DotHouse Health

I strongly advise anyone not to go here!
This is the type of place that nurses wear Jordan’s with their scrubs. I had a first appointment, and made another one that I had to unfortunately cancel. I tried calling for a month (not joking) to cancel. One time, I stayed on hold for an hour and a half before I hung up! I even emailed them with no response!
Anyway, due to their incompetence I have been put in a scary situation medically. When they finally called be back, their answers were absolutely ridiculous. Ex. «Spend the night at the ER with a special needs child», etc. I will never go back here. It is horrifying that this place is still in business.

Waste of time. Don’t go here if you aren’t a patient and need urgent care.
I went here this morning and was told that I could not be seen because I’m not a current patient. I informed the receptionist that I read the following on the website before coming:
«Can I be seen in Urgent Care if I am not a DotHouse Health patient?
We are able to see non-​DotHouse Health patients if your insurance company allows you to be seen at outside facilities. Our financial aid and registration staff can work with you to see if you are eligible to be seen.»
After telling her this, I was still told that I would not be seen because I’m not a current patient, even though they explicitly say on their website that you do not need to be a current patient.
Two stars because it is in a decent location for the neighborhood if you are able to become a patient.

Came here again, they had no record of me ever coming to the facility. I’m like that is weird I’ve only been coming since I was born! Wtf is up with this place

2 stars because all the doctors (eye, women’s, primary) have all been very good to me and professional.
Lose 3 stars because the front desk is incompetent and have so much attitude for no reason. I work in customer service and I never give anyone a hard time, but these people are so rude, over the phone, in person, etc. I told them I had a bad cough for months, and need to be seen ASAP. However, she goes; you can’t unless your primary care provider changes you over, like what? I’ve done this before in emergencies and I’m pretty sure any doctor is capable of diagnosing a cough. She just goes «go to urgent care» like thanks. Throughout my whole 21 years here, I’ve never heard of this.
Appointments take forever to book, prepare to wait a month to be seen.
Sad to say, I’ll be seeing someone else to avoid any further conflicts with this place.

My review is only for the women’s health department so I can’t speak on how the other departments run, but I’ve almost always been seen within 10 minutes of my scheduled appointment time. If you receive prenatal care from a midwife at Dot House, you can choose to give birth at either Boston Medical Center or Brigham and Women’s Hospital. My BWH midwife, Sundyna is attentive and caring and I highly recommend seeing her if you are looking to deliver at BWH and live nearby.
The parking lot right next to Dot House is awful. Don’t even bother trying to park there because the spaces are tight and there is only one way in/​out. I’d recommend coming earlier and finding a 2-​hour street parking spot or walking here if you can.

TERRIBLE. The only convenience is the location. The staff know nothing, the doctors know NOTHING theyre all dumb. I dont even think they know their name. Dont waste your time. go somewhere else!

Dorchester House is a multi-​service center that offer more than just medical services. There are pharmacy, WIC, pool, gym, and other community services available at the center. I’ve had both good and bad days at this center. Sometimes you would have to wait for a very long time to be seen for your appointment and if you miss that, expect to wait at least two months before you can book another one. Why is that? It’s because the center is the most convenient place for residents to get their teeth checked, then their prescriptions filled, and finally a nice and relaxing swim at the whole all at one location. It’s undeniably a popular location, otherwise you wouldn’t have to wait so long just to be seen. There have been many renovations recently to improve the flow of operation so that waiting long hours will be a thing of the past. Is the center perfect? No! But there really isn’t many multi-​service centers around like Dorchester House that spells out both «quality» and «convenience.»

This place does not deserve this 1 star! They’re terrible! The whole process of making the appointment, registration, then waiting 2 hours to be seen just to be told that the physician I waited SOOO long to see, can’t take me because she’s overbooked and if I could reschedule. REALLY? If your time is valuable like mine, then search elsewhere!

I understand most companies make you press this and that to get to a live person, most allow you to by pass by pressing zero … NOT Dorchester House, their phone system is so convoluted, it’s not funny. First, you get greeted in several languages … and no way to skip. and the slew of sub-​menu … and the good part, they friggin hangup on you, or put you on hold long enough that you gave up — after you worn out your number keys
Recently, they changed their phone system, and it’s not any better, it’s worse. I left messages on their prescription line 3 times and still not getting my meds. Fed up, i insisted to speak with a live person and after being bounced around, i finally got someone … who told me the new system is terrible, they are not getting complete messages. In the past, you can just leave the info and 2 – 3 days, meds are ready. Now you have to speak clearly and press # speak again and press # and #####
In between those #s are beeps and that’s where things get messy.
I even spoke with a manager and asked if they can do anything with their new phone system, she said no, and to give it a chance.
Me don’t think so … i am shopping for a new PCP at a different health clinic where i their phone systems doesn’t have a dozen sub-​menu.

