A Letter from the President and Chief Executive Officer
At Crozer-Keystone Health System (CKHS), we are committed to caring for area families not only with the latest health care technology and procedures, but also with the highest level of compassion and individual attention. The families we care for are not just our patients, but our neighbors, relatives, and friends.
Over the past year, more people than ever before sought their health care through our five hospitals—Crozer, Springfield, Taylor, Delaware County Memorial, and Community—and the Crozer-Keystone Health Network of physician practices. Families know they can come to us for routine needs, such as annual physicals, immunizations, and cancer screenings, as well as for more specialized care, such as cardiac testing, cancer treatment, emergency care, or fertility services. The range of CKHS specialties and the expertise of our physicians, nurses, and clinical staff are truly extraordinary.
CKHS is also proud to serve as an important source of economic stability and growth for the surrounding community. With more than 7,000 employees, CKHS is the largest employer in Delaware County, and more than 80 percent of our payroll stays within county limits. We offer positions that support families, and we encourage our employees to continue their educations—adding another significant benefit to the local community.
CKHS works hard to update existing facilities and build new facilities when needed. Recently we opened new Emergency Departments, outpatient centers, and critical care units. Beyond meeting our community’s health care needs, these construction projects have a major impact on the local economy, creating new jobs and business opportunities for many firms throughout our region.
As part of our commitment to provide the best possible care to patients, we are constantly reviewing our quality of care in a quest to do even better. The best example of this is our Evidence-Based Medicine Program, which works to ensure that our care reflects best practices as defined in the medical literature. This can mean tracking the care of heart attack or surgical patients to make sure key steps are followed; ensuring that elderly patients are receiving vaccinations to prevent them from contracting flu or pneumonia; and following recommended practices for preventing hospital-acquired infections. CKHS also participates in many voluntary quality-reporting programs—yet another source of valuable input on how we are doing and where we can improve.
Our efforts are being recognized by national organizations such as the VHA, an alliance of more than 2,200 health care organizations that focuses on helping its members deliver safe, effective, and cost-efficient care. Over the past year, several of our critical care units have received VHA awards for excellence in glucose control and ventilator care—two key components of care for critically ill patients. In addition, our hospitals have been recognized for excellence in stroke care. Taylor Hospital received the American Stroke Association’s Bronze Award for Excellence in Stroke Care. The Joint Commission awarded Delaware County Memorial Hospital its Disease-Specific Care Certification in Stroke, making it an Advanced Primary Stroke Center.
Even as we care for the patients who come through our doors every day, CKHS is committed to understanding the broader health needs of our community. Since 1992, we have used the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation’s biannual Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey to track our community’s major public health challenges. In direct response to this evidence and to data from other sources, we develop programs designed to address the most pressing concerns. We work in partnership with churches, schools, and businesses, taking advantage of their knowledge and insights about our communities. For example, CKHS has partnered with Widener University, the State of Pennsylvania, and the CJ Foundation for SIDS to reduce infant deaths related to family bed sharing by educating families and providing them with infant cribs. CKHS has an award-winning Pre-Medical Careers Program that brings talented high school students to Taylor Hospital and Crozer-Chester Medical Center to explore career opportunities in the medical field. We also partner with the Chester Upland School District to sponsor the Health Careers High School. These are just a few of literally dozens of programs that help expand our reach far beyond the hospital room and doctor’s office.
Our vision is not only to meet the health care needs of our community, but also to participate as an active and involved citizen. We make a point of meeting with local officials and town councils to discuss CKHS goals, and we involve local citizens on our volunteer boards. We advocate for our staff and the public on important health care issues, taking our concerns to local, state, and federal representatives. In partnership with Widener University, CKHS is sponsoring an Employee-Assisted Home Program to help our employees buy homes in the areas surrounding Crozer-Chester Medical Center—an effort that will help revitalize the local community.
At Crozer-Keystone Health System, we aim to participate, to serve, and to continue our tradition of excellence. We invite you to get to know us better.