Wellfleet, Mashpee community health care centers receive HEFA grants

New exterior doors to meet fire safety codes and ADA standards

Community Health Center of Cape Cod in Mashpee also receives funding

Outer Cape Health Services, which operates health centers in Provincetown and Wellfleet, will be able to install new exterior doors to meet fire safety codes and access standards for the disabled with new assistance from the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority (HEFA).

Fulfilling its mandate to enhance the quality of life of the residents in the Commonwealth by enabling nonprofit institutions to reduce their cost of capital, HEFA announced last week that it will provide grants to 14 local health centers totaling $336,736 as part of its Community Health Center Grant Program.

Among the awards is $25,000 for Outer Cape Health Services, HEFA Executive Director Benson T. Caswell said.

"With these funds, we will now be able to move forward with important improvements that will enhance the care given to the people who live on the Outer Cape." - State Representative Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown)

“Local health centers are critical to our communities because they provide care to those who are most in need. Unfortunately in the midst of this economic crisis, many nonprofit health centers have had to put important projects and improvements on hold,” Caswell said. “We are thrilled to be able to help these deserving health organizations whose daily mission is to deliver high quality health care to all members of our community, regardless of their ability to pay.”

“Providing safe, accessible health care services to people on Cape Cod is becoming more challenging in these trying fiscal times,” said Senator Robert O’Leary (D-Barnstable). “The grant assistance from Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority will help the Outer Cape Health Services better serve our disabled population on the Outer Cape and enhance their ability to provide services to all Outer Cape residents.”

"Outer Cape Health Services is a cornerstone of our community and we are indebted to HEFA for providing our community with this generous donation," said State Representative Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown). "With these funds, we will now be able to move forward with important improvements that will enhance the care given to the people who live on the Outer Cape."

Community Health Center of Cape Cod in Mashpee also received grant funds totaling $25,000.  "The lack of primary care internists on Cape Cod makes it extremely difficult for newly insured residents to find a doctor. Community Health Center of Cape Cod fills that gap for a growing number of people and does it well," said State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D-Falmouth). "This grant will help them in this endeavor."

Outer Cape’s Provincetown and Wellfleet health centers offer comprehensive services including primary care, family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, senior care, women's services, teen clinic, HIV-related services, family planning, minor surgery, nutritional counseling, laboratory and x-ray. In addition, Outer Cape Health provides extensive outreach and support services through the WIC (Women, Infants, Children) nutrition program and through Healthy Connections, which helps uninsured people with publicly funded health insurance and social services programs.

“Operating out of two seriously antiquated sites, wheel-chair bound patients and those pushing or carrying a baby are not able to open our door without assistance,” said Sally Deane, Acting CEO of Outer Cape Health Services. “HEFA’s award will fund the replacement of all exterior doors, allowing us to meet fire and safety codes and facilitate use by people with disabilities. We are grateful to HEFA for their support.”

From the Berkshires to Brockton, in Worcester, Lawrence and Springfield, deserving health centers will be able to make significant improvements and improve their services to those who most need it.

HEFA's Program awards money to worthy nonprofit health centers whose mission is to provide critical health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals. Since the program's inception in 2006, HEFA has awarded more than $1.5 million to community health centers around Massachusetts.

Many Massachusetts health centers recently received large federal stimulus awards, sharing more than $80 million. To ensure the largest impact from its program, HEFA made awards to health centers that did not receive stimulus funds, which include:

• Bowdoin Street Health Center in Boston, $20,000
• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program in Boston, $21,450
• Hilltown Community Health Centers, Inc. in Worthington, $23,000
• Community Health Center of Franklin County in Turner Falls, $23,800
• North End Community Health Center in Boston, $24,100
• Greater Roslindale Medical & Dental Center in Roslindale, $24,386
• Brockton Neighborhood Health Center in Brockton, $25,000
• Caring Health Center in Springfield $25,000

• Community Health Center of Cape Cod in Mashpee, $25,000

• Family Health Center of Worcester in Worcester, $25,000
• Fenway Community Health Center in Boston, $25,000
• Greater Lawrence Family Health Center in Lawrence, $25,000
• Upham's Corner Health Center in Dorchester, $25,000

HEFA supports Massachusetts' nonprofit health care organizations by financing equipment, construction, renovations, and refinancing debt. Last year, HEFA financed 49 projects for hospitals and other nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth totaling nearly $3 billion.

HEFA is fully self-funded, receiving no tax-payer dollars. HEFA also provides funding for higher education and cultural institutions, research and human services facilities, as well as energy procurement services available to all nonprofit and state and municipal facilities through its PowerOptions® Program. For more information, visit www.mhefa.org.

Courtesy MS&L.