Community Health Improvement

WellSpan Health reaches beyond the walls of its hospitals to improve the health of the communities it serves.  Community Health Improvement provides leadership and resources to address health status by identifying the determining factors that influence lifestyle and healthcare access issues. 

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity, its impact on the development of chronic diseases, and the costs associated with its treatment are a pressing problem for today's society.  It has been stated that this may be the first generation of young Americans, born today, who will have a shorter life span than their parents or grandparents if childhood obesity rates are not revised.  Realizing the impact on our communities, WellSpan Health developed and implemented its coordinated, multi-faceted Growing Healthy prevention strategy to promote healthy eating and physical activity in York and Adams counties. Growing Healthy consists of four priority areas - communities, early childhood sites, healthcare settings, and schools - and is aligned with national recommendations to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity. 

Access to Care

Numerous barriers - such as culture, education, income, language, race and ethnicity, and lack of insurance - often make it difficult for individuals to obtain needed health care services.  By identifying and reducing these barriers, WellSpan Health is committed to meeting healthcare needs by offering preventative health screenings in the community, empowering people to understand and make healthy behavior change, and connecting individuals and families to a medical home

• Your Best Resource for Active Living:
  Lifestyle habits are the major factors affecting a person's health. Community Health Improvement provides services designed to increase individual knowledge, skills and confidence to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Community Programs help families make time for healthy choices and stay motivated. Program topics include time management, stress management, active living, healthy eating, weight management and behavior modification.

• Step-counters, strength bands and in-home walking videos are available for purchase to help individuals maintain an active lifestyle. Call the offices for more information.

SAFE KIDS York County
WellSpan responds to injuries that are the leading cause of suffering or death in children by partnering with the Safe Kids Worldwide Campaign. WellSpan Health also serves as the lead organization for Safe Kids York County and Safe Kids Adams County.

Cribs for Kids York County 
In conjunction with WellSpan, Cribs for Kids developed the Safe Sleep Initiative at York Hospital to help eliminate preventable deaths due to unsafe sleep practices.  The organization distributes information on SIDS and safe sleep practices and provides a pack'n play to families in need.