As a service to our patients, Diane Reilly, our Atrius Health Medicare Educator, conducts free group sessions about Medicare at various Atrius Health office locations throughout the year. These sessions are designed to assist patients who are seeking a greater understanding of the complexities of Medicare. Topics covered in the class include how and when to enroll in Medicare, an explanation of the various parts of Medicare, and tools to assist with Medicare plan choice.

If you wish to enroll in one of the upcoming sessions listed below, please call the Medicare Education registration voicemail line at 617-559-8340 to sign up. Seating is limited so preregistration is required. Although these sessions are for Atrius Health patients, you are welcome to bring a spouse, partner or caregiver.

Harvard Vanguard Quincy 
President’s Place, South Tower
1250 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169
Validated parking

Session 1            Monday, April 8             1:00 – 2:30 p.m.            Conference Room C/D, 4^th floor

Session 2           Monday, April 8             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.           Conference Room C/D, 4^th floor

Session 3           Thursday, April 11          1:00 – 2:30 p.m.             Conference Room C/D, 4^th floor

Session 4           Thursday, April 11          5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Conference Room C/D, 4^th floor

Session 5           Wednesday, April 17     5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Conference Room C/D, 4^th floor

Plymouth Library – Manomet Branch
12 Strand Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360
Free parking

Session 1            Thursday, April 25        6:00 – 7:30 p.m.            Manomet Room

Session 2           Thursday, May 2            6:00 – 7:30 p.m.            Manomet Room

Harvard Vanguard Beverly
77 Herrick Street, Suite 101, Beverly, MA 01915
Free parking

Session 1            Tuesday, May 7              1:00 – 2:30 p.m.            2nd Floor Conference Room

Session 2           Tuesday, May 7              5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            2nd Floor Conference Room

Harvard Vanguard Peabody/Lynnfield
2 Essex Center Drive, Peabody, MA 01960
Free parking

Session 1            Thursday, May 9            5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            ABC Conference Rooms, 1^st floor

Session 2           Wednesday, May 15       5:30 – 7:00 p.m.           ABC Conference Rooms, 1^st floor

Harvard Vanguard Cambridge
1611 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Free parking

Session 1            Monday, May 13                      1:00 – 2:30 p.m.            Conference Room D, 2^nd floor

Session 2           Wednesday, May 22               4:00 – 5:30 p.m.          Conference Room D, 2^nd floor

Harvard Vanguard Watertown
485 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472
Free parking

Session 1            Monday, May 20           1:00 – 2:30 p.m.            MacDonald Conference Room

Session 2           Monday, May 20           4:00 – 5:30 p.m.           MacDonald Conference Room

Harvard Vanguard Somerville
40 Holland Street, Somerville, MA 02144
Validated parking

Session 1            Tuesday, June 4             1:00 – 2:30 p.m.            Staff Lounge

Session 2           Tuesday, June 4             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Staff Lounge

Harvard Vanguard Medford
26 City Hall Mall, Medford, MA 02155
Free parking

Session 1            Thursday, June 6           9:00 – 10:30 a.m.           Salem Conference Room

Session 2           Monday, June 10            5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Salem Conference Room

Session 3           Thursday, June 13          5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Salem Conference Room

Harvard Vanguard Burlington
20 Wall Street, Burlington, MA 01803
Free parking

Session 1            Monday, June 17             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Middlesex Conference Room

Session 2           Wednesday, June 26      5:30 – 7:00 p.m.           Middlesex Conference Room

Harvard Vanguard Post Office Square
147 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109
Accessible by public transportation

Session 1            Monday, July 15             4:00 – 5:30 p.m.           Conference Room 1B

Session 2           Wednesday, July 24     1:00 – 2:30 p.m.            Conference Room 1B

Harvard Vanguard Chestnut Hill/West Roxbury
291 Independence Drive, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Free parking

Session 1            Wednesday, August 21          1:00 – 2:30 p.m.           Conference Room 1

Session 2           Wednesday, August 21          5:00 – 6:30 p.m.           Forbes Conference Room

Session 3           Tuesday, August 27                5:00 – 6:30 p.m.           Forbes Conference Room

Harvard Vanguard Braintree
101 Grossman Drive, Braintree, MA 02184
Free parking

Session 1            Monday, September 9               5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Conference Room C, 1^st floor

Session 2           Thursday, September 12            5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Conference Room C, 1^st floor

Session 3           Tuesday, September 17              5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Conference Room C, 1^st floor

Session 4           Thursday, September 19            5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Conference Room C, 1^st floor

Dedham Medical Norwood
1177 Providence Highway, Norwood, MA 02062
Free parking

Session 1            Monday, September 30              1:00 – 2:30 p.m.             Board Room, 4^th floor

