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Doctor Online in Vega Baja and Vega Alta: ERs, Pharmacy Counters and Video Visits

A doctor online in Vega Baja or Vega Alta sees you by video from home: Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, treats patients of all ages while they are in Puerto Rico. In person, the only hospital ER in the two towns is Centro Médico Wilma N. Vázquez in Vega Baja, and the nearest 24-hour pharmacy counter is in Bayamón. In an emergency, call 911.

Vega Baja and Vega Alta, Puerto Rico$79Doctor visit

Can we help by telehealth?YesWe can help by telehealth.

Is it an emergency? Call 911.

Doctor visit: $79 — Book See prices and what each includes

Pay now, then choose your time right away. Full refund if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead.

See the cancellation policy

You can cancel for a full refund or change the time up to 24 hours before your visit. Within 24 hours you can't cancel and there's no refund. If you don't join in the first 10 minutes, there's no refund.

If you choose a time less than 24 hours away, it can't be cancelled or changed.

If the clinic can't see you, for example because of a technical problem on our side, we refund you in full.

Telehealth 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:

Someone who swallowed a lot of water at the beach and keeps coughing or struggles to breathe
A head injury or serious injury on the rocks
Chest pain, shortness of breath or stroke signs
A baby under 3 months with a fever

Call 911

Help lines

Warning signs: when to go to the ER

On this page (6)

Emergency rooms near Vega Baja and Vega Alta

In an emergency call 911. According to federal hospital data (CMS), Vega Baja has one hospital with an ER and Vega Alta has none. These are the nearest ERs; none is affiliated with us. CMS does not publish ER hours or say whether an ER sees children, so call ahead if you can.

Centro Médico Wilma N. Vázquez, Route 2 Km 39.5, Bo. Algarrobo, Vega Baja, PR 00693. Phone 787-858-1580. ER per CMS. Nearest for Vega Baja, and about 5 miles in a straight line from central Vega Alta.
Doctors Center Hospital Orlando Health Dorado, 900 Route 696, Dorado. Phone 787-625-5050, per its official site. About 4 miles in a straight line from central Vega Alta. More in our doctor in Dorado guide.
Doctors' Center Hospital, Manatí, Route 2 frontage road Km 47.7, Manatí. Phone 787-853-3322 per CMS, about 5 miles in a straight line from Vega Baja. See the Manatí guide.

Before you leave home

Why a video visit

For anything that isn’t an emergency, compare what each option takes.

Why a video visit
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	Every day, any time (Puerto Rico time). Video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away.	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	$79 visit · $49 follow-up · $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.

Pharmacies in Vega Baja and Vega Alta: counter hours, not store hours

A store can be open while its pharmacy counter is closed. These are the counter hours shown by the Walgreens locator and the Farmacias Caridad directory on October 2, 2026. Walgreens counters close 1:30–2 p.m. for a meal break on the days they list one.

Farmacia Caridad Plaza Las Vegas, Plaza Las Vegas Mall, Vega Baja, 787-858-5008. Counter: Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.–8 p.m. The latest-closing counter in the two towns.
Walgreens, Route 2 Km 39.1, Vega Baja, 787-855-3044. Counter: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sat–Sun 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Farmacia Caridad Carr. #2, 3950 Route 2, Vega Baja, 787-807-1106. Counter: Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Walgreens, 1 Route 694, Vega Alta, 787-883-4279. Counter: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Farmacia Caridad Vega Alta, 6109 Route 694, 787-270-0460. Counter: Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

24-hour counter: none in either town. The nearest is Walgreens, 4699 Route 5, Bayamón, 787-799-4699, about 9 miles in a straight line from Vega Alta and 15 from Vega Baja. It is one of only five 24-hour pharmacy counters in Puerto Rico and closes 1:30–2 a.m. for a meal break. See the Bayamón guide.

Community health centers in Vega Baja and Vega Alta

These federally funded (HRSA) health centers offer primary care with fees based on income. They are not ERs. Hours are the weekly operating hours each center reports to HRSA, not a daily schedule:

PryMed Medical Care, Route 2 Km 39.8, Algarrobo, Vega Baja. Phone 787-871-0601. 65 hours a week.
MCHC Vega Alta (Morovis Community Health Center), Route 2 Km 30.2, Espinosa, Vega Alta. Phone 939-915-9090. 50 hours a week.

