2012 Community Benefit Annual Report

2012
Community Benefit
Annual Report
Mission
Dear Friends of St. Mary Medical Center,
St. Mary Medical Center
is a community of caring
people committed
to extending and
strengthening the
healing ministry of Jesus.
—M
ember of Catholic Health East,
Sponsored by Hope Ministries
Vision
Through God’s loving spirit,
St. Mary Medical Center
serves the needs of
those who entrust their
lives to us, cherishing
the whole person —
physically, emotionally,
and spiritually — with
special commitment for
the poor and underserved.
One of the most inspiring aspects of mission-driven Catholic
healthcare is being able to embody the values that guide our
daily care at St. Mary Medical Center. All of us at St. Mary
are mindful of the healing ministry through which we strive
to provide high-quality care to our patients, as well as our
responsibility to improve the health of the communities we
serve — with the highest, most compassionate regard for
those living in need.
This is especially true when considering the St. Mary value of Justice, which we define
as serving and advocating for the marginalized, the vulnerable, and the poor. Our
concept of Justice compels us to challenge the status quo not only by increasing
access to care and services for all persons, especially for the segments of society
who most need our healing ministries, but also by providing the resources and
services people need to become financially independent and self-sufficient.
Through our comprehensive community benefit program, we dedicated more than
$16.3 million in 2012 for health-promotion and disease-prevention education
programs and to address the unmet needs of our community. We also continued
to strengthen relationships with numerous social service agencies to help us effect
change in the delivery of traditional healthcare by providing programs that meet the
needs of even the most vulnerable.
In our 2012 annual report, you will read about the highlights of the different ways
our community benefit resources are making a difference in the health of residents
throughout Bucks County and addressing the greatest public health needs;
for example:
n T
he
comprehensive care provided at our St. Mary Community Ministries
(Bensalem) for low-income families and individuals
n T
he
CATCH program, which provides nutritional education and activities
that help in the fight against childhood obesity
n R
oad
to Healthier Living, a self-care program for people diagnosed with
a chronic disease (e.g. diabetes)
SUPPORT
n H
ealth
education programs and screenings that are offered throughout the year
at no cost to participants
n P
ersonal
stories of success from individuals who’ve benefited from
our services and programs
As a leading regional healthcare provider and an internationally designated healthpromoting hospital, St. Mary Medical Center understands the significance of
advocating for justice. We remain steadfast in our commitment to improve health
for everyone we serve and to respond to underserved areas and vulnerable families
and individuals. It is not just our responsibility to advocate for justice on their behalf
but also our privilege to be able to do so.
Sincerely,
ENCOURAGE
2
Gregory T. Wozniak
President and Chief Executive Officer
Financial Assistance
Uninsured patients and those with limited incomes who cannot afford to pay for all or
part of the care they received at St. Mary Medical Center are welcome to consult with
a St. Mary financial counselor to learn more about financial assistance. Our counselors
are able to discuss potential options for financial assistance and can assist individuals
in applying for Medical Assistance and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
If circumstances warrant, applicants who do not qualify for Medical Assistance or
CHIP may find that the St. Mary Financial Assistance Program is an option. To qualify
for no-cost medical care through the St. Mary Financial Assistance Program, family
income must be at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Family income
must be below 400 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for partial assistance.
Financial counselors are available at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne and
St. Mary Community Ministries in Bensalem. For more information, please
call 215.710.6546.
2013 Federal
Family Poverty Guideline
Size
(FPG)
250%
300%
350%
400%
1
$11,490 $28,725$34,470 $40,215$45,960
2
$15,510 $38,775$46,560 $54,285$62,040
3
$19,530 $48,825$58,590 $68,355$78,120
4
$23,550 $58,875$70,650 $82,425$94,200
5
$27,570
$68,925 $82,710 $96,492$110,280
6
$31,590
$78,975 $94,770 $110,565$126,360
7
$35,610
$89,025$106,830 $124,635$142,440
8
$39,638
$99,095$118,914 $138,733$158,552
FAIRNESS
UPHOLD
Financial Assistance: Annual Income Guidelines
Each additional person $4,020
St. Mary’s Investment in Community Benefit — 2012
Unpaid Cost of Medicaid
$4,030,348
$4,554,277
Financial Assistance (Charity Care) TOTAL
$16,373,642
$7,789,017
Community Programs and Services 3
Community Needs
St. Mary Service Area
n
Access
to care for the uninsured
and underinsured
n Homelessness
n Adult and childhood obesity
n Diabetes
n Mothers who received late or
no prenatal care
n Breast cancer and cervical
cancer screenings
Health Promotion
and Disease Prevention
As a designated member of the World Health Organization’s International Health
Promoting Hospitals (HPH) Network, St. Mary Medical Center demonstrates an
ongoing commitment to providing health-promotion and disease-prevention programs
for area residents. Responding to the health needs of individuals and families in our
community — especially to the most vulnerable among us — is central to our mission
as a mission-driven Catholic healthcare organization.
As such, our focus is to better understand and identify critical areas of unmet need
and to address those needs through strategic and targeted programming, educational
outreach, and healthcare and other services.
St. Mary assesses community health needs and updates its community benefit plan
every three years. During our most recent countywide assessment in 2012, we built
upon the information collected during previous years. In addition to examining public
health issues, our assessments consider social determinants of health — for example,
employment status, education, cultural and language barriers, and housing stability.
Through our analysis of public and private health data, household telephone surveys,
and community focus groups, we gain insights into the evolving needs of the diverse
populations served by St. Mary Medical Center. We continually monitor the impact of
our comprehensive community benefit plan and adjust that plan as needed. We do
this to ensure our resources are aligned appropriately to bridge gaps in services for
the underserved, as well as for the broader community.
Community Need Score
St. Mary Medical Center utilized the Community Need Score for use in this report to align our resources with the areas of highest need.
