Sacred Heart News
Sacred Heart Volunteer Opportunities
Do you enjoy helping people? Do you feel accomplishment when making a difference in the lives of others? Do you thrive in a busy environment and have time to spare in your weekly calendar? If you answered yes to the above questions, Sacred Heart Hospital has a wonderful opportunity for you!
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteer Greeter - If you are a "people-person" then the Volunteer Greeter position is for you. You will assist the Information Desk Clerks with greeting and directing patients, family members and visitors entering and exiting the Sacred Heart Hospital Lobby.
Patient Advocacy Liasion - This role serves as a vital communication link between hospital staff, patients and families. In this role, you will assist the nursing teams by visiting patients in their rooms and assisting with simple, non-clinical needs.
For more information, click here.
ABC Diabetes Education Program
Sacred Heart HealthCare System is pleased to introduce the ABC Diabetes Education Program to assist patients in maintaining their optimal health while managing their chronic disease. The program is a series of classes, with convenient schedules, including weekend and evening hours.
The ABC Diabetes Education Program is led by Certified Diabetes Educators and licensed healthcare professionals and is recognized by the American Diabetes Association. Through interactive discussions, patients learn how to handle everyday challenges, such as diet, exercise and medication dosing. Patients may also bring a family member or friend as additional support.
For more information about this program, call 1-877-533-4222.
Dr. Joann Leahy
We are pleased to announce that Joann M. Leahy, M.D., J.D., FCLM, has joined Sacred Heart HealthCare System as a Radiation Oncologist.
Dr. Leahy completed her undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania and earned her Medical Degree at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency in Radiation Oncology at Hahnemann University Hospital. Dr. Leahy also earned a Law Degree from Widener University School of Law.
Dr. Leahy worked as a Radiation Oncologist at Grand View Hospital and later became the Medical Director of Radiation Oncology. She has also worked as Medical Director at the Norristown Regional Cancer Center. Dr. Leahy has held positions at the Bismarck Cancer Center in Bismarck, North Dakota and recently at Cancer Centers of America.
Dr. Leahy is Board Certified in Radiation Oncology and holds medical licenses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and North Dakota. She is also a certified member of the Pennsylvania Bar, and a Fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine. In addition, she has been published in her field and has experience in a multitude of radiotherapy procedures.
Dr. Leahy can be reached at 610-776-4674.
Sacred Heart Hospital Awarded Highmark Foundation Grant
The Highmark Foundation has awarded a $105,000 grant to Sacred Heart Hospital to sustain operations of school-based health centers in five elementary schools! These SBHCs provide primary care services and a medical home for predominately uninsured students and their families.
Allentown School District is the third largest urban school district in Pennsylvania, with a growing need to expand school-based health care for an increasing population of low-income and uninsured students and families. In an effort to serve more children, the Highmark Foundation grant will partially fund salaries for two certified nurse practitioners, two medical assistants and an administrative/business liaison for two years.
'This grant addressed our overall objectives to limit missed school days due to illness, increase the number of students who will be immunized and appropriately address chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes,' said Dennis Pfleiger, Vice President of Clinical Services at Sacred Heart Hospital. This specific team makes up the most effective and efficient model of school-based health care delivery, according to the National Assembly on School-based Health Care.
The School-Based concept was started nearly 20 years ago to provide children enrolled in grades K-12 with health care services. The centers are located in Jefferson, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Mosser and Dodd elementary schools. Services provided include screenings, immunizations, outpatient visits, medical evaluations, physical exams and vision screenings. Sacred Heart is also addressing the school district’s increasing population of children at risk for obesity as well as working with school nurses to provide Individualized Health Plans for chronically ill children.
'It’s so important that the School-Based Health Center is able to coordinate efforts with the school nurses to ensure that children receive the proper preventive care and chronic disease management they need,' said Highmark Foundation President, Yvonne Cook. 'Since children spend a majority of their day at school, this valuable staff will help improve the health and wellness for more students in the Allentown School District.' For more information, click here.
