Preparing for Your Doctor's Appointment
Thank you for choosing Mass Eye and Ear for your care. Our Safe Care Commitment is in effect to provide the safest possible setting for patients, visitors and employees.
We are offering both virtual visits and in-person visits.
- With a virtual visit, you can conveniently see your provider from home through your computer, device or phone.
- In-person visits are the face-to-face visits you are used to with enhanced safety measures. These visits are particularly appropriate when the doctor needs to examine you or you need specific tests.
If you have an in-person visit coming up, please review the following information on what to expect. Preparing in advance for your appointment will help your visit go smoothly.
Mask Policy
As part of our Safe Care Commitment, you must wear a mask at our clinical facilities. If you have a mask from home, you will be asked to replace it with the mask we provide.
Visitor Policy
At Mass Eye and Ear, we understand the importance of visitors to the health and well-being of our patients.
COVID-19 Screenings
We screen to protect you, your families, and our employees. To enter our facilities, patients and visitors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms multiple times prior to and during your appointment.
Read about the screening process
Before Your Appointment
Appointment Reminders and eCheck-in
If you have a scheduled appointment coming up, you may receive a phone call, text message, and/or a message from our patient portal, Mass General Brigham Gateway, three or four days before your appointment for confirmation.
You can also save time the day of your visit by updating important information through Patient Gateway’s eCheck-in. This feature allows you to review your insurance information, fill out questionnaires, and take care of your co-pays online. Please complete eCheck-in up to three days before your visit.
Learn more about Patient Gateway
If you haven’t already enrolled, you can sign up for the portal
Please Call Us
So that we can safely care for you, please let us know if you have any upper respiratory symptoms before coming to your appointment, such as:
- New or worsening fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose/nasal congestion
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches
- Inability to smell or taste
Day of Your Appointment
Upon Arrival
When you arrive, we will give you hand sanitizer and a new, hospital-issued mask to wear. We are asking everyone to remove and replace your mask from home as part of our Safe Care Commitment. The hospital-issued mask must be worn at all times during your appointment (except when directed to remove it by your provider, e.g. for exam of throat or nose). We appreciate your cooperation.
COVID-19 Symptoms Check
As part of our Safe Care Commitment, you will be screened multiple times for COVID-19, including upon arrival to your doctor’s office. If you have an approved support person, they will also be screened.
We encourage you to use the Mass General Brigham Prescreen app before your arrival. Completing this screening beforehand will help make your appointment check-in faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Directions and Parking
Planning how you are going to get to your appointment—and taking into account potential traffic and finding parking—is key to reducing any stress or anxiety that you may have.
Find more information about directions and parking at our more than 20 sites.
Amenities
Learn more about the amenities available to patients and visitors at our Boston main campus and Longwood location, including dining options.
We encourage you to pull together your personal and medical information before you arrive. You should also write down any questions that you have for your care team prior to your appointment.
Specifically, we recommend that you bring the following items with you to your appointment:
- Photo ID: At your appointment, we may ask for a form of identification like a driver’s license, military or government-issued card to verify your identity.
- Insurance Card: This information is needed in the event of a change, and may be used to verify information we have, if necessary.
- Medical Records: Your Mass Eye and Ear physician will want to review your medical records, as well as the referring clinic and referring physician notes, before or during your visit. Records include laboratory or diagnostic imaging tests done in connection with the reason for your visit. If requested, please provide written pathology reports and CDs of X-rays, scans or MRIs. Find more information about medical records.
- Medication List: Always bring a list of your current medications. This should include prescription and over-the-counter drugs, supplements, vitamins and eye drops, including dosage and frequency. We will need the name and contact information of your pharmacy. After enrolling in Mass General Brigham Patient Gateway, you will be able to refill any prescriptions that are ordered for you from Mass Eye and Ear through the portal.
- Advance Directives: Please bring a copy of your advance directives (health care proxy or living will) if you already have one.
- Referring Doctor Information: We will ask for your referring doctor’s name, address and phone number.
- Health History: Please be prepared to discuss your past and current health issues like hospitalizations, surgeries and allergies. You may be also asked questions about your family’s health history. If you have set up a Patient Gateway account, you may see a health questionnaire to complete when you log in.
Enroll in Patient Gateway
Once you are a registered patient, it is important that you set-up a Mass General Brigham Patient Gateway account. Patient Gateway is our online health portal that allows you to communicate with your physicians, manage your appointments, and more. Take charge of your care and enroll today! You can either self-enroll into Patient Gateway, or one of our clinic staff can send you an activation code by text or email to get you started. For technical help with Patient Gateway, please call the Mass General Brigham Support Desk at 800-745-9683.
Check Your Insurance Coverage
You should always check with your health insurance plan before getting care so you understand your covered benefits and your expected share of the costs.
Find more information about billing and insurance.
Complete Forms
Depending on the department or service you are visiting, you may be asked to complete forms or documents before your scheduled visit. You may be able to complete these forms through Mass General Brigham Patient Gateway once you have enrolled.
