Background History

In 1970, the boards of Memorial Hospital (originally Homeopathic Hospital) and Pottstown Hospital agreed to merge and construct a new facility, known as Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. Within a year, groundbreaking was held for the seven-story, 300-bed facility that still stands at Armand Hammer Boulevard. This not-for-profit institution served residents in Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties for medical, surgical, OB/GYN, pediatrics, coronary care and intensive care, oncology, and in-patient and out-patient services. In 2002, the Board of Directors and management of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center examined the hospital’s ability to fund the capital investments required to continue providing the high level of care that the community had come to expect. Due to the reductions in reimbursements and the competition, they determined that a change of business strategy was necessary. The board and management evaluated other similar regions’ solutions and recognized the benefits that would emerge by being acquired by a fiscally stronger healthcare entity. Many options were investigated, and it was determined that the opportunity provided by Community Health Systems would most benefit the Pottstown area. In July 2003, the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation was founded as the result of the sale of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center to Community Health Systems. Today, with $84.8 million in net assets designated for enhancing the health and wellness of Pottstown area residents, the Foundation serves the residents of Pottstown borough and those within a 10-mile radius of the borough. The Foundation uses earnings from assets to fund program grants to be deployed through non-profit Section 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services within the designated Pottstown area.

Foundation Goals

As part of our strategic plan, the Foundation has established four long-term goals:

Reduce behavioral risks:

• Empower individuals to make healthier lifestyle choices by providing information, programs, and support in several areas, including diet and exercise; drug and alcohol; mental/spiritual health and stress management
• Reduce behavioral risks from prenatal through high school by sponsoring health education programs for children and their parents.
• Build on social networks of religious and other community organizations to support outreach programs related to health and wellness with particular interest in healthy lifestyles.

Improve Access to Medical Services:

• Improve access to health services by providing information to support seamless access to care.
• Strengthen existing agencies involved in distributing health care and disease prevention information.
• Support Pottstown’s health center, Community Health & Dental Care, especially with regard to its education and prevention programs.
• Improve access to preventive services including screenings and vaccines.
• Improve access to health services by enhancing transportation or convenience of the services.

Enhance Formal and Informal Supports:

• Support the infrastructure needs and organizational effectiveness of key community not-for-profit organizations that provide preventive health programs.

Improve Physical and Social Environment:

• Encourage physical activities in the region by improving the recreational infrastructure.
• Support efforts to improve environmental health conditions caused by local pollution sources.
• Reinforce the social strength and mutual support of family units and caregivers to address issues such as distressed teens, care for the elderly, chronically ill and homebound, domestic violence and encourage an atmosphere of individual safety and non-violence.