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Medical Bag

Doctors named to national CMS Clinical Committee

DANVILLE — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has named Geisinger cardiologist James Blankenship and endocrinologist Ronald Harris to serve on its clinical committee, according to a news release from Geisinger.

As members of the committee, Harris and Blankenship will provide endocrine and cardiology perspectives, respectively, as the committee develops care episode and patient condition groups for use in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, a new Medicare physician reimbursement program.

They join physicians from around the country representing a scope of specialities as the committee focuses on providing expertise on sets and groupings of services to treat patient conditions and procedures to be used within the merit-based program.

Implementation of the program is set to begin in 2017.

2 OBGYNs join Geisinger Medical Center

DANVILLE — Doctors Marsha Ann Nahra and Deanna L. Mascho-Cawley have joined Geisinger Medical Center as doctors of obstetrics and gynecology, according to a news release from Geisinger.

Nahra comes to Geisinger after leaving her private practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Prior to opening her practice, she worked at Warren Clinic Obstetrics and Gynecology and Eastern Oklahoma Center for women, both in Tulsa.

Mascho-Cawley comes to Geisinger after serving as chief of obstetrics at Bassett Army Community Hospital in Fort Wainwright, Arkansas.

Nahra and Mascho-Cawley will be seeing patients at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

Geisinger honors caring top caregivers

DANVILLE — More than 100 Geisinger caregivers were honored for being named “the best” by the patients they serve, according to a news release from Geisinger.

Geisinger Health System recognized 108 providers — including physicians, physician assistants and certified registered nurse practitioners — for ranking in the top 10 percent in patient experience nationally at the health system’s annual Top Patient Experience Clinicians Awards Dinner.

Among the 108 clinicians honored, three were spotlighted for their exemplary work — receiving additional recognition for their compassionate work every day with patients.

Dr. Terrah M. Keck-Kester, pediatrician, Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital, and Dr. Jennifer M. Potter, pediatrician, Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital, received the Victor J. Marks Award for best Primary Care and Outpatient Specialty physician, respectively.

Recipients of the award are identified by patients as “the best of our best,” the health care system news release stated.

Monisa Deanne Wagner, certified physician assistant, pediatric neurology, Geisinger Medical Center, received the newly named Christina Appleman Award, given to Geisinger’s advanced practitioner achieving the highest overall care provider section on the patient satisfaction survey.

Bucknell president chairman of Geisinger Health System Foundation board

DANVILLE — Bucknell University President John Bravman has been elected chairman of the Geisinger Health System Foundation Board of Directors.

He succeeds William Alexander, who served as board chairman from 2011-2016.

Bravman’s election to the position underscores what already is a robust partnership between Geisinger and Bucknell that includes numerous collaborations among doctors, researchers and students, spanning departments and academic disciplines at both institutions.

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