PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 15, 2007--- Top officials of Temple University Health System's Episcopal Campus gathered Friday to present state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione with their "Healthcare Visionary Award."

     "Sen. Tartaglione has been a champion for Episcopal Hospital and the people of the community for many years and we're honored to have her here with us today," said Joseph "Chip" Marshall, the hospital's President and CEO.

      The ceremony also marked the launch of Episcopal's power plant renovation, for which Tartaglione helped secure a $1 million state grant. Tartaglione worked with state officials and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation to launch the project to update the power plant, parts of which date back to the 19th century.

     "Without Sen. Tartaglione and PIDC we wouldn't be able to create the pressure for our power plant - and that would interrupt our tradition of service to this community," Marshall said.
Tartaglione said she was humbled by the honor, and remains committed to help Episcopal's mission to provide quality health care to a mostly low-income patient base.

     "We have many more bridges to cross in our journey, and I pledge to be by their side every step of the way," she said.

      Tartaglione and hospital officials recalled the challenges of the past, including the near shut-down of the facility during a financial crisis in the early 1990s, when 80 percent of the its patients could not afford to pay for services.

     "One of the first things I faced after being elected was the possibility that this hospital might shut down," she said. "They were challenging times but the people of this community benefited from the hard work of many dedicated people."

     Tartaglione was later offered - and accepted - a position on Episcopal's board of directors. Marshall made note of her work ethic, including many Senate initiatives on behalf of the local health-care community, senior citizens and working families.

     "When do you find time to sleep?" he asked.

     Tartaglione also sits on the board of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital of Philadelphia, the Empowerment Zone, Impact Services Corporation and the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis."