Local Heroes: LCH Health & Community Services

When Ilsa became pregnant with her first child, her mother knew exactly where she should go for prenatal care. A patient at LCH Health and Community Services herself, she recommended the LCH Women’s Health Center in West Grove.

Soon after her son was born, Ilsa started to experience health difficulties. Dissatisfied with her healthcare provider, she switched to LCH for primary care as well. Her care team helped her manage her arthritis, then treated her for postpartum depression and anxiety.

Today, Ilsa is the mother of two happy, healthy boys who both receive pediatric care at LCH. From prenatal care to pediatrics and beyond, three generations of this family receive quality, affordable healthcare — all under one roof.

Ilsa and her family are among nearly 8,000 patients who receive care from LCH each year. For over 50 years, LCH has been helping southern Chester County families thrive, delivering accessible, personalized care to anyone who needs it.

Health and Wellness for All

LCH was founded in 1973 (originally named La Comunidad Hispana) when a group of Kennett Square residents, clergy and supporters saw a need for a bilingual social services agency to provide for the needs of the local Latino population, drawn to the area by the mushroom industry. LCH was a place where immigrant families could go for help, ask questions and seek resources. In 1985, LCH began offering primary care services, laying the foundation for the nonprofit’s future.

As the needs of the community grew, so did the organization. In 2012, LCH became a Federally Qualified Health Center, allowing them to serve vulnerable individuals who are insured, under-insured or uninsured. All patients are evaluated to determine eligibility for discounted services, with a sliding-scale model based on income and family size. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay. To better reflect their mission, the organization changed its name to LCH Health and Community Services in 2021.

Today, LCH provides person-centered, integrated care — in English and Spanish — at their health centers in Kennett Square, Oxford and West Grove. Services includes primary care, dental care, pediatrics and women’s health services. LCH puts a special emphasis on preventative care, including immunization and early screenings for cancer and other illnesses. “We’re very focused on outcomes, and part of having great outcomes is working on preventative health,” said CEO Ronan W. Gannon. “I tell our team, ‘We don’t want to be the repair shop; we want to help people live healthy lives by preventing chronic diseases.’”

To help patients lead happy, healthy lives, LCH also offers integrated behavioral health services — brief screenings and follow-ups during medical visits or scheduled separately — at all their locations and via telehealth. In 2023, LCH opened the Pia Center for Behavioral Health at their West Grove campus, where patients 14 and older can receive outpatient and group therapy, as well as psychiatric medication management. “We feel that there’s an artificial divide between mental health and physical health,” said Gannon. “Really, they’re tied together.”

In 2024, 41% of LCH patients lived in poverty, and roughly half of patients are uninsured or self-pay for care. To help these people access care, LCH offers social services in person and over the phone. A team of application counselors, resource specialists, case managers and lawyers work with families in need of health insurance, information and referrals, public benefits and legal consultation.

New Initiatives

Staying true to its mission of care, LCH is expanding its reach with new programs that support a healthier, happier community.

Started out of necessity during the pandemic, LCH’s telehealth program has flourished since then. Patients can schedule a video call with their healthcare team for much of the same care they’d receive at an in-person appointment, such as primary care and behavioral health visits, lab and medication follow-ups, women’s health and pediatric concerns, even dental issues like mouth pain, swelling and broken teeth.

Last fall, LCH began offering chiropractic services to address concerns like back and neck pain, headaches and joint mobility. And earlier this year, LCH opened a pharmacy at their Kennett Square health center, providing patients with affordable, accessible medications and improving medication adherence for individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Just last month, LCH started delivering prescriptions within a 10-mile radius of Kennett Square.

In addition, LCH is expanding its impact in the community through partnerships and outreach events. “We’re really excited about our great partnerships with schools, Chester County Hospital and the new ChristianaCare Hospital in West Grove,” said Gannon. Recent collaborations include nutrition classes hosted by Penn State experts and providing sports physicals for the Avondale School District.

Get Involved

To realize their vision of a community where everyone has access to healthcare, LCH needs your help. Fortunately, there are several ways to get involved.

First, consider donating to LCH. While LCH receives federal support, over half its annual budget is raised through philanthropy. A contribution of $140 pays for a community health screening for a patient who couldn’t otherwise afford care. LCH also accepts in-kind donations, including gift cards to local stores, fitness equipment (soccer balls, basketballs, hand weights, yoga mats), children’s coats and children’s books in English and Spanish. (Note that for sanitation reasons, LCH can only accept new items.)

Additionally, LCH offers volunteer opportunities in their health centers and in the community. Volunteers help at community events, office administrative tasks and special projects. Consider becoming an outreach ambassador to raise awareness for LCH’s services at local events, including Oxford First Fridays, Kennett Square’s Mushroom Festival and winter coat drives. Nurses are invited to provide brief health screenings during events.

Most importantly, spread the word about LCH to family and friends. “Refer us to people,” Gannon asked. “Let them know that we’re accepting new patients!”

For over half a century, LCH Health and Community Services has made southern Chester County a happier, healthier place to live. “We started as a small, local effort to bring care to people who didn’t have access,” said Gannon. “Today, we’re proud to serve the whole community. It doesn’t matter who you are or what insurance you have — we’re here for everyone.”

LCH’s dedicated doctors, staff and volunteers do life-changing work every day. For that reason, we honor them as this year’s Local Heroes.

LCH Health and Community Services can’t do this work alone. To learn more, including volunteer and donation information, visit LCHCommunityHealth.org.

Be a Local Hero!

In addition to LCH, many local organizations need your support. Here are just a few of the nonprofits providing medical care and support in our community.

Alzheimer’s Association, Delaware Valley Chapter: 399 Market St., Ste. 250, Philadelphia. Alz.org/DelVal

Chester County Hospital: 701 E. Marshall St., West Chester. ChesterCountyHospital.org

Community Volunteers in Medicine: West Chester, Coatesville and West Grove. CVIM.org

Connect Thru Cancer: 535 N. Church St., Ste. 209, West Chester. ConnectThruCancer.org

DE Breast Cancer Coalition: 100 W. 10th St., Ste. 209, Wilmington. DEBreastCancer.org

Maternal & Child Health Consortium of Chester County: 1475 Phoenixville Pk., Ste. 12, West Chester. CCMCHC.org

Planned Parenthood Southeastern PA: West Chester, Coatesville, Media and more. PlannedParenthood.org

Unite for HER: 22 E. King St., Malvern. UniteForHER.org