Hi, My daughter is in Boston area this year. She really needs to see a PCP/PA before then and is having trouble getting referrals from her work/friends. Most don’t have one or just use their Gyn. She has one at homein CT, but coming back and forth is hard with her hours and to f/up would be even harder.
Does anyone who might live in the area have any suggestions? We asked our doctor’s here but no one knew anyone in Boston but advised not just picking anyone at random. We have good insurance (BC) She did find a good dentist from a friend but is not having too much luck with a doctor.
Thanks, she works in Boston and lives in Jamaica Plains.
What’s wrong with just using the gyn? My H is an ob-gyn but serves as PCP for most of his patients. He gives flu shots, screens for mental health issues, manages high blood pressure, high cholesterol, allergies, diabetes, asthma, etc. I would hazard a guess that he is PCP for 70% of his patients, of all ages.
I have used Dr. Parisa Kaboli @ Brigham Womens Hospital Physicains Group in Chestnut Hill for years and have been very happy. http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/medicine/services/primarycare/bwpg/default.aspx
BWH also has a satalite clinic in JP your daughter could try if she does not want to go to Chestnut Hill.
I used to use my old OB/Gyn for PCP but my new one (he retired) wont do that…some things but not all. She needs EKG, some other tests, so she would rather see a PCP. She was looking at Brigham yesterday, I will send her that name. Thanks Mamom. If she didn’t need to return, it was a quick physical, it wouldn’t matter but she has some issues to have looked at.
It can be very difficult to get in to see a new PCP - many don’t accept new patients and when I called for my daughter in Boston the next appointment for a new patient was four months away. I suggest picking a hospital to affiliate with, BWH is a good choice, and then cross referencing with your health plan and picking one who is taking new patients.
I live in Brookline and use Pastor Medical Group, which is at the Kent/Powell stop on the C Line.
I called Brigham and Women’s hosptial and they gave me number/website of who is available and I sent it to my daughter. Dr Kaboli was not available but there are others at the JP branch in her office who are. A quick google gave a few good reviews but it’s hard with doctor’s.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Debruns
look at the website zocdoc…you make appointments on line, see the background of all the doctors (where they went to med school, residency etc) you can limit your search to primary doctors by zip code, those who take your insurance. and they have reviews ( the reviews are real you fill them out after you have seen the doctor)
We go to Lahey Clinic in Burlington, just outside of Boston. My PCP is Dr. Jennifer Rehm, my husband sees Dr. Orfanos, and one of my sons sees Dr. Zide. I would recommend any of them.
Thank you, I will pass that on.
Another group of docs affiliated with Brigham and Women’s is the Fish Center for Women’s Health Services. My PCP is there–I know she’s not accepting new patients, but there are PCPs in the group who are. It’s a great practice group and I’d highly recommend it. The group offices are in Chestnut Hill, which isn’t that far from JP.
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/womenshealth/connorscenter/fishcenter.aspx
Thanks, I didn’t see BC on the list of insurances, but she can call and ask. She did see a dentist in MA that took BC but didn’t accept their payment so had to pay out of pocket the difference,which she doesn’t have to do with her other doctor in CT. She learned to ask about that now, a constant learning process with insurances.
My friend (70) and her daughter (23) have been very happy with Johanna Klein in Brookline. She is in practice with many doctors (BIDMC Washington Square Group) that my other neighbors and friends see. I see someone in the hospital and I wouldn’t recommend she start seeing someone in a hospital setting. Too dreary!
I would recommend that she sets up time for a Physical no matter how far out. She can get on a cancellation list and will be seen for sick visits. The BI also has an urgent care center in Chestnut Hill that she can go to on weekends and evenings. It is really really hard finding PCPs around here. They are so overworked and hardly have enough time for their patients. It is very frustrating for patients and I am sure it is for them, as well.
Good luck and reach out if you need further Boston recommendations!
debruns,
Just wanted to say good luck with this! My S started working in Boston last September and in January started looking for a PCP. He could not get an appointment with a male PCP until…July. Then in May, they sent him a letter that…oops, they had forgotten to tell him that the doctor had relocated in April! To Hawaii. The doctor was associated with a practice at the Brigham, and they suggested a number of his associates were accepting new patients but they were all female and S decided he’d be more comfortable with a male doc. He still doesn’t have a PCP, which is of concern to me. The kicker is that he works at MGH…
Debruns: My PCP at the Fish Center does take Blue Cross–I’ve have a Blue Cross PPO.
Ok, I just told her to check if they were on BC list for in-network. She tends to procrastinate and with doctor’s you can’t do that usually. August openings with mine last month are gone. They told me once some employers (like with my husband’s state ins) started saying you had to go once a year, dentist twice a year, etc. or pay a fee, they started to fill up even more. People that never would be making appt’s now have too.
I like PA’s and APRN’s and I found that sometimes they are easier to make appt’s with. Maybe Momof3sons’s that might be an option for your son and for a f/up he can see the doctor if available.