Reading Hospital Has Awarded Grants to Five Local Programs Working to Improve Community Health in Berks County

Reading Hospital's "Be Well Berks" Grant Program has awarded funding to five local programs that are addressing health priorities in the region. Be Well Berks, which will simultaneously fund and collaborate with the programs that received the grants, chose these five initiatives because they address priorities identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment - obesity, access to care, addiction and mental health. The programs that received grants are:

• Antietam Fit, a program to encourage high school students in the Antietam School District to become more active. Each student will receive a Fitbit, a device that captures a student's "steps" per day, and grade levels will compete to win "most steps" challenges. Healthy lifestyle curriculum also will be used.
• Berks Counseling Center will implement the "WHAM" project. The Whole Health Action Management project aims to close the gaps in the delivery of physical health and wellness programs for those with severe mental illness by engaging and training certified peer specialists.
• A Medical Interpreting Program, offered by Centro Hispano, will provide a Certified Medical Interpreter to a Tower Health Medical Group Primary Care Office. The intrepreter will enable better communication between Spanish-speaking patients and their provider.
• MidPenn Legal Services will implement the Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) program. MLP will provide assistance to eligible patients to address legal issues related to social determinants of health, such as landlord-tenant issues.
• New Journey Community Outreach, will increase the number of families and individuals served at their Reading location. NJCO will launch a health eating initiative that will include providing nutritious recipes, cooking demonstrations and weight and blood pressure checks.

Be Well Berks' mission is to improve the health and wellness of Berks County residents through thoughtful leadership, partnerships and community investment. The programs that received grants close gaps in medical care and address barriers to health for populations whose high-risk, vulnerable members have challenges such as chronic disease, substance abuse or mental illness.

"The Be Well Berks Grant Program reflects Reading Hospital's ongoing commitment to community wellness," said Desha Dickson, Associate Vice President, Community Wellness, Reading Hospital. "The aim is to fund and bring together community-based, nonprofit organizations in Berks County to collaborate on healthcare and human services and to develop approaches that make our community a healthier place to live."

Reading Hospital

Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.