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CHESTER COUNTY HOSPITALCOMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT FY2014
EmpowermentHealthPartnerships
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V ision: T o be t h e
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a n d f i s c a l s t e w a r d s h i p .
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Community Benefit Report 1
Four years ago, Chester County Hospital joined in an ongoing collaborative planning effort
with 34 other locally focused organizations to help Chester County become a community
in which all individuals can be healthy and empowered to manage their health. Separately,
each of the 35 group members had its own vision and approach, whether it is health care,
social services, community-driven funding, faith-based missions or government action.
In our discussions, we quickly recognized that the potential of our positive impact is
amplified when we work together. Collectively, we can each reach a broader number of
residents and affect greater change when we maximize the strengths and services that
make us each unique.
This process of teamwork came to be known as RoadMAPP to Health: A Comprehensive
Health Assessment for Chester County. From this effort came common goals, fresh tasks
and creative opportunities. Chester County Hospital’s Community Benefit Report FY2014—
Health Empowerment Partnerships—shares a few of the ways we are partnering with
other local organizations to create new possibilities for wellness and good health amongour neighbors of Chester County.
Visit ChesterCountyHospital.org to learn more about our RoadMAPP and the resulting
Community Health Needs Assessment.
“ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE,TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH.”HELEN KELLER
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1
Healthy Moms,Happy BabiesPrenatal care within easy reach of
those who need it most
Healthy pregnancies lead to healthier mothers and babies. Receiving
appropriate medical care is essential throughout pregnancy, from the
earliest weeks of a pregnancy through delivery and following the baby’s
birth. Unfortunately, for some expectant mothers, acquiring appro-
priate, comprehensive prenatal care can seem beyond their reach.
In 2013, Chester County Hospital leaders participated in an inclusive
community health needs assessment that determined that a signifi-
cant portion of pregnant Hispanic and African American women right
here in our own community were seeking prenatal care far later in
their pregnancies than is recommended or safe. Many lived in the
Coatesville area, where access to local prenatal care was limited.
Chester County Hospital joined forces with ChesPenn Health Services,
a health center in the heart of the City of Coatesville, to bring
complete prenatal services directly to the area. According to Mike
Lucas, ChesPenn CEO/President, the health organization has providedprimary medical care for people of all ages for close to 10 years.
However, appointments with the center’s obstetrician, Dr. Christine
Lyons, were only available one day a week. The center’s prenatal care
program has now expanded from one to five days each week with the
addition of a full-time Chester County Hospital Ob/Gyn nurse
practitioner, as well as an RN and other support staff.
“Our relationship with Chester County Hospital has made it possible
for us to grow our prenatal services and bring integrated, seamlesscare to pregnant women in the Coatesville area,” says Lucas.
“A pregnant woman can now receive top quality prenatal medical
STRATEGIC QUESTION 1
How can the community expand the concept
of cultural competence to ensure access anduse of services, including early prenatal care
and health screenings?
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Chester County Hospital will investigate and
understand the specific cultural, community and
health barriers to accessing prenatal care in the
Hispanic and African American communities.
CCH + ChesPenn
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CCH and ChesPenn 3
attention at a convenient location in Coatesville throughout
the majority of her pregnancy. Toward the end of
her pregnancy, the mom will choose the hospital she wants to
deliver and then transition to the weekly care of an obstetrician
or to the hospital’s Prenatal Clinic.”
“We are able to match the same high level of prenatal care
women receive from Chester County Hospital physicians with afar less need to travel,” explains Hayley Davis, CRNP, the nurse
practitioner who manages the ChesPenn Health Prenatal Care
Program. Davis’ collaborating physician
is Dr. Eduardo Mercurio of Penn Ob/Gyn,
with whom she keeps up to date on her
patients’ progress. “Because I work
closely with Dr. Mercurio and key hospital
staff members, women with low-risk
pregnancies can remain in our care for as long as 36 weeks into
their pregnancies. If they are identified as high risk at any time,we can transfer them immediately to a physician’s group or to
Chester County Hospital’s Prenatal Clinic.”
Hayley Davis, CRNP, (left) is removing barriers so women in Coatesville can access local prenatal care.
