Improving Healthcare Access in the United States: A Sustainable Development Goals Perspective

Healthcare delivery in the United States involves complex decision-making processes, often hindered by long waiting times, disrupted schedules, travel challenges, and the significant burden of illness. Addressing these issues aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Expanding Healthcare Infrastructure and Services

Penn Medicine is investing not only in traditional hospitals but also in multi-specialty outpatient centers, telehealth services, and home care. This strategic expansion ensures that healthcare is accessible to patients at the right place and time, supporting SDG 3 by enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality.

• Development of outpatient centers in various communities
• Implementation of telehealth to overcome geographical barriers
• Provision of home care services to support patients with mobility challenges

Addressing the Impact of Hospital Closures

Nationwide hospital closures have led to overwhelmed healthcare facilities, increased emergency room volumes, and patients delaying or foregoing medical care. This situation threatens the achievement of SDG 3 by limiting access to essential health services.

1. Closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital in Delaware County, PA
2. Rapid response by Penn Medicine Graduate Medical Education and Chester County Hospital to launch a family medicine residency program ahead of schedule
3. Hiring of 26 displaced physicians-in-training to increase primary care capacity

Enhancing Primary Care Services

The newly established residency program enables residents to complete inpatient training at Chester County Hospital and provide outpatient care at two locations serving approximately 24,000 patients annually. These sites offer comprehensive services including:

• Pediatrics
• Women’s health
• Adult medicine
• Geriatrics

Additionally, Penn Medicine has hired 14 former Crozer Health residents specializing in internal medicine or obstetrics and gynecology to continue their training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital. This initiative supports SDG 3 by strengthening the healthcare workforce and improving service delivery.

Strategic Expansion to Reduce Barriers to Care

Integration of New Facilities

To reduce travel burdens and improve timely access to care, Penn Medicine has undertaken several expansion projects:

• Welcoming Doylestown Health into the health system, extending services to Philadelphia’s northern suburbs
• Breaking ground on the Penn Medicine Montgomeryville multispecialty outpatient center, a 162,000-square-foot facility scheduled to open in 2027
• Operating outpatient centers in Radnor, Southern Chester County, Lancaster Suburban Pavilion, Cherry Hill, and other locations

These centers consolidate a wide range of services, including primary care, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, neuroscience, women’s health, and surgical consultations, thereby promoting SDG 3 by enhancing the availability and quality of healthcare services.

Supporting Patients with Serious Illnesses

For patients undergoing long-term treatments such as cancer therapy, minimizing travel time is critical. Penn Medicine is addressing this through:

1. Expansion of the Abramson Cancer Center in Princeton, NJ, featuring a 195,000-square-foot facility and a 31,000-square-foot outpatient imaging site, representing a $401 million investment
2. Establishment of a fourth proton therapy center—the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in West Philadelphia—to provide advanced cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes

These initiatives contribute to SDG 3 by improving access to specialized healthcare and reducing the physical and financial burdens on patients.

Conclusion

Penn Medicine’s comprehensive approach to expanding healthcare infrastructure, enhancing workforce capacity, and integrating advanced treatment facilities exemplifies commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3. By making healthcare more accessible, timely, and patient-centered, these efforts aim to improve health outcomes and promote well-being across diverse communities.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article focuses on improving access to healthcare services, expanding medical facilities, and increasing the number of healthcare professionals, all of which directly relate to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The development of new outpatient centers, expansion of cancer treatment facilities, and introduction of advanced therapies such as proton therapy highlight investments in healthcare infrastructure and innovation.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • By addressing hospital closures and expanding healthcare access in underserved communities, the article touches on reducing inequalities in healthcare availability.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
   • Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and recruitment, development, training, and retention of the health workforce in developing countries.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being.
   • Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research, and innovation in health technologies.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for Target 3.8:
   • Proportion of population with access to primary healthcare services, implied by the increase in outpatient centers and family medicine residency programs serving approximately 24,000 patients annually.
   • Number of healthcare facilities available within reasonable travel distance, as evidenced by the expansion of outpatient centers and addition of proton therapy locations.
2. Indicator for Target 3.c:
   • Number of trained healthcare professionals, shown by hiring 26 physicians-in-training and 14 former residents to address physician shortages.
3. Indicator for Target 9.1 and 9.b:
   • Square footage and number of new healthcare facilities built or expanded (e.g., 162,000-square-foot outpatient center, 195,000-square-foot cancer center).
   • Availability of advanced medical technologies such as proton therapy centers.
4. Indicator for Target 10.2:
   • Access to healthcare services in underserved or affected communities, as indicated by responses to hospital closures and expansion into northern suburbs.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: pennmedicine.org