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Kennedy CHC Highlighted in Healthcare Equality Index 2016

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Named as “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality” by National Survey

Worcester, MA –April 11, 2016 – The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization.

The findings were part of HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index 2016, a unique annual survey that encourages equal care for LGBT Americans by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to LGBT patients, visitors and employees.

Kennedy CHC earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients, and their families, who can face significant challenges in securing the quality health care and respect they deserve.

Kennedy CHC is one of a select group of 496 healthcare facilities nationwide to be named Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality.  Facilities awarded this title meet key criteria, including patient and employee non-discrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBT health education for key staff members.

“Despite all the progress we’ve made, far too many LGBT people still lack inclusive and affirming healthcare.  Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality are helping to change that, and, in the process, making the lives of LGBT patients and their families better each and every day,” said Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign.  “LGBT people have a right to be treated equally in all aspects of our lives, and HRC celebrates Kennedy CHC for its work to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients.”

The Healthcare Equality Index offers healthcare facilities unique and powerful resources designed to help provide equal care to a long-overlooked group of patients, as well as assistance in complying with regulatory requirements and access to high-quality staff training.

For more information about the Healthcare Equality Index 2016, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/hei.

The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center announces that it has received and installed original artwork at its flagship medical facility, located at 19 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA. Through The Art Connection, a Boston non-profit, Kennedy CHC received artwork from local artists and donors.

The partnership between Kennedy CHC and The Art Connection led to the placement of artwork in the Milford, MA and Framingham, MA medical sites. Artwork displayed at the Worcester site will be viewed by the over 18,000 patients served per year in Medical, Dental, Pharmacy and Behavioral Health departments.

About The Art Connection: The Art Connection was established in 1995 by Fay Chandler, a painter and sculptor working in Boston since the early 1970s.  As Fay considered what to do with some of her inventory of work, she became convinced that the best result would be transferring it to interested social service organizations in the community that have no funds for purchasing art. Learn more at https://www.theartconnection.org/

About Kennedy CHC

The mission of Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) is to “help people live healthier lives.”  We believe that everyone has a right to accessible, high quality, comprehensive, integrated and compassionate health care. As a community health center, Kennedy CHC has always provided comprehensive care to its patients, who are at disparate risk for chronic disease and poor health outcomes. Our vision is to be a constantly growing, financially sound, Federally Qualified Community Health Center.

Founded in a Worcester housing project as the Great Brook Valley Health Center in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, four dental sites and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts. Currently over 28,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s medical home model of care which provides a comprehensive approach to primary care, urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs.

Named as “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality” by National Survey

Worcester, MA (December 7, 2015) – The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization.  The honor is given to facilities that meet LGBT-inclusive benchmarks that are part of the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index, a unique survey that encourages equal care for LGBT Americans by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to LGBT patients, visitors and employees.

Kennedy CHC earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients, and their families, who can face significant challenges in securing the quality health care and respect they deserve.

The Health Center is one of a select group of healthcare facilities nationwide to be named Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality. Facilities awarded this title meet key criteria, including patient and employee non-discrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBT health education for key staff members.

“Despite all the progress we’ve made, far too many LGBT people still lack inclusive and affirming healthcare. Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality are helping to change that, and, in the process, making the lives of LGBT patients and their families better each and every day,” said Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign.  “LGBT people have a right to be treated equally in all aspects of our lives, and HRC celebrates Kennedy CHC for its tireless work to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients.”

The Healthcare Equality Index offers healthcare facilities unique and powerful resources designed to help provide equal care to a long-overlooked group of patients, as well as assistance in complying with new regulatory requirements and access to high-quality staff training.

For more information about the Healthcare Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/hei.

About Kennedy CHC

The mission of Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) is to “help people live healthier lives.”  We believe that everyone has a right to accessible, high quality, comprehensive, integrated and compassionate health care. As a community health center, Kennedy CHC has always provided comprehensive care to its patients, who are at disparate risk for chronic disease and poor health outcomes. Our vision is to be a constantly growing, financially sound, Federally Qualified Community Health Center.

Founded in a Worcester housing project as the Great Brook Valley Health Center in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, four dental sites and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts. Currently over 28,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s medical home model of care which provides a comprehensive approach to primary care, urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs.

Frank Saba, CEO, Milford Regional Medical Center and Dismas House Awardees

 The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) announces that it presented Mr. Francis “Frank” Saba, CEO Milford Regional Medical Center, and Dismas House of Massachusetts with the first Annual Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Award on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at Mechanics Hall.  Dr. Jean MacCormack, President of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate, was on hand for the awards event and shared her perspective on the legacy of the late-Senator.