Below right: Eduardo Mercurio, MD, Ob/Gyn
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CCH and ChesPenn 5
ChesPenn’s expanded prenatal program, which began
welcoming patients in May 2014, provides care primarily to the
uninsured and underinsured. Because of its association with
Chester County Hospital, patients are often eligible for other
health care assistance through the hospital. For now, theservice itself is funded in large part by an 18-month expansion
grant awarded to ChesPenn by the Pennsylvania Department of
Health to improve access to this service.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to continue the service
after the grant ends. Demand has been strong and we are
pleased with the program’s growth. In fact, the number of
women we have been able to provide with prenatal services in
just the first seven months since expanding the program is
greater than for the entire previous year,” Lucas explains.
“We hope to bring the prenatal program to a point where it is
covering costs or close to covering costs for the services we
provide. Of course, we will continue to look for support from
other sources.”
Undoubtedly, the services pregnantCoatesville-area women are now ableto receive in their own neighborhood willhave a significant impact on the lives ofmany mothers, babies and entire families.
Not only do Hayley Davis and the team watch over a mother’s
health as well as the health and development of her unborn
baby, they reach out beyond what might be expected as routine
prenatal care.
“The care we provide here is personalized. A lot of the women
who come to us are facing challenges like language barriers,
financial struggles or a lack of awareness about the need for
prenatal care. A lot of them are overwhelmed, discouraged or
even afraid,” explains Davis. “They need help understanding
pregnancy and childbirth. They need help navigating the healthsystem. They need help finding transportation services in the
community. We are here to assist them. We will do whatever we
can for our patients and their families.”
The prenatal program is just one element of ChesPenn’s
spectrum of services. Before a woman gives birth to her baby,
she is introduced to the clinic’s pediatric program and the
important role medical attention will play throughout her child’s
life. Following delivery, care for both mother and infant will
continue to the mother’s postpartum visit and beyond. The baby
can easily transition to the care of a ChesPenn pediatrician.
“Along with watching the mother’s health and the development
of her baby during pregnancy, we want to make sure the child
continues to receive medical care in the future,” says Davis.“And we try to encourage all members of a family to follow
healthy habits and get proper medical attention. We hope our
scope of care is far reaching and will help impact the health of
the community.”
ChesPenn recently added a new service of benefit to people of
all ages, including pregnant women.
“We just merged with a local dental health organization, whichmeans we now provide primary care, dental health care and
prenatal care,” explains Lucas. “The programs will become
integrated so we can be assured that pregnant women are also
receiving dental care and primary care. Although we are not
quite at the point where we provide one-stop shopping, offering
these three programs certainly allows us to provide compre-
hensive care for pregnant women and others.”
Chester County Hospital’s relationship with ChesPenn is an
example of the hospital’s strong commitment to meeting the
needs of the underserved in the community. The program is
one of many programs developed by the hospital to improve the
quality of life for those in need.l
Written by Beth Eburn Photography by Peggy Peterson
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Mission for aHealthy AllianceImproving access to mammograms
among Hispanic women
Imagine hearing the words “You have breast cancer.” Now imagine
hearing them in a language that is not your native tongue and in a
country that is not your homeland.
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 232,670
new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed
in the United States in 2014, along with another 62,570 cases of in
situ, or noninvasive, breast cancer diagnoses. Only lung canceraccounts for more cancer deaths in U.S. women than breast cancer.
And as with any cancer situation, early detection is key for effective
breast cancer treatment. However, for those who face language
barriers, transportation obstacles, or insurance deficits, getting
that early detection might be out of reach.
Enter the alliance between Chester County Hospital and La
Comunidad Hispana (LCH), a Kennett Square-based organization
that acts as a facilitator between immigrant families—primarily
Hispanic—and the services they need. Established in 1973 to serve
the needs of area Latino mushroom farm workers, LCH has grown
into a multi-faceted agency that has received numerous awards
and grants for their work, and they offer assistance with everything
from housing and literacy, to legal services and English as a Second
Language (ESL) classes. LCH also offers comprehensive health
care services through their Federally Qualified Health Center.
There, in keeping with LCH’s mission, the idea is for the client to
take control of his or her own well-being, which LCH facilitates with
immunizations, physical exams, and educational outreach. But
STRATEGIC QUESTION 2
How can the community partner to provide
a seamless, highly coordinated network ofservices that address an individual’s physical
health issues?
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Chester County Hospital will partner with
community organizations to increase screeningprogram participation for underserved,
uninsured and low-income population.
2
CCH + La Comunidad Hispana
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when it comes to things like breast cancer screenings, even the
best self-motivation practices can only take one so far.
