community benefit report 2014

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CHESTER COUNTY HOSPITALCOMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT FY2014

EmpowermentHealthPartnerships


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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

2 Community Benefit Report


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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


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


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


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



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


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

community benefit report 2014

Documents