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Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Announces Stephen J. Kerrigan Has Been Selected as the Organization’s New President and CEO

The Board of Directors of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center announces that Stephen J. Kerrigan has been selected as the organization’s new President and CEO, effective July 2, 2019.  Mr. Kerrigan will succeed Antonia G. McGuire, who joined the organization in 2008.  Ms. McGuire announced her planned retirement in September 2018.

A native of Central Massachusetts, Mr. Kerrigan brings a strong background in organizational leadership, strategic planning and government relations to the position.  A former aide for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, he also served as Chief of Staff for Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, and as President and CEO of the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the Inaugural Committee for the 57^th presidential Inauguration. Mr. Kerrigan is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, and was a Resident Fellow with the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Institute of Politics at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

“Throughout his expansive career working with Senator Kennedy’s office and the Office of the Attorney General, as well as through his volunteer efforts supporting military families, veteran services and women’s healthcare, Steve has fought for health priorities that support the hard working families that Kennedy CHC serves,” explains Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Board Chair.  “Steve has certainly lived his commitment to advancing equity.”  

Mr. Kerrigan joins the Kennedy CHC team at a significant time in its history.  During Ms. McGuire’s tenure, the Health Center grew exponentially, transitioning from the Great Brook Valley Health Center serving mostly Worcester to the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, which today serves close to 30,000 patients at three health care centers throughout Central Mass and MetroWest.  Kennedy CHC is also part of the Community Care Cooperative ACO and is well-positioned financially to continue to grow to meet community need.

“I am grateful to the Board of Directors for their confidence and very much looking forward to the mission driven partnership we will all have as we work to help people live healthier lives,” shares Mr. Kerrigan.  “Health care for all was the cause of Senator Kennedy’s life and it is my honor to work with the Health Center and its many supporters and partners to make that cause a reality for the people who live and work in the communities we serve.”

As of July 2, 2019, Mr. Kerrigan will be located at Kennedy CHC’s administrative offices at 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center to Manage Prescription Drug Assistance Program, MetroWest Meds

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) is pleased to announce that it has assumed the management of MetroWest Meds, a prescription drug assistance program previously managed by the Natick VNA.  Funded by MetroWest Health Foundation, the transition occurred on January 1, 2019 with the relocation of MetroWest Meds’ offices to the Kennedy CHC-Framingham site at 354 Waverly Street.  The two organizations are aligned in work through their respective mission to improve health outcomes for low-income residents residing in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, including increasing access to health care and prescription medication, respectively.  Together, they aim to improve access to prescription medication, compliance with prescribed medical treatment, and knowledge of prescription resources in order to improve health outcomes within the community.

MetroWest Meds works with patients and their providers to complete the application process required by pharmaceutical companies to facilitate access to free or reduced cost brand-name pharmaceuticals.  Individuals who are interested in applying are asked to provide a list of current medications, including dosages, as well as proof of income.  Services are available to patients of the health center, as well as anyone living in our service area.  Since it was created in 2004, MetroWest Meds has served over 5,300 clients and has saved over $7.5 million in prescription drug costs. 

MetroWest Meds is designed to help eligible uninsured and under-insured individuals in the MetroWest area, and the assistance is provided free of charge to people of all ages in the service area.  Residents in Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, and Westborough may qualify for the free services. 

Toni McGuire, Kennedy CHC President/CEO, states, “clinicians routinely encounter patients who cannot afford medication; connecting consumers with medication assistance program assists patient compliance with a treatment plan and keeps our communities well.  We welcome the synergy between the health center and this program for the MetroWest community.”

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Leads Community Health Center Collaborative To Improve Access to Dermatology Care

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) led a collaboration of local community health centers (CHCs) aimed at improving access to dermatology care for low-income patients within Massachusetts.  Other participating community health centers included: Family Health Center of Worcester, Harbor Health Services, Charles River Community Health Center, Lynn Community Health Center, Manet Community Health Center, and South Boston Community Health Center.  In an effort to address the growing need and increasing wait times for dermatology appointments in the state, the CHC collaborative received grant funding from the Partnership for Community Health Excellence & Innovation, an initiative of Neighborhood Health Plan and Partners HealthCare, to pilot remote dermatology consultation and triage. 