Session 2           Monday, September 30              5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Board Room, 4^th floor

Session 3           Wednesday, October 2                5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Board Room, 4^th floor

Session 4           Thursday, October 10                  5:30 – 7:00 p.m.             Board Room, 4^th floor

Dedham Medical Dedham
One Lyons Street, Dedham, MA 02026
Free parking

Session 1            Thursday, October 3                    1:00 – 2:30 p.m.            Basement Conference Room

Session 2           Wednesday, October 9                5:30 – 7:00 p.m.           Basement Conference Room

Harvard Vanguard Kenmore
133 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Validated parking

Session 1            Wednesday, October 16             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.             Conference Room 3B

Session 2           Monday, October 21                    5:30 – 7:00 p.m.              Conference Room 3B

Session 3           Wednesday, October 23             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.             Conference Room 3B

Session 4           Tuesday, October 29                    5:30 – 7:00 p.m.             Conference Room 3B

Harvard Vanguard Wellesley
230 Worcester Street, Wellesley, MA 02481
Free parking

Session 1            Wednesday, October 30             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Staff Lounge

Session 2           Tuesday, November 12               5:30 – 7:00 p.m.             Staff Lounge

Session 3           Thursday, November 14             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.             Staff Lounge

Session 4           Monday, November 18               5:30 – 7:00 p.m.             Staff Lounge

Session 5           Wednesday, November 20       5:30 – 7:00 p.m.              Staff Lounge

Session 6           Monday, November 25              5:30 – 7:00 p.m.              Staff Lounge

Harvard Vanguard Chelmsford
228 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Free parking

Session 1            Friday, November 1                     8:30 – 10:00 a.m.          Sullivan Conference Room

Session 2           Tuesday, November 5                 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.           Sullivan Conference Room

Session 3           Wednesday, November 6          5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Sullivan Conference Room

Harvard Vanguard Concord
330 Baker Avenue, Concord, MA 01742
Free parking

Session 1            Monday, November 4                 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.           Gorman Conference Room

Session 2           Thursday, November 7               5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Gorman Conference Room

Session 3           Wednesday, November 13        5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Gorman Conference Room

Session 4           Thursday, November 21             5:30 – 7:00 p.m.            Gorman Conference Room

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Atrius Health is pleased to announce that our practices have once again been named to the annual Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Physician Group Honor Roll.

Harvard Pilgrim selected the Honor Roll physician groups based on clinical performance measured against national standards set by HEDIS® (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set), a tool developed for the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to assess the clinical performance of physician groups. Harvard Pilgrim reviewed performance in three domains of clinical care affecting both adult and pediatric patients: acute, chronic and preventive care. Physician groups were identified as Honor Roll practices based on points earned for performance on 16 measures, such as appropriate treatment for children with upper respiratory infection, comprehensive diabetes care, and breast cancer screenings.

Dedham Medical Dedham

Dedham Medical Norwood*

Granite Medical Quincy*

Harvard Vanguard Beverly

Harvard Vanguard Braintree

Harvard Vanguard Burlington

Harvard Vanguard Cambridge

Harvard Vanguard Chelmsford

Harvard Vanguard Chestnut Hill

Harvard Vanguard Concord

Harvard Vanguard Copley

Harvard Vanguard Kenmore

Harvard Vanguard Medford*

Harvard Vanguard Needham*

Harvard Vanguard Peabody/Lynnfield

Harvard Vanguard Post Office Square

Harvard Vanguard Somerville

Harvard Vanguard Watertown*

Harvard Vanguard Wellesley

PMG Physician Associates – Plymouth

* Physician groups that exceed NCQA’s national 90th percentile in all domains of clinical care are named to the Physician Group Honor Roll “With Distinction.”

Visit the Harvard Pilgrim website to see the full list of honorees.

The post Atrius Health Practices Named to 2019 Harvard Pilgrim Honor Roll appeared first on Atrius Health.

Although the thermometer may not be fully cooperating quite yet, according to the calendar, at least, it’s spring! While we may still experience some days when there’s a chill in air, warmer weather is just around the corner. The conversations around Atrius Health seem to reflect common springtime themes: relief that the snow is gone, March Madness and baseball (a given), and more and more plans to “get outside and do something.”

If we feel that way, it stands to reason that YOU feel that way, too, so we thought we’d help you with the last one. Listed below are some ideas and resources to help you get outside and enjoy spring in New England.

Walks and Hikes

Here is a great list of walks and hikes throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine that range in difficulty from easy to advanced. If you want to stay close to Boston, take advantage of the Boston HarborWalks maps and paths to explore Castle Island and the surrounding area. And if you’ve never walked through the Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, you should find a sunny day and go – it may sound strange to some, but it’s absolutely beautiful!

