March 17, 2000

The MGH announced March 15 an affiliation agreement with the North End Community Health Center and the North End Community Nursing Home.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Massachusetts Senate Majority Whip Robert Travaglini joined members of the North End community and administrators, board members, caregivers and staff of the health center, nursing home, the MGH, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Partners HealthCare System in making the announcement. The affiliation will be final after regulatory approvals are received.

Though independently licensed, the North End Community Health Center has had a 30-year relationship with the MGH. Currently all of the health center's physicians are part of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization. For the past four years, the health center, the nursing home and the MGH have been working to develop a partnership that would benefit the hospital, health center and the nursing home and provide high-quality, accessible and affordable health care to the North End community into the future.

Founded in 1970 by a group of North End residents, the North End Community Health Center is dedicated to meeting the health care needs of its community, especially elderly and home bound citizens, many of whom speak Italian. The health center, located at 332 Hanover St., currently serves approximately 10,000 patients and employs more than 100 people. The center offers primary care and many specialties, such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, mental health services and dental care.

The 140-bed North End Community Nursing Home, located at 70 Fulton St., provides both skilled nursing and rehabilitation services to its long-term and short-term residents. The nursing home also focuses on its patients' psychological and social need to stay connected to the North End community and its predominantly Italian culture. The nursing home employs 150 people.

"Today is a landmark in the history of the North End Community Health Center and Nursing Home," said Elaine Wilson, a board member of the organization. "This affiliation will enable us to continue our long tradition of serving the health care needs of the North End community."

James J. Mongan, MD, president of the MGH, said that the MGH shares a commitment to preserving high-quality health care in the North End. "The MGH recognizes that the work of keeping communities healthy begins right here in neighborhood health centers," Mongan said. "We acknowledge and applaud their tremendous 30-year commitment to keeping high-quality health care accessible and affordable in the North End. We look forward to working with them into the future."

The MGH currently licenses and operates four community health care centers: Boston Evening Medical Center-MGH, MGH Charlestown, MGH Chelsea and MGH Revere.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and James J. Mongan, MD, MGH president