'Let's Talk, Period.' event brings positivity and education to families. March 3, 2026 Reading Hospital partnered with The Junior League of Reading and Berks Teens to host "Let's Talk, Period," a free event focused on menstrual equity and period positivity for teens and tweens in grades 3 to 8 and a trusted adult. More than 130 individuals were in attendance, making it the largest event to date. "Together, our organizations created an educational, judgement-free zone," said Jenna Hiester, President, The Junior League of Reading. "We fulfilled our mission to provide age-appropriate, accurate medical information that will help families through the transition period." Event panelists included Olubunmi K Ojikutu, MD, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Reading Hospital; Nina N Duke, MD, Tower Health Medical Group Pediatrics - Wyomissing; and Junior League of Reading member Jennifer L Mueller, MD, Dermatologist, Clear Dermatology. "The most important message we tried to reiterate is that the physical and emotional changes that come along with puberty are normal and can be managed," said Dr. Ojikutu. "I am confident that the participants feel more prepared for the changes they will experience." Every attendee received a period pampering kit containing menstrual products, personal care items, informational materials, and giveaways. Items were donated by Godiva Chocolatier, Clear Dermatology, Co-County Wellness, DoubleTree Reading, and Giant. Those in attendance generously donated 42 new and gently used bras to "Bra-nanza" and event organizers are distributing to those in need. "We had a wonderful audience who asked insightful questions of the panelists," said Dr. Mueller. "We are grateful to have been a part of this opportunity to provide guidance and support to young people so they will have a better understanding of what to expect and learn healthy habits."

Berks stroke patients get a chance to horse around. Reading Hospital Rehabilitation in Wyomissing has introduced a new weekly horse therapy program. PUBLISHED: February 26, 2026 at 12:30 PM EST A stroll through Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing on Thursday morning produced a lot of typical hospital sights. There were patients and doctors, wheelchairs and walkers. There were diagnostic machines and medical supplies, nurses and therapy devices. And, there was a horse. Of course. While that last one might seem a bit shocking and out of place to some, for those who regularly traverse the rehabilitation center's halls it has, in fact, become a common thing to spy. That's because, starting the second week in January, a 7-year-old American mini horse named Raphie has been stopping by for two hours each Thursday. His visits are part of a new horse therapy program Tower Health has introduced at the facility, designed to help stroke patients in their recoveries. Nikki Hartman, acute rehab program director for Reading Hospital Rehabilitation, said the center was looking for ways to help patients deal with post-stroke depression, which is a common occurrence. "Studies have shown that when you incorporate animal-assisted therapy it helps to improve mood and participation," she said. So the hospital connected with Take Heart, a counseling and equine-assisted therapy company near Wernersville. Through Take Heart - and a grant from the Reading Hospital Foundation - Raphie now spends from 9 to 11 a.m. helping three patients per week with their therapy. The early results have been nothing short of astounding, Hartman said. "We bring Raphie in and you can see a change immediately," she said. Patients walk with Raphie, they braid and brush his hair, they work on speech issues by naming his body parts or reciting horse facts. Hartman said Raphie's presence has improved patients' abilities to tackle all of those tasks. "We'll have a patient who can maybe walk 20 feet on their own, and with Raphie it's 50 or 100 feet," she said. "It's magic." So far, Hartman said, 90% of the patients who have done therapy with Raphie have had positive functional outcomes along with improvements in mood. "The outcomes we're seeing are just off the charts," she said. "It's amazing." One of the patients who has seen improvements working with Raphie is Floyd Walters, a 68-year-old stroke patient from Birdsboro. On Thursday, Walters did laps around a large room inside the rehab hospital with Raphie at his side. He tussled the horse's mane as they strolled, looking down at his walking partner with a smile. "I think it's great," Walters said. "It gives you something to look forward to." Walters is no stranger to horses, having had several growing up on a farm near Royersford. Getting a chance to spend some time with an equine friend while doing therapy has brought back happy memories, he said, and makes the tedious task of rehab a little easier to swallow. "It takes the boredom out of