1970 Family Health Center of Worcester is a federally qualified community health center founded in 1970 as part of the federal Model Cities Program.
1972 Incorporated in 1972, Family Health Center first provided access to health care for low-income families living in the Main South neighborhoods of Worcester.
1973 In 1973, Family Health Center received funding as a Federally Qualified Community Health Center under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
1974 FHCW is an academic health center and, since 1974, has served as a training site for 12 residents (4 each year in a three year program) in our Family Practice Residency Program, in partnership with UMass Medical School (UMMS). Since the program began, we have trained more than 140 physicians to work with vulnerable populations, the majority of whom continue to serve in low-income communities today.
1991 In 1991, when Worcester City Hospital closed its doors, Family Health Center moved to the 26 Queen Street campus and quickly doubled in capacity to meet the unmet needs of a much larger patient base. Family Health Center moved from Main Street to occupy the West and Jacques buildings of the former Worcester City Hospital and embraced the legacy of City Hospital to serve the growing local population.
2005 Family Health Center expanded its educational mission and established a Dental Residency Program in partnership with UMass Medical School. We currently train three dental residents each year to care for vulnerable, complex patients.
2009 In 2009, Family Health Center created and piloted the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Residency Program to address the shortage of primary care providers and offer post-graduate training for FNPs to deliver comprehensive primary care. Family Health Center's FNP Residency Program is the second in the country to train FNP's to meet the complex medical and social services needs of low-income patients.
2010 Family Health Center opened a new Walk-In Center for Urgent and Primary Care to improve access for uninsured patients to a medical home. The new Walk In Center offers same-day appointments for sick visits, health assessment visits for newly arriving refugees, and health benefits advising to assist patients to access health insurance, food stamps, and other benefits.