Walking and Bike Tours

If you’re looking for more of an organized activity, there are plenty of walking or bike tours to choose from based on whether you’re interested in history, photography, scenery or trying new foods.

Maple Sugaring

Maple sugaring season runs from mid-February through mid-April. This is a great family activity that combines education with the outdoors (and maple syrup as an added bonus!), there are many places in New England that have maple sugaring tours and activities.

Events for Kids and Families

If you have kids and maple sugaring is not your thing, there’s plenty else to do with them, indoors and out. BostonCentral.com is a favorite site to spark an idea or to look for special events for kids and families.

Outdoor Guides

Boston.com has a great travel section for lots of different activities in and around the area. They also have an Outdoor Adventure Guide, which summarizes the top 10 places to bike, hike, camp, and more. And Massvacation.com has more ideas for you to explore outdoors.

No matter what you choose, even if it’s as simple as a walk around your neighborhood or town, we encourage everyone to get out and get active this spring. Enjoy!

The post Springtime in New England: Get Out There! appeared first on Atrius Health.

On Monday, April 15th, the Atrius Health medical practices will be closed for Patriot’s Day except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule you for an appointment.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Please note: Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below.

Braintree-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 9:00am – 4:00pm

Chelmsford-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm

Concord-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 8:30am – 12:30pm and for children from 8:30am – 2:00pm

Kenmore-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 10:00am – 5:00pm and children from 10:00am – 4:00pm

Norwood-Dedham Medical: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm and children from 9:00am – 1:00pm

Peabody/Lynnfield-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm

Plymouth-Cordage Park-PMG: appointment times from 9:00am – 5:00pm

Somerville-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 5:00pm

Wellesley-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 9:00am – 3:00pm

The post Patriot’s Day Holiday Notice appeared first on Atrius Health.

Atrius Health has pharmacies conveniently located in 15 of our Harvard Vanguard sites. Our pharmacies may be used by any Atrius Health patient to pick up prescriptions or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. When you have your prescription sent to one of our Harvard Vanguard pharmacies during your visit, you can stop by to pick it up on your way out. Our goal is to always make your visit to our pharmacy friendly, helpful, and quick!

Here are our Top Five Reasons to use a pharmacy at one of our Harvard Vanguard locations:

It’s Fast

Most prescriptions are ready for pick up shortly after your visit.

It’s Convenient

• Save a trip to an outside pharmacy! When you have your prescription sent to our pharmacy during your visit, you can pick it up before you leave.
• We can easily transfer your prescriptions from other pharmacies. Let us know the details, and we’ll take care of the rest.
• Order refills – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Just call the phone number listed on your prescription bottle and follow the prompts.
• Filling your prescription at a Harvard Vanguard pharmacy provides you with the convenience of receiving up to a 90-day supply of most medications depending upon your insurance coverage.

It’s Safe

Our pharmacy staff and your Atrius Health provider are in close communication.

• Your electronic medical record links directly to our pharmacy computer system so your Atrius Health clinician and pharmacist share accurate, up-to-the-minute information.
• Our computer systems automatically perform more than ten safety checks against your prescriptions.
• Our pharmacists can quickly contact your provider should questions arise with your prescription.

Free Mail Service

Mail service, from our pharmacies to your home, is available at no additional charge. Most prescriptions can be mailed anywhere in the United States. Ask our pharmacy staff about our free mail service.

We Can Save You Money

Did you know that our pharmacies carry a variety of commonly used OTC products that are up to 50% less expensive than in retail pharmacies? And most OTC products sold at a Harvard Vanguard pharmacy can also be mailed directly to your home for added convenience.

If you have never visited a Harvard Vanguard pharmacy, we encourage you to please consider doing so today!  And if you are a loyal customer, we thank you and look forward to servicing you again soon.

The post Top Five Reasons to Use Our Pharmacy appeared first on Atrius Health.

A recent audit conducted by Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump highlighted a fact that many of our providers and patients already know; there are not enough trained prescribers and clinicians to meet the demand for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and counseling for Opioid Use Disorders (OUD). As a result, patients who are eager to enter recovery have struggled to navigate the treatment gap in addictions and find the necessary support in treating a complex disorder.

Why does the treatment gap exist?

There are numerous reasons for this treatment gap. A significant factor is the lack of addiction training built into the general education of mental health prescribers and therapists. As a result, patients with OUDs are often referred to specialists with extensive training in addiction treatment. Unfortunately, due to the opioid epidemic and the rise in other substance use disorders, there are not enough specialists to meet demand, and many patients with OUDs are struggling to find providers. Addiction treatment needs to expand beyond the purview of specialists, and the general mental health field needs to be equipped to provide support for patients working towards recovery.

