CHESTER

COUNTY
HOSPITAL
COMMUNITY
BENEFIT
REPORT
FY2013

Chester County Hospital is an organization dedicated to the health and wellbeing of the people in Chester County and
surrounding areas. Founded in 1892, the non-profit hospital has grown into a 245-bed acute care facility based in
West Chester, plus it has a system of outpatient locations in Exton, West Goshen, New Garden, Jennersville and Kennett
Square. In 2013, Chester County Hospital became part of Penn Medicine* that consists of the Raymond and Ruth
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school)
and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise. In addition to qualitydriven inpatient medical/surgical services, Chester County Hospital also offers home health, hospice and skilled nursing
care; occupational medicine; outpatient laboratory, radiology and physical therapy services; an ob/gyn clinic for the
underserved; wound care; and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
To complement its many medical services, the hospital is in the process of opening 72 new private patient rooms
on its West Chester campus. To date, 48 of the rooms in the Lasko Tower are in use by Telemetry and Surgical Care
patients. The remaining 24 rooms will open in May 2014 and will be a dedicated Mother Baby Unit.
True to its commitment to providing ways for people to maintain a healthy life, Chester County Hospital offers a broad
scope of high quality health education programs to the community. Physician lectures give people the opportunity to
meet the medical staff and learn about important health concerns. A wide variety of wellness programs and services
that address specific life cycle needs and chronic health conditions are also regularly available. Cardiovascular, cancer,
blood pressure, osteoporosis and other screenings are offered throughout the year to help identify risk at an early
stage. Support groups offer individuals with specific health conditions the opportunity to share their experiences with
others and learn from an qualified professional about how to manage and cope with health problems.

Building a healthy community is the reason we

work so hard to deliver superior care.

*This Community Benefit Report FY2013 covers a period of time prior to the Chester County Hospital joining Penn Medicine on September 1, 2013.

Chester County
consistently ranks
among the best places
to live and
raise a family.
The county blends the best of everything: beautiful and open countryside; historical significance
and appreciation; excellent school systems; a wealth of corporate headquarters and small businesses;
strong and stable employment opportunities; local and regional access to arts and culture; diverse
communities; and active and engaged residents.
Through the efforts of many individuals, and health and social services providers, Chester County was
ranked as the healthiest county of Pennsylvanias 67 counties in 2010 and again in 2013.
As an active organization in the countys health and social services provider community, this ranking
thrills us. But, we recognize that maintaining, serving, and educating the community about healthy
lifestyles are ongoing efforts. Chester County Hospital is committed to providing a broad scope of high
quality health education programs and medical services to the community we serve.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT FY2013

Community Health Needs Assessment

In 2013, Chester County Hospital leaders were active participants in Chester Countys
Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The RoadMAPP to Health project was conducted for
the entire county, and as a result there is now an ongoing effort to focus on healthy lifestyles and opportunities to
provide medical services where they are needed.
The main goal of the 18-month assessment for the 36 participating health service providers was to create a
community where partners assure conditions in which individuals can be healthy and where residents are
empowered to manage their own health.
RoadMAPP captured health information and feedback from Pottstown to Landenberg, from Devon to Atglen, from
Nottingham to Phoenixville, and from Elverson to Chadds Ford.

Did you know?

11.4%

#1

More than one in 10 residents

(11.4%) in Chester County
speaks a language other than
English at home.

Chester County is ranked

NUMBER ONE
in Pennsylvania for the number of
mothers who did not smoke during
the prenatal period.
The statewide average is 84.1%.
Chester Countys percentage
is 94%.

ChesterCountyHospital.org

MORE
THAN

99%

Of the 5,513 births in

Chester County in 2010,
99.1% of mothers
received prenatal care.

STRATEGIC QUESTIONS
As a result of the health assessment survey, five work groups consisting of representatives from community-based
organizations and agencies are implementing the recommendations of the assessment and developing initiatives to
advance the health of the community. They are finding solutions for the following questions:

1 How can the community expand the concept of cultural competence to ensure access and use of services,
including early prenatal care and health screenings?

2 How can the community partner to provide a seamless, highly coordinated network of services that address an
individual's physical and behavioral health issues?

3 How can the community increase awareness of and education about health and social services to help residents
meet their basic needs?

4 How can the community encourage and support individuals to take action in their own health management and
well-being, including prevention?

5 How can community leaders help create supportive environments to ensure the health and safety of their
communities?

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Based on the CHNA findings, the hospital developed its own Implementation Plan identifying the specific steps it will
take and the level of resources it will commit to maintain and improve the health of Chester County. Specifically, there
were seven key findings in the health survey that the hospital will play an active role, either as a thought leader or
collaborating health resource.

