	51
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	92

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	43
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	6
Diabetes	35
Dementia	29
Cancer	0

doctor visit	378
hospital care	115
inpatient care	115

**Gender**
Male	112
Female	89

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	74
Black	109
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	64
From 75 to 84	40
85 and over	15
Less than 65	82

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	45
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	41
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	32
Dementia	23
Cancer	8

doctor visit	415
hospital care	106
inpatient care	106

**Gender**
Male	100
Female	89

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	73
Black	88
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	13
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	65
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	12
Less than 65	77

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	50
Ischemic Heart Disease	17
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	32
Dementia	19
Cancer	14

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD treated as a physiatrist in Washington, DC were hospital care, inpatient care, minimally invasive procedures and injections.

aspiration	20
doctor visit	367
hospital care	351
injections	31
inpatient care	351
minimally invasive procedures	56

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD.

**Gender**
Male	142
Female	140

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	118
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	140
Hispanic	0
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	1

**Age**
75 to 84	54
85 and over	24
Less than 65	106
65 to 74	94

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD From 2013 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke and diabetes.

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	41
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	10
Osteoporosis	6
Heart Failure	20
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	37
Atrial Fibrillation	13
Cancer	8
Dementia	24

Education & Training

Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1985. He completed residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, Primary Podiatric Medicine and has a state license in Maryland.

Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine (1985)

Residency: Northwestern Memorial Hospital (1989)

Board Certification: American Board of Podiatric Medicine, Primary Podiatric Medicine

Licensed In: Maryland

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

MedStar Washington Hospital Center

MedStar Health

MEDSTAR MEDICAL GROUP II LLC

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: CIGNA Choice Fund PPO, MAMSI, First Health PPO, Blue Choice, Golden Rule, Great-West Healthcare, TRICARE, Community Care Network (CCN), Coventry, TRICARE Reserve Select, Aetna Managed Choice POS, Beech Street PPO, Aetna HMO, Kaiser Select, Kaiser Permanente, CIGNA EPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, CIGNA Indemnity, AARP, Medicare Advantage, Coventry National Network PPO, United Healthcare, Medicaid, Cigna, Virginia Premier Health Plan, WellPoint, CIGNA Network Open Access, Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS), HealthyBlue PPO, MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice, CareFirst NASCO, CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO, Traditional Medicare Fee for Service, United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO), Innovation Health: Open POS Plus, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families, Carefirst EPO, Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus, Aetna Open Choice (PPO), United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program, CareFirst Administrators, United Student Resources, United Select HMO - EPO/NPP, Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA, Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA, Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA, United MD IPA Preferred (POS), Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II, United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO), Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP), Innovation Health: Network Only Plus, United MD IPA (HMO), United Choice Plus, CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans), Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS), Innovation Health: PPO, HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO, MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance, United Choice, United Optimum Choice, Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus), Innovation Health: POS, Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS), Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS), Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network, Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus, Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund), Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS), United Select Plus (POS), CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced, United Erickson Advantage Plans, Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice, Aetna Student Health Insurance, Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS), Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN), Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus, D-SNP), I-SNP, CareFirst MedStar PPO, Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO), CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity, United Core Essential (HMO), Innovation Health: POS Plus, HumanaChoice PPO, United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP, Innovation Health: Open POS II, Innovation Health: Indemnity, United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose, Veterans Affairs Community Care Network, United Navigate, Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO, Police and Fire Clinic, Employee Health Plan (EHP) and CareFirst MedStar Select PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

CIGNA Choice Fund PPO

MAMSI

First Health PPO

Blue Choice

Golden Rule

Great-West Healthcare

TRICARE

Community Care Network (CCN)

Coventry

TRICARE Reserve Select

Aetna Managed Choice POS

Beech Street PPO

Aetna HMO

Kaiser Select

Kaiser Permanente

CIGNA EPO

Aetna Medicare PPO

CIGNA Indemnity

AARP

Medicare Advantage

Coventry National Network PPO

United Healthcare

Medicaid

Cigna

Virginia Premier Health Plan

WellPoint

CIGNA Network Open Access

Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)