What is Atrius Health doing to bridge the gap?

The behavioral health department at Atrius Health is well aware of this treatment gap and has been diligently working to narrow it. Our most significant project to date has been the development of our Addiction Stabilization Program. This program provides patients who have Atrius Health primary care provider and are 18 years of age and older with safe outpatient medical and behavioral health care support. The Addiction Stabilization Program has been piloted at the Harvard Vanguard Beverly site since the fall of 2018 and will spread to other locations over the next few months

The behavioral health department recently took another step to close the addiction treatment gap by using their bi-annual all-staff meeting to train 60 prescribers in the first half of their buprenorphine training. Buprenorphine (Suboxone) is MAT that is used to support individuals who suffer from OUD in stopping their opioid use. Currently, nine prescribers within Atrius Health are prescribing buprenorphine, and we hope to increase that number over the next several months. OUDs are complex disorders. These newly trained prescribers will be mentored by experienced clinicians to support their new work in treating OUD patients.

Cally Lilley, APRN, chief of behavioral health at Harvard Vanguard Beverly and organizer of this training, has been working with MAT for more than a decade and has found the experience to be extremely fulfilling. “It’s been an honor to be part of the transformation that occurs within someone’s journey to recovery.”

Dr. Jacob Kagan, chair of behavioral health and a current buprenorphine prescriber, recognizes the significant need for more prescribers to support Atrius Health patients with OUDs. Dr. Kagan hopes this training will inspire providers to grow their skills in treating addiction and join the behavioral health department’s effort in continuing to improve access to care. “Our patients with OUDs need more support. By training more providers we are committing to help our patients in the darkest hours of their lives,” Kagan said. “I hope this training will move our department another step closer to closing the addiction treatment gap in the mental health field.”

For more information about the buprenorphine training or the Addiction Stabilization Program, please email Cally Lilley, ARPN, at Cally_Lilley@atriushealth.org.

The post Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap appeared first on Atrius Health.

On Monday, May 27th, the Atrius Health medical practices will be closed for Memorial Day except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule you for an appointment.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Please note: Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below.

Braintree-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 3:00pm

Chelmsford-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm

Concord-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for children only from 8:30am – 2:00pm

Kenmore-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Norwood-Dedham Medical: appointment times for children from 9:00am – 1:00pm and for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm

Peabody/Lynnfield-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm

Plymouth-Cordage Park-PMG: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm

Somerville-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Wellesley-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 9:00am – 3:00pm

The post Memorial Day Holiday Notice appeared first on Atrius Health.

On Thursday, July 4th, the Atrius Health medical practices will be closed for the Independence Day holiday except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule you for an appointment.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Please note: Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below.

Braintree-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 3:00pm

Concord-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for children only from 8:30am – 2:00pm

Kenmore-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm

Norwood-Dedham Medical: appointment times for children from 9:00am – 1:00pm and for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm

Plymouth-Cordage Park-PMG: appointment times from 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Somerville-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 9:00am – 2:00pm

The post July 4th Holiday Notice appeared first on Atrius Health.

We are very proud to announce that several of our Atrius Health practices and providers have been recognized on Wicked Local’s 2019 Reader’s Choice awards lists in their various communities.

During the months of January and February, Wicked Local newspapers asked their readers to nominate their local favorites in more than 70 categories. Thousands of votes were cast to select the top choices in each community. Here are the Atrius Health winners in the categories of Doctor/Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician, Optical Shop, and Physical Therapy. Thank you to all of our wonderful patients who voted!

Doctor/Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician

• Honorable Mention – Sara Kelly, MD – Harvard Vanguard Braintree
• Honorable Mention – Harvard Vanguard Burlington
• #1 Choice – Harvard Vanguard Cambridge
• #1 Choice – Harvard Vanguard Chelmsford
• Honorable Mention – Monica Gomez, MD – Harvard Vanguard Concord
• Regional Bronze – #1 Choice – Ronni Goldsmith, MD – Harvard Vanguard Concord
• Regional Bronze – #1 Choice – Sarah Zifcak, MD – Harvard Vanguard Concord
• #1 Choice – Lily Maltz, MD – Dedham Medical Dedham
• Honorable Mention – Dedham Medical Dedham
• #1 Choice – Leo Muido, MD – PMG Duxbury
• Honorable Mention – William Griever, MD – PMG Kingston
• Regional Gold – #1 Choice – Teresa Zabik, MD – Harvard Vanguard Medford
• Honorable Mention – Naila Wahid, MD – Dedham Medical Norwood
• Honorable Mention – Mark Raizin, MD – Harvard Vanguard Peabody/Lynnfield
• Regional Silver – #1 Choice – Injil Abu Bakar, MD – PMG Plymouth (Pine Hills)
• Honorable Mention – Andrea Forde, NP – Harvard Vanguard Watertown
• #1 Choice – Harvard Vanguard Watertown
• Regional Gold – #1 Choice – David Rubin, MD – Harvard Vanguard Wellesley
• Regional Silver – Honorable Mention – Katrina Klaus, DO – Harvard Vanguard Wellesley
• Honorable Mention – Jeffrey Yablonski, MD – Harvard Vanguard Wellesley
• Honorable Mention – Mary Odegaard, MD – Harvard Vanguard Weymouth

