They should try to understand their patients a little bit more and not rush things just because it worked with other patients before. My psychiatrist disregarded everything I told him and how I was feeling.
About Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge Health Alliance, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, treats patients 18 and over who are suffering from substance abuse issues and addiction. They offer both intensive outpatient and traditional outpatient programs, giving you some variety to work with depending on your schedule. They follow the modalities of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness-based relapse prevention, motivational interviewing and harm reduction.
For their intensive outpatient program, you’ll meet online on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9 AM to noon. This program typically lasts four weeks. You’ll learn about mindfulness, self-care, emotion management, medical aspects, relapse prevention, understanding substance use disorders, goal setting, building a daily structure and expanding support.
Their standard outpatient program is a bit more flexible with meetings, and you’ll meet at various different points throughout the week. You’ll discuss similar topics, but they also have specialty groups like Women’s Recovery and Mindful Recovery. If you have a co-occurring condition, you can also receive individual therapy and medication assisted treatment.
Facility Overview
312 Number of Available Beds
Latest Reviews
Very disappointed and distraught by the level of care this hospital provides its patients especially mothers who are giving birth and require at minimum the standard of care. MY FIAN E FELT HER C-SECTION! I can t even believe that I am saying that. I witnessed everything. I told them multiple times that they need to put her to sleep because the epidural failed and they disregarded her pain even after the anesthesiologist stated that the epidural failed and that her body processes anesthesia at a different rate.The family doctor failed her that day by delaying diagnosis and not following protocol and ordering an ultrasound after she has been pushing for hours with no improvement which cause major bruising on the baby and fluid in her lungs! The specialist had to tell her to order an ultrasound!The surgeon failed her that day by not listening to her screams and the level of pain she was experiencing prior to the c-section. When the surgery began my Fian e screamed for her to stop and she ignored her and proceeded with the surgery.The anesthesiologist failed her that day by not providing her with adequate pain control and when he knew the epidural failed he did not put her under general anesthesia. She specifically asked him to put her to sleep because she was feeling the pain at over 10/10 scale for HOURS! He ignored her multiple times by dismissing her concerns and telling her it was only pressure this is while she was SCREAMING!This could have all been prevented if these doctors were trained properly to listen to patient concerns throughout the process and know when to order diagnostic assessmentsThe doctors who worked on her were the following:Divyah Nagendra- License number 279667Cari S Benbasset-Miller- License number 261185Christoforos Frangopoulos- License number 1018864We have reported these doctors to the board of medicine and they are under investigation. If the hospital does not listen to our concerns we will be proceeding to report them at news stations around the state. We have attempted multiple times to speak to patient relations and they do not return nor answer the calls. Please understand that these people are only looking to protect the hospital and not the patients. If you have any work done here and something happens to you they will not protect you. The patient relations team is a disgrace. You re better safe to report these individuals to the board. As a father and soon to be husband I won t rest until they claim responsibility to their actions. No one should suffer through ANY surgery. Now I have to pick up the pieces that they left which will require extensive therapy sessions!
When loved ones are sick, you as family members want to help them but this place doesn t care how they help. They just think they do their job, there are some very unhappy people working here who like to be on the cell phones. When you ask for help they give you big Attitude. I was very sad that even in medical conditions situations people can be this way.