And that’s where Chester County Hospital comes in. “For 40
years, La Comunidad Hispana has been serving (primarily) the
Latino community in southern Chester County,” said Paul
Huberty, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and
Marketing at Chester County Hospital. “Chester County Hospital
has been serving the county for 122 years, and in many ways, we
share similar missions and serve many of the same people and
communities.” Huberty joined the Board of Directors at LCH in
2010, and in 2013, became chairman of that board. Since then,
the hospital and LCH have partnered in several ways.
For instance, one of the hospital’s
employed physicians, Sandra Mancilla,MD, became the collaborating physician
for LCH’s nurse practitioners (CRNP).
“In this capacity,” Huberty said,
“she meets with the clinical team on
a regular basis to review the clinical
practices and address challenging
clinical questions. She is also available to consult with the
CRNPs with particularly complex patients.” The fact that Dr.Mancilla grew up in Mexico only enhances the benefit to the
community.
CCH and La Comunidad Hispana 7
Radiology tech Julia Bartsch provides mammography guidance during a Linda Creed Day at the Kennett Medical Campus.
Below right: Sandra Mancilla, MD, Family Medicine
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In 2014, collaborative agreements were put in place between
the hospital and LCH. “Uninsured LCH patients who need
laboratory studies or specific radiology studies—such as X-ray
and mammograms—can be seen at a hospital radiology site,
and there will be no charge to LCH,” he said. “More technical
studies, like MRIs and CTs, are offered to uninsured patients at
deeply discounted rates. Our next goal is to develop a stronger
partnership in prenatal care. The hospital has also partnered
with LCH in the area of diabetes management, childbirth
education and breast cancer screenings.” And the hospital does
this, according to Huberty, both to meet its mission and to
reduce some of the barriers to both care and services.
Cindy Brown, RN, has seen this firsthand. Her role as the Breast
Care Nurse Navigator for the hospital sometimes puts her in
contact with patients who, quite simply, “lacked care because
they lacked funds,” she said. Brown has been with the hospital
since 2008, her dedication due in part to the loss of her own
mother to breast cancer. Part of her job has Brown following the
treatment and care of the women whose screenings have come
8 Community Benefit Report
Anel Medina, LCH Health Insurance Application Counselor, translates for the patient.
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back with challenging results. And she is equally dedicated to
the idea of access to those screenings being available to the
clients at LCH. “We designate two days a year—‘Linda Creed
Days,’ made possible through the Linda Creed Foundation—one
in the spring, one in the fall, for screenings. The collaboration
with LCH allowed us the opportunity to dedicate one of those
days to their clients,” she said.
Last spring, Penn Medicine also recognized the importance of
this relationship and awarded a $2,000 CAREs Grant to expand
access to mammograms for LCH patients.
Rebecca Bixby, LCH’s Medical Director, agrees that it’s anexcellent alliance. "At LCH, we look to leverage the strength
of our community partnerships to increase access for our
patients to essential health screenings, such as mammography,”
she said. “Chester County Hospital has been an outstanding
partner to us, particularly in the area of women's health.”
Indeed, LCH is Chester County’s sole provider of the Healthy
Woman Program, noting that women’s health care is a big
priority. Now, with LCH’s new relationship with the hospital’sRadiology service, any uninsured LCH patient should have no
financial barriers preventing them from getting a mammo-
gram as recommended.
Alisa Maria Jones is the interim President and CEO of La
Comunidad Hispana, and her connection is both professional
and personal. "Growing up in a Hispanic immigrant family
myself I understand first-hand the struggle of raising a family
and having no health insurance. An acute illness that requires
emergency service or hospitalization can be financially
devastating for low-income, uninsured families. Choosing
between having medical care and having funds to feed your
family is an impossible choice. LCH is here to help families from
having to make that choice. By managing illness and treating
conditions proactively we are able to help low-income and
insured families prevent expensive emergency services. It’s
best for the person, the family and the community."
Jones shares the example of one LCH patient named “Juana,”
whose story illustrates the benefits of the partnership between
La Comunidad Hispana and Chester County Hospital. Juana
was guaranteed a spot for the free hospital mammography
screening day when she presented to LCH and a lump was
palpated by her nurse practitioner. Juana was concerned, but
told LCH’s referral coordinator that she did not have the money
for follow-up testing. Not only was she screened for free at the
hospital, through enrollment in LCH’s Healthy Woman Program,
she also received follow-up diagnostic testing—including a
breast biopsy—at no cost to her. Today, Juana is happy that her
biopsy was benign, and she credits both LCH and the hospitalfor the smooth continuous process from screening to detection
and diagnosis.
