Atrius Health Somerville

Negative experience: Not good ….forever to pick up a phone…..

Negative experience: Unethical Billing Practices and Lack of Transparency: $599 for a 5 Min Dr Visit As a loyal client of over 10 years, I am appalled by my recent experience with this facility. Despite booking an appointment in advance and planning to use my free annual check-up, I was instead billed under a different service code. To make matters worse, when I accepted an earlier appointment (offered due to a late-arriving patient), I was billed $599 for a mere five minutes with the doctor. She was not able to even identify the root cause either. My efforts to seek clarification on this matter have been ignored or dismissed, leaving me no choice but to escalate publicly. Below are just a few of the issues I encountered: 1) Legal Compliance Issues Your facility has blatantly disregarded the Hospital Price Transparency Rule (2021), Massachusetts Chapter 224, and the No Surprises Act (2022), which mandate clear pricing information and a Good Faith Estimate of costs before services are provided. I was denied this essential information, stripping me of my ability to make an informed decision about charges. 2) Excessive Overcharges Your pricing far exceeds fair market rates for common procedures: Office Visit (99214): Charged $346 (Market Rate: $100–$150) Flu Test (87804): Charged $98 (Market Rate: $75–$80) Strep Test (87880): Charged $49 (Market Rate: $35–$40) COVID Test (87426): Charged $106 (Market Rate: $50–$75) These overcharges are unjustifiable and exploitative. 3) Unnecessary Testing Despite already testing for COVID and accompanying my partner (who had identical symptoms), I was subjected to multiple unnecessary tests (Influenza A & B, Rapid Strep, and a COVID Antigen test). These tests were neither explained nor justified and only inflated the bill further. This pattern of unethical billing practices is unacceptable. I strongly urge your management team to review my case immediately and reach out to me to resolve this matter. If this issue remains unresolved, I will escalate my concerns to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission. Patients deserve transparency, fairness, and respect—not exploitation. I hope your team takes this opportunity to demonstrate accountability and restore trust. If I knew your prices I would have gone to CVS urgent care at fraction of the cost!

Negative experience: Waited 1 hour to be seen, waited 30 minutes for a prescription. Go elsewhere.

Negative experience: Does not care or value parents' concerns. I even got laughed at by a doctor. Super unprofessional.

Fantastic experience: Not to complain about it, workers are very kind and helpful.

Fantastic experience: Convenient location; so helpful that they have a weekend urgent care, parking, and are right next to a T station.

Fantastic experience: OBGYN review: If you need anything done with an IUD, this is the best place you could ever go. More numbing medicines than I knew were options, heating pad, light conversation to distract, such genuine overflowing kindness. NP Kristin Kiley was fantastic. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get an IUD again after traumatizing pain. This was totally doable.

Fantastic experience: I've (unfortunately) had to meet with a bunch of different specialists over the past couple of years and I've always had a good experience. Can't speak highly enough of my PCP David McCarthy and the hand surgery/occupational therapy team

Negative experience: I am out. More detailed review is coming soon.

Negative experience: Had an internal medicine appointment and called an hour before to let them know that the redline train is out of order and the mbta shuttles are backed up with long delays (I’m disabled and that’s my only option) so there a chance I might be late 15-20mins late. The person on the phone (it sounded like the doctor herself) said it is okay you can come we’ll let you in. After enduring the whole 1hr trip to get there I was told at the front disk that the doctor won’t see me because I’m late and forced me to reschedule?? I don’t mind rescheduling but why the dishonesty over the phone call? very disappointing as my first time here :(

Negative experience: Consistently the worst medical practice I've ever been to. They mixed up the x-ray orders on my fracture and tried to cut my cast off 3 days after it was put on then blamed me for the mistake. Multiple instances of incorrect billing that took lots of time and effort to resolve. Was instructed not to bother with trying to report an incident of food borne illness to DPH because "they'll just deny it and it won't go anywhere". Overall, poor care and a negative patient experience.