I urge all perspective mothers to not give birth at CHA Cambridge Hospital. It's disheartening to have to tell this story but I will continue to tell it beginning with this review until the last day of my life in hopes that it can deter a mother from ever experiencing something as traumatizing and ethically unacceptable by the Cambridge Hospital physicians who's duty is to practice standard of care with the outermost ethics, however these doctors failed. On September 17th I came into the hospital for a scheduled induction. Once I was fully dilated, I began to push. 1 HR passed, then 3 and then 4. It seemed as if it was taking quite sometime. However I entrusted the skills of the doctors who are suppose to take care of me. Once 5 hours passed the family doctor asked a specialist to come in. The specialist asked the family doctor if an ultrasound was done to see what is going on. The family doctor said no. My fianc looked at me with confusion. They ordered an ultrasound and they see the baby is not positioned correctly, While this is happening Im screaming in pain saying I need to see the anesthesiologist. I tell them the pain is at over 10/10. The nurse then tells me that's exactly what I ''need'. I tell her that she doesn't know what I am feeling and that I need the anesthesiologist. Im screaming and screaming In pain and the anesthesiologist doesn't come yet. Then the family doctor brings a form in and tell me to sign the form. She says ''This is the C-section form, I need you to sign it'' I tell her ''No I will not sign anything unless I'm coherent enough and that means getting the anesthesiologist'' then she proceeds on insisting me to sign it and I yell ''NO! I need the anesthesiologist. Im not going to sign anything I'm in pain and I can't even focus on reading the form''. My fianc states he's the proxy on file in case anything happens and if I can't sign it he will. They ignore him. The anesthesiologist finally arrives and gives me more anesthetic. It works a short while and I sign the form. Then the pain comes back even stronger this time. They passively ignore my cries and screams and tell me I'm on my max dose and that they can not do anything. I ask them ''am I going to feel this'' they insist Im not and that I'll only feel pressure. When the surgery begins the surgeon says Im beginning now. As soon as she cuts I feel it and scream. She then insists it's pressure and I scream again and again. She tells the anesthesiologist to ''shut me up'' and the anesthesiologist tell me that it's just pressure. I continue to scream and scream, It felt as if multiple people were stabbing me with a large knife repeatedly. I passed out and wake up to my infant daughter having large bruises all over her tiny face and head. My fianc tells me she had to be intubated because of the fluid in her lungs. The pushing for a prolong time was a factor. At that point all I wanted to do was go home. I will never forget this traumatizing experience and I truly hope no other mother has to go through this based on the incompetence of these doctors. I will name specifically the ones who failed me that day so whoever reads this review doesn't have any of these doctors work on them. I will continue to spread awareness about these specific doctors and this hospital for allowing their patients to go through what should have been a magical day into a brutal and dehumanizing day.The doctors who worked on me were the following:Divyah Nagendra- License number 279667Cari S Benbasset-Miller- License number 261185Christoforos Frangopoulos- License number 1018864I will be updating this review once I gather enough information on the nurses who were there on that day. I will not be reporting the nurses who took care of me with the outermost care and most importantly the nurses who held up to their oath which are the women in the maternity section of the hospital.To all the moms and to be moms out there, research diligently the hospital you give birth in. Have a safe delivery somewhere that is not CHA Hospital.
Response from the owner2 months ago
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Your feedback is important to us. If you want to talk more about your experience, please call our patient relations team at 617-665-1398 or complete our online form at www.challiance.org/patients-visitors/patient-relations. Thank you, CHA Patient Experience Team 
Rehab Score
Our Methodology
Scoring is assigned by a proprietary system which helps surface key metrics that determine quality. The 10-point scale factors in categories such as operations, customer satisfaction, and trust metrics. Read Full Methodology
6.5 / 10
Gallery
Location
Accepted Insurance
Other Forms of Payment
Medicaid is a state based program that helps lower-income individuals and families pay for healthcare. Medicaid covers addiction treatment so those enrolled can use their coverage to pay for rehab. When a program accepts Medicaid the client often pays very little or nothing out of their own pocket.
Private insurance refers to any kind of healthcare coverage that isn't from the state or federal government. This includes individual and family plans offered by an employer or purchased from the Insurance Marketplace. Every plan will have different requirements and out of pocket costs so be sure to get the full details before you start treatment.
Self-pay involves paying for treatment out of your own pocket. You can use savings or credit, get a personal loan, or receive help from family and friends to fund your treatment. If you don't have insurance or your insurance plan doesn't cover a specific program, self-pay can help ensure you still get the care you need.
Financial aid can take many forms. Centers may have grants or scholarships available to clients who meet eligibility requirements. Programs that receive SAMHSA grants may have financial aid available for those who need treatment as well. Grants and scholarships can help you pai for treatment without having to repay.
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. It also serves people under 65 with chronic and disabling health challenges. To use Medicare for addiction treatment you need to find a program that accepts Medicare and is in network with your plan. Out of pocket costs and preauthorization requirements vary, so always check with your provider.
Addiction Treatments
Levels of Care
Inpatient Residential treatment programs are those that offer housing and meals in addition to substance abuse treatment. Rehab facilities that offer residential treatment allow patients to focus solely on recovery, in an environment totally separate from their lives. Some rehab centers specialize in short-term residential treatment (a few days to a week or two), while others solely provide treatment on a long-term basis (several weeks to months). Some offer both, and tailor treatment to the patient's individual requirements.
