Since its inception in 1990, Crozer-Keystone Health System has been assessing and monitoring the health status of Delaware County’s 550,000 residents. Based on the results of biannual community health needs assessments, CKHS focuses on high-priority issues such as domestic violence, fitness, infant mortality prevention, immunization, nutrition, prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and smoking cessation.
CKHS also developed a Senior Health Services department that is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of elderly residents in the county, including the implementation of dedicated senior phone line, 1-800-CKHS-KEY. For younger residents, the health system conducts school-based substance-abuse prevention and outreach programs–touching 15,000 students a year–and regularly hosts free health fairs and seminars for the members of the community.
Prime examples of CKHS’s commitment to community health are its involvement in the Wellness Center, a school-based primary care center for middle school children in conjunction with the Chester-Upland School District, and ChesPenn Health Services, federally funded community health centers that provide adult and pediatric primary care and dentistry services at Community Hospital and other locations in Chester. Supplementing these services is the so-called “One Stop Shop” at Community Hospital, which is home to more than 20 interconnected health and human services and the Crozer-Keystone Healthy Start program for underserved pregnant women and their families.
For seniors, CKHS offers Senior Health Services to help individuals and families cope with the many health and lifestyle changes faced with aging. CKHS's dedicated professionals assist seniors, their physicians, family, and caregivers in accessing the quality programs and services offered throughout the health system and the community.
The Community Health Education department also provides community outreach and health screenings through health fairs and instructional classes at CKHS churches, hospitals, schools, malls, and other locations throughout the community.
The health system also supports national health priorities, including the federal government’s Healthy People 2010 goals, and has undertaken programs to reduce health disparities in the community and address the issue of low health literacy among patients.
By fostering community partnerships, CKHS continues to make Delaware County a healthier place to live and work.