Four New Clinicians Join Esperanza!
We praise God for our newest primary medical care providers who have joined our staff since this summer (photos from L to R): family practice physicians Amaris Allan, MD and Charlene Chen, MD, nurse practitioner Katie Baker, CRNP, MSN, and pediatrician Tara Kinra, MD.
To read more about each of our new clinicians, please see page 2 of our latest Message of Hope newsletter (click here to view).
Summer Medical Institute Wrap-Up
This past July, Esperanza hosted the Summer Medical Institute (SMI) in partnership with Medical Campus Outreach, a ministry of Tenth Presbyterian Church, and three local churches: Urban Hope, Lighthouse Family Center and Community Church, and In the Light Ministries. A group of 13 health professions students together with volunteers knocked on over 1,800 doors in North Philadelphia, provided health screens and integrated faith and practice by sharing the Gospel through conversation and prayer with those they met. You can read students’ testimonies about their SMI experiences at the SMI blog site. Said one student: “I knew that medicine was secondary to God before coming to SMI in my head, but I feel like after this whole experience, that truth has become a reality in my heart as well.”
Esperanza Recognized for Quality
Earlier this year, Esperanza received recognition as a Level 2 Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) from the National Council on Quality Assurance (NCQA). The NCQA defines a patient-centered medical home as “a model of care that strengthens the physician-patient relationship by replacing episodic care with coordinated care and a long-term healing relationship.” These principles are aligned with Esperanza’s commitment to provide high quality, whole-person care to each of our patients. We hope to attain Level 3 PCMH recognition, the highest status, by mid-2014.
In August, we were again recognized by PPRNet as a “High Performer.” This ranking is based on over 50 measures of clinical quality that places Esperanza among the top 25 percent of all clinics that use the Practice Partner electronic health records system.
A Love for Kids and for Reading!
Ask Geneva Smith why she volunteers to read to children in Esperanza’s patient waiting areas, and her answer is simple: “I love kids! I want to see them happy.” Since last year, Geneva has faithfully volunteered at our Hunting Park and Fifth Street sites, and she’s been doing the same thing for more than 10 years as a volunteer with the City of Philadelphia’s Foster Grandparent Program. Kids just love to sit and read with Geneva. She shared the story of how one child told her after her doctor’s visit, “I want you to read to me, and then you’ll give me a book!” A bit surprised, Geneva replied, “And just how do you know that?” The little girl explained: “It’s because you gave me a book the last time I was here!”
Link to Susan Post’s Chapter in New Book
Esperanza’s executive director, Susan Post, MBA, DMin is a contributor to a new book, Reformed Means Missional: Following Jesus into the World (Samuel T. Logan, Jr., Editor, Copyright© 2013 by The World Reformed Fellowship), recently published by New Growth Press.
Through the end of October, you can read Susan’s chapter, “A Missional Approach to the Health of the City” online for free by clicking here.
Thanks for your continued support of the ministry of Esperanza Health Center! Through your tax-deductible gift, you will enable us to provide medical and dental care for our uninsured patients, spiritual care and other vital services that are not covered by medical care reimbursements. To make a secure online donation to Esperanza, please click here.