Positive experience: Providers are so helpful, patient and kind.

Positive experience: Avoid their optician office, won't tell you up front their insurance affiliation, won't call you when your glasses are ready + really bad customer service

Negative experience: Silvina Padro worst Dr and person don’t trust her she’s a mean person.

Negative experience: I used to recommend this office and feel good about it. The doctors, nurses, and staff are still very good. But administratively - as in scheduling appts - it's gone rapidly downhill. They have clearly way over-scheduled themselves, and the way they handle responding to patients now is very unintegrated. -As in you end up getting different information from different Atrius employees. You get sent down the wrong path, corrected, and sent down another. Atrius was a non-profit, but was purchased by for-profit Optum a couple of years ago, so it seems likely that these are profit-making measures from management. Their pediatric office still seems to run reasonably well as of now. I think I am going to get out of the adult practice though.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been a patient at Somerville since I was 14yrs old. I’m turning 37 this year and I still go there for my care despite the fact that I now live nearly 30miles away. Both of my children have my childhood pediatrician! I appreciate the care I’ve received over the years at HVS.

Fantastic experience: Good clinic. Love that they have everything together under one roof.

Fantastic experience: Chris Sambaziotis was wonderful

Positive experience: All of the staff in internal medicine has been fantastic but the staff in the labs have been incredibly rude to me every single time

Negative experience: No pleasant vibe from the time you walk I'm and no actual concerning care with the patients. 2 years ago I was referred from another Harvard vanguard to come here. I was about 8 months pregnant with my first child and my blood pressure was high. The doctor sent me home with no extra concerning matters. Blood pressure, biabetes and pre eclampsia are traits in my family. I am a woman of color. A week later, I lost my baby in a still birth and almost lost myself. I lust of things i had that couldve been prevented all if the doctor did her job right. I still grieve, because this was for sure Mal practice. We put our trust in these people and then they let you down like this. I for sure believe my color a play in my mistreatment.

Fantastic experience: Clean facilities and friendly staff

Negative experience: Very poor service in Urgent care . No blood or chest test to rule out pneumonia. Visual service is hust as bad. There is no quality care

Negative experience: Awful service wish I could have had better to say l refused to help the homeless and desperately In need no

Negative experience: We didn't know until we arrived here for our appointment that you've to pay for parking and there's not enough spaces to park so, you end up riding around to find parking that's close to Atrius ....

Positive experience: The staff is very nice and helpful. You are not left waiting a long time for your appointment. I have never had an issue with Internal Medicine and being able to have bloodwork done in the same building is a plus.

Fantastic experience: Omg, the whole staff took good care of me. I was in and out on Christmas Eve. Thank you

Positive experience: Doctors an personnel vrry helpful

Positive experience: Very nice medical office, helpful staff, easy access to the mbta& parking

Fantastic experience: Looking for a new doctor?, check them out online.

Negative experience: They order unnecessary tests that are not covered by insurance so that they can make extra money.

Fantastic experience: Saw Podiatrist for my son. She was terrific. Only complaint is parking. Would help people? With appointment reminder SMS to tell people where parking is located. We drove around and around until we found the lot which is to the right, when facing entrance doors.

Fantastic experience: Efficient medical visit with expert labs, x-ray and pharmacy

Fantastic experience: Convenient parking etc

Positive experience: Dr. Jill Ashcraft ID the foot whisperer; like the song, is drive 100 miles to be with her..... I'd follow her. She's genius

Negative experience: Despise coming to this location. I only come if there is no other location that is available. Staff is rude and miserable. I have noticed every single time when I come how they smile and are so welcoming to white people and always dry towards me. Get some more Latinos or people of minority to work here since your staff sucks and only caters to their own people.

Fantastic experience: Returned after living on North Shore where medical care is terrible. Here at the Davis Square Vanguard-Atrius the providers are professional as well as thorough and compassionate.