Utilizing 3Derm Systems, Inc.’s clinical quality skin imaging systems, Kennedy CHC was able to provide eligible patients with remote consultations by a dermatologist during routine primary care appointments.  These teledermatology appointments enable appropriate prioritization of dermatology appointments, based on urgency of condition, and eliminating the unnecessary follow-ups that are currently creating reported 16-week wait times for dermatology appointments (as reported by a telephone survey of Massachusetts dermatologists conducted by 3Derm Systems, Inc.).  Across the seven community health centers participating in this initiative, 850 teledermatology consults were completed between November 2016 and May 2018, and of these consults, 50% resulted in no referral needed, representing a savings of $74,976 in dermatology-related spending. 

Through the work of Kennedy CHC and collaborating community health centers, the workflows and implementation process for teledermatology have been developed, refined, and streamlined and are able to be executed at new community health centers in approximately 5 weeks.  For more information about this case study, please visit the full write-up here. 

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of an award of $288,750 from the Fiscal Year 2018 Expanding Access to Quality Substance Abuse Disorder and Mental Health Services (SUD-MH) award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA). Funding will be used to support and expand staffing in its SUD and behavioral health departments with a goal of increasing the number of MAT and BH patients served.

This funding awarded a total of $352,289,768 to 1,232 health centers nationwide to implement and advance evidence-based strategies to expand access to integrated substance abuse disorder and mental health services, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services.  The awards support HHS’s Five-Point Opioid Strategy, which launched in 2017 to empower local communities on the frontlines of the national crisis.  These funds will make a significant impact in furthering community-driven efforts to reduce opioid use and increase access to mental health access, and builds upon HHS’s 2017 investment of $200 million to 1,178 community health center access the U.S. to increase access to SUD and mental health services.

Toni McGuire, President/CEO at Kennedy CHC, states, “federally qualified community health centers, like Kennedy CHC, always stand ready to address any community or public health crisis. This funding allows us to continue to integrate, meet and expand the behavioral health of our patients in the primary care setting and we look forward to enhancing our work in the Central MA and MetroWest regions.”

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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 in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, three dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts.  Currently over 26,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s family practice model of care, a comprehensive approach to the delivery of quality primary and urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental care, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs. Kennedy CHC is certified as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a  model that supports the flow of information among medical teams, coordinating health care visits, utilizing electronic technologies for tracking and errors prevention, and providing follow-up while, most importantly, engaging patients in their care. 

In 2017, 18.6% of Kennedy CHC’s patients resided in public housing, or 4,871 patients.  In 2017, according to the Health Resources and Services (HRSA) Administration Uniform Data System (UDS), 65% of Kennedy CHC’s reporting patient population were considered low income (using 200% or less of the federal poverty level) with 32.79% uninsured, 45.64% insured by MassHealth, 2.96% with other public insurance, 7.34% on Medicare and only 11.26% with private insurance.

Kennedy CHC serves a patient population that is ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse; 46.68% of Kennedy CHC’s patient population self-identify as Hispanic/Latino, and 75.66% of our patient population is best served in a language other than English, speaking a range of over 90 languages.  Our patient base is also racially diverse, serving 3.78% Asian, .39% Pacific Islander, 12.19% Black/African American, .01% American Indian/Alaska Native, 50.5% White, and 30.55% self-identify with more than one race.

The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center proudly announces the 2018 Edward M. Kennedy Community Health awardees: Dr. Matilde Castiel, Commissioner of Worcester Health and Human Services, YMCA of Central Massachusetts, MetroWest YMCA, and Hockomock YMCA. 

Each year, Kennedy CHC honors individuals and organizations making an impact on the health of the communities we serve, as well those who support the Health Center in fulfilling its mission.  This year Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III will be the keynote speaker as the honorees are recognized on November 1, 2018 at Mechanics Hall.

