Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic hosts employee poverty simulation to improve community health, DEI

Newtown Square, Pa. – (September 27, 2023) – Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic recently hosted two poverty simulation exercises to enlighten staff members on the importance of caring for and serving diverse populations—especially those who are experiencing financial hardship and poverty. Living in the core values of parent organization Trinity Health of Livonia, Mich., Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic is committed to those experiencing poverty and serves those who are the most vulnerable.

The simulations were hosted in September at two of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic’s hospitals: St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa., and Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa. The three-hour professional development program sessions were hosted in promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion among employees to extend to patients and community members. The program is designed to help employees take action, express empathy and better relate to real-life situations those in our communities’ face.

“This immersive in-person learning experience was designed to help our colleagues better understand what it’s like to live at or below the poverty line to survive,” says Taryn Guy, regional director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. “Participants actively role-played as a person facing poverty and had to make decisions to meet and maintain basic human needs.”

More than 170 staff members across the Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic region took part in the program. The main objective of the poverty simulation was to sensitize employees and medical providers to the realities of what many of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic’s community members face daily.

“The simulation was truly impactful,” says Mary Ann Blohm, manager of clinical medical imaging at Nazareth Hospital. “Using the community resources that Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic offers the community, I was able to look into them for my elderly father who may benefit.”

The simulation, hosted by the United Way of Delaware, included a real-world community that included everything from social services, community health programs, a grocery store, pawn shop and even a jail.

“As we work to build a more compassionate and equitable society, Poverty Simulations serve as a powerful tool for bridging the empathy gap,” said Tierra Fair, vice president of engagement and partnerships at the United Way of Delaware. “These immersive experiences are not just imperative; they are a moral necessity, offering those untouched by poverty a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by millions.”

Fair adds that poverty simulators help us walk a mile in our neighbors’ shoes – giving insight to those who struggle daily, “[the simulator] helps foster a world where we unite to combat poverty, one heart at a time.”

Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic brings many benefits to the diverse communities served by its hospitals and their related services, including increased clinical collaboration; more tailored, comprehensive approaches for each community; and streamlined operational efficiencies for both patients and colleagues. Together these entities bring a renewed dedication to the core values of reverence, stewardship, integrity, justice and commitment to those experiencing poverty.

Learn more about Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.