Delaware County Health Department offers assistance to senior ex-patients of Crozer Health in obtaining their medical records.
What's up, folks! Last month, Crozer Health officially closed its hospitals and health offices in Delaware County, causing trouble for some patients, mainly seniors, to retrieve their medical records. Now, the Delaware County Health Department is stepping in to lend a helping hand!
By announcing a summer events series, this compassionate crew is aiming to help older adults secure their digital and physical medical records from the shuttered health care system. The series, titled "Navigating Our Healthcare System for Seniors," is running throughout June and July at various senior centers across the region.
Besides helping seniors obtain their records, the events offer information on health insurance options, immunizations, tick and mosquito remediation, and more. For instance, at a recent event at the Good Neighbor Senior Center in Sharon Hill, experienced health department staff assisted attendees like Dianne Roberts-Gibbs, who was a patient of Crozer Health for about 40 years, in accessing over ten years of medical records on a laptop.
Despite submitting two request forms to have her records mailed to her home in Sharon Hill in early May, Roberts-Gibbs hadn't received any response by mid-June. However, after the health department event, she left with both digital and paper copies of her medical documents.
In case you're wondering, the Crozer Health website offers a document that directs people to access their records through the health system's Health+Link online portal or to request documents by mail. It also lists other healthcare providers and urgent care centers in the area.
Many people still find the Crozer Health closure confusing and challenging, said Dr. Gifty Akomea Key, population health division administrator at the health department. "The closing just made it so evident how important it is for us to be our own advocates and have our own information," she explained.
Dr. Key also mentioned that while the health department alone can't bring back a hospital to the community, it can provide some peace of mind by helping individuals secure their medical records when transitioning to new healthcare systems. "The closing entirely just gives this huge level of anxiety," explained Key. "So knowing that, 'Oh, well, I have my medical records, I have my information that I can give to someone else' gives a little bit of comfort in saying, 'OK, I'm one step closer to ensuring that I'll be OK.'"
Stay tuned for more updates on how the Delaware County Health Department is supporting older adults in securing their medical records. If you've had similar experiences, feel free to share your thoughts. Let us know, and stay informed with our website. 🚀
Sources:
- **DELAWARE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHING NAVIGATING OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR SENIORS SERIES TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WITH LOCATING MEDICAL RECORDS FOLLOWING CROZER HEALTH’S CLOSURE
- **Crozer Health Hospital in Springfield Closing its Doors
- **Delaware County Works to Help Senior Citizens Obtain Access to Their Medical Records
- **Crozer Health Student Nurse Leads Initiative to Help Patients in Need
- **Crozer Health Patient Portal
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