Chester County Medicine Summer 2021 - 29

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LCH has grown to keep pace with the local population
growth, increasing from 4,043 unduplicated patients served in
2015 to 8,192 unduplicated patients just four years later. It
grew from one location in Kennett Square to three sites, and
now LCH boasts a Kennett Square Health Center, an Oxford
Health Center, and a centrally located West Grove specialty care
site, encompassing a Women's Health Center, a Pediatric Center,
and a Dental Center.
LCH's providers are a mix of doctors and nurse practitioners,
who are supported by RNs, MAs, and Member Relations
Specialists (LCH's title for an expanded function receptionist).
A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and four Behavioral Health
Consultants (all bilingual) are on hand to provide LCH patients
with in-house care that is integrated with their physical health
care. A team of nine Social Assistance workers offer free,
bilingual case management, referral services, benefits enrollment
assistance, and problem-solving help to patients, including
assisting with barriers to accessing specialty care from other
providers. LCH's social assistance services also include legal
consultations with a part-time attorney, job seeking support, and
a range of adult educational opportunities.
All of these services are tracked and managed on a central
electronic healthcare system. Patients have a seamless experience,
with a single record in the system including all services received
at LCH, including dental and women's health. By eliminating
the barriers to high quality care and addressing the social
determinants of health, we assure our patients a better health
care experience and a true medical home. This care also comes
at an affordable cost. LCH accepts most private insurance,
public insurance (Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP) and uninsured
patients. Uninsured patients pay for care on a sliding fee scale
depending on their household income and family size, and no
one is ever turned away due to inability to pay.
For our patients, this model means successful management
of health conditions that are commonplace in our patient
population: hypertension, diabetes, depression and anxiety.
For our providers, the model provides peace of mind that each
patient's needs are being met by a caring team across a range
of services. " One of our strengths is our ability to facilitate a
patient's care outside the practice itself, " says Dr. Paula Brenn of
LCH's Pediatric Center. " As a physician at LCH, I feel better
knowing that if a patient needs help with finding a specialist,
scheduling an appointment, arranging transportation to the
appointment, or receiving quality interpretation during the visit,
our team can help with that. I can be confident that the patient
will get the care he or she needs. "
During the pandemic, LCH was an even more crucial
resource to its community. " I am proud to say that LCH has
been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic from the
start, " says Ronan Gannon, LCH's Chief Executive Officer.
" Our staff adjusted continually to the changing circumstances:
revamping our sites and workflows for optimal safety, launching
telemedicine as an option for care, and creating an outdoor
medical unit for COVID-19 testing. As soon as the vaccine
became available, we were a key hub for vaccinating our patients
and the general community. "
In addition to in-office vaccination clinics, LCH conducts
outreach into the community, an activity that has always been
an integral part of LCH's services. Pre-pandemic, LCH teams
went out to area mushroom farms and other locations to provide
on-site wellness checks, dental screenings, and flu shots. In the
past year, LCH partnered with the Pennsylvania Department
of Health and the Chester County Health Department to
administer vaccines to farmworkers in their place of work.
Gannon notes, " Some of the farmworkers work long days six or
seven days a week, and that doesn't leave much time for medical
appointments. By going out to their workplaces, we can offer
screenings that can identify health issues before they cause
serious problems, and our providers can encourage follow-up
care when it's needed. The farms welcome us with open arms
because they are invested in a healthy workforce, so it really is a
win-win. "
" This is just such an inspiring place to work, " says Dr. Joseph
Orraca-Tetteh of LCH's Women's Health Center. " The sites are
beautiful and well appointed, the staff are wonderful to work
with, and I feel really supported as a provider. I also know that
many of the patients I see have no other option for care, and it
makes me feel good to know they're getting excellent care that
they can afford. There's no question that we're making southern
Chester County a better place. "
LCH is an inspiring place to work in a beautiful setting,
in the middle of a warm and welcoming community. LCH
is currently seeking a Medical Director to lead its health
programs and focus on patient service and population health
quality. Interested candidates should reach out to Margarita
Garay Zarco, Director of Human Resources, at mgarayzarco@
lchservices.org.
SUMMER 2021 | CHESTER COUNTY Medicine 29
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Chester County Medicine Summer 2021

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