Getting Started

HMO insurance plans require you to choose a primary care doctor when you enroll, while most PPO insurance plans will not. Contact your health insurance plan to find out if they will assign you a doctor if you don't choose one. John Muir Health will not assign a doctor to you.

Your previous healthcare provider may have assigned you an ID number. At John Muir Health, we do not assign ID numbers; you just simply give your doctor some basic personal information (name, date of birth, address, etc.), as well as a copy of your health insurance card.

Step 1: Choose A Doctor

With over 200 primary care doctors located throughout Contra Costa County and parts of Alameda and Solano Counties, it's easy to find a doctor who's just right for you or your loved one. Simply visit our Find A Doctor search tool to view photos and videos of our doctors, as well as find out which ones are accepting new patients. You can even schedule your first appointment online, right from your chosen doctor's profile page.

Need more help? The New Patient Match Program helps you find the primary care doctor who’s right for you and your family. Our New Patient Match Coordinators work with you to determine what you are looking for in a new doctor and recommend options that fit your needs.

New Patient Match Program
(925) 988-7550
Mon-Fri (closed Holidays)
8am - 4pm

After hours, leave a message and we will return the call within one business day.

For transferring medical records to your new doctor's office, you'll need to contact your former doctor's office for the specifics on how to request your records.

Step 2: Schedule Your First Appointment

When calling to schedule your first appointment, be sure to have your health plan information available. If we can't fit you in on the day of your choice, we may offer you an appointment with another doctor in the same office or refer you to one of our Urgent Care Centers—which are conveniently open 7 days a week, including holidays. We also offer after hours care for children.

Referrals to Specialists

Sometimes your doctor may refer you to a specialist for treatment. In this case, be sure to first contact your health insurance plan to find out if an authorization is needed. If not needed, you may simply call the specialist's office directly to make your appointment.

Please note that a referral is not the same thing as an authorization. If your health plan requires an authorization, you'll need to wait for confirmation from your health insurance plan that your referral has been approved, a process which often takes 7-10 days.

Step 3: Refill Your Prescriptions

Depending on your health insurance plan, you may be able to fill your prescriptions at any pharmacy you choose or you may be required to go to specific contracted pharmacies. It's possible that you may have a prescription card that is different from your health insurance card. Please check directly with your health insurance plan for details about your prescription coverage. To refill a prescription, call your pharmacy, and they will contact your doctor's office on your behalf. Be sure to call for refills before running out of your medication, as refills can sometimes take a few days to process.

Lab Services

There are convenient lab locations inside our medical centers and many of our outpatient centers. Check with your health insurance plan to find out if there are any restrictions to the lab you can choose.

Paying For Services

It's likely that your insurer may not cover some or all of the cost associated with your treatment. Contact your health insurance plan directly with questions about what's covered and what your co-pay amounts are for different services. For amounts not covered by insurance, we offer several convenient ways to pay, including:

  • Cash or check
  • MasterCard / Visa (debit or credit)
  • American Express
  • Discover

You may pay your bill by mail, phone or online.

Please note that you may receive multiple bills for different portions of the same visit or medical procedure—such as from doctors, for diagnostic tests, and for services rendered at the facility location where your care is provided.

Step 4: Activate Online Patient Portal, MyChart

Whether scheduling an appointment, viewing your lab results, or sending a message to your doctor, you can conveniently manage your health online at MyChart—anytime and anywhere you have access to the Internet. If you need help registering or getting started, you can call our Patient Support Center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (925) 941-2001.

When you need care

Find Us Where You Need Us

We make it easy for you to get the care that you need, even after hours. Wherever your home is located in the East Bay, chances are that there is a John Muir Health facility nearby. Find a location

As an added convenience for our Tri-Valley residents, San Ramon Regional Medical Center and many of its affiliated doctors are also part of our network. Please contact your health insurance plan to verify your specific coverage for services, locations, and providers included in your plan.

Remember, your primary care doctor is the best place to start when you need care, unless you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms. See our guide about where to go when you need care. 

We Want To Hear From You

Understanding how you and your family experience health care services at John Muir Health is important to us. We use surveys to measure how well we meet your expectations at doctor visits, in our emergency departments and urgent care centers, in our hospitals, and home health. We work with Press Ganey, a third party survey company, to administer our surveys so that patient ratings and comments are anonymous and confidential.

Some surveys are sent by mail, and some are also available by email with a link to Press Ganey's secure website. Your willingness to participate in our surveys is an important way to help us keep our promise to deliver an exceptional patient experience.

At any time, you may contact us online with questions or feedback. You may also call us at (925) 952-2887 or toll-free at (844) 398-5376. If you are speech or hearing impaired, please dial 711.

Helpful Resources