Locals will tell you that MGH stands for "Man's Greatest Hospital." That is the absolute truth…read more
Since "MGH West" (now known as Mass General Waltham) opened in Waltham, about 26 years ago, Mass General has exponentially increased the number and breadth of services available there. Don't think for a minute that you're going to be seen by a "country doctor," as in rural America, at Mass General Waltham. That is absolutely not the case. MGH has brought the physicians, clinicians, technology, expertise, and high standards of its downtown "Mother Ship" on Fruit Street to Mass General Waltham.
For more times than I care to admit, I have had surgery AGAIN in the Same Day Surgery Unit at Mass General Waltham. Everything I remembered about the unit proved true, once again: the care is consistently exceptional, and the kindness and professionalism of the staff are extraordinary.
The consistency of care at Mass General Waltham is exactly what I would expect from a top-tier, High Reliability Organization. The facility is filled with reliable systems of care and expert clinicians--and, equally important, people who genuinely care about the patients they serve.
Again, when I arrived at the Same Day Surgery Unit, I was greeted by an especially kind, welcoming, caring, professional, and efficient member of the front-desk staff. I was then escorted into the patient-only area by my pre-op nurse. From admission through discharge, I was continually impressed by the kindness, compassion, professionalism, and efficiency of every person I encountered.
What is particularly striking is how much the staff seems to love working at Mass General Waltham. It felt as though everyone I met had come from the "Mother Ship" downtown and then arrived at a "Happy Place"--one that reminds me of the "Happy Island" of Aruba.
Nursing was over the top--absolutely fantastic--as were anesthesia and surgery.
As someone who has dedicated my career to patient safety, systems and process engineering, and High Reliability Organizations, I pay very close attention to how care is delivered. From that perspective, Mass General Waltham is exceptional.
At every step of my surgical journey, there were appropriate verifications, structured handoffs, and optimal transfers--not only of me as a patient, but also of the information necessary to care for me, safely. The systems were reliable, the communication was excellent, and the people providing my care were outstanding.
My care was flawless, as were the people who provided it and the systems supporting that care.
I simply cannot say enough positive things about the people, processes, and quality of care at Mass General Waltham.
It is a privilege to be a Mass General Waltham patient.
Unfortunately, I'll be back in the operating room, again, in a few months. I am incredibly grateful--and genuinely comforted--by knowing that when I return, I will once again receive exceptional, compassionate, highly reliable care from the Same Day Surgery team at Mass General Waltham.