Positive experience: The lab personnel are very good and the nurses and Medical Assistants in Orthopedics are wonderful. The people downstairs at reception are very good. I will not comment on my Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bley, you want to chance it then go see him for yourselves.

Fantastic experience: Nice location

Negative experience: Staff has no idea what they are doing and some of the staff I. Cardiology is very rude

Negative experience: Very long wait at the urgent care, even if you have an appointment

Fantastic experience: Good selection

Negative experience: The place is very understaffed, and the urgent care is terrible. I have shown up with heat exhaustion and high blood pressure, and the nurses in the urgent care didn't know how to handle the situation at all. I prefer to go to the CVS pharmacy and minute clinic in Porter Square for urgeht care because the staff there is much more competent and kind. I also approached Atrius about increasing crime and human traffickingthe neighborhood, but they refused to get involved. Shame on Atrius for not dealing with that.

Fantastic experience: Needed to stop in for urgent care, they have parking, public transit access and super friendly staff.

Positive experience: I've had really hit or miss service with this location. Their pharmacy has very limited staff and you can tell they are stressed because it comes out against the patient sometimes. Their health care providers also vary in diligence so make sure you read their bios to get a feel for them

Fantastic experience: Great doctors and nurses and staff are phenomenal, facility is clean and comfortable.

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff

Negative experience: Anything they don't understand will be labeled as Anxiety, Doctors here do not take any illness seriously. They will refuse to do necessary blood tests, honestly find a real hospital. That's what I'm doing.

Negative experience: Patient Billing is the rudest of customer service I have ever seen. They are trying to recover money they lost in the last 3 years due to the pandemic so they are not willing to assist patients in any manner. Atrius Health has a payment plan option for patients which they don't make patients aware of..."that is not my job!". The agents have transcripts (and these calls are recorded), but never shows the agents ever offered a payment plan option to a client. Speaking with them trying to rectify an account, saying a call happened that didn't and being called a liar. A scam between them and Peter Roberts! PATIENTS BEWARE!!! Better off taking yourself to Mass General Hospital or Brigham and Womens.

Fantastic experience: Kind and knowledgeable doctors. They have 24/7 urgent care here as well as specialty services.

Fantastic experience: I just love dr Hafner and dr. Mani. The staff are all so efficient when we come in for an appointment. In this times where the healthcare system seems to be falling apart if Somerville Harvard vanguard can gets things working it means each branch can and also other healthcare systems can, if they want to.

Fantastic experience: Clean as usual

Fantastic experience: Always professional and helpful

Fantastic experience: Good

Fantastic experience: Booked here through phone for an optometrist visit. The process was pretty straightforward although a little tedious as need to register first but whole process took maybe only 10-15 min. Upon arrival I found the free parking garage for patients and got up to check in relatively easy although a lot of doors to maneuver. Checking in was quick and easy and the doctor saw us almost right away on s Friday morning. Highly recommended for routine or simple issues. Given how close they are to Davis sq it’s a very popular choice for your medical needs.

Positive experience: Easy in, easy out. Very convenient parking out back

Fantastic experience: Best health CARE that I've ever experienced. ❤️

Fantastic experience: Incredibly caring staff.

Positive experience: Super frustrating to work with- you'll wait months and months for specialist appointments and follow ups with your PCP only for them to cancel or need to reschedule the appointment day of, or even better- at the time of the appointment!

Fantastic experience: went here to get an iud today and all the staff were so sweet and comforting. great experience would definitely recommend to anyone looking to get an iud :)

Fantastic experience: Whether you go to their Medford center or Somerville the quality of their staff is consistent. The amazing treatment I got in Somerville from the breast ultrasound tech needs to be commended. She understood how scared I was that day and from her warm demeanor, and impeccable social skills, I felt relaxed and in very competent hands. From the easy check-in process to the reading of my results every person I came in contact with was just exceptional.

