We have now a well being care historical past to be happy with right here in Studying. Studying Hospital, based by a handful of physicians and enterprise leaders greater than 150 years in the past, is as we speak among the many Prime 50 finest hospitals in America, in keeping with Healthgrades, and was as soon as once more ranked #8 within the state by U.S. Information & World Report. The hospital’s emergency division sees extra sufferers than another hospital within the commonwealth, our HealthPlex is a number one surgical facility, and we ship greater than 3,500 infants every year.
I used to be born at Studying Hospital — as had been my husband, sister, and youngsters. And we’re proud to nonetheless name Berks County dwelling.
To group members, Studying Hospital has all the time represented high quality, innovation and deeply compassionate care throughout tough instances. As I step into the place as Chair of the Board for Tower Well being — which incorporates our beloved Studying Hospital — I accomplish that with a deep dedication to the long-term sustainability of native well being care.
I acknowledge that we’ve got navigated distinctive challenges over the previous few years, together with a historic pandemic and an ongoing monetary turnaround. I’ve watched the board prioritize offering high-quality well being take care of the group, and we keep that clear-eyed concentrate on patient-centered care and monetary stability as we transfer ahead.
Immediately, Tower Well being is refocusing on its core strengths throughout the Route 422 hall of Berks, Western Montgomery and Chester counties, and we’ll proceed partnerships with main well being and educational organizations — together with Drexel College, Penn Medication and Acadia Healthcare — to bolster the supply and entry of care all through the area.
As we proceed Tower’s monetary turnaround, we’re starting to see the outcomes of everybody’s collective efforts, however we nonetheless have a lot work to do to really succeed with our new strategic course. We’re dedicated to doing simply that to ensure the top-quality well being care this group has come to rely on from Studying Hospital will proceed for many years forward.
I’m drawing on my 36 years of expertise in banking and finance — and my seven years on the board — to prioritize our dedication to prime quality care, strengthen our operational efficiency, and improve worker engagement, workforce stability and continued compassionate care throughout your entire well being system.
We’re already constructing momentum: At Studying Hospital, these adjustments are being led by Dr. Charles Barbera, the primary doctor to function the hospital’s president and CEO. He understands, as I do, {that a} hospital is a part of the group cloth — with well being and financial impacts far past its partitions.
In our state, one in 9 jobs is supported by a hospital, in keeping with the Hospital Well being System Affiliation of Pennsylvania. Right here in Berks County, Studying Hospital serves as the most important well being care employer — with greater than 7,400 group members.
The brand new Drexel College School of Medication at Tower Well being campus, lower than a mile away from the hospital, is already attracting top-tier expertise and constructing a future pipeline of medical doctors within the area.
It may be simple to take a look at the numbers and overlook concerning the human affect of well being care. As a lifetime resident of Berks County, I do know that most individuals within the space have obtained remedy on the hospital or watched a cherished one obtain care right here not less than as soon as of their lives.
That human duty — to our family members, pals, and neighbors — represents the guts and soul of Tower Well being. We’re working to succeed in group members with compassionate, modern and equitable care past the partitions of our buildings, and this vital work will proceed.
In Studying and Pottstown, our Avenue Medication program gives main and preventative care to these liable to or presently experiencing homelessness. At Phoenixville Hospital, our lengthy participation within the Challenge SEARCH internship program has supplied work expertise to college students with developmental or mental challenges, equipping them for careers in well being care and different industries. Pottstown Hospital is working to extend entry to wholesome meals by a student-run natural farm, in partnership with GreenAllies. And shortly, we’ll be launching a Cell Mammography Coach, geared up with state-of-the-art screening know-how to take away transportation limitations for breast most cancers screenings.
Trying to the longer term, we launched a complete report in July — 2022 Neighborhood Well being Wants Evaluation — figuring out 4 precedence areas: entry to equitable care, behavioral well being and well being training and prevention, and well being fairness. This was the end result of an intensive course of participating greater than 4,000 group members with the aim to grasp our distinctive well being and social wants. Led by Desha Dickson, Tower Well being’s vp of Range, Fairness and Inclusion, and Neighborhood Wellness, planning is underway with our group companions at every hospital, which will probably be accomplished in November and shared publicly.
Our native well being care system and group share a singular relationship, which we’ve seen proudly on show over the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. I watched our group rise to assist well being care staff, going above and past to supply tangible assist at a time when assets had been restricted.
Like so many others, I’ve an immense sense of pleasure on this group and a deep dedication to it. Whereas there are actually challenges forward, I’m honored to serve on our board, alongside many others who share the identical ardour and dedication, and I look ahead to what we are able to obtain collectively for our area.
Meg Mueller is Chair of the Tower Well being Board and Senior Govt Vice President and Head of Business Banking at Fulton Financial institution.
