Primary Care

What is primary care?

Primary care services include a wide range of health care related to wellness, disease prevention, and treatment of common and chronic conditions. Primary care is an integral part of overall health and wellness. Our primary care providers (PCPs) care for patients of all ages, including children. They partner with you and your family to deliver holistic, compassionate care at each stage in your journey. Mass General Brigham offers three types of primary care.

• In-person primary care: In-person primary care takes place in a doctor’s office where the PCP and patient meet in person. The doctor can examine the patient, orders tests and labs, and refer to specialists as needed. While virtual visits may be available at times, the majority of care takes place in a traditional, in-person setting.
  
  
• Virtual primary care: For patients with simple to moderately complicated health issues, virtual primary care offers individuals the opportunity to have a designated primary care provider and have appointments via video online. The PCP can order tests and labs and refer to specialists and if an in-person visit is needed, the PCP will coordinate that.
  
  
• Bridge primary care: Bridge primary care is for those who are transitioning from one PCP to another but do not have an appointment with their new PCP for some time. In between appointments, a primary care provider can meet with patients virtually to bridge that gap by assisting with medication refills and any medical questions or issues that arise, including referrals to specialists.

What is a primary care provider?

A primary care provider (PCP) is your trusted health care provider who partners with you on all aspects of your care. PCPs include doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They foster long-term relationships with patients and can address a variety of health concerns. If you need care for a more complex condition, our PCPs can refer you to best-in-class Mass General Brigham specialists. 

Why is primary care important?

Getting regular primary care services and routine screenings can help prevent serious health problems. They can help you catch conditions early, when you may have more treatment options. If you’ve delayed care during the pandemic, contact your PCP to keep your health on track.

Your PCP can help you:

• Stay on track with routine care and screenings. Physical exams, vaccinations, cancer screenings, and other regular checkups allow your PCP to assess your overall health and wellness. They can listen to your concerns and address any questions you may have about your family health history or recent changes in your health.
• Get treatment for a new illness or health condition. Our PCPs care for a wide range of conditions, including COVID-19, the flu, allergies, musculoskeletal injuries, mental health conditions, skin rashes, and more.  
• Manage chronic health conditions. Your PCP can help you manage chronic health conditions, like diabetes or asthma. They can prescribe prescriptions, order routine blood work, and answer questions related to your condition.
  
• Coordinate care with specialists. Our PCPs work together with specialists to help you achieve the best health outcome.
• Make health decisions. By knowing you over time, your PCP can provide guidance when you are making choices about treatment options to manage your health conditions.

Our PCP network

We have more than 1,300 PCPs in our network. Many are currently accepting new patients. Some providers with near-term availability can see new patients within 30 days.