Areas
Online Doctor in Southwest Puerto Rico: Guánica, Guayanilla and Peñuelas
An online doctor in southwest Puerto Rico sees you by video from Guánica, Guayanilla or Peñuelas: Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, treats patients of all ages while they are on the island. None of the three towns has a hospital: the nearest ERs are in Yauco and Ponce, and the 24-hour pharmacy counter is in Ponce. In an emergency, call 911.
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:
- An injury from falling objects or debris during an earthquake
- A child struggling to breathe or very limp: remember Pavía Yauco is an adult ER
- Chest pain, shortness of breath or stroke signs
- Thoughts of harming yourself: call 988 or Línea PAS
Help lines
Three southwest towns: where to go in person
According to federal hospital data (CMS), Guánica, Guayanilla and Peñuelas have no hospital. For an emergency, Hospital Pavía Yauco is closest to Guánica and Guayanilla, but Metro Pavia lists it only among its 24/7 adult ERs. Hospital Metropolitano Dr. Pila in Ponce is on both its adult and pediatric lists, and it is the closest for Peñuelas.
There is no 24-hour pharmacy counter in the area either: the nearest for all three is Walgreens, 2979 Ave Emilio Fagot, Ponce, 787-841-7400, closed only 1:30–2 a.m. For anything that is not an emergency, the doctor sees you by video without driving or looking for parking and, if appropriate, prescribes and we send the prescription to the pharmacy you choose. In an emergency, call 911.
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| Hours and time | We do not publish a wait time.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 Guánica
Guánica is the smallest town in this guide and has lost the most people: according to the Census, it went from 13,787 residents in April 2020 to 12,117 on July 1, 2024, and 27.7% are 65 or older. There is no Walgreens in town, but there is a community health center pharmacy in Ensenada. Its beaches are in the "Southwest PR" zone of the National Weather Service's daily rip current forecast.
- Nearest ER: Hospital Pavía Yauco, Route 128 Km 1.0, Yauco, 787-856-1000, about 6 miles in a straight line; a 24/7 adult ER per Metro Pavia. Hospital de la Concepción in San Germán (787-892-1860) is about 11 miles away (per CMS).
- Community health center: MEDX Medical Experience by Migrant, Guánica, Route 324, 787-821-3377. 76.5 hours a week per HRSA; not an ER.
- Pharmacy in town: MEDX pharmacy, 23 Calle La Montalva, Ensenada, 787-821-4511, 65 hours a week per HRSA (call for daily hours). The nearest Walgreens is Yauco Plaza II, about 6 miles away, with its counter open every day 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
- 24-hour counter: Walgreens, Ave Emilio Fagot, Ponce, about 22 miles in a straight line.
- Request a video visit from Guánica.
Doctor online in Guayanilla
At 4:24 a.m. on January 7, 2020, the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that shook the south was centered 4 km south-southeast of Indios, in Guayanilla, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Guayanilla has 16,628 residents (Census, 2024), 24.9% aged 65 or older. It has no hospital and no Walgreens; its beaches are in the "Ponce and Vicinity PR" zone of the rip current forecast.
- Nearest ER: Hospital Pavía Yauco, 787-856-1000, about 5 miles in a straight line (24/7 adults per Metro Pavia). For a child, Hospital Metropolitano Dr. Pila in Ponce, 787-848-5600, about 11 miles away, is on Metro Pavia's pediatric list.
- Nearest pharmacy: Walgreens, 643 Yauco Plaza II, Yauco, 787-267-5727, about 4 miles in a straight line. Counter open every day 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
- 24-hour counter: Walgreens, Ave Emilio Fagot, Ponce, about 12 miles in a straight line.
- If the ground still shakes: keep a medication list and a supply in your emergency bag. See medications and hurricanes.
- Request a video visit from Guayanilla.
Doctor online in Peñuelas
Peñuelas is the only one of the three towns with its own Walgreens, and the closest to Ponce's ERs and 24-hour counter. It has 19,453 residents per the Census (2024), 21.5% aged 65 or older.
- Nearest ER: Hospital Metropolitano Dr. Pila, 2435 Blvd Luis A. Ferré, Ponce, 787-848-5600, about 8 miles in a straight line; adults and children per Metro Pavia's lists. The city's other ERs are in our Ponce guide.
- Pharmacy in town: Walgreens, 175 Route 385, Peñuelas, 787-836-1123. Counter: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–7 p.m. (Thursday until 7:15 p.m.), Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed 1:30–2 p.m. for a meal break.
- 24-hour counter: Walgreens, Ave Emilio Fagot, Ponce, about 8 miles in a straight line.
- Community health center: Med Centro Peñuelas Satellite Center, Route 385, 787-843-9393. 40 hours a week per HRSA.
- Request a video visit from Peñuelas.
After the earthquakes: help for emotional health
FEMA declared the "Puerto Rico Earthquakes" disaster on January 16, 2020, and approved crisis counseling assistance for residents of Guánica, Guayanilla, Peñuelas, Ponce, Utuado and Yauco. If tremors still keep you up at night or make you anxious, Línea PAS, the mental-health crisis line, is at 1-800-981-0023.
The doctor can evaluate insomnia, mild anxiety or blood pressure that rose with stress by video; see insomnia and high blood pressure. If you are thinking of harming yourself, call 988.
How we care for you by video in the southwest
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. We do not prescribe controlled substances.
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. Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.
- Doctor visit, US$79: new problems and non-emergency urgent care.
- Follow-up, US$49: a refill of a medicine you already take.
- Forms, US$35: school, university or job 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 it can't happen.
Neighboring towns
Yauco has its own guide, as do Ponce and San Germán. Juana Díaz and Villalba are in the south guide; Lajas and Sabana Grande are in the west guide. All areas: areas.
Verified on 2026-10-02: the addresses, phone numbers and hours on this page. Call before you go, because hours change.
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 there a hospital in Guánica, Guayanilla or Peñuelas?
Where do I take a child with an emergency from Guayanilla?
Is there a pharmacy in Guánica?
Where was the 2020 earthquake centered?
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 (11)
- CMS: Hospital General Information (Puerto Rico) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Metro Pavia: 24/7 adult emergency rooms (Spanish) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Metro Pavia: pediatric emergency rooms (Spanish) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Walgreens, 643 Yauco Plaza II: pharmacy hours (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- Walgreens, 175 Route 385, Peñuelas: pharmacy 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)
- HRSA: Health Center Service Delivery Sites (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- USGS: M 6.4, 4 km SSE of Indios, Puerto Rico (January 7, 2020) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- FEMA: Puerto Rico Earthquakes (DR-4473) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- NWS San Juan: Surf Zone Forecast for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
- US Census Bureau: municipio population estimates, Vintage 2024 (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)