Over the past year and a half, much of our attention and energy here at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) has been laser-focused on providing compassionate care to all patients who come through our doors.
As we move into Fall 2021, I’m excited to share the ways we have expanded our capacity for care, both physically with new construction and locations in South Jersey, and by expanding our offerings in a range of disciplines, notably in breast cancer and digestive and liver health.
We’ve made a big investment in developing a comprehensive Breast program at PPMC. Modeled after the other comprehensive cancer programs in the health system, the breast program at PPMC will provide care from start to finish for all patients: from mammograms and other screenings, to treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, to reconstructive plastic surgery.
I am especially thrilled to welcome Leisha Elmore, MD, MSHP, from Washington University, and Mary Mahler, MD, from the University of Toronto, to round out the program.
Across the way, Penn Medicine University City (PMUC) at 3737 Market Street is now home to the Digestive and Liver Health Center, formally housed in Wright-Saunders, whose principal aim is to expand access to screenings like colonoscopies and endoscopies, and other diagnostic care, while continuing to provide consistent, high-level care.
Access to these preventive screenings are especially important, as the American Cancer Society warns that colorectal cancer is now the second deadliest cancer in the nation, and it disproportionately threatens Black Americans. Black patients are 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 40 percent more likely to die from the disease when compared to white patients. This new GI center provides convenient access to early screenings, as well as to the advanced GI surgical and oncological interventions in the hospital, with the hopes that community members can get all of the care they need in one place.
In keeping with the health system’s overall strategy to meet patients where they are across the region and offer services close to home, we also continue to build our presence in South Jersey, with our amazing facilities in Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel and Sewell. We hope to continue to expand to meet the needs of all our neighbors in those communities, and provide these patients with the same level of care and feeling of community patients receive at our West Philadelphia locations.
Finally, we will ensure ease of access to our West Philadelphia campus with the construction of a new parking garage. The new garage will be at the current site of the 3910 building and parking lot. The 3910 building has been completely emptied and demolition will begin in October, lasting about 10 weeks. The new garage will be constructed over the next 18 to 24 months, and when finished, will have over 1,400 parking spaces, and will provide more amenities to staff and patients, like a covered pathway to the hospital and valet parking.
We are also committed to expanding our capacity for care by ensuring that no matter who or where we are, the care we provide is equitable. We have also renewed our commitment to addressing systemic racism and cultivating a culture of diversity, inclusion, and equity both on campus and in the Philadelphia community. It’s important for us to remain vigilant in practicing antiracism in our interactions with our colleagues, with our patients, and with our community.
I am so grateful to everyone who courageously shared their experience and remarks on panels and in town halls. Your candor is an invaluable contribution to our efforts. It’s only with this honesty and vulnerability that we can expose disparities and move towards eliminating them, making quality health accessible to all.
To this end, Richard C. Wender, MD, joined PPMC last summer as the Chair of Family Medicine and Community Health, with an exciting vision to expand the Department’s clinical and non-clinical health services, educational opportunities and research, with a focus on elevating engagement within our West Philadelphia community to address health disparities.
To be sure, these developments are exciting and something to celebrate. But in order to rise to the opportunities ahead, we need to care for ourselves. I know many staff members suffer from feelings of burnout after one of the most stressful and painful years on record. I want to remind everyone to take advantage of the incredible resources available to all staff at Penn Medicine.
To start, UPHS Employee Assistance Program is available 24/7 to assist employees. More information is available at https://www.med.upenn.edu/psychiatry/pbhcs.html.
Next, an excellent resource is PennCOBALT, which offers Penn psychologists, psychotherapists, non-denominational chaplains, resilience coaches, and peers for one-on-one, non-judgmental support sessions, as well as mindfulness. To date, 1 in 4 employees have visited PennCOBALT and expressed high satisfaction. More than 10,000 unique users have visited PennCOBALT and more than 1,300 self-scheduled appointments with a provider.
I also encourage staff to take advantage of all the well-being benefits with Wellfocused.
The health of patients and community are important, but your health – both physical and mental – are also of utmost importance. Pease don’t hesitate to speak to your manager about assessing your workload and identifying ways to create more balance.