Mission

ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley that provides health outreach and education.

Vision

ACTION Health is the recognized leader in providing quality, innovative, easily accessible health programs focused on enhancing community services and developing new initiatives to address unmet health and wellness needs.

“SHIP ” -  State Health Improvement Plan

SHIP  is a coordinated, continuous and integrated program that links public health, community health and individual health to address the health needs of the public.  ACTION Health is the designated SHIP partner for the five service counties of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union Counties.  We work collaboratively with over 65 agencies to meet the unmet health needs and improve the health status of the people in our communities.

History

ACTION Health began in 1995, when a health needs assessment was completed by local health organizations. From that assessment, several critical health needs were identified for our communities. An informal partnership began to take shape for the purpose of providing education and outreach for the targeted health needs. In 1999, ACTION Health began a formal partnership with 3 local hospitals. In 2000, ACTION Health completed the process of incorporation and received the 501(c)(3) status. In 2001, ACTION Health applied for and was approved by the PA Department of Health to become the SHIP (State Health Improvement Plan) partner for each of the 5 counties we serve. SHIP partners are designated by the state as the primary entities responsible for identifying and serving local health needs, especially those related to meeting the national goals set forth in Healthy People 2010. Over the following years, ACTION Health partnership grew and 2 additional hospitals joined as partners. In January, 2006, ACTION Health partnered with the one remaining hospital in our service area, and at this time we are very proud to say that we partner with and are sponsored by every hospital in our five county service area, specifically, Berwick Hospital Center, Bloomsburg Hospital, Evangelical Community Hospital, Geisinger Health System, Shamokin Area Community Hospital and Sunbury Community Hospital.

The five county service area of ACTION Health is located in North central Pennsylvania, which is home to rural fertile farmlands, state game lands, state forests and the Susquehanna River. Our major enterprises are heavy and light manufacturing and anthracite coal mining. Our counties are nestled in the rural Susquehanna Valley, which covers 1,725 square miles of land and is home to a total population of 256,919 residents. Over 50% of these residents live in rural areas and over 10% live in poverty.

ACTION Health is governed by a Board of Directors, with representatives from each of the ACTION Health sponsoring hospitals serving on the board. Board seats are typically filled by high ranking hospital officials, such as the hospitals’ Chief Executive Officer or Chief Nursing Officer.

The driving force of ACTION Health’s community health outreach is organized through collaborative task force groups. Each task force is overseen by ACTION Health staff and over 65 member agencies, which are local health and social service organizations, participate on the different task force groups. Currently, ACTION Health oversees four task forces, including Aging & Wellness, Cancer, Community Wellness, and Dental.