WELLSBORO - By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital has earned its Gold Seal of Approval.
The hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site survey Oct. 4-7. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated the hospital for compliance with standards of care and patient needs, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management. The Joint Commission survey is an audit of the actual delivery of critical services rather than a review of system policies.
"We sought accreditation to demonstrate our commitment to our patients' safety and quality care," said Jan Fisher, hospital president and CEO. "Achieving Joint Commission accreditation is an important step in maintaining and continually improving the care our hospital provides as we further a culture of excellence."
Fisher also spoke with pride about her dedicated, hardworking staff. "The survey results reflect our staff's ongoing, organization-wide commitment to provide high quality care."
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation. It evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the U.S., including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations and more than 6,800 other health care organizations that provide long-term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, the commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
Becker's Hospital Review names Geisinger CFO among 110
to know nationwide
DANVILLE - Kevin Brennan, executive vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Geisinger Health System, has been named to Becker's Hospital Review's "110 Hospital and Health System CFOs to Know," which recognizes high-performing financial strategists in the hospital industry.
"Kevin is responsible for ensuring Geisinger's ongoing healthy financial performance and outlook, which enables the health system to invest in people, facilities and technology to provide quality patient care," said Dr. Glenn Steele Jr., Geisinger Health System president and CEO. "It is gratifying that Kevin's expertise and strategic contributions are being recognized in this manner."
Other CFOs on the list are from health systems that include the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.; Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, Ohio; Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Md.; and Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.
As chief financial officer, Brennan is responsible for all system financial operations and directs key functions, including treasury management, revenue cycle, financial reporting, budgeting, third-party contracting, compliance, payroll, accounts payable, tax, decision support, mergers and acquisitions and financial systems, including workforce management.
Prior to joining Geisinger, Brennan served as the regional vice president of finance and vice president of managed care with the Franciscan Health System with responsibilities covering eight hospitals and affiliates in the Middle Atlantic states. He also served as vice president of finance for The Germantown Hospital and Medical Center in Philadelphia, and vice president of finance for St. Michael's Medical Center in Newark, N.J.
He holds a master's of business administration degree in health care administration and a bachelor of science degree in business administration, both from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. He has been a certified public accountant since 1979 and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has been a fellow of the Health care Financial Management Association since 1992 and also serves on Health care Financial Management Association's Principles and Practices accounting rule-making body.
Becker's Hospital Review is a bimonthly publication offering up-to-date business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems. Content is geared toward high-level hospital leaders.
Geisinger names
chairman of
orthopedic surgery
DANVILLE - Orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Michael Suk has joined Geisinger Health System as chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He will provide care at Geisinger Medical Center while overseeing the system's clinical and academic orthopedic program.
In Florida, where he held positions in both academic and clinical settings, Suk specialized in complex fractures, non-healing bones and orthopedic infections. In addition, he is a leader in the field of orthopedic outcomes research.
At the University of Florida-Shands in Jacksonville, Suk served as division chief of orthopedic trauma, associate professor of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation, and associate director of the Orthopedic Residency Program.
He received a law degree and master's degree in public health from Boston University, Boston, Mass., and a medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Ill. He completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y. Suk was fellowship-trained in orthopedic traumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York City. A fellowship-trained orthopedic traumatologist and health care attorney, Suk frequently is called upon to provide analysis on health system reform. He has received numerous awards for leadership and public service.
Evangelical Community Hospital launches new website
LEWISBURG - For 85 years, area residents have counted on Evangelical Community Hospital for access to top-quality, local health care. Now, with the unveiling of a new, comprehensive website, that access is easier than ever.
"Through our new website, patients, family members and visitors now have direct access to information that is critical to maintaining and improving their health" said Annmarie Poslock, director of marketing and public relations. "The site helps patients find the right physician, learn about health care programs and services offered at the Hospital and in the community, and sign up for newsletters, class registrations, and special events. As people know and understand their health options, they can make informed decisions and become active partners in their care.
The new website has an easy-to-use platform, making it simple for visitors to navigate and get the health information they need.
"A lot of thought went into making the navigation more intuitive for the user and provides them with one-click access to the site's features," Poslock said.