Optical Shop

• Honorable Mention – Harvard Vanguard Wellesley

Physical Therapy

• #1 Choice – Dedham Medical Dedham
• Honorable Mention – Harvard Vanguard Watertown

The post Atrius Health Recognized in Wicked Local’s 2019 Reader’s Choice Awards appeared first on Atrius Health.

On Monday, September 2^nd, the Atrius Health medical practices will be closed for Labor Day except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule you for an appointment.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Please note: Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below.

Braintree-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 3:00pm

Chelmsford-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm

Concord-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for children only from 8:30am – 2:00pm

Kenmore-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Norwood-Dedham Medical: appointment times for children from 9:00am – 1:00pm and for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm

Peabody/Lynnfield-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm

Plymouth-Cordage Park-PMG: appointment times from 9:00am – 5:00pm

Somerville-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Wellesley-Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 9:00am – 3:00pm

The post Labor Day Holiday Urgent Care Notice appeared first on Atrius Health.

We are pleased to announce the addition of a family medicine department at our Harvard Vanguard Post Office Square office located at 147 Milk Street, in the financial district of downtown Boston.

Family Medicine is another option for receiving primary care. Our family medicine physicians can provide continuing and comprehensive health care for all members of your family from newborns to seniors!

Family practitioners complete advanced training in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, and other specialties so they can diagnose and treat a wide variety of acute and chronic ailments in patients of all ages.

Dr. Meredith Amos, Dr. Anna Groskin, and Dr. Sarah Hale are currently welcoming new adult and pediatric patients, and Dr. Peter Burkill will be joining the practice on October 1st. To choose Dr. Amos, Dr. Groskin or Dr. Hale as your primary care provider, please call our patient registration department at 1-800-249-1767, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

The Family Medicine Department at Post Office Square is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have any questions about family medicine in Post Office Square, please call us at 617-654-7090.

The post Introducing Family Medicine at Post Office Square appeared first on Atrius Health.

NEW: Atrius Health will participate in the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Stride ^SM (HMO) Medicare Advantage Plan Physician Network as of January 1, 2021

Every year from October 15 until December 7, Medicare recipients have the opportunity to review their Medicare plan choices and make decisions for new coverage beginning the first of the following year.  This Annual Election Period (AEP), also known as Medicare Open Enrollment, is the only time during a given year that all Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity to make any changes to their Medicare plans.

If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare plan, and you make no changes during Open Enrollment, you will be automatically re-enrolled in your current plan. As easy as it might be to stay with your original plan choice, if you have had a change in either your health, your use of medical or prescription drug services, or your personal finances during this past year, it might warrant taking another look at your Medicare options for 2021.

In addition to accepting Original Medicare and many Medicare Supplement plans, Atrius Health also accepts several Medicare Advantage plans.  Atrius Health currently accepts Medicare Advantage plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Tufts Health Plan. We are pleased to share that starting on January 1, 2021, we will also accept Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Stride HMO, Harvard Pilgrim’s Medicare Advantage plan.  

Please be aware that if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must obtain your Part D coverage through that Medicare Advantage Plan. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will disenroll you from your chosen Medicare Advantage plan if you enroll in a standalone Part D drug plan.

CMS offers a tool to assist beneficiaries in comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. You can access this tool on the Medicare.gov website.

Each health insurance plan conducts seminars during Open Enrollment designed to inform and educate Medicare beneficiaries on their various plan options. For a listing of seminars available in your area or other ways to connect for more information, please visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and Tufts Health Plan websites.

Don’t let the opportunity pass you by to choose the very best plan for your healthcare needs in the year ahead!

The post Medicare Open Enrollment News appeared first on Atrius Health.

During the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend, our Atrius Health practices will be closed for routine care on Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

For Saturday, November 28th and Sunday, November 29th, our regional urgent care practices will be open for their typical weekend urgent care hours.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule an appointment for you.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Please note: Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below.

