Health, Fitness, Wellness, and Medical Issues tracks news about local hospitals, physicians’ practices, personal health, wellness, exercise, and nutritious dining in western Montgomery, eastern Berks, and northern Chester counties PA. It also follows medical issues we believe will be of interest to its readers.

In 2024

Regional Garden Contest Now Open to 11 Municipalities

The free “Regional Home Garden Contest,” sponsored by Mosaic Community Land Trust, Building A Better Boyertown, and the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, is under way. More area residents than ever can compete. Register by June 21. (May 3, 2024)

PV Library Hosts Teen Strength-Building Health Series

A new, six-week teen wellness education series is being offered at the Perkiomen Valley Library in Schwenksville. It’s intended to help young people grow stronger, both physically and mentally. (April 29,2024)

Pediatrician Arrives in Pottstown; Organ Donors Honored

A pediatric specialist with 25 years of experience has been named to the staff of Community Health and Dental Care. Tower Health hospitals in Pottstown and Phoenixville are encouraging organ donations. (April 25, 2024)

Pottstown NAACP, Ricketts Center Sponsor Friday Blood Drive

All blood donors are needed, and particularly Black and African-American donors, to participate Friday afternoon in a blood drive scheduled at Pottstown’s Ricketts Center, Beech Street. (April 17, 2024)

Advice as Allergy Season Starts Earlier, Lasts Longer

There’s more pollen in the air causing your nose to itch, your eyes to water, and all that sneezing! A variety of allergy specialists and medical practices explain why, and how to get some relief. (April 12, 2024)

Dr. Sharon Fleischer Joins Community Health & Dental

Family practice physician Dr. Sharon Fleischer was named Tuesday as among the newest staff members of the Community Health & Dental Care (CHDC) office at the Shoppes at Coventry, 351 W. Schuylkill Rd. (April 10, 2024)

Community Health Adds Sports Med Specialist, Pediatrician

The Schuylkill Road health center of Community Health & Dental Care has added a new staff member who is both a specialist in sports medicine and a board-certified pediatrician. Appointments are available now. (April 1, 2024)

Local Hospitals’ CEO Newell Hired by Temple Health System

Rich Newell, president and CEO of Pottstown and Phoenixville hospitals and credited with managing change there during Tower Health’s financial troubles, will take a similar position April 8 with Temple Health in Philadelphia. (March 21, 2024)

Ciresi Prepares State Legislation to Assist the Disabled

Pennsylvania now caps lifetime spending on technology that creates greater independence for disabled individuals. Rep. Joe Ciresi says its $10,000 amount should be raised. A non-profit contends the cap should be removed entirely. (March 17, 2024)

Local Officials to Visit Technology-Equipped Stowe Home

Assistive technology increasingly benefits disabled individuals by allowing them to live more independently in their homes. A visit to Stowe, scheduled Wednesday, allows state legislators to understand its impact. (March 12, 2024)

‘Supermarket Tour’ Offered by Giant Food, PMSI Team

Everyone shops for groceries, but probably few people “work” the grocery store … buying healthy foods while saving money and time. A tour offered by Giant Food and Pottstown Medical Specialists Inc. can show you how. (March 7, 2024)

Pellegrino New Medical Director at Phoenixville Free Clinic

After years of volunteer service to Phoenixville area patients in need, Dr. Andrea Pellegrino was named Wednesday as medical director of the Phoenixville Free Clinic on Church Street in the borough. (March 1, 2024)

All headlines link to articles published earlier in Travels With The Post
Top photo by Online Marketing on Unsplash, used under license

Earlier Stories In Full

CHOP Marks Anniversary at King of Prussia Pavilion

Friday, Jan. 26

KING OF PRUSSIA PA – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which operates local primary care offices in Lower Pottsgrove Township and Collegeville, recently observed the second anniversary of opening its Middleman Family Pavilion, 550 S. Goddard Blvd. (at right).

