Medical help in Boston: hospitals, urgent care, and pharmacies

If you need medical help in Boston, you can find hospitals, urgent care clinics, and 24-hour pharmacies across all Boston metro area. Most minor health issues can be treated at urgent care clinics or pharmacies, while hospitals handle serious emergencies.

Emergency rooms near Back Bay and Beacon Hill

**Brigham and Women's Hospital** sits at 75 Francis Street, Mission Hill, about a 10-minute drive from Back Bay. Its emergency department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The nearest T stop is Brigham Circle on the Green Line (E branch). Call (617) 732-5500 for general information.

**Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)** occupies 55 Fruit Street, Beacon Hill, a short walk from the Charles/MGH Red Line station. MGH runs one of the busiest emergency departments in New England and handles trauma, cardiac events, and complex medical cases around the clock. Reach the main line at (617) 726-2000.

**Boston Medical Center** is at 1 Boston Medical Center Place, South End, accessible from the Orange Line at Back Bay or Massachusetts Avenue stations. Its emergency department is open 24/7 and covers the South End and Roxbury neighborhoods. Call (617) 638-8000.

Urgent care clinics in Boston neighborhoods

**CareWell Urgent Care, Back Bay** is at 333 Longwood Avenue, Fenway/Longwood. Hours run Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic treats sprains, infections, minor lacerations, and flu symptoms without an appointment. Take the Green Line (E branch) to Longwood Medical Area.

**MinuteClinic at CVS, Downtown Boston** operates inside the CVS at 231 Washington Street, Downtown. Nurse practitioners there handle common illnesses, vaccinations, and minor skin conditions. Hours vary by day, so check the CVS MinuteClinic site before you go. The nearest T stop is Downtown Crossing on the Red and Orange lines.

**Atrius Health Urgent Care, Cambridge** is located at 1035 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, near Inman Square. It serves travelers staying in Cambridge or visiting Harvard and MIT. Hours run Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call (617) 665-1000 to confirm current availability.

**Boston Children's Hospital Urgent Care** at 300 Longwood Avenue, Longwood Medical Area handles pediatric urgent care cases for children and teens. Parents traveling with kids should note this location over a general urgent care clinic for anyone under 18. The Green Line (E branch) stops at Longwood Medical Area.

Boston hospitals and urgent care at a glance

24-hour pharmacies near Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and Downtown

**CVS Pharmacy, Back Bay** at 587 Boylston Street, Back Bay stays open 24 hours a day. You can fill prescriptions, pick up over-the-counter medication, and grab travel essentials at any hour. The Copley Green Line station is a 2-minute walk away.

**CVS Pharmacy, Downtown Boston** at 231 Washington Street, Downtown also operates 24 hours and includes a MinuteClinic during daytime hours. Downtown Crossing station (Red and Orange lines) puts you right at the door.

**CVS Pharmacy, Cambridge** at 625 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge covers travelers staying near Harvard Square or Central Square. The pharmacy counter hours differ from the store hours, so call (617) 547-5400 to confirm late-night prescription availability. The Central Square Red Line stop is a 5-minute walk.

**Walgreens, Beacon Hill** at 100 Cambridge Street, Beacon Hill keeps extended hours and stocks a full pharmacy. It sits near Government Center and the Green and Blue line stations. Call (617) 742-0416 for pharmacy hours.

Practical tips for getting medical care in Boston

**Use the CVS app or Walgreens app before you leave your hotel.** Both apps let you check pharmacy wait times, transfer prescriptions from your home pharmacy, and find the nearest 24-hour location. This saves a wasted trip, especially late at night in neighborhoods like Beacon Hill where options thin out after midnight.

**Carry your insurance card and a photo ID.** Boston urgent care clinics and hospital ERs will ask for both. If you have travel insurance, photograph your policy number and the claims phone number before you leave home. Most clinics accept major US insurance plans, and some accept international travel insurance with prior authorization.

**For non-emergency situations in Cambridge**, the Harvard University Health Services at 75 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge offers urgent care to the public during limited hours. Call (617) 495-5711 to check current walk-in availability before making the trip.

**If you need a specialist or follow-up care**, the Mass General Brigham patient portal lets you book same-day or next-day appointments at multiple locations across Boston, including Back Bay and the South End. You do not need to be an existing patient for urgent appointments.

**Travelers with children** should go to Boston Children's Hospital at 300 Longwood Avenue for any pediatric concern beyond a basic cold. The emergency department there specializes in children and teens, and the staff are trained for pediatric cases that a general urgent care clinic may not handle well.

Getting medical care as a visitor

For anything minor, a pharmacy or urgent-care clinic is usually faster and cheaper than an emergency room, and Boston has both throughout the core neighborhoods. Carry your insurance details and a list of any medications, and know that the city's major teaching hospitals — Mass General, Brigham and Women's, Tufts — handle serious emergencies around the clock. Save the key numbers before you head out for the day.