Urgent Care Hours: Thursday, November 26, 2020

Urgent Care Hours: Friday, November 27, 2020

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Our Cambridge Pediatrics practice is in full swing and happy to see our patients, big and small, in the office again. Our hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 6:00pm. If your child is due for an annual well-visit, needs a vaccine or flu shot, or has an injury or illness that needs to be addressed, please call the practice at 617-661-5575 or log into MyHealth Online to make an appointment for your child today.

To support our weekday pediatrics practice, our on-site pharmacy and lab are also open Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 6:00pm. And as always, medical advice is available to patients by telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – just call our office to connect with our after-hours medical staff.

Harvard Vanguard Cambridge is welcoming new adult and pediatric patients. Visit www.atriushealth.org for a list of providers welcoming new patients.

We hope to see you in Cambridge soon!

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On Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24^th) and New Year’s Eve (Thursday, December 31^st), all Atrius Health practice locations (and including urgent care, pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology) will be closed for care as of 5:00pm. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, most of our Atrius Health practices will be closed for routine care except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule an appointment for you.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Please note: Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below.

Urgent Care Hours: Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2020

Urgent Care Hours: New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2021

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We are pleased to congratulate the Atrius Health physicians who have been named as Castle Connolly Top Doctors®. The database, compiled by healthcare research and publishing company, Castle Connolly Top Doctors®, is comprised of physicians in more than 70 medical specialties and subspecialties.

37 of the Atrius Health physicians named as Castle Connolly Top Doctors® are also included in the 2021 “Top Doctors” list in the January issue of Boston Magazine.

The Atrius Health physicians named to the 2020-2021 list include:

Michael Aaronson, MD – Gastroenterology

Rachel Agrin-Silva, MD* – Pediatrics

Patricia Birgeneau, MD* – Pediatrics

Daniel Blander, MD – Urology

Stephanie Blenner, MD* – Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Mark Boehnert, MD* – Pediatrics

Allison Bolton, MD* – Pediatrics

James Brown, MD – Internal Medicine

Roberto Cavalieros, MD* – Ophthalmology

Joseph Ciccone, MD* – Urology

Michael Cohen, MD* – Pediatric Otolaryngology

Roderick Crocker, MD* – Urology

Lilia Cuozzo, MD* – Pediatrics

John Danziger, MD* (BILH) – Nephrology

James Demetroulakos, MD – Otolaryngology

Bradley Denker, MD* (BILH) – Nephrology

Toru Endo, MD* – Internal Medicine

Stephen Ferzoco, MD* – Surgery

Jeffrey Garber, MD* – Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Beth Goldbaum, MD* – Obstetrics & Gynecology

Ronni Goldsmith, MD* – Pediatrics

Stacey Gore, MD* (BILH) – Medical Oncology

Allen Hamdan, MD* (BILH) – Vascular Surgery

Rebecca Hill, MD* – Internal Medicine

Raymond Hwang, MD* – Orthopaedic Surgery

Stephen Kaplan, MD – Internal Medicine

Marshall Katz, MD* – Cardiovascular Disease

Karen Klein, MD* – Pediatrics

George Kovalevsky, MD* – Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility

James Ku, MD* – Urology

Janet Li, MD* – Urogynecology/Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery

Sandra Meyerson, MD* – Pediatrics

Brieanne Midura, MD* – Pediatrics

Daniel Mishkin, MD* – Gastroenterology

Kai Mithoefer, MD* – Orthopaedic Surgery

Srdjan Nedeljkovic, MD* – Pain Medicine

Susan Pauker, MD* – Clinical Genetics

Elizabeth Pearce, MD* – Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Jeremy Richmon, MD* – Otolaryngology

Jeffrey Rubel, MD – Nephrology

Andrew Scott, MD* – Otolaryngology

Mobeen Sheikh, MD – Cardiovascular Disease

Christine Skiadas, MD* – Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility

Jeannine Stanwood, MD – Pediatrics

Mark Vecchiotti, MD* – Pediatric Otolaryngology

BILH = Also practices at Beth Israel Lahey Health

*Featured in Boston Magazine Top Doctors 2021: January 2021

ABOUT CASTLE CONNOLLY TOP DOCTORS®

Castle Connolly Top Doctors® is a healthcare research, information, and publishing company whose mission since its inception more than two decades ago is to help consumers find independent, trusted information about quality healthcare and Top Doctors on both the regional and national levels.  The Castle Connolly Top Doctors® database is available on our website at http://www.castleconnolly.com/ where focused healthcare consumers view more than 100 Million physician profiles annually.

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On Monday, January 18^th, the Atrius Health medical practices will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule you for an appointment.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below unless specifically noted.