The pavilion offers care for a range of pediatric health specialties, including oncology, orthopaedics, plastic surgery, and adolescent medicine. It includes a suite of 6 operating rooms, a 56-bed medical-surgical unit, an 8-bed oncology unit, a 16-bed pediatric intensive care unit, and 98 inpatient rooms. It also is equipped with a 28-room emergency department dedicated to pediatric emergencies.

Most recently, in December 2023, the pavilion also opened an 18-bed Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. It is staffed by a team of neonatologists and advanced practice providers, and provides comprehensive care with additional non-urgent surgical capabilities.

For more information, call the pavilion toll-free at 800-879-2467.

Photo provided to Travels With The Post by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Provider CHDC Adds Waller as Women’s Health Specialist

Monday, Jan. 21

POTTSTOWN PA – Kelsey Waller, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC, a certified registered nurse practitioner who specializes in women’s healthcare, has joined the staff of Community Health & Dental Care Inc. (CHDC) in Pottstown, the organization said Thursday (Jan. 18, 2024). She will work from its medical office at 700 Heritage Dr.

Waller, whom CHDC said benefits from “extensive clinical expertise,” has attained board certification as a women’s healthcare nurse practitioner. Her experience includes work at Einstein Medical Center and Phoenixville Hospital, and clinical rotations at Community Health & Dental Care in Pottstown, as well as other women’s health facilities.

Waller earned her master of science degree in nursing from Drexel University, Philadelphia; and her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Milligan University, Milligan TN.

CHDC said its “comprehensive ‘OB/GYN Women’s Health Program’ understands the needs of its patients from teens to adults, (and offers) full gynecological and obstetric care.”

Gynecologic care includes services such as pap smears, breast exams, contraception, menopause counseling, and sexually transmitted disease testing and education. Obstetrics provides expectant mothers and babies with compassionate prenatal and postpartum care, breast feeding support, and other services.

To schedule an appointment with Waller, call CHDC at 610-326-9460 for assistance. If you are pregnant and in need of an appointment, call its obstetrics line at 484-941-9989.

Photo provided to Travels With The Post by Community Health & Dental Care
Background photo by Vadim Vasenin on Deposit Photos, used under license

Pottstown, Phoenixville Hospitals Earn Recognitions

Sunday, Jan. 21

POTTSTOWN PA – Tower Health hospitals in Pottstown, Phoenixville, and Reading recently received national recognitions from Healthgrades, which rates outcomes for patient treatments and procedures.

The regional healthcare system on Wednesday (Jan. 17, 2024) reported:

• Pottstown Hospital received a five-star rating for treatment of heart attack, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sepsis, and respiratory failure, and upper gastrointestinal surgery;
• Phoenixville Hospital achieved a five-star rating for colorectal surgery, vaginal delivery, and C-section delivery; and
• Reading Hospital was recognized by Healthgrades as one of “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” for stroke care for a second consecutive year. It also received awards for joint replacement excellence, and neuroscience excellence. Finally, it earned five-star ratings for treatment of heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, sepsis, respiratory failure, bowel obstruction, peripheral vascular bypass surgery, cranial neurosurgery, colorectal surgery, and vaginal delivery.

“Our care team continues to strive to be among the best, and it is being recognized,” Tower Health president and CEO P. Sue Perrotty acknowledged.

Healthgrades said it evaluates hospitals solely on two clinical outcomes: risk-adjusted mortality, and complications. As a result, it added, its ratings provide valuable feedback for patients and consumers by giving them information need to find a hospital that excels in providing specific care.

Tower Health provides healthcare and wellness services in part across portions of Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties. With about 11,500 employees, it consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Phoenixville Hospital, Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital, Pottstown; and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, in partnership with Drexel University.

Photo by Travels With The Post

Phoenix Physical Therapy Inc. Growing in Tri-County Area

Monday, Nov. 20

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP PA – Leveraging more than 25 years of experience, Pittsburgh area-based Phoenix Physical Therapy Inc. continues to grow its locations across western Montgomery, eastern Berks, and northern Chester counties. The company recently opened a new office in Limerick, at 497 W. Ridge Pk. Ste. 2, and in October marked the first anniversary of its Pottstown office, at 1227 N. Charlotte St.

