5 Dutiful Health Care Organizations In Pennsylvania

Health care is a complex system that encompasses many fields, from research to certification to rehabilitation. The organizations listed here cover different areas of medicine, but they all assist people in getting the life-saving or life-enhancing care they need. If you're interested in helping people in Pennsylvania live healthy lives, consider supporting these groups. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Pennsylvania Medical Organizations

Organization Headquarters Location Mission
Gift of Life Donor Program Philadelphia, PA Coordinate life-saving organ and life-enhancing tissue transplants while supporting donor families who have generously chosen to give others a second chance at life through organ donation
Magee Rehabilitation Philadelphia, PA Improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities by providing high quality physical and cognitive rehabilitation services
ECRI Institute Plymouth Meeting, PA Protect patients from unsafe and ineffective medical technologies and practices
International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium Harrisburg, PA Promote public protection by offering internationally-recognized credentials and examinations for prevention, substance use treatment, and recovery professionals
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Allentown, PA Enhance lives, maximize function, inspire hope, and promote dignity and well-being with expertise and compassion

Facts About Disabilities in America

Facts & Myths About Organ Donation

Statement True or False Explanation
People with illnesses or health conditions can still be organ donors Only a few conditions (such as active cancer or a systemic infection) would absolutely prevent a person from becoming a donor
Seniors are too old to donate The health of the organs is more important than the donor's age
You can choose which organs you're willing to donate Donors can opt to donate organ, eye, tissue, or all three and can change their status at any time
Organ donation goes against most religions While there are some outliers, organ donation is supported by many religions in the U.S.
People often die while waiting for a transplant According to the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration, 20 people die each day due to a lack of viable organs
Most organ donors actually donate their organs when they die Only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation

The Importance Of Trust In Healthcare

In Depth

Every place requires a vast array of healthcare service providers beyond the standard municipal hospitals and private practice physicians. Pennsylvania is no different. This list, organized in no particular order, looks at some of the groups performing these services in the Keystone State, whether they specialize in rehabilitation, organ donation, medical technology, or accreditation.

#1 is Gift of Life Donor Program, an organ procurement organization coordinating more donations than anywhere else in the United States. Serving residents across the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware from a headquarters in Philadelphia, the group helps and heals lives by handling logistics in the recovery and distribution of organs and tissues used in life-saving and life-enhancing transplants.

Approximately every ten minutes, another person is added to a national organ transplant list in the United States. Working in partnership with healthcare teams and other medical professionals, Gift of Life provides extensive and compassionate services to help ensure every opportunity for donation and transplantation. For recipients, they offer the opportunity to write to the surviving family of the late gift-giver. Discover more by reading a story describing the life-changing effects of this work.

For recipients, they offer the opportunity to write to the surviving family of the late gift-giver.

#2, Magee Rehabilitation, has the mission of improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities by providing high quality physical and cognitive rehab services. These efforts combine clinical work, community involvement, education, and research. The nonprofit hospital has been ranked as one of the best in its region and in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. There are six locations across the greater Philadelphia area.

In addition to general rehab services, there are inpatient and outpatient programs for treating spinal cord and brain injuries, strokes, amputations, orthopaedic issues, and many other chronic health problems. Magee oversees community activities to heighten independence and improve quality-of-life, like wheelchair sports. Think First, a national head and spinal cord injury prevention program, is an award-winning public education effort targeting teens and young adults. Help out by volunteering at one of the hospital's departments.

At #3, ECRI Institute has worked to advance the science of healthcare around the world since 1968. The professionals who work there see their task as protecting patients from unsafe and ineffective medical technologies and practices. Four out of five U.S. hospitals consult with the organization to guide their operational and strategic decisions. It also serves public and private payers, federal and state agencies, policymakers, ministries of health, associations, and accrediting agencies.

The professionals who work there see their task as protecting patients from unsafe and ineffective medical technologies and practices.

The institute's interdisciplinary staff answers questions from care providers and makes recommendations to address challenging issues. For insurance companies and other payers, the group offers evidence-based intelligence supporting clinical policy and coverage decisions on new and emerging medical devices, drugs, diagnostic tests, and procedures. It also consults with manufacturers and government. Learn about this research by browsing ECRI's online library.

The #4 spot is held by International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium, which promotes public protection by setting standards and developing examinations for the credentialing and licensing of prevention, substance use treatment, and recovery professionals. Established in 1981, the organization represents over 50,000 professionals, and makes use of the latest research on evidence-based practices.

According to IC and RC, their credentialing provides much-needed standardization to the rapidly growing and ever-evolving fields in which they operate and assures the public that service providers have met a level of competency. It develops protocols using interviews, surveys, observation, and group discussions with experts. A member board manages reciprocity services that allow professionals to transfer their licenses between jurisdictions. Keep up to date by checking out the group's online news feed.

Keep up to date by checking out the group's online news feed.

Concluding the list at #5, the Allentown-based Good Shepherd Rehabilitation offers a continuum of care for people with injuries, complex medical needs, and physical and cognitive disabilities. Tens of thousands of adults and children visit the facilities each year for specialized programs in stroke, orthopedics and sports injuries, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and more. There are eight locations across eastern Pennsylvania.

The group's variety of outpatient programs include a set of complex care services for patients who require long-term acute care and are too ill for discharge elsewhere. Good Shepherd at Home provides skilled medical care in people's homes or place of residence to promote good health and increase function and independence. Other specialty offerings include occupational health, integrative wellness, and nutrition consultation. Support this work by giving to Sweet Charity, the rehab's philanthropic arm.