The-Doc-Is-In Urgent Primary Care D.O.W.

This guy is a crook. DO NOT COME HERE. He prescribed me medicine over the phone without even seeing me, and then had the cheek to get me to come in and then send me a $ 400 bill without even any slightest consultation or examination. He had the nerve to lie to my primary care doctor that we had a consultation or even something more than one minute of small talk. This is close to fraud — do not come here!!!
it is super sketch and does not look like a doctor’s office at all! he’s running a weird business.

Coming into Boston from NYC and we needed some assistance with a minor illness. I had talked to Dr. DeMertine by phone, and although we were coming in late on a Friday, he was there for us. Basic office– perfect for us in this situation. No wait– we were done within 10 minutes. Very welcome help.

Horrible, horrible place. Not only was it SUPER sketchy, but the doctor had no idea what he was doing. Luckily I decided not to follow through with what he suggested (he wanted to stick me with a foot long needle but it looked dirty so I declined), and when I finally went to the actual hospital with my health problem, I told them what the guy at clinic had wanted to do to treat me, and they couldn’t believe it. He also prescribed me 4 medicines– 2 of which I was allergic to! And two of which did not make sense for what was wrong with me (said the real hospital). The real hospital told me to make sure no one ever went here.
Furthermore, they keep sending me bills months later!!! I called the office to inquire why, and the doctor literally yelled at me. Still confused why…

Okay so I must start off by saying that before I went here I had read all the previous reviews and knew what to expect.
It’s true what everyone else says this place is very disorganized and the office leaves one to wonder whether they should go in or not.
All that aside I went here in a desperate attempt to avoid going to the ER. The doctor is fine he listened to me and examined me all very professionally. He’s not Board Certified but if you need a prescription refilled or someone to diagnose a sinus infection I think you’ll be fine. He wasn’t able to help me because my symptoms were beyond his purview but if it’s something minor he can probably help you out. Better then spending an entire night in the ER and paying a fortune for care!

Doc helped me out in an urgent situation. A good guy. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Thanks Doc!

I have to agree with the other reviews about how sketchy the place is… If you can get passed the spooky atheistic then you should be fine. The waiting room is in the hallway, and the office itself is just one big room. The doctor himself is a very nice guy, I give him that. He is helpful and caring, actually listens to what you say and doesn’t rush you out. He calls in your prescription to the CVS next door for you as well. The «office» is quite small, messy and disorganized. He would benefit greatly from a receptionist/​attendant/​a day of cleaning. He also runs a practice in NYC, which I think is interesting. I’d say if you’re not going in for anything serious and just need amoxicillin or something similar to give it a shot. If it’s anything besides a common cold/​a basic sickness, I’d say go elsewhere.

This was the sketchiest place I have ever been to it was out of a scary movie! Paper’s everywhere, looked like a tornado went through there. Doctor/​receptionist was awful. Had pre-​paid cell phones, half eaten food everywhere, junk, suitcases, boxes and who knows what else. Do NOT go here. NO matter what.

