Theresa Larivee
Central to Pennsylvania Hospital’s mission
is the firmly held belief that every member
of our community deserves the opportunity
to enjoy a healthy life with access to the
resources they need to thrive, regardless of
socioeconomic status.
As Penn Medicine strives to tackle persistent
health disparities surrounding access to and
utilization of care, and disparities placing
certain groups at risk for poor health
outcomes, PAH also recognizes that health
care professionals are uniquely positioned to
connect individuals to resources in the health
system and community that can address
these disparity determinants. As you’ll read
in this issue of What’s New, our colleagues
at Hall-Mercer support and advocate for
underserved patients and families every
day as they work through income, housing,
transportation, or food insecurities.
Effective communication is also key to
understanding the unique needs of our
diverse patient population. For example,
Patient & Guest Relations’ mobile
MARTTI units translate for those who
are deaf, hard of hearing, or non-English
speakers, bridging language gaps and
ensuring quick access to the right care. The
Patient & Family Education Committee
also addresses barriers created by low health
literacy by encouraging staff to speak slowly
and break down complex concepts, develop
materials with a fifth-grade reading level
in mind, and to utilize “teach-back” to
ensure patients fully understand what they
need to do after discharge to stay on the
road to health.
To forge meaningful connections with those
who live and work around us, PAH staff
also “meet people where they are” through
community outreach and service. Whether
contributing to the work of local ministries,
organizing free clinics to address widespread,
chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity,
and hypertension, or utilizing the funding of
a Penn Medicine CAREs grant (like Sara
Cohen, also featured in this issue), PAH
staff work just as hard off the clock to
advance the health and well-being of their
local communities.
As the needs of our patients and surrounding
community continue to evolve, I am sure
that PAH will rise to the challenge and
remain committed to that core belief in
equitable, empathetic, and excellent care. It
truly is a privilege to work with staff who
are deeply invested in treating every patient,
family, and community member with the
compassion they deserve.