September 17, 2004

From humble beginnings: MGH Charlestown celebrates 35 years

What began as a small program to help meet the health care needs of neighborhood children in Charlestown, now is a full-service health center that has been a national model for how community health care can work. As MGH Charlestown — formerly known as the Bunker Hill Community Health Center — celebrates 35 years of service to Charlestown residents Sept. 24, Hotline takes a look back at the center's creation.

In 1968, the health center began as a "Children and Youth Health Care Program," with a $400,000 grant from the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The program was meant to bring comprehensive care — as opposed to occasional visits to the MGH Emergency Room — to children up to age 21. The late John Connelly, MD, the first medical director of the health center, however, had a vision for the future.

"While this is starting with children, we envision that this center will provide all health services in Charlestown to all members of the family, without regard to ability to pay, type of disease or age," said Connelly when the health center started. At that time, the center — which still is located in its original, historic building at 73 High St. — offered an unusual concept in combining municipal, school and public health needs into a program affiliated with a teaching hospital. The MGH worked closely with organizations such as the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the City of Boston School Department to bring high-quality, personalized health, social and educational services to a community in need. And the 16,000 residents of Charlestown were in need at that time. Like many communities, Charlestown had only a few physicians in the community, with even fewer choices for coordinated medical care.

According to MGH records, emergency room and clinic visits to the hospital jumped from 30,000 to 66,0000 during the 1960s, and 10 percent of those came from Charlestown. In its early years, the Charlestown health center averaged 60 patient visits per day and offered specialty services such as obstetrics; minor surgery; ear, nose and throat care; allergy services; and neurological care. Now, MGH Charlestown averages 200 patient visits per day and offers a broad range of services such as adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, primary care, geriatric care, pediatrics, dermatology, podiatry, community mental health, social services and neurology.

The health center completed a major renovation project in 2003 that revitalized the interior structure, offering a refreshing new look to the first floor, relocating radiology services to the basement level and providing improved space for specialty services on the second floor.

"We have come a long way in the last 35 years," says Peggy Carolan, administrative director for MGH Charlestown. "Dr. Connelly's vision has led us to a dream fulfilled, serving the ever-changing needs of this community. And we are committed to continuing to evolve and improve our services for Charlestown residents."