Cambridge Health Alliance

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)

is a regional, academic healthcare system that is helping people live better lives.

With 3 hospital campuses and a network of primary care and specialty locations, CHA serves more than 400,000 residents of Boston's metro-north region. In doing so, it places special emphasis on preventive care and in serving the area's most vulnerable and diverse populations.

History

CHA was created in 1996 with the merger of two Boston-area hospitals - Cambridge Hospital and Somerville Hospital. The system grew in 2001 with the addition of Whidden Hospital in Everett, MA.

Patient Care Programs

Patient care is central to CHA's community health mission. Today, CHA provides comprehensive and coordinated care at hospitals, community health centers, and through some very special programs, right in people's homes. This includes 24-hour emergency care and specialty services at each of its three hospital campuses.

In 2008, CHA was recognized by Verispan as one of the Top 100 Most Integrated Healthcare Networks in the nation.

Health Care Quality

CHA is proud to provide health care of the highest quality. Its clinical sites are fully accredited by the Joint Commission, and in 2008, the system was named to the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Hospital Honor Roll. This designation is given to hospitals that ranked in the top 25% of all US hospitals for standard healthcare quality and patient experience measures.

Academics

As the only healthcare organization in the state that is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and the Tufts University School of Medicine, CHA plays a unique role in the training of medical professionals.

Community Health

In order to meet the broader needs of the community, CHA manages health programs and leads community coalitions that address issues such as obesity, substance abuse, and childhood asthma. Some of these programs are part of its Cambridge Public Health Department, which is operated via municipal contract with the City of Cambridge.

CHA also operates Network Health, a statewide Medicaid managed care and Commonwealth Care provider that offers critical health coverage to low-income individuals.