Public Health Management Corporation Awarded Infectious Disease Grant from Direct Relief and The Pfizer Foundation
Funds will help improve infectious disease care for underserved communities in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA – Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities, was named a recipient of
Direct Relief’s Innovation Awards in Community Health: Addressing Infectious Disease in Underserved Communities. The funds will be used to help implement innovative approaches to infectious disease education, screening, testing, treatment and care throughout the PHMC Health Network.
Implemented by Direct Relief and funded by The Pfizer Foundation, PHMC was one of 11 safety-net community health care providers selected to receive funding through the $2.5 million grant. The recipients span 10 U.S. states and are a mix of urban and rural initiatives that will work to create greater health equity among the country’s most vulnerable communities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional barriers to care for our community’s most underserved,” said Richard J. Cohen, President and CEO of PHMC. “The need for new and innovative solutions to better address infectious disease education, testing and treatment has never been more critical. We’re immensely grateful for the support of Direct Relief and The Pfizer Foundation as we continue to provide full wrap around services, including comprehensive primary care, vaccinations and disease management, to individuals and families throughout Philadelphia.”
PHMC plans to create vaccination “walk-through” clinics at its Federally Qualified Health Centers, so that under-resourced Philadelphians can quickly and safely access critical vaccines for both COVID-19 and the flu. Once vaccinated, patients will be assessed for social determinants of health and connected to PHMC’s primary care services through their FQHC sites as well as the organization’s full continuum of health and human services.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing systemic health inequities, resulting in vulnerable patients and their loved ones experiencing even greater hardship," said Caroline Roan, President, The Pfizer Foundation and Chief Sustainability Officer, Pfizer Inc. "We are proud to support Direct Relief and its network of frontline safety-net clinics across the U.S. to break down barriers to good health in underserved communities and increase access to life-saving infectious disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care."
“These awards are intended in part to allow providers to test and improve new care models and solutions, which is of utmost importance as health care is drastically changing due to COVID-19,” said Thomas Tighe, CEO and President of Direct Relief. “We are humbled by the dedication of these largely unheralded safety-net health providers to improve the lives and health of the people they care for.”
PHMC currently operates five federally qualified health centers in Philadelphia, including Congreso Health Center, Mary Howard Health Center, PHMC Care Clinic, PHMC Health Connection and Rising Sun Health Center. For more information on PHMC, its programs and services, please visit www.phmc.org.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices and evidence-based guidelines to improve community health through direct service, partnership, innovation, policy, research, technical assistance and a prepared workforce. PHMC has served the region since 1972. For more information on PHMC, visit www.phmc.org.
About PHMC Health Network
The PHMC Health Network consists of five nurse-managed, federally qualified health centers offering affordable, high-quality, patient centered health services to communities throughout the Philadelphia area, including public housing populations and individuals experiencing homelessness. They share a simple mission: to provide high-quality, comprehensive primary health care, family planning, disease prevention and management, behavioral care, substance-use disorder treatment, social services and more to men, women and children. These nurse-managed health centers serve as a medical home and safety-net provider for America’s underserved communities, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Three locations have certification by the National Centers for Quality Assurance as a Patient Centered Medical Home. For more information visit www.phmc.org and www.phmchealthnetwork.org.
About The Pfizer Foundation
The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. It is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions. The Foundation’s mission is to promote access to quality healthcare, to nurture innovation, and to support the community involvement of Pfizer colleagues.
About Direct Relief
A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.
