For Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center Patients and Families

Is the Health Center taking new patients?

The health center has been at or near capacity for several years. At times we are closed to new patients. Our Practice Assistants can tell you whether we are taking new patients. When we are open to new patients, the appointment slots are opened on the first business day of the month. They usually fill up the same day or even the same morning, so it's important to call early on that day to get an appointment.

How do I make an appointment?

If you are a new patient to the health center, we will need your date of birth and either your social security number the number on your hospital blue care (BWH or Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital).

By Phone

Call our main number at 617-983-4100. Have your Brigham medical record number (8 digits) or SJPHC number (7 digits) or social security number ready. If you are calling the Adult Medicine calls are taken in the order received; the average time it takes to pick up your call is about 40 seconds, but time may be longer or shorter If you find yourself on hold you can, if you prefer, hang up and call back a bit later. If you are sick and need to be seen, please call early in the day if possible, to make it easier for us to accommodate you. The Practice Assistant will ask the reason you wish to be seen, in order to schedule you properly. If you are uncomfortable discussing your symptoms or problem, you can ask to speak to the nurse. Also, if you want advice as to whether you need to see the doctor or how to take care of yourself at home, you can ask to speak to the nurse.

Patient Gateway

Reaching your doctor's office is easier now online! You can sign up for Patient Gateway only in English. Click on "Enroll" online, and follow the prompts. After you get your password, you can safely and securely: Reach your doctor's office - online; Stop using the phone for routine requests; Request appointments, medicines, or referrals; View lab results; Ask questions; Set appointment reminders; and get accurate information about your health concerns.

What if my doctor or provider is not available when I need to be seen?

During our clinic hours, one of our other doctors will be happy to see you. Our hours of operation are Monday thru Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After hours, we have a doctor on call for urgent medical advice. Call 617-983-4100. An operator at Brigham and Women's will take your information and our doctor on call will call you back. Please be ready to answer the phone when you get a call back. Don't call for things that can wait until next day. If you have Anonymous Call Rejection, turn it off by dialing *87 on most systems. After the doctor calls you can turn it back on by calling *77. Doctors are usually calling from home and will have their caller ID blocked. If you have an emergency, go to the BWH or Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital emergency room, or the nearest emergency room. Your doctor will be notified later. Your electronic medical records are available to ER doctors at BWH and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital.

Is the health center open on Saturday?

We are not currently open on Saturdays, or weekdays after 5pm. As always, we have a provider on call 24/7 if you have an urgent issue that can't wait until the next day.

Health Care Reform

As you know, Massachusetts has recently passed new laws regarding health insurance. Every resident of Massachusetts is required to have health insurance or they will be penalized on their tax returns. The goal of these new laws is to make high-quality health care affordable for every resident regardless of past medical history or income. Massachusetts has also developed new state-sponsored health insurance plans which can be free or low cost. Here at SJP, our financial counselors are happy to help patients (as well as non-patients) find the plan that best fits their needs and enroll. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a financial counselor, please contact Mayra at (617) 983- 4129.

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