Fantastic experience: Excellent

Fantastic experience: Every time I've come here I have been treated with respect and professionalism. The staff here truly cares about your health as an individual. Atrius has changed my life for the bettter.

Fantastic experience: They provide reliable care.

Positive experience: Nice Nurses and Doctors, deplorable condition of the facilities. Filthy and missing a draw.

Fantastic experience: It met expectations

Fantastic experience: All round great staff. Friendly and helpful

Fantastic experience: Friendly staff. Clean

Fantastic experience: Clean and friendly staff.

Fantastic experience: Very efficient. Staff was lovely and very professional

Positive experience: Fairly easy to navigate. 'Well maintained'. Good staff.

Fantastic experience: As someone who is extremely jaded with the medical field, I feel it is appropriate to give credit to consummate professionals when they do their jobs in an exemplary manner. I have had the pleasure of being under the care of Dr. Charles Obasiolu for reproductive endocrinology issues these past several months. Today, I had a procedure done by him and felt extremely well taken care of. In addition to his excellent knowledge, he made me feel well-informed about what to expect. I wish to also commend Nurse Patricia Chan. She took such good care of me, making my 10/10 anxiety a lot less. Through the haze of the medication, I remember her rubbing my arm and ensuring my comfort even while I was sedated. She is so incredibly kind and an experienced nurse that I felt lucky to have been assigned to. Dr. Obasiolu's team is marvelous, and I wholeheartedly trust them. If you end up under the care of these incredible medical professionals, you will be in excellent hands.

Positive experience: I strongly recommend against booking an appointment here if you will be driving. The traffic, roadwork, and closures in this area are incredibly unpredictable. I've had some trips take 15 minutes and others take upwards of 1 hour. Unfortunately the 15 minute grace period is very firm here, so if the traffic does take a turn for the worse while you're driving, you're SOL. I wish the scheduling department at my primary location had told me there were other options before referring me here.

Fantastic experience: I go to Harvard vanguard all the time it's my home away from home. I love the staff here and enjoy working with them. They are friendly and are always here for my family and I. My Dr.Wang is extremely courteous, kind , always concerned for my well being , she is my neurologist. I've been seeing her for over ten years now. She even does Botox for migraines, she is so patient and is really amazing at it. The pain from migraines can be debilitating . I really appreciate you and all of the member's of your staff and receptionists too. You all are so sweet and thoughtful and remember me and my family. Thank you Mrs Kay

Negative experience: We came here for an eye exam. Up front told them we have VSP for vision insurance, and they suggested it would be accepted. Only afterwards when the bill arrived did they reveal that they do not accept VSP, and furthermore they refused to work with VSP to have the contact lenses covered as medically necessary (which was the entire purpose of the appointment). This is a fraudulent practice, they should be investigated by the MA Attorney General – we will be filing a complaint.

Negative experience: There are some good doctors at this practice. However they are overwhelmed by the number of patients they are required to serve. That impacts the quality of care not only with regard to scheduling but also provider care. It feels like a paint-by-numbers approach using an algorithm to spit out the diagnosis and treatment plan. Atrius Health seems to have adopted the bots used in customer service for medical care. Saves money I'm sure but not good care.

Fantastic experience: They take good care of their patients.

Negative experience: It seems like all the clinicians at the Somerville location are burnt out.

Negative experience: The staff is fine, they are nice enough. The doctor I saw was nice enough. However, I am in the middle of an issue in which the doctor forgot to out in an order for a procedure that required insurance approval. He had originally said we could get the procedure approved and done on Monday/Tuesday (after seeing him on Sunday). I guess he forgot to put in the order because there was no order for insurance approval on Monday. On Tuesday it got put in and then denied on Wednesday by insurance due to clinical notes or lack of paperwork. However, Harvard Vanguard thinks it is still pending and not denied, and I have no way to tell the doctor he needs to put in adequate notes to get this approved by insurance. So no ill probably ended up having waited a full week before I get this procedure done...after the doctor telling me it was something I probably should have come in for immediately and that it was important.