Awardee Profiles

Dr. Matilde Castiel has always held a professional and personal mission to work with the underserved.  She has spent her career focused on improving the collective health of the community through her work as a Board certified physician in Internal Medicine in the Worcester community for over 28 years, by founding the Latin American Health Alliance (LAHA), and her dedication to non-profits and community health centers.  She has served on the boards of several Worcester nonprofits, including The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, Centro Las Americas, and more currently Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Quinsigamond Community College, United Way, and the Boys and Girls Club.

YMCA of Central Massachusetts, MetroWest YMCA, and Hockomock YMCA are each valuable partners of Kennedy CHC.  The YMCA’s commitment to healthy living is apparent through their collaboration with Kennedy CHC on valuable programs such as the Diabetes Prevention Program, Prevention Wellness Trust Fund, and their focus on providing a safe, healthy environment for youth and families.

Congressman Joseph Kennedy III has held the office of U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’ 4^th Congregational District since 2013, an area which includes Kennedy CHC’s Milford health care site.  Congressman Kennedy has been a champion for health centers, stating that they “fills the gaps of a healthcare system that leaves too many without access to treatment.”  Congressman Kennedy is also the grandnephew of the organization’s namesake, Edward M. Kennedy.

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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 in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, three dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts.  Currently over 26,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s family practice model of care, a comprehensive approach to the delivery of quality primary and urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental care, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs. Kennedy CHC is certified as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a  model that supports the flow of information among medical teams, coordinating health care visits, utilizing electronic technologies for tracking and errors prevention, and providing follow-up while, most importantly, engaging patients in their care. 

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center is pleased to announce its award of the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Quality Improvement Award.  Edward M. Kennedy is one of 1,352 community health centers across all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia to receive the award.  These awards specifically recognize the highest performing health centers nationwide as well as those that have made significant quality improvement gains from the previous year.  Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center was recognized in the areas of Electronic Health Records (EHR) Reporters, Clinical Quality Improvers, Advancing Health Information Technology, and Achieving Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition. 

The funds will be used to build upon achievements and enable the health center to continue to improve quality, efficiency, and the value of health care delivery in the community.  The Quality Improvement Awards support HRSA’s strategic goal to improve access to quality health care and directly supports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s goal of moving towards a value-based payment system by improving the quality, efficiency, and overall value of primary health care delivered by health center.  Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center has also been the recipient of the Quality Improvement Award in past years.

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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 in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, three dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts.  Currently over 26,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s family practice model of care, a comprehensive approach to the delivery of quality primary and urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental care, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs. Kennedy CHC is certified as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a  model that supports the flow of information among medical teams, coordinating health care visits, utilizing electronic technologies for tracking and errors prevention, and providing follow-up while, most importantly, engaging patients in their care. 

In 2017, 18.6% of Kennedy CHC’s patients resided in public housing, or 4,871 patients.  In 2017, according to the Health Resources and Services (HRSA) Administration Uniform Data System (UDS), 65% of Kennedy CHC’s reporting patient population were considered low income (using 200% or less of the federal poverty level) with 32.79% uninsured, 45.64% insured by MassHealth, 2.96% with other public insurance, 7.34% on Medicare and only 11.26% with private insurance.

Kennedy CHC serves a patient population that is ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse; 46.68% of Kennedy CHC’s patient population self-identify as Hispanic/Latino, and 75.66% of our patient population is best served in a language other than English, speaking a range of over 90 languages.  Our patient base is also racially diverse, serving 3.78% Asian, .39% Pacific Islander, 12.19% Black/African American, .01% American Indian/Alaska Native, 50.5% White, and 30.55% self-identify with more than one race.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center is pleased to announce that their annual walk and fun run will be held again this year on Saturday, June 9^th at 8:30 AM at their 19 Tacoma Street Health Center in Worcester.  In its third year, this year’s event has been expanded to include additional free family-friendly activities and a fun run component.  The event will kick off at 8:30 AM and include a bounce house for the children, an appearance from the ever popular Paw Patrol character, Chase, free books, face painting, henna, and an arts and crafts section.  The Regional Environmental Council will be attending with their Mobile Market for event attendees, giving Tacoma Street an early taste of their mobile farmers’ market season, which begins later that month with a weekly stop on Thursdays at 19 Tacoma Street.  At 9 AM, runners will set off to begin the race component, while walkers will participate in a warm-up lead before setting off at 9:10 AM.  Runners will be timed courtesy of local organization, Central Mass Striders, and will receive medals for the top 3 male and female finishers at the finishing ceremony.

