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Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD

(Jose R. Romero, MD)

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Specializes in: General Practice and Neurology (Brain & Spinal Cord Disease)

El Bosque University, Colombian School of Medicine

Professional interests include: stroke, cognitive disorders, dementia

725 Albany Street 7th Floor, Suite 7B
Boston, MA 02118

(617) 638-8456

Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD is a general practitioner in Boston, MA specializing in general practice and neurology (brain & spinal cord disease). He graduated from El Bosque University, Colombian School of Medicine. Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD is affiliated with Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine and BOSTON UNIVERSITY NEUROLOGY ASSOCIATES INC.

Office Locations

Address:

725 Albany Street 7th Floor, Suite 7B
Boston, MA 02118

Address:

75 E. Newton Street Collamore Building
Boston, MA

Some issues Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD can help you with:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is ruptured or blocked. The brain cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, so when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, even for a brief moment, brain cells begin to die. When a sufficient number of brain cells die, the brain itself can no longer function, meaning that strokes are very dangerous. Strokes can result in impaired movement, speech, cognitive ability, the impairment of important physical functions, and even death.

Anyone can have a stroke, regardless of age and health. Strokes are known to happen at random. However, certain conditions and behaviors can increase one's risk of stroke over time.

Risk factors for stroke include:

Heart disease
Older age
Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High blood cholesterol and lipids

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs more commonly and is when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked. Blockages are caused by blood clots and built-up plaque (deposits of fat and cholesterol), which leads to atherosclerosis, a condition where the blood vessels narrow and harden. The resultant restricted blood flow may lead to an ischemic stroke by blocking essential oxygen to the brain, causing the heart to exert more effort to pump blood.

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. The burst vessel leaks blood into surrounding brain tissue, causing irreparable brain damage.

Hemorrhagic strokes are less common and may occur from head injuries, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and bleeding disorders, amongst other conditions.

Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes require immediate medical treatment. Medical intervention can prevent severe and life-threatening brain damage. Signs of stroke include:

-Disorientation or confusion

-Difficulty speaking

-Difficulty walking

-Impaired vision

-Weakness in the face, legs, or arms

-Severe headaches

When someone suspected of having a stroke reaches the hospital, the patient will usually receive a CT or other scan that provides an image of the brain. The scan results can reveal clotted or leaking blood in the brain. Physical exams, neurological exams, and blood tests may also be used to check for blood clotting and sugar. Treatment begins generally immediately if a stroke is detected.

Medical treatment for ischemic strokes includes a thrombolytic medicine which breaks up and disperses blood clots. This medicine can greatly improve stroke recovery and long-term health. However, the thrombolytic medicine must be administered as soon as possible to achieve these results. Other treatments for ischemic strokes are blood thinners and thrombectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot in the brain. Thrombectomy is performed by inserting a catheter (thin needle) into the artery to reach the blood clot and mechanically remove it. With the clot removed, normal blood flow to the brain resumes. Thrombectomy is typically performed at most six hours after a patient shows signs of a stroke.

Hemorrhagic strokes are treated with blood-saving medication and surgery. For a hemorrhagic stroke caused by the rupture of an aneurysm (blood vessel bulges), surgery to stem the bleeding aneurysm and vessel may be used. One surgical technique is stent-assisted coiling, which adds a stent (small wire-meshed tube) into the blood vessel to block the leaking opening of the aneurysm. A non-surgical procedure is endovascular coiling, where a catheter (thin, hollow needle) places a platinum wire coil at the spot of the aneurysm. The coil blocks bleeding and prevents the aneurysm from continuing to leak blood. These procedures are usually combined with blood-thickening medications. Blood transfusions may be administered if substantial blood loss has occurred.

Since stroke patients may have lost some essential functions while the blood flow to their brains was obstructed, both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage stroke patients may receive post-stroke rehabilitation to rebuild their physical and mental abilities. Some restorative treatments include occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Patients may also receive care from neurologists, who can assist patients in recovering certain brain functions and cognitive abilities, and rehabilitation psychologists, who may help patients with their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive recovery. Some stroke patients require lengthy rehabilitation and may never fully regain function, while others may recover more quickly. While the fastest recovery improvements are usually seen in the first three or four months, stroke rehabilitation can last for years.