LCH's focus on primary care, and especiallygetting and staying healthy means they aimto catch conditions early and help patients
manage chronic diseases to prevent furthercomplications. This is better for the patientand is more cost effective in the long-run. Thegoal of getting and staying healthy is one thatChester County Hospital is happy to support.
Jones puts it together succinctly: “The rewards of this program
for our clients are that it provides them with access to primaryhealth care, and it signals that our community values and cares
about them. Providing these types of services ultimately means
a healthier community.” Mission accomplished.l
Written by Kate Chadwick Photography by Peggy Peterson
CCH and La Comunidad Hispana 9
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Health andWellness for AllPartnering to improve the overall health
of the community by helping those in the
most need
Good health is a blessing that can easily be taken for granted,
especially when you feel well. It’s only when you feel sick that you
realize how lucky you are when you are healthy. Good health; no
concerns. But there are a lot of people in Chester County who have
worries … BIG worries, specifically in matters of their medical care
and related expenses for themselves or their families.
Chester County Hospital’s mission is to provide care to anyone and
everyone who comes for medical help, regardless of their insurance
status. No one is turned away from receiving emergent and
necessary care based on their ability to pay; however, the hospital
is collaborating with Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM)
to help patients who qualify for CVIM’s services find medical care
providers so that they can stay well and eliminate avoidable trips
to the hospital.“There are a number of reasons why we partner with CVIM,” said
Chester County Hospital’s Ken Flickinger, Senior Vice President of
Finance. “CVIM fills a void in our community by providing services
for people who don’t have insurance or whose income isn’t at a
level where they can afford out-of-pocket medical care expenses.”
CVIM provides free coordinated medical and dental health care to
uninsured, low-income individuals and families who have no other
place to turn for care in Chester County. It is an organization that is
STRATEGIC QUESTION 3
How can the community increase awareness of
and education about health and social servicesto help them meet their basic needs?
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Chester County Hospital will participate in and
support the creation of a comprehensive and
coordinated inventory list of all health andsocial services available to residents.
3
CCH + CVIM
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supported 100% through philanthropy and in-kind donations,
and it depends primarily on members of the medical community
who volunteer their time or donate their services.
The hospital has a contract with CVIM to provide Laboratory
and Radiology Services (excluding MRI and CT Scans) to their
patients at no cost to the individual. This relationship with
CVIM dates back to the inception of the volunteer-driven
medical service in 1998. Services include chest X-rays,pap smears, blood tests, for example. The reports are read
by the same Radiologists and Pathologists who analyze
all patient tests or exams. There is no differentiation in
thoroughness or quality. Finalized reports are sent back
to CVIM’s Medical Director for her review.
CCH and CVIM 11
Kellie Regn of CVIM draws a blood sample.
Chester County Hospital’s Nancy Newell, BA, MT(ASCP), Hematology Laboratory, Technical Leader, takes a closer look.
“More than90%of the services the hospital provides toCVIM are free of charge. The patient
doesn’t see a bill. CVIM doesn’t see a bill.
We take care of all that internally,” said
Flickinger, who also volunteers as the
Treasurer on the CVIM Board. The value
of this service was $423,000 in Fiscal Year
2014, not including volunteer hours.
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Flickinger explained, “It’s very much a preventative service. Giving
affordable access to lab tests and radiology exams encourages
patients without insurance to seek care, whether it is preventative
or symptom related. It helps keep non-emergencies out of theEmergency Department (ED), and ultimately keeps the cost of
health care down.”
In addition to radiology and lab services, the hospital also donated
flu vaccinations, again in the name of keeping people well.
“Unaddressed medical issues can turn into
challenging health problems that require moresophisticated and expensive hospital services to
be rendered. For the uninsured whose income
falls within the Federal (HHS) poverty guidelines,
the hospital absorbs the cost of providing care to
these patients,” explained Flickinger. “So, if we
can be instrumental in keeping everyone in our
community healthy, including the most vulnerable,
by providing them access to tests and preventative
exams, it is a service we are happy to provide.”Chester County Hospital has a similar contract with La Comunidad Hispana.
CVIM’s President and CEO Maureen Tomoschuk says their
organization has been growing, and it specifically renovated one area
in their building on Lawrence Drive to be an internal laboratory for
blood draws. The physical growth of CVIM reflects the double-digit
growth of its clientele over the past few years. CVIM has 3,000 people
on its patient roster, many of whom have chronic illnesses and all of
whom live or work in Chester County. Last year, it logged about 30,000
patient appointments.
