Heywood Medical Group

About Heywood Medical Group

What is Heywood Medical Group?

Heywood Medical Group is a non-profit physician organization affiliated with Heywood Hospital, with over 75 physicians in primary care and specialty care. Its primary care physicians focus on pediatrics and family practice. Weight management is one service within a general medical group, not a stand-alone weight loss clinic.

The weight loss service is a group program called Wellness Group Visits, offered for weight management and lifestyle change. It meets at Heywood Primary Care in Gardner, Massachusetts. Dr. Erin O'Hara and Erica Lasorsa, PA-C lead it, with registered dietitian Rosanna Alvarez. Groups run 6 to 12 people. Each week includes a challenge with personalized resources, and follow-up visits continue after the 15 sessions end. The program is listed under non-surgical weight loss with medical, nutritional and group components. It does not name any weight loss medication.

This listing is for its Gardner office at 250 Green Street Medical Art Building.

What does it cost?

The program has a one-time group fee of $25.00 plus 15 co-payments. All payments are collected on the first day of the group, and payment plans are acceptable if needed. Insurance is billed for a routine office visit, which usually means a copayment. Some high deductible plans may mean a larger expense, and the clinic asks patients with those plans to speak with them first. The clinic accepts most forms of insurance.

It does not publish a fee for an individual visit or consultation. It also does not say whether medication is included in the program price.

What should you ask before you book?

The program dates shown are from 2021, so ask when the next group begins and whether the schedule is still 15 Tuesday evening sessions over 20 weeks.

Ask who would write any prescription. Both Dr. O'Hara and Erica Lasorsa are named with the program, so ask which of them would prescribe for you if medication becomes part of your plan.

If medication is involved, ask which one it is, whether it is brand-name or compounded, and whether it is billed separately from the $25.00 fee and the co-payments.

Ask what follow-up visits and lab work cost after the 15 sessions. The clinic does not say whether any visits can be done by telehealth, so ask that too.

Finally, ask how the payment plan works, what happens if you stop attending, and how to cancel.

Who is it a good fit for?

This is a good fit if you want a group-based weight management program with a set weekly schedule, your insurance covers a routine office visit, and you want to know who prescribes and what medication is involved before you pay anything. If you are looking for a medication-led plan, hormone therapy, or telehealth, call 978-630-6130 first, because the clinic does not list those services.

Sources: heywood.org/about-us/heywood-medical-group, heywood.org/services/wellness, heywood.org/services/wellness/location, heywood.org/services/wellness/our-team

Services Offered