April 7, 2014
Contact: Veronica Mikitka Reed, For PHMC, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 215.434.7194
The region's largest nonprofit public health institute releases impact data in support of this year's theme: "Public Health: Start Here"
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Every year in the United States, seven out of 10 deaths are due to preventable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.1 In fact, chronic diseases account for 75 percent of national healthcare spending, yet only three percent of our health care dollars go toward prevention.2 Locally, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities, is helping turn these statistics around, as well as many others that continue to underscore the need for attention to comprehensive public health programming.
According to data released today in recognition of National Public Health Week, PHMC's work directly reaches 350,000 people in the region, 90 percent of whom are at risk. The combined annual impact of PHMC and its affiliates on the Philadelphia community's economic vitality is approximately $700 million.
"As one of the largest public health institutes in the country, PHMC is continuously focused on new ways to creatively and collaboratively work with and in the communities we serve to improve public health," said Richard J. Cohen, President and CEO of PHMC. "We do this work each day through the strength of our partnerships, programs, affiliates, and later this month our physical location. This spring, we will move our 700 employees to a new headquarters in Center City Philadelphia, bringing us closer to the agencies we partner with and the communities we serve."
With more than 350 programs, 12 affiliates and various partnerships with government, foundations, businesses and community-based organizations, the work of PHMC impacts every household in Philadelphia. Over the past several years, PHMC has expanded to create a continuum of care from early childhood to adulthood and include even more diverse populations in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Child and Family Social Services
Through affiliations with The Villa, a specialized residential program for youth, and Turning Points for Children, a human services organization for children, PHMC is working to improve outcomes for some of our region's highest at-risk youth populations. In 2013, Turning Points for Children was awarded two contracts totaling approximately $32M a as Community Umbrella Organization (CUA) by The Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS). The announcement puts Turning Points for Children at the forefront of the innovative DHS reform called Improving Outcomes for Children (IOC), a community based approach to service delivery that will be rolled out over the next four years.
PHMC also provides critical services for children, birth to age three, who have or are at risk for developmental delays through its ChildLink – Philadelphia County program. Recently, PHMC's ChildLink was recognized by the Federal Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) for a strong performance across key development and quality of service indicators.
Specialized Health Services
This past year, the PHMC health network (www.phmchealthnetwork.org) played a critical role in helping local residents take advantage of choices available to them through the Affordable Care Act's Health Insurance Marketplace. Before the open enrollment began, PHMC held town hall meetings to outline insurance options and answer questions. Since the Marketplace opened on October 1, 2013, PHMC's five nurse-managed Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) assisted more than 1,500 under and uninsured Philadelphians apply through the Marketplace.
For the past 30 years, PHMC has also been a trusted provider of healthcare services for homeless individuals. This year, PHMC launched a first-of-its-kind medical respite center pilot program at Depaul House in Philadelphia. The eight-bed center serves homeless men with acute medical conditions who need a place to recuperate after a hospital visit. In addition to providing critical services for the homeless community, the pilot program also helps partner hospitals decrease costs for caring for homeless individuals.
Behavioral Health Services
In addition to PHMC's extensive behavioral health programming, the agency also focuses on creating a strong link between behavioral health and physical health. PHMC provides integrated behavioral health services across the PHMC health network, including behavioral health consultants who offer on-site counseling for individuals who present with mental health and/or substance abuse issues.
As a thought leader in public health, PHMC is frequently tapped to help lead the regional and national dialogue on behavioral health issues. Later this month, PHMC will join forces with the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal (www.philasocialinnovationsjournal.org) and other leading organizations to take a closer look at how the behavioral and physical health systems will need to adjust to become integrated under broad healthcare reform.
About PHMC
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. PHMC uses best practices 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.
1. Kung HC, Hoyert DL, Xu JQ, Murphy SL. Deaths: final data for 2005. National Vital Statistics Reports 2008;56(10). Available from: www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr56/nvsr56_10.pdf
2. APHA. The Prevention and Public Health Fund: A critical investment in our nation's physical and fiscal health. June 2012. Available at: www.apha.org/advocacy/reports/reports
