Susquehanna Health welcomes foot and ankle specialist
Susquehanna Health welcomes Dr. Zachary Ritter, foot and ankle specialist. Fellowship trained in foot disorders, Ritter provides a wide range of podiatric services from routine podiatry care to treatment of more serious conditions and traumas of the foot and ankle. Individuals suffering from diabetic complications of the foot have access to custom fit orthotics and wound care.
Ritter offers surgical options including reconstructive surgery and total ankle replacement.
He attended Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and completed his residency at Saint Luke's Hospital and Health Network. His fellowship in foot disorders was completed at the Foot Disorder Research Academy.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 320-7598.
Commonwealth Medical College gets new president, dean
SCRANTON - The Commonwealth Medical College board recently announced that Dr. Steven J. Scheinman has been named president and dean.
He will succeed interim president and dean Dr. Robert Wright on Sept. 10.
Scheinman is professor of medicine and pharmacology at SUNY Upstate Medical University and previously served as its senior vice president and dean of the College of Medicine with institutional responsibility for overseeing its academic, research, and clinical programs and broadening the regional presence for the colleges of medicine, nursing, health professions and graduate studies.
Scheinman has earned international prominence for his research into the genetics of inherited kidney diseases and kidney stones. He has been on the faculty at Upstate for nearly 30 years, during which he served as chief of the nephrology division in the department of medicine for 10 years where he doubled the size of the faculty and grew the dialysis program.
Laurel Health Centers celebrate National Health Center Week
WELLSBORO - On Monday, The Laurel Health Centers kicked-off a weeklong celebration for National Health Center Week to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America's health centers.
Laurel Health Centers will provide free healthy snacks and beverages as well as health care items, such as pillboxes and hand sanitizer, in honor of the awareness week.
In the U.S., health centers provide care to more than 23 million people at more than 8,000 sites nationwide, reducing unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalization by providing a wide range of primary and preventive care services.
"When people have a convenient center for regular check ups and primary care, they stay healthier and cut down on unnecessary visits to the hospital," said Ferlin Patrick, physician practice director for Laurel Health Centers. "We provide a diverse range of services onsite from family-based care to preventive screenings - allowing our patients to get the care they need under one roof."
Laurel Health Centers are in Blossburg, Elkland, Lawrenceville, Mansfield, Wellsboro and Westfield.
Susquehanna Health expands support for breastfeeding
In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, Susquehanna Health is expanding its Baby Caf class to provide support for breastfeeding and new mothers on a weekly basis.
Baby Caf will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at two alternating locations - Williamsport Regional Medical Center and the James V. Brown Library.
The group discussion gives moms and their support persons an opportunity to meet and talk to other mothers about pregnancy, breastfeeding and after-birth experiences.
Susquehanna Health has two lactation consultants and five breastfeeding counselors who serve as advocates for best practices related to infant feeding, teaching nurse and physician colleagues the skills needed to confidently assist their breastfeeding patients and providing critical support after the mother has left the hospital.
"Even with all of the knowledge available about the benefits of breastfeeding, being a new mother in and of itself can be overwhelming and breastfeeding can seem, at times, difficult to accomplish," said Patsy Miller, director of mother/baby/child at Susquehanna Health.
"Our experienced lactation team, combined with the expanded Baby Caf classes and other classes we offer, will provide women with information and guidance to help them feel comfortable and confident as mothers," she said.
Area hospital names
its director of
physician services
Lock Haven Hospital has announced that Steven Hagerty has rejoined the hospital as director of physician services.
He will oversee the operations of Haven Surgical Associates, Haven Family Practice, Haven Orthopedics, Haven Primary Care, Haven Nephrology, Haven Pain Management and Haven Healthcare for Women.
Hagerty served in the role of director of physician services for Lock Haven hospital from May 2009 through June 2011. He spent the past year working with Priority Care, developing urgent cares centers throughout northeast Pennsylvania.
Hagerty resides with his wife, Ann, in Woolrich.
Evangelical's Center for Breast Health begins renovations
LEWISBURG - Evangelical Community Hospital's Thyra M. Humphrey's Center for Breast Health, 210 JPM Road, began renovations to its registration and waiting areas on Friday.
Patients may access the Center for Breast Health as normal and should follow directional signage during the renovation period.
The Center for Breast Health renovations are the latest effort of Evangelical Community Hospital to improve flow and convenience for the best possible patient experience.
When completed, individual check-in and check-out spaces will provide more privacy during the exchange of patient information.
For more information, call the center at 522-4200.
Lock Haven Hospital welcomes new director of case management
Lock Haven Hospital has announced the addition of Sandra Bender to the hospital staff as director of case management.
She brings more than 35 years of health care- related experience to the position, serving most recently as director of utilization case management at Jersey Shore Hospital.
Bender attended Pennsylvania College of Technology, earning an associate's degree in science and nursing.
In her new position, Bender is responsible for assisting in the development, planning, coordination and administration of the activities of Utilization Review and Discharge Planning. She is charged with a daily review of medical records to determine appropriateness and medical necessity of admission, continued hospital stay and use of ancillary services.
Nurse earns
new certification
Nurse Practitioner Linda Davis, of Family Practice Center's Williamsport Cornerstone office, recently met all qualifications and is certified as a pediatric primary care mental health specialist.
Davis adds the certification to her primary care nurse practitioner status.
She sees patients of all ages at Family Practice Center's Grampian Boulevard location.
New emergency department doctor joins hospital
JERSEY SHORE - Jersey Shore Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Tamar Baitel as a new board certified physician in the hospital's Emergency Department.
Baitel graduated from medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica's capital city.
After medical school, she completed family medicine residency at JFK Medical Center in Edison, N.J. During residency, Baitel became well-versed in emergency medicine, family medicine, urgent care, sports medicine/orthopedics, and outpatient general surgical procedures.
Baitel is certified in basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, neonatal advanced life support, advanced life support in obstetrics, and pediatric advanced life support.