It is calculated by comparing and ranking multiple socioeconomic measures for a ZIP Code with those of all other ZIP Codes. The CNS
is a single number from one to five that ranks community health need from lowest need (one) to highest need (five) for every populated
ZIP Code in the United States.
Because the CNS represents multiple measures, it serves as an effective statistic to consider as part of a community needs
assessment. For this report, we evaluated the CNS for 18 Bucks County ZIP Codes, as illustrated in the table below.
Communities
Surrounding
Poverty SingleNo High
St. Mary
Medical Center
Poverty
Female w/
SchoolLimited
Location Zip Code Age 65+
ChildrenDiplomaMinorityEnglishUninsuredRenting
Bristol
19007 51% 32%15%34%13%10%36%
Bensalem
19020 41% 32%12%29%20% 6%38%
Croydon
19021 43% 21%16%18%10% 6%27%
Levittown
1905625% 14%9%19%9% 4%31%
19057 35% 25%10%19% 5% 5%23%
Levittown
Warminster
1897427% 26%9%13%11%4%22%
Feasterville/Trevose
1905334% 16%9%12%14%5%19%
Fairless Hills
1903044% 3%11%14%7% 7%27%
Langhorne
1904723% 17%8%12%7% 3%23%
Morrisville/Yardley
1906721% 18%6%18%12%3%20%
Levittown
19054 32% 10%11%12% 6% 5%20%
Levittown
19055 33% 11%12%15% 5% 5%16%
Warrington
1897623% 2% 5%14%13%3%17%
Newtown
1894023% 6% 2%11%12%2%9%
Southampton 1896624% 18%5% 6%13%3%12%
Richboro
1895411% 24%4% 6%11%1%4%
New Hope
1893819% 1%5%9%8%4%
12%
Washington Crossing
1897721% 0%2%8%5%2%8%
Weighted Ave. 29% 18%8%16%12%4%22%
4
*Poverty rates for subgroups above are based on the population of that specific subgroup in each Zip Code.
Findings
n Seven
ZIP Codes have CNS in the higher end of the range, which indicates greater
areas of unmet need: Bristol 19007 (3.6), Bensalem 19020 (3.5), Croydon 19021
(3.4), Levittown 19056 (2.8), Levittown 19057 (2.7), Langhorne 19047 (2.6), and
Levittown 19053 (2.5).
n The
ZIP Code with the highest level of community need is 19007, Bristol.
Bristol has the highest percentage of families with children in poverty, older adults
(65+) in poverty, and individuals without health insurance. In addition, Bristol ranks
second among the provided ZIP Codes in renters, single females with children in
poverty, and those with no high school diploma.
n ZIP
Codes 19020 and 19021, in Croydon and Bensalem, also have high
community need scores.
Poverty Rates
n Poverty rates for seniors remain high at 51 percent of all seniors in Bristol,
possibly due to the fact that there are several senior residential housing
facilities in Bristol that are subsidized. Fairless Hills (44 percent), Croydon
(43 percent), Levittown 19057 (35 percent), and Feasterville/Trevose
(34 percent) were among the other communities with high poverty rates
among senior adults.
n In most target ZIP Codes, poverty rates for families with children are
decreasing, with the exception of Bensalem (+2 percent) and Levittown
19057 (+2 percent).
n There are dramatic shifts downward for poverty rates among single females
with children in Fairless Hills (15 percent in 2009 to 3 percent in 2012),
Levittown 19055 (21 percent in 2009 to 11 percent in 2012), and Warrington
(25 percent in 2009 to 2 percent in 2012).
n However, poverty rates for single females with children are trending
significantly upward in other communities; for example, in Bensalem, rates
increased from 21 percent in 2009 to 32 percent in 2012, despite the fact
that the minority population in this town increased just 3 percent during
that same period.
HEALTH
Community Needs Assessment:
Snapshot of Bucks County
PROMOTE
Education
n In
Bristol, only 15 percent of residents did not graduate from high school in
2012 vs. 25 percent in 2009. (Note: The new uniform rate calculation is not
comparable to previously reported rates. This is a snapshot only).
Cultural Influences
n In
n
the St. Mary service area overall, the minority population increased
2 percent between 2009 and 2012. Among specific towns, the greatest
increases were noted in Levittown 19055 (9 percent in 2009 to 15 percent
in 2012), followed by Warrington (9 percent in 2009 to 14 percent in 2012).
The largest increase in residents who speak limited English was observed in
Warrington (7 percent in 2009 to 13 percent in 2012).
Employment
2009 and 2012, unemployment rates increased in every town within
the St. Mary service area. The greatest increases were seen in Croydon
(4 percent in 2009 to 10 percent in 2012).
St. Mary Service Area
Key Health Findings 2012
percent of adults are overweight
or obese
n 6
0.6
n Between
Housing
n Families
who are renting has dropped from 23 percent to 22 percent in the
period between 2009 and 2012.
percent of children are
overweight or obese
n 3
1.5
percent of residents have
high blood pressure
n 2
8.4
percent of residents
have diabetes
n 1
0.9
n 19.1 percent of residents smoke
5
2012 Healthy Communities
Achievement Award
INTEGRITY
St. Mary Medical Center was a proud
recipient of a Healthy Communities
Achievement Award from the Healthy
Communities Institute (HCI). The award
recognizes St. Mary’s successful
use of HCI’s Promising Practices
database, through which we identified
an evidence-based approach —
Stanford University’s Chronic Disease
Self-Management Program — to
improving the health status of people
living with a chronic disease.
St. Mary licensed the Stanford
program and offers the six-week
workshop as Road to Healthier
Living, a peer-to-peer health
education program that helps
participants navigate the challenges
of daily life with a chronic illness.
