Kennedy CHC Receives Health Resources & Services Administration’s Quality Improvement Award

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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.

PHONE (800) 853 2288

FAX 800 853 8593

MEDICAL RECORDS FAX:
508 595 1161

Administrative Offices:

115 NE Cutoff, Bldg. 2, Suite 200, Worcester, MA 01606

LOCATIONS & HOURS

An FTCA Deemed and NCQA Recognized Facility. We serve all patients regardless of ability to pay. Sliding Fee Scale discounts for essential services are offered if you are eligible, depending upon family size and income. You may apply for a sliding fee discount at the front desk where you receive care. This health center receives HHS funding and has Federal Public Health Service (PHS) deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals.

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