But why?Why would a community-based,not-for-profit hospital underwritethat kind of expense?
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“We are a health care resource focusing on wellness, prevention
and chronic disease management,” said Tomoschuk. The
organization offers community health education, social work
services, diabetes education, smoking cessation programs,primary care and specialist appointments, dental care and
more. The overwhelming majority of the health care providers
associated with CVIM—physicians, therapists, educators—
volunteer their expertise. Patients are scheduled based on
when the specialist or other clinician they need to see is slated
to volunteer.
In addition to having physicians and employees who independ-
ently volunteer and supporting CVIM with Radiology and Lab
services, the two organizations are exploring new ways to
partner. They have recently piloted a program to connectuninsured hospital patients with CVIM, so they don’t go to the
ED for primary care, and so they can be seen by the best
possible provider based on their individual medical issues.
“We talk with hospital case managers about patients who need
a transitional plan. We can help the uninsured population who
are discharged from the hospital and let them know they have
follow-up medical care options and health education that is
free, timely and appropriate for them,” says Tomoschuk, noting
that all prospective patients must meet specific income criteria.
Flickinger added, “A lot of the patients don’t have a primary
care physician, so it really becomes a great service to transition
them to CVIM so they can address their current needs and gain
access to follow up care.”
Working cooperatively toward the greater good of the people ofChester County is what the partnership between the hospital
and CVIM is all about. Separately, they are serving their
population of patients, of course. But together, they are
utilizing their individual and unique strengths to make an even
greater impact in the community.
“It used to be that all the health care organizations in Chester
County were big-time competitors,” said Tomoschuk, “No one
ever talked to one another. But we are finding that health careis changing when it comes to helping the greater community,
especially those at risk. It’s a cooperative effort to keep all
Chester County residents blessed by good health.”l
Written by Lisa Huffman Photography by Rick Davis
CCH and CVIM 13Chester County Hospital’s Mary Busch, MT(ASCP),
Laboratory Medical Technologist studies a speciman.
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Mind. Body. Spirit.A health partnership focused on the
faith-based community
Chester County Hospital is at the center of a unique partnership
that is helping encourage physical, mental and spiritual health.
The effort combines the hospital’s mission of going beyond its main
West Chester campus to promote wellness in the community, with
the outreach of two partners—one an international organization
with a strong local presence, and the other solidly grounded in the
local spiritual community since 1887.
Founded in 1908 at Howard University, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA)
was the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporatedby African-American college women. For more than a century, the
sorority has lived up to its credo, “to be supreme in service to all
mankind,” most recently by including health and wellness among
the initiatives it stresses to its members, their families, and their
communities. The organization has about 1,000 chapters and more
than a quarter million members around the world. The sorority’s
local chapter—Iota Tau Omega—has been part of the fabric of the
West Chester community for more than 40 years.
Many of the local AKA members are also parishioners
of St. Paul’s Baptist Church on Hagerty Boulevard in
West Chester. For the past 10 years, St. Paul’s has had
a strong and active wellness committee. It was only a
matter of time before the sorority, the church and the
hospital were promoting health—in mind, body andspirit—in unison.
4
CCH + AKA + St. Paul’s
14 Community Benefit Report
STRATEGIC QUESTION 4
How can the community encourage and support
individuals to take action in their own healthmanagement and well-being, including prevention?
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Chester County Hospital commits to providing
appropriate and culturally-sensitive educational
outreach including health screenings and programsaddressing healthy lifestyles to at-risk populations
using existing and new community partnerships.
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"The partnership has been phenomenal," said Susan M. Pizzi,
MS, RN, coordinator of Community Health Education at ChesterCounty Hospital. "We're not only addressing the information
and wellness needs of AKA’s Iota Tau Omega Chapter and St.
Paul's, but we're letting their members learn more about the
preventative and medical support services the hospital can
provide. We show women how they can empower themselves
to take an active part in their health care plan, and see how
wellness plays an important role in maintaining their health."
During one recent program, Medical Oncologist Maureen
Hewitt, MD, spoke about cancer prevention, while a dietitian
addressed lifestyle and nutritional
choices. There have also been eventscovering arthritis, breast-cancer
prevention, women and heart disease,
and women's health issues in
general.
