Partners HealthCare Honors CHA Pediatrician Jill Kasper, MD, for Teaching and Mentoring
5/22/2013
Somerville, Mass. — Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) pediatrician Jill Kasper, MD, has won the 2013 Primary Care Award for Teaching and Mentoring presented by Partners HealthCare. The award recognizes those committed to mentoring the next generation of primary care clinicians, particularly younger clinicians as they progress along their career paths. “Dr. Kasper is a thoughtful, patient-centered provider who, in a relatively short but already distinguished career, has set the standard for primary care pr...
Cambridge Health Alliance Earns an “A” in Patient Safety by Hospital Safety Score
5/20/2013
Cambridge , Mass. – Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a Harvard-affiliated healthcare system that serves Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities, was recognized with an “A” Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. The A score was awarded in the latest update to the Hospital Safety Score SM , the A, B, C, D or F scores assigned to U.S. hospitals based on preventable medical errors, inj...
Cambridge Health Alliance Physician Wins Harvard Teaching Award
5/16/2013
Cambridge , Mass. – Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) physician Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste, MD, has been awarded the Harvard Medical School (HMS) 2013 Charles McCabe Faculty Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Since 1982, this honor has been bestowed on HMS’s most outstanding teachers, a highly select group of the School's leading medical educators. Dr. Jean-Baptiste received the prize in recognition of her outstanding teaching, both in CHA’s primary care clerkship and its HMS-Cambridge Integrated Clerkship...
Cambridge Health Alliance and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Sign Clinical and Academic Affiliation Agreement
Partnership means better integrated care for patients in and out of hospital settings
5/2/2013
Cambridge, Mass. — Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have signed an agreement to form a clinical and academic affiliation to enhance care provided by both institutions. “We are excited to join forces with one of the nation’s preeminent academic medical centers to provide high-quality, coordinated, and cost-effective care in our patients’ local communities,” said Patrick Wardell, Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Health Alliance, which operates three hosp...
CHA Showcases Its Transformation at International Summit on Patient Care
4/8/2013
Cambridge , Mass. – Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is honored to have a significant presence at the 14th Annual International Summit on Improving Patient Care in the Office Practice & the Community, presented by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and taking place from April 7-9 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Over one thousand healthcare leaders and professionals from across the world are attending the conference, which features several presentations from CHA staff, to learn about new ways to...
Yoga Event to Support Wellness at Cambridge Health Alliance
3/28/2013
Cambridge, Mass. – On Saturday, April 6th, a volunteer group of graduates of Rolf Gates’ 500-hour advanced yoga teacher training program will lead a fundraising event called YogaCHA at Boston University’s Case Center. The day-long program will support yoga and wellness programs at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a Harvard-affiliated healthcare system that serves Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities. YogaCHA will feature yoga classes for the whole family, an evening concert with n...
Cambridge Health Alliance Primary Care Practices Awarded Highest Level Recognition by National Committee for Quality Assurance
3/18/2013
Cambridge, Mass. — Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a Harvard-affiliated healthcare system that serves Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's metro-north region, announced today that four of its primary care practices have been awarded Recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home 2011 program. Cambridge Family Health, Cambridge Family Health North, Broadway Health Center in Somerville, and the Malden Family Medicine Center received Level 3 Recognition, th...
CHA Nurse Honored by the New England Regional Black Nurses Association
2/4/2013
Cambridge, Mass. - Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) nurse Sheran Woodroffe, RN, has been honored with a 2013 Excellence in Nursing Award from the New England Regional Black Nurses Association, Inc. (NERBNA). The award, bestowed upon members by their peers, recognizes individuals for their contributions and meritorious efforts in the field of nursing. As an ambulatory nurse at CHA, Ms. Woodroffe regularly performs rotations at three to four primary care practices in the healthcare system’s network of site...
New Study Finds Black and Hispanic Patients Less Likely to Complete Substance Abuse Treatment
1/7/2013
Somerville , Mass. — Roughly half of all black and Hispanic patients who enter publicly funded alcohol treatment programs complete treatment compared to 62 percent of white patients, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance. Comparable disparities were also identified for drug treatment program completion rates. The study, published in the latest issue of Health Affairs , shows that completion disparities among racia...
Cambridge Health Alliance to Host Free Parenting Workshop on January 9th
12/19/2012
On Wednesday, January 9 th , Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) will host a free parenting workshop in Cambridge titled “When Your Kids Push Your Buttons: What You Can Do.” Certified parent coach and pediatric physical therapist Danya Handelsman will discuss effective parenting strategies, while professional storyteller Andrea Kamens will provide entertainment for the whole family. The event, sponsored by Cambridge Pediatrics, will take place from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the Macht Auditorium at CHA’s Cambridge Ho...
