Due to the COVID-19 emergency, we are suspending our walk-in service for Urgent Care. All patients must call first to be seen.
Come to Urgent Care for…
- Allergies and asthma
- Bruises, small cuts, scratches
- Cold or flu
- Ear and eye infections
- Fevers (above 101° F, 38° C)
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Minor burns
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Rashes or minor swelling
- Sexually transmitted infection symptoms
- Sore throat and sinus pain
- Sprains, strains, or possible minor fractures
- Stomach flu symptoms (stomach pain, diarrhea, etc.)
- Urinary tract infections
We can provide advice by phone as well. Call us at 617-253-4481, 24 hours a day. We may urge you to come in, to stay home, or to go directly to an emergency room. If the problem is not urgent and a clinician is not readily available, we will take your number and call you back.
Go directly to an emergency room for…
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive bleeding
- Labor
- Severe abdominal pain
- Stroke
- Substance abuse symptoms (drugs or alcohol intoxication)
- Trauma (significant fall, blunt trauma, head trauma with loss of consciousness)
If you are dealing with a life-threatening situation, dial:
- Cambridge campus: 617-253-1212 (any phone)
- Lexington: Dial 911
- Off campus: Dial 911
What to expect when you come to Urgent Care
Patients who need immediate attention are seen first. If the clinic is busy, you may need to wait. If you’re on a tight schedule and your problem isn’t urgent, it’s better to make an appointment with your primary care provider or the appropriate clinical service.
Common symptoms
Many symptoms and minor accidents can be treated at home. Take a look at our “Tips for Common Symptoms” — it may save you a trip.
Pediatric patients
You can bring your child to Urgent Care. However, sometimes a pediatric clinician is not available, so it’s best to call 617-253-1311 before coming in with your child.
Who can use Urgent Care?
All members of the MIT community are eligible to use the Urgent Care Service. Employees and dependents who are covered by the MIT Traditional and MIT Choice Plans will have a copay for services. There is no copay or other charge for MIT students and affiliates or their covered dependents who are enrolled in MIT’s student and affiliate insurance products. If you are a benefits-eligible employee covered by outside insurance or a retiree with Medicare, your out-of-pocket cost for services in Urgent Care depends on your individual coverage. This means that you may be billed for any copayment, coinsurance, or non-covered services. If you are covered by outside insurance and have not used MIT Medical services in the past, you will need to register and provide insurance information when you come to Urgent Care for the first time.
The Urgent Care Service is not open to the general public, but we can see visiting family members or guests of MIT community members and individuals who are on campus for MIT events.
However, the Urgent Care Service accepts only MIT-sponsored insurance plans, the Draper Harvard-Pilgrim HMO, and Medicare. Campus visitors who do not have one of those plans may need to pay the full cost of a visit to the Urgent Care Service, including any copays, deductibles, and co-insurance. They should be aware that their health insurance may not cover any portion of the cost.
For a list of local urgent care, emergency room, and pharmacy options that may accept outside health insurance, download A Visitor’s Guide to Local Health Care Services (PDF).
