Massachusetts Community Health Centers Improve Facilities with MassDevelopment Grants
March 14, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Meggie Quackenbush, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2011 & 857-208-2777 (cell)
mquackenbush@massdevelopment.com
MassDevelopment has provided grants totaling $525,502 to 11 community health centers across the Commonwealth through the Agency’s Community Health Center Grant Program, which will help these organizations complete capital improvement projects. The program offers grants of up to $50,000 each for projects ranging from installing updated electronic health record systems and HVAC equipment to launching dental practices and vision centers.
“The Commonwealth’s community health centers not only provide high-quality, comprehensive care, they also create jobs and spur economic activity for cities and towns across the state,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “These MassDevelopment grants enable the selected centers to upgrade critical facility and electronic health record systems, which will contribute to the larger goal of providing better care for the thousands of Massachusetts residents who depend on their services.”
“MassDevelopment is committed to funding real estate and equipment projects for nonprofit organizations through initiatives like the Community Health Center Grant Program, which supports health centers and the important services they deliver to Massachusetts residents,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “These grants will help 11 health centers from East Boston to Great Barrington make updates to their facilities and promote healthier Massachusetts communities.”
The Community Health Center Grant Program is funded by the MassDevelopment/HEFA Trust, which MassDevelopment has administered since the 2010 merger of the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority (HEFA) with MassDevelopment. MassDevelopment also offers other financing options to community health centers, including tax-exempt bond financing and TechDollars, a loan program to help nonprofits purchase and install technology equipment.
The following institutions received MassDevelopment grants in 2018:
Charles River Community Health Inc., Boston - $50,000
Charles River Community Health’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the communities of Allston, Brighton, Waltham, and surrounding areas by providing quality, comprehensive, coordinated care that is patient-centered and community-focused. Charles River Community Health will use this $50,000 grant to upgrade its electronic health record system, which will allow for more efficient tracking and reporting of services and improved quality of service for the organization’s patients.
“We are excited to receive funding support from MassDevelopment, which will help support an IT infrastructure upgrade to update our electronic health record system. This upgrade will enable quality improvement initiatives, improve clinical staff efficiency, streamline patient workflows, support better clinical decision-making, and ultimately improve our quality of service for the over 13,500 patients we serve,” said Charles River Community Health Executive Director Elizabeth Browne.
Community Healthlink Inc., Worcester - $50,000
Community Healthlink Inc. (CHL) is a leading provider of primary and behavioral health care for individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and physical health conditions in central Massachusetts. In addition to providing primary care services, CHL also offers outpatient behavioral health programs, victim and emergency services, and residential recovery and supportive housing. This grant will help CHL build, furnish and equip a centralized scheduling area in its first-floor lobby.
“We are so grateful to MassDevelopment and its Community Health Center Grant Program. With this grant, we will centralize our reception areas and cross-train administrative staff from our primary care, behavioral health, and case management departments. This will improve patient access to our integrated, team-based care and improve patient health outcomes,” said Community Healthlink President and CEO Nicole Gagne.
Community Health Programs Incorporated, Great Barrington - $50,000
Founded in 1975, Community Health Programs’ mission is to measurably improve the health of Berkshire County residents. Community Health Programs serves those who have limited access to health care, including high-risk populations such as low-income and uninsured immigrants, migrants, and seasonal workers; those who are homeless; and public housing residents. This grant will help the organization’s North Adams Family Medicine facility expand with a dental practice.
“Having medical and dental care in one location is not only convenient for patients, it can improve health outcomes through comprehensive care of the whole person. This grant will allow CHP to provide much-needed dental services, will improve the health of individuals in need of care, and will continue to benefit our communities for years to come,” said Community Health Programs CEO Lia Spiliotes.
Dimock Community Health Center Inc., Roxbury - $50,000
The Dimock Community Health Center is an independent community health center serving Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood and surrounding areas. The Dimock Center provides adult medicine, integrated pediatric medicine, women’s health services, vision and dental care for adults and children, substance abuse and mental health services, and more. The Dimock Center will use this $50,000 grant to make necessary renovations to the roof of its Richards Building.
“This funding will allow Dimock to make critically needed renovations to the roof of the Center’s Richards Building, which will allow Dimock to safely ensure access to comprehensive care for all patients and families within the community. This generous grant from MassDevelopment supports Dimock’s commitment to providing comprehensive health care services and strengthens our continuum of integrated care,” said President and CEO of The Dimock Center Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan.
Duffy Health Center Inc., Hyannis - $50,000
Hyannis’s Duffy Health Center provides comprehensive, integrated health care and support services to those who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness on Cape Cod. The Center will use this grant to make interior renovations to its facility, including buying and installing furnishings and equipment for clinical workspaces and the reception area. The redesign will relieve congestion and increase patient privacy.