The event has received generous support from sponsors in the community, and through the generous in-kind donations from local organizations.  The 2018 A Mile In My Shoes: Walk & Run for a Healthier Community lead sponsors are United Healthcare Community Plan and Vibram. Additional sponsors for this year’s event are as follows: Akuity Technologies, Cornerstone Bank, Magellan Health, DAI Architects, Tufts Health Plan, CBS-Xerox, Reliant Medical Group, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.  In-kind support has been received from Sneakerama, Polar Beverages, and Wegmans.

Registration for the walk and run components is live and available online at: www.firstgiving.com/kennedychc/Walk2018.  Fees are $5 for walkers, $10 for runners, and it is free for patients.  Registration includes a free, limited-edition tee shirt and goodie bag from sponsors. Children’s activities are free and do not require registration.

All proceeds generated will be invested back into the programs and services offered by Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center to help build a healthier community.

For more information contact:

Paula Green, MPA, EdD
Vice President of Advancement
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Paula.green@kennedychc.org
508.532.7305

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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 in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, three dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts.  Currently over 26,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s family practice model of care, a comprehensive approach to the delivery of quality primary and urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental care, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs. Kennedy CHC is certified as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a  model that supports the flow of information among medical teams, coordinating health care visits, utilizing electronic technologies for tracking and errors prevention, and providing follow-up while, most importantly, engaging patients in their care. 

In 2017, 18.6% of Kennedy CHC’s patients resided in public housing, or 4,871 patients.  In 2017, according to the Health Resources and Services (HRSA) Administration Uniform Data System (UDS), 65% of Kennedy CHC’s reporting patient population were considered low income (using 200% or less of the federal poverty level) with 32.79% uninsured, 45.64% insured by MassHealth, 2.96% with other public insurance, 7.34% on Medicare and only 11.26% with private insurance.

Kennedy CHC serves a patient population that is ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse; 46.68% of Kennedy CHC’s patient population self-identify as Hispanic/Latino, and 75.66% of our patient population is best served in a language other than English, speaking a range of over 90 languages.  Our patient base is also racially diverse, serving 3.78% Asian, .39% Pacific Islander, 12.19% Black/African American, .01% American Indian/Alaska Native, 50.5% White, and 30.55% self-identify with more than one race.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center earns “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation in HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index

Today, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center announced their “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 11th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), released today. A record 626 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2018 survey, with HRC Foundation proactively researching key policies at more than 900 additional non-participating hospitals. Of those included in the HEI, 418 earned a “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.

Edward M. Kennedy’s President/CEO, Antonia McGuire, says of the designation, “Kennedy CHC staff have a long tradition of working toward health equality for all. An LGBTQ health equality designation represents the value we place on all of our patients, staff, and community members. As a leadership team, we actively pursue health equity as a strategy that can both improve the quality of health care for the diverse populations we serve and to eliminate health disparities.”

 “With some of our biggest battles still ahead of us, it is crucial that institutions continue to demonstrate that the march toward full equality is not slowing down,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The 626 participants in this year’s HEI continue this march in partnership with the LGBTQ community and we commend them for their leadership. For over a decade, the HEI has been the roadmap to closing the gap in ensuring equal care to LGBTQ patients and their families, and we urge every healthcare facility to join us in this continuing effort to provide inclusive care to all.”

The 11th edition of the HEI marks the second year that participants are given a numerical score based on their LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. HEI participants are given scores in four criteria: foundational elements of LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ Patient Services and Support, Employee Benefits and Policies and LGBTQ Patient and Community Engagement. Participants that receive the maximum score in each section earn the coveted status of “2018 LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader.”