KEY FINDINGS

1 Pregnant Hispanic and African American women seek prenatal care later in their pregnancy compared to
Caucasian women.

2 Based on input from the Hispanic community, the health care and social service system across the county has
too few Spanish-speaking health care providers and translators.

3 Cancer incidence rates for melanomas, breast cancer and prostate cancer are statistically higher in Chester County
than in Pennsylvania.

4 While the percentage of overweight adults in Chester County is lower than the statewide average (56% vs. 64%),
the rate still remains high.

5 Respondents to the survey rated substance abuse and mental health problems as the top two greatest health
problems facing the community. Alcohol and drug abuse and obesity were rated as the top three riskiest behaviors.

6 Alcohol use among high school students remains high.

7 The community would benefit from a centralized repository of all available health and social services that is
easily accessible and well publicized.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT FY2013

Our Health Outreach

STATISTICAL RECORD OF SERVICE
SERVICES RENDERED

FISCAL YEAR 2012

Inpatient Adult and Pediatric Admissions (excluding Newborns)

FISCAL YEAR 2013

13,534

13,130

Observation Status Patients

1,588

1,707

Inpatient Newborn Admissions

2,299

2,273

41,818

41,933

117,767

127,826

5,040

4,932

Outpatient Laboratory Visits

124,230

128,378

Outpatient Radiology Examinations and Treatments

166,942

163,130

Patients treated in the Emergency Department

Outpatient Visits (Clinic, Physical Therapy, Cardiology, Cancer etc.)
Outpatient Surgical Operations

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WELLNESS SERVICES [Fiscal Year 2013]

PROGRAM TYPE

Community Outreach Education

NUMBER OF COURSES

NUMBER OF ATTENDEES

193

2,432

42

898

22

250

99

1,637

29

3,074

385

8,291

Cardiovascular, cancer, orthopedic, womens health and

general health programs

Community Outreach Screenings

Cardiovascular, cancer and other screenings

Wellness Support Groups

Includes weight management and diabetes support

Childbirth Education
Childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, newborn care,
sibling classes and maternity tours

Diabetes and Nutrition Education

Self-management classes, individual patient counseling

OUTREACH AND WELLNESS TOTALS

OUTPATIENT PRENATAL CLINIC VISITS

VISIT TYPE

NUMBER OF PATIENTS

New Visits

473

Established Visits

4,573

Total Prenatal Clinic Visits

5,046

ChesterCountyHospital.org

OUTREACH EXAMPLES

WITHIN THE HOSPITAL

American Red Cross Blood Drives

Every two seconds someone in the US needs blood. More than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day.
Knowing that supplies are often lower than needed, Chester County Hospital hosts several blood drives every
year to support the critical effort of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Between July 2012
and June 2013, the hospital hosted five community blood drives on site, which resulted in 212 people making
182 successful blood donations. One of the drives was coordinated in partnership with the local Girl Scouts to
provide them with a location to host their service project. The blood drives, organized by HR Assistant Diane
Morrow and the Blood Drive Committee, were promoted to hospital employees and to the community at large.

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Flu Outreach Program

Laurie Schiltz, BSN, RN, CEN, Emergency Department, recently completed her BS in Nursing at Wilmington
University. During her community service practicum, Schiltz participated in the Flu Outreach Program for
La Comunidad Hispana, an organization that supports Latino residents of southern Chester County. As an
organization, it strives to empower immigrants and low-income residents of southern Chester County to stay
healthy, build strong families and lead productive and fulfilling lives. Twice a week during peak flu season,
Schiltz and a group of eight people went to different mushroom farms to administer the flu vaccine to the
migrant population and farm employees. The hospital supported Schiltzs efforts in this community service
project and the successful completion of her BSN degree.

BEYOND THE COUNTY

EMT/Paramedic Training with St. Lucia Medical Professionals

Medic 91 Paramedics and EMTs from Good Fellowship Ambulance & EMS Training Institute have been serving
Chester County for more than 30 years. In recent years, they have broadened their scope to train EMTs on the
island of St. Lucia. An email received more than four years ago about learning the US standards for paramedic
training spawned collaboration between Jerry Peters, BS, Program Director at Good Fellowship Training Institute
and a paramedic at Chester County Hospital, and Craig Herman, founder of St. Lucias Emergency Medical Service.
Subsequent talks between the two men grew into plans to send Good Fellowship instructors to train their St.
Lucian counterparts. Teams of EMTs have traveled between West Chester and the island, with Chester County
paramedics giving guidance and providing training scenarios. Jerrys paramedic colleague, Bob Guiney, also
conducts the trainings. This relationship may span two nations, but the groups are united in education for a
common causeserving the health of their communities. By training the EMS providers in St. Lucia, Chester
Countys paramedic community has a hand in the care, safety and rescue of people 2,000 miles away.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT FY2013

