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
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
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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.
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1984 Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC), a
nutrition program for low-income pregnant women, infants, and children, joins
the Health Center.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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1992 Expands services to include medical
specialists on site and begins the HIV Pediatric Program in conjunction with
the Public Health MASSCARE Program.
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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.
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1994 Adds Urgent Care and expands operating
hours to include Saturdays.
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1994 Access to health care is expanded through
affiliation agreement with Southcoast Hospital System. On-site services expands
to include X-Ray Department.
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1994 Access to health care is expanded through
affiliation agreement with Southcoast Hospital System. On-site services expands
to include X-Ray Department.
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1995 Property at 852 Purchase Street is
acquired from Shawmut Bank.
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1996 Property at 860 Purchase Street is
acquired from the City of New Bedford.
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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.
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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.
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1998 The Health Center offers pharmacy
assistance to low income uninsured patients through grants from the Federal
Drug Pricing Program.
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1999 The Health Center records more
than 50,000 medical visits covering more than 20,000 patients from the greater
New Bedford area.
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1999 Receives accreditation from the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO).
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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.
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2001 Health Center celebrates its
20th anniversary.
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2002 Total patients exceed 30,000 (90,000
visits).
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2003 The Greater New Bedford Community
Health Foundation incorporated. Master Chef George Karousos of the
International Culinary Institute, is named Chairman of the Board.
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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.
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2005 The George Karousos Pediatric Center
opens
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2006 The GNBCHC celebrates its 25th
Anniversary
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2007 Women's Health/MCH Clinical Unit
opens
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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