Road to Healthier Living
Chronic diseases are taking a costly toll in the Bucks County region — not just in
terms of economic burdens on the healthcare system, but also in terms of the impact
on the thousands of individuals who face every day of their lives with a diagnosis of
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and other lifelong health conditions. Our
countywide assessment has identified an ongoing need for targeted outreach to these
populations to help improve their overall health. To address this priority, St. Mary’s
community benefit program includes a variety of health-promotion resources that
enable people to increase control over their health and engage in healthier lifestyles.
One of our successful health-promotion initiatives in 2012 was Road to Healthier
Living, a chronic disease self-management program that St. Mary Medical Center
licensed from Stanford University in 2011. Road to Healthier Living uses an
evidence-based curriculum designed by patients, physicians, nurses, dietitians,
and other allied health professionals to help people better manage their chronic
health conditions.
Workshops are facilitated by two trained lay leaders, one or both of whom are
non-health professionals with their own chronic disease diagnosis. Between
September 2011 (the launch of the program) and December 2012, we held 16
workshops attended by 157 Bucks County residents. Workshops were held at
senior centers, senior housing facilities, churches, and 55+ residential communities
in Levittown, Langhorne, Yardley, Newtown, Bensalem, Bristol, and Fairless Hills.
During the first year, participants reported that 9.9 out of 10 would use what they
learned from the workshops and 9.2 would make an action plan and manage
their health problems.
PORTRAIT OF SUCCESS
Anne and Jeff Tihansky
When Anne Tihansky learned about St. Mary Medical Center’s Road to Healthier
Living program from a neighbor, she wondered if she could be trained as a
workshop leader. Anne has been the primary caregiver for her husband, Jeff, who
was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis years ago. She believed she could bring a
lot of wisdom to the program based on all she had learned from assisting Jeff.
So did St. Mary.
To date, Anne has led three seminars and fills in for other leaders when she’s
needed. She likes it so much that she recently attended the training session to
lead a new series of workshops focused exclusively on diabetes self-management.
“Road to Healthier Living really does benefit those who come to the workshops —
not just those who have a chronic disease, but also people who take care of
those who do,” Anne says. “Being a caregiver can make you feel very secluded
sometimes. People in the program not only learn about how to manage their care
and how to communicate with their physicians, but also find that they received
support and information from one another.”
Anne was so impressed by the program she talked her husband into attending one of the workshops and told him she’d go with him —
as a participant, not a leader. “The workshops teach participants how to take control of their health and improve their quality of life.
As a caregiver, I found support and learned skills in how to cope, and so did Jeff,” she says.
6
Other Health-Promoting Programs
In addition to providing targeted community education and outreach, as a
health-promoting hospital, St. Mary Medical Center conducts a variety of special
health-related events to raise awareness of highly prevalent diseases that affect area
residents. Among the special events we held in 2012 were:
nOur
fourth annual Jog for Joints event, a professionally timed 5K run/walk and
orthopedic patient reunion walk of up to one mile, attracted more than 400 people.
Jog for Joints is held each spring to promote regular physical activity as part of a
healthy lifestyle.
n “ Take
Action | Cut Stroke,” an educational event, was attended
by more than 500 community members. The program featured
panel discussions focusing on advances in stroke care and
informative exhibits by St. Mary clinical areas that support stroke
care. In addition, 150 attendees received free stroke screenings
and discussions to identify personal risk factors and lifestyle
changes that could help prevent a stroke.
n A
women’s health exposition, Caring for the Whole Woman,
educated more than 500 community members about current issues
in women’s healthcare. Among the featured topics were pelvic
and bladder health, infertility and obesity, weight-loss surgery,
osteoporosis, menopause, breast health, heart disease, and stroke.
are the leading cause of trauma at St. Mary, and significant
effort is made to reduce the number of falls for older adults in
Bucks County. Eight Matter of Balance classes, led by volunteer
coaches, were conducted in 2012, and more than 100 participants
received training in the evidence-based Matter of Balance
fall-prevention program.
Our Culture of Inclusion
In our community needs assessment, language and cultural issues were identified
as major barriers to quality medical care and healthful living by disadvantaged Bucks
County residents. These barriers are associated with less healthcare education, poorer
caregiver–patient interactions, longer hospital stays, and unnecessary medical errors.
For this reason, providing culturally competent care is a major goal of St. Mary’s
culture of inclusion initiative.
According to data from our Community Needs Score, the St. Mary service area
contains a high percentage of minority residents; in particular:
n
34 percent in Bristol, 13 percent with limited English
n
29 percent in Bensalem, 20 percent with limited English
n
19 percent in Levittown, with 10 percent limited in English
St. Mary promotes a culture of inclusion in many ways. First and foremost, we
advance the understanding of a greater cultural awareness among all St. Mary
colleagues. We offer medical consent forms and patient education materials in
Spanish, and we provide access to trained medical interpreters through a 24-hour,
toll-free telephone translation service. Translation services for more than 100
languages are available on all inpatient units and all outpatient care departments at
the Medical Center, as well as at the St. Mary Community Ministries in Bensalem,
and our LIFE St. Mary center in Trevose. Last year St. Mary provided over 36,000
hours of interpretation services.
Our goal in developing a culture of inclusion is to demonstrate a reverence for each
person and to be recognized as welcoming, embracing, and gaining enrichment from
individual differences and similarities.
consideration
n F
alls
WELL-BEING
7
St. Mary Breast Health
Initiative: 2012 At a Glance
Intake Calls 681
Clinical Breast Exam 563
Screening Mammogram 521
Programs for Adults and Senior Adults
With one of the most comprehensive breast centers in the greater Philadelphia area,
St. Mary Medical Center is a long-time advocate of screening and early detection/
treatment for breast cancer. The St. Mary Breast Health Initiative, in partnership
with the St. Mary radiology team and our breast surgeons, is one successful example
of our vision of Justice brought to life for uninsured and low-income women.
