Outer Cape Health Services Upgrades Communications, IT Systems Thanks to MassDevelopment TechDollars Loan

January 4, 2012

Contacts:
Kelsey Abbruzzese, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086 & 617-448-9077
Gina Longo, Outer Cape Health Services, 508-240-0208 ext. 2228

MassDevelopment has provided a $250,000 TechDollars loan to Outer Cape Health Services, which provides a full range of primary healthcare and supportive social services for residents of and visitors to the eight outermost towns on Cape Cod. Outer Cape Health was founded in 1987 through the merger of Health Associates of Provincetown Inc. (founded in 1972) and AIM Medical Center in Wellfleet (founded in 1964). The multi-site federally qualified health center organization will use loan proceeds to upgrade its telecommunications and information technology systems to support its electronic medical records; billing and accounting software; and other essential improvements to support Outer Cape Health’s expansion of services and staff. Outer Cape Health added 12 employees during fiscal year 2011.

“Just as Outer Cape Health Services helps to ensure access to quality health care for residents and visitors to the Outer and Lower Cape, TechDollars loans help nonprofits around Massachusetts keep their technologies cutting-edge,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “Community health centers like OCHS provide efficient, low-cost care, and we’re pleased to support Outer Cape Health Services reach all of the Cape's outermost towns.”

“We are grateful for the investment of MassDevelopment’s loan to ensure the performance of our infrastructure so we can continue to grow and serve the residents and visitors of the Outer and Lower Cape,” said Outer Cape Health Services CEO Sally Deane.

In 1996, Outer Cape Health Services signed a non-exclusive affiliation agreement with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. OCHS refers most of its patients requiring inpatient admission to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis. The organization’s comprehensive primary care services include preventive care; diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic medical problems; physical exams; and lab and X-ray services. Outer Cape Health Services serves over 15,000 unique patients a year and expects to provide over 60,000 patient visits in FY 12. It has health center locations in Harwich, Orleans, Provincetown, and Wellfleet. It also has Women Infants & Children (WIC) offices in Harwich, Orleans and Provincetown and a Pharmacy in Wellfleet.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2011, MassDevelopment financed or managed more than 300 projects generating investment of $3.8 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create more than 10,000 jobs (2,547 permanent and 8,129 construction), and build or rehabilitate more than 1,000 residential units.