I read Tamara’s interview before going here, and checked out TheDocIsIn website, which was pleasant but gave no specific doctor information. I too was apprehensive about what seemed at first to be a sketchy place. I went here basically as a last resort, and I am so incredibly glad I did. I have had so many bad experiences with medical care, from doctors at top hospitals to low cost clinics. I can happily say that my experience at this clinic, and with Dr. Demertine, was one not one of those. In fact, I would say it’s really one of the better experiences I’ve had.
To give some background, I am newly returned to Massachusetts, and without health insurance. This puts me in some sort of no-​mans-​land where I can’t access services that might otherwise be available if I had public health insurance. Prior to coming here, I was being seen at a low-​cost clinic in another state, who refused to renew a prescription (that I’ve been taking for two years) the minute they saw my new area code and pharmacy location. Unbeknownst to me, they do not prescribe out of state. This is not a medication you can just stop, and I was basically completely out of luck in trying to find a provider on short notice. There really aren’t any low-​cost walk-​in-​clinics here that deal with anything beyond the basic ear infection.
I tried, on the inaccurate advice of their 1800 number, to go to a CVS minute clinic to get my prescription refilled. I went, and waited, and it turns out that they lied to me; in MA they only treat limited conditions. I called around to various «urgent care walk in clinics» associated with hospitals; they too told me they wouldn’t be able to help me, that I should go to the ER, and that they (of course) didn’t know if an ER doctor would refill the script. (Let’s keep in mind that this is not some special fancy controlled med we’re talking about.)
I was unsure whether I should go to The Doc is In (Chisholm-​Demertine Urgent Care) or the Somerville ER. I had had to go to the ER recently for a tooth abscess, I called them today, turns out that bill will be over 600 dollars. The doc is in it was!
Although Tamara mentioned that it was hard to find this place, I found it easy. It’s right near Copley on Boylston Street, and «Urgent Care» is listed on the door and on the signage that tells you what floor and room it was. I was prepared, from her review, that the person who had answered the phone previously was the doctor, so that was no surprise. It’s true that this is a small office, with a screen, a desk, some chairs, and not much else. Again, I was prepared for this because of Tamara’s review. I also admit that this was my last resort before having to go the ER, and I was in no position to be choosy when he had said he would clearly help me.
Dr. Demertine was incredibly kind and forthcoming. He had told me earlier the cost for my visit, and he made sure to ask me questions even though he knew I was just coming in for a refill. I was honestly a bit afraid to talk to him too much because every other doctor I’ve seen recently can’t do much beyond do a strep test, and is so rushed. However, he was very open and friendly and extremely helpful, and seemed genuinely interested in my health, beyond most doctors I’ve seen. This is the first medical appointment I’ve had in years that didn’t involve the doctor sitting in front of a computer typing for 90 percent of the time, and then rushing me out the door within minutes.
He gave me the refill and called it in for me, and also gave me helpful references to other doctors for follow up care. I didn’t want to take up too much of his time since I really was trying to save money, but I think he was very easy to talk to. In the end, he charged me less than he had quoted over the phone. Looking at his website, they have discounts for artists, teachers, etc, and even does house calls. I can’t truly speak to how he might be outside of an urgent care situation — after all, this is an urgent care clinic — but for urgent care, I had a very good experience.
In short, Dr. Demertine provides a service that I absolutely could not find elsewhere, and that was utterly necessary in an urgent situation. There is no other place in the Boston area that I have found that will give you urgent primary care like this. The other choices are either very restricted in what they treat (CVS minute clinics + other urgent care places) or expensive and unpredictable (the emergency room). Dr. Demertine combines the best aspects of these two types of medical providers, giving affordable and thoughtful care.
If you would like to find out reviews of the doctor himself, you can google his name: Dr. Joseph Marcel-​Saintlouis-​Demertine. I only did this after coming home, but they tend to reflect my personal experience.

Please read before going here. Fighting a sinus infection with a busy schedule I found this «walk in» online. I called and asked how long the wait was, and was told that there was no wait by a person who was not going to win «receptionist of the month» any time soon. When I got to 581 Boylston St, I stood for ten minutes trying to locate the name «Chisholm-​Demertine» or anything else that made sense on the directory to get into the building. Not there. Followed a guy in and again, not listed on the building directory inside. So I called ROTM again and asked what floor they were on. Eighth floor… ok. As I got up to the 8^th floor, there was no signage, but after walking around a bit. I heard a man say «over here». It was about this time I heard the 48 Hours Mystery music playing in the back of my head. Sure enough, I walk over and enter the office. Wait, can you call a 12X12 room with a desk and a folding screen an «office»? Perhaps, but maybe not with enough clutter to indicate someone lived there you can’t. Add in the bonus that ROTM was also playing the role of the doctor… priceless. When I said I changed my mind, he offered to give me a «deep discount». Super, double, hella no thank you sir. Don’t go.