We promote the healing and wellness of women in recovery from breast cancer —
particularly those with limited financial means and no health insurance — through our
Ultrasound
54
Way to Wellness Program. This program provides access to physical activity, nutrition
Consult w/Surgeon 19
education, and other supportive resources for a healthy lifestyle. Most of the
participants were identified through our Breast Health Initiative and through
Biopsy
11
outreach to community organizations. The program received support from the
Positive
3
Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Outreach/Contacts
282
Three 10-week sessions were offered in 2012, followed by three 14-week
maintenance sessions. To date, 22 women have completed the program. Through
pre- and post-intervention surveys, participants have reported increases in healthy
food consumption and decreases in body mass index, and all have developed
physical activity plans for the future.
Diagnostic Mammogram 69
In addition, women who completed this program indicated that
they feel more equipped to manage their life, set long-term goals
for better nutrition and exercise, and make healthy choices that
will help reduce their risk for breast cancer recurrence.
In April 2012, we held a Senior Health and Wellness Day,
which was attended by more than 335 community members.
The program included four educational seminars led by St. Mary
specialists in cardiology, orthopedics, neurosciences, and
physical medicine and rehabilitation, as well as a variety of
“Ask the Experts” table exhibits. In addition, free balance and
gait testing and screenings for osteoporosis, peripheral arterial
disease, and stroke were offered.
Without the support and
gracious participation of the
St. Mary radiologists and our
breast surgeons, the Breast Health
Initiative would not be possible,
and women in need in our
community — women who
don’t have insurance — would
not have the important screenings
and mammograms that are vital
in saving lives. Together we’re truly
making a difference in the lives
of those who need us most.
8
JUSTICE
KEEP SAFE
Participants also enjoyed presentations of Thera-Band® resistance
training, tai chi, and osteoporosis-prevention techniques (i.e.,
our Strong Women program) by the St. Mary Wellness Center.
Each attendee took home a free
copy of Aging 101: Top Ten
Medical Concerns, which
addresses senior health and
wellness topics such as dementia,
heart disease, osteoporosis,
diabetes, depression,
pharmacology, and preventive
medicine.
St. Mary has a strong ongoing commitment to sustaining healthy changes that families
achieve through these programs, and support to empower children with the tools to
build a healthier future. In 2012, a total of 9,272 students and families participated in
Families Living Well programs. Specific programs and participation data are detailed
in the chart below:
Families Living Well Programs 2012
KidShape 2.0® A fun-filled, eight-week program that helps children 92 children
ages 6 to 12 and their families live a healthier lifestyle, 72 families
179 participants
focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and group support.
Kinder Connection
A six-week program for children ages 3 to 5 and
their parents or guardians, focusing on the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle at a young age.
20 participants
10 children
8 families
Teen Cuisine
A six-week program for ages 13 to 18, 11 children
providing nutritional and fitness information, 11 families
ADVANCE
Through St. Mary’s popular Families Living Well programs, families are offered
a variety of educational initiatives that build on small changes in everyday living.
The programs provide strengthening social and emotional skills. Families have
demonstrated improved food choices, especially in vegetable consumption; an
increase in family physical activities on the weekends; and increased confidence
in making healthier choices.
UPHOLD
20 participants
self-esteem, and social support.
Now You’re Cookin’!
A six-week class is for students ages 6 to 12 and their
63 children
families or teens ages 13 to 18, through which participants
46 families
learn to cook healthy recipes for meals and snacks.
Chop-Chop Cooking Camp
A one-week summer program for ages 6 to 12 who
are interested in learning how to prepare healthy
snacks and light, healthy meals for breakfast and lunch.
CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health)
An evidence-based, coordinated after-school health program designed to promote physical activity and healthy
food choices from preschool through eighth grade.
Catchy Camp
In the summer, St. Mary brings a nutrition lesson and
healthy food tasting demonstration to various camps
throughout the county.
92 participants
272 campers
54 teen campers
500 students in
five school districts
900 students
Outreach7,235 people
9
St. Mary Service Area
Access and Barriers to Care
n
7.6 percent of adults ages 18 to 64
do not have health insurance
n
9.4
percent of adults do not have a
regular source of care
nMost
children (97.6 percent) do
have a regular source of care
nOne
in eight (12.6 percent) adults do
not have prescription drug coverage
nCultural
and language differences
were identified by community
members as barriers to care; Latino
families were specifically mentioned
as encountering barriers
St. Mary Community Ministries
St. Mary Medical Center’s commitment to making our values come alive is most
evident at the St. Mary Community Ministries in Bensalem. At the Mother Bachmann
Maternity Center, the St. Mary Children’s Health Center, and the St. Mary Family
Resource Center, we advocate and care for Bucks County families living at or near
the poverty level, individuals without health insurance, and homeless mothers and
their children.
The amount of community benefit resources that St. Mary dedicates to our Community
Ministries has increased significantly in recent years; in part, because we continuously
seek out those in our community who are struggling to overcome barriers to care.
We’ve also seen increasing numbers of immigrant families seeking assistance from
St. Mary Community Ministries. For example, clients enrolled in English-language
classes provided by our partners at the St. Mary Family Resource Center have
emigrated from more than 45 countries and speak more than 32 different languages.
St. Mary Community Ministries serves the community from
four rented storefronts in the Bensalem Shopping Center —
right in the heart of the region identified as most needing
access to care and services by the Community Needs Score.
The Mother Bachmann Maternity Center provides quality prenatal and delivery care by
staff members who are sensitive to multicultural differences. Services include:
nBreast-feeding
n
guidance
Nutrition education
to medical
appointments when needed
CHAMPION
nTransportation
LIFT UP
10
n
Financial counseling
n
Translation services
nConfidential
postpartum depression screening
and case management after childbirth
In addition, to provide a continuum of care to new mothers and their children who are
in crisis, St. Mary and our social services partners offer emergency housing in 26 local
apartments. Families in the transitional housing program receive financial counseling,
parenting-skills instruction, and other social services necessary to help them learn to
live independently.
