Hospital recognized for baby program

PHOENIXVILLE » The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) has recognized Phoenixville Hospital — Tower Health with an achievement award for its Healthy Baby Program: Improving Access and Care for Underserved Pregnant Women.

The program was recently chosen by the organization as a Community Champions Award winner. A total of 12 projects were selected from 131 submissions. Winners were chosen for their work and innovation in community health projects, quality improvement efforts and operational efficiencies.

In early 2015, Phoenixville Hospital began exploring the need for prenatal care for underserved women in the community.

The Healthy Baby program gives women access to healthcare and bilingual navigation services in their own community. In addition to reducing travel, the hospital’s program is offered at discounted cost. While offered to all underserved women in the community, the targeted initial outreach was the Latino population. The hospital service area is a very diverse community with a growing Spanish speaking population, according to a press release.

“We are proud to offer the Healthy Baby program to underserved women in the community who might not otherwise receive these vital services,” Steve Tullman, Phoenixville Hospital president and CEO, said in a press release. He congratulated Barbara O’Connor, Phoenixville Hospital’s director of community health education and outreach and her team. “This award is a testament to their tireless efforts in developing this program and providing needed care for local mothers and their children.”

The first patient enrolled in the program in the summer of 2015. Since then, Phoenixville Hospital has provided prenatal, delivery and post-partum care to women in the community, “thus improving maternal and child health.” More than 1,000 women have enrolled in the Healthy Baby Program and there have been over 800 deliveries to date.

“The success of the Healthy Baby program is due to a collaboration with the hospital, obstetrical practice and supporting community organizations,” the release stated.

The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s Achievement Awards program has recognized Pennsylvania hospital excellence since 1978. Entries for this year’s awards were evaluated by a 16-judge panel. The panelists — from Pennsylvania and across the nation — represented the public and private sectors, business organizations, consumer groups and renowned health care quality institutes.

“Especially in light of the extraordinary challenges that COVID-19 has presented Pennsylvania’s

hospital community, we are pleased to honor the recipients of the 2020 HAP Achievement Awards,” Andy Carter, Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s president and chief executive officer, said in the release. “These outstanding projects demonstrate the tireless commitment to excellence that Pennsylvania’s hospital community embodies each and every day.”

Phoenixville Hospital’s winning team will be recognized at the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s 2020 Patient Safety and Quality Symposium, which will be held virtually Sept. 9-10.

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Healthy Baby Program was implemented in 2015, and is administered by the hospital’s community health education and outreach department. From left are: Mai Zubrow, bilingual patient representative; Karen Spector, BSN, RN, community health nurse; Barb O’Connor, MSN, RN, CDCES, director of community health education & outreach; Maria Garcia Alvarez, bilingual patient representative; and Brunilda Vazquez, bilingual patient representative.