An Initial Health Assessment (IHA)* is a consultation with new patients to discuss and collect your medical history. It might also include an examination, discussion of your medications or development of a care plan.
You must first have an IHA in order to establish your care with the Health Center. After your IHA you will be able to be assisted by our nurses, seek the advice of the On Call Provider, and schedule a physical as well as routine follow up appointments.
At the time of your IHA it is important that you arrive 15 minutes prior for registration purposes. Please bring your insurance card, co-payment (if applicable), and all of your medications, including over the counter medications. If you are transferring from another medical practice, please provide us with your medical records by faxing them to 617-783-5514.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call our Brighton location at 617-783-0500 or Waltham location at 781-693-3800 the day before your appointment date so that we can offer your appointment to another patient who needs it. Thank you!
*IHA’s are billed to insurances as regular office visits, lab costs and co-pays/co-insurance charges may apply. Please consult with your insurance prior to the visit.
In order to prevent billing errors and so we can reach you with important health information such as test results, please inform us if you have moved or have changed your phone number.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call our Brighton location at 617-783-0500 or Waltham location at 781-693-3800 the day before your appointment date so that we can offer your appointment to another patient who needs it. Thank you!
If you are sick and would like to either make an appointment to be seen or speak with a nurse, please call our main number 617-783-0500 and choose the extension to speak to the nurse. If you do not reach a live person, it is very important to leave a message with the patient’s full name, date of birth, the best phone number where you can be reached, and the reason for your call. The nurse will return your call in the order that it was received and based on the medical urgency of your complaint.
Expect that the nurse may ask you questions regarding your symptoms and will help in either scheduling a timely office visit or provide medical recommendations over the phone.
We encourage you to call before coming to the health center. In some cases, we can save you a trip or schedule you a telehealth appointment by video or phone.
When to go to the Emergency Room:
The emergency room is not always the best or right place for you and your care. It may not always be necessary for you and can be very expensive.
Emergency care is care that is needed right away for a serious medical problem like:
In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
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Joseph M. Smith Building
495 Western Ave. Brighton, MA, 02135
(617)-783-0500
43 Foundry Ave., Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 693-3800
Charles River Community Health as a federally qualified health center, is a FTCA deemed Section 330 Health Center and a Health Center Program grantee under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n). CRCH’s FTCA Deeming letter.
