Healthcare data and access now available to Greater Coatesville community

The Alliance for Health Equity, in collaboration with the Greater Coatesville Hospital Closure Group and partial funding from the Chester County Health Department released health educational materials to greater Coatesville residents on where to get care, where to find a doctor or medical home, and where to find free or low-cost health insurance and discounts. The purpose is to distribute information to the greater Coatesville community on where youth, adults, and families can receive healthcare services following the recent hospital closures that increased inequity and inaccessibility of healthcare. The Health Education materials, offered in both English and Spanish, were created by the Greater Coatesville Hospital Closure group, composed of 20 local and county organizations who are developing strategies to decrease inequities relating to healthcare, minimize the disruption of health services in the region and build an integrated healthcare system for all.

Darshana Shyamsunder, chair of the education and advocacy health group and senior director of community impact services at United Way of Chester County stated, "These educational efforts are only the first step to support Greater Coatesville residents on where to find the most appropriate care for minor, urgent, and long-term health needs, where to find a doctor or medical home regardless of healthcare insurance, and where to seek free or low-cost health insurance and discounts on primary prevention care, brand-name prescriptions, dental care, and retail clinic visits." All materials can be accessed here.

The Greater Coatesville Hospital Closure Group is in the process of learning from Greater Coatesville community residents through a community survey to better understand how the current and future health needs have shifted as a result of the recent hospital closures. Jeanne Franklin, director of the Chester County Health Department stated, "We are eagerly awaiting the results of the community survey to help our Health Department staff and the future hospital owners understand the priority health needs of residents, as well as recommendations that will support an equitable healthcare system for everyone." The Community Survey remains open and Greater Coatesville residents are encouraged to complete the confidential survey by Aug. 31.

Nicholas Torres, chief operating officer and incoming interim CEO of The Alliance for Health Equity said, "The Alliance remains committed to an equitable Greater Coatesville Integrated Health System and will continue to provide the infrastructure to sustain the Greater Coatesville Hospital Closure Group, support continuing education and advocacy for residents, and allocate resources to meet essential healthcare access gaps."

The Alliance will convene community residents in its next Let's Talk: Community Healthcare town hall in September focused on codesigning solutions with Greater Coatesville residents based upon the results and recommendations of the community health survey. Participating organizations in the Greater Coatesville Hospital Closure group include The Alliance for Health Equity, City of Coatesville, United Way of Chester County, Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., Transportation Management Association of Chester County, Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania American Water Company, The Chester County Community Foundation, Community Volunteers in Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Consortium, The Office of US Representative Chrissy Houlahan, Chester County Health Department, Chester County Department of Human Services, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, ChesPenn FQHC, Chester County Commissioners, Chester County Hospital, Coatesville Center for Community Health, The Office of US Representative Dan Williams, and the Chester County Economic Development Council.