Mission

“Compelled by the love of God in Christ Jesus, in cooperation with the Church and others, Esperanza Health Center is a multi-cultural ministry providing holistic healthcare to the Latino and underserved communities of Philadelphia.”

At Esperanza Health Center, we seek to provide high-quality, affordable health care in Jesus’ name, and we are committed to the promotion of our community’s health and well-being.

We do this by:

• Providing holistic care for our patients—care that looks at the needs of the whole person, including physical, social, emotional and spiritual well-being.
• Ensuring that care is available and affordable to all, without regard for economic or social status or ability to pay.
• As a Patient-Centered Medical Home, developing partnerships with each of our patients to pursue total health.
• Working together with the Church and local organizations to bring healing and wholeness to our North Philadelphia community.

Esperanza Health Center’s new tagline expresses the standard we’ve had from the beginning: Compassionate Care for Everyone. Jesus modeled what this looks like, even when it was not acceptable in the eyes of the leaders of the day.

But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! (Luke 6:8-10 NLT)

Like then, today is a day to save lives–in the midst of chaos and uncertainty in healthcare, and especially in our beloved communities of North Philadelphia. Over the 36 years of Esperanza Health Center’s existence, many things have changed, but the reason we exist remains the same. We now have more facilities, more staff, and provide more services in more locations, serving more people. But our mission and purpose are the same.

We started in 1989 with a commitment to remove language barriers by providing bilingual care in English and Spanish to our federally-designated community in need of health care. There are more who live in our community today who do not have health care access. We are reaching deeper and further so that everyone in our service area who wants and needs medical care can access it.

During this time, we have tackled additional barriers that thwart healthy living. Our care extends beyond the exam room, where medical conditions are treated, to spaces where illness is prevented. In addition to comprehensive primary, dental, and behavioral health care, our mission is accomplished through activities that promote health: fitness and wellness programs, multiple food classes and resources, legal support for issues that impact health, partnerships with community groups for a variety of programs, sharing our spaces with neighbors, and more.

After Jesus healed the man with the deformed hand, He proclaimed in verse 36, “You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” Today–and every day going forward–is the day to save lives, to restore health, and to reflect God’s love to all of our neighbors. This is what compassionate care for everyone looks like. This is how we fulfill the mission of Esperanza Health Center.