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Kensington Hospital Opens Urgent Care Practice In Response Governor Rendell’s ‘Prescription for Pennsylvania’

March 28, 2007
Philadelphia, PA – In response to the ever-growing crisis in over-utilization of hospital emergency rooms, Governor Ed Rendell earlier this year announced his "Prescription for Pennsylvania" proposal, which requires hospitals to build urgent-care centers for non-emergency care.

Families near Kensington Hospital, in North Philadelphia, will no longer have to endure long waits in an Emergency Room to receive urgent care, not considered an emergency. Through a partnership with Keystone Mercy Health Plan and Kensington Hospital, members of the plan will be to attend the new After Hours Urgent Care Practice at Kensington Hospital.

The After Hours Urgent Care Practice at Kensington Hospital will greatly alleviate the crippling burden that Emergency Rooms are experiencing. The service will be available after normal office hours and on Saturday afternoons.

The After Hours Urgent Care Practice at Kensington Hospital will be one of the first in the Philadelphia region. Many patients with non-emergency medical problems traditionally seek treatment in ERs because they have difficulty getting care elsewhere. The initiative will curb unnecessary trips to be the ER, and provide quality health care to the Keystone Mercy members living in the Kensington community. The service will be available after normal office hours and on Saturday afternoons.

“We are proud of the partnership with Kensington Hospital and the increased access to quality of care the After Hours Urgent Care Practice at Kensington Hospital will provide for Keystone Mercy members in the community,” said Anne Morrissey, President, Pennsylvania Managed Care, Keystone Mercy Health Plan. “This is yet another example of our mission in action to help people get care, stay well and build healthy communities.”

Urgent Care is NOT a replacement for a primary care provider. Urgent care is treatment for a condition that requires prompt attention, when the doctor’s office is closed, but does not pose an immediate, serious health threat. Ear infections, mild asthma attacks, and sprained ankles are examples of conditions that urgent care staff can treat.

At present, Pennsylvanians use the ER 11% more than the average American. Pennsylvanians’ use of the ER is growing twice as fast as the U.S. average.

The After Hours Urgent Care Practice at Kensington Hospital is scheduled to open on Monday, April 2, 2007 with a grand opening street festival Saturday, March 31, 2007. Kensington Hospital is located at 136 West Diamond Street.

Keystone Mercy Health Plan, a health care ministry of the Sisters of Mercy in affiliation with Keystone First, Inc., is the largest Medical Assistance managed care organization in Pennsylvania, serving more than 270,000 Medical Assistance recipients.  Keystone Mercy's mission is to help people get care, stay well and build healthy communities. For more information about Keystone Mercy Health Plan, please visit www.keystonemercy.com.

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