FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
August 11, 2014
Contact: Veronica Mikitka Reed (215.434.7194 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
PHMC health network expands commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care
PHILADELPHIA, PA— Health center patients in Southeastern Pennsylvania tend to be in poorer overall health, have a tougher time getting ancillary health services and are less likely to fill needed prescriptions due to cost compared to patients who use other types of health services, according to data released today from the 2012 Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Household Health Survey.* Public Health Management Corporation, a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities, released the data in recognition of National Health Center Week (NHCW). The theme for NHCW 2014 "Celebrating America's Health Centers: Local Engines for Healthier Communities", underscores how local health centers deliver quality care to communities in need while serving as critical economic engines helping to power local economies.
There are 44 health centers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, which serve more than 280,000 adults and children annually. The Household Health Survey highlights how crucial these health centers are to the local communities they serve:
- While 89 percent of health center patients are relatively young - under age 65 - they are twice as likely to be in fair or poor health as patients using other settings, such as a private doctor's office, hospital outpatient clinic or hospital emergency room, (30.4 percent versus 15.4 percent).
- Health center patients are more likely to experience problems getting ancillary health care services that require out of pocket expenditures than patients in other types of settings.
- More than one in five health center patients (22.3 percent) did not fill a needed prescription due to cost compared to 14.3 percent of patients using other settings.
The PHMC health network (www.phmchealthnetwork.org) plays a critical role in assisting underserved communities, particularly public housing populations and individuals experiencing homelessness, by providing high-quality, patient-centered care across the SEPA region. PHMC's five nurse-managed, Federally Qualified Health Centers operate with the Beyond Care ideology, a holistic, patient-centered approach to quality primary care, family planning, disease management and social services provided by experts who organize care around the community's needs. Over the past year, the PHMC health network has expanded to have an even greater impact with further reach in Southeastern Pennsylvania communities and with the homeless population.
Expansion of Services and Community Reach
To increase access to care in medically underserved areas, PHMC has expanded two programs in its health center network. Rising Sun Health Center and PHMC Health Connection both moved into larger spaces to better serve their surrounding communities. The new Rising Sun facility spans 7,500 square feet and is three times larger than the previous location, allowing for expanded services, including comprehensive primary care and social services, to 35,000 Philadelphians annually, along with elder-friendly facilities and 12 state-of-the-art exam rooms. PHMC Health Connection also opened the doors of its new and larger space in North Philadelphia, enabling them to integrate behavioral health and primary care service offerings while increasing patient capacity from 2,000 to 8,000 patients per year.
Health Insurance Marketplace Assistance
In 2013-2014, PHMC health network's Certified Application Counselors (CACs) helped 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, PHMC's five nurse-managed FQHC's staff assisted thousands of under and uninsured Philadelphians apply for insurance. In addition, PHMC, through InsurePA, was awarded a one-year grant to assist Pennsylvania consumers with education and enrollment in the marketplace, increasing impact throughout the state, including within the PHMC health network. PHMC plans to again have a significant role in assisting patients for the 2014-2015 enrollment year.
PHMC Awarded $250,000 Health Center Grant
In July, PHMC was awarded a $250,000 grant from Pennsylvania's Department of Health and Human Services to increase the number of behavioral health providers in the PHMC health network. This funding enables PHMC to continue offering behavioral and physical health services in one location, thus allowing PHMC to create more holistic patient treatment programs.
Healthcare for the Homeless
As the Healthcare for the Homeless designee in Philadelphia, PHMC worked with Depaul USA to launch a first-of-its-kind medical respite center pilot program for homeless individuals in Philadelphia. The eight-bed medical respite center serves homeless men with acute medical conditions who are well enough for hospital discharge but in need of additional recuperation and care in a safe, stable environment. In addition, PHMC's Mary Howard Health Center is the only nurse-managed health center providing solutions from primary care to housing services for the homeless community. PHMC helped 3,740 homeless clients through 6,291 patient visits in 2013 due to the efforts at Mary Howard and services PHMC offers at 40 Philadelphia homeless shelters.
* The Household Health Survey is conducted by telephone and includes 10,000 households in the SEPA region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties). For more information about these findings, contact Lisa R. Kleiner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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About PHMC Health Network
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. 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 comprehensive primary health care, family planning, disease management, social services and more to men, women and children. The PHMC health network is committed to their Beyond Care concept, a holistic, patient-centered approach to quality care provided by experts who organize care around the community's needs. The network has Joint Commission Ambulatory Care accreditation and Primary Care Medical Home certification, and three locations have certification by the National Centers for Quality Assurance as a Patient Centered Medical Home. PHMC is also home to the National Nursing Centers Consortium, a network of over 250 nurse-managed health centers nationally. For more information visit www.phmc.org and www.phmchealthnetwork.org.
About Public Health Management Corporation Community Health Data Base
Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) is a nonprofit public health institute that creates and sustains healthier communities. The Community Health Data Base (CHDB) includes the Household Health Survey, one of the largest regional health surveys in the country. The Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, United Way of North Penn, Green Tree Community Health Foundation, North Penn Community Health Foundation, Thomas Scattergood Foundation, Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, and over 350 local agencies from the health, government, nonprofit and academic sectors, help to support the CHDB and survey. For more information visit www.phmc.org.
