Harvard University Mental Health Services's Online Review Report Card

My partner had an experience so awful that I cannot wait until I can switch my Health Insurance coverage. My partner is experiencing pain from a tooth that needs a root canal. He had received a filling earlier today and unfortunately, the dental student did not secure a prescription for pain medication due to thinking a filling would solve the issue. Since he was seen by a dental student and due to the day/time they were unable to have an overseeing dentist prescribe him pain medication. He decided to call HUHS to see whether his PCP or his staff could help him with medication until a root canal on Monday. After speaking with someone on the phone, the person said they did not know what to do for him, but they said he could come down if he was close by and wanted to discuss it with a Nurse Practitioner. He went in person and ultimately nothing could be done because his PCP was not in. It would have been much preferred to hear that over the phone as opposed to walking (In pain) to the Smith Campus Center. That itself could have been a misunderstanding but how he was treated when arrived there is the real problem. The front desk staff were rude and dismissive from the moment he started speaking to them. The man at the front desk denied he had coverage (rudely, cutting my partner off...) and questioned everything my partner said. My partner presented his card and then said his PCP's name and that he had been there before, the man responded "Well that's impossible." Someone else then looked him up and found him, but as he was walking to see the NP they shouted out "No wait you don't have coverage!" To then check again and confirm he did. What is going on at HUHS that they can't even check someone in who has been there, and if the system was having issues then that is not their fault, but how they treated my partner is again the issue. The NP then told him that they did not have the authority to prescribe him anything. This, again, could have been said clearly and directly over the phone to not waste his or anyone's time but again would not be a huge issue if not for the interactions at the front desk. My partner was in pain and thought he would receive at least basic level of human decency in his interactions with HUHS staff. He was treated like he was a criminal walking off the street demanding drugs. He has seen his PCP there. This is HIS healthcare provider. They were asking him whether he was a "summer school student"...do they really not know how to use their own system, and that itself is understandable because systems change/new staff/systems act wonky... but being rude and dismissive is not. I have heard others' stories of bad experiences at HUHS (including my partner having previously been given wrong information in getting blood work done) and now it is just too much. If you are a staff member, then choose another insurance option. I had been a graduate student at Harvard before becoming an admin and thought it easier to stay. But I deeply regret that decision after what my partner experienced.

If you've seen the Monty Python pet shop sketch -- where John Cleese brings in a dead, taxidermied parrot and Michael Palin keeps insisting that the parrot is totally fine so he doesn't have to do anything -- you have some idea.

Worst medical care I've ever seen. They failed to implant an IUD because they did not have the necessary tools

I had an awesome experience with Dr. Daniel Zandman. He was extremely professional throughout the encounter with a condition I was terribly embarrassed about, and more importantly, prescribed me something that actually works! On the other hand, I was less than enthused with Dr. Lisa Barna, who referred me to Dr. Zandman. I had a common problem that wasn't getting better after months of trying home remedies. I know she's not an expert with my issue but I wanted a professional opinion on whether I had what I thought I had. She did the quickest exam ever and confirmed my self diagnosis. Well, it turned out to be wrong (maybe because she looked for a grand total of 5 seconds), as my 4th year med school friend guessed and Dr Zandman later confirmed. I didn't feel like she wanted to listen to or help me.

horribly horribly slow at processing patients ... even when there's no line at all.save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere if you can.

