Maternal & Family Health Services believes that everyone deserves access to quality care, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or economic status. Their new Circle of Care is an innovative health and human services center providing nutritional, reproductive, dental and behavioral health services to under-served women, children and families throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
When the new CEO took the helm, her first priority was to bring all of their services together in one location. Prior to this, they were inconveniently dispersed throughout the community in less than ideal locations that did not match the level of quality care that patients received. Locations were both difficult to find and did not reflect the organization’s mission, vision and values. Working with the architects to evaluate different sites, MFHS selected a destination that had street visibility, adjacency to neighborhoods, ample parking and easy access via public transportation.
The exposed heavy timber wood and steel beam ceilings in the public spaces reveal the original silk mill construction, harkening back to an age when women’s well-being was not front and center and, ironically, helping to celebrate that now it is.
The Circle of Care combines an intuitive patient flow that respects privacy with thoughtful infection control details for a safe, compassionate and dignified experience. Thought and care was given to the materials used throughout the space, as well as for the furniture and millwork, to ensure environments that are easy to clean and maintain. The LVT floors have cove edges; the guest chairs throughout have a smooth polymer surface; and the millwork laminate uses laser edge-banding with a microbial seal to fight moisture and contamination.