Though nationally, AKA has
emphasized three areas of wellness
for its members—Alzheimer’s, Stroke and Heart Disease, and
Mental Health—the hospital is careful to craft initiatives that
most interest its local chapter members.
CCH and AKA 15
Dr. Sara Reeder, Aquilla Wells, Marcella Roulac, Susan Pizzi, and Dawn Richardson plan their next program.
Below right: Maureen R. Hewitt, MD, Hematology/Oncology
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Pizzi explained, “We are available to provide guidance and
program suggestions to members when planning programs,
but most importantly, the direction of whatever activity or
program that is planned is based on the health needs andconcerns of their members and the community we both serve."
Whether this is determined through more formal channels like
focus groups or surveys or through informal meetings with
chapter members, the hospital’s Wellness team makes sure the
local AKA women are part of the planning.
Past Iota Tau Omega chapter president Wendy Brown appointed
members Sara J. Reeder, PhD, RN, Annabelle Jackson, and
Anita Trotman to implement the Iota Tau Omega chapter’shealth program initiatives. Dr. Reeder notes that the
partnership has resulted in offerings on a number of issues,
from blood-pressure tests and cholesterol screenings to
hearing and dental care. "We're trying to meet the health care
needs of people in our community," Reeder said, "and it's not
just for women; it's for our entire family."
There have also been programs focused on men's health
issues. "They're not always looking out for themselves," Reeder
notes, and Iota Tau Omega chapter worked with the hospital on
a program just for them, with an emphasis on prostate
screenings and other health issues. "We had a large group of
men who attended. It was very successful."
Dr. Lisa Croft can vouch for the success of the overall
partnership. As both a physician of family medicine and the wife
of St. Paul’s Senior Pastor Wayne E. Croft, Sr., she knows theimportance of connecting the spiritual and the physical. And
she has seen the difference this partnership has made for their
church members.
"Spiritual health is connected to our physical health. How can
you be an effective witness for Christ, and reach out and help
the least of these as he did, if your health is failing?" Dr. Croft
asks, “So it's extremely important to connect the two. Our goalis to make sure we're teaching and promoting wellness of all
types—physical, spiritual and emotional."
For many church members, Dr. Croft explained, St. Paul's
health and wellness ministry, in partnership with the hospital,
has made a tremendous difference when it comes to
maintaining good health, and made them more aware about the
tools that keep them on the right path.
"Since the program has expanded, I can ask
people if they know their numbers— blood
pressure, cholesterol, body-mass index—and
95 percent of them will say yes," Dr. Croft
said. "Knowing gives you the power to make
effective change. We can't live in ignorance of
our health. That's a responsibility the church
holds very dearly."
And one that Chester County Hospital is striving to help St.
Paul's, Iota Tau Omega chapter and other members of the
county’s faith-based community meet.l
Photography by Rick Davis
CCH and AKA 17
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HAND THERAPY AT CVIM
“Until recently, the Hand Therapy volunteersat CVIM have only had the very basic materialto make the most simplest of orthotics, andwe’ve had no evaluation tools except our ownhands and heads.”
JILL TOWNSEND, PT, CERTIFIED HAND THERAPIST;CARES GRANT RECIPIENT
Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) provides medical care
for the working poor in Chester County. Clients must either live or
work in Chester County. They or someone in their household must
work a certain number of hours but be below a certain income
with no medical insurance. CVIM is providing care for those
whose options are limited through the dedication of clinicians
who volunteer their time, knowledge and medical skills.Jill Townsend, a certified hand therapist for Chester County
Hospital’s Physical Therapy Department, is one such volunteer.
CVIM has had one Certified Hand Therapist volunteer, Gita
Masters, for several years; however, there has always been a
need for additional help. In 2013, Townsend began volunteering
her time as their second hand therapist. Of special interest to
her is having an alternative way to provide hand therapy to
people who could not otherwise afford it.
Together, Townsend and Masters provided hand therapy to 23CVIM patients, accounting for 42 visits in FY2014.
“Because of the $700 Penn Medicine CAREs grant, we can
purchase a Hand Therapy Evaluation kit and further tools for
fabricating orthotics. This will allow us to provide improved
evaluative techniques prompting improved care to the Hand
Therapy patients at CVIM,” said Townsend.
INTERPRETER SERVICES PROGRAM
“Our team believes what interpretationscholar Holly Mikkelson says that ‘there’snothing like having a living, breathinginterpreter present in the room to see
people’s faces and experience the sameenvironment they’re experiencing, ratherthan a disembodied voice over the telephone.’This is a plan of care that we’ve adopted.”
