Lowell Community Health Center Inc

Metta health centermetta means loving kindness in the buddhist pali language. Metta is one of the nation's first fully integrated east meets west health care facilities, with a focus on lowell's significant southeast asian and other refugee populations. Services include primary medical care for all ages using a family medicine model, chronic disease management, nutrition counseling, mental health services, traditional healing advice, acupuncture, massage therapy, social services, meditation, health education, and referrals. Metta's staff members are bilingual and bicultural. Metta's unique team-based behavioral health services model acknowledges the importance of cultural beliefs and pairs a bicultural mental health specialist with a licensed mental health clinician and, if needed, a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner. As the regions' only refugee health assessment center, metta assures that refugees receive health screening and treatment within 30 days of arrival.

Behavioral health serviceslowell chc offers a wide range of behavioral health services for those with mental health and substance use issues. We have a commitment to cultural diversity, clinical excellence, and integrating behavioral health care with primary care services. The lowell chc behavioral health services department offers experienced clinicians who provide treatment for children, adolescents, and adults through individual, group, couple, and family therapy, both in-person and virtually. Experienced mental health professionals and certified addiction counselors work to identify individual needs and develop short-term as well as long-term goals. In addition, all staff are trained in case management and care coordination through person-centered treatment planning. Through this process, additional service needs are identified and secured in collaboration with the patient. Psychopharmacology (medication prescribed to treat mental health issues) is an additional service offered to patients. The behavioral health services team works closely with medical providers to assure that patients' needs are met.

Ob/gyn and family planningquality, affordable obstetrics care, along with confidential reproductive health care services are provided for both male and female adults and adolescents. Family nurse practitioners, registered nurses, community health workers and health educators provide services that include gynecological exams, birth control services, testing and treatment of stds (sexually transmitted diseases), hiv counseling and testing, testing and treatment of urinary tract infections, colposcopy and breast exams. Parental consent is not required at our teen clinic, where teens can receive confidential services on a walk-in basis.

Carino hiv/aids serviceslowell chc offers comprehensive hiv services including counseling, testing, treatment, social support and advocacy for those living with or affected by hiv/aids. Specific hiv services include: care management; hiv primary and specialty care; medication adherence services; peer support in individual and group settings; masscare services focusing on pregnant women, children and families; prevention and education; hiv/aids, sti, hepatitis c screening, referral and treatment; medical transportation; partner services; acupuncture; and linkages to complementary community services.

School based health centerslowell chc provides comprehensive in-school services for adolescents in lowell.centers are located at lowell high school and stoklosa middle school. Each center is staffed by nurse practitioners, medical assistants, a community health worker, and a mental health clinician, providing students with comprehensive primary medical care, and behavioral health services during school hours. Services include physical exams, management of chronic medical conditions, urgent care, nutrition counseling, health screenings, immunizations, sports and employment physicals, and mental health services.

Community health programminglowell chc outreach programs, conducted in collaboration with our clinical programs, serve the diverse communities of greater lowell, with a focus on latinx, cambodian, african, and newly arrived refugees and immigrants, uninsured residents, and residents in need of primary care or mental health services. The health promotion department, which includes community health workers, also collaborates with local community agencies and faith-based organizations. Programs include: the healthy homes asthma program to improve residential environments of low-income, diverse asthmatic adults who are 65+; and providing multi-disciplinary services to survivors of torture so they may be fully functioning members of society. In recent years, we have also worked to strengthen our relationship with the faith-based communities in lowell, partnering to support our sizable immigrant community. Our community health education center offers community health training throughout the region, with a focus on workforce development for community health workers and medical interpreters.

Youth programminglowell community health center's teen block is a free after-school program for teens focusing on healthy development of young people and empowering youth to become leaders in the community by working to reduce risky behaviors that lead to teen pregnancy, hiv/stis, substance abuse and violent in lowell. By building leadership opportunities in the community and providing knowledge (block) on health education and prevention, we promote healthy behaviors that will enhance the future prospects for our young people. Teen block programs have a strong focus on arts and creative expression, including the annual dance 4 peace, now in its 27th year, which brings teens from many communities together to explore a particular theme or subject related to violence prevention. As a youth-led program, teen block employs the youth as assets approach to cultivate connection, confidence, competence, contribution, and caring, which is what youth need for positive outcomes.

Pharmacyour retail pharmacy, open to the public, provides patients and community residents with convenient access to low-cost prescription medications. The federal 340b program is available for all patients, making medications extremely affordable. In 2020 pharmacy sites offering our patients 340b pricing was expanded to 14 locations.our clinical pharmacy program provides services which maximize medication therapy with the goal of improving patient outcomes. Comprehensive and targeted medication reviews, patient education and outreach, assistance with medication adherence, cost, and prior authorizations.

Dentalgood oral health is part of overall health. With that in mind, the health center opened its dental care center in march of 2018, providing access to comprehensive oral health care for all ages including infants and pregnant women. The center features 16 dental operatories. It's smiles4families program helps offset the cost of care for patients in need.

Visionsince march of 2018, lowell chc has offered comprehensive eye care for infants, children and adults in its state-of-the-art eye care center featuring seven exam rooms and equipment to diagnose ocular conditions and diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. Eye care services provided include comprehensive eye examinations and contact lens fittings. The lowell chc optical shop offers a range of affordable eyewear options and accessories. The health center's glasses4families fund is available for those in need.

Obatlowell chc offers outpatient services for our patients seeking assistance with substance use disorders through our office based addiction treatment (obat) program, with an emphasis on both medication-assisted treatment with the medications suboxone (buprenorphine-naloxone) or vivitrol (naltrexone). Our obat care team works closely with primary care providers and behavioral health services' clinicians in managing the care of each patient. Recovery coaches and social workers are available to assist patients throughout their recovery process. We provide individual and group support as we work to assure integrated services that promote overall wellness throughout the recovery process. We also offer same-day walk-in services for those seeking screening for hiv and hepatitis c regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Partner services and treatment are also available.