Economic Impact
Chester County Hospital provides quality medical and nursing services without discrimination based upon age, sex, race,
color, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, ancestry, national origin, marital status, familial status, genetic information,
gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, culture, language, socioeconomic status, domestic or sexual violence
victim status, source of income or source of payment. Although reimbursement for services rendered is critical to the
operation and stability of Chester County Hospital, it is recognized that not all individuals possess the ability to purchase
essential medical services and further that our mission is to serve the community with respect to providing health care
services and health care education.
Therefore, in keeping with this hospital's commitment to serve all members of its community, it provides:
Free care and/or subsidized care;
Care at or below costs to persons covered by governmental programs;
Health activities and programs to support the community are considered where the need and/or an individual's
inability to pay co-exist. These activities include wellness programs, community education programs, and special
programs for the elderly, handicapped, medically underserved, and a variety of broad community support activities.
EMERGENCY CARE IS PROVIDED 24-HOURS-A-DAY AND IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF A PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY.
Chester County Hospital provides care to persons covered by governmental programs at or below cost. Recognizing
its mission to the community, services are provided to both Medicare and Medicaid patients. To the extent
reimbursement is below cost, Chester County Hospital recognizes these amounts as charity care in meeting its
mission to the entire community.

During the year ending June 30, 2013, costs to provide these services
EXCEEDED REIMBURSEMENT BY APPROXIMATELY

$15,512,000
Charity care is also provided through many reduced price services and free programs offered throughout the year based
upon activities and services that Chester County Hospital believes will serve a bona fide community health need.
FACTS + STATS
Community health activities and programs cost $1,453,789 to reach many members of the community.
The cost to provide free care was in the amount of $6,750,121.
With a payroll of $102,000,000, the hospital provides 2,000 jobs, many of which require advanced degrees with
opportunities for continued professional development.
Employer-paid payroll taxes totaled $7,528,000 to support local municipalities, state and federal governments.

ChesterCountyHospital.org

ECONOMIC IMPACT EXAMPLES

WITHIN THE HOSPITAL

Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center

Human Resources Generalist Melissa Rosen presented information about future job opportunities at the
hospital to a class of 25 nursing assistants participating in the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC)
program. She covered the 120-plus year history of the hospital, careers that a Certified Nursing Assistant
specialty could be transferred to within the hospital (i.e., monitor tech, nursing assistant, patient safety
assistant), and explained the interview process and how to apply online. In a subsequent meeting, she assisted
the students with resume writing and mock interviews. After the session, she offered each student feedback
about their interview, their resume, and any areas of growth to help them prepare for future employment.

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Supporting the Underserved

Several times throughout the year, the hospital actively partners with other Chester County organizations
to support residents outside our hospitals setting. Lead by Nancy Canfield, Benefits Coordinator and the
Diversity Council, the hospital invited employees and visitors to donate food, toiletries, home essentials,
blankets and bedding, and school supplies. The outpouring of generosity was overwhelming. The items were
given to organizations like Davids Drive 831, Safe Harbor of West Chester, Friends Associations for Care and
Protection of Children, Pennsylvania Home of the Sparrow, the Chester County Food Bank, and the Maternal
and Child Health Consortium of Chester County. In addition to donating items, often our clinicians and
employees volunteer their time at these organizations. For example, the nursing staff of the Intensive Care
Unit (ICU) sponsored a dinner at Safe Harbor. Arranged by Michelle Root, MSN, RN, Charge Nurse ICU, the
nurses purchased and prepared enough food items to serve dinner to 25 homeless women.

BEYOND THE COUNTY

Honduras Mission Project

Heather Donohue, BSN, RN, CNOR, participated in a week-long medical mission trip to Honduras in May 2013.
While there, she helped set up brigades that offered medical, dental, optical and pharmaceutical assistance.
She partnered with other volunteers, including a dentist, an ophthalmologist, a nurse practitioner, a nurse
midwife, two other nurses, and a medical assistant. All medical services, including glasses and prescriptions,
were provided free of charge. In addition to medical care, the team provided clothing, shoes and toothbrushes
for the adults and children. Altogether, Donohue and her team treated about 700 Hondurans in the clinics
they established in Cayos Cochinos, Campo Llano, San Pedro Sula, and El Carmen. Her efforts exemplify and
extend the care she provides to Chester Countys patients.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT FY2013

Volunteerism

THE HOSPITAL WELCOMES ADULT AND TEEN

VOLUNTEERS IN NEARLY EVERY DEPARTMENT.

