Who We Are
Mercy Circle of Care is an organization developed to address the unmet health needs in West Philadelphia, Southwest Philadelphia, and parts of Delaware County. We believe that improving our communities begins with improving the health status of everyone in it. Because good health is the key to happiness, well-being, and the ability to contribute to our family and community, everyone should have access to affordable and quality health care services.
Mission Statement
The Mission of Mercy Circle of Care is to prevent unnecessary disease and disability by educating, empowering, motivating, and supporting community members to take control of their own health. To do this, we are working to reduce barriers to access and we are advocating for a more coordinated and efficient system of care.Imbedded in our mission are the following goals:
- Goal #1: To EDUCATE individual community members as to their own health risks and risk reduction strategies so they may make healthy lifestyle choices.
- Goal #2: To EMPOWER community residents to act in partnership with health care providers to advocate for increased access to appropriate, coordinated, and efficient services that support them in their efforts to maximize their individual wellness.
Vision
Our vision is to prevent disease, promote health, and deliver appropriate wellness services to uninsured and underinsured populations. By doing so we hope to reduce unnecessary medical expenses due to the inappropriate use of acute care services (mainly emergency room visits). Mercy Circle of Care believes by doing this we can achieve concrete changes to redress social injustices (health disparities and inequalities based on race and socioeconomic status) characteristic of our community.
History and Funding
Mercy Circle of Care is partially funded by a Healthy Communities Access Program (HCAP) grant. The HCAP grant is provided by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), the Access Agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, dedicated to improving and expanding access to quality health care. The HCAP motto, "better health for more people for less cost", is evident in its dedication to increase access to health services for vulnerable populations, to place healthcare professionals in underserved communities, and to provide support services for people with specific health needs.Many users pay low or discounted fees to use our services that contribute to the expense of running the program. The remaining funding comes from individual and corporate sponsorships and donations.
Mercy Circle of Care is a collaboration of a number of local community organizations, including health care providers, universities, religious institutions, and government organizations that have come together to connect community members to affordable health and wellness services.
