Spaulding Hospital Cambridge

Reviews 3

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Sandy Loiacano

Back in March my dad went to the oncology rehabilitation ward in Spaulding Cambridge a week after brain surgery at MGH for REHAB.. This horrible place led to his ultimate death several months later. I thought it was the best place for him given its outstanding reputation. However, the Cambridge facility is quite different, especially the cancer ward. He was there for PT, which he barely had. His brain surgeon believed my Dad would regain full use of his leg (which was very weak due to the surgery) within a short time. The physical therapist there told me several times she knew better than his brain surgeon, doctors dont always know what theyre talking about and my Dad was never going to walk again. Thats exactly her words! Because of her opinions, the staff left him in bed 24/7 and filled him full of unnecessary drugs which caused horrible delirium and eventually a very serious pneumonia. I demanded they stop giving him unneeded medication, they ignored me and kept switching him to different antidepressants, sedatives and even marijuana pulls!!! Day after day I begged the doctors and nurses to do something because he was getting worse, his own brain surgeon, oncologist and radiologist said he should be getting better, but the nurses and doctors all shrugged and said he was "sundowning" and "they all do that", referring to his confused, aggressive behavior. He was having trouble speaking, couldnt eat anything, was extremely confused and had violent outbursts out of the blue. My Dad was never like that! He left MGH fine after the surgery!!! They tried to convince me this was all par for the course and completely normal. Except again, his own doctors said it was not and they even called Spaulding to tell them that! But their calls and my pleas were ignored! Then, after about 10 days, he came down with pneumonia, except they didnt know what was wrong with him!! They kept saying maybe he has a UTI maybe he has some pneumonia were really not sure. "Maybe that was causing the horrible mood swings and lack of appetite". What kind of hospital cant diagnose and treat someone with pneumonia?!! And what kind of doctors dont know patients get pneumonia if they leave them in bed 24/7??? I have no medical background and I knew this! Three long horrible weeks my Dad was in this awful place until he got so sick his radiation oncologist admitted him to MGH. Not the Spaulding doctors, his radiation oncologist who saw him for the first time!!! When I told him what had been going on he was appalled!! Two days after his admission to Mass General, my Dad was better and they had him up with a walker!!! Something Spaulding refused to do! Sadly, those three weeks robbed my Dad of the opportunity to get the planned immunotherapy he needed however, and his cancer got worse while lying in that God forsaken hell hole. I brought him home the beginning of April and he had at home PT and OT, but he had missed the window of opportunity for treatment. He passed away three weeks ago. While he was in MGH I told all of this to a doctor there, voicing my frustration with Spaulding and how they had mistreated my Dad and how I thought they were THE best rehab around, the doctor response? "Spaulding in Cambridge isnt the same as Spaulding in Boston, its run completely different".!!! If I had known that, I never would have let my Dad go there. Lastly, the day my Dad left Spaulding a nurse there actually said to me " patients and their families expect to come here to get better and go home but that usually isnt the case ". ITS A REHAB!!! Isnt that what rehabilitation is???? There was absolutely no medical reason my Dad should not have gotten better and gone home from there. I tell our story as a warning to anyone considering this place for themselves or a loved one. Please do your research first!!

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Herb Acevedo

My sister was moved to Spaulding from Mass General. She was treated with care and concern. The nursing staff is terrific! The social worker was well equipped to deal with all of the unnerving feelings my sister and I had. The Dietitian, Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapist were all patient and committed. My sisters improvement was remarkable. From the receptionist to the Presidents administrative assistant, everyone treated me with respect and concern. Thanks to the cafeteria staff who filled my hot tea from the hot water tap and asked daily about how my sister and I were doing. I was with my sister two weeks.I know you will have the same experience. Janice Jenkins Acevedo Austin, TX.

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Mimi Fisher

Spaulding Rehab ambulance picked up my 90-year old father-in-law from Mass General. He had his wallet, cell phone and a knee brace in a personal belongings bag when he left the hospital and when he arrived at Spaulding Rehab, the wallet and cell phone were missing. They said they conducted an internal investigation and have not been able to locate the missing wallet or cell phone. They will not take any responsibility for it and have washed their hands of it. I think it is pathetic that a person of trust (ambulance personnel) would steal from a defenseless, sick old man. Avoid Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital!