About Us

GNBCHC History

"Our mission is to provide programs and services that improve the health of individuals and the entire community."

The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center is a private, non-profit health care organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, representative of the economic, educational, and cultural diversity of our community.

Through the generosity of a $10,000 start-up grant from Coastline Council on Aging and their administrator Mr. Charles Sisson, the Health Center was incorporated in 1979 to expand access to health care services for low-income people. New Bedford was designated a Medically Underserved Area by the U.S. Public Health Service and became eligible for grants.

The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center opened its doors in 1981.

History | How it Began
Stellar Events | Where We Are Now

How it All Began...

A group of very determined women got together and decided they wanted to create a place where they could receive quality health care no matter what their status of income or insurance. Did you know they even sold pencils on the streets to try and raise money for this cause they so firmly believed in?

Through the generosity of a $10,000 start-up grant and much hard work by the people advocating for it, the Health Center was incorporated in 1979 to expand access to health care services for low-income people. New Bedford was designated a Medically Underserved Area by

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the U.S. Public Health Service. This made the Health Center eligible for grants from "Section 330" (USPHS Act) Urban Health Initiative.

In 1981 the Health Center was awarded a $175,000 grant from the Federal Bureau of Primary Health Care to expand health care access to the medically underserved.

We opened our doors in 1981 and our first patient was seen. There was a small staff which consisted of a Public Health Service physician and two support staff.

History | How it Began
Stellar Events | Where We Are Now

Stellar Events

	1981 Greater New Bedford Community Health Center was awarded $175,000 from the Federal Bureau of Primary Health Care to expand health care access to the medically under served.
	1984 Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC), a nutrition program for low-income pregnant women, infants, and children, joins the Health Center.
	1986 Operating budget funded by state and federal grants, Medicaid, and private insurance tops the $1 million mark and records more than 6,000 visits.
	1988 Services at the Health Center expand to include Teen Clinic. This provides confidential medical and counseling services for teens at risk for early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
	1990 Awarded its first Ryan White grant in the amount of $110K for treatment of patients with HIV. The Health Center continues to receive more than $250K annually for this.
	1992 Expands services to include medical specialists on site and begins the HIV Pediatric Program in conjunction with the Public Health MASSCARE Program.
	1993 Moves to its present location at 874 Purchase Street. Operating budget exceeds $4,000,000 and records more than 32,000 patient visits annually. Receives FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center) designation and becomes eligible for enhanced rates for services to the elder population.
	1994 Adds Urgent Care and expands operating hours to include Saturdays.
	1994 Access to health care is expanded through affiliation agreement with Southcoast Hospital System. On-site services expands to include X-Ray Department.
	1994 Access to health care is expanded through affiliation agreement with Southcoast Hospital System. On-site services expands to include X-Ray Department.
	1995 Property at 852 Purchase Street is acquired from Shawmut Bank.
	1996 Property at 860 Purchase Street is acquired from the City of New Bedford.
	1996 The Health Center is recognized by the national Center for Disease Control (CHC) as the Poster Program for increasing childhood immunization rates to 92% of the population served.
	1997 The Health Center receives The Blue Ribbon for Innovation from the New England Health Care Assembly in recognition of its work with South Coast Hospital System to provide enhanced access to health care services for the medically under served in the greater New Bedford community.
	1998 The Health Center offers pharmacy assistance to low income uninsured patients through grants from the Federal Drug Pricing Program.
	1999 The Health Center records more than 50,000 medical visits covering more than 20,000 patients from the greater New Bedford area.
	1999 Receives accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO).
	2000 New Bedford Housing Authority selects the Health Center as its partner in the HOPE VI project to open satellite clinic for geriatric services at the Caroline Street Apartments. 2001 Awarded a $375K grant to establish a Dental Clinic for low-income residents of the Greater New Bedford community.
	2001 Health Center celebrates its 20th anniversary.
	2002 Total patients exceed 30,000 (90,000 visits).
	2003 The Greater New Bedford Community Health Foundation incorporated. Master Chef George Karousos of the International Culinary Institute, is named Chairman of the Board.
	2004 A $500,000 Community Development Block Grant was awarded by the City of New Bedford to build an on-site pharmacy at 874 Purchase Street. A $25,000 grant awarded to complete the sixth and final dental operatory.
	2005 The George Karousos Pediatric Center opens
	2006 The GNBCHC celebrates its 25th Anniversary
	2007 Women's Health/MCH Clinical Unit opens

History | How it Began
Stellar Events | Where We Are Now

Where we are now...

Today, the Health Center serves men, women, and children and operates an $8 million dollar budget. We employ nearly 200 personnel including 19 medical providers and 23 nurses. We have on-site laboratory and radiology services, which are provided by St. Luke's Hospital, for the convenience of our patients. The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center is proud of its strong history protecting the public health through quality, accessible, and culturally competent primary health care. We look forward to a long future continuing to protect the health of the people in the Greater New Bedford community.

History | How it Began
Stellar Events | Where We Are Now