HealthyBlue PPO

MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice

CareFirst NASCO

CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO

Traditional Medicare Fee for Service

United Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)

Innovation Health: Open POS Plus

MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families

Carefirst EPO

Innovation Health: HMO & EPO Plus

Aetna Open Choice (PPO)

United Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program

CareFirst Administrators

United Student Resources

United Select HMO - EPO/NPP

Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA

Aetna HealthFund/Health Network Option OA

Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA

United MD IPA Preferred (POS)

Aetna Choice POS & Choice POS II

United Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO)

Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)

Innovation Health: Network Only Plus

United MD IPA (HMO)

United Choice Plus

CareFirst Blue Card Program (Out-of-area BCBS plans)

Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)

Innovation Health: PPO

HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO

MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance

United Choice

United Optimum Choice

Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)

Innovation Health: POS

Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)

Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)

Aetna Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network

Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus

Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)

Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)

United Select Plus (POS)

CareFirst BC/BS Advantage Core/Enhanced

United Erickson Advantage Plans

Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice

Aetna Student Health Insurance

Carefirst Healthy Blue (HMO/POS)

Health Services for Children with Special Needs (HSCSN)

Aetna Open HMO/Open HMO Option/Open EPO Plus

D-SNP)

I-SNP

CareFirst MedStar PPO

Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)

CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity

United Core Essential (HMO)

Innovation Health: POS Plus

HumanaChoice PPO

United Nursing Home Plan (C-SNP

Innovation Health: Open POS II

Innovation Health: Indemnity

United GEHA (for all other states) Compass Rose

Veterans Affairs Community Care Network

United Navigate

Carefirst Blue Preferred PPO

Police and Fire Clinic

Employee Health Plan (EHP)

CareFirst MedStar Select PPO

Show More

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 718 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Washington, DC.

4.9

Overall Rating

(718 Ratings)

Leave a Review

Reviews From Around The Web

Overall Rating: 5.0 2022-03-21

Patient verified via Press Ganey

Simply amazing, caring & professional will recommend *Dr. Zorowitz to anyone who may require his service wholeheartedly.

Overall Rating: 5.0 2023-04-15

Patient verified via Press Ganey

Dr Zorowitz is first rate. He was highly recommended and earned that lofty recommendation

Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-07-23

Patient verified via Press Ganey

Dr. Zorowitz is second to none. He is truly a fabulous doctor.

Overall Rating: 5.0 2024-04-15

Patient verified via Press Ganey

Dr. Zorowitz is very attentive to my needs and concerns

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Ipsen Innovation	$8,520 $8,520
Ipsen Pharma SAS	$7,250 DYSPORT $7,250
Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	$5,469 Nuedexta $5,469
Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc	$5,259 DYSPORT $5,095	Dysport 300 U-1 $164
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.	$4,580 Nuedexta $2,417	$2,163
Other	$12,493 SPRINT PNS System $5,387	BOTOX $2,300	Smartpatch $1,300	Exparel $308	Xeomin $293	Other $2,906

**Types of Payments**
Consulting Fee	$37,870
Food and Beverage	$2,688
Honoraria	$1,420
Travel and Lodging	$1,365
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$229

Research Payments

Dr. Richard David Zorowitz, MD has received 110 research payments totaling $722,087.

Biography

Dr. Richard Zorowitz's areas of specialization are physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation) and spinal cord injury medicine; he sees patients in Washington, DC. On average, patients gave him a rating of 5.0 stars (out of 5). Dr. Zorowitz's areas of expertise include the following: spinal cord injury, shoulder instability, and spasticity. He most likely takes Blue California, Coventry, and Coventry Health Care Plans, as well as other insurance carriers. He attended Tulane University School of Medicine and subsequently trained at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for residency. Dr. Zorowitz's hospital/clinic affiliations include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. He has an open panel in Washington, DC according to Doctor.com.