Braintree – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm and for children from 9:00am – 4:00pm

Chelmsford – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 10:00am – 2:00pm and for children from 9:00am – 2:00pm

Kenmore – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 9:00am – 5:00pm for adults only

Norwood – Dedham Medical: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm and for children from 9:00am – 1:00pm

Peabody/Lynnfield – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm for adults only

Plymouth – Cordage Park – PMG: appointment times from 9:00am-5:00pm for adults only

Somerville – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm and for children from 10:00am – 5:00pm

Wellesley – Harvard Vanguard: only the pharmacy is open for prescription pick-up from 9:00am – 3:00pm

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In order to make your check-in process easier, better promote safety and social distancing, and get you to your appointment faster, we are pleased to offer our patients a new eCheck-in process. If you have a MyHealth Online account and also have access to it on your mobile device through the MyChart Mobile App, you can now check in online, answer a few questions and pay your copay, and you’ll be all set for your appointment!

How to Use eCheck-in for Your Appointment:

Before Your Appointment

You can complete the pre-check in process up to 3 days before your appointment. To do that, please follow these easy steps:

Step #1. Log into your MyHealth Online account on your desktop computer or through the MyChart Mobile App on your phone.

Step #2. Select “Visits” if you’re on a desktop computer or “Appointments” if viewing through the MyChart mobile app and find your upcoming appointment.

Step #3. Click on the Pre-Visit Update link and confirm we have current information about you and your insurance, medications, and any allergies. Make sure to check “This information is correct” at the end of each step to proceed to the next.

Step #4. You will also be able to electronically sign any needed forms and pay any copays online. Please note that if you check “Pay copay and outstanding balances later” you will need to stop at the check-in desk before your appointment.

Step #5. After you’ve completed all the sections in the Pre-Visit Update, hit Submit. You know you’ve completed all the steps of the Pre-Visit Update when you see the following screen.

When You Arrive for Your Appointment

Step #1. Log into your account on the MyChart Mobile App and select the “I’m Here” prompt which will display on the home screen within 30 minutes before your appointment time. Want to set up geolocation services to receive a push notification when you’re close by? Complete a few simple steps in the MyChart mobile app. Note: If the geolocation doesn’t work for you, please manually log into your MyChart mobile app and select “I’m Here.”

Step #2. If you successfully completed the Pre-Visit Update before you arrived for your appointment, the system will display the green welcome message (left, image 1). If you didn’t have a chance to start or couldn’t fully finish the Pre-Visit Update, the system will prompt you to complete it at this time. If you are able to successfully complete it, you will see the green check (center, image 2), but if we need you to stop by the registration desk to provide additional information before heading to the department, you will see the blue arrow (right, image 3).

Step #3. VERY IMPORTANT: even if you completed the Same Day Symptom Screener earlier (via an email or text prompt), you should review it for completion AFTER you finish your eCheck-in process. In that way, both your eCheck-in arrival and your symptom screener result will show on the same screen. Please go to the home screen and select “Same Day Symptom Checker.” If the screener was successfully completed, you will just need to acknowledge the Terms and Conditions and hit Accept. If you have not yet completed your screener, you will be prompted to answer 3 short screening questions at this time.

Step #4. When you are done with the Symptom Screener and if both your eCheck-in and symptom screening process were successful, you should see a green check mark* with a line of text that states “Appointment Status: Arrived.” This final screen indicates you have done all of the steps necessary to complete the e-Check-in process. Leave the screen visible on your mobile device or take a screen shot of it for easy reference.

Step #5. Upon entering the building, please show this check mark screen to the greeter or check-in staff, and you will be directed from there.

* PLEASE NOTE: If you see an orange phone symbol after completing these steps, please call the department before entering the practice, and you will be given further instructions. Thank you.

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On Monday, February 15^th, the Atrius Health medical practices will be closed for Presidents’ Day except for those practices listed below, which are open for pre-scheduled urgent care appointments.

If you feel you need medical advice or think that you may need to be seen, call your doctor’s office at any time, day or night. Your call will be directed to our 24/7 medical staff and triaged as needed. If it is determined that you need an urgent care appointment, the medical staff can schedule you for an appointment.

As always, if you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or your local emergency access number.

Pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology will also be open at the times listed below unless specifically noted.

Braintree – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm and for children from 9:00am – 4:00pm

Chelmsford – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 10:00am – 2:00pm and for children from 9:00am – 2:00pm

Kenmore – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 9:00am – 5:00pm for adults only

Norwood – Dedham Medical: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm and for children from 9:00am – 1:00pm

Peabody/Lynnfield – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times from 10:00am – 2:00pm for adults only

Plymouth – Cordage Park – PMG: appointment times from 9:00am-5:00pm for adults only

Somerville – Harvard Vanguard: appointment times for adults from 9:00am – 5:00pm and for children from 10:00am – 5:00pm

Wellesley – Harvard Vanguard: only the pharmacy is open for prescription pick-up from 9:00am – 3:00pm

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Atrius Health is pleased to announce that our patients will soon have even more health information easily accessible in their MyHealth Online accounts. Beginning on March 1, 2021, for care you or your children ages 12 and under receive on or after that date, you will be able to see the “notes” that your Atrius Health provider recorded based on your visit with them. In addition, starting on April 10, 2021, MyHealth users will be able to view laboratory, radiology, other imaging and pathology results and reports without delay. Most of your notes and results will be available, with some limited exceptions.

