BURRILLVILLE – For the second consecutive year, a Pascoag-based health center has been named among the best in the country with a gold Community Health Quality Recognition award from the federal office of Health and Human Services Administration’s Bureau of Primary Healthcare.
Well One Primary Medical and Dental Care is in the top ten percent of health centers in the U.S., according to the agency. The center, which also has locations in Foster, Scituate and North Kingstown, also earned “badges,” in 2022 as an access enhancer and health disparities reducer.
Serving 16,407 patients according to the federal data, Well One was among three centers in Rhode Island to earn the agency’s gold tier designation. Also named a gold health center quality leader in 2022 were Comprehensive Community Action, Inc. and The Providence Community Health Centers, Inc.
Well One was the only health center in the state to also earn the award in 2021.
According to the agency, the Community Health Quality Recognition badges are awarded to health care providers that have made notable quality improvement achievements in the areas of access, quality, health equity, and health information technology for the most recent UDS reporting period. Health centers are evaluated against a variety of clinical performance benchmarks relating to childhood immunization rates, chronic disease management – such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression and asthma – tobacco cessation counseling, weight loss counseling and preventative dental care, amongst other criteria.
Also known as Northwest Community Health Care, Well One offers medical, dental and behavioral health services from a property at 36 Bridge Way. In 2019, Well One expanded to offer specialty care from 82 Pascoag Main St.
“I am proud to present WellOne with your 2022 Community Health Quality Recognition badge and certificate of achievement,” said Associate Administrator of HRSA James Macrae. “For more than 57 years, health centers have delivered affordable, accessible, cost-effective, and quality primary health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. Your health center’s efforts are central to advancing a model of coordinated, comprehensive, and patient-centered care serving over 30 million people every year.”
Well One’s more recent expansion included the purchase of four properties on the corner of South Main and Pascoag Main Streets in 2020, including a large two-story building that had historically been home to a number of banks. That previously vacant building at 55 Pascoag Main St. now houses the health center’s Behavioral Health Department. The new properties on Pascoag Main Street are reserved for health care specialists including cardiologists, internists and more, who use the offices on a one day a week basis, providing specialized care to patients.
“Thank you for your commitment to providing quality primary health care services to your community,” Macrae said.
