Mashpee – Community Health Center is hosting COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine clinics at CHC offices in Mashpee, Falmouth and Bourne, which are open to the community. The Moderna bivalent vaccine will be administered for individuals 18 and older at the following times and locations: Falmouth, at 200 Jones Road in Homeport on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Mashpee, at 107 Commercial Street on Thursdays from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Bourne, at 123 Waterhouse Road on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Community Health Center has created an online scheduling tool to make it easier for CHC patients and others in the community to view availability and to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. To make an appointment, please visit CHCofCapeCod.org, or call (508) 477-7090. These vaccine clinics are being administered by Community Health Center’s pharmacy team in each of these locations.
For additional information about COVID-19 response and testing from Community Health Center, please visit their website, or call (508) 477-7090.
Sandwich – Community Health Center is pleased to have Ryan Golden, MD join their team as Addiction Program Manager. Dr. Golden’s role at CHC will include both internal medicine and substance use disorder/addiction services.
Dr. Golden received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Stonehill College in Easton, followed by his Doctor of Medicine degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, WI. He completed his internship and residency for Internal Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, as well as his fellowship in Addiction Medicine.
Dr. Golden will split his time between substance use disorder services and primary care, working in Community Health Center’s Mashpee (107 Commercial Street) and Sandwich (90 Route 6A, Unit 5A) offices. Community Health Center offers medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs for substance use disorder using Suboxone or Vivitrol. Substance use disorder treatment services at Community Health Center provide access to a structured, safe, and empowering environment, consultation to discuss and develop an integrated treatment plan, and integrated comprehensive care that can include addiction services, behavioral health group sessions, primary care follow-ups, and personalized pathways to recovery with the consistent guidance of the addiction specialty team.
Mashpee – The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded multiple commendations to Community Health Center for outstanding quality improvement. Most notably, Community Health Center has received Silver Certification as a Health Center Quality Leader based on quality measures they implement for the patients they serve. In addition to this award, Community Health Center has been recognized with a number of other honors, including the following.
Access Enhancer, recognizing CHCs that increased the total number of patients and the number of patients who receive at least one comprehensive service by at least 5% during consecutive years. Advancing HIT for Quality, recognizing CHCs that meet all criteria to optimize Health Information Technology (HIT) services. Addressing Social Risk Factors, recognizing CHCs that are screening for social risk factors impacting patient health, and are increasing access to enabling services. Health Disparities Reducer, recognizing CHCs that qualify for the Access Enhancer award, and meet clinical measures related to low birth weight, hypertension control and uncontrolled diabetes. Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition (PCMH), recognizing CHCs with PCMH Recognition in one or more delivery sites.
“Community Health Center staff have been continuously working together in order to mitigate lapses in our patient’s health maintenance,” said Dr. Kristy Brown, CHC’s Associate Medical Director for Quality Improvement. “We are focusing on what can be done beyond their visits to ensure they are engaged in their own wellness. With new programs such as Remote Patient Monitoring and Lifestyle Medicine, we are able to take a more comprehensive approach to care for our community.”
These awards recognize the highest-performing health centers nationwide as well as the health centers that have made significant quality improvement gains from the previous year.
Mashpee – Community Health Center is proud to welcome Dr. Karoline Sieracki, MD and Ellen Ficks, NP to CHC’s staff.
Dr. Karoline Sieracki received her Doctor of Medicine from the Universidad Federal do Parana in Curitiba, PR, Brazil, followed by her internal medicine residency at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Sieracki is a member of the American College of Physicians, Society of Hospital Medicine and American Medical Association. She has an extensive history of volunteerism across the country as a general physician and is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Dr. Sieracki is practicing in Community Health Center’s Bourne office at 123 Waterhouse Road.
Ellen Ficks, NP received her Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Bridgewater State College, before attending Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston, where she received her Master of Science in Nursing. Ms. Ficks has an array of experience, with over 10 years working as a Nurse Practitioner in different clinical settings before joining Community Health Center. She also holds multiple licensures for mental health counseling and suboxone administration. She currently sees patients in CHC’s Mashpee office located at 107 Commercial Street.