GINA DELGADILLO, MANAGER OF INTERPRETER SERVICES
Chester County Hospital’s Interpreter Program complements
the recommendations published in 2014 by the Chester County
Cultural Competency Task Force. The Task Force was initiated
How can community leaders help createsupportive environments to ensure thehealth and safety of their communities?
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CCH and the Community 19
following the countywide Community Health Assessment
called RoadMAPP. Quite simply, the Task Force recommends
that competent language assistance should be accessible,
promoted and provided to all individuals who have limitedEnglish understanding in a timely manner so that health
isn’t compromised because of communications.
Chester County Hospital has seven bilingual interpreters
who meet face-to-face with Spanish-speaking patients in
the hospital, as well as its West Chester-based medical
facilities. The hospital also offers telephonic interpretation
within the building and at all its satellite locations. This
Language Line provides an additional 26 languages, from
Albanian to Vietnamese.
The interpreters are on-site Monday through Friday from 8
am to 7:30 pm to round daily on inpatients, plus they are on-
call evenings and weekends. When an interpreter is needed,
98% of the time it is for a Spanish-speaking patient.
FY2014 was the busiest year on record for Spanish
interpretation. Trained for medicine-specific translating,the interpreters provided more than 3,000 hours of service.
For comparison, the interpreters provided just under 900
hours in FY2009, but that quantity of hours jumped up
significantly to 2,628 hours in FY2010 and has been growing
steadily ever since.
“Our team has been transitioning from the Language
Line to in-person Spanish interpretation to provide better
service to our patients. Five years ago, about one third of
our Spanish interactions were through the Language Line.
Today, Spanish-speaking patients see an in-person interpreter
in almost every instance. Personalizing communications
makes a big difference in their overall hospital experience
and improves health literacy and outcomes,” says Delgadillo.
MEALS ON WHEELS
“We serve about 1,500 meals every day for
our patients, visitors and employees at thehospital; it’s just second nature for us toshare the food we are preparing with peoplein our community who aren’t able toprepare a meal on their own.”
H. SCOTT GREENLEY, DIRECTOR OF NUTRITION SERVICES
For more than 20 years, Chester County Hospital has beenproviding nourishing meals to the clients of Meals on Wheels
of Chester County in the areas of West Chester Borough,
West Bradford Township, Newlin Township and part of East
Bradford Township (together, known as BradLin).
Meals on Wheels of Chester County, which is funded in part
by the Chester County Department of Aging Services as
well as community donations, delivers meals to “anyone,
regardless of age or economic status, who is homebound,handicapped or convalescing from an illness or operation
and unable to prepare a nutritious meal for themselves.”
Through this well-known program, housebound residents
can maintain good healthy eating habits, remain independent,
find needed assistance or care and live life with dignity,
according to the Meals on Wheels of Chester County website.
Chester County Hospital’s staff members in the Nutrition
Services department prepare and package about 425 meals
each month for distribution on Monday through Friday. (The
hospital receives a partial reimbursement for the meals.)
“From the medical care we provide to the meals we serve, we
are committed to keeping our neighbors healthy. Eating well
has a strong connection to being well. Giving people access to
freshly made meals fits in with our mission. It’s a community-
wide initiative that we are happy to be part of for all theseyears,” said Greenley.
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Neighborhood Health’s Senior HealthLink has been bringing
preventative health care into the homes of Chester County
residents age 55 and older at no charge, while providing a
community health experience for area nursing students since1989. Senior HealthLink takes a three-pronged approach for the
geriatric population: Outreach, Phone Line, and Home Visitation.
The Phone Line is a resource for people to call to get referrals
to local agencies and services.
The Home Visitation program is for patients who are older,
might be socially isolated, and may have multiple chronic
illnesses to manage. Student nurses from six nursing partner
schools rotate through Senior HealthLink for their clinical
community requirement for their degree. “First they assess,
then they teach and then they refer. Chester County has so
many resources for seniors. The students let the patients know
what is available to them,” said Baldino.
The home-based program currently has 260 geriatric clients
that the student nurses, who travel in pairs, visit about every
five weeks for an ongoing individualized care plan.
“It’s like an extra set of eyes and ears. The student nurses help
them manage their health so they can age in place and avoid
unnecessary hospitalizations. Having someone with clinical
knowledge visit with a smile on their face and talk with them
about their health concerns lets our patients know they are not
alone,” said Baldino. “The ultimate goal of the program is to
maintain older citizens’ independence in their home. By having
student nurses visit, more serious medical problems may be
caught early or avoided.”