Kennedy CHC launched this program in recognition of the 50^th Anniversary of Community Health Centers nationwide.  Each year the organization will use this event as an opportunity to recognize one individual and one organization making an impact on the health of our community.

Among his many accomplishments as CEO for Milford Regional Medical Center for over 25 years, Frank Saba was instrumental in bringing Kennedy CHC to Milford to help address the lack of primary care services in this region. His leadership in this effort demonstrated his commitment to the community and in just a year and a half over 3,000 patients have been able to access health care at Kennedy CHC’s medical facility in Milford. As a premiere organization dealing with reconciled prisoners in our Commonwealth, Dismas House was recognized for its work in assisting individuals recently released from prison reintegrate themselves into society.  Former prisoners are welcomed by Dismas House staff and volunteers who believe that care and compassion can make the difference for these prisoners as they start of a new life.

Event sponsors included Healthcare Champions Matthew and Laurie Hogan;  Healthcare Trailblazers: Mass League of Community Health Centers, Milford Regional Medical Center, Neighborhood Health Plan and Tufts Health Plan; and Healthcare Friends: Advocates, Anna Maria College, Consigli Foundation, Hanover Group Foundation, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Lamoureux Pagano and Associates, Oliva’s Market, Spectrum Health Systems, TD Bank, UMass Medical Center, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Worcester Business Journal.

L-R: Wendy Saba, Toni McGuire, President and CEO, Kennedy CHC, Frank Saba, Honoree, CEO Milford Regional Medical Center, Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Board Chair, Kennedy CHC

L-R Toni McGuire, President and CEO, Kennedy CHC, Dave McMahon, Honoree, Co-Executive Director, Dismas House, Ann Rise, Dismas House, Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Board Chair, Kennedy CHC

Dr. Jean MacCormack: President, Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

Worcester, MA (July 6, 2015) The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) announces that its new Worcester optometry practice officially opened on Monday, July 6, 2015.  Kennedy CHC’s optometry practice was expanded in partnership with the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) to address access issues related to vision care services in Worcester, as well as to provide a clinical site for MCPHS doctor of optometry (OD) students to practice their learned skills. Congressman James P. McGovern was the honored guest at the opening event.

With an eight-month wait list for Kennedy CHC patients to see its one optometrist, Kennedy CHC entered into the partnership with MCPHS in an effort to expand services while meeting the clinical requirement for the University’s OD students.  MCPHS has provided the clinical equipment, students and preceptors; Kennedy CHC is providing the space and patients, and will keep the revenue thus making the expanded services sustainable over the long term.

Kennedy CHC built out the new space and infrastructure for the expanded optometry practice at its 631 Lincoln Street, which also houses community programs, a call center and a nurses’ triage area.  The renovation of the facility resulted in five exam rooms to accommodate Kennedy CHC’s one optometrist and four students and preceptors from MCPHS, in addition to a specialty exam room, optical shop and waiting area. The cost of the build-out was generously supported in part by the George I. Alden Trust, the Fletcher Foundation, the Stoddard Charitable Trust and The Health Foundation of Central Mass.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Earns National
Recognition for Patient-Centered Care
NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home™ standards emphasize enhanced care through patient-clinician partnership

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announces that the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center’s medical site in Framingham, Massachusetts has received NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition (Level II status) for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term, participative relationships.  The Health Center’s flagship medical facility in Worcester, MA achieved NCQA PCMH Level III status earlier this year.

The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by clinician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.

“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that Kennedy CHC has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.”

To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, Kennedy CHC demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home. NCQA standards aligned with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

To find clinicians and their practices with NCQA PCMH Recognition, visit https://recognition.ncqa.org.

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About NCQA
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s Web site (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.

About Kennedy CHC
The mission of Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) is to “help people live healthier lives.”   We believe that everyone has a right to accessible, high quality, comprehensive, integrated and compassionate health care. As a community health center, Kennedy CHC has always provided comprehensive care to its patients, who are at disparate risk for chronic disease and poor health outcomes. Our vision is to be a constantly growing, financially sound, Federally Qualified Community Health Center that:

• efficiently delivers high quality, accessible primary care services.
• becomes the health care home and provider choice of all our patients.
• achieves excellence in outcomes with our patients as partners.
• remains at the forefront of innovative health care practices.

Founded in a Worcester housing project as the Great Brook Valley Health Center in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, four dental sites and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts. Currently over 28,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s medical home model of care which provides a comprehensive approach to primary care, urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs.

