How Lowell General Hospital Lives United

Lowell General Hospital was founded in 1891 to serve the mill city of Lowell, MA and surrounding communities.  With 220 patient beds and 1800 employees, it is the largest employer in the city of Lowell and a major driver of the local economy.

Lowell is a highly diverse community with many physical, cultural and social assets, but also faces its share of challenges. Child poverty and teen pregnancy significantly exceed the state average, as well as incidence of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular illness.

Lowell General seeks to address these challenges in both its clinical work and community programs.  The hospital's approach centers on chronic disease, family health, community health, and supporting the development of health care professions. In all its community work, Lowell General emphasizes collaboration with social service agencies and other community organizations and the employment of evidence-based practices.

To minimize the effects of chronic diseases, the hospital conducts outreach, screening and public education about cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular illness and substance abuse.  In the realm of family health, Lowell General reaches out into the city's neighborhoods to promote prenatal care, maternal and child health, and new parent education for mothers and fathers.  These programs directly support United Way's goals of ensuring that children enter school ready to learn.

To address broader health issues and the social factors that influence them, Lowell General is the primary funder of the Greater Lowell Health Alliance and is a leader of the Bridging the Gap program, which works to increase the availability of interpreters for speakers of languages other than English.  The hospital also lends support to a variety of community organizations through cash contributions and the placement of Lowell General executives on agency boards of directors.  These include the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Big Brother Big Sister, the Greater Lowell Visiting Nurse Association, Greater Lowell YMCA, Girls Incorporated of Lowell, and others. For more details on Lowell General Hospital's community benefit programs, click here.

Lowell General also supports United Way's work financially through an annual employee fundraising campaign and participation in the annual Healthcare Leadership Breakfast.