December 14, 2006
CONTACT: Olivia Fermano
(215) 349-5653
olivia.fermano@uphs.upenn.edu
Invitation to Cover: Bringing Holiday
Cheer to Immobile Philadelphians
Santa and UPHS carolers to visit patients at home
(PHILADELPHIA) – For the tenth consecutive year, the University
of Pennsylvania Health System’s Penn
Care at Home unit will visit homebound patients in the West
Philadelphia area with Santa Claus and carolers to provide holiday cheer
this Thursday, Dec. 14. The group of volunteers has varied through the
decade, but organizer Christine Bossone has continued the tradition each
year.
“I started this 10 years ago,” says Bossone. “I was
a nurse in the field and saw that these people, many of whom live alone,
needed holiday cheer. They are in dire straits, some recuperating from
a dire illness. It’s one way we can offer a little encouragement.
When we are in their homes, they have a ball. They just love it.”
The carolers are well-received and the patients often call Penn Care at
Home weeks before the day to ensure that the group will drop by and sing.
What better way to spread good will than to bring it to those who cannot
leave their homes?
| WHERE: | 3901 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 |
| WHEN: | Dec. 14, 2006 2:00 to 2:15 PM |
| WHO: | Penn Care at Home and Santa to carol to homebound patients |
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PENN Medicine is a $2.9 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Penn's School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #3 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes three hospitals, all of which have received numerous national patient-care honors [Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center]; a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network; two multispecialty satellite facilities; and home care and hospice.
This release is available online at
http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/dec06/penn-care-at-home-caroling.htm