Negative experience: The staff was insensitive to my wife who had a miscarriage. They began by sending us an email on the weekend telling us there was a dire problem resulting from recent testing done on my wife and the baby's health. We made calls to get answers, but were told we'd have to wait until Monday during business hours. Completely unacceptable. We did get a doctor after calling back and complaining, and waiting for a while. Eventually we got bad news that no parent wants to get about their unborn child... She was distraught and wanted me to stay when she went in for the procedure, but covid policy made me leave the building completely- ridiculous. The doctor was dismissive and short with me when I asked if there were any exceptions. Then the doctor continued to call our baby "tissue" during the procedure, and was cold toward my wife, who asked a lot of questions during the procedure because she was upset and nervous. To top it off, my wife wanted to keep the remains of our baby, to which the staff put up a fight with the funeral home in releasing the remains. I filed complaints with the Harvard Vanguard/Atrius Health. After weeks of waiting for a call back with results of my complaint, and being told enthusiastically by a supervisor that they'd address the concerns and get back to me, I had to call for answers. I got a dismissive tone, and was told a conversation was had, but I didn't have a right to know about it. And that was it. No real recourse. The medical profession has been broken. This experience made me disgusted with Harvard Vanguard. These are the type of standards one would expect out of a developing nation, not America. Sorry you didn't get to sell my baby's body for medical studies and organ harvesting! Scum!

Fantastic experience: I have been seeing doctors and a few NPs in various departments here for several years and can only say that it's always such a good experience. The facility is like new, the parking easy and affordable and the health care staff Cares and is so great. Highly recommend to all.

Negative experience: Even after having an appointment at urgent care! They are just not ready to treat patients even if they are in the worst condition and need help! I literally traveled 30mins taking an Uber! Was highly disappointed

Negative experience: This is the absolute worst doctors office i have ever been to. They do not care about their patients like a doctors office should, I was seen for a physical and had a fine experience, when I left I was called and said the doctor forgot to have me sign a piece of paper and that I needed to come back in. So I did and I was in there for a total of 1 minute to sign the paper and left. A few weeks later I was charged over $300 for a whole appointment that never happened when in reality it was their mistake and they were supposed to have me sign the paper when I was in for my original appointment. When I called billing they put in a claim and a little while later it was denied. I work in health care and I know this is very illegal and they did not care to help me further. I will NEVER return to this office ever and wouldn't suggest it to anyone.

Fantastic experience: My doctors have always been here and taken great care of my health avd my needs

Negative experience: The medical staff is usually very good here but it still always shocks me how this organization has such atrocious customer service. It’s literally like Harvard hires the grumpiest, slowest, least friendly, most bureaucratic staff they can find and then provides them with zero training and feedback. I have never had anywhere near a decent experience and compared with other similar organizations this one is terrible. Always slow, rude, and makes you jump through hoops to do anything.

Negative experience: Terrible experience. The office has just recently gone downhill. My main complaint is with the staff. I got fitted for my contacts yesterday. My tutorial was rushed and I felt like the tutor was impatient. Today when I was trying to put my right contact in, it got lost in my eye. When I called the office to see if someone there could take it out for me, the receptionist told me that no one was available and that I should go to Mass Eye and Ear which was very far away for me. When I persisted, they reluctantly made an appointment in just five minutes. When I arrived, the staff treated me as though I was being a baby for not being able to fish it out myself. The reason was due to a complicated set of factors: I am far-sighted and so I couldn't see what was in my eye without a magnifying mirror (which I didn't have) and I have chronically dry eyes, which makes putting contacts harder. The doctor, Dr. Kim, was great, and she was very unhappy to hear that I was told to go to Mass Eye and Ear when I was a patient in their clinic.

