News Archives - Page 5 of 7 - Lowell Community Health Center

February 19, 2023

Lowell High students ‘seen’ at new school-based eye clinic

LOWELL — Lowell High School senior Alice Mwangi knew she needed to get her eyes checked when she started using her phone to take pictures of the whiteboard in class. She used the zoom feature to blow up the image on her screen in order to see the teacher’s notes.

“I also noticed that I was doing a lot more squinting in class,” she said.

Instead of continuing to struggle, Mwangi came down to the school-based health center, located in the basement of Lowell High School, to get an eye exam. It’s a service that the Lowell Community Health Center recently added to the existing suite of health care already available to students.

Read the full story via The Sun.

January 19, 2023

Lowell Community Health Center Announces Appointment of New Chief Operating Officer

(Lowell, MA) – Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) has announced that Elizabeth Hale DNP, RN, CENP, will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately.

Dr. Hale currently serves as Lowell CHC’s Chief Clinical Officer overseeing all clinical operations including nursing, clinical pharmacy, infection prevention, quality, integrated care management, behavioral health, occupational health, school-based health centers, and laboratory services. In this new and expanded role, Dr. Hale will continue to provide oversight for these services, and in addition will work to assure that our health center operations are aligned and integrated across our organization, with a focus on patient access, equity, experience, and quality of care.  

“I am delighted that Beth has accepted this challenge,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell CHC. “Beth’s knowledge of health care operations and commitment to excellent patient care make her a tremendous leader for the COO role.”

Levine continued, “Beth will launch a broad, solutions-oriented operations team comprised of leaders across the organization that will focus on continuous performance improvement, identify timely solutions to operational challenges, ensure compliance with regulatory agencies, and provide a forum to respond to urgent matters as they arise.”   

Dr. Hale joined Lowell CHC in September 2015 as Chief of Clinical Services. During her tenure, she earned her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of New Hampshire and served as Incident Commander, successfully leading us, and our community, through the COVID pandemic response and, now, recovery.

Dr. Hale earned both her MSN in Nursing and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of New Hampshire. Prior to working at Lowell CHC, she served as Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Lawrence General Hospital and, prior to that, as Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH. 

January 11, 2023

Bombas Donates 3,000 Pairs of Socks

How one Afghan family is forging a new community in Lowell & at Lowell CHC

Scarcely any of the 40 Afghans who trooped off planes at the Manchester, N.H., airport on an unseasonably warm day on Nov. 18, 2021, had ever heard of Lowell.

Among the dazed and weary refugees at the airport was an irrepressibly optimistic former US military interpreter called Noori. His wife, Samya, and two young daughters, Taqwa and Zahra, were at his side. They were exhausted, but they were safe.

Noori recalled that he didn’t know a single person in New England. He didn’t have a job. Or a car. Or an apartment. Or a winter coat. But he had his family.

Click here to read the full story in the Boston Globe.

December 1, 2022

Lowell CHC Launches New Best-in-Class Electronic Medical Records Platform to Assure Access & Equity

Lowell, MA — Lowell Community Health Center’s (Lowell CHC) focus on health access and equity has taken a major stride forward with the recent launch of Epic, the most widely used and comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) system in health care.

The system went online at 10 federally qualified community health centers (FQHCs) throughout the Commonwealth on December 1 with the assistance of Community Technology Cooperative, which was formed to help FQHCs improve health and equity for under-resourced communities through technology. 2 additional FQHCs in Massachusetts will begin implementation in early 2023.

The launch of Epic will support nearly 165000 clinical visits per year at Lowell CHC, including vital behavioral health, dental, and eye care. It will also make it easier for care teams to document and work with resources to address patient needs for other support. Across the Commonwealth, the Community Technology Cooperative initiative will impact more than 1.5 million clinical visits per year.

“Epic is another step in our journey to creating a just and healthy community,” said Brenda Rodriguez, Lowell CHC Chief Finance and Strategy Officer. “By collaborating with and taking part in the multi-health center implementation of Epic, we are expanding and strengthening equitable health practices across the commonwealth, including right here in Greater Lowell. This new platform will enable and drive digital transformation in both patient care and access.”

The conversion to Epic, a year-long effort, ensures a best-in-class system to serve Lowell CHC’s 31,000 patients, the majority of whom are low-income and people of color.

Added Rodriguez, “Thanks to Epic, our care teams and staff will be able to accelerate improvements in clinical workflows. We’re excited that the new patient portal, MyChart, will help reduce barriers to access by allowing patients to engage directly with their care teams.” With MyChart, patients can request appointments, refill prescriptions, communicate directly with their care teams, and more. 

A portion of the EPIC implementation costs were funded through a one-time, $5M Massachusetts’ American Rescue Plan Act funding, as well as a grant from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to make EHR improvements at community health centers. “This is a significant investment by the Commonwealth, for which we are so grateful,” Rodriguez said. “We see it as an investment in the future of equitable health care.”

To see the full list of Massachusetts community health centers participating in this project, click here.

November 11, 2022

Thank you for your patience

Thank you for your patience as we work hard to serve you better by implementing MyChart, a better way to communicate with your care team.

You may experience longer wait times. We are sorry for the inconvenience this may be causing you.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to serve you better.

Click here to learn more about MyChart.

Give the Gift of Warmth

Please join us in keeping our patients warm this winter with the gift of a new winter coat! As a Refugee Health Assessment Center, many of our patients arrive from places more used to sun than snow. They have to adjust to so much, all while processing the trauma of fleeing the only home they knew. For many, one of the first stops in their journey toward healing is our Health Center. When they leave our building, let’s continue that welcome embrace with the warmth and care of a brand new winter coat they can wear for years to come. With the recent influx of refugees from places like Haiti and Afghanistan, need has never been greater.