In 2012, the Mother Bachmann Maternity Center assisted in
439 deliveries. Our financial counselors assisted 328 patients in
in applying for St. Mary Financial Assistance.
The St. Mary Children’s Health Center offers preventive and primary healthcare to
children from birth through 18. Services include:
nVaccinations
nReferrals
nHearing
and vision screenings
nGrowth and development assessments
nBreast-feeding support and instruction
nBehavioral counseling
to WIC (Women, Infants
and Children) program through
the Department of Health
nTransportation to medical
appointments if needed
Additionally, a St. Mary financial counselor assists individuals with applications for
Medical Assistance, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other types
of financial assistance.
At the St. Mary Family Resource Center, people who are most in need can access
a wide range of services and programs, free of charge, that they need to become
self-sufficient and financially stable, as well as physically and emotionally stronger and
healthier. We believe that by empowering individuals to make lasting changes in their
lives and to overcome adverse socioeconomic barriers, they can improve their overall
health, well-being, and quality of life.
The Children’s Health Center served 3,072 pediatric
patients in 2012. St. Mary financial counselors assisted 380
patients in obtaining Medical Assistance, 64 for CHIP, 25 for the
COLLABORATE
obtaining Medical Assistance, and 155 were assisted
Bucks County Dental Program, and aided 215 people in
St. Mary Financial Assistance applications.
Services include:
nAfter-school
nChildren’s
activity programs
Learning Center (kindergarten-preparation program)
nCitizenship-preparation
nEmergency
classes, which enrolled 45 adult students in 2012
and transitional housing
nEmployment
training and job placement
nEnglish-as-a-second-language
(ESL) and literacy classes
nFamily
and individual counseling, including drug and alcohol counseling
nFamily
Wellness Center, which welcomed 192 new adult members in 2012
nFinancial
nGED
planning on a limited budget
tutoring and preparation
nHome-safety
nLife-skills
nNutrition
programs
training
education classes, which were attended by 47 families in 2012
nParenting
classes
nTechnology
Center, which provided basic computer skills training to 80 students
in 2012, 60 of whom progressed to advanced classes
PARTNER
11
PORTRAIT OF SUCCESS
The Odeh Family
When Michael and Gloria
Odeh emigrated to Bucks
County from Nigeria, they
were struggling to make
ends meet as they began
their new lives in the United
States. In addition, Gloria
was pregnant with their
first child, didn’t have an
OB-GYN, and was having
issues with her pregnancy.
Michael brought her to
St. Mary Medical Center’s
Emergency Department,
where she was treated and
told about the Mother Bachmann Maternity Center.
Relieved to know that there was a place that
Gloria could receive prenatal and delivery care, they
immediately called the center, and Gloria received an
ultrasound to assure them that the baby was all right.
“From the moment we came here, they were so good
to us,” says Michael Sr. “They made us feel welcome
and informed us about what to do every step of the
way.” With the help of the colleagues at Mother
Bachmann Maternity Center, Gloria delivered their
son, Michael Jr., at St. Mary Medical Center.
With an active baby beginning to toddle around,
Gloria and Michael became concerned about his
safety. They weren’t certain what they needed in their
apartment to keep their son safe, and they didn’t know
how they were going to afford to purchase all the
products needed to do so.
HERISH
Michael Jr. is receiving primary care at the St. Mary
Children’s Health Center. The financial counselor
at St. Mary Community Ministries assisted them in
obtaining insurance for themselves and their baby, and
the Odehs are beginning to access the many programs
that the St. Mary Community Ministries offer free
of charge — including the Home Safety Program.
The Odehs received instruction in home safety, free
products to modify their home, a pack-and-play crib,
and an appropriately sized car seat for Michael Jr.
“We have a very deep gratitude to St. Mary Medical
Center for all that they are doing for us,” says Michael
Sr. “These gifts will keep our son safe now, and that’s
what is most important to us.”
JOY
12
12
When a need is identified in the community we strive to partner with
other organizations and social service agencies to fill any gaps. St. Mary
Community Ministries provides space to more than 14 different social
services organizations, under one roof, to make care most
accessible to those who need it. Some of our longer-term
partnerships are with the following organizations that share
our vision of justice for the underserved: Bucks County
Children and Youth Social Services Agency, Bucks County
Homeless Shelter, Bucks County Housing Group, Catholic
Social Services, Penn State Cooperative Extension,
Vita Education Services, and Welcoming the Stranger.
For example, through a partnership between the Bucks
County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, Bucks
County Housing Group and St. Mary Medical Center, we
continued our work in 2012 to address the growing problem
of homelessness and housing instability in Bucks County.
The Family Resource Center Supportive Housing Program
was established to provide a safe place where disadvantaged
families can develop a plan to secure permanent and
sustainable housing. Clients are provided support with housing and case
management while they pursue an educational or job-training program
that will allow them to earn enough income to support their family. In
2012, 43 families, 49 adults, and 62 children received assistance through
this program.
St. Mary Community Ministries also provides dedicated space for the
Bucks County Health Improvement Program (BCHIP) Lower Bucks Clinic,
a nonprofit organization where residents receive free healthcare. The
BCHIP Lower Bucks Clinic provides physical examinations, screenings,
treatment for acute illnesses, and management of chronic conditions, as
well as medications, to its patients. The clinic saw 1,186 patients through
8,328 free clinic visits during calendar year 2012.
Programs to Protect Children
and the Frail Elderly
Child Home Safety
Keeping children safe in their own homes is an important way that
St. Mary partners with parents and guardians in caring for our most
vulnerable and youngest community members. According to the Center
for Disease Control, more than 9,000 children die each year due to
unintentional accidents. More than 225,000 children are hospitalized
annually, and nearly 9 million children are treated for their injuries in
hospital emergency departments every year.