Falmouth – Community Health Center and YMCA Cape Cod are excited to announce their collaboration on the Upper Cape YMCA building project being planned on Brick Kiln Road in Falmouth, at the rear parcel of Christ Lutheran Church. The facility will include aquatics, wellness, teen/intergenerational, youth and family programs and services. The facility will also include space for Community Health Center to ensure that all people will have access to programs and services that focus on health, prevention and wellness, and reducing the incidence of chronic illness.
Community Health Center and YMCA Cape Cod have a strong history of collaborating to improve the lives of children with asthma, seniors at risk for falling, individuals with diabetes and adults struggling with hypertension. This partnership will leverage the resources and strengths of Community Health Center and YMCA Cape Cod, strengthening the health and wellness of the community through collaboration, shared facilities and joint programming.
“This significant collaboration on the Upper Cape will expand care beyond the walls of CHC’s medical home, and will help people of all ages improve their health and prevent or control chronic illness,” said Karen Gardner, Chief Executive Officer at Community Health Center. “Our community will get healthier together thanks to a comprehensive plan to create a place for youth, families, and adults to connect, and to learn to lead healthier lives.”
New program opportunities at Community Health Center’s location in this YMCA facility will include: primary care services; programs for children and teens focused on healthy eating, drug and alcohol abuse prevention; diabetes and nutrition education; health screenings for stroke risk, cancer, blood glucose, heart health and vision; presentations by CHC care teams about healthy living and eating, substance use, breast cancer awareness and emotional and psychological health; and support groups addressing diabetes, multiple sclerosis, living after loss and weight management.
“The synergies between CHC and the YMCA are the wave of the future,” said Stacie Peugh, President and CEO of YMCA Cape Cod. “Working collaboratively with health care providers to provide an integrated approach to serving the health and wellness needs of our community is visionary work we are proud to be co-leading with CHC.”
YMCA Cape Cod has been serving individuals on the Upper Cape for 60 years. They started by providing wellness classes at Falmouth High School and now offer after-school programs, summer camp and early childhood education for children on the Upper Cape. Community Health Center was founded in Falmouth, and currently has a facility and retail pharmacy at Homeport in downtown Falmouth, and facilities in North Falmouth and at the Falmouth Housing Authority. CHC currently cares for 1 in 4 residents of Falmouth. This partnership and new facility will enable the organizations to offer more programs and services to Upper Cape residents, supporting a vibrant quality of life for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Plans for the Upper Cape facility are already in place, and memorandums of understanding have been created and signed between Community Health Center and YMCA Cape Cod on clinical services to be provided by CHC, and a pre-construction agreement. The organizations are currently engaged in a two-year permitting and fundraising phase, with anticipated construction to begin after that time.
Falmouth – Community Health Center is pleased to announce the addition of a new Retail Pharmacy conveniently located 200 Jones Road, adjacent to the existing CHC Falmouth office in Homeport. The Falmouth pharmacy is open to all in the community, even if you are not a CHC patient, and provides new and refill prescription services, vaccines, mobileRx prescription management smartphone app, and various over the counter medications.
“One in every five Falmouth residents are current CHC patients and more individuals and businesses move into the area ever year,” said John Correira RPh, Director of Pharmacy Services at Community Health Center. “At the new Community Health Center Retail Pharmacy in Falmouth our welcoming staff will be able to provide much-needed prescription access and medication services to the growing local community.”
CHC Pharmacists serve as a valuable resource to ensure customers fully understand their medications, are educated about any possible harmful interactions, and find alternatives to reduce the cost and number of medications taken. The Falmouth Retail Pharmacy hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. All Community Health Center pharmacies, including the Bourne and Mashpee locations, accept nearly all insurances. If you do not have health insurance, staff at CHC can provide help with the health insurance application.
Falmouth – Community health centers celebrate National Health Center Week annually, as a way to raise awareness and engage the community in the mission and accomplishments of health centers across the country. Health Center Week this year will be held from August 7 to 13, and will focus on the “Chemistry for Strong Communities.”