Thanks to the Greater Lowell Community Foundation for the funding jumpstart!

While the community offers options for children’s coats, adult options are limited. There are 3 ways you can change that:

Purchase a coat via our Amazon Smile wishlist. Options range from only $55-$65. Make sure to choose Lowell CHC as your delivery address at checkout.
Make an donation via credit card and we will shop for you! All monetary donations will be used to purchase high-quality, affordable coats.
If you would like to shop yourself, we are happy to accept brand new coats (contact development@lchealth.org for delivery)

October 28, 2022

Lowell CHC Named Top 100 Women-Led Businesses

The Women’s Edge and Globe Magazine Name Lowell Community Health Center to Top 100 Women-Led Businesses
Annual award highlights women business leaders who are making a significant impact on the state’s economy

Boston (October 28, 2022) – The Women’s Edge and the Globe Magazine announced that Lowell Community Health Center has once again ranked among the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts. These 100 organizations generated nearly $75.9 billion in total revenue in 2021, reflecting the role of women as key drivers of the state’s economy.

“Our staff at Lowell Community Health Center care deeply about this community and our patients. They work tirelessly to help create a more just and healthy community—and this recognition is all about them,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center. “We are honored to once again be named as one of the Commonwealth’s top Women-Led Businesses. It is wonderful to have such great company in this recognition with two other outstanding Lowell organizations, D’Youville Life and Wellness Community and University of Massachusetts Lowell also being recognized.”

This is the 22^nd year that The Women’s Edge (formerly the Commonwealth Institute) – a Boston-based nonprofit organization devoted to advancing women in leadership positions —created the list through a nomination process and reviewed both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and the 10^th year that the list was created in collaboration with the Globe Magazine. In addition to revenue or operating budget, factors considered in the evaluation included workplace and management diversity, board makeup, and innovative projects.

The honorees were recognized during an event on October 28, and the full list was published in conjunction with that event on the Globe Magazine’s website. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/28/magazine/top-100-women-led-businesses-massachusetts-2022/?event=event12

October 5, 2022

A Better Way To Communicate With Your Care Team

MyChart is Coming Soon to Lowell Community Health Center!

All your health information in one place

See your medications, test results, upcoming appointments, medical bills, update your personal information, and more all in one place – even if you’ve been seen at multiple healthcare organizations.

Connect with your provider and care team

Send a message, request prescription refills, or arrange to follow up with your provider and care team from anywhere.

Quickly request appointments

Request appointments at your convenience; complete pre-visit tasks from home.

Manage a loved one’s care

Stay on top of everyone’s appointments and check in on family members who need extra help, all from your account.

MyChart is available in English and Spanish at this time.

September 1, 2022

Announcing New Clinical Leadership

We are pleased to announce the appointment of three important new clinical leadership roles supporting our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of care and patient and staff experience.

Today’s appointees are:

Shaun Farraher, MD – Chief of Family Medicine
Sarah Greenlaw-Quinton, DMD – Chief of Dentistry
Natalie Bowen, MD – Associate Chief of Pediatrics

Drs. Farraher, Greenlaw-Quinton, and Bowen bring a breadth of experience and expertise to their roles.

Dr. Shaun Farraher is board certified in Family Medicine and has practiced at Lowell CHC since 2013. He graduated from American University of the Caribbean and completed his Family Medicine Residency at University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Farraher enjoys providing primary care for all members of the family, regardless of age. He lives in Greater Lowell and is motivated to improve the health of the community. Dr. Farraher has an interest in substance use disorder and is the Medical Director of Lowell Community Health Center Office Based Addiction Treatment Services (OBAT). In his free time, he enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, mystery novels, and spending time with family.

Dr. Sarah Greenlaw-Quinton began working at Lowell CHC as a general dentist in February 2018 and has served as the Interim Dental Director since December 2021. She has always had a passion for increasing access to dental care in underserved communities. Dr. Greenlaw-Quinton completed her dental training at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 2013, followed by a General Practice Residency focused on community health through Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard University School of Dental Medicine. She previously worked at North Shore Community Health, where she discovered a love of teaching while mentoring dental student interns. In the past, she volunteered with Project Stretch as the Lead Dentist on a pediatric dental mission trip to Teacapan, Mexico, and as co-director of the Wampanoag Project, a multi-disciplinary collaboration treating the underserved Wampanoag Tribe of Martha’s Vineyard. To better communicate with and serve her patients, she has been learning Spanish and Portuguese. When not working, Dr. Greenlaw-Quinton enjoys baking, yoga, biking, and exploring the outdoors with her husband, their son, and their dog.

Dr. Natalie Bowen has been working at Lowell CHC as a full-time primary care pediatrician since March 2020. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, she fell in love with mentorship and teaching early on through her experiences in coaching, research, and advocacy. This included a leadership role directing volunteer services for the eXtraordinarY Kids Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Bowen graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Afterwards, she spent several years serving as a Locum Tenens physician, which gave her the privilege of serving in a variety of clinical and cultural settings and insight into models of team-based care across practices. It was her passion for working with culturally diverse communities and reducing health disparities that brought her to Lowell CHC, where she is excited to provide comprehensive primary care to her patients. Her specific interests include optimizing the medical home model and long-term management of chronic diseases with care coordination between specialists and care-team members. When not at work, she enjoys gardening, reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her husband Aaron, daughter Claire, and lab mix Luna.