North Side Christian Health Center becomes Pennsylvania’s first community clinic with solar battery system
PITTSBURGH —
North Side Christian Health Center in Pittsburgh has become the first community health center in Pennsylvania to install its own solar battery system.
It’s a move that leaders say will save money and ensure uninterrupted care during power outages.
“This project really allows us to safeguard $50,000 worth of vaccines, protect our medical record capabilities so we can continue care when our community needs it the most,” said Bethany Blackburn, CEO of North Side Christian Health Center.
The system will allow the center to continue providing care to patients even during emergencies.
“By investing in clean, reliable energy, you’re helping to ensure this health center can continue serving patients during power outages and emergencies. What does that mean? That means medicines stay refrigerated, medical equipment can keep operating, and patients can continue to get the care they need,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato.
The project comes amid concerns about how federal cuts could impact Medicare recipients.
“Federal cuts are going to hurt a lot of individuals, our most vulnerable in our neighborhoods, and that’s why investing in centers like this can continue to build that relationship, to create a better neighborhood but access to healthcare that most individuals do not have,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor.
“It shows what’s possible if organizations come together to solve problems that one institution alone cannot. Together, you created a model of how sustainability and community health can reinforce one another,” Innamorato said.
Leaders at North Side Christian Health Center said they will continue to find innovative ways to serve their patients in Pittsburgh and beyond for years to come.