November 30, 2001

Early next year, renovations are expected to begin on the MGH Charlestown HealthCare Center, (right) transforming the interior of the building into a new and improved facility for treating patients from Charlestown and its surrounding communities.

The health center recently signed a 15-year lease renewal on the building – which is owned by the city of Boston – with the understanding that significant renovations would be performed to maintain the facility, update its systems and protect the integrity of the historic structure. Located at 73 High St. in Charlestown, the building was erected in 1927. The lease renewal negotiations and renovations agreement were coordinated by Partners Real Estate and by Bob Fleming, director of the City of Boston Trust Office, representing Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

The MGH has committed $2.5 million toward the renovation of the health center, which has been affiliated with the hospital since 1968. Reviewed by the Charlestown Neighborhood Council and a subcommittee of the health center's Community Advisory Board, the renovation plans include installing a new sprinkler system, improving heating and ventilation systems and relocating and updating current radiology capabilities with state-of-the-art digital radiography equipment. Significant changes to the lobby area and to the adult primary care space on the first floor will vastly improve patient flow and patient privacy. Lab services will be decentralized, allowing patients to have specimen collections in the privacy of exam rooms. Preliminary work completed earlier this year included the installation of a new elevator and a new roof, as well as the consolidation of specialty services on the second floor.

According to Lorenzo Lewis, MD, medical director of MGH Charlestown, the primary goal of these changes is to improve patient care. "We are very excited about how this renovation will streamline our work environment and enable us to care for patients more efficiently," he says.

During the two-year renovation period, construction will be completed in phases to keep services available to patients. "For 33 years, the health center has been a vital part of this community, caring for generations of Charlestown residents," says Peggy Carolan, executive director of MGH Charlestown. "We are committed to achieving our goal of improving our facility and services with minimal impact on patient care. I am confident that our patients and the community will be pleased with the changes being made and will be very happy with the end result."