The Volunteer Services Department supports hospital

operations and patient services by matching volunteer
interests and strengths with the many opportunities
available throughout the hospital.

Not only does the hospital benefit from the good work of the volunteers, but
the volunteers themselves attain a sense of satisfaction of providing a muchneeded service to a grateful organization in their community. There is pride and
accomplishment in sharing ones time. Our volunteers are critical to the dayto-day operations at the hospital. They help solve problems and are often found
to be the solution.
The Corporation for National and Community Service states that there is a
strong relationship between volunteering and individual health.

Those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater

functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than
those who do not volunteer.

If you are interested in learning more about the

available volunteer opportunities,
please call the Volunteer Office at 610.431.5191
for an appointment.

ChesterCountyHospital.org

45,791
Hours of Service

In FY2013, there were

414 volunteers,
which is the equivalent of
22 full-time employees.
Altogether, they gave 45,791
hours of service.

Volunteers support nearly every

hospital department.
The Emergency Department
hosts the most volunteers,
but they also staff the
Information Desk and the
Family Waiting Room,
which are two significant
areas of responsibility.

Volunteers give their time at

Fern Hill Medical Campus,
Exton Medical and
Diagnostic Center, and
Kennett Medical Campus too.

VOLUNTEERISM EXAMPLES

WITHIN THE HOSPITAL

Behavioral Health
Director of Emergency Services Betty Brennan, EdD, MSN, RN, CEN, is the organizer and facilitator of quarterly
regional meetings in community behavioral health for Chester County Mental Health and Drug/Alcohol
Community Services. The purpose of these meetings is to bring together multi-disciplinary, multi-agency,
inpatient psychiatric hospitals, emergency departments and other agencies within the county that service and
provide care for behavioral health patients. Through shared agendas, initiatives and forums for discussion in
these meetings, a cohesive and collaborative plan of care for the community behavioral health needs was
created. Brennan voluntarily contacted everyone individually first to gauge and encourage attendance and
distributed a survey to develop a list of topics for the group. The hospital supports Brennan in her community
service by providing the room for the meetings, nourishment and technology support. For her work, Brennan
received the 2013 Healthcare Heroes Award by Main Line Today in the category of community service for
establishing a behavioral health program for patients in conjunction with other health care organizations and
behavioral health facilities in Chester County.

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Community Volunteers in Medicine

Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) is a community-based, volunteer nonprofit organization providing
primary medical and dental care to low income, working Chester County residents without insurance, enabling
them to continue to be contributing members of the community. The program is designed to provide services
for those individuals whose income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty guidelines and are not eligible for
Medical Assistance, Medicare, VA benefits or the Childrens Health Insurance Program. Numerous clinical
practices and private physicians on the Medical Staff of Chester County Hospital have been generously providing
free or reduced-fee services to CVIM participants.
Chester County Eye Care Associates
Chester County Hematology Oncology Services*
Community Radiology Associates of the University of Pennsylvania
Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of Chester County
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of Chester County
Surgical Specialists, P.C.

Turks Head Surgery Center

Urology Center of Chester County
West Chester Endoscopy
West Chester Gastrointestinal Group
Womens Specialty Center*
*Hospital-employed physicians

BEYOND THE COUNTY

Super Storm Sandy Rebuilding

Pamela Conner, BSN, RN, CMSRN, participated in a seven-day mission trip to Buckhannon, WV, sponsored by the
Hopewell United Methodist Church. In July, she volunteered time to the Hopewell United Methodist Churchs
Student Ministries. During the week, a group of 20 adult leaders and approximately 40 high school students
traveled to Buckhannon to assist local residents that were still recovering from Super Storm Sandy in October
2012. Conner and her students worked with a disabled couple to help repair damages to their home. She and her
group built a handicap ramp from the porch of this couples home to enable the wheelchair-bound homeowner
easier access. The group repaired damages to the roof and extended the roof to cover the deck and newly
constructed handicap ramp. Conner not only served as an adult leader and worker, but she served as the nurse for
the group as well. Conner was in charge of all the medications that the students brought with them, and also
performed first aid to injured workers as needed.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT FY2013

/chestercountyhospital

@cchosp

#CCHCBR

More information about Chester County Hospital can be found at ChesterCountyHospital.org.