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Indiana · Video visits statewide
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Care that fits your life
Telehealth care in Gary, Indiana.
Wade’s Care First sees Gary patients by secure video for primary care, mental health, ADHD, weight management, urgent care and more. Labs, imaging and prescriptions go to facilities in and around Gary.
Telehealth only. No office in Gary: you join from wherever you are in Indiana. Pricing · Insurance Accepted
Services
What Gary patients book.
Every service is available statewide by video. Each page explains what can and cannot be handled remotely.
Your ongoing Primary Care ProviderPrimary Care
Acute Care, Routine Care, Preventive Care, and Chronic Care with one provider who knows your history.
Screenings for your age and riskPreventive Care
Screenings, labs and risk checks chosen for your age, history and family history.
Evaluation and treatmentMental Health
Anxiety, depression, panic, PTSD symptoms and more. A full evaluation first, then a plan you help build.
Adults and teensADHD
Evaluation and follow-up for attention, focus and executive-function concerns.
Medication with a plan around itMedical Weight Management
A workup first, then nutrition, lab monitoring and medication when it fits.
Sick visitsUrgent Care
Sinus infections, UTIs, rashes and stomach bugs. Check the scheduler for available appointments, including same-day openings when offered.
Skin concerns by videoDermatology
Acne, eczema, psoriasis, melasma, fungal nails and rashes, evaluated from clear photos and a conversation.
Strains, sprains and flare-upsShort-Term Pain Management
Back and neck pain, sprains, joint flares and headaches over a short course of care.
Hormones, prostate and screeningMen’s Health
ED, testosterone testing, prostate health, PSA and the screenings men tend to skip.
Every stageWomen’s Health
Periods, birth control, perimenopause, menopause and the questions in between.
Ages 5 and upPediatric Care
Video visits for the things that keep a kid home from school.
Older adults and their familiesGeriatric Care
Medication review, chronic conditions and coordination with everyone involved.
Part of your primary careSleep Concerns
Insomnia, snoring, sleep apnea screening and sleep-study coordination.
Pharmacogenomic testingGeneSight® Testing
A cheek swab that adds genetic information to mental-health medication decisions.
Booking & Insurance
Plan your video visit.
Start with the care you need. We’ll guide you through the visit details and available times.
Choose your visit
Select your service and whether you are a new or established patient.
Choose how to pay
Select insurance or self-pay. Review the accepted plans and posted prices before continuing.
Find an available time
Confirm where you will be during the visit and your timezone, then review your appointment details.
More Than a Video Visit
How It Works Your care doesn’t end when the video visit ends.
Wade’s Care First is a full medical practice delivered through telehealth. When it is medically appropriate, we order, prescribe, refer and coordinate the services you would expect from a traditional outpatient practice.
- 1VisitSecure video from your phone or laptop
- 2TestingLabs and imaging ordered near you
- 3ResultsReviewed and explained with you
- 4TreatmentPrescriptions and a plan you helped build
- 5ReferralSpecialists and in-person care when needed
- 6Follow-upContinued care with the same provider
Laboratory testing
Blood work, urine tests, hormone and PSA testing, completed at a lab near you.
Diagnostic imaging
X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans and MRIs ordered through local imaging centers.
Additional testing
Testing matched to your symptoms, history and plan, including sleep studies when indicated.
Equipment and supplies
Orders for durable medical equipment and supplies when medically necessary.
Specialist referrals
Referrals to cardiology, endocrinology, sleep medicine and more, with your care kept connected.
Prescription management
Prescribing and adjusting medications when clinically appropriate and allowed by law.
Results and follow-up
Every result reviewed with you, explained, and turned into a next step.
GeneSight® Testing
Pharmacogenomic information that may help inform mental-health medication decisions.
Care coordination
Orders and referrals sent to facilities near you, with Wade’s Care First staying involved.
Telehealth when appropriate. In-person services when needed. Coordinated care throughout.
Book a VisitHow It WorksOrders go local
Labs, imaging and pharmacies near Gary.
Local laboratory services are available through Methodist Hospitals Northlake. Regional options include Quest in Crown Point and Labcorp locations in Merrillville and Crown Point. Use the official locators and confirm the requested test, outside-order acceptance, hours and insurance before traveling.
GPTC buses run weekdays and Saturdays but not Sundays. For prescriptions, the city has had a single Walgreens, at W 25th Ave and Grant St, since 2017, plus a CVS near the hospital and independents; tell us which one is near you so refills land where you can pick them up.
Blood work
Local laboratory services are available through Methodist Hospitals Northlake. Regional options include Quest in Crown Point and Labcorp locations in Merrillville and Crown Point. Use the official locators and confirm the requested test, outside-order acceptance, hours and insurance before traveling.
Imaging
Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus is the local hospital imaging option.