Highlights of the site include:
E-Health - Evangelical Community Hospital's new patient portal. Ask your health care provider questions, request prescriptions renewals, request appointments and access important health forms all through a secure connection and at a time and place convenient to you.
Visitor and Billing Information - Answers to questions on everything from insurance and financial assistance, to on-site conveniences such as gift shop and baby photos, to surgical instructions and visitor guidelines.
Find a Doctor - Find the right doctor for your needs, whether by specialty or location.
Multimedia - The new site offers YouTube Channel, Facebook, improved access to news and upcoming event. A new, flexible-format calendar makes it easier than ever for community members to find wellness classes and other events. Location information now includes printable maps.
The site can be accessed at www.evanhospital.com.
Central Susquehanna Surgical Specialists join Evangelical
LEWISBURG - Evangelical Community Hospital and its medical services organization are pleased to announce that it has acquired the independent practice of Central Susquehanna Surgical Specialists. The transfer of ownership of the practice was finalized on Jan. 2, with surgeons, caregivers and other employees of CSSS joining the hospital as employees.
CSSS includes the practice of Drs. Gary Ayers, Lisa Ayers, James Morgan, Christopher Motto, Joseph Mucciolo, Bradley Mudge, Todd Stefan and John Turner.
"Expanding the complement of employed physicians to include surgeons aligns with the hospital's mission and strategic priorities to provide the highest quality surgical care to residents of the Susquehanna Valley region," said Michael N. O'Keefe, president and CEO. "We look forward to our continued work with these highly skilled surgeons and their staff and welcome them as fellow employees."
Surgical specialties include vascular, breast, bariatric, wound care, colonoscopies, hernia repair, general surgery and ear, nose and throat. The practice also offers comprehensive audiology services, including hearing aids and hearing protection solutions.
The hospital will open eight new operating rooms in July 2012 as part of the $32 million surgical and cardiovascular construction project. The surgical suite will provide patients even greater access to life-saving care close to home.
The surgeons have joined Evangelical Medical Services Organization, which is the employed physician network at Evangelical. The practice's new name will be Surgical Specialists.
To make an appointment, call 523-3290.
Jersey Shore Hospital congratulates its 'Rocker of the Month'
Jersey Shore Hospital recently named Karen Davidson, of its business office, the first "Rocker of the Month" for 2012.
Davidson works in the billing part of the business office. Her day-to-day activities include submitting insurance claims to Medicare, Blue Cross and Medical Assistance. She then follows-up on claims to ensure they are paid correctly.
A coworker had this to say about Davidson: "Whenever I have an interaction with Karen, it is a positive one. She is very friendly and greets me every morning with a smile and always asks how I am. Seeing someone with this positive attitude first thing in the morning makes me happy to work with such nice people."
The Rocker of the Month program is similar to an employee of the month program at Jersey Shore Hospital. Rocker is an acronym for respecting our customers kindly and employees regularly.
Geisinger among 15 top health systems in U.S.
DANVILLE - A new study ranks Geisinger Health System as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S.
The fourth annual Thomson Reuters 15 Top Health Systems study reported Jan. 16 that Geisinger was among the 15 hospital systems singled out for achievement in clinical outcomes based on balanced system-wide clinical performance according to data collected from more than 300 organizations. That performance measures included care quality, patient perception of care and efficiency.
Geisinger was one of just two Pennsylvania health care systems making the list. The other was Main Line Health in Bryn Mawr.
"Recognition by Thomson Reuters validates Geisinger's innovative model for health care delivery," said Dr. Glenn Steele Jr., Geisinger president and CEO. "It has always been our mission to keep our patients healthier, safer and more engaged. The commitment to excellence by our physicians, residents, fellows, nurses, support staff and the entire Geisinger family makes this distinguished recognition possible."
The key findings in the study of these 15 top systems were lower 30-day mortality rates, better survival rates, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and better patient safety and adherence to core measures of care than their peers. Other key findings included 19 percent fewer complications and a median average length of stay nearly one-half shorter than their peers. Top systems also had 23 percent fewer adverse patient safety events than expected, according to the Thomson Reuters study.
"This year we are seeing stronger system-wide performance and increased rates of improvement, particularly along the 15 top Health Systems award winners. Health system performance is beginning to reflect aspirations to provide more consistent outcomes across communities served," said Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for improvement performance and 100 top hospitals at Thomson Reuters. "Healthc are reform appears to have stimulated the increase of improvement at the system level."