FY2014 SENIOR HEALTHLINK REPORT SUMMARY
Blood Pressure Screenings 3,877
Health Education Programs 3,154
Health Screenings 747Neighborhood Health/Senior HealthLink 2,343
Flu Vaccinations 631
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group 308
Matter of Balance (Programs & Coaches Training) 65
Calls Handled by Phone Line 234
NUMBER
SERVED
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SENIOR HEALTHLINK PROGRAM
“We travel all over Chester County, and we conduct health education programs and healthscreenings for the geriatric population. We go to where they congregate. We take our wide-sweeping Outreach program to them.”MARY JO BALDINO, RN, SENIOR HEALTHLINK OUTREACH COORDINATOR; CARES GRANT RECIPIENT
Nursing Partner Schools
WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
IMMACULATA UNIVERSITY
WIDENER UNIVERSITY
CHESTER COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT
DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
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WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
“As an organization, we recognize that weare servant leaders for our community.We are the 5th largest employer in ChesterCounty, and so we have the human resourcesto help people from all walks of life.”JACKIE FELICETTI, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (HROD); CARES GRANT RECIPIENT
Chester County Hospital believes that its social responsibility
goes beyond its campus.
On Friday, November 7, 2014, Chester County Hospital invited
employees, physicians, volunteers, family and friends to
“A Night to Salute our Veterans” at the VFW in West Chester
to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project. The beef-and-
beverage event, which welcomed 100+ guests, featured
music, dancing, a 50/50 raffle and food prepared by its
Nutrition Services Department. Prior to the event, theplanning committee—led by Nancy Canfield of HROD—
sold bracelets and chocolate bars as additional ways to raise
money. Plus, the team received a $250 Penn Medicine CAREs
Grant to add to its effort of empowering veterans. The night of
the social event, VFW Post 106 surprised the event leadership
with an additional $10,000 donation for the Wounded Warrior
Project, bringing the total contribution to about $13,000.
For efforts to help organizations like Wounded WarriorProject, the hospital’s HROD Department received an Award
of Excellence for Social Responsibility at the 2014 Delaware
Valley HR Department of the Year Awards banquet.
"We are as committed to high quality compassionate care for
our patients as we are to our community. We seek to enrich
the lives of others by serving people in need. It was our
pleasure to fund the Wounded Warrior Project this year and
support its mission to help veterans and their families make
the transition to home as easy as possible,” said Felicetti.
CCH and Community 21
ABOUT US
Chester County Hospital provides quality medical and nursing
services without discrimination based upon age, sex, race, color,
ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, ancestry, national origin,
marital status, familial status, genetic information, gender
identity or expression, sexual orientation, culture, language,
socioeconomic status, domestic or sexual violence victim status,
source of income or source of payment. Although reimbursement
for services rendered is critical to the operation and stability of
Chester County Hospital, it is recognized that not all individuals
possess the ability to purchase essential medical services andfurther that our mission is to serve the community with respect
to providing health care services and health care education.
Therefore, in keeping with this hospital's commitment to serve
all members of its community, it provides:
• Free care and/or subsidized care;
• Care at or below costs to persons covered by governmental
programs;• Health activities and programs to support the community
are considered where the need and/or an individual's
inability to pay co-exist. These activities include wellness
programs, community education programs, and special
programs for the elderly, handicapped, medically under-
served, and a variety of broad community support activities.
EMERGENCY CARE IS PROVIDED 24-HOURS-A-DAYAND IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF A
PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY.
Chester County Hospital provides care to persons covered by
governmental programs at or below cost. Recognizing its
mission to the community, services are provided to both
Medicare and Medicaid patients. To the extent reimbursement is
below cost, Chester County Hospital recognizes these amounts
as charity care in meeting its mission to the entire community.
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Chester County Hospital, which is part of Penn Medicine,is an organization dedicated to the health and wellbeingof the people in Chester County and surrounding areas.
ChesterCountyHospital.org
Chester County Hospital
BEDS
257ADULT ADMISSIONS
12,769
OUTPATIENT VISITS
497,609EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS
43,240 BIRTHS2,315
EMPLOYEES 2,046
PHYSICIANS 550
LICENSED
2014COMMITTED
TO COMMUNITY
Facts + Figures
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