Cape Cod Times– Community Health Center of Cape Cod has been recognized by the Bureau of Primary Health Care as a Health Center Quality Leader, according to a statement from the Mashpee-based health organization.

The center was one of just 13 health centers in Massachusetts to receive the award, which covers the 2016 calendar year.

Each February, the health center submits a uniform data submission report to the federal government, which includes a number of productivity and outcome measures from the prior year. For 2016, the outcomes ranked in the top 25 percent of all health centers nationwide for four measures: cervical cancer screening, adults screened for tobacco use, controlling high blood pressure and managing diabetes, the statement says.

The Bureau of Primary Health care is part of the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To listen to the interview, click here.

Mashpee – Dr. Stephanie Prior, a physician at Community Health Center of Cape Cod since 2006, recently returned from Puerto Rico where she provided medical assistance for two weeks to residents devastated by Hurricane Maria. Stationed mostly in Arroyo, Patillas and Maunabo, Dr. Prior treated patients in clinics set up on basketball courts during the mornings and visited homebound patients in the mountains in the afternoons. Dr. Prior worked as part of a team from Heart to Heart International, an organization that strives to strengthen communities through improving healthcare access, providing humanitarian development and administering crisis relief efforts worldwide using volunteers and partners.

Dr. Prior’s Heart to Heart team was comprised of five health professionals, including two physicians, a paramedic, a certified midwife, and an EMT. Dr. Prior’s primary responsibilities included providing and refilling medications and performing general medical triage. She also administered vaccines for tetanus and the flu. As Puerto Rico continues to experience interrupted telecommunications, including internet and cell phone use, Dr. Prior said she and the team drove around the neighborhoods to announce the times they would be available to see patients. “For the most part, everyone was really well taken care of,” Dr. Prior said.

This is Dr. Prior’s second time working with Heart to Heart, and she completed a trip to Haiti in February 2016. Dr. Prior remains steadfast in her humility insisting that we should commend the people of Puerto Rico for their optimism and tenacity during such a difficult time.

Mashpee – Community Health Center of Cape Cod has once again been recognized by the Bureau of Primary Health Care as a Health Center Quality Leader. The bureaus announced the awards in mid-August for Health Centers’ performance in calendar year 2016. CHC of Cape Cod was one of just 13 health centers in Massachusetts to receive the Health Quality Leader Award

Each February, CHC of Cape Cod submits a Uniform Data Submission (UDS) report to the federal government, which includes a number of productivity and outcome measures from the prior year. For 2016, CHC’s outcomes ranked in the top quartile of all health centers nationwide for four measures: Cervical cancer screening, adults screened for tobacco use, controlling high blood pressure, and managing diabetes.

The Health Center’s use of an electronic health record, and their focus on health maintenance and evidenced based standards helped them achieve recognition for the third straight year. CHC of Cape Cod is working to improve its rankings even further in 2017, with a goal to be considered for the National Quality Leader Award in 2017.

For more information about CHC of Cape Cod and its services, visit the Health Center online at www.chcofcapecod.org.

Click here to listen.

Click  here on CapeCod.com to read about the Legislative Breakfast during National Health Center Week #NHCW17 where local leaders addressed the keys to healthier communities.

Legislators and Community health centers met in a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the importance of Prevention and Wellness Funding in terms of patient preventative and complex care. We are committed to reauthorizing funding in the State budget for the PWTF. To see a full Cape Cod Times article, click here.

Mashpee – Community Health Center of Cape Cod received Gold recognition in the Wicked Local 2017 Readers Choice Awards for “Regional Favorite” in the Doctor/Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician category. CHC of Cape Cod also received Silver recognition for “Regional Favorite” in the Dentist or Dental Office category.  These regional awards include votes for organizations from the following towns: Barnstable/Hyannis, Bourne, Dennis, Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich and Yarmouth.

In addition to these regional awards, CHC of Cape Cod was a Readers Choice Award winner in Mashpee, placing first in the following three categories: first choice for Doctor/Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician, first choice for Dentist or Dental Office and first choice for Optical Shop. The Health Center is thankful to the community for voting it as a top location to receive care on the mid and upper Cape.   For 20 years, the Wicked Local Readers Choice Awards have provided communities an opportunity to recognize their favorite local businesses. Wicked Local Favorites is part of the Wicked Local network of websites.

Mashpee – Community Health Center of Cape Cod is delighted to announce its receipt of $10,000 from the Cape and Islands United Way to support Substance Abuse Program Expansion. The expansion is aimed at helping youth and adults refrain from substance abuse and other risky and unhealthy behaviors. The CHC Bourne office houses the Office Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) program, an individualized, highly structured addiction recovery program that combines counseling, monitoring and medical care to help combat the opiate epidemic.  The OBOT program provides comprehensive treatment for opiate addiction, including Medication-Assisted Treatment, case management and behavioral health services.  In 2015, the Health Center completed 2,256 substance abuse visits.  This expansion project will provide increased access to behavioral health services for Health Center patients, including the OBOT program.

Click here to read a Cape Cod Times article on the State of Massachusetts providing more Naloxone to 10 Community Health Centers, including CHC of Cape Cod.