Pathways to Wellness and South End Community Health Center Form a Strategic Alliance to Integrate Western Health Care and Hol



Pathways to Wellness and the South End Community Health Center have forged a unique partnership that will result in the first East meets West community health center in Massachusetts. The alliance will bring together an established community health center with a well-respected holistic therapies clinic, each with an unwavering commitment to providing compassionate, quality care to all those in need.

While Pathways to Wellness will move its clinic to the SECHC in January, the organization will remain autonomous and will retain the name Pathways to Wellness.

The collaboration will greatly expand services available to both organization'ss current and potential patient populations and it will stand as a national model for integration of services and health care approaches. The traditional care provided by SECHC, which includes pediatrics, adult medicine, OB/Gyn, mental health, dentistry, eye care, and other medical specialties will now be augmented by complementary and alternative medical therapies such as acupuncture, shiatsu, and Chinese herbal medicine provided by Pathways to Wellness. Clients of the two organizations will now have the ability to access both western and eastern medical services under one roof.

Pathways's board of directors and senior management staff resolved last year to pursue a partnership with a larger organization to ensure that Pathways's mission and services would continue in light of dwindling public funding, says Kristen Porter, executive director of Pathways to Wellness. Partnering with SECHC puts both agencies in a stronger position to provide additional services to our clients, expand patient populations, and develop new programs.

I am extremely pleased to welcome Pathways to Wellness into the South End Community Health Center'ss home as members of our extended provider family dedicated to caring and quality care for all and I am confident that our collaboration will attract the attention of the community we serve through increased access to improved and expanded services, says Tristram Blake, executive director of South End Community Health Center.

In advance of its move Pathways has already begun collaborating with SECHC on its WIN-WIN (Weight Initiative Now) Program, which aims to combat and prevent obesity among at-risk young girls. Pathways is providing a sports massage component to the program, which includes classes on nutrition, cooking, and exercise. The goal of the massage therapy component is to increase body awareness and body image while decreasing muscle soreness and fatigue.

About Pathways to Wellness
For 17 years, Pathways to Wellness, a nonprofit public health organization, has provided equal access to high quality holistic therapies including acupuncture, shiatsu, and Chinese herbal medicine. Open to all people needing care, Pathways practitioners work collaboratively in a team environment and in conjunction with Western medical professionals to offer an integrated approach to care. Located at 1601 Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, Pathways to Wellness can be reached at 617-859-3036. Additional information on Pathways to Wellness's services can be found on its web site at www.pathwaysboston.org


About South End Community Health Center
Since 1969, the South End Community Health Center has been serving families and individuals in the South End with high-quality, culturally and linguistically accessible health care. Originally founded as a pediatric clinic, SECHC has grown to become a full-service medical, dental, and mental-health facility with 13,000 patients, a $6.7 million budget, and a 100% community board. Located at 1601 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118, SECHC can be reached at 617-425-2000. Additional information on the SECHC'ss services can be found on its web site at www.sechc.org





Pathways to Wellness and South End Community Health Center Form a Strategic Alliance to Integrate Western Health Care and Hol