Lowell CHC Expands Access to Care with New Pharmacy and Enhanced Patient Walk-In Center
Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) is excited to announce the official opening of its new in-house pharmacy and the expansion of its Patient Walk-In Center. Located on the newly renovated first floor at 161 Jackson Street, these updates reflect a significant commitment to meeting the growing healthcare needs of the community.
While the Patient Walk-In Center has long provided vital immediate care, the recent renovations enhance its capacity and functionality. The pharmacy, is a brand-new service, established to ensure that Greater Lowell residents continue to have convenient access to essential medication services following the closure of a large national chain pharmacy.
Faced with the prospect of leaving patients at risk of a pharmacy desert, Lowell CHC moved quickly to create a fully operational pharmacy, completing the project in just under one year. This action ensured that patients and the public could continue to access critical pharmacy services close to home.
“We knew that stepping up was the only option,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center. “Our patients depend on us for their health, and we could not let them down. This new pharmacy goes beyond filling prescriptions; it’s about breaking down barriers to accessing care and enhancing the overall patient experience.”
“For over half a century, Lowell Community Health Center has not only provided vital care but has grown alongside this community, standing as a beacon of health, compassion, and inclusivity,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “The opening of the health center’s expanded patient walk-in center and the new in-house pharmacy are critical to fulfilling Lowell CHC’s commitment to accessible, timely care. Lowell Community Health Center’s journey from an apartment-based clinic all those years ago to the thriving facility it is today is more than a story of growth – it’s a testament to the strength of our community and the power of a shared commitment to care.”
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State Senator Ed Kennedy stated, “Affordable healthcare is a human right, and I am proud to support initiatives such as the Lowell Community Health Center’s new pharmacy and Walk-In Center that allow more residents of the First Middlesex Senate District to receive necessary health services regardless of their financial status.”
“Making access to healthcare equitable not only means expanding coverage, but also increasing availability for patients to get immediate care when necessary for their health care needs,” said State Representative Vanna Howard (D-Lowell). “Having served on the Lowell Community Health Center Board of Directors, then a staff member, and both my children are longtime patients, I know that in-house pharmacy and a walk-in center on site go a long way towards that goal and which clearly improve patient outcomes in almost every instance.”
“The work of Lowell Community Health Center and its partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels make projects like the new pharmacy and expanded patient walk-in center a reality for our community,” said State Representative Rodney Elliott (D-Lowell). “The commitment of the Lowell Community Health Center team to completing these projects is truly commendable.”
The new pharmacy features state-of-the-art automation technology, including prescription-filling equipment designed to streamline operations. The expanded space—now 1,600 square feet—supports prescription compliance by reducing potential barriers and offering culturally competent services in multiple languages. Additionally, this expansion reinforces Lowell CHC’s mission of providing wrap-around, patient-centered care to more than 36,000 patients who choose to call the health center their health care home.
The enhanced Patient Walk-In Center includes a repositioned and significantly enlarged waiting area, additional patient rooms, and improved triage spaces, all designed to meet the growing demand for accessible walk-in care.
The nearly $3.3 million combined investment in the pharmacy and Patient Walk-In Center reflects Lowell CHC’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare. The renovation of the Patient Walk-In Center was funded through federal and state grants, while the new pharmacy was supported by board-approved reserve funds. This project is another step in Lowell CHC’s nearly 55-year tradition of breaking ground on new initiatives to meet ever evolving patient and community needs.
