Areas
Doctor in Isabela and Rincon (and Aguada): ERs, Pharmacy Counters and Video Visits
Looking for a doctor in Isabela and Rincon, or in Aguada? Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, sees patients of all ages by video at home or at your beach rental, as long as you are in Puerto Rico. None of the three towns has a hospital. Rincón has a Costa Salud ER open every day; the nearest hospitals are in Aguadilla and Moca.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Video only
We are a telehealth-only service: we have no office or clinic in this area or anywhere else in Puerto Rico. If you need to be seen in person, this guide shows where to go.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- A surf wipeout with severe neck or back pain, or a blow to the head
- Someone pulled from the water who coughed a lot, is short of breath or is confused
- A sea wound that turns red and hot, with fever
- A baby under 3 months with a fever
Help lines
Doctor in Isabela and Rincon by video: what it saves you
From Isabela, Rincón or Aguada, getting to a hospital means leaving town: Buen Samaritano is in Aguadilla and San Carlos Borromeo in Moca. For an emergency, that trip is worth it, or call 911. For swimmer's ear, a cut that turns red, a UTI, a cold or a refill, the doctor sees you by video: no driving or parking, you skip the waiting room, and the price is clear before you book.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to the pharmacy you choose, such as the Walgreens on Ave. Militar in Isabela or the Costa Salud pharmacy in Rincón. Book a video visit from Isabela or Rincón, US$79.
Before you leave home
Why a video visit
For anything that isn’t an emergency, compare what each option takes.
| Comparison | Video visit | Emergency room | CDT or doctor’s office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting there | From home: join from your phone, tablet or computer. | Drive and find parking. | Drive and find parking. |
| Waiting room | Skip the waiting room: join from wherever you are in Puerto Rico. | Yes, a waiting room. | Yes, a waiting room. |
| Hours and time | We do not publish a wait time. Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text. | In Puerto Rico, a median of 4 h 52 min from arrival to departure for patients sent home (US: 2 h 42 min; Oct 2024–Sep 2025).1,2 | An in-person visit takes about 2 hours on average, including travel.3 |
| Price | US$79 visit · US$49 follow-up · US$35 forms. You see it before you pay; no insurance needed. | Depends on your insurance and on what is done. | Depends on your insurance and on what is done. |
| Language | Spanish or English, with the same doctor. | Depends on the place. | Depends on the place. |
| Prescriptions | If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. | Yes, if needed. | Yes, if needed. |
| When to go in person | If the doctor needs to examine you in person or run a test, she tells you and guides you. | In an emergency: chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness on one side or bleeding that won’t stop. Call 911. | If you need stitches, an X-ray or a test on the spot. |
For problems that are not emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.
Table sources
- 1. CMS Care Compare, “Timely and Effective Care – State”, measure OP-18b: median time in the emergency department, arrival to departure, for patients sent home (opens in a new tab), data for Oct 2024–Sep 2025 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- 2. CMS Care Compare, “Timely and Effective Care – National”, measure OP-18b (US figure) (opens in a new tab), data for Oct 2024–Sep 2025 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- 3. Ray KN et al., “Opportunity costs of ambulatory medical care in the United States,” Am J Manag Care 2015;21(8):567-74 (US data, 2003–2010) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
We found no published source for what a patient pays at an ER or a CDT in Puerto Rico, so we give no figure.
Doctor online in Rincón: the Costa Salud ER
Rincón has 15,625 residents and grew faster than any other municipio in Puerto Rico between 2020 and 2024 (+2.9%); only 6 of the 78 grew at all. It is also one of the oldest: 29.5% are 65 or older (Census, 2024). In an emergency call 911.
Costa Salud, Rincón, Calle Muñoz Rivera #28, Rincón, PR 00677. Phone 787-823-5500 or 787-656-6000. Its site says the ER "is open every day" and lists a pharmacy at the same center. It does not say the ER is open 24 hours, and federal HRSA data lists 98.5 operating hours a week: late at night, call first.
Nearest hospitals in CMS data: Hospital Buen Samaritano, Aguadilla, 787-658-0000, about 9 miles in a straight line; and Hospital San Carlos Borromeo, Moca, 787-877-8000, about 10 miles. To the south are the Mayagüez ERs.
