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Pediatrician Nancy Kahn, MD, says there is nowhere she would rather work than at Brookside Community Health Center (BCHC) in Jamaica Plain. Like most of the pediatric team, Kahn has been at the BWH-affiliated com-munity health center for more than a decade. “The patients keep us here,” she explains.
BCHC has been a cornerstone of BWH’s community health services for 30 years. The thousands of new patients served annually – reaching more than 10,000 in 2001 – is a testament to the top-quality care provided by a dedicated team of employees.
However, while the growth in patient numbers and visits is a positive sign that access to care is on the rise for local residents, the increase in volume has come with its share of challenges. “Our space is very dense and there have been only minor renovations since the building was first occupied in the 1970’s,” said Paula McNichols, director, who added that vital infrastructure systems such as electrical and plumbing systems have now been upgraded. “It was also important that we decompress the space and create a more comfortable and inviting environment for our growing patient population to better meet their needs,” she added. To ensure the medical needs of the community continue to be met, Partners launched a comprehensive, $4.5 million renovation project in June 2001.
Recent renovations at the center reflect the staff’s commitment to patients. The Mental Health Department was the first to move into new space, followed by Pediatrics, which now boasts additional exam rooms, as well as a separate area to weigh patients, check their height and perform vision and hearing tests. In addition, consultation rooms give families more privacy to talk with caregivers.
The improvements are all part of a major renovation at Brookside, slated for completion this fall. “The key is for people to feel that we know them as individuals,” says Robert M. Hartley, MD, the center’s medical director. “We separated our various services so our staff could better know and serve their patients.”
Says Kahn “Brookside now better offers the best of both worlds—community medicine in a more personalized, welcoming place.”