Our care teams are dedicated to providing the care that you need when you need it. Knowing where to go for care can save you time and ensure you are receiving the appropriate care in the appropriate location.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and go to the emergency department.
Primary Care Provider
Start with a call to your primary care provider’s office for illnesses, pain and chronic conditions that tend to persist. Your primary care provider knows you and your medical history, your prescription history and allergies, and will direct you to the appropriate place for care depending on your health needs. Your primary care physician can help with colds and flu symptoms, headaches and mild infections and manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Some primary care offices provide after-hours, evening, and weekend care and telemedicine appointments. If you need help with finding a primary care physician, call 800-540-9191 or use our Doctor Finder tool.
Urgent Care
Urgent care is available when you can’t immediately be seen by your doctor, but your situation is not a true emergency. Strains, sprains and minor fractures, muscle pain, minor cuts needing stitches and infections can all be treated in an urgent care center. Urgent Care can care for non-emergent needs typically is a quicker and less-costly option than emergency departments. (With current staffing challenges, there may be changes in current Urgent Care hours, please check in advance and longer than usual wait times.) Routine COVID testing for patients who do not have symptoms is not available at Lawrence Memorial Hospital Urgent Care.
Emergency Care
For serious and potentially life-threatening health situations, call 911 and seek emergency treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms such as difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, chest pains, vision impairment or stroke-like symptoms, call 911 immediately. Walk-in COVID testing for people who are not experiencing COVID symptoms is not available at MelroseWakefield Hospital Emergency Department.
To find a COVID-19 testing site, visit www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test.
