Our Services
Programs and Services at Great Brook Valley Health Center in Worcester
In keeping with our commitment to providing access to culturally competent health care, our multilingual staff and interpreters facilitate all appointments and programs.- Primary Medical Care
- Urgent Care
- Specialty Care
- Mental Health
- Social Services
- Dental
- Pharmacy
- Laboratory
- Nutrition
- Optometry
- Chronic Disease Program
- Refugee Health Assessment Program
- Worcester Healthy Start Initiative
- Breastfeeding Support
- Childbirth Classes
- Family Planning
- Mammography
- School Health and Dental Services
- HIV, STD, Hepatitis Counseling and Testing
- HIV Program
- Tobacco Treatment Program
- Youth Programs
Great Brook Valley Health Center utilizes a family practice model of care. Services include preventive care, routine checkups, immunizations, and management of acute and chronic illnesses.
Urgent care is available for health center patients who have an injury or illness that requires immediate care but is not serious enough to warrant a visit to a hospital emergency room.
Great Brook Valley Health Center contracts with a number of local specialists to provide specialty care on site. Medical specialties include: urology, pulmonology, dermatology, obstetrics/gynecology, infectious disease, cardiology, ophthalmology, and podiatry.
Services provided for children, adolescents, and adults include: outpatient counseling, crisis intervention, psychiatric evaluation and medication treatment, evaluation for childhood disorders including ADHD, depression screening and treatment, and culturally competent treatment for refugees and immigrants.
Services include psycho-social assessment, crisis intervention, domestic violence screening and intervention, advocacy, and transportation. Caseworkers advocate for patients with school, court and housing issues and make referrals to community resources.
Dental services are provided at four sites (two in Worcester, one in Framingham and one in Clinton). Services include comprehensive exams, x-rays, oral health education, prophylaxis (cleanings), restorative treatment, oral surgery and emergency treatment. We also provide pediatric dental care and prosthodontic services such as dentures, partials, crowns, bridges, and mouth guards.
Our on-site pharmacy is available to patients receiving a prescription from our health care providers. Our pharmacy accepts most insurance plans and can provide assistance for those whose insurance does not include prescription benefits.
Our onsite laboratory performs a wide range of testing. Services include phlebotomy, hematology, chemistry, immunochemistry, serology, and urinalysis. The lab is JCAHO and CLIA certified.
Nutrition counseling is available to all children and adults who receive primary medical care at Great Brook Valley Health Center. Our nutritionists have expertise in prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding support, pediatric nutrition, chronic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, eating disorders and weight management. Appointments are available for disease prevention and treatment. WIC services are also available on site.
Eye care includes eye exams, dispensing of glasses and contacts, and testing for glaucoma and other eye abnormalities. Reduced cost glasses are available to income eligible families.
A dedicated interdisciplinary team, comprised of the medical provider, nurse, nutritionist and other specialists, works together with patients to manage their chronic disease. The self management model allows patients to be in charge of setting their goals with the support of a professional health care team. Our teams focus on the following chronic diseases: asthma, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression and HIV/AIDS.
We are contracted with DPH as the only site in Central Massachusetts offering refugee health assessments to new refugees and asylees. This comprehensive health assessment focuses on evaluation and diagnostic services, referrals, introduction to health care services in the U.S., and linkages with primary care.
Great Brook Valley Health Center is the lead for this citywide initiative that strives to eliminate disparities in perinatal health and reduce infant mortality. Services include case management, health education, outreach, and community consortium.
Certified lactation counselors and an IBCLC are available to provide breastfeeding support at the hospital, home or health center. For the past 5 years over 90% of the women who received prenatal care at Great Brook Valley Health Center breastfed their babies.
The childbirth education program is free and open to all pregnant women. Classes address pregnancy and prenatal exercise, prepared childbirth, breastfeeding, and culminate in a post partum reunion.
Our providers and certified family planning counselors offer counseling on different birth control methods. Patients may choose among methods such as oral contraceptive pills, DepoProvera, IUD, diaphragm, male and female condoms, the birth control patch, NuvaRing and Plan B, and can have their prescriptions filled at low or no cost at our onsite pharmacy.
We partner with UMass Memorial Health Care for the provision of mammography and for ultrasound and surgical services.
In collaboration with the Worcester Public Schools, Great Brook Valley Health Center operates school based health centers (SBHC’s). SBHC’s are staffed with a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant and a bilingual secretary. Services include physical exams, health care for acute and chronic illnesses, immunizations, laboratory screenings, sports medicine, health assessment and education, and emergency treatment. Dental services are available at some sites. Counseling is offered on relationship and family issues, depression, smoking, drugs, and emotional problems. We provide referrals to health and social service agencies.
Confidential counseling and testing is available to all free of charge. Community outreach and education is provided.
We provide comprehensive HIV services including primary care, infectious disease consultation, medical case management, support groups, prevention education, outreach, screening for HIV, Hepatitis, and STD’s with immunizations, treatment and referrals. Services are available onsite and at numerous offsite locations including correctional facilities and substance abuse treatment sites. Medical reintegration services are offered to HIV clients being released from correctional facilities.
Our certified smoking cessation counselor provides counseling and medication to help patients quit smoking. This is one of the best health gifts our patients can give to themselves and their families.
Utilizing a youth development model, the Health Center provides evidence based education to children age 12-19 on a variety of topics including HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy prevention. Education is conducted on site and in many after school locations. Community events and outreach programs are run by a team of health educators and trained youth educators.