There is no Walgreens in Rincón. The nearest is in Añasco, Hacienda Shopping Center, 787-826-1090, about 7 miles in a straight line. Counter: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Sunday.
Surfing in Rincón and Isabela: before you paddle out
The beaches of Rincón and Isabela draw surfers and swimmers. The National Weather Service notes that rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves and that a distant hurricane can create dangerous waves and currents even in nice weather. Check the beach forecast (opens in a new tab) every day.
A hard wipeout with neck pain, someone pulled from the water who is coughing or short of breath, or a blow to the head are for 911. What comes after, such as swimmer's ear, an infected sea urchin spine, a cut or a sunburn, can be evaluated by video.
Doctor online in Isabela
Isabela has 43,033 residents (Census, 2024), about the same as in 2020, and no hospital. We could not confirm any 24-hour ER in town from an official source, so we list none.
Nearest hospitals in CMS data: San Carlos Borromeo, Moca, 787-877-8000, about 9 miles in a straight line; and Buen Samaritano, Aguadilla, 787-658-0000, about 10 miles. For Aguadilla and Moca, see doctor in Aguadilla.
Walgreens, 3480 Ave. Militar, Isabela, 787-872-0502. Store: 7 a.m.–11 p.m. Counter: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Health center: MEDX Medical Experience by Migrant Isabela II, 113 Carr 2, Bo. Guerrero, 787-652-2325; 42.5 hours a week per HRSA.
Nearest 24-hour counter: Walgreens, 2979 Ave. Emilio Fagot, Ponce, 787-841-7400, about 43 miles in a straight line. There is none anywhere in the west.
Doctor online in Aguada
Aguada has 37,523 residents, and 24.8% are 65 or older (Census, 2024). It has a community health center with a pharmacy, but no ER.
- Costa Salud, Aguada, Calle Colón #106, 787-252-5500. Its site lists primary care and a pharmacy, with no ER. HRSA lists 65 operating hours a week and three mobile medical units based at that address.
- Nearest hospitals in CMS data: Buen Samaritano, Aguadilla, 787-658-0000, and San Carlos Borromeo, Moca, 787-877-8000, each about 5 miles in a straight line.
- There is no Walgreens in Aguada. The nearest is 16000 Carr 2, Aguadilla, 787-882-8044, about 3 miles in a straight line. Counter: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; the store is open 24 hours.
- Nearest 24-hour counter: Ponce, about 46 miles in a straight line.
If you live in Aguada and run out of a medicine you already take, a refill is a US$49 follow-up visit. Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text. Book a video visit from Aguada.
How we care for you by video in the northwest
Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, is a general practice physician licensed in Puerto Rico, with several years of emergency-department experience. She sees adults and children of all ages, in English or Spanish; anyone under 21 needs a parent or legal guardian on the video, with photo ID. She evaluates, diagnoses and treats; if needed, she gives you a lab order for a lab near you. We do not prescribe controlled substances.
We send you a secure video link that works on your phone, tablet or computer. Visiting? See care for visitors. Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text. You are charged when you request it, with a full refund if the visit can't happen.
- Doctor visit, US$79: new problems and non-emergency urgent care.
- Follow-up, US$49: refills of medicines you already take.
- Forms, US$35: school, university or job forms.
How this page was verified
Verified on October 2, 2026: Costa Salud on its official site and in HRSA data; hospitals in CMS data; pharmacy counters on each Walgreens page; population from the Census Bureau. Distances are straight lines, not drive times. We re-check these facts every quarter. See also all areas.
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rincón ER open 24 hours?
What is the nearest hospital to Isabela?
Is there a pharmacy in Rincón?
I am on vacation in Rincón: can a doctor see me?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-02 · Updated: 2026-10-02
Sources (9)
- Costa Salud Community Health Centers (Rincón and Aguada) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- CMS: Hospital General Information (Puerto Rico) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- HRSA: health center service delivery sites (Costa Salud, MEDX Isabela II) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Walgreens, 3480 Ave Militar, Isabela: hours (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Walgreens, Hacienda Shopping Center, Añasco: hours (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Walgreens, 16000 Carr 2, Aguadilla: hours (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Walgreens, 2979 Ave Emilio Fagot, Ponce: 24-hour pharmacy (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- U.S. Census Bureau: municipio population estimates, 2020–2024 (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- National Weather Service San Juan: beach forecast (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)