The Alliance for Health Equity, in collaboration with the Greater Coatesville Hospital Closure Group and partial funding from the Chester County Health Department, has 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 and are 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.

All materials can be accessed here.  

Darshana Shyamsunder, Chair of the Education and Advocacy Health Group and Senior Director of Community Impact Services at United Way of Chester County said, “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.”  

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 said, “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.”  

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 co-designing solutions with Greater Coatesville residents based upon the results and recommendations of the community health survey.