With a focus on improving health outcomes and access to care, Providence Community Health Centers (PCHC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 28th for its newest health center – PCHC Atwood. The health center, located at 31 Atwood Street in Providence, will officially open to patients on March 1st.

Sen. Jack Reed, Gov. Daniel McKee, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza were part of the speaking program along with PCHC President and CEO Merrill Thomas and Dr. Karen Ng, who has cared for patients at PCHC’s other Olneyville health center for more than 20 years.

PCHC Atwood is designed to meet the daily health needs of residents from the culturally diverse neighborhoods of Olneyville, Hartford Park, Silver Lake, and surrounding areas. Once fully operational, PCHC Atwood will become the new medical home to 14,000 patients annually. This is in addition to the 60,000 people PCHC already cares for as the state’s largest health center.

“This $15 million investment will help address disparities that negatively impact the health of thousands in this community,” said Merrill Thomas, President and CEO of PCHC. “Over the past 54 years, our organization has continually evolved to meet the needs of underserved people. PCHC Atwood is the latest step in that journey.”

The decision to build a health center in this location was driven by a board-led strategic plan and market assessment that identified Olneyville as the neighborhood with some of the worst health outcomes and data in Providence in critical areas like prenatal care, low birth weight, and control of both blood pressure and diabetes.

The 26,600 square-feet state-of-the-art health center will be home to a variety of services including Adult Medicine, Family Medicine, Ob/Gyn, Pediatrics, Behavioral Health, Express Care, and Lab Services.

PCHC Atwood will also serve as an economic driver in the neighborhood by creating more than 50 new jobs including managers, physicians, mid-level clinical providers, case managers, administrative staff, and facilities personnel.