Mass General Brigham Awards $150,000 Grant to North Shore Community Health

Funding Supports Electronic Health Record Implementation at Family Health Centers

A partnership between Mass General Brigham and North Shore Community Health will benefit patients. Today, Mass General Brigham announced the distribution of a $150,000 grant to North Shore Community Health to support the implementation of an electronic health record system (EHR). North Shore Community Health is a network of family health centers serving over 13,000 patients at three community sites and seven school-based sites, offering primary care, behavioral health, dental, lab services, and other comprehensive care.

“We are pleased to support North Shore Community Health’s initiative to implement an electronic health record system,” said Elsie Taveras, MD, MPH, Chief Community Health Equity Officer for Mass General Brigham. “Electronic health records are a critical virtual document that allows patients to see their medical history across the system and throughout their lifetime. It improves efficiency, brings stronger communications, and improves care at every touchpoint.”

North Shore Community Health maintains a close partnership with Salem Hospital, a member of Mass General Brigham, to manage patient care and ensure access to specialists and hospital services. This new technology will enhance quality and help make care more efficient and streamlined, as the electronic systems will be linked to benefit patients.

Mass General Brigham was one of the first in the nation to use an electronic health record system. This funding is part of a larger commitment of $500,000 from Mass General Brigham to North Shore Community Health, with the remaining investment dedicated to support a walk-in urgent care clinic at Peabody Family Health Center, part of the North Shore Community Health network.

“We are grateful to Mass General Brigham for their commitment to supporting community providers like North Shore Community Health. This grant will allow us to better support our patients through better communication leading to improved health outcomes,” says Margaret A. Brennan, MPH, President and CEO of North Shore Community Health. “We look forward to an ongoing partnership with Mass General Brigham.”

This partnership is part of Mass General Brigham’s $50 million investment in a new, comprehensive community, and mental health strategy to improve the health of the communities it serves. In partnership with more than 20 organizations, the initiatives target programs to improve mental healthcare capacity, workforce development, chronic disease management, as well as nutrition security and equity. The community grants build upon Mass General Brigham’s existing $175M annual community health investment program.   

About North Shore Community Health

North Shore Community Health is a level 3 PCMH, is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center which has three family practice sites that include Salem Family Health Center, Peabody Family Health Center, and Gloucester Family Health Center. These sites have medical, dental and behavioral health services and serve individuals and families of all ages. NSCH has School-Based Health Centers at: Salem High School Teen Health Center, Peabody Veterans War Memorial High School Teen Health Center and behavioral health centers at Collins Middle School, Bates Elementary School, Bentley Academy Charter School, Horace Mann Laboratory School, and Peabody Learning Academy. North Shore Community Health is a member of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Media Contact

Mass General Brigham:
Tim Sullivan
tsullivan11@partners.org
617-952-5235