We’ve taken our 7 year old here since he was adopted as an infant and have really liked the medical care he’s received. His primary ‘physician’ is Emily Feinberg, N.P. and she is fantastic! Great doctors and nurses! Sick visits you’re never sure who you’re going to get, but they’re always great. 24-​hour nurse on call for phone advice is also great.
Unfortunately, there are some downsides. All of the administrative side that we’ve had to deal with have been pretty bad. Finding someone on the appointment line who you can understand and is helpful. They only book out about 6 – 8 weeks and it can be tough to get an appointment. I always get ‘Call back next Tuesday and try again’. We took the boys there once for dental and won’t go back. First time there and they wouldn’t let us go into the room with a 5 year old and 6 year old. In hindsight, I can’t believe I didn’t just walk out! Eye care was ok.
Have also been members at the pool, but finally gave up because we could never find out what the schedule was.

My b/​f went there today suppose to have a whole exam, The doctor did nothing no blood work eyes just rushed him out to say go to the BMC? He is not even a Dr I think his name is Greg U don’t know the last name of the spelling I love it there I see Dr Lunsford and she does every thing eyes ears blood etc. Now I have to make app for him for the BMC he is pissed and I am too! Normally they would ask when is the last time u had ur eyes checked nope did nothing! ???

Dorchester House is definitely not perfect but I’ve been a patient here for the past 10 years and I can’t seem to leave. It has everything. Dental, Eye, Adult Medicine, Physical therapy and many other services for their patients. They have a pool and exercise classes available. The doctors are friendly and helpful.
My only gripe is appointments and prescriptions. I’ve waited a week or so for a prescription to be re-​filled and sent back to my pharmacy. I’ve learned now that I need to plan a week in advance to get a prescription re-​filled.
Parking can be a pain. The lot next to the center is tiny and you’re lucky if you get a spot quick.

Years ago the Dot House would have gotten 1 star. Since moving back to Boston 8 months ago, I have to say the quality of care has changed dramatically. There is still NO PARKING at this place but the doctors have changed. I bring my daughter here for routine pediatrics. The nurses /​doc couldn’t be friendlier or more attentive. I waited 10 mins and was able to get in to see the doc. It was great. Nice improvements!

i can’t possibly say enough about the quality of care i have received at dot house. after spending 18 years at another well known health center and getting the runaround about my chronic headaches i finally switched to dot house and within a year was diagnosed and treated. on top of that i have received top of the line counseling, family planning, and even accupuncture all covered by insurance! they have financial counselers on site to help sort through the confusing commonwealth care systems, and while you may have to wait for an initial appointment, it is well worth it for the quality of care. i have never had a primary care doctor make me feel like she was personally invested in me and that i was not just a file. i hedged a bit when i found out they were affiliated with boston medical center, but when i needed major surgery, i was amazed by what a state of the art and top of the line hospital they are. i really think BMC has become one of the top hospitals in the city. they certainly have the latest equipment.
and yes, a pharmacy on site open till 9 mon-​fri, and sat 9−1pm.
an eye clinic with discount designer frames… i paid $ 60 with lenses for my last pair!
they also have full dental services which i have not yet used, but plan to.
smoking cessation counseling is availiable along with many other community services including free tax preparation, healthy eating programs, and even a farmers market during the season!!!
and i even voted here.
ok on top of all of this… they have a POOL! it is über cheap for residents and the staff is ultra friendly. afternoons are slow and sometimes you can have the whole pool to yourself! and they offer swimming lessons, water aerobics, and more.
if you live in dot and have not been here… make a point to check it out.
and if you feel left behind by that other health center that seems to have grown to big for it’s britches… then dot house is the place to be.
kudos to allison diamond in primary care and smoking cessation, ivy brackup for accupuncture, and kathy in family planning. although i have never encountered anyone here who is not an absolutely great caregiver.
do i love it? absolutely!!!

I’ve never actually been to the Dorchester House, but I thought it was important to note that I have just moved here and am looking for a new PCP. Ontop of that, I have been sick and was looking for an appointment… new patients can only call M-​W for appointments, and they are booking 5 – 6 weeks out! If you’re really sick, they’re going to send you elsewhere. Maybe this is how MA works, I don’t know… but in VA I was always able to get appointments v. quickly, sometimes even the same day if my schedule was flexible enough.

in a word: fantastic!
dorchester house is a one-​stop center for people in the community. in addition to having basic health care services (primary care, adolescent care, pediatrics, ob/​gyn) they also offer mental health services, family planning, they have a pharmacy. they even have some other community services such as a POOL (which is very cheap for residents), yoga classes, WIC. but don’t take my word for it, check out their website, they offer so much i can’t remember it all!
what’s nice about this place is that it was created by people in the community FOR people in the community. people who were tired of having to go into boston to receive high quality care. for instance, if you are having a baby and live in dorchester you can go here for your ob/​gyn care and then choose to deliver your baby at brigham and women’s, BMC or i think beth israel deaconness.
if you live in the neighborhood you should definitely check out dorchester house. they have financial aid counselors who will help you figure out how to pay for your visit. the clinicians all care very deeply about their jobs and give high-​quality, culturally respectful care to their patients. i have honestly never seen such a group of people so clearly devoted to their job before. highly recommended!