Finding Health Care Providers

Below are some of the types of providers that you may need at different times.

Health maintenance organizations and preferred provider plans usually have a network of providers from which you pick your primary care provider and any other providers you need. You should make sure that your provider is in your health plan's network.

Also shown are government licensing agencies that can tell you more about the provider.

 

INPATIENT SERVICES

Hospital - A facility that provides medical treatment on an inpatient basis for acute conditions resulting from illness or injury. Contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

Nursing Home - A facility that provides nursing care and related services on an inpatient basis for short and long-term care stays at skilled, intermediate or custodial levels of care. Contact the Department of Public Health or the Massachusetts Extended Care Federation at (617) 558-0202 or http://www.maseniorcare.org/

 

OUTPATIENT SERVICES, HEALTH CLINICS, URGENT CARE CENTERS, AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS

Acupuncturist - Contact Board of Registration in Medicine.

Allied Mental Health Professionals: Psychologists, Licensed Social Workers, Mental Health Counselor - A provider who applies principles, methods and theories of counseling and psychotherapeutic techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action aimed towards the prevention, treatment and resolution of mental and emotional dysfunction and intra or interpersonal disorders. Contact the Board of Registration in Allied Mental Health Professionals.

Audiologist - A providers who identifies, assesses and interprets, diagnoses, rehabilitates and works to prevent communication disorders. Contact the Board of Registration in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) - A provider who treats musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions and is concerned with improving and maintaining the integrity of the biomechanical systems of the body. Contact Board of Registration in Chiropractors.

Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) - Contact the Board of Registration in Dentistry.

Doctor of Optometry (D.O.) - A primary health care provider who examines, diagnoses, treats and manages diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures. Contact Board of Registration in Optometry.

Home Health Care - Skilled medical and other services, including nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and home health aide services, are supplied by certified home health agencies and other professionals to help individuals remain at home. Contact the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts at (617)482-8830 or http://www.hhcam.org/.

Hospice Care - Medical services with an emphasis on providing comfort and pain relief for those who are terminally ill. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or www.medicare.gov or the Hospice Federation of Massachusetts at (800)962-2973 or http://www.hospicefed.org/.

Medical Doctor (M.D.) and Osteopathic Doctor (O.D.) - Contact Board of Registration in Medicine.

Nurse, including: Registered Nurse (R.N.); Nurse Practitioner (N.P.); Licensed Vocational Nurse (L.V.N.); Certified Nurse Midwife (C.N.M.); Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (C.R.N.A); and, Nurse Specialist in Psychiatric Care - Contact Board of Registration in Nursing.

Physician Assistant (P.A.) - Contact the Board of Registration in Physicians Assistants.

Speech-Language Pathologist - A provider who screens, identifies, assesses and interprets, diagnoses, rehabilitates and works to prevent disorders of communication. These disorders can include articulation, fluency, voice and language. Contact the Board of Registration in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

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