The study found that the top 15 health systems held post-discharge 30-day mortality rates steady, while peer health systems saw a significant increase in post-discharge mortality. Winning systems, too, had 17 percent fewer deaths than expected considering patient severity, while non-winning hospitals had 4 percent more deaths than expected.
The study divided the top health systems into three comparison groups based on total operating expense of the member hospitals.
The study relied on public data from the 2010 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare data.
31TomOconnell in inbox and email and stock/health/tifs
Susquehanna Health appoints new foundation director
Susquehanna Health has announced that Thomas O'Connell has been appointed to the position of director of major and planned gifts. With more than 30 years of experience in investment, trust and fiduciary services, he brings a multitude of skills to the health system's foundation.
O'Connell serves as the chair of the Funds Distribution Committee for the Lycoming County United Way and participates on the boards of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra, Community Arts Center and the United Way. He previously chaired the Planned Giving Committee for Susquehanna Health's Project 2012.
O'Connell attended Pierce College, PBA Trust School at Bucknell University and received a certified financial planner designation from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colo.
"We are excited to have someone with Tom's experience and knowledge in this position with the foundation" said Sherry Watts, vice president of the Foundation at Susquehanna Health.
HOLD THESE FOR NOW
31elvamazell in inbox and email and stock/health/tifs
one other pic in email - dave ?
Our Fist Success Story
As the rehabilitation team at Kramm Health and Rehab in Milton has been re-built, the proof of success is through Elva Mazel. She successfully completed her rehabilitation program at Kramm Health and Rehab in Milton and achieved her goal of returning home. Her physical and occupational therapy teams assisted Elva with strategies to improve her ability to walk and care for herself independently at home. She is holding her Certificate of Achievement and her therapy team takes pride in achieving her Extraordinary Outcome!
31rana in inbox and photo stock health
Rana A. Colaianni, nurse practioner, founder and owner of New Beginnings Health care for Women, recently attended a weeklong Integrative Medicine conference titled "Psychoneuroimmunology of Health, Immunity and Disease," produced by the NICABM-the National Institute of Clinical Applications for Behavioral Medicine.
Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the effects of the mind, body and spirit on health and immunity.
In her holistic health practice at New Beginnings, Colaianni, board-certified in integrative medicine, practices a blend of both conventional and complementary approaches of healing, caring for the whole person, mind-body and spirit. Her office is at 1017 Washington Blvd. and she may be reached at 329-2273 or www.newbeginningsforwomen.com,
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Midwife services available at Muncy Valley Hospital
MUNCY - Beginning Feb. 1, midwife services will be available at Muncy Valley Hospital, according to the Susquehanna Health OB/GYN.
Susquehanna Health OB/GYN employs Drs. Leonard Collins, Angela Huggler, Farag Salama, Charles Lamade and Frank Yartz, nurse practitioner Sandra Lentz, as well as five certified nurse midwives - Mary DeWire, Janice Dreher, Patricia Kaiser, Heather McLaughlin and Kathryn Swatkowski. The practice now will provide routine obstetrical appointments with the midwives at Muncy Valley Hospital.
"Currently, there are no obstetricians or midwives located in the eastern part of Lycoming County and we wanted to be able to offer a more convenient location for our patients in that area," said Krysta Wagner, administrative director for Susquehanna Health Medical Group. "During the course of a pregnancy, a woman may require up to 15 appointments with their provider. By expanding services into Muncy, we'll be able to accommodate our patients and the majority of their appointments closer to home or work in that part of our service area."
Susquehanna Health is undergoing a renovation and expansion project that includes a new Birthplace to open this summer. The new Birthplace will be a state-of-the-art maternity unit in the new Susquehanna Tower at Williamsport Regional Medical Center.
New mothers who deliver at The Birthplace will have a private room complete with amenities such as wireless Internet access, flatscreen televisions and a comfortable sleep space for a support person. Patients of Susquehanna Health OB/GYN will deliver their baby at Williamsport Regional Medical Center.
To schedule an OB appointment or learn more about the expansion of midwife services, call 323-3671.