These injuries often occur because parents don’t recognize common
hazards in their home or because a family simply cannot afford to buy
home-safety products. While parents in low-income families are trying to
figure out how to feed, clothe, and keep a roof over their children’s heads,
purchasing safety items for their home becomes a low priority.
The Home Safety Program at the St. Mary Children’s Health Center is
working hard to reverse this unfortunate trend. The program provides
low-income families with simple but necessary home-safety products at
no charge — from shorteners for window blind cords and multi-purpose
latches, to tot locks for cabinets, electric outlet covers, power strips,
bathroom-safety devices, and safety gates.
In 2012, we also gave 150 pack-and-play cribs to parents whose children were cared
for at the St. Mary Children’s Health Center, as well as to some of the social service
agencies in our network that care for children living in poverty. Additionally, 100
child-safety seats were given to our Community Ministries patients.
Safe Kids Coalition
the St. Mary Trauma Program, 16 area schools have committed to
mandate that all coaches and athletes participate in the Comprehensive
Concussion Program offered by St. Mary. Additionally, all contact sports athletes
are provided with a baseline neurocognitive test (ImPACT). Approximately 5,800
students were provided with comprehensive concussion education and testing
throughout Bucks County in 2012.
n St.
Mary provided six AED units to youth sports organizations in 2012. This
program includes the AED, as well as CPR training for up to 20 volunteers within
the participating youth sport organization.
n A
total of 561 families participated in the Car Seat Check-Up Program at four
locations throughout Bucks County, including two car seat check events held each
month at St. Mary Medical Center.
HONOR
LIFE St. Mary
LIFE St. Mary is a program offered by St. Mary Medical since 2010 to address a
critical shortage of coordinated, quality eldercare services in Bucks County. As a
Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), LIFE St. Mary provides an
innovative model of long-term care designed to allow frail and disabled older adults
to live independently and safely at home with help from our specially qualified team of
eldercare professionals.
RESPECT
n Through
PORTRAIT OF SUCCESS
Vera and Marie
For Marie Brown, a nurse, having a specialized plan of care for her 85-year-oldmother was very important. In particular, Marie wanted her mother, Vera, to be
cared for by skilled professionals who would address all her needs and health
issues, such as mobility, degenerative joint disease, progressive dementia, and
aphasia from a stroke years ago.
The only obstacle: Marie wanted to keep her mother in the comfort of her home.
This is where LIFE St. Mary comes in. LIFE is a Program of All-inclusive Care
for the Elderly (PACE). This unique model of care helps people live safely at home with assistance from a team of compassionate
healthcare experts.
As a LIFE participant, Vera is picked up in a LIFE van and taken to the LIFE Center in Trevose three days a week. There, she receives
meals, therapeutic recreation, routine physical therapy, and a full range of medical services.
The LIFE team, which includes Vera’s doctor, nurse, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, recreation
therapist, and home care nurse collaborate to ensure that the care provided is meeting her needs.
“The nurses and doctors update me regularly to discuss what my mom’s needs are, and if what has been implemented is working,”
Marie says.
In addition, all of Vera’s medications come directly to the LIFE Center and are sent home with her. This saves her daughter the time of
making trips or phone calls to the pharmacy, or coordinating doctor’s visits. LIFE even got Vera a new wheelchair.
“If there is something we need, I ask LIFE, and if there is any possible way they can do it, they will,” Marie says. “I would recommend
the program to anyone with an older parent they are concerned about.”
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Many of the program’s medical and supportive-care services are delivered to
participants at the LIFE Center in Trevose. Like St. Mary Community Ministries, the
LIFE Center is conveniently located to serve Bucks County’s highest-need ZIP Codes
(Bensalem, Bristol, and Croydon) as identified by their Community Need Scores.
In 2012, LIFE St. Mary had more than 160 members, who received a variety of
services, including primary medical care, dental and vision care, prescription
medicines, rehabilitative therapies, social services, nutrition counseling, and healthy
meals. The program, which has a capacity of up to 222 participants, also offers home
healthcare and transportation to and from medical appointments and the LIFE Center,
as well as resources to support family caregivers.
For more information, visit www.LIFEStMary.org or call 267.991.7600.
Community Collaborations by Our Colleagues
Brush with Kindness – Habitat for Humanity
Working to create truly healthy communities means more to us at St. Mary Medical
Center than traditional healthcare and health promotion; it also involves recognizing all
the needs of those we serve and doing our best to support them.
For example, two area families in need are living more comfortably in their homes and
more proudly in their neighborhoods, thanks to a partnership formed between Habitat
for Humanity of Bucks County and St. Mary Medical Center in 2012. Partnering with
this organization uniquely fulfills our values of Justice and Collaboration.
Nearly 40 St. Mary colleagues volunteered to rehabilitate houses in Levittown and
Bristol in support of Habitat for Humanity’s A Brush with Kindness program. These two
towns are among those with the highest poverty levels, especially among seniors,
according to their Community Need Score.
BUILD
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SUPPORT
A Brush with Kindness provides painting, landscaping, and minor repair
services primarily for low-income homeowners who are affected by age, disability, or
family circumstances, and who are struggling to maintain the exterior of their homes.
Renovations on each house took place over a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Work on
the Bristol home included installing new shutters, painting the entire outside of house,
and mulching flower beds. The house in Levittown had a badly deteriorated front porch
that volunteer crews completely demolished and replaced with new deck framing,
boards, and railings.
A nurse with the St. Mary Children’s Health Center and part of the crew that renovated
the Bristol home says that she would do it all over again.
“Driving over to the house that beautiful morning, I was thinking it would
be a beautiful day to go to the shore instead of working on a house — but
I’m so glad I took part in this project. Working together, getting dirty, and
seeing the transformation into a home to be proud of was the best feeling!