In the 2018 report, an impressive 418 facilities earned HRC’s “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation with a score of 100. Another 95 facilities earned the “Top Performer” designation for scoring from 80 to 95 points. With 82 percent of participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, healthcare facilities are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ care.

Of the hospitals who did not participate in the HEI but were scored based on research, only 63 percent have patient non-discrimination policies that include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” and only 53 percent were found to have an LGBTQ-inclusive employment non-discrimination policy. The equal visitation policy, at 93 percent, is the only one that comes close to matching the rate of the participating facilities.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is education arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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 in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, three dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts.  Currently over 26,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s family practice model of care, a comprehensive approach to the delivery of quality primary and urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental care, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs. Kennedy CHC is certified as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a  model that supports the flow of information among medical teams, coordinating health care visits, utilizing electronic technologies for tracking and errors prevention, and providing follow-up while, most importantly, engaging patients in their care. 

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Receives Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 2017 Quality Improvement Award

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognized Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center as a Health Center Quality Leader by awarding the organization with the 2017 Quality Improvement Award.  This award is given to health centers that achieve the best overall clinical performance among all health centers, and that place in the top 30 percent of the adjusted quartile ranking for Clinical Quality Measures.

Health centers have been delivering affordable, accessible, comprehensive, and quality health care to patients for more than 50 years.  There are currently over 1,400 health centers operating more than 11,000 service delivery sites in every state in the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin, delivering patient-centered care and integrating medical, dental, mental health, substance abuse, behavioral health, and patient support services.  This award ranks Kennedy CHC’s clinical performance at the top of the entirety of this network of health centers. 

Susan Melucci, Director of Quality Improvement, commented, “Improved quality outcomes do not happen because of one person; quality outcomes are a shared achievement among every staff member, no matter their role.  Our teams arrive every morning with energy, perseverance and a can-do attitude with the intention of making a difference however they can.  Our teams have been challenged in many ways – to improve our patient’s access to care, improve quality outcomes and identifying and addressing health disparities – all in an efficient and cost effective manner. Every evening, they leave having raised the bar a little bit higher.  We are so very proud to receive this award.“

For more information contact:
Paula Green, MPA, EdD
Vice President of Advancement
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Paula.green@kennedychc.org
508.532.7305

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 in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, three dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts.  Currently over 26,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s family practice model of care, a comprehensive approach to the delivery of quality primary and urgent care, medical specialties, nutrition counseling, dental care, optometry, pharmacy, behavioral health, social services, health education and youth development programs. Kennedy CHC is certified as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a  model that supports the flow of information among medical teams, coordinating health care visits, utilizing electronic technologies for tracking and errors prevention, and providing follow-up while, most importantly, engaging patients in their care. 

In 2017, 18.6% of Kennedy CHC’s patients resided in public housing, or 4,871 patients.  In 2017, according to the Health Resources and Services (HRSA) Administration Uniform Data System (UDS), 65% of Kennedy CHC’s reporting patient population were considered low income (using 200% or less of the federal poverty level) with 32.79% uninsured, 45.64% insured by MassHealth, 2.96% with other public insurance, 7.34% on Medicare and only 11.26% with private insurance.

Kennedy CHC serves a patient population that is ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse; 46.68% of Kennedy CHC’s patient population self-identify as Hispanic/Latino, and 75.66% of our patient population is best served in a language other than English, speaking a range of over 90 languages.  Our patient base is also racially diverse, serving 3.78% Asian, .39% Pacific Islander, 12.19% Black/African American, .01% American Indian/Alaska Native, 50.5% White, and 30.55% self-identify with more than one race.

The 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

WASHINGTON, DC—The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced that the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, based in Worcester, Massachusetts has received NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for all three of its medical sites for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term, participative relationships. 

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 http://recognition.ncqa.org. 

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 the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center

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. Founded in 1972, today Kennedy CHC has three medical facilities, three dental sites, two optometry practices and six school-based clinics serving residents of Worcester, Framingham, Clinton, Milford, and the surrounding communities of MetroWest and Central Massachusetts.  Currently over 26,000 patients of all ages receive care and service through Kennedy CHC’s family practice model of care.