Closing the Gap

Ensuring Access to Care for All

Closing the Gap was initiated in 2004 by Abington Memorial Hospital in response to a national call to action to address the health needs of specific racial and ethnic populations. Since that time, the program has expanded its scope to ensure that care is available to all, regardless of ability to pay, cultural or language barriers, or particular life situations which might make it difficult to receive necessary health services. With the formation of Abington Health and the acquisition of Lansdale Hospital, our clinics have grown, reaching further into our expanded service area in an effort to meet the needs of an even broader, more diverse population.

For members of the community who do not have health insurance, and are unable to pay for services, several clinics and programs are available to meet both primary and specialty healthcare needs. For a full overview of the many clinics sponsored by Abington Health, visit the clinics section of this website. In addition, Abington provides a generous financial assistance policy for members of the community who meet federal poverty guidelines.

Health education, screenings and prevention programs are designed to reach populations affected by the unequal incidence of a number of illnesses and/or disabilities. Breast, prostate and skin cancer screenings are provided as well as heart and stroke risk assessments and hypertension screenings to name a few. Outreach programs are offered in area churches, synagogues and temples, as well as at food stores, community centers and libraries. For a full listing of prevention and screening programs, visit our calendar of events section on this website.

To remove any language barriers, Abington Health provides translation services in many languages throughout the hospitals and in the various clinics. On-site translators are available in many programs and the video display “Alvin” interpreter device is available at both Abington and Lansdale Hospitals.