Mercy Health Promoter Model: Collaborating with Hispanic Immigrant Communities for Just Health Care

The U.S. immigrant population was 7.1 million in 1990 and reached a peak of 12.1 million people in 2010, with Latin Americans making up a majority of this group. Philadelphia and surrounding counties, like other cities across the United States, have experienced a steady growth in undocumented residents. Consequently, regional hospitals have seen an increase in undocumented patients, many uninsured or underinsured. Mercy Suburban Hospital, located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has reported a 4% increase in the number of Hispanic patients in the past year. The majority of this community is suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Due to the preliminary success and apparent viability of the Mercy Health Promoter Model in African populations within Philadelphia, Mercy Health System of Southeastern