Knowing that we were giving someone’s pride a lift also made me feel that
I was truly living my favorite quote, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the
world,’” she says.
Bucks County Homeless Shelter
The Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter in Langhorne serves
families and individuals who have lost stable and safe housing. While
staying in a safe environment, residents are provided with case
management to help them move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
The shelter is staffed primarily by volunteers from the community.
When Family Service Association (FSA) took over the shelter’s operation in
2012, the organization’s leaders partnered with St. Mary to significantly
enhance the volunteer-management program. FSA turned to St. Mary
Medical Center, which has an active and highly successful volunteer
program, for a helping hand in redesigning the shelter’s volunteer program
and assisting with the administration of the program. St. Mary provided
guidance once a week for many months and assisted in the process
for interviewing, orientating, and training all current and newly
recruited volunteers.
Other colleagues from St. Mary’s Environmental Services, Plant Operations,
Nutrition, and Infection Control Departments offered their expertise as
well. St. Mary donated all-new furniture for the dining area of the shelter,
switching from long hall tables to round so that the space felt more
homelike and comfortable.
A playroom for children living in the shelter was redesigned by St. Mary,
complete with new furniture. A tutoring room, where school-aged children
do their homework, was added. Tutoring is provided in the room twice a
week. The St. Mary Parenting Center trained staff and conducts parenting
programs at the shelter.
Every new child who enters the shelter is
given a welcome kit, complete with ageappropriate personal-care products —
a comb, hairbrush, toothbrush and
toothpaste, shampoo and soap, warm
socks — to make their stay more
comfortable. The Home Safety Program at
St. Mary Community Ministries provided
10 new cribs, as well as a highchair for
every young child living at the center,
which the family can keep when they
move from the shelter. Car seats also
were provided and installed in the shelter’s vans that transport
residents who don’t have cars.
Nurse practitioners from the clinics at St. Mary Community Ministries
administered flu shots to people living at the shelter. Children
needing healthcare received treatment at the St. Mary
Children’s Health Center.
GUIDE
Darlene Holloman, nutrition education advisor for
Penn State Extension (left), presents Mary Blazosky
with a certificate of achievement for her completion
of the Nutrition Link Workshops.
PORTRAIT OF SUCCESS
Mary Blazosky
Mary Blazosky — affectionately known as Ms. Mary
— is a “regular” at the St. Mary Family Wellness
Center in Bensalem. She arrives every day, enjoys
socializing with other clients, and takes advantage
of all the wellness programs that are offered at
the Center.
When Ms. Mary, 78, was diagnosed with coronary
artery disease and aortic stenosis in 2009, she
underwent an aortic valve replacement at St. Mary
Medical Center. An important part of her recovery
was to exercise. She began attending the Family
Wellness Center at St. Mary Community Ministries
in Bensalem, which was close to her home
and free of charge as part of the St. Mary
community benefit.
“All I needed was a doctor’s note,” says Ms. Mary.
“I love going to the Family Wellness Center every
day, and I haven’t missed a day since I started in
June 2010. Not only is my heart better, but I used
to have pain in my knees and legs, and now I
don’t feel any pain. I’m so much better since
I’ve been exercising.”
Ms. Mary also attended the Penn State Nutrition
Link course presented by Penn State Extension,
one of our partners in nutrition education, at the
St. Mary Family Resource Center. She says the
nutrition education was “wonderful,” because it
taught her a lot about eating healthier.
Ms. Mary’s cardiologist, Dr. Rakesh Shah, agrees
that the Family Wellness Center has made a
difference in Ms. Mary’s health.
“Her cholesterol has been under great control,
and she feels wonderful. We have encouraged
her to continue with the Wellness Center as it is
helping her overall well-being,” he says.
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Donors Who Help Us
Live Our Value of Justice
Prenatal care for financially disadvantaged women and their babies, short-term housing for
homeless adults and children, and assistance with job training and placement are some of
the various resources made possible by the generous support of individual, government, and
corporate donors. Their designated gifts to the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation enable
us to advocate for justice for community members of all ages and to bring them the tools
and services they need to improve their current and future well-being.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the
following donors for their contributions to
St. Mary Community Ministries in 2012:
Bucks County Neighbors
County of Bucks
Foundations Community Partnership
Independence Blue Cross
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. William H. Pullis
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Simon
The Louis and Sandra Berkman Foundation
BLESS
Drs. Gary D. & Karen Zimmer
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Living Our Mission and Values
Advance Healthcare Directives
Advance directives are a way of making your voice heard if you become unable to
communicate your treatment preferences to your family and physicians. Advance
directives enable you to decide how much or how little medical treatment you want
when you can no longer make these decisions. St. Mary Medical Center supports
our patients’ right to make personal decisions about their treatment options, including
life choices surrounding critical illness.
St. Mary respectfully implements all Advance Healthcare Directives in accordance
with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care.
More information: 215.710.5902 or 215.710.5036
Bereavement Support Group
Grief can feel unbearably lonely, but there are healthy ways to cope with death of
a loved one, such as connecting with others who also are grieving. The St. Mary
Bereavement Support Group, which was attended by 54 individuals in 2012, is a
resource for people to share feelings and personal experiences. Meetings are
scheduled over six weeks in the spring, fall, and winter at St. Mary Medical Center
and facilitated by St. Mary chaplains who are certified by the American Academy
of Bereavement.
More information: 215.710.5902
Catholic Health East Global Health Ministry
St. Mary Medical Center’s value of Justice reaches far beyond the Bucks County
community. Through our participation in Catholic Health East’s (CHE) Global Health
Ministry, we advocate for justice in some of the poorest countries in the world. In 2012,
a team of nine nurses, physicians, and non-clinical colleagues from St. Mary volunteered
to serve on Global Health Ministry medical missions in Peru, Jamaica, and Guatemala.