being in the hospital," he said. Walters said he didn't know what to think when he first heard that horse therapy was going to be offered at the hospital, but he's been pleasantly surprised by it. "It's better than walking with her," he said with a wry smile, motioning toward his physical therapist. Hartman said Raphie has not only boosted the mood of patients but has had a positive effect on staff. "Everybody gets so excited," she said, explaining that Raphie tours the building before starting his shift. "They hear the clip clop of him coming down the hall and everyone jumps out to see him. "Thursdays have become everyone's favorite day of the week." Raphie seems to enjoy the experience, too. He exhibits a somewhat surprising level of calm in the unusual setting, interacting gently and compassionately with the patients. Brook Merritt, an equine professional with Take Heart, said those traits are just part of who Raphie is. "A horse has to have the demeanor for it," she said. "Not all horses can be in a room with all these people. Raphie takes it in stride." Most horses do have a sense of people's energy and emotions, Merritt said, which make them great animals to use for therapy. That's why she jumped at the chance to partner with Reading Rehabilitation Hospital. "We know that our horses have this ability, so to be given this opportunity was super exciting," she said. "We would like to see the program grow." As of now, the grant funding the hospital received from the Reading Hospital Foundation will support the program for a year. Hartman said that, based on its success, she hopes to extend that long into the future. RevContent feed.

Tower Health hospitals receive national honors from Healthgrades for clinical excellence. Feb 16, 2026 Reading Hospital has been named one of America's 50 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades for 2026, marking the fifth consecutive year the hospital has received this recognition. Healthgrades is a widely used platform for Americans seeking information about doctors and hospitals. The award places Reading Hospital in the top 1% of hospitals nationwide and is based on patient outcomes. Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for over 30 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals to determine its list. The methodology relies on data from Medicare patients during the years 2022 through 2024. "This recognition is a major milestone for the entire team at Reading Hospital," said Dr. Charles F. Barbera, Reading Hospital president and CEO. "Coupled with recent investments in new technologies at McGlinn Cancer Institute and Miller Regional Heart Center, it reinforces our status as a trusted, top-tier healthcare provider, not only in our area, but also nationwide." Reading Hospital earned five-star ratings in several categories, including COPD, heart failure, cranial neurosurgery, treatment of stroke, outpatient total knee replacement, total hip replacement, treatment of sepsis, and upper gastrointestinal surgery. The hospital was also recognized for outstanding outcomes in outpatient joint replacement and orthopedic surgery. Pottstown Hospital also received high marks from Healthgrades. It achieved five-star ratings in treatment of heart attack, outpatient total knee replacement, and treatment of sepsis. "We are proud that Pottstown Hospital has again earned recognition in multiple areas for our clinical excellence," said Dr. Richard McLaughlin, CEO at Pottstown Hospital. "While the exceptional ratings demonstrate our commitment to teamwork and collaboration, they also highlight how our staff continually provides exceptional care and outcomes for our patients." Michael Stern, Tower Health president and CEO, commented on the significance of these awards: "Our team members put their all into caring for patients with compassion during every interaction," he said. "At Tower Health, we continue to draw on the strengths and expertise across the organization to advance our mission and exceed the expectations of our patients and community." According to Healthgrades' analysis, there is a significant difference in patient outcomes between top-performing hospitals like those listed among America's 50 Best Hospitals and other facilities across the country. If all hospitals performed similarly to those on this list during the study period from 2022-2024, an estimated 209,081 lives could have been saved among Medicare patients. "This year's America's Best Hospitals list gives patients a clearer picture of where high-quality care is delivered most consistently," said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. "Patients can feel confident in their decision to seek care at Reading Hospital, an organization that is setting the standard for clinical excellence nationwide." The full methodology behind these awards can be found on Healthgrades' website. No Post Found