Kennedy CHC – Framingham is pleased to announce that we will be operating under new hours starting Monday May 18, 2015.

Our new hours are:

Medical Department

Monday, Wednesday and Friday ……………………………….. 7:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday……………………………………………….. 7:45 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
(NOTE: closed 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays)

Two Saturdays per month …………………………………………. 7:45 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.
(Second and Fourth Saturdays)

Sunday ……………………………………………………………………… Closed

Note: Registration desk opens at 7:45 a.m. Check-in ends 15 minutes before closing time.

In case of an after-hours emergency, please call 508-270-5700.

Español
En caso de una emergencia después del horario regular por favor llamar al 508-270-5700.

Português
Em caso de emergência, depois do horário de funcionamento, por favor ligar para 508-280-5700.

Pediatricians and nurses at Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center are sending families home from checkups with free books and a very important prescription – “read aloud to your children every day.” Today, Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), visited the health center, not only to cheer them on, but to practice what doctors preach by reading to a group of young patients.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center participates in Reach Out and Read, a program that prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together.

Doctors, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read’s evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups, by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children.

Through Reach Out and Read, each child starts kindergarten with a home library of up to 10 books and a parent who has heard at every health supervision visit about the importance of books and reading. The program begins with newborn babies and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities.

The program has gained broad support on Beacon Hill.

“I’m pleased to have this opportunity to visit a MetroWest Reach Out and Read site to experience this terrific program first-hand,” said Senator Spilka. “We need to make sure we’re giving all kids the tools they need to learn and succeed in school. Engaging families in literacy programs is key for the future of kids and communities across the Commonwealth.”

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center is one of 7 programs in Senator Spilka’s district that participate in Reach Out and Read, providing books to more than 5780 children annually.

Reach Out and Read reaches more than 188,829 infants, toddlers and preschoolers each year at 301 locations across the Commonwealth.

“As we all know, and confirmed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading definitely has an impact on a child’s growth and development,” comments Dr. Shah-Canning. “Reach Out and Read provides a great opportunity to hand a child /parent a book at our well child visits and discuss the importance of early and emergent literacy. It’s been incredibly satisfying to watch a child’s interest in reading flourish as they ask for books at their sick visits and one for their siblings too.”

Families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve their potential.

“Research shows that if you intervene in the first five years of life and partner with parents, you can dramatically improve the early literacy skills of a child, putting them on the track for success in school and in life,” said Reach Out and Read Executive Director Brian Gallagher. “Childhood development experts tell us that the most important thing that parents can do to prepare their children to succeed in school is to read aloud to them every day. “

The Reach Out and Read model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the program has one of the strongest records of research support of any primary care intervention.

Reach Out and Read doctors and nurses distribute over 6.5 million books to more than 4 million children and their families annually at 5,000 pediatric practices, hospitals, clinics and health centers in all 50 states.

More than 20,000 medical providers nationwide currently participate in Reach Out and Read.

For more information, visit www.reachoutandread.org.

Back row L-R: Dr. Deval Shah-Canning, Medical Director Kennedy CHC-Framingham, Clifford the Dog, Senator Karen Spilka, Toni McGuire, President and CEO, Kennedy CHC

Front row: Children from Head Start in Framingham

 

 

The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center announces that Brian Sullivan, M.D., a resident of Rutland, MA has accepted the position of Assistant Medical Director at the Health Center’s flagship medical facility, located at 19 Tacoma Street, Worcester, MA.  Dr. Sullivan has been a clinical provider with Kennedy CHC since 2013 working primarily with refugee populations in the Tacoma Street Urgent Care department.

In addition to his work at Kennedy CHC, Dr. Sullivan has been associated with Barre Family Medical Center, a part of the UMass Medical Group, since 2013.  His past experience includes serving as an attending physician for Community Health Centers, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT.  Dr. Sullivan has also participated in various volunteer efforts including working at the Baan Dada Orphanage and Kwai River Hospital in Thailand.

A graduate of Boston College, Dr. Sullivan received his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.  He did his internship and residency at the University of Utah where he served as Chief Resident and was awarded Intern of the Year.

The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center announces that it has received a $20,000 grant from the Fallon/OrNda Community Fund of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.   The funds will support dental equipment for a new dental operatory at the Health Center’s flagship medical facility at 19 Tacoma Street, Worcester. The additional exam room will help to open up access to dental care for Kennedy CHC patients.

Kennedy CHC provides comprehensive medical services to over 28,000 patients in Central Massachusetts and MetroWest. It operates three medical facilities, four dental sites and six school-based health clinics in Worcester, Framingham, Milford and Clinton.