Life changing is... making a real impact on local health

 

Orange Map Pin
Orange Map Pin

North Central Pennsylvania

Grey people silhouettes
Grey people silhouettes
Promoting Health and Wellbeing in Rural Communities
Promoting Health and Wellbeing in Rural Communities

 

Woman in a UPMC T shirt touching vegetables growing in a gardenIn 2021, UPMC and Weis Markets teamed up to launch “Healthy Susquehanna,” a regional educational campaign aimed at raising health awareness in the five-county region of north central Pennsylvania through social media. The campaign focuses on addressing chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, in Clinton, Lycoming, Northumberland, Potter, and Tioga counties.

Tapping into the organizations’ combined social media presence, Healthy Susquehanna offers local health news, affordable grocery shopping tips, and unique content from Weis and UPMC dietitians, including easy recipes, shopping experiences, and cooking demonstrations conveniently on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Baldwin Publishing, a Pennsylvania publisher of nutrition-focused content, will also contribute with engaging health and wellness content.

UPMC cares for a large share of high-need patients in north central Pennsylvania
UPMC cares for a large share of high-need patients in north central Pennsylvania

 

Improving Employee Wellbeing through the Healthy Partners Program
Improving Employee Wellbeing through the Healthy Partners Program

 

Healthy Partners A Provider-Powered Wellness SolutionHealthy Partners is an employer wellness program that provides information on health topics, screenings, and wellness activities to encourage healthy behaviors. To increase access, Healthy Partners offers a virtual option, which provides online educational videos, as well as a self-guided health and wellness program.

 

 

Supporting Community Athletics
Supporting Community Athletics

 

Baseball gameFor more than 20 years, UPMC in north central Pennsylvania has partnered with the Little League Baseball® World Series to provide medical services for fans and visitors, exclusive medical care and sports medicine services to World Series participants, and additional staffing and services to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all who attend.

This year, UPMC and Little League banded together to open a new Player Wellness Center at the Little League Complex. The Player Wellness Center is available 24/7 to the players, coaches, and managers during their time in Williamsport and features a waiting room, two exam rooms, three patient rooms, and an additional patient room fully outfitted with a private bathroom and overnight sleeping accommodations in case of the need for medical isolation.

 


Life changing is… enhancing access to care in rural areas


Bringing Care Directly to Patients' Homes
Bringing Care Directly to Patients' Homes

 

The Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team travels throughout the region to help administer COVID-19 vaccinations to first responders, seniors, homebound individuals, and underserved populations. The team also delivers care in the homes of high-risk patients — conducting exams, EKGs, and lab work, and relaying health information to primary care providers.

 

UPMC is addressing the need for health care access in the north central region of Pennsylvania by bringing world-class care to the communities it serves.
UPMC is addressing the need for health care access in the north central region of Pennsylvania by bringing world-class care to the communities it serves.

 

Expanding Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
Expanding Outpatient Behavioral Health Services

 

UPMC hospitals in North Central Pennsylvania are partnering closely with other community organizations in the area to expand access to behavioral health services and treatments for substance abuse. A comprehensive array of services includes:

  • Addiction Medicine: Working in partnership with UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, UPMC hospitals in North Central Pennsylvania established and expanded an Addiction Medicine Department, which helps monitor and treat opioid addiction and substance use within the community.
  • Warm Hand-off Program: UPMC Wellsboro has partnered with Harbor Counseling to help meet the needs of patients with substance use disorders, meeting with them in the Emergency Department and connecting them to community resources.

 

Enhancing Telemedicine Capabilities
Enhancing Telemedicine Capabilities

 

Doctors talking to a patient through a computerUPMC is expanding access to primary and specialty care in the following ways:

  • UPMC Wellsboro added inpatient telehealth services for its Endocrinology and Pediatric Emergency departments.

 

 

Reducing Transportation Barriers
Reducing Transportation Barriers

 

Residents in rural areas are frequently challenged to find affordable and reliable methods of transportation to and from health care appointments. To help improve care coordination, UPMC Wellsboro collaborated with Canyon Cab to develop a transportation program that provides patients with a free ride home from their Emergency Department visit.


Life changing is… investing in what matters to our communities


Access to Care and Navigation Resources
Behavioral Health
Prevention and Community-Wide Healthy Living
Chronic Disease Management

Enhancing the Health of Our CommunitiesEvery three years, UPMC works with local community partners and public health experts to identify actions and plans to improve community health in what is known as a Community Health Needs Assessment. Thousands of area residents and hundreds of community organizations help to identify the communities’ most pressing health needs.

For more information on UPMC’s impact in its communities, view the Regional Progress Report for north central Pennsylvania here.