Health center planned

A $15 million family health center proposed for downtown by the Cambridge Health Alliance promises to improve access to healthcare for local residents, particularly new immigrants and senior citizens, who often find it hard to visit a doctor, healthcare advoactes said.

``A high percentage of people in Malden don't own cars," said Dan O'Leary, executive director of Mystic Valley Elder Services. ``A downtown facility, accessible by public transportation, will make it a lot easier for them to seek medical care."

David Kilpatrick, director of Healthy Malden, a healthcare coalition, said, ``Access to medical facilities is an issue for many people in Malden. There has been no direct access in the community for some time."

Malden, a city of about 56,000, has had a steady erosion of medical services since 2001, when Malden Hospital was closed by Hallmark Health Corp. of Melrose. Hallmark later closed an urgent care center and earlier this year closed a walk-in medical clinic, both located at the old hospital, which is being turned into senior housing.

Hallmark has said it is looking for a downtown location to open a new walk-in center. It also continues to run a family health center across from the old hospital on the Medford line. Hallmark did not respond to a request for comment.

Upset about a lack of healthcare services in Malden, city councilors have given the green light to the Cambridge Health Alliance to open a center staffed by doctors enrolled in a family medicine residency program at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.

On June 27, the council voted, 9-0, with two members absent, to approve a special permit to allow a family health center at the corner of Canal and Charles streets. The center, which still must be approved by the zoning board, is slated to open next July.

Cambridge Health Alliance has signed a 10-year lease with an option for 10 more for the building at 195 Canal St. owned by Combined Properties Inc.

``It's a [facility] the city of Malden, frankly, needs," said Councilor at Large Martin Gately during a public hearing on the permit application.

Ward Six Councilor Eileen Fay said the center will give residents a ``sense of security . . . of a hospital being back in Malden."

But the new center won't be a hospital. No ambulances will pull up to the door. There will be no emergency department. It will not have a walk-in clinic providing on-the-spot treatment. But there will be plenty of doctors.

``We don't want to be a clinic," Dr. Randy Ellen Wertheimer , chief of Family Medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance, said in an interview. ``We believe the best care is given by doctors who know you and your family."

At the same time, if someone shows up needing care, they'll be helped, Wertheimer said.

``We won't turn people away, " Wertheimer said. ``Our staff will work with them to figure out their needs, whether it's an X-ray they need, or an examination with a doctor . . . Our primary goal is to build a large practice, where people feel they can see their own doctor."

A group of eight to 10 doctors will regularly staff the center. In addition, 24 doctors enrolled in the family medicine residency program at Tufts will work there. Family medicine, a fast-growing field, provides service to everyone from infants to grandparents.

``Family physicians are true generalists," said Wertheimer, who will oversee the center. The doctors ``will be in a three-year residency program, training in the care of the whole family, with a large focus on prevention and the promotion of good health," she said.

The Cambridge Health Alliance is no stranger to greater Malden. The healthcare network owns three hospitals, including Whidden Memorial in Everett, which it bought from Hallmark in 2001. It also operates health centers in Everett and Revere.

In addition to doctor's appointments, patients will be able to get X-rays, mammograms, and other specialized services. About 100 employees, including doctors, nurses, and technicians, will staff the center, officials said.

Conditions placed on the special permit by the City Council require the Cambridge Health Alliance to upgrade the intersection at Canal and Charles streets. A methadone clinic will not be allowed. The council has asked the alliance to reach out to residents at 59 Green St., a nearby elderly housing complex.

The Cambridge Health Alliance also must continue to work with the Malden Redevelopment Authority to meet parking requirements. Although the current site has parking for 301 vehicles, the project still is 13 spaces short of satisfying zoning laws.

The Malden Redevelopment Authority is discussing providing additional parking on nearby lots. The alliance also would encourage people to use shuttle buses provided by the authority.

It also plans to ask the MBTA to move the existing Canal Street bus stop outside the center, which could help alleviate parking and traffic issues. The zoning board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Cambridge's application for relief from parking requirements on July 20.

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.

Northtalk

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