Services
Online doctor in Puerto Rico, by video
Our online doctor in Puerto Rico is Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a Puerto Rico-licensed general practice physician with several years of emergency-department experience, who sees you on a real-time video call. We evaluate, diagnose and treat adults and children of all ages, in English or Spanish. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. You just need to be in Puerto Rico during the visit.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Chest pain or pressure
- Trouble breathing
- A drooping face, weakness on one side or trouble speaking
- An allergic reaction with swelling of the tongue or lips
- A serious injury or bleeding that won't stop
Help lines
On this page(11)
See a doctor online: how the video visit works
It's a real doctor's visit, over video. The doctor sees and hears you, asks follow-up questions and has you show her what matters on camera, like your throat, an irritated eye or a rash. We send you a secure video link; it works on your phone, tablet or computer.
You always see Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a general practice physician licensed in Puerto Rico. Her years in emergency departments mean she knows what can be handled at home and when you need to be seen in person, and she tells you plainly.
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| Hours and time | We do not publish a wait time.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.
Everything our online doctor in Puerto Rico can help with
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you. Our services:
- Virtual urgent care: colds, flu, UTIs, sinus infections, sore throat, pink eye, rashes, diarrhea and other non-emergencies.
- Primary care: new concerns, prevention and check-ins with the same doctor.
- Chronic care for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and thyroid conditions.
- Kids of all ages, always with a parent or legal guardian on camera.
- Prescription refills for medicines you already take, even if another doctor prescribed them.
- Follow-up visits to go over your lab results.
- Lab orders for blood work, urine tests, strep tests and more, at a lab near you.
- A doctor's note for work or school, included after your visit.
- School and work forms.
- Birth control, including emergency contraception.
- STI testing and treatment, with testing by lab order.
- Skin and acne care.
- Care for visitors, including cruise passengers.
Your doctor
Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD
General practice physician
Several years of emergency-department experience.
Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative.
How it works in 3 steps
Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.
Request your visit and pay by card.
Pick the visit type and pay on a secure page. You are charged when you request it, with a full refund if the visit can't take place.
We confirm your time and send your secure link.
Before your first visit you sign the informed consent that Puerto Rico law requires.
See the doctor by video.
She evaluates you and explains what's going on and what to do. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy; she can also give you a lab order or a doctor's note.
Prices: which visit to choose
There are three visit types, the same price for every age and with no membership:
- Doctor visit, US$79: a new problem, urgent care, primary care, kids, birth control, STIs, skin, and visitors.
- Follow-up visit, US$49: a refill of a medicine you already take (anyone can book this) or a review of lab results from an earlier visit (existing patients only).
- School and work forms, US$35: school, university or job forms.
If a US$49 or US$35 visit turns out to need a full doctor visit, the doctor explains why and, only with your consent, you pay the difference. A doctor's note after your visit is included at no extra charge. We don't bill insurance; ask for an itemized receipt (superbill) if you want to file a claim yourself.
Video visit
Doctor visit
US$79
For a new problem, urgent care (non-emergencies), primary care, children, birth control, STIs, skin and acne, and visitors. Includes a doctor's note if you need one.
- You’re charged when you request the visit.
- Full refund if the visit can’t take place
What we see most often
These are the most common reasons people book. Don't see yours? Request a visit anyway: the doctor will tell you whether video is right for it.
- Colds, coughs, flu and COVID-19.
- Sore throat, sinus infections and ear pain.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Pink eye, allergies and rashes.
- Diarrhea, vomiting and an upset stomach.
- High blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and thyroid conditions.
- Medicines you ran out of or left at home.
Treatment, prescriptions and lab tests
Treatment depends on what the doctor finds when she evaluates you. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances, and no visit guarantees a particular medicine: many colds and sore throats are viral, and antibiotics don't work on viruses. See how online prescriptions work.
When a test would help decide, the doctor gives you a lab order for a lab near you, such as a urine test, a strep test or blood work. You then go over the results with her in a follow-up visit.
When to go to the ER instead
Online visits are not for emergencies. If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, a severe allergic reaction or a serious injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Who can use it
Anyone who is physically in Puerto Rico during the visit, whether you live here or are visiting. The doctor is licensed in Puerto Rico, and the law requires the patient to be on the island. No insurance needed.
For a patient under 21, a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian must stay on camera for the whole visit and show photo ID.
Why people choose us
What sets us apart:
- A named doctor whose license you can check. Her Puerto Rico license and NPI record are on her profile.
- Emergency-department experience, so she knows what can be treated at home and what can't.
- English or Spanish, whichever you prefer.
- Adults and kids of all ages.
- Clear prices, no membership.
- Run by a nonprofit: The Health Initiative, a U.S. 501(c)(3).
Book your online doctor visit
Book a visit and choose Doctor visit (US$79) for a new problem or urgent care. If you only need a refill of a medicine you already take, choose Follow-up visit (US$49).
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 visit by phone or by video?
Can I get a prescription online in Puerto Rico?
Do you see children?
Can I use it if I'm visiting Puerto Rico?
Can the doctor see me if I'm in Florida or another state?
Need to see the doctor?
US$79Doctor visit
- You’re charged when you request the visit.
- Full refund if the visit can’t take place
Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.
Doctor visit: US$79 — BookAbout 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: 2026-09-30 · Updated: 2026-10-02
Sources (6)
- Puerto Rico Telemedicine and Telehealth Act, Ley 168-2018 (LexJuris, Spanish) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Ley 8-2025, amendments to the Telemedicine Act (LexJuris, Spanish) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-29)
- NPI record for Dr. Diana Nieves Castro (NPPES, CMS) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-29)
- Puerto Rico medical license lookup (Department of Health) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-29)
- Antibiotic use: antibiotics do not work on viruses (CDC) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Stroke signs and symptoms (CDC) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)