Primary and Preventive Care

The best way to prevent illness and the first place to turn in urgent care situations

doctor mario lysse, holding a clipboard, consults with a patient
doctor mario lysse, holding a clipboard, consults with a patient
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Primary Care is the Key to Staying Well

Seeing your primary care provider (PCP) is the best way to prevent illness. Your PCP should be your first choice for routine medical care and for non-life-threatening urgent illnesses or injuries.   

We provide primary care for both adults and children. To get the support you need, you can choose from different types of primary care providers, including:

  • Family Medicine 
  • Internal Medicine 
  • Pediatrics 
  • Geriatric Medicine 
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology 
  • NPs and PAs 
Don't Have a Primary Care Provider?
Finding the right PCP for you and your family takes research and planning. It’s an important first step toward managing your health and the health of those you love.
back view of a young woman having a video consultation with a female practitioner on a digital tablet

Virtual Care Appointments

Have live, face-to-face conversations with your healthcare provider from the safety and comfort of your home. And you can do it all from your mobile device, phone or computer.
doctor shukla listening to a patient's heartbeat in a hospital

Not sure what kind of care you need?

When you or someone in your life is sick or hurt, every second counts. You need to decide quickly how serious things are and where you should go for medical care, whether that’s to your PCP, convenient care (also called urgent care) or the emergency room. 

Comprehensive Primary Care at Baystate Health

Dr. Elizabeth Boyle defines primary care and talks about Baystate's ability to provide integrated, expert care for the whole family.

Answers to Your Primary & Preventive Care Questions

How do I schedule an appointment?
If you don't have a primary care provider, call 413-794-5412 to get started. 

Current patients can also schedule appointments directly online or through the MyBaystate patient portal.
What happens if my provider is not available?
We will try to book you to a member of the provider's team. Same-day sick visits may be with any provider at the center.
Who are the members of my healthcare team?
Your healthcare team members are a primary care provider, often shortened to PCP (who may be a doctor or nurse practitioner/physician’s assistant teamed with a doctor), a nurse, a medical assistant, and a patient service representative.
Will my healthcare team know if I go to the emergency room or hospital?
We know immediately if you go to a Baystate Health hospital. Otherwise, we usually find out one to three days later.
How can I communicate with my healthcare team?
We encourage you to communicate through the MyBaystate patient portal. If you haven’t joined the portal yet, please ask a member of your care team to help get you started. If the portal is not available to you, you can call and ask for a message to go to your provider's team.
What if I'm late to an appointment?
We understand travel and planning can be difficult, and we can allow for some lateness. Please call us and let us know that you will be late. We will do our best to accommodate you, but you may have to wait until patients who arrive on time are seen.
What happens if I miss a scheduled appointment?
Please call and cancel your appointment if you cannot make it—even if it’s that same day. If you’re unable to call and you miss the visit, please call when you can so we can schedule another appointment for you.
Am I allowed to bring someone to my appointment if I want to?
We currently allow 1 visitor along with patients in Baystate Health outpatient practices. Please see our visitor policies for more information.
What if I have a form I need completed?
Drop the form at our desk, but please fill in the patient part first. Some forms will require a visit with you and your primary care provider (PCP) to complete. If your form is complex (more than a couple of pages long) or you have not been seen by your PCP recently, please call to schedule an appointment.

Our policy is to have the form completed within 10 business days. If you need a form sooner than that, we will assess your need and our ability to meet your need on a case-by-case basis. We cannot promise it will be done sooner, but we will do our best based on the situation.
What is the policy for cell phone use in primary care practices?
If you are in the waiting room or other public space, we ask that you move outside or away from others to make or take the call. It is okay to use your phone silently while you’re waiting in the exam room, but please do not use your phone during the visit. Please listen to music using headphones and only while you are wait.

Did you Know We Offer...

Flexible Appointments

Doing what you need to do to stay healthy doesn’t always fit easily into your life. We offer flexible appointments that let you get the care you need on your schedule, from wellness and preventive care to treatment for an illness or a chronic health condition. 

Each of our primary care sites offer same-day or next-day appointments and a variety of communication options for addressing both chronic and urgent conditions. This includes: 

Care for Your Total Well-Being

Understanding your medical conditions and your history (and your family's medical history) is an important part of your primary care provider's (PCP) job. This includes looking at factors that affect your health, like whether you smoke and how much stress you're under. Having this information helps your provider anticipate your health risks and more effectively treat you when you’re sick. 

Our PCPs – including doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants – care for your total well-being. As your healthcare partner, they help you and your family members create a healthier life by making it easy to have regular checkups, follow a proper diet, and get the benefits of exercise.  

Our services include: 

  • Evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses 
  • Annual well-checkups 
  • Disease prevention 
  • Vaccinations 
  • Health maintenance 
  • Patient education and preventative medicine 
  • Care coordination with mental health specialists 
  • Referrals to specialists 

We’ll work with you to manage chronic medical conditions and address small issues before they become large ones.

Vaccines & Screenings
At your regular wellness visits, your primary care provider (PCP) will talk with you about vaccines (like COVID-19, flu, and others) and any screening tests they believe you should have. They’ll also share information about developing healthier lifestyles. 

CDC Immunization Schedules

COVID-19 Vaccines

The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for everyone 12 years and older to prevent COVID-19 in the United States. If you're a Baystate Health primary care patient, you can contact your provider or practice to schedule your shot. 

Screening Tests

Your provider will understand your medical history and whether or not you are at risk for certain diseases. They may recommend tests including:

Making Healthy Choices

Your PCP is your partner in health. They are there to ensure you stay healthy and get the tools you need to be well. This includes recommending programs to help you create healthy behaviors and make healthier life choices.

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