Healthcare

Providers of Medicine

For families, there's nothing more important than the health, safety, and well-being of their loved ones. For businesses, access to good medical care is critical – not only in the event of a workplace injury, but also because more and more employers are sponsoring programs and activities aimed at maintaining employee wellness.

The Worcester region has an illustrious history of innovation in medicine. In the early 1950s, Gregory Pincus developed the contraceptive pill right here in Worcester. The Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research (part of UMASS Medical School) continues to do research and development and was involved in the pioneering work that led to in vitro fertilization, and the first systematic study of the anti-tumor actions of tamoxifen. The University of Massachusetts Medical School, located in Worcester, was selected in 1965 as the Commonwealth's only publicly funded medical school. Some of the country's most skilled and best-prepared clinicians and researchers are trained in Worcester, and many remain here to practice.

The Medical School's clinical affiliate, UMass Memorial Health Care, is the largest health care system in Central and Western Massachusetts, and is one of the largest in New England. Its three Worcester campuses offer 783 patient beds, along with a full array of services.

In October, 2006, Dr. Craig C. Mello of the University of Massachusetts Medical School won the Nobel Prize in medicine for his role in discovering RNA interference, a gene-silencing mechanism that has become an essential research tool and potential weapon against disease.

Also in the 1950s, Worcester's Saint Vincent Hospital opened New England's first muscular dystrophy clinic, and was the site of the region's only iron lung. Now located in downtown Worcester, the hospital opened at their new state-of-the-art facility in 2000. Operated by Vanguard Healthcare, the 750,000-square-foot facility has 299 hospital beds in a high-tech inpatient area, along with specialty care centers that include advanced laparascopic surgery, cardiovascular medicine, heart surgery and technologically advanced surgical suites.

Quality of life. A sense of security, safety, and well-being. If you live or work in the Worcester region, you can rest easy knowing that you have access to the finest medical care anywhere.

Fallon Community Health Plan is a not-for-profit health insurer serving the health care needs of almost 200,000 members throughout Eastern, Central and recently Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1977, the health plan offers a range of targeted products, including HMO plans, a national preferred provider organization (PPO), a point-of-service (POS), and a Medicare Advantage plan. FCHP is consistently rated as one of the nation's top health plans.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is the oldest nonprofit health plan in New England. For more than 30 years, it has been an industry leader by developing new ways to improve upon member care. They offer a variety of plan choices, including an HMO plan, a point-of-service (POS), and a PPO plan along with First Seniority, a plan for Medicare beneficiaries. Harvard Pilgrim consistently rates among the top plans in the country and received the nation's top rating from NCQA two years in a row.

For more than 20 years, Tufts Health Plan has provided quality health care coverage offering customers a wide-variety of distinct plan options. These include an HMO plan, POS plan, EPO (Exclusive Provider Option), Choice Co-payment Options, a PPO plan, and Medicare plans. Tufts Health Plan has received numerous national recognitions, distinguished service honors, and awards.