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

The CVS at [587 Boylston Street, Back Bay](https://maps.google.com/?q=587+Boylston+Street+Boston+MA+02116) operates 24 hours a day and fills prescriptions around the clock. The Copley Green Line station is a 2-minute walk. A second 24-hour CVS at [231 Washington Street, Downtown](https://maps.google.com/?q=231+Washington+Street+Boston+MA+02108) is about a 10-minute walk or one T stop away.

The MinuteClinic inside CVS at [231 Washington Street, Downtown](https://maps.google.com/?q=231+Washington+Street+Boston+MA+02108) is the most central option for travelers near Downtown Crossing. Nurse practitioners there treat common illnesses, minor injuries, and infections. Hours vary, so check the [CVS MinuteClinic site](https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic) before you go. For anything more serious, Massachusetts General Hospital is about a 15-minute walk north on Cambridge Street.

Massachusetts General Hospital at [55 Fruit Street, Beacon Hill](https://maps.google.com/?q=55+Fruit+Street+Boston+MA+02114) is the closest major hospital ER to Cambridge, reachable in about 10 minutes by Red Line from Harvard Square to Charles/MGH station. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at [330 Brookline Avenue, Longwood](https://maps.google.com/?q=330+Brookline+Avenue+Boston+MA+02215) is another strong option if you are coming from the MIT side of Cambridge. Both run 24-hour emergency departments.

Call 911 immediately. Do not drive yourself or take the T to a hospital. Boston EMS will dispatch paramedics and transport you to the appropriate emergency department. Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital both have dedicated cardiac and stroke units. Time matters with these conditions, and calling 911 gets you faster care than any other option.

Yes. CVS and Walgreens pharmacies in Boston can fill prescriptions from out-of-state doctors, and both chains let you transfer an existing prescription from your home pharmacy using their apps. Bring your insurance card and a photo ID. If you need a new prescription, an urgent care clinic or a same-day appointment through the [Mass General Brigham portal](https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org) can get you one the same day.

Boston Medical Center at [1 Boston Medical Center Place, South End](https://maps.google.com/?q=1+Boston+Medical+Center+Place+Boston+MA+02118) is the primary hospital serving the South End neighborhood. Its emergency department runs 24 hours a day. The Orange Line stops at Massachusetts Avenue station, about a 10-minute walk from the main entrance. Brigham and Women's Hospital is also accessible from the South End in about 15 minutes by car or rideshare.