Pharmacies
One Walgreens in the city (W 25th Ave and Grant St; the only one since 2017, per Capital B Gary, Sept. 2025). CVS publishes a Gary locations page referencing a store near Methodist Northlake. Meijer and Kroger are not in the city.
Before you go, confirm the requested test, outside-order acceptance, insurance, collection fees and hours with the facility. These resources are examples, not a complete directory. Quest Location Finder · Labcorp Location Finder.
Patient Questions
All Patient Questions Gary questions.
Does Wade’s Care First have an office in Gary?
No. Wade’s Care First is a telehealth practice. You join your visit by secure video from home, work or anywhere in Indiana, and Charles Wade, FNP-BC is licensed to treat you while you are in the state. Anything that needs hands-on care is coordinated with facilities in and around Gary, such as Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus (600 Richard Gordon Hatcher Blvd, Gary; 24/7 emergency department; the only hospital in the city; licensed as Methodist Hospitals Inc, 536 staffed beds across campuses), Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus (Merrillville; 24/7 emergency department) and St. Mary Medical Center (1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart; 215 staffed beds) and Franciscan Health Crown Point (Adult Level III trauma center).
Where will I go for blood work if I live in Gary?
Local laboratory services are available through Methodist Hospitals Northlake. Regional options include Quest in Crown Point and Labcorp locations in Merrillville and Crown Point. Use the official locators and confirm the requested test, outside-order acceptance, hours and insurance before traveling. We send the order electronically to a location that is convenient for you or in your insurance network. Results come back to us for review with you.
Which Gary hospitals have an emergency department?
Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus (600 Richard Gordon Hatcher Blvd, Gary; 24/7 emergency department; the only hospital in the city; licensed as Methodist Hospitals Inc, 536 staffed beds across campuses), Methodist Hospitals Southlake Campus (Merrillville; 24/7 emergency department) and St. Mary Medical Center (1500 S Lake Park Ave, Hobart; 215 staffed beds) and Franciscan Health Crown Point (Adult Level III trauma center). For chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, a major injury or thoughts of harming yourself, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department rather than booking a video visit.
Are there community health centers in Gary for in-person care?
NorthShore Health Centers, NorthShore Gary Health Center, 2200 Grant St (family practice, dental, optical, behavioral health, women’s health, pediatrics), Community HealthNet Health Centers (HRSA look-alike, designated 2025), Main 1021 W 5th Ave; Miller 1015 N Shelby St; MLK 3503 Martin Luther King Dr; West Side High School 900 Gerry St, Marram Health Center (Porter-Starke Services), 3229 Broadway Ste 104/115, Gary and Edgewater Systems for Balanced Living (HRSA look-alike, Gary) serve the area with in-person primary care on a sliding scale. Many patients pair that kind of local clinic with telehealth for follow-ups, medication management and specialist coordination.
Can I use Indiana Medicaid or other insurance for a telehealth visit from Gary?
Many plans are accepted and benefits are verified before your visit. BCBS / Anthem PPO, UnitedHealthcare PPO, UMR (PPO), Aetna PPO, Cigna PPO, Humana PPO, Ambetter PPO, Original Medicare, Indiana Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), MHS, MHS — Hoosier Healthwise, MHS — Hoosier Care Connect, Humana — Indiana PathWays for Aging, Wellcare by Allwell (Medicare), Ambetter (Indiana), CareSource (Indiana), Anthem BCBS (Indiana HMO), Cigna (Indiana), TRICARE. Indiana Medicaid runs five member programs: Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP, adults 19-64 and pregnant women), Hoosier Healthwise (children and pregnant women), Hoosier Care Connect (people 59 or younger who are blind or disabled and not eligible for Medicare, including SSI recipients and some children in foster care), Indiana PathWays for Aging (eligible Medicaid members age 60 and older), and Traditional Medicaid (fee-for-service). As of January 1, 2026: HIP and Hoosier Healthwise, Anthem, CareSource, Managed Health Services (MHS). MDwise left HIP and Hoosier Healthwise effective Jan. 1, 2026 (IHCP bulletin BT2025157, Nov. 12, 2025); members who did not choose were auto-assigned and may switch plans within 90 days. Hoosier Care Connect, Anthem, MHS, UnitedHealthcare. Indiana PathWays for Aging, Anthem, Humana, UnitedHealthcare. UnitedHealthcare does not appear as an HIP or Hoosier Healthwise plan. Coverage varies by plan, and self-pay pricing is posted if your plan is not accepted.
Is Gary a health professional shortage area?
Primary Care: High Needs Geographic HPSA ’City of Gary’ (Sept. 2025, score 14). Mental Health: low-income population HPSA ’MHCA 9, Gary / Calumet Township’ (May 2026, score 19). MUA: City of Gary Service Area (1993). Telehealth can complement local clinicians by offering another way to access primary care, mental health and medication follow-up while you keep your local relationships.
Can orders be sent to a laboratory or imaging facility near me?