Atrius Health believes in the importance of transparency and patient access to this information as well as the real health benefits for our patients when they can see these notes. Studies have shown that sharing notes has the potential to help you improve your health and well-being by:

• Strengthening your relationship with your provider.
• Helping you manage your health care in a way that makes you feel more confident, prepared, and in control of your health.
• Making it easier for you to provide accurate and current information to caregivers.
• Improving your understanding of and ability to follow-up on care, such as proper use of medications or a new treatment regimen.

Below please find a few Frequently Asked Questions about this change and what you will see in your MyHealth account as of March 1, 2021. Don’t have a MyHealth Online account? Sign Up Now!

What Exactly Are Open Notes?

After your in-person or virtual care visits, doctors, nurses and other health care providers write notes that summarize important information about you. These notes become a part of your medical record. And when a note is shared with you in MyHealth, it becomes an “open note.” A note may include:

• A summary of what you told the doctor or nurse, also called a “history.”
• The provider’s findings from a physical exam. Examples might include blood pressure and weight, how your lungs or heart sound, a description of a growth on your skin, or observations about your mood.
• Summary thoughts about any medical conditions or symptoms, also called “assessment” or “impressions.”
• Recommendations made during the visit, often called the “treatment plan,” or “plan of care.” The notes might include tests, follow up appointments, referrals, exercises, or changes in your diet that your provider recommends for you.

How notes look depends on a few things, like who writes the note or the kind of visit it was and the reason for the visit (for example, a follow-up visit or a physical). Sometimes the notes are short; others may be more detailed.

How Do I View These Notes?

Log into your MyHealth account and go to Visits > Appointments and Visits. For any care visit you have had after March 1, 2021, there will be a link called “View Visit Notes,” and when you click on it, you will see the notes that your provider recorded at that visit.

Do Open Notes Affect My Privacy or Confidentiality?

It’s important to know that open notes do not change the confidential relationship you have with your health care providers. This effort does not change our commitment to privacy that you can learn more about in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

The information in your records is about you, and you can choose to share it with others. With ready electronic access to your notes, it’s much easier to share your medical information with a care partner, family member, or others—but only if you choose to do so.

To help ensure your privacy, remember to:

• Keep your login name and password to your online account private.
• Always exit MyHealth Online by selecting “log out” when you are done.

Will All My Notes be Shared with Me?

There are situations in which your, or your child’s health information will not be visible in MyHealth Online. For example, your notes may not be visible to protect the privacy of an individual or to prevent harm to you or another person.

Please also be aware that if YOU do not want a provider’s note available as an Open Note, you can ask your provider not to display it. Your provider will retain the note in their documentation of the visit, but it will not display in your MyHealth Online account.

Why Won’t My Teenager See Notes in Their MyHealth Account?

Our pediatric providers routinely discuss sensitive topics, such as sexual activity and substance use, with our adolescent patients. When we do this, we document information in notes that an adolescent may wish to keep private from their parents. Parents may also discuss information with their child’s providers that they wish to keep confidential from their child. Unfortunately, our electronic health record is unable to separate material intended to be kept confidential from non-confidential information. For this reason, we are not sharing notes for adolescents ages 13-17 years old with patients or their parents/proxies at this time.

What if I Have Questions or Concerns about the Information in My Note?

Your note may have medical language that’s not easy to understand. You can find a lot on the Internet, but try to make sure it comes from a reliable source. View this list of common abbreviations to help you with medical terms. If you have questions, write them down. Follow through, whether with a friend, your provider, or any source you trust.

If you find an inaccuracy in your note and you feel it is a serious issue, contact your provider’s office. For other inaccuracies, write down the correction and bring it to your provider’s team’s attention so your records can be updated. Clinicians often dictate their notes, and small spelling or grammatical errors sometimes arise in voice recognition. If these less immediate issues feel important, bring them up at the next visit with your provider.

What if I’m worried about what I might read?

Reading notes about medical appointments may not be right for everyone. Follow your instincts. For some people, just knowing that the notes are available is enough. Thousands of patients report that the benefits from reading notes are much greater than the risks. In fact, reading notes often builds or reinforces your trust in those taking care of you. And studies show that very few people report feeling harmed by what they read.

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