“Duffy is undertaking a major renovation of the interior of our health center and this funding will support clinical workspace equipment and improvements on the medical floor. This interior redesign will improve staff and patient flow, and enhance the patient experience by relieving congestion, increasing privacy and providing a more welcoming setting,” said Duffy Health Center’s Heidi Nelson.
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center Corporation, East Boston - $39,554
East Boston Neighborhood Health Center’s (EBNHC) mission is to provide easily accessible, affordable, appropriate, high-quality, personalized, coordinated primary care for East Boston and the surrounding communities. EBNHC will use grant funds to upgrade and purchase equipment for its vision clinic.
“We have always been committed to providing not only primary health care, but also the full range of services necessary to properly care for our patients. We are thrilled that MassDevelopment has chosen to support the expansion of our vision clinic, and their investment will allow us to provide this important care to more families in the community,” said East Boston Neighborhood Health Center President and CEO Manny Lopes.
Manet Community Health Center Incorporated, Quincy - $50,000
Founded in 1979, the Manet Community Health Center serves more than 35 communities in Norfolk, Plymouth, and Bristol Counties with locations in Quincy, Hull, and Taunton. The Center provides services to all patients, regardless of their financial income. Manet Community Health Center will use this grant to help consolidate its administrative offices into one building in Quincy and undertake HVAC and IT infrastructure work.
“Manet is overjoyed and grateful to the MassDevelopment for investing in our efforts to consolidate our administrative office functions, a move that will create significant cost savings and efficiencies for the health center,” said Manet’s CEO Cynthia H. Sierra. “This grant will enable us to make vital renovations to accommodate our IT infrastructure equipment and servers at the Snug Harbor site, which will be scaled to meet our current and future needs and serve as the nerve center for our medical records system.”
Outer Cape Health Services Inc., Harwich - $50,000
Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS) provides a full range of primary health care and supportive services, including primary health care, mental illness and substance abuse support, radiology, prenatal and postpartum care, and dental care to residents living in the eight outermost towns on Cape Cod. This grant will help OCHS build Harwich Port Health Center, which will include 18 exam rooms for primary and behavioral health care, substance abuse treatment, and a full range of supportive services.
“Outer Cape Health Services is grateful for this MassDevelopment grant, which will support the opening of a new and expanded community health center in Harwich Port,” said Outer Cape Health Services CEO Patricia Nadle. “When the center opens this fall, we will triple our capacity to meet the underserved healthcare needs of residents and visitors of the Lower Cape with a vibrant medical home. With support from friends like those at MassDevelopment, we can offer accessible, comprehensive healthcare and a full range of supportive behavioral and social services.”
South End Community Health Center Inc., Boston - $36,000
South End Community Health Center (SECHC) is a nonprofit health care organization for residents of Boston’s South End and surrounding communities. The Center operates with a mission to provide high-quality, culturally-sensitive, coordinated health care and social services to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay. SECHC will use this grant to buy and install new security equipment at its two locations in the South End.
“We are extremely grateful to MassDevelopment for providing us with the funding to upgrade and install security equipment at the health center,” said South End Community Health Center President and CEO Bill Walczak. “Our goal after the equipment is installed will be to strike a balance between openness and security in the service of creating a safe space for everyone.”
Stanley Street Treatment & Resources Inc., Fall River - $49,948
Stanley Street Treatment & Resources (SSTAR) is an integrated primary and behavioral health care provider in Fall River. SSTAR offers patients family medicine, chronic diseases management, mental illness and addiction treatment, and an expanded opioid treatment program. This grant will allow SSTAR to renovate an existing IT and training area to develop a new space to house its Accountable Care Organization Support Program, which will allow staff to work directly with high-risk patients.
“SSTAR is very pleased that we have received funds to better manage our IT infrastructure and training needs for both medical records and population health management. This will allow us to better provide care across the continuum of primary and behavioral health,” said SSTAR CO Nancy E. Paull.
Upham’s Corner Health Committee Inc., Dorchester - $50,000
Founded in 1971, the Upham’s Corner Health Center (UCHC) is a comprehensive health and social service agency that provides comprehensive, low-cost, community-based health care to residents of Dorchester and surrounding neighborhoods. UCHC will use grant funds to upgrade its HVAC system at its 415 Columbia Road site, which houses the Center’s primary care services.
“Upham’s Corner Health Center is grateful for the generous support from MassDevelopment that will enable us to modernize the HVAC system at our primary care site located at 415 Columbia Road. As a result of this upgrade project, UCHC will be equipped to improve patient satisfaction by addressing the need for a consistently comfortable experience for patients,” said Upham’s Corner Health Center CEO Jay Trivedi.
MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2017, MassDevelopment financed or managed 377 projects generating investment of more than $4.3 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create about 9,488 jobs and build or rehabilitate 1,863 residential units.
