Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Awarded Ambulatory Health Care and Behavioral Health Care Accreditation from the Joint Commission

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy Community Health) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® for Ambulatory Health Care as well as Behavioral Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.  It is the 23^rd consecutive year that Kennedy Community Health has achieved Joint Commission Accreditation for its Ambulatory Health Care, and the first year for its Behavioral Health Care.

Kennedy Community Health underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on November 18, 2019. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with both Ambulatory Health Care and Behavioral Health Care standards spanning several areas including emergency management and environment of care, with a focus on infection prevention and control.

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys health care organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Kennedy Community Health for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”

“We are pleased to announce that Kennedy Community Health has achieved the highest level of Joint Commission Accreditation, Gold Seal of Approval, for the 23^rd consecutive year in Ambulatory Health Care and for the first time ever in Behavioral Health Care,” says Stephen J. Kerrigan, President and CEO of Kennedy Community Health.  “We are grateful to The Joint Commission for the careful and thorough review of our sites and services during their visit and for the opportunity to demonstrate of commitment to continuous quality improvement and excellence in patient care and safety.  We look forward to their continued guidance in ensuring we provide the highest quality of care to our 28,000+ patients.”

The organization began its preparations approximately 18 months ago after making the decision to pursue Behavioral Health Care Accreditation in addition to Ambulatory Health Care.  The Health Center conducted a careful analysis of how the Joint Commission’s Ambulatory Health Care standards apply to its practice then engaged a multi-disciplinary team with representation from all three sites, Kennedy Community Health.  This team was tasked with conducting an extensive review of current best practices, policies and procedures to ensure continued compliance with current standards and demonstration of a strong commitment to the “Spirit of Excellence”.

On Friday, November 8, 2019, Kennedy CHC will be hosting a Health Insurance Open Enrollment at 354 Waverly Street, Framingham, Massachusetts.  The event will run in two sessions between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and is open to patients and the general public.

The yearly period when people can enroll in a health insurance plan for 2020 runs from November 1 to December 15, 2019. Outside the Open Enrollment Period, you generally can enroll in a health insurance plan only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. You’re eligible if you have certain life events, like getting married, having a baby, or losing other health coverage.

Join us on November 8^th to enroll in a health plan.

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Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Honors Dr. Samuel Wong and MCPHS University

Eastern Bank’s Chairman and CEO, Bob Rivers, is Keynote Speaker

The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) will be presenting its 2019 Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Awards to: Samuel Wong, PhD, Director of Public Health in the City of Framingham, and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Bob Rivers, Chairman and CEO of Eastern Bank, will be the keynote speaker.

Awardee Profiles

Dr. Samuel Wong is a passionate public health practitioner; he is currently the Director of Public Health for the City of Framingham and the President of the Massachusetts Health Officers Association.  Dr. Wong is a scholar with the Northeast Public Health Leadership Institute and earned his graduate degrees from the University of Rhode Island.  He is a gubernatorial appointed Council Member for both the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Massachusetts Food Policy Council and serves on many statewide committees including the Special Commission on Local & Regional Health, Community Advisory Board of Harvard Catalyst, and Massachusetts Cancer Research Roundtable. Prior to these roles, Dr. Wong served as the Director of Public & Community Health Services for the Town of Hudson, the Chair of the MetroWest Prevention & Wellness Partnership, and on the West Boylston Board of Health.

Dr. Wong has been recognized a number of times through the years for his work in public health. He has been the recipient of a number of state and regional awards, including the Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award from the MetroWest Health Foundation and the John D. Crowley Award from the Massachusetts Health Officers Associations.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a valuable partner to Kennedy CHC. MCPHS University’s commitment to educate future healthcare leaders is apparent through their focus on healthcare and broad portfolio of undergraduate and graduate healthcare programs. MCPHS University provides students with an innovative, interprofessional collaborative education that better prepares them for the integrative team-based models of today’s healthcare system.

