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How to navigate YHP

Here are some tips for using YHP:

Choose a Primary Care Clinician

  • Establishing a relationship with a Primary Care Clinician (PCC) is the most effective way of using YHP services.
  • Get to know your Primary Care Clinician (PCC) and their nurse coordinator.
  • YHP uses a team approach - teams consist of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, registered nurses and medical assistants - a member of the team will always be available to care for you, even if your personal clinician is away.

*Note: Women should also choose a clinician from the OB/GYN Department for routine gynecological care. A clinician in Pediatrics should be selected for dependent children.

Scheduling appointments

  • Plan ahead whenever possible and use Yale Health Online to request appointments.
  • Do not wait until the last minute for general physicals, camp physicals, back-to-school exams and sports physicals.
  • Follow our Preventive Guidelines to determine when you need to have exams, screenings and immunizations.
  • Arrive for your visit on time.
  • Call if you cannot keep your scheduled appointment time so another member may use the slot.
  • Visit the department's page for details on scheduling appointments with them.

*Note: Mondays and Fridays tend to be the busiest days. The best times for routine visits are mid-week.

During appointments

  • Come prepared - bring your list of concerns so that they can be addressed during your visit and a list of all your medications (prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines).
  • Find out how you will be informed about test results, and when you might expect to receive them.
  • Ask how soon you should make a return visit.

Busy times—be aware of the Yale calendar

  • Campus events and major holidays can affect access.
  • An influx of visitors and traffic at the beginning of the academic year as well as during Commencement weekend may cause delays in traveling to appointments.
  • Holiday weekends are often preceded by increased demand for prescriptions.
  • Many students and faculty leave for the summer and schedule last minute appointments prior to departure.

Use Yale Health Online

Click here to log in or sign up.

  • Request appointments.
  • Update some of your personal information.
  • Send secure messages to participating Yale Health Plan clinicians.
  • View certain parts of your medical history.

Our Pharmacy

Click here for the Pharmacy page.

  • Open six days a week (closed on Sundays and major holidays).
  • Call ahead for refills. Our automated prescription refill service at 203-432-0033 will guide you through the simple refill process.
  • Process time for routine refills is 24 hours; a bit longer is needed for refilling special orders and those requiring verification.
  • Visit the pharmacy during less busy hours - early morning and midafternoon. The busiest times are during lunch hours, after work and just before and after holidays.
  • Prescriptions not picked up after 10 days are returned to stock and you will need to wait for them to be filled again.
  • YHP prescription coverage includes medications from other pharmacies; however, you must pay the full cost "up front" and submit a claim for reimbursement.

Referrals

  • No referral is needed to use our primary care (Internal Medicine, Gynecology, Pediatrics, Urgent Care and Student Medicine) departments.
  • You do need a referral from your clinician to specialty departments within YHP.
  • You might also be referred "outside" of YHP to one of our network specialists/approved facilities for office visits, treatments and tests.
  • If you are referred "outside", your referral must be approved in advance (this is called "prior authorization"); your clinician or an YHP staff member will advise you about this.
  • Outside referrals specify a number of approved visits. You will need to obtain another referral for additional visits.

Where should you go for care?

  • Call your clinician during the business day or YHP Urgent Care any time of day or night.
  • You can also obtain clinical advice by calling 203-432-0123 or 877-YHP-CARE (877-947-2273) if you are away from the area and have an urgent problem.

How can we help?