By Your Side: Special Report
From its start as a community-based, non-profit hospital more than a century ago, Lancaster General has been dedicated to improving the health of the people of Lancaster County. As Lancaster County’s healthcare leader, Lancaster General looks outside its walls to collaborate with individuals, organizations and agencies to proactively address current and future health issues.
As a steward of community resources, we carefully evaluate and track program outcomes, measure effectiveness, reduce duplication of services and set direction to align our programs with state and national goals. Using local, state and national research, we gauge how Lancaster County is doing compared to other communities across the state and across the country. One of the tools we use is Healthy People 2010, a report developed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to set national goals for optimal health. It was created so states and local municipalities can work toward common goals of improving the nation’s health. To ensure that we are meeting the specific needs of people in Lancaster County, Lancaster General uses, and helped to develop, the Lancaster Health Improvement Plan, United Way Community Needs Report and the Lancaster Community Indicators Report, all of which compare and contrast data from different areas and populations of Lancaster County.
In creating a comprehensive community health plan, Lancaster General uses these tools as well as the input of a community advisory board to determine which healthcare issues to focus on. The following pages outline how Lancaster General is addressing the needs of Lancaster County citizens while keeping an eye on national and state goals.
Access to Quality Care
This summer, Lancaster General opened a $15 million expansion of our Emergency Department to meet the growing needs of Lancaster County. We also opened the new Kissel Hill Health Center in Lititz and expanded our outpatient services and community health efforts at the Columbia Health Center. The Lancaster General Orthopedic Center, dedicated to being a leader, both locally and nationally, in the early identification, prevention and management of muscle and bone problems, is under construction at our downtown hospital. These capital investments enable Lancaster General to meet the current and future demand for healthcare throughout Lancaster County.
Of specific concern to Lancaster General are populations that must overcome barriers to accessing quality healthcare. To help children recover from illness faster and miss fewer days of school, we expanded our School-Based Health Clinics in the School District of Lancaster to incorporate a new clinic at Carter MacRae Elementary School. This clinic is modeled after our successful Fulton Elementary clinic. To provide women who have high-risk pregnancies better access to quality obstetric and gynecological care, a grant from the state Department of Health enabled us to collaborate with SouthEast Lancaster Health Services to bring obstetric care to its clinic on South Duke Street.
Often, access to healthcare is blocked by lack of health insurance. Last year, we trained 42 applicant assistants to help individuals complete a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) application so more children are insured, thereby increasing access to preventive services and early treatment for illness. In addition, we continue to provide medications and supplies to Water Street Rescue Mission and Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County. We also provide physicals to children in the Salvation Army summer camp and latch-key programs.
Screenings & Prevention Programs
Another way that we improve access to care is by offering free screenings, immunizations and testing throughout the year for people that do not have insurance or who cannot afford their co-payment.
The HealthyWoman program provides free mammography and PAP tests for women to test for cancer. ChildProtect provides more than 2,200 free immunizations each year. KidSight provides vision testing to 3,700 children a year. Last year, more than 500 people were found to be at high-risk for osteoporosis after receiving free Sahara ultrasound heel scans through the Osteoporosis Center of Lancaster.
We tested 423 children in the School District of Lancaster who were found to be at high-risk for asthma. We also provided screenings for prostate cancer, skin cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, cholesterol, peripheral vascular disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm, for 880 people who were at risk for disease.
In addition to screenings, we provide prevention programs to educate people about disease and other health-related issues. Free Focus on Health seminars are held monthly throughout the county to educate people about topics from asthma to women’s health and everything in between. Through the Lancaster General Speakers Bureau, our knowledgeable staff provided 32 free presentations about health-related topics to clubs and groups last year. Thirty-five women graduated from the Women’s Health 2000 & Beyond class and are prepared to spread their knowledge of women’s health issues in the community. Health fairs and special events held throughout the year promote awareness of health issues for specific populations including seniors, women and teenage girls.
For people with specific health concerns, two Education & Wellness Centers allow people to borrow books, videos, DVDs and other educational materials at no charge. The Well Spring Library also provides humorous and inspirational materials for patients and caregivers. The following classes, provided throughout the year, offer further education and instruction to help people maintain a healthy lifestyle: Smoking Cessation, Over 50 and Fit Walking Club, LEARN Weight Management Program, Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes Education and Stress Management.
Realizing how busy schedules can deter people from attending classes and events, Lancaster General partners with employers, and offers our own worksite wellness program to promote healthy lifestyles. Last year, we earned a Susan P. Byrnes Healthy Hero award for our work in this area.
Our Web site, www.LancasterGeneral.org also provides interactive information on a variety of health-related issues, including an online library for pediatric and adult health.
Lastly, we know that the best way to improve health is to start early. Last year, we began teaching LifeSkills in six Lancaster County school districts. This course, which has been touted nationally as a “best practice program,” has been proven to reduce tobacco, alcohol and drug use among youth. Three more school districts are offering LifeSkills this year.
Preventing and Treating Infectious Disease
Communicable diseases are a health concern for us all. Lancaster General takes special precautions to help prevent disease, disability and death from infectious disease.
Each year, we provide 2,500 free flu and pneumonia shots to people who are high-risk for contracting or dying from complications of these preventable diseases. We also work to stop the spread of tuberculosis by testing and treating homeless people—who are most susceptible to this disease. In an effort to stop the spread of Hepatitis B, we offer free vaccinations to firefighters and police officers in some municipalities.
Through our award-winning Comprehensive Care Clinic for HIV and AIDS, we provide testing, counseling, medication and other support for patients with HIV and AIDS.
Improving Outcomes for Families
Another way we proactively address healthcare issues is by improving care for families during pregnancy through Healthy Beginnings Plus and the Nurse-Family Partnership program. Providing support and care for families before a child is born prevents unintended subsequent pregnancies, promotes healthy births, decreases family violence, deters dropping-out of school, and prevents teenage pregnancy.
Lancaster General also works to promote awareness of family violence as a member of the Lancaster County Family Violence Coalition. Through that initiative, Lancaster General partners with the YWCA and Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County to train physicians and clergy on how to identify and respond to domestic violence in an effort to reduce injury and death from family violence.
As a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) partner, Lancaster General trains nurses and provides a specially designed emergency care room to provide compassionate care and accurate evidence collection for sexual assault victims. A child sexual assault clinic on the pediatric unit of Lancaster General Hospital provides a child-friendly atmosphere where child sexual assault victims can be examined and treated.
By cooperating with other agencies and organizations, Lancaster General works to identify needs, reduce duplication of services and forms coalitions to address health issues from all angles. Our goal is to provide high-quality healthcare and education to help you live a healthier life. By taking care of you, your family and your neighbors, we strive for Lancaster County to be among the healthiest communities in America.