Northern Essex Community College will partner on a $250,000 state grant to deliver a training plan that will improve the quality of patient care at a Lowell-based health facility by strengthening the skills of frontline community health workers and medical assistants.
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian Wednesday awarded more than $12.2 million in the latest round of grants to help train health care providers to improve patient service and reduce health care costs. The funding goes to 53 organizations across the state as part of Governor Deval Patrick Administration’s effort to encourage economic growth by supporting innovation in the Commonwealth’s health care industry. Kaprielian announced the awards at the Lowell Community Health Center, one of the grant recipients.
The Lowell Community Health Center, which has served the communities of greater Lowell since 1970, will partner with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and Northern Essex Community College.
Health Care Workforce Transformation Grants announced on Wednesday are administered by the Commonwealth Corporation under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Awarded grants ranged in size from $30,300 to $250,000.
“We now care for nearly half of all Lowell residents, or nearly 50,000 individuals, said Dorcas Grigg-Saito, CEO of the Lowell Community Health Center. “This unique training opportunity will help us ensure that we have the skilled workforce we need to achieve our mission of delivering high quality and cost effective patient care to each and every patient we serve.”
Other Local grant awards include $250,000 to the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board, $249,973.37 to Anna Jacques Hospital, Newburyport, and $244,354 to Lowell General Hospital, Lowell.