There’s now another office under construction in Pennsburg, in the Pennsburg Shopping Center at 414A Pottstown Ave. An opening date for that facility has yet to be announced.

The company describes itself as “a people-centric and care-focused organization” that employs more than 1,000 workers and operates more than 150 clinics in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Additional local offices are located in Gilbertsville, Royersford, Douglassville, Phoenixville, Harleysville, Elverson, and Exeter.

Helping to train new therapists

In a partnership announced late last year with Messiah University in Mechanicsburg PA, about 9 miles southwest of Harrisburg, a Phoenix Physical Therapy media release said the company also is working with university educators to “train and develop the next generation of licensed physical and occupational therapists, and certified athletic trainers.”

Rob Pepper, executive director of university partnerships and assistant to the president at Messiah University, called the opportunity “to collaborate with a leading national health care organization such as Phoenix” across the three health disciplines “a win for Messiah students and educators, and our local community.”

The partnership with Phoenix was made possible through the university’s Bridge Center for Continuing Education and its Office of University Partnerships.

Physical therapy photo from Getty Images on Unsplash Plus,
used by Travels With The Post under license

New Physician Joins Staff of ENT and Allergy Specialists

Monday, Nov. 13

POTTSTOWN PA – Dr. Christopher D. Pool – a board-certified otolaryngologist, and fellowship-trained sinus and skull base surgeon – has joined the medical staff of ENT and Allergy Specialists. The practice, which specializes in ear, nose, and throat conditions that include allergies, operates three offices in Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties.

Pool practices adult and pediatric otolaryngology. He maintains special interest in nasal obstruction, septal deviation, chronic sinusitis, recurrent or acute sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, related or other conditions, and their potential remedies. He sees current patients, and is accepting new ones, at the practice offices located in:

• Pottstown, at 5 S. Sunnybrook Rd. Ste. 300;
• Phoenixville, at 826 Main St. Ste. 201; and
• Bryn Mawr, at 825 Old Lancaster Rd. Ste. 300.

After completing his undergraduate degree at Yale University, and medical school at Mount Sinai Hospital, Pool completed his residency training at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He then went on to Kaiser Permanente to pursue a rhinology/sinus surgery fellowship. Pool is board-certified by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Pool’s “clinical training, knowledge, expertise, and superior surgical skills are a welcome addition” to the ENT and Allergy Specialists team, its President Dr. Brian Broker said.

“My goal,” Pool added, “is to educate individuals about the current, evidence-based treatment options that are available so that they are empowered to make the best decisions for their health.” For more information, call ENT and Allergy Specialists at 610-415-1100.

Pool photo provided to Travels With The Post by ENT and Allergy Specialists

Boyertown, Oley Valley Students Join Tower Health Internships

Tuesday, Sept. 26 (2023)

WEST READING PA – High school students in the Boyertown and Oley Valley school districts are among 29 potential future medical professionals (at top) who were accepted this month into Reading Hospital’s high school internship program, according to hospital owner Tower Health.

Ten other Berks County districts also are participating in the program. Among the group, 26 students will participate in a full-year internship, Tower Health said, and three will participate during the spring semester. It did not identify the students by name.

The education program was expanded to all Berks County school districts during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Students toured the hospital on their first day in the program. They also met with hospital leaders P. Sue Perrotty, Tower Health president and CEO, and Dr. Charles F. Barbera, Reading Hospital president and CEO (above at right).

Barbera studied English and communications in college. “I wasn’t considering a career in healthcare until I completed an internship at a hospital,” he told the students. “These experiences are life changing,” he added.

Perrotty encouraged them to consider a career in healthcare, which can go in many different directions. “Hospitals are just like a city,” she explained. “We’re open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. We will never close. To be successful we need individuals in clinical roles, of course, but we also need finance, IT, marketing, facilities, human resources, and so many more.”

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