FAQ For Patients

On December 24, 2008, Cambridge Health Alliance will transfer services at the Oliver Farnum Senior Health Center (806 Mass Ave, 3rd floor, in Cambridge) to other CHA locations. We hope this Q&A will help answer your questions about this change.

Question: Can I keep my current primary care doctor?

Answer: Two of the three primary care doctors at the Oliver Farnum site will continue to see primary care patients at other Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) sites.

• Dr. David Hirsh is moving to the Ambulatory Care Center at the Cambridge Hospital Campus at 1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA.

• Dr. Anne Fabiny is moving to the Primary Care Center at 1493 Cambridge Street. Dr. Fabiny is an expert in the health of older adults.

• Dr. Ron Distajo is taking a new job at CHA and will be taking care of patients during their hospital stay. He will no longer see primary care patients.

Question: Are there other CHA primary care doctors who will take me as a new patient?

Answer: Yes, there are many other CHA primary care doctors taking new patients. Some options in Cambridge include:

• Windsor Street Health Center, at 119 Windsor Street in Cambridge, is just over a half mile away from the Senior Health Center. The staff here offer care for all ages, and the Center's Family Medicine providers are trained in women's health and pregnancy care. Doctors accepting new patients include Dr. Jeremy Keller (Internal Medicine), Dr. Timothy N. Stephens (Family Medicine, speaks French and Spanish),
  Dr. Agnes Graves (Internal Medicine) and Dr. Tatiana Romero-Pantazopoulos (Internal Medicine, speaks Spanish).

• Primary Care Unit, at the Cambridge Hospital Campus Ambulatory Care Center, 1493 Cambridge Street in Cambridge. This hospital-based practice includes an excellent team of physicians and residents, and many of its providers have a special interest in caring for seniors.
  Dr. Yamini Saravanan is currently accepting new patients.

• Cambridge Family Health - North is at 2067 Mass Ave in Cambridge. If you take the Red Line to see the doctor, this site might be a great fit for you. It is just 2 stops away in Porter Square. This site has doctors who see both adults and children. Drs. Hannah Olivet and William Meikrantz are accepting new patients.

Question: I see a podiatrist, Paul Heffernan, DPM, at the Senior Health Center. Will I be able to continue to see him?

Answer: Yes. Dr. Heffernan will also be relocating to other CHA sites. Beginning December 1, Dr. Heffernan will move his Monday appointment hours to the Surgical Specialties Suite at the Ambulatory Care Center at the Cambridge Hospital campus. His Thursday session will move to the Surgical Specialties Office at the Medical Arts Building at the Somerville Hospital Campus. Staff from Dr. Heffernan's office will be contacting all patients with appointments scheduled for after December 1, 2008. All patients will be able to keep their same appointment date and time at his new office locations.

Question: I see one of the psychiatry clinicians at the Senior Health Center. Will I be able to continue my care with the same provider?

Answer: Yes. The Department of Psychiatry services are relocating to other Cambridge Health Alliance locations in Cambridge. Patients will be able to keep their current providers. Staff from the Department of Psychiatry will be contacting each patient directly to discuss options and help patients make the transition to a new location. In the meantime, patients may contact Marcia Diaz, Administrative Coordinator, at 617-591-6462.

Question: How do I find out about other CHA providers or sites?

Answer: Just visit the CHA website (www.challiance.org) and click on "Find A Provider". This will let you search for a doctor by specialty, practice name, city, gender, or language. You can also learn about our other primary care and specialty sites by clicking on "Locations".

If you do not have web access, you can call:

• Primary Care Office at 617-665-1305 for more information and assistance selecting a new primary care doctor and location.

• The Department of Surgery at 617-665-2555 for assistance with Podiatry services.

• The Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Coordinator, Marcia Diaz, at 617-591-6462 for help with mental health services.

Question: If I change doctors, how do I make sure my new doctor gets my medical records?

Answer: If you choose another CHA doctor, your medical records will automatically go to them. CHA uses a new electronic medical record system that links all of our primary care sites together. This lets us get your records to your new doctor without any delays.

If you choose a primary care doctor outside of CHA, you will need to call our medical records office at 617-665-1058 to make a records transfer request.

Question: Will another CHA doctor accept my insurance?

Answer: Of course! All CHA sites accept the same kinds of health insurance. Please note that if you do choose a new doctor you will need to tell your health insurance company. Click here to visit our health insurance information page.

Contact Information:

Oliver Farnum Senior Health Center

806 Mass. Ave,
3rd Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139

617-575-5630