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Chester County Press

LCH Community Health Services: Improving health and the economy in Oxford Borough

04/05/2021 07:43PM ● By Steven Hoffman

LCH Community Health Services recently opened the doors to a new location in downtown Oxford, in the former Oxford Sewer Authority Building at 14 S. Third Street. 

“A friendly and walkable community is what we were looking for and we found it in Oxford,” said Laura Mackiewicz, the brand manager for LCH Community Health Services.

Ted Trevorrow, the interim director of operations, was responsible for overseeing the renovation of the building which has housed many businesses in the past. 

Commonwealth Group of Wilmington, Del. was charged with the makeover of the 5,351-square-foot building and transforming it into a Community Health Service Center.

LCH was formerly located at 301 N. Third Street, where they operated in a 1,000-square-foot building with only three exam rooms. Moving to the center of town, in the heart of the business district, seemed like the perfect place to expand the growing business.

The new location not only gives them more exam rooms so they can provide more services to the community, but also provides them with more space for their staff to work together. 

“We are delighted to move here and become involved with Oxford Mainstreet’s First Fridays and other events. We love being a part of the community,” Mackiewicz said.

They also feel excited about working with the diverse population in the borough, and the fact that Oxford is such a walkable community. 

“We love the fact that there is a park so close by,” Margarita Garay-Zarco said. “We are happy to be here. Like our mission statement says, we change lives by serving southern Chester County as the leading provider of integrated health and community services.”

Through their integrated electronic health record system, LCH Centricity, service providers can understand social and environmental influences first-hand on each patient. The LCH team has a full understanding of a patient’s situation, and works together to help move the patients forward to the next level of health, independence, and confidence. They emphasize preventive care, and educate their patients on how life experiences and influences at work and at home can affect overall health.

LCH is certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance as a Level I Physicians Practice Connections – Patient-Centered Medical Home. LCH is a Federally Qualified Health Care Center and a Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Deemed facility.  In 2013, LCH was  listed as one of the top five Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) out of the 40 FQHCs in the state of Pennsylvania.

The center provides both primary and acute services including the following:

~ Physical exams and wellness visits

~ Immunizations

~ Diagnosis and treatment for chronic illness

~ Minor injuries, aches, and pains

~ Behavioral health counseling

~ Referrals to specialty care

~ Sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment


Their specialists also work with patients and their families on how to manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

The doctors and medical staff at LCH Oxford are dedicated to providing care for the whole community, regardless of insurance status or income level.

They accept most private insurances, Medicaid, and Medicare, as well as patients without insurance. Their sliding fee scale is based on income level and family size, so health services are accessible.

Trevorrow was also appreciative of the assistance they received from the borough and from Arlene Harrison and Mayor Phil Harris. Harrison served as interim borough manager during 2020.

“They really helped us out with parking and other stumbling blocks,” Trevorrow said. Because of that, free parking is available to patients. There are 20 spaces on the second, third and fourth floors of the parking garage, all near the elevator. The spaces are marked with "LCH Parking Only During Business Hours.”

The LCH hours are Monday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Tuesday  8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Wednesday 8 a.m. -5 p.m.;

Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Friday 8 a.m. -12 p.m.

Beyond providing much-needed health care to the community, LCH also brings in more customers to local businesses.

According to Trevorrow, the renovation quickly directed him to Cameron’s Hardware Store. Then he brought his wife to work one day and she quickly located some of the lovely shops and restaurants in the community.

LCH employees and the constant influx of new clients from the surrounding area are also exploring what the borough has to offer and will be bringing their friends back for shopping excursions.

Lee Ann Riloff, a 20-year employee of LCH, feels that the new location will provide a welcoming space for clients and other local agencies. She is hopeful that collaborating with local agencies will provide a win-win for all.

Barbara Mancill said she is happy to get to know what all the other agencies like SILO, NSC and others can do when they work together.

LCH and the Oxford Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon on April 9.

They are open and ready to provide health service to everyone in the community and they are anxious to show off their newly renovated building.

More information can be found at: lchcommunityhealth.org.