During this week, Community Health Center will host two open houses to highlight the newly opened offices that will provide increased access to care to the community. All are welcome to join these free events to learn more about Community Health Center and its services, tour the new offices, meet the staff, and enjoy some light refreshments, giveaways and raffles.
Community Health Center’s new retail pharmacy in Falmouth is available for both CHC patients and non-patients, and is located at 200 Jones Road in Homeport. The open house for the CHC Falmouth Pharmacy will be on Tuesday, August 9 from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
CHC’s new office in North Falmouth offers gynecology, women’s health and primary care services, and will add a lifestyle medicine program in 2023. The open house for the CHC North Falmouth office will be on Thursday, August 11 from 11:30am to 1:30pm, and the office islocated at 26 Edgerton Drive.
Health Center Week serves as a reminder of the importance of community health centers’ services and roles in combatting the barriers to access that make quality health care inaccessible for so many in the country. Community Health Center welcomes the public to join in this year’s celebration, and to learn more about the services and programs available at CHC.
Mashpee – Community Health Center will host its 22nd Annual Golf Tournament at Pocasset Golf Club on Monday, September 12. The Annual Golf Tournament serves as a significant fundraising opportunity for CHC, and supports their mission to comprehensive, high quality, compassionate health care to all, regardless of ability to pay. This event plays a vital role in helping CHC address social determinants of health, such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, transportation challenges, employment challenges, language barriers, and access to affordable health care. Sponsorship, golfing and volunteer opportunities are now open for this popular Tournament on September 12!
Event Date: Monday, September 12, 2022
Event Timing: Late morning: Registration and lunch
Early afternoon: Shotgun start
Early evening: Dinner, awards, raffle and auction
Event Location: Pocasset Golf Club, 24 Club House Drive, Pocasset, MA 02559
Event Contact: Christopher Ellis
Event Contact Phone: (508) 477-5990
Event Contact Email: [email protected]
Event Website: www.chcofcapecod.org/golf
Community Health Center is happy to announce a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Remote Patient Monitoring. Earlier this year, CHC was selected by the Health Resources and Services Administration as a grant recipient for “Optimizing Virtual Care”. This grant award will complement existing resources and facilitate organizational expansion of telehealth initiatives including, virtual visits, remote patient monitoring, chat-based interactions and other technology – enabled modalities.
The main goals for expanding telehealth initiatives include:
Key dates for this RFP are:
To access the full RFP document, please click here. If you have any questions about the RFP, please contact Karen Gardner, Community Health Center Chief Executive Officer at [email protected].
Sandwich – The Sandwich community is invited to an informational meeting to discuss substance use disorders and overdose deaths. The in-person meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 25 from 4:30-6:30 pm at the Sandwich Library Community Room at 142 Main Street.
As overdose deaths continue to rise in the community, Sandwich remains the only town on the Upper Cape without a dedicated substance use coalition. The purpose of this meeting is to hear local concerns related to opioid use and substance use disorders, and to discuss community efforts to address these issues, including the possible formation of a coalition. All members of the community are invited to join this solution-focused discussion, including parents, youth, people with lived experience, town leaders, and representatives from various sectors within the community (education, law enforcement, religion, business, local government, media, healthcare, harm reduction). Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
For more information about this event, please email Erin Ralston, Community Coordinator at Community Health Center at [email protected].
This meeting is being organized by coalition members of the Bourne and Sandwich HEALing Communities Study-Massachusetts Coalition, convened by Boston Medical Center and sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This study aims to decrease opioid-related fatalities in Bourne and Sandwich and 15 other Massachusetts communities. To learn more about this study, please visit HEALTogetherMA.org/Barnstable.
p: 508-477-7090
f: 508-477-7028
123 Waterhouse Rd.
Bourne, MA 02532
1185B Falmouth Rd.
Centerville, MA 02632
210 Jones Rd.
Falmouth, MA 02540
26 Edgerton Dr.
N. Falmouth, MA 02556
