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About Us

Harbor Health Services Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit public health agency with a mission to help individuals achieve their full potential through access to local, affordable services that promote health. Harbor provides medical, behavioral health, dental, and support services to more than 30,000 patients in Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod.

Learn more about Harbor’s history

Harbor Health operates five community health centers:

Our health centers are Health Center Program grantees under 42 U.S.C. 254b, and a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. 233(g)-(n).

In addition, Harbor Health operates two Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, a program that allows frail elders to live in their homes and communities, as well as the Dorchester South/South Boston Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program.

Our Elder Service Plan has two medical and day centers in Mattapan and Brockton and cares for more than 450 participants.  Our WIC program provides services at Harbor’s Dorchester locations, as well as at other community health center and mobile locations.  WIC serves more than 3,000 women and their children each year.

Our Accreditation

Patient-Centered Medical Home

Harbor Health has been a recognized NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) since 2011. As a PCMH, Harbor Health provides primary care that is:

  • Comprehensive and inclusive of physical and behavioral health needs
  • Coordinated across the health system
  • Patient-centered to meet each patient’s needs and goals
  • Monitored for quality and safety
  • Based on the latest research and technology

PCMH is a model of primary care that is patient-centered, comprehensive, team-based, coordinated, accessible, and focused on quality and safety. It is a philosophy of healthcare delivery that encourages providers and care teams to meet patients where they are, from the most simple to the most complex conditions. Using a culturally appropriate and team-based approach, patients are treated with respect, dignity, and compassion, and develop strong and trusting relationships with providers and staff.

National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognized Practice

 

HRSA Health Center Program

Harbor Health proudly earned the 2024 Health Center Quality Leader Gold Badge, placing our community health centers in the top 10% nationwide for clinical quality measures. Harbor was one of only two community health centers in Massachusetts to receive the Gold Badge. We also received the Addressing Social Risk Factors and Advancing Health IT for Quality Badges.

Age-Friendly Health System  – Committed to Care Excellence for Older Adults

Harbor Health’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program has achieved special recognition as an Age-Friendly Health System — Committed to Care Excellence from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in our ongoing efforts to ensure age-friendly care for all older adults we serve.

National Health Service Corps

Harbor Health is a National Health Service Corps site.

National Health Service Corporation Accreditation

Harbor Health received MA Health Policy Commission Patient Centered Medical Home PRIME certification for behavioral health integration in February 2017.

Health Policy Commission Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification, 2017

The Community of Community Health Centers

Federally Qualified Health Center

FTCA Designation

Harbor Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and is a ‘‘deemed” facility under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). The FTCA provides medical malpractice coverage to all deemed facilities and its staff.