DuBois –Two Penn Highlands Healthcare hospitals received generous grants from the A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust.
Penn Highlands DuBois
Through a $150,000 grant, Penn Highlands Healthcare will be able to fund scholarships for medical professionals to attract employment to Penn Highlands DuBois.
The healthcare crisis in our country has been debilitating on rural healthcare, and Penn Highlands DuBois is no exception. Currently, there is a lack of state and federal funding for healthcare, staffing shortages, travel nursing expenses and rising inflation, among the many other issues that hospitals are facing. Hospitals are working to overcome adversity, by instituting new workforce development programs that include partnerships with local schools. Schools in partnership include Butler Community College at Brockway, Brockway Center for Arts & Technology, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, Clearfield County Career and Technology Center, Mount Aloysius College and Nightingale College. This retention of trained students and partnership will grow the workforce at Penn Highlands DuBois and help to maintain the high quality of care provided to patients in our community.
For more information about student and graduate opportunities at Penn Highlands Healthcare, visit www.phhealthcare.org/careers.
Penn Highlands Elk
With the $125,000 grant from the A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust, Penn Highlands Elk along with Penn Highlands Elk Pinecrest Manor, will purchase a non-emergent patient transport van to fulfill a transportation barrier for patients and residents living in Elk County.
For vulnerable populations, transportation can be unaffordable. Lack of transportation options can leave a nursing home patient in a hospital beyond a normal discharge time. Patients are often brought in for emergency care by EMS but have no means of transportation back home. Lack of transportation can also cause patients to miss appointments, delay filling prescriptions or not seek emergency care, potentially leading to worsening health conditions.
The non-emergent transportation van would be a part of the Penn Highlands Healthcare (PHH) Connect fleet, and be utilized in a coordinated transportation plan for patients of Penn Highlands Elk and residents of Penn Highlands Elk Pinecrest Manor. When patients are ready for discharge or in need of a ride to an appointment, PHHConnect acts as a single point of contact to arrange transport, paramedicine services, home medication delivery and follow-up care. These services work in synergy to improve patients’ throughput during their hospitalization and discharge process.
The A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust has been an integral supporter of Penn Highlands Healthcare. The Trust has helped fund advancements in patient care and keep access to healthcare close to home.
Anyone who wishes to support Penn Highlands Healthcare and help bring essential programs and services to the community can direct where their donation is used by visiting www.phhealthcare.org/donate.
