to Build a Healthier Community
Lancaster General values the shared leadership, diverse community participation and careful planning and research that are critical components in a successful healthcare partner. After thorough research, we strategically create programs, foster meaningful partnerships and align our services to meet Lancaster County’s priority health concerns. While there are many important health needs in our community, we cannot address them all at once or alone. We actively engage community partners so that our combined talents and resources result in outcomes that are better than any one organization can achieve alone.
The following is a sample of our collective efforts:
Lancaster Movers & Shapers
This free, eight-week program promoted physical activity to all ages and fitness levels throughout Lancaster County and beyond. Made possible through a partnership with the American Lung Association,
Movers and Shapers participants recorded approximately 1.5 million minutes in daily physical activity.
Lancaster Barnstormers
Lancaster General teamed with the Barnstormers to encourage maintaining healthy habits. Program ads, betweeninning activities and general announcements throughout the season promoted sun safety, healthy weight management and smoking cessation. Also, fundraising at Clipper Magazine Stadium benefited our cancer care program.
Central Market InitiativesLancaster General partnered with Lancaster’s Central Market to host fun, family-friendly activities and events encouraging market goers to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. Educational events and programs included healthy cooking demonstrations, scavenger hunts for children and adults, peak-of-freshness calendars, healthy canning and freezing basics and the annual Harvest Breakfast.
Healthy Weight Management Coalition
Known today as Lighten Up Lancaster County, the coalition includes members of various local organizations and concerned residents and parents committed to reducing the number of youth and adults who are overweight and obese. The coalition formed action teams to involve the community and to further promote physical activity and good nutrition. This fall, the coalition hosted a free Wellness Education Summit at Hempfield High School, to share information and present ideas on how to improve nutrition and increase physical activity for children and families. Attendees included parents, teachers and administrators. Another education summit is planned for spring.
Nutrition & Fitness Guide
Lighten Up Lancaster also offers a free, comprehensive list of nutrition and fitness resources in Lancaster County. The directory, useful for finding the right facility or professional to help meet wellness needs in the community, is available in both hard and electronic forms via Lancaster General’s Website.
Lancaster On the Move
Thousands of people in Lancaster County (including more than 3,000 Lancaster General employees) have joined America on the Move which provides a wealth of online resources to help families, schools and businesses take an active role in their health and well-being through increased physical activity. The Website offered a fun and exciting six-week challenge in which participants hiked a virtual Oregon Trail. Participants recorded their daily steps or minutes of activity online. Their progress was recorded and shown via an exact location on the trail. The
Lighten Up Lancaster County Coalition promoted this highly motivating and rewarding initiative.
Awareness Summits
Lancaster General participated in a Mental Health and Smart Growth Summit in June.
More than 250 mental health service providers and concerned Lancaster County residents addressed and discussed mental health needs in the community. Participants identified four key areas for the group’s initial focus: access, education, collaboration and recovery.
Also, a two-day summit this summer at Millersville University explored the community and health benefits of walkable communities. Topics included the value of safe routes to school and improved street design to safely accommodate pedestrians, public transit and bicycles, in addition to cars. Next steps include exploring the possibility of launching a countywide walking program.
Authentic Flavors, Healthy Twist
Lancaster General recently published a cookbook of healthy Latino recipes as part of our Healthy Weight Management Initiative. Available in both Spanish and English, it features tips and strategies for healthy eating, recipes and cooking tips contributed by local Latino residents. Practical suggestions for cooking tasty, healthy versions of familiar classics are featured.
Health Screenings
Detecting disease early is often critical for achieving life-saving treatment. Lancaster General offers free screenings to men and women of all ages for a variety of conditions, including breast cancer, domestic violence, kidney disease, lead poisoning, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), prostate cancer and skin cancer. Nearly 500 people were screened with another 2,500 having their blood pressure checked. In 2007, the Child Protect program, provided free vaccinations for over 2,000 non-insured/underinsured children from infancy through age 18.
Flu Shots
In Fall 2007, Lancaster General partnered with the Lancaster County Office of Aging to administer more than 2,700 flu shots and nearly 300 pneumonia immunizations to seniors and individuals at high risk and without health insurance.
Support Groups
Lancaster General provides group and individual support for patients dealing with health challenges. Each year, more than 500 patients and their caregivers benefit from support groups, treatment advice, financial assistance and transportation networks.
Our support groups focus on:
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- Journaling for Healing
- Laryngectomy
- Loss of a baby
- Melanoma
- Memory loss
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Prostate cancer
- Stroke
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