Doctor online in Vega Baja: how a video visit works

For a cold, fever, urinary infection, rash or refill, you do not have to drive Route 2 or look for parking. Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a primary care physician licensed in Puerto Rico with several years of emergency-department experience, evaluates, diagnoses and treats adults and children of all ages, in English or Spanish. If needed, she gives you a lab order for a lab near you. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy, for example Plaza Las Vegas or Route 694. Vega Baja and Vega Alta are part of our telehealth in Puerto Rico, from the beaches to the town centers.

We send you a secure video link; it works on your phone, tablet or computer. Anyone under 21 needs a parent or legal guardian on the video, with ID. Video doctor visits 24/7 — book online and choose your time right away.

Doctor visit: new problems and non-emergency urgent care.
Follow-up: a refill of a medicine you already take (non-controlled).
Forms: school or university forms.
Your card is charged when you request the visit (Apple Pay or Google Pay too, if they appear on the payment page), with a full refund if the clinic can’t see you. Request a video visit from Vega Baja or Vega Alta.

Vega Baja and Vega Alta beaches: check the rip current forecast

The National Weather Service in San Juan issues a daily surf zone forecast with the rip current risk. Vega Baja and Vega Alta beaches are in its "North Central PR" zone, with Arecibo, Manatí and Dorado. At moderate risk, life-threatening rip currents are possible; at high risk, they are likely. The NWS advises swimming only at beaches with lifeguards and checking the forecast before you go in.

If someone swallows water or gets scraped on the rocks and it is not serious, the doctor can evaluate them by video. If the person is struggling to breathe, passed out or hit their head, call 911. For stings in the water, see our jellyfish guide.

Two towns, one visit: population facts

According to the Census (estimates for July 1, 2024), Vega Baja has 53,709 residents, 24.5% aged 65 or older, and Vega Alta 34,658, 22.3% aged 65 or older. If you care for an older relative with high blood pressure or diabetes, the doctor can do the follow-up by video, with your relative on camera and you beside them: see chronic care. Heading west? See the Arecibo guide; east, Toa Baja and Toa Alta.

Verified on 2026-10-02: the addresses, phone numbers and hours on this page. Call before you go, because hours change.

Urgent care by video in Vega Baja and Vega Alta

For urgent problems that are not emergencies, the doctor evaluates you by video from wherever you are in Puerto Rico, without driving or looking for parking. If appropriate, she prescribes and we send the prescription to your pharmacy, or she gives you a lab order.

The doctor can see you by video for:

Fever in adults and children without warning signs
Sore throat, sinus infections and colds
Urinary tract infections
Rashes, bites and sunburn
Vomiting and diarrhea without severe dehydration
Ear pain and pink eye
Mild sprains (if you need an X-ray, we refer you)

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for:

Chest pain or pressure
Trouble breathing or bluish lips
Face drooping, weakness on one side or trouble speaking
Bleeding that will not stop, a deep wound or a hard blow to the head
Fainting, confusion or seizures
A baby under 3 months with a fever
Thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 988

For problems that are not emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.

When to go to the ER: full guide · Video, CDT or ER?

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.
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 there an emergency room in Vega Alta?

Federal hospital data (CMS) lists no hospital in Vega Alta. The nearest ERs are Doctors Center Hospital Orlando Health Dorado, about 4 miles in a straight line, and Centro Médico Wilma N. Vázquez in Vega Baja, about 5. In an emergency, call 911.

Which Vega Baja pharmacy counter is open latest?

Farmacia Caridad Plaza Las Vegas: the counter is open until 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and until 8 p.m. on Sunday (Caridad directory, October 2, 2026). The Walgreens on Route 2 closes its counter at 10 p.m. on weekdays but at 6 p.m. at weekends.

Where is the nearest 24-hour pharmacy to Vega Baja?

In Bayamón: Walgreens, 4699 Route 5 (787-799-4699), with a 24-hour counter and a 1:30–2 a.m. break. It is about 15 miles in a straight line from Vega Baja and 9 from Vega Alta. If the doctor prescribes at night, ask us to send the prescription there.

Does the doctor see children from Vega Baja by video?

Yes, children of all ages. You and your child are on camera together for the whole visit, and you show your ID. If a child is struggling to breathe, is very limp, or is a baby under 3 months with a fever, go to an ER for their safety.

Video visit

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