Calendar Sale Supports Somerville’s Spring Hill Garden and Helps Promote Healthy Eating and Wellness in the Community
12/12/2012
Somerville, MA… The Spring Hill Garden, located on Cambridge Health Alliance’s Somerville Hospital campus at 125 Lowell St., recently completed its third successful growing season promoting healthy eating and food security in the Somerville community. In an effort to raise funds to support the garden in the coming year, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is offering the Firmly Planted 2013 Calendar , which chronicles a year in the life of the garden. The 12-month full color calendar features photos and art...
Cambridge Health Alliance Named to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Physician Group Honor Roll
12/7/2012
Cambridge, MA… Cambridge, MA…Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a Harvard-affiliated integrated healthcare system that serves Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's metro-north region, has been named to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care’s 2012 Physician Group Honor Roll with Distinction. The Harvard Pilgrim Honor Roll highlights 78 physician groups in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire that have achieved exceptional results in their approach to disease prevention and the treatment of acute and chronic illness...
CHA Enhances Patient Safety with Low-Dose CT Scanning
12/7/2012
Cambridge , Mass. - Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) has upgraded its Computed Tomography (CT) equipment to enhance patient safety and improve imaging. The CT units at the Cambridge and Whidden Hospital campuses now have GE ASiR dose reduction technology, which minimizes radiation exposure to patients and staff, as well as other advanced applications that improve cardiac and vascular tests. “With this new technology in place, we are able to improve the diagnosis of health issues and our interventions whi...
CHA Union Square Family Health Center Earns National Recognition
11/28/2012
Somerville , Mass. — Cambridge Health Alliance’s Union Square Family Health center has been identified as an “exemplar practice” by a new national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation called The Primary Care Team: Learning from Effective Ambulatory Practices (the LEAP Project). Union Square Family Health, located at 337 Somerville Ave. in Somerville, is one of up to 30 sites across the country selected for this distinction, chosen from hundreds of practices that were nominated by primary...
Cambridge Health Alliance Nurse Named Metro Boston EMS Nurse of the Year
11/19/2012
Cambridge, Mass. — Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) nurse Jennifer Wallace, RN, has been named the EMS Nurse of the Year by the Metropolitan Boston Emergency Medical Services Council. The award, which honors a nurse who has contributed in a significant way to the development of EMS skills, efforts, and education within the greater Boston region, was recently presented at the twelfth annual EMS awards ceremony at American Legion Post 440 in Newton, Mass. Wallace, who started at CHA in 1994, served as a nu...
Three OB/GYN Providers Join Cambridge Health Alliance and Expand Access to Care in Cambridge
11/1/2012
Cambridge , Mass. — Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) announced the addition of three providers to its OB/GYN team in Cambridge: OB/GYN physicians Bob Berry, MD, and Marianne Muchura, MD, and midwife Kathryn Rowan, CNM. Dr. Bob Berry brings to CHA over 20 years of experience at major teaching hospitals in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including an extensive administrative background. He has also received numerous awards honoring his excellence in teaching and training new doctors and staff. He mos...
Cambridge Health Alliance VP Wins Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Young Leader Award
10/25/2012
Cambridge, Mass. – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today announced that Somava Stout, MD, of Cambridge Health Alliance is one of 10 winners of its first-ever RWJF Young Leader Award. The award recognizes leaders from across the U.S. who are ages 40 or under for their exceptional contributions to improving the health of the nation. The awards also signal the winners’ strong potential for future leadership. Dr. Somava Stout is a primary care physician who is committed to improving the health of ...
Three Cambridge Health Alliance Physicians Appointed to Harvard Medical School's Center for Primary Care Faculty
10/22/2012
Cambridge, MA… Three physicians from Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), a leading provider of primary care in the Boston area, have been appointed to the Center for Primary Care, created in 2010 by Harvard Medical School (HMS) to address the current crisis in primary care with innovative solutions. “We are growing in leaps and bounds, underscoring the urgency of the Center’s work and the need for innovation and change in primary care,” said Russell Phillips, MD, Director of the Center for P...
Cambridge Health Alliance Recognized by American Cancer Society for Exceptional Support to Breast Cancer Patients
10/18/2012
Cambridge, MA… Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) was recognized by the American Cancer Society for its extraordinary efforts supporting breast cancer patients, while also supporting the Society’s mission to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by helping people stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back. The special presentation took place at the Society's 20th anniversary Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Boston on October 14 th at the DCR Hatch Shell. The Cam...