When clinically appropriate, we can send orders to a laboratory or imaging facility you choose. Confirm that the location performs the requested test, accepts the order and participates in your insurance network. Availability and travel distance vary by community.
More answers
Questions Gary patients ask about primary care, mental health and medical weight management.
- How can home blood pressure readings be used during a virtual visit?
- Can primary care help when I have several symptoms that may be connected?
- How can I tell whether worry has become an anxiety disorder?
- What is the difference between a panic attack and generalized anxiety?
- What is medical weight management?
- Am I a candidate for medical weight loss?
All Primary Care Questions All Mental Health Questions All Medical Weight Management Questions
Good to know
Services, screening recommendations, testing, treatment options, referrals and prescribing may vary with your age, medical history, symptoms, where you are physically located at the time of the visit, state and federal requirements, insurance requirements, and whether your condition can be safely managed by telehealth. Conditions and services listed here are examples. An appointment does not guarantee a particular diagnosis, a prescription, a controlled medication, hormone therapy, a lab order, an imaging study, a sleep study, a specialist referral, an accommodation letter or a particular treatment. Treatment decisions follow a clinical evaluation and the provider’s judgment.
Sources
Practice provider: Charles Wade, FNP-BC. Information updated October 25, 2026.
Patient Education
Browse All Patient EducationHealth topics for Gary patients.
Articles on the care people in Gary book most, each linked to its service and booking.
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Dermatology
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A local landmark
Gary City Hall
The historic Gary City Hall.
Photo: Daniel X. O’Neil · Source · CC BY 2.0. Resized for display.
Underserved area · Lake County
Getting care in Gary
Steel-industry city on Lake Michigan that has lost more than half its population; majority-Black, high-poverty, and federally designated as both a shortage area and a Medically Underserved Area for decades.
Gary has one hospital, Methodist Hospitals’ Northlake Campus on Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard, with a 24-hour emergency department. Almost everything else has thinned out. The federal government designated the city a Medically Underserved Area in 1993, added a High Needs primary care shortage designation in 2025 and a mental health shortage designation in 2026, and local reporting describes residents driving 10 to 15 miles to Merrillville or Crown Point for routine checkups, often without a car.
NorthShore Health Centers on Grant Street and Community HealthNet on W 5th Ave are the sliding-fee clinics in town. A video visit with Wade’s Care First puts a primary care and mental health provider on your phone, and routes labs and prescriptions to whichever Gary or Merrillville location you can actually reach.
Access in Lake County
HRSA designates the City of Gary a ’High Needs Geographic’ primary care HPSA (designated Sept. 10, 2025, score 14) and ’MHCA 9, Gary / Calumet Township’ a low-income mental health HPSA (designated May 22, 2026, score 19); the ’City of Gary Service Area’ has been a Medically Underserved Area since June 1993. Capital B Gary (May 2025) reports residents often travel 10 to 15 miles for routine checkups and some lack rides or cars; Gary has had a single Walgreens (W 25th Ave and Grant St) since the Miller Beach store closed in 2017 (Capital B, Sept. 2025).
A 2011 Center for Health Journalism series counted fewer than 35 physicians with offices in the city, down from nearly 100. Lake County ranked 64th of 92 for health outcomes and third-lowest for health factors in the 2022 County Health Rankings (Lakeshore Public Media). Gary Public Transportation Corporation buses run weekdays 5 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.-6 p.m., with no Sunday service.
Who this helps most in Gary
Gary’s health numbers are among the hardest in Indiana. CDC PLACES estimates 52 percent of adults in the city have obesity, compared with about 40 percent in a typical Indiana county, and Lake County shows 12.9 percent diabetes and 11.1 percent of working-age adults uninsured. Lake County ranked third-lowest in the state for health factors in 2022. Video care fits adults managing diabetes, hypertension and weight who miss follow-ups for lack of a ride, seniors who depend on the one Walgreens, people seeking depression or anxiety care in a new mental health shortage area, and HIP or Hoosier Healthwise members who need a prescriber. Go to Methodist Northlake’s emergency department for chest pain, stroke symptoms, serious injury or severe breathing trouble; call 911 first.
Local health considerations
- Obesity and diabetes: CDC PLACES 2025 release, using 2023 age-adjusted modeled estimates estimates adult obesity in the city of Gary at 52.0%, versus a 39.6% median across Indiana counties; Lake County diabetes 12.9%, high blood pressure 34.9%.
- Uninsured and provider shortage: Lake County uninsured 18-64 11.1% (PLACES); Gary is a High Needs primary care HPSA (2025) and mental health HPSA (2026).
- Transportation and pharmacy access: residents travel 10-15 miles for checkups, some without cars (Capital B, May 2025); confirm your pharmacy’s current location and hours; GPTC has no Sunday bus service.
- County rankings: Lake County 64th of 92 for health outcomes, third-lowest for health factors, with higher preventable hospital stays and child poverty (2022).
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