Treatments
Mental health rehabs focus on helping individuals recover from mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Mental health professionals at these facilities are trained to understand and treat mental health issues, both in individual and group settings.
Programs
Adult Program
Adult rehab programs include therapies tailored to each client's specific needs, goals, and recovery progress. They are tailored to the specific challenges adult clients may face, including family and work pressures and commitments. From inpatient and residential treatment to various levels of outpatient services, there are many options available. Some facilities also help adults work through co-occurring conditions, like anxiety, that can accompany addiction.
Young Adult Program
Young adulthood can be an exciting, yet difficult, time of transition. Individuals in their late teens to mid-20s face unique stressors related to school, jobs, families, and social circles, which can lead to a rise in substance use. Rehab centers with dedicated young adult programs will include activities and amenities that cater to this age group, with an emphasis on specialized counseling, peer socialization, and ongoing aftercare.
Clinical Services
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy modality that focuses on the relationship between one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It is used to establish and allow for healthy responses to thoughts and feelings (instead of unhealthy responses, like using drugs or alcohol). CBT has been proven effective for recovering addicts of all kinds, and is used to strengthen a patient's own self-awareness and ability to self-regulate. CBT allows individuals to monitor their own emotional state, become more adept at communicating with others, and manage stress without needing to engage in substance abuse.
Whether a marriage or other committed relationship, an intimate partnership is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. Drug and alcohol addiction affects both members of a couple in deep and meaningful ways, as does rehab and recovery. Couples therapy and other couples-focused treatment programs are significant parts of exploring triggers of addiction, as well as learning how to build healthy patterns to support ongoing sobriety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a treatment designed to help people understand and ultimately affect the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. DBT is often used for individuals who struggle with self-harm behaviors, such as self-mutilation (cutting) and suicidal thoughts, urges, or attempts. It has been proven clinically effective for those who struggle with out-of-control emotions and mental health illnesses like Borderline Personality Disorder.
Experiential therapy is a form of therapy in which clients are encouraged to surface and work through subconscious issues by engaging in real-time experiences. Experiential therapy departs from traditional talk therapy by involving the body, and having clients engage in activities, movements, and physical and emotional expression. This can involve role-play or using props (which can include other people). Experiential therapy can help people process trauma, memories, and emotion quickly, deeply, and in a lasting fashion, leading to substantial and impactful healing.
Research clearly demonstrates that recovery is far more successful and sustainable when loved ones like family members participate in rehab and substance abuse treatment. Genetic factors may be at play when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental health issues. Family dynamics often play a critical role in addiction triggers, and if properly educated, family members can be a strong source of support when it comes to rehabilitation.
Group therapy is any therapeutic work that happens in a group (not one-on-one). There are a number of different group therapy modalities, including support groups, experiential therapy, psycho-education, and more. Group therapy involves treatment as well as processing interaction between group members.
In individual therapy, a patient meets one-on-one with a trained psychologist or counselor. Therapy is a pivotal part of effective substance abuse treatment, as it often covers root causes of addiction, including challenges faced by the patient in their social, family, and work/school life.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is a way of getting nicotine into the bloodstream without smoking. It uses products that supply low doses of nicotine to help people stop smoking. The goal of therapy is to cut down on cravings for nicotine and ease the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Trauma therapy addresses traumatic incidents from a client's past that are likely affecting their present-day experience. Trauma is often one of the primary triggers and potential causes of addiction, and can stem from child sexual abuse, domestic violence, having a parent with a mental illness, losing one or both parents at a young age, teenage or adult sexual assault, or any number of other factors. The purpose of trauma therapy is to allow a patient to process trauma and move through and past it, with the help of trained and compassionate mental health professionals.
Staff
Assaad Sayah, MD, FACEP
CEO
Renée Kessler
Executive VP & COO
Maren Batalden, MD, MPH
Chief Quality Officer
Jill Batty
CFO
Jeannette Currie
CIO
Joy Curtis
Chief Human Resources Officer
Julie Sun
Chief Development Officer
Lanie Ward, MBA, BSN, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Contact Information
(617) 665-1000 
1493 Cambridge street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Get Help Now - 617-862-0388
Sponsored Helpline
Sponsored Helpline
Fact checked and written by:
Benjamin Cardenas
Edited by:
Peter Lee, PhD
Rehab in Cities Near Cambridge
Back to MA
