March 26, 1999

Four health centers – Codman Square Health Center, Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, Upham’s Corner Health Center and South Boston Community Health Center – recently have signed affiliation agreements with Partners HealthCare. The affiliation agreements were made in an effort to enhance patient services, expand hospital choices to people in the health centers’ communities and to build on the health centers’ primary relationship with Boston Medical Center (BMC).

The Partners affiliation will allow the health centers to access patient services at the MGH, BWH and other Partners-affiliated institutions. Partners will work with the health centers to expand clinical support services and improve information management systems.

In addition, the four health centers will collaborate with Partners, BMC and city and state agencies on several public health initiatives, such as reducing breast cancer deaths among uninsured women; substance abuse prevention; support for victims of domestic violence; improving care for patients with heart disease, asthma and diabetes; and enrolling uninsured patients in publicly funded insurance programs.

"Partners is committed to improving the health of people in Boston’s communities and keeping primary care in our neighborhoods," says Samuel O. Thier, MD, president and chief executive officer of Partners. "One way to do that is to strengthen community health centers and support their tradition of providing quality health care."