GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, has announced that Birth Care & Family Health Services of Bart, Pennsylvania, is one of its GlaxoSmithKline 14^th Annual IMPACT Award recipients. The Lancaster County nonprofit will receive $40,000 for having a significant impact on its community by providing access to proactive and effective healthcare services. A ceremony will be held on Monday, December 13 at GlaxoSmithKline in Philadelphia to honor the Philadelphia-area nonprofit.

“All of the GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Award winners are leaders in the nonprofit world and in their communities,” said Mary Linda Andrews, GlaxoSmithKline Director of Community Partnerships. “The dedicated teams of professionals and volunteers at these organizations are working on the front lines to provide access to healthcare at a time when people need it most. These awards provide additional resources to help them continue their important work.”

Birth Care & Family Health Services is Pennsylvania’s first and oldest freestanding birth center.  The center was established in 1978 to provide safe and sensitive midwifery care to families within the community, regardless of ability to pay.  They celebrated a milestone this year with the delivery of their 5,000^th baby.  Birth Care’s core services are prenatal care and natural childbirth for low risk women and comprehensive gynecological care for women of all ages.  Birth Care believes that successful health care is a partnership between each woman and her caregivers, and that health encompasses emotional and spiritual well-being together with physical health.  The center has a strong focus on wellness counseling, health education, and the use of natural and complimentary therapies.

Birth Care is directed by a volunteer, community-based board of local leaders and former clients.  A modern birth center was constructed in 2006, and the practice has grown from 165 to over 450 annual deliveries.  Of the women admitted to the center, 95% deliver successfully.  The cesarean section rate is only 3%, and the incidence of neonatal complications is less than 1%.  Birth Care is collaborating with Ephrata Community Hospital to develop a vision for a future family health center to better meet the needs of their target client population.

Although women from all walks of life seek a personalized, natural childbirth experience, horse-and-buggy Amish families form the core of the Birth Care’s clientele.  Most of these women have no formal education beyond the 8^th grade, and they have restricted access to tools for self-education such as television, the internet, and public libraries.  For these clients, Birth Care functions as a trusted medical home and a gateway to the wider health care system through an extensive network of collaborative relationships.  Midwives serve as primary health educators through childbirth classes, culturally appropriate written materials, and seminars on a wide variety of women’s health topics. 

Birth Care is a grassroots organization that does not rely on government funding, and receives little corporate or foundation support.  The center’s fees-for-service are less than a third of similar services by obstetricians and hospitals.  Private insurance and Medicaid are accepted.  A sliding fee scale is offered to eligible uninsured, and free services may be granted to those in dire need.  The community subsidizes the center through an annual benefit auction to which hundreds of local businesses donate goods and services.

About GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Awards

GlaxoSmithKline will be accepting award applications for the GlaxoSmithKline 15^th Annual IMPACT Award beginning in January 2011. In order to qualify, applicants must provide access to community healthcare services (primary mission) in the Pennsylvania counties of Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Philadelphia and the City of Camden, New Jersey; have annual total operating expenses between $160,000 and $3 million, as documented in the organization’s most recent fiscal year financial statement; and have been in existence as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for at least five years. A panel of local and national healthcare delivery experts and GlaxoSmithKline representatives will determine the winners based on a strong demonstration of ongoing success in providing access to healthcare; commitment to serving people in need; facilitation of healthcare delivery, substantive partnerships; policy development; and a solid record of achievement, management and leadership. For more details on the GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT Awards, visit www.gsk-us.com and click “Our work with communities,” then click “Health programs,” then click “Awards,” or call the GlaxoSmithKline Office of Community Partnerships at 215-751-5171.  

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information, visit GlaxoSmithKline on the World Wide Web at us.gsk.com.