This review is for all of the nonsense that I have personally had to deal with as a student here. I am honestly fed up with the general attitude here. Giving it 2 stars because of neutral to good experiences I've had with some members of staff. Freshman year: I go to my primary care doctor. I tell him I have these horrible headaches. He literally tells me to just get sleep. Um. Ok. Sophomore year: I have this massive 2nd degree burn. I go to urgent care, literally no patients waiting there. I have to wait an excruciatingly long time before I get treated. When the doctor is ready to see me, she says, "Oh we have patients staying overnight who have more urgent concerns than yours." No apology. To top it off, the primary treatment I am given is this topical cream that, after a quick google, I find out, "prolongs healing time" and shows no "real indications of efficacy." I get by on codeine. Junior year: I go to an urgent care having filled out a survey. My thyroid might actually be infected. A doctor sees me, and she tells me, "Oh, we don't treat thyroid issues in urgent care. It's not urgent. You have to go see primary care." I guess I would have really appreciated it if they had just emailed me to not show up rather than making me show up and wasting my time. The next day, I phone in to try to schedule a primary care appointment. She asked me why I didn't call yesterday, and I told her that I had a lot of work I was trying to take care of. She literally scoffed at me. She also was both extremely unhelpful and condescending when I asked her about the steps I would need to take to treat thyroid issues and . . . I'm fairly certain that she doesn't understand the difference between getting the ok for a thyroid screen and actually getting a screen. She honestly didn't seem to know what she was doing in general. It goes without saying that it is extremely frustrating to talk to someone who is both illogical and also arrogant about it. Never in my life have I dealt with such terrible service from health staff. Point being, HUHS, step up your game. We as students go to you to be treated, not aggravated.

Not real medical practitioners, rude and abusive 'doctors'Once had a doctor cancel 4 appointments in a row without notice. Yikes!

I'm so torn. I would give HUHS 5 stars for their doctors, but negative stars for 1 receptionist. I always have a great visit with doctors and the NP's- especially dermatology (Dr. Cummins is so great!). However, there was one receptionist, Susan, in Specialty Services who is HORRENDOUS. I mean... do NOT ask her any questions, no matter how legit and valid they are because she will bite your head off, and then some. Amazingly horrible customer service- I left with tears in my eyes because she made me feel oh-so stupid and I was so not prepared to be attacked by a massive jerk. This leads me to the 3-star review because I cannot get over the insane hostility. In my opinion, Specialty Services needs to learn to stick-up for their customers and kick this woman out (at least put her in the back where she never interacts with humans). Apparently being overly hostile towards me just wasn't enough for her ego, so Susan was condescending and short with everyone else that entered for eye-care. Anybody who had questions was ridiculed until they would just walk away in bewilderment. Sounds like Susan loves people and her job, right? Hah. It's scary that she actually treats everybody liek this and nobody cares to tell her to stop! Speaking of that, when I mentioned how disrespected, belittled and humiliated I felt to another receptionist she simply said "Yahhh, sorry." and passed me tissues. I later heard her gossiping with Susan about me, to which she said "Don't worry, it doesn't even matter" !?!?! Um... what?! Great customer care, people. I was so upset that I couldn't even tell the doctor what had happened- I literally thought I would cry. I may sound like a huge baby, but really, I am just a normal human who doesn't care to be attacked for no reason. We're all entitled to ask questions about the cost breakdowns, aren't we? No need for Susan to be defensive (newsflash lady, it isn't your personal money) and freak out on me. Just simply explain the breakdown like A-B-C. So, in conclusion, receptionist Susan in Specialty Services is an asshole (sorry, I seriously have no other words to describe her) and gets negative stars. Never talking to that evil queen again. However, I will continue to get my eye exams, dermatology and basic health exams here because it is convenient and I enjoy who takes care of me, so 5 stars to the Doctors and NP's.

Walk-in's here work differently to how it is back home, in that I need to walk-in twice for a check-up: first for my vitals, and 2nd after setting up an appointment with the next available nurse or doctor. Tedious, I know, but thankfully the wait wasn't long today and I was helped pretty quickly. Both the nurse and the doctor were friendly and engaging. I received a form in addition to my prescription outlining a list of things to do to help my viral infection. The nurse practitioner who helped me also offered to write a note of absence for a class/discussion I had to miss today. Otherwise, the University Health Services also have a pharmacy right inside Holyoke Center- which makes coming here very convenient for check-ups and prescription pick-ups. Overall the staff was efficient, friendly, and sympathetic during my visit, and I am certainly impressed with their general efficiency and warm hospitality, from the receptionist on the 1st floor to the nurse practitioner who performed the check-up.

Great service for a health care clinic! Conveniently located downstairs from my office. Really easy to talk to a Human being, and not to mention affordable!!! i would give it TEN starts if i could!