Collectively, the surgery teams performed nearly 200 procedures, including hernia
repairs, gynecologic procedures, and plastic surgery for children with cleft palate. This
team also helped continue the Madre y Niño education program focused on reducing
maternal and infant mortality. St. Mary also supports CHE’s medical and surgical
missions with generous donations of needed medications and medical supplies.
The patients, family, and staff of St. Mary Medical Center have been deeply touched
by the kindness and comfort provided by the volunteers in our No One Dies Alone
(NODA) program. NODA is designed to provide solace and companionship to terminally
ill patients and peace of mind to their family caregivers. Specially trained volunteers
called Comfort Companions sit with patients who are alone as the end of life approaches
or whose family members need to be away from the hospital and their loved one for brief
periods. In 2012, our Comfort Companions volunteered 469 hours to the NODA program
and provided support to patients and their families in eight different patient care units.
More information: 215.710.5140
Palliative Care
Our Palliative Care team is a resource for patients who are diagnosed with chronic and
life-limiting illnesses. The team aims to enhance the quality of life of patients and their
families and to provide comfort through the prevention and treatment of symptoms,
including pain relief. Our Palliative Care team provided services to more than 1,100
patients in 2012.
More information: 215.710.4616 or 215.710.5036
OMFORT
Comfort Companions
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Resources for Those in Need
If you or someone close to you needs help finding support for issues relating to housing, healthcare, employment, or parenting, as well
as other personal or family issues, the following organizations and agencies are here to help:
A Woman’s Place
215.343.9241
24-Hour Hotline 1.800.220.8116
www.awomansplace.org
Bucks County SAFE KIDS
Coalition
215.710.5976
www.pasafekids.org
Provides comprehensive free, private, and
confidential service, support, education,
outreach, and advocacy to victims of
domestic violence, their children, and
the community.
SAFE KIDS promotes the prevention of
childhood injuries through education,
collaboration, and advocacy.
Catholic Social Services
Bucks County Family
Service Centers
215.945.2550
www.catholicsocialservicesphilly.org/contact.php
Bucks County Emergency
Homeless Shelter
215.949.1727
1.800.810.4434
www.fsabc.org
Provides counseling and case management
services, pregnancy and adoption services,
and immigration/refugee settlement services.
Provides emergency shelter and case
management for families in crisis.
Bensalem Head Start
215.244.1620
www.bcheadstart.org
Penn State Cooperative
Extension, Bucks County
215.345.3283
http://bucks.extension.psu.edu
GENEROSITY
Welcoming the Stranger
215.702.3445
www.welcomingthestranger.org
Child, Home & Community
888.215.9770 or 215.348.9770
www.chcinfo.org
Provides prenatal programs for pregnant
adolescents, fathers-to-be, and their support
people. Offers parenting skills training and
monthly gatherings for young parents and
their children.
Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP)
800.986.KIDS
www.chipcoverspakids.com
Bucks County Housing Group
215.598.3566
www.bchg.org
CHIP is Pennsylvania’s program to provide
health insurance to all uninsured children and
teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in
Medical Assistance.
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A free clinic that provides primary medical
and dental care to families and individuals
ages 19 to 65 who are employed, who do not
have health insurance, and whose earnings
fall within 200 percent of the federal
poverty guidelines.
Provides free adult education services
including basic literacy, GED preparation,
adult diploma program, and English-as-asecond language.
Bucks County Health
Improvement Partnership
215.710.2201
www.bchip.org
Bucks County Housing Group is a private,
nonprofit social service organization that provides a wide range of housing and
related social services to homeless and
low-income families.
HealthLink Medical Center
215.364.4247 • www.healthlinkmedical.org
Vita Education Services
215.345.8322
www.vitaeducation.org
Bucks County
Children and Youth
215.348.6900
24-Hour Child Abuse Reporting
Hotline 1.800.932.0313
www.buckscounty.org/government/
departments/humanservices/Childrenand
Youth/index.aspx
Bucks County
Health Department
215.345.3318
www.buckscounty.org/
government/departments/
humanservices/
HealthDepartment/index.aspx
Protects, maintains, strengthens, and
enhances individuals, families, and children,
and their social and psychological functioning.
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP) helps parents with limited
resources acquire knowledge, improve skills,
and change behavior to achieve health and
well-being.
Head Start helps preschool children develop
intellectually, socially, emotionally, and
physically, and helps prepare them for
kindergarten.
The county child-welfare agency
provides protective services,
information, and referral services.
Family Service Association
215.757.6916 • www.fsabc.org
Collaboration Works!
215.510.3365
Dedicated to bridging the gap between ages,
races, communities, and cultures through
performing arts.
CONSIDERATION
A ministry of the Lower Bucks Center for
Church and Community, which provides free
classes in English, computers, and citizenship
to immigrants and refugees in Lower
Bucks County.
Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC)
Lower Bucks 267.580.3570
Central Bucks 215.345.3494
www.buckscounty.org/government/
departments/humanservices/Health
Department/WICBenefits.aspx
Provides a supplemental health and
nutritional program for pregnant and
breast-feeding women and for children
under 5 years of age who meet financial
and nutritional eligibility requirements.
YWCA of Bucks County
215.953.7793
www.ywcabucks.org
Supports youth services, family centers,
and self-sufficiency programs, and offers
employment training services and the
Senior Shared Housing Program.
St. Mary Community Health Services
1201 Langhorne-Newtown Road
Langhorne, PA 19047
215.710.6875
www.StMaryHealthcare.org
www.facebook.com/stmaryhealthcare
St. Mary Community Ministries
Bensalem Square Shopping Center
2546 Knights Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
Mother Bachmann Maternity Center 215.245.4334
St. Mary Children’s Health Center 215.245.8873
St. Mary Family Resource Center 215.245.8563
BCHIP Lower Bucks Clinic 215.633.8652