Accepting the award on behalf of MCPHS University will be Charles F. Monahan, Jr., MCPHS University President and a 1962 graduate of the University with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy.  He became the fifth president of MCPHS University in 1997 after 35 years as a practicing pharmacist and successful business man.  Prior to being appointed President, Mr. Monahan served as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees for eighteen years, six of which he spent as the Chairman of the Board.

A 37-year community banker who started his career as a teller, Bob Rivers is Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank, America’s oldest and largest mutual bank and the largest independent community bank headquartered in Massachusetts with $11 billion in assets and over 120 locations. He is also Chair of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable and The Dimock Center. 

Bob is involved extensively in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Jobs for Mass, and The Lowell Plan. He also is a member of the Board of Trustees of Stonehill College, the Board of Corporators of Lowell General Hospital, the Advisory Boards of the Lawrence Partnership and JFK Library Foundation, and is a member of the City of Boston’s Women’s Workforce Council, in addition to providing support and guidance to numerous other non-profit organizations. Bob has been named among the Top 10 “Most Influential People in Boston” by Boston Magazine, and to the Boston Business Journal Power 50 list for the last three years.

Named after the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Bob’s passion for advocating for social justice causes and sustainability issues is the result of a personal and professional journey that began early in his life. Bob has been recognized by many organizations for his work in championing diversity and social justice, including The Boston Globe, The Partnership, Get Konnected!, Color Magazine, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), the Asian American Civic Association (AACA), Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA), El Planeta, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, The Theater Offensive, and MassINC. 

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Earns “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” Designation in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index

Today, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Kennedy CHC) announced their “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 12th edition of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), released today. A record 680 health care facilities actively participated in the HEI 2019 survey, with HRC Foundation proactively researching key policies at 1000 additional non-participating hospitals. Of those included in the HEI, 406 earned a “LGBTQ health care Equality Leader” designation.

“The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center has always held at its core the desire to provide the most inclusive work place and patient experience possible.  Equity, equality, diversity are key parts of the work we do each and every day to help people live healthier lives,” said Kennedy CHC President and CEO, Stephen Kerrigan.  “We are honored to have this designation from the Human Rights Campaign but more importantly we are grateful to have the chance to provide inclusive care and work opportunities to our LGBTQ friends and neighbors.”

“As the Trump-Pence administration continues to attack the most fundamental rights of LGBTQ people, including rolling back non-discrimination protections in the Affordable Care Act and promoting a license to discriminate in health care, it is more important than ever that health care institutions stand with the LGBTQ community,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “The health care facilities that participate in HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index are making clear that they stand on the side of fairness and are committed to providing inclusive care to their LGBTQ patients. Going beyond inclusive non-discrimination policies, these health care facilities are adopting best practices in the areas of LGBTQ patient care and support, employee policies and benefits, and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. We commend all of the HEI participants for their commitment to providing inclusive care for all.”

The 12th edition of the HEI assesses participants on four criteria: Non-Discrimination and Staff Training, Patient Services and Support, Employee Benefits and Policies, and Patient and Community Engagement.

In the 2019 report, an impressive 406 facilities earned HRC’s “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation, receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100. Another 148 facilities earned the “Top Performer” designation for scoring from 80 to 95 points. With 81% of participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, health care facilities are demonstrating concretely that they are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ care.

The remarkable progress reflected in the 2019 HEI includes:

• Over half of HEI participants now have written gender transition guidelines;
• 75% of hospitals surveyed offer trans-inclusive benefits — an impressive eight percentage point increase over last year, and numbers that bring them on par with their corporate counterparts, as measured by HRC’s 2019 CEI;
• A 35% increase in training hours recorded — clocking in at more than 94,000 hours of LGBTQ care training provided;
• A 60% increase in the number of HEI participants whose electronic health records capture a patient’s sexual orientation, and a 40% increase in the number of HEI participants whose electronic health records capture a patient’s gender identity.

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.

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.