During the current COVID-19 crisis, PHMC’s commitment to its mission is stronger than ever. As we continue to navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic, PHMC has enhanced and expanded the ways we serve individuals, families and communities.
As an essential and critical life-sustaining service, PHMC is committed to continuity of care for the people we serve while focusing on employee and participant safety and wellness. We’ve adjusted our operations and made efforts across our entire continuum of care to ensure we are meeting the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people we serve.
PHMC has expanded our intermediary work as a partner in the City’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, as it remains a critical program to help families who have lost income or are having trouble paying rent due to COVID-19.
PHMC health network continues to provide primary and behavioral health, substance use treatment, trauma and social services via telehealth as well as in-person visits where appropriate. Telehealth was not previously understood as a reimbursable, approved service — COVID-19 changed that. PHMC’s health network, community mental health, community engagement, supports and service coordination, case management, home visitation, education and addiction services programs quickly transitioned to virtual delivery or telehealth where possible. And telehealth hasn’t just maintained current participants. In many cases, it’s engaged those who have fallen out of care and added new communities. increasing PHMC’s capacity to serve. And, PHMC health network has joined the Philadelphia Department of Public Health in increasing COVID testing capabilities, moving from targeted approaches to more widely available testing in support of our community’s health.
Our Forensic Intensive Recovery team has expanded “behind the walls,” providing evaluations and critical case management services in collaboration with prison staff.
Health Promotion Council, a PHMC subsidiary, has transitioned programming to a virtual diabetes platform to maintain ongoing connections with participants.
National Nurse-Led Care Continuum, a PHMC subsidiary, has initiated a number of webinars with insight and resources related to COVID-19, including topics such as managing Chronic Health Care amid CovD-19.
PHMC is partnering with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to hire contact tracers, a critical public health initiative that will help guide our region in mitigating the spread of the virus as we begin to return to regular activity.
Turning Points for Children, a PHMC subsidiary, continues to ensure families have nutritious food through its FAWN program and has been deploying emergency food packages to families, and is also preparing to host pop up food pantries in June.
And during this time, PHMC’s Philadelphia Hepatitis Outreach Project has referred more individuals to follow-up care, specifically to PHMC’s Care Clinic, than the entire fiscal year prior to COVID.
Stories on the front lines
PHMC is committed to the individuals, families and communities we serve. Our employees share their stories from the frontlines and notes of gratitude to those who are carrying the heaviest lift.
Team members from our Pathways to Recovery program recently spoke with WHYY for its story about how the virus has impacted individuals with substance use disorders and the treatment centers that serve them. An emergency on top of the emergency’: Philly drug rehabs grapple with virus outbreaks and empty beds (WHYY, 5/14/2020)
