Codman Square Health Center

Codman Square Health Center is a community-based, outpatient health care and multi-service center located at 637 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124. Its main phone number is (617) 825-9660. The About page describes the organization as offering "comprehensive care for the whole family, including primary, eye, dental, urgent, and behavioral health care, as well as many medical specialties," alongside financial and wellness programming.

The medical services listed on the site are: Behavioral Health, Dental Care, Eye Care, Family Medicine, Group Care, HIV/Hep C/STD, Internal Medicine, Lab, Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition, Pediatric Medicine, Pharmacy, Radiology and Mammography, Substance Use, Video Visits and Telehealth Services, Urgent Care, Women's Health, and the X-Clinic. Wellness resources listed separately include Civic Health, the Clemente Course in the Humanities, Dot Rx, a Farmers Market, a Free Tax Clinic, a Community Market, a Mobile Health Clinic, an Optical Shop, a Resource Connector, School-Based Health Centers, Space Rental/Booking, a Teaching Kitchen, a Wellness and Fitness Center, and WIC.

Codman Square Health Center does not publish prices, rates or a fee schedule for individual services on its website, so any cost, price or estimate for a visit has to come from the health center itself. Questions about a bill go to 617-822-8257. The footer of every page carries this Public Statement: "This health center is a Health Center Program grantee under Section 330 (k)(3)(g), 42 USC 254b and a deemed Public Health Service employer under 42 USC 233 (g)-(n). No one will be denied access to services at CSHC due to inability to pay; there is a discounted/sliding fee schedule available based on family size and income." The Become a Patient page adds that the health center commits to "Offer discounted fees for patients who qualify" and not to deny services based on race, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability, religion or sexual orientation. Whether a particular person qualifies is decided by the health center, not by this description.

On enrollment, the site says: "Codman has specially trained staff who can help you find the insurance plan that works best for you and your family. Our navigators work with MassHealth and the Health Connector to get those who qualify enrolled in a plan." Staff can help apply for MassHealth, the Health Safety Net, and ConnectorCare and other plans through the Health Connector. To make an appointment for this, call 617-822-8271. Documents suggested for a MassHealth application are photo ID if available, Social Security numbers for household members applying if available, proof of Massachusetts address such as a lease or recent utility bill, proof of income such as recent pay stubs, tax returns, unemployment benefits or Social Security benefit statements, and any MassHealth letters or notices received. The site adds: "We can help you apply even if you do not have this information," and that applications are processed for non-patients on a walk-in basis.

Direct telephone numbers published by Codman Square Health Center, 637 Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124. Main: 617-825-9660. Appointments (Patient Service Center): 617-822-8271. BH, Dental, Eye Care: 617-822-8271. Prescription Refill: 617-822-8371. X-Clinic: 617-822-8350. Questions about your bill: 617-822-8257. BMC Pharmacy at Codman: 617-638-8150. Medical Records Fax: 617-825-3663. Compliance hotline for feedback: 617-822-8100. Substance Use clinical care coordinator: 617-822-8366.

The site says

"The Patient Service Center, 617-822-8271, can be used to schedule appointments, ask a question, or to get a referral to one of our providers. You can also text 617-822-8271 to schedule an appointment." Appointments can also be requested through the Request an Appointment page or the MyChart Patient Portal. To become a patient, the Become a Patient page says to contact the Call Center at (617) 822-8271 and say you would like to schedule an appointment at one of the locations "Dorchester, Randolph, or the Mobile Health Clinic"; staff "will work with you to assign you a primary care provider, assess your insurance status, and schedule your appointment." That page asks patients to bring their insurance card and a list of medications, and to call 24 hours in advance if they cannot keep a scheduled appointment. It also states: "If you have a question about your health, please call the department of your Primary Care Physician (PCP). If you need to reach the Physician On-Call after normal hours, please call the main number: 617-825-9660."

Codman Square Health Center is located at 637 Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124, in the Codman Square area of Dorchester, Boston. The main phone number is 617-825-9660 and the number for appointments is 617-822-8271. The Contact + Hours page names two primary locations: "The Health Center at 637 Washington Street, and The Wellness and Fitness Center at 450 Washington Street." On getting to that address it says: "We encourage our patients to take public transit. If you are driving please be aware parking can be limited and allow additional time to find a spot." By public transport it directs people to take the "Ashmont" Red Line train outbound to the Shawmut stop, then walk via Centre Street and Talbot Street to Washington Street, where the Health Center is the second building on the right; buses 22, 23 and 26 stop on Talbot Street from Ashmont Station. Driving directions are also published on that page.

Hours published on that page

Primary Care Mon - Thurs 8:30 am - 8:30 pm, Fri 8:30 am - 5 pm, Sat 9 am - 1 pm. Urgent Care Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 8:30 pm (9 am on the third Friday of every month), Sat 9 am - 3 pm, Sun Closed. Behavioral Health (marked "subject to change") Mon - Thurs 9 am - 8 pm, Fri 12 pm - 5 pm. Eye Care Mon - Thurs 8:30 am - 8 pm, Fri 8:30 am - 5 pm, Sat 9 am - 2 pm. Dental Mon - Thurs 8:30 am - 8:30 pm, Fri 8:30 am - 5 pm, Sat 9 am - 3 pm. Pharmacy Mon - Fri 9 am - 8 pm, Sat 9 am - 3 pm, Sun Closed. The header shows "Sunday Closed".

The Behavioral Health page states

"Codman offers behavioral health services that are integrated into primary care to promote overall health and wellbeing. The behavioral health team is comprised of clinicians, family partners, case managers, a domestic violence advocate, a psychiatrist, and others." It says teams work together to offer "in-the-moment access, assessment and intervention, short-term and traditional therapy services, and referrals to higher levels of care and community service," that services are provided to people of all ages, and that "Board-certified psychiatrists and nurse practitioners offer diagnostic assessments, medication management, and consultations integrated with Primary Care." Tele-psychiatry is also listed, along with services for mental health, substance use, chronic health conditions and life transitions.

Behavioral Health hours on that page are Monday and Thursday 9 am - 8 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 am - 4:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday closed. The Contact + Hours page lists Behavioral Health, marked "subject to change", as Mon - Thurs 9 am - 8 pm and Fri 12 pm - 5 pm, so hours should be confirmed on 617-822-8271, the number published for BH, Dental and Eye Care appointments.

The Urgent Care page states

"Our Urgent Care department is here to meet community members when they need same-day treatment for sickness or conditions that are not life-threatening, but need attention." It adds: "Below are some examples of when to visit primary care, urgent care, or the emergency department. Of course, every case is different and these are just examples. If you feel your life is in danger, call 911 and get to a hospital emergency department immediately."

The examples published in the site's own three-column table are: Primary Care - physical check-ups, illness and injury, lab tests, X-rays, routine visits, preventive medical care. Urgent Care - asthma attacks, flu, coughs/bronchitis, vomiting/diarrhea, sprains/strains, minor wounds, simple fractures, headaches/migraines, nosebleeds, minor burns, minor injuries. Hospital Emergency Room - severe allergic reactions, severe chest pain, severe abdominal pain, loss of consciousness, trauma, severe difficulty breathing, major burns, major wounds, major injuries.

These are things people ask Codman Square Health Center that its published information does not yet cover.

• prices
• availability
• diagnoses, prognoses or symptom triage
• insurance coverage for a specific plan or visit
• eligibility for sliding fee or masshealth
• appointment wait times or same-day openings
• clinician credentials, licences or specialties