Fantastic experience: I had a wonderful experience there with the doctor and the nurse today as well as the medical assistant! They work as a team. They are compassionate and took very good care of me. I highly recommend this urgent care. They were absolutely fantastic.

Negative experience: Be careful with them!!!! They don't tell you if your insurance is going to cover their services or not.

Fantastic experience: Could not be happier with their service - especially pediatrics.

Negative experience: If I could I would give them 0 star.

Positive experience: Great Doctors and staff and a very streamlined process to deliver healthcare.

Fantastic experience: Saw NP Danielle Shih. She was great and there was not much wait time, under 5 mins.

Negative experience: Urgent care not urgent. Three hour wait for shortness of breath symptoms!!! Apparently one needs to have an appointment for urgency. This is more like booking a same day doctor’s visit rather than urgent care. Guess it’s off to ER or a real Urgent Care.

Negative experience: Quality doctors and staff if you can ever see them. Want to schedule an appointment? Call and you'll get a call back whenever it is convenient for them. Miss that call? Call in to let them know so they can call back again whenever it is convenient for them. Want to schedule online? They just tell you online to call in at which point you're put back on that same call back list to be called whenever it is convenient for them. I haven't seen my PCP in years and can't get basic services like vaccines because I can never actually schedule an appointment.

Fantastic experience: Dr Gullapalli is awesome. Correctly diagnosed issues several times. Goes the extra mile to take care of patients.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Nori (Dermatology) is amazing. She's very good at what she does, but more to the point, extremely responsive. She once answered my online questions at 11 pm, got me in to see her very quickly when I needed help, and worked wonders on a miserable skin reaction I was having. She's very prompt and sticks closely to her schedule, which is tight, but she's focused when she's with you. Best dermatology experience ever.

Fantastic experience: Quick quality service

Positive experience: Clean, very nice people, know why they're doing.

Negative experience: This is the WORST doctors office. I left almost a year ago and honestly would not even have written a bad review for them, if they didn’t call me recently believing that I still go there. Even after I formally left notifying the office by phone, completing paperwork, requesting medical documents be transferred but no, they don’t do anything right! When I was a patient there I could never get an appointment even when i was sick and when I could it was always a NP or student..I barely ever saw a doctor. Also in the two years I was a patient there, I was never able to see a dermatologist! Always a 9 month wait and then if I had to cancel for whatever reason, another 9 month wait! I had so many issues with this office with prescriptions. They would never give me more than 1 refill for asthma medicine even after I called and called and begged!! They would say they were giving me 12 refills for the year and they never would. Every month when my meds ran out I had to call and wait on hold and get transferred and then hung up on just to ask them to fill my prescription and request refills. The way the administration is run is disgusting. I left and have never looked back. This is seriously the worst doctors office ever.

Fantastic experience: Great people

Negative experience: I was new to this place and the medical system. I went for my physical and I described a condition (minor but wanted to diagnose for my satisfaction if it comes with preventive care). To which I was suggested a test. I needed to get appointment for that test. I came back and forgot about it. I got call from the nurse to get the test done. I asked if this is covered in the preventive and she confirmed twice (on the phone and before the test) that yes it is covered. I went there , got the test done and came back. Next thing I saw a bill of $534 in my account saying it is not covered. I followed up with all their billing departments but nobody did anything about it. They conveniently ignored what the nurse confirmed that it is covered. They were in fact super rude and just kept telling to either pay or talk to insurance. I called my insurance they just said the test was not in the preventive list so we cant do anything. Harvard vanguard is not ready to own up to their associate's mistake. Best part there is no escalation path. They just keep sending you bills and there is no contact for escalating the matter. If I would have known to check this on my own and still go ahead with it then I would own the mistake. But not in this case. I ended up paying full amount. I got my lesson to never trust what they say, take everything in written (For which there is no provision of course). Doctors are good but billing department and procedure sucks. Beware of what they might charge you.