If someone begins to show signs of stroke, contact emergency services and call 9-1-1 immediately since blood flow must be restored as soon as possible to help avoid significant brain damage. If an ambulance takes the person to the hospital, paramedics can initiate stroke treatment as soon as the patient enters the ambulance, allowing for more prompt medical intervention and care.

In The News

“Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, a neurologist who wasn't involved in the research, said CSVD is important because "it does not have a specific treatment and it is such a strong contributor to stroke and...”—"Having ideal heart health may lessen the risk for brain vessel disease", The Ridgefield Press, August 2022

“"What's already telling me that that's going to happen are the number of daycare closures that have occurred because of outbreaks occurring, and the camp exposures and closures that are...”—"Child cases of COVID-19 are rising as schools gear up to reopen. But vaccines for the youngest are still months away", 7 News Boston, July 2021

“"What's already telling me that that's going to happen are the number of daycare closures that have occurred because of outbreaks occurring, and the camp exposures and closures that are occurring,"...”—"Child Cases Of Covid-19 Are Rising As Schools Gear Up To Reopen, But Vaccines For The Youngest Are Still Months Away", CBS Minesota, July 2021

doctor visit	158
hospital care	139
inpatient care	140

**Gender**
Male	109
Female	106

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	86
Black	80
Hispanic	30
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	86
From 75 to 84	52
85 and over	18
Less than 65	59

doctor visit	142
hospital care	114
inpatient care	115

**Gender**
Male	90
Female	104

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	70
Black	80
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	86
From 75 to 84	40
85 and over	21
Less than 65	47

doctor visit	146
hospital care	100
inpatient care	101

**Gender**
Male	206
Female	204

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	136
Black	178
Hispanic	68
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	148
From 75 to 84	116
85 and over	48
Less than 65	98

doctor visit	199
hospital care	73
inpatient care	74

**Gender**
Male	92
Female	100

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	76
Black	72
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	78
From 75 to 84	49
85 and over	19
Less than 65	46

doctor visit	201
hospital care	133
inpatient care	119
outpatient care	14

**Gender**
Male	100
Female	114

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	99
Black	76
Hispanic	25
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	81
From 75 to 84	57
85 and over	27
Less than 65	49

doctor visit	167
hospital care	164
inpatient care	165

**Gender**
Male	131
Female	116

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	108
Black	96
Hispanic	30
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	76
From 75 to 84	88
85 and over	32
Less than 65	51

doctor visit	117
hospital care	104
inpatient care	105

**Gender**
Male	79
Female	98

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	79
Black	59
Hispanic	28
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	71
From 75 to 84	47
85 and over	27
Less than 65	32

doctor visit	59
hospital care	127
inpatient care	128

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	81

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	81
Black	46
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	36
85 and over	25
Less than 65	39

doctor visit	60
hospital care	140
inpatient care	141

**Gender**
Male	77
Female	70

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	68
Black	51
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	54
From 75 to 84	44
85 and over	17
Less than 65	32

doctor visit	75
hospital care	111
inpatient care	112

**Gender**
Male	54
Female	65

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	66
Black	24
Hispanic	17
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	35
From 75 to 84	30
85 and over	24
Less than 65	30

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD treated as a general practitioner in Boston, MA were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

doctor visit	133
hospital care	121
inpatient care	120
outpatient care	14

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD.

**Gender**
Male	101
Female	105

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	76
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	86
Hispanic	19
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	55
85 and over	25
Less than 65	48
65 to 74	77

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD From 2013 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD treated were hypertension, stroke, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	64
Stroke	69
Ischemic Heart Disease	46
Depression	36
Chronic Kidney Disease	46
Asthma	12
Osteoporosis	7
Heart Failure	29
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	17
Diabetes	45
Atrial Fibrillation	22
Dementia	29
Cancer	12

Education & Training

Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD graduated from El Bosque University, Colombian School of Medicine. He completed residency at Boston Medical Center. He has a state license in Massachusetts.

Medical School: El Bosque University, Colombian School of Medicine

Residency: Boston Medical Center

Licensed In: Massachusetts

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Boston Medical Center

Boston University School of Medicine

BOSTON UNIVERSITY NEUROLOGY ASSOCIATES INC

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: BCBSMA: Medicare Advantage, MultiPlan (PPO Network Company): Primary PPO Network, United Healthcare: Commercial & SCO, Unicare: Commonwealth Indemnity Plan (formerly GIC), Humana, Cigna: HealthSource Preferred, Tufts Health Public Plans (THPP): Unify (OneCare Plan), HPHC: PPO, MultiPlan (Beech Street): Medicare Advantage Private FFS Network, Kaiser, Fallon: Senior Plan, CCA: SCO Primary Care, Neighbborhood: Commonwealth Choice, Neighbborhood: ACO, Aetna: QPOS, Neighbborhood: Commonwealth Care, Fallon: Major Medical/Health & Life Assurance Company Programs, Aetna: ElectChoice, Fallon: Select Care, CCA: Inpatient Services Program, BCBSMA: Indemnity, Aetna: Aetna Choice POS II, CCA: OneCare, BCBSMA: HMO Blue, Fallon: Flex Care Select, Aetna: Managed Choice POS, BMC Healthnet: MassHealth, Senior Whole Health: SCO, Neighbborhood: CarePlus, BMC Healthnet: ACO & Senior Care Options, Neighborhood PACE, Aetna: National Advantage, Fallon: Preferred Care, Uphams Elder Svc Plan: PACE - Elder Service Providers, BCBSMA: Preferred Provider Arrangement, Neighbborhood: CMA, Health Plans Inc., BMC Healthnet: Commonwealth Choice, Neighbborhood: MassHealth, Fallon: Senior Plan Preferred, Chickering Claims Administrators: Student Health Plan, CCA: SCO, Aetna: HMO, Aetna: Open Choice PPO, VA Choice, BMC Healthnet: QHP, Neighbborhood: Commercial and Aetna: Aetna Select.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

BCBSMA: Medicare Advantage

MultiPlan (PPO Network Company): Primary PPO Network

United Healthcare: Commercial & SCO

Unicare: Commonwealth Indemnity Plan (formerly GIC)

Humana

Cigna: HealthSource Preferred

Tufts Health Public Plans (THPP): Unify (OneCare Plan)

HPHC: PPO

MultiPlan (Beech Street): Medicare Advantage Private FFS Network

Kaiser

Fallon: Senior Plan

CCA: SCO Primary Care

Neighbborhood: Commonwealth Choice

Neighbborhood: ACO

Aetna: QPOS

Neighbborhood: Commonwealth Care

Fallon: Major Medical/Health & Life Assurance Company Programs

Aetna: ElectChoice

Fallon: Select Care

CCA: Inpatient Services Program

BCBSMA: Indemnity

Aetna: Aetna Choice POS II

CCA: OneCare

BCBSMA: HMO Blue

Fallon: Flex Care Select

Aetna: Managed Choice POS

BMC Healthnet: MassHealth

Senior Whole Health: SCO

Neighbborhood: CarePlus

BMC Healthnet: ACO & Senior Care Options

Neighborhood PACE

Aetna: National Advantage

Fallon: Preferred Care

Uphams Elder Svc Plan: PACE - Elder Service Providers

BCBSMA: Preferred Provider Arrangement

Neighbborhood: CMA

Health Plans Inc.

BMC Healthnet: Commonwealth Choice

Neighbborhood: MassHealth

Fallon: Senior Plan Preferred

Chickering Claims Administrators: Student Health Plan

CCA: SCO

Aetna: HMO

Aetna: Open Choice PPO

VA Choice

BMC Healthnet: QHP

Neighbborhood: Commercial

Aetna: Aetna Select

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
The Spectranetics Corporation	$95 SLS IIGLIDELIGHT $95
Biogen, Inc.	$42 PLEGRIDY $42
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.	$30 AJOVY $30
Allergan, Inc.	$20 BOTOX $20
MDD US Operations, LLC	$19 APOKYN $19

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$163
Education	$42

Research Payments

Dr. Jose Rafael Romero, MD has received 1 research payments totaling $2,215.

Biography

Dr. Jose Romero's areas of specialization are general practice and neurology (brain & spinal cord disease). In his practice, he is particularly interested in stroke and dementia. Dr. Romero usually is in-network for MultiPlan, Viant, and Cigna, as well as other insurance carriers. He graduated from El Bosque University, Colombian School of Medicine and then he performed his residency at Boston Medical Center. In addition to English, he speaks Spanish. Dr. Romero is affiliated with Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center.