Cambridge Health Alliance Hosts National Workgroup on Juvenile Mental Health and Crime Prevention
10/16/2012
Cambridge, MA… On October 11th and 12th, Cambridge Health Alliance’s Department of Psychiatry hosted a research workshop for a national group of experts on crime prevention and juvenile diversion in conjunction with the Cambridge Safety Net Collaborative, an innovative partnership between Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), the Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge Public Schools, and the Cambridge Department of Human Service Programs. The group convened at the Harvard Faculty Club in Cambridge to collabo...
Programs for Treating Addiction in Doctors Pose Ethical Issues According to Harvard Researchers
10/15/2012
Cambridge , MA … State physician health programs (PHPs) play a key role in helping doctors with substance abuse problems. But the current PHP system is inconsistent and prone to potential conflicts of interest and ethical issues according to an article which will be published in the December issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine and has just been released online. The article points out "substantial variability in states' PHP policies and practices, often raising serious ethical and managerial...
Secretary Bigby Joins CHA to Celebrate Support from Obama Administration to Enhance Care at Safety Net Hospitals
9/27/2012
Cambridge, MA... Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby today joined local elected officials and leaders from the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) at its Cambridge Hospital Campus to celebrate funding from the Obama Administration for Massachusetts safety net hospitals to advance integrated care and cost containment goals. “I thank the Obama Administration and our congressional and state legislative partners for supporting this initiative that will help our safety net hospita...
Cambridge Health Alliance Welcomes Ear, Nose, and Throat Physician Erik Berg, MD
9/18/2012
Cambridge, MA... Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), which operates three hospital campuses and a network of primary and specialty care practices in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities, announced that ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician Erik Berg, MD, has joined its Department of Surgery. Dr. Berg will see patients at CHA’s Cambridge and Whidden Hospital campuses. Dr. Berg earned his medical degree at the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, where he recently completed h...
Cambridge Health Alliance Names Senior Vice President for Human Resources
9/11/2012
Cambridge , MA… Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), which operates three hospital campuses and a network of primary and specialty care practices in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities, has appointed Joy Curtis as its Senior Vice President for Human Resources. In this role, Ms. Curtis will support CHA’s transition to a high-performing Accountable Care Organization, specifically in the areas of workforce development and cultural change. The appointment formalizes the duties she has co...
Cambridge Health Alliance to Host Malden Community Health Fair on Thursday, September 13
8/15/2012
Malden, MA… Cambridge Health Alliance will host the Malden Community Health Fair on Thursday, September 13th, from 4 – 7 p.m. The family-friendly event will take place at the CHA Malden Family Medicine Center, located at 195 Canal St. in Malden (next to Anthony’s Restaurant). It is free and open to the public. Doctors and staff will offer tours of the center and discuss available services. The fair will also feature live music, dancing, food, and health screenings. Representatives from a wide range of c...
Cambridge Health Alliance Golf Invitational Raises Over $100K to Benefit Patient Experience of Care Initiatives
8/13/2012
Cambridge, MA… Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), which operates three hospital campuses and a network of primary and specialty care practices in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities, held its ninth annual golf Invitational on Monday, August 6 th , at the Granite Links Golf Club at Quarry Hills in Quincy. The event raised $107K to support CHA and its critical community health mission. Proceeds from the CHA Invitational will benefit Patient Experience of Care Initiatives at CHA’s Cam...
Cambridge Health Alliance Names Four New Members to Board of Trustees
8/7/2012
Cambridge, MA… Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), which operates three hospital campuses and a network of primary and specialty care practices in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston’s metro-north communities, has named Bill Hart, Madge Kaplan, Traci Logan, and Kathleen McGilvray to its Board of Trustees. The new trustees, appointed by Robert W. Healy, City Manager of Cambridge, will help CHA fulfill its mission as one of the country’s leading academic public healthcare systems. Bill Hart, an Everett residen...
Cambridge Health Alliance Hosts Community Soccer Tournament in Everett
8/1/2012
Everett , MA … On July 13-15, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) hosted the second annual CHA Community Soccer Tournament at Everett Memorial Stadium. The tournament, presented in partnership with the City of Everett Recreation Center and supported by Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Jr., showcased some of the best amateur soccer players in Everett and the surrounding communities. The winning team, LSC, received a $1000 cash prize and a trophy. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the City of Everett’s Re...