The Wright Center News The Wright Centers Expand Presence in Luzerne County The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education will increase access to high-quality, comprehensive, affordable primary health services and health care career development opportunities through relocation and expansion of their Kingston primary care and workforce development center into downtown Wilkes-Barre. The Wright Center for Community Health recently completed the purchase and is repurposing a 34,460-square-foot building at 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave. The more than 3-acre site enables the nonprofit community health center to expand opportunities for regional residents to receive integrated, whole-person primary health care at one convenient location. The new primary care clinic will educate primary care physicians, medical students, and interprofessional health students from regionally and nationally affiliated academic institutions. The center will open Monday, Jan. 9, at 8 a.m. “We are honored to have this opportunity in Luzerne County to expand the delivery of our mission to improve the health and welfare of the communities we serve through inclusive and responsive health services and the sustainable renewal of an inspired and competent workforce that is privileged to serve,” said Linda Thomas-Hemak, M.D., FACP, FAAP, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “We are grateful for and inspired by Gov. Tom Wolf’s validating, generous Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program award. “We are also grateful to and inspired by our supportive governmental and legislative leaders, Sordoni Construction, and all of our partners who made this development project in Wilkes-Barre possible. We look forward to giving back through the regional and local community benefit impact we deliver,” Dr. Thomas-Hemak added. “Together, we are building a preferred future in which everyone will benefit from a health system that prioritizes equity, quality, and affordability of comprehensive primary health care services and career opportunities. “Our deep investment into Wilkes-Barre will enable The Wright Center to grow our operations and our collaborative, interprofessional relationships to ensure everyone in the service area has equitable access to whole-person primary health services, regardless of their ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. We are equally committed to pipeline, community-driven partnerships to open up dream mapping about health care career opportunities, so the demographics of our future health care workforce can better and more inclusively reflect the demographics of our regional community,” she added. In 2019, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designated The Wright Center for Community Health as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike, providing resources that allow the nonprofit organization to further assist medically underserved rural and urban communities and vulnerable populations, including people who are underinsured and uninsured. With a sliding-fee discount program available, The Wright Center reduces barriers to care by ensuring health care is affordable for everyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay. The Wright Center’s network of clinics in Northeast Pennsylvania primarily serves patients from Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. The Wright Center is no stranger to Luzerne County. The enterprise has operated teaching health centers in Wilkes-Barre and Kingston for many years and partnered on several public health initiatives with community resource agencies. The Wright Center for Community Health has utilized its 34-foot mobile medical unit, better known as Driving Better Health, to further address barriers to quality care in several underserved communities, partnering with social service organizations and school districts in lower Luzerne County to deliver routine vaccinations, COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters, and testing to where people live, work, and study. The first phase of the new clinical, educational and administrative center in Wilkes-Barre will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on holidays that occur Monday through Saturday. The center has ample, off-street parking and is within walking distance of downtown Wilkes-Barre, the James F. Conahan Intermodal Transportation Center, and public transportation bus stops. It will offer family-friendly primary medical, behavioral, and addiction and recovery services across the lifespan, from pediatrics to geriatrics. Ultimately, its integrated services will offer patients the convenience of going to a single location to access full-service primary medical, dental, behavioral health, addiction and recovery services, and other supportive programs. Over the next several months, The Wright Center will hopefully be adding more than 25 medical examination rooms, 30 behavioral health rooms, and 10 dental operators to increase access. The new facility will also include state-of-the-art conference and learning rooms, complete with audio-visual technology, computers, and more for provider care teams and learners, as well as dedicated space for partnering community resource agencies. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. To make an appointment at The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre Practice, call 570-491-0126 or go to TheWrightCenter.org Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, center, discusses how the new Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre Practice will improve the health and well-being of residents in Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County. New COVID-19 Vaccine Available at The Wright Center Children and infants as young as 6 months old can now receive the updated coronavirus vaccines at several of The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary care practices, increasing their defense against sickness during the upcoming holiday season and new year. Nationally, health officials have in recent weeks reported a surge of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, more commonly known as RSV. Hospitals in some areas have returned to operating at or near capacity levels due to the sharp rise in seasonal illnesses. Meanwhile, certain cold medications are in short supply, and officials in several large U.S. cities are again urging indoor masking. Lackawanna and Luzerne counties were classified as “low” for community spread of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8. New cases, though, had trended higher in the weeks since Thanksgiving. And, Susquehanna County’s community level is currently “high,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “As winter’s official start draws near, and more activities are conducted indoors, we hope to see more families taking the opportunity to safeguard their health, especially now that adults, children, and even many infants are eligible to get the most up-to-date vaccines,” said Dr. Jignesh Sheth, chief medical officer of The Wright Center for Community Health. Vaccines are the most powerful tool against the highly contagious virus, with demonstrated effectiveness during the pandemic in reducing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. The updated boosters, also called bivalent vaccines, offer protection against the original strain of COVID-19 as well as the now-prevalent omicron sub-variants that account for most new infections in the United States. The Moderna-made pediatric booster is available for individuals ages 6 months through 5 years. Children are eligible for the Moderna booster two months after completing their final primary series dose. Similarly, the Pfizer bivalent vaccine has been approved for children ages 6 months through 4 years old; it will be given as a third primary dose. People can schedule appointments by visiting The Wright Center’s website at TheWrightCenter.org and using the express online scheduling service or by calling 570.230.0019. Locations currently offering the updated pediatric boosters include the Kingston Practice, the Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn, and the Scranton Practice. A patient may choose to receive the booster shot with or without a vital sign assessment and/or primary care office visit, for which out-of-pocket expenses might be billed by the patient’s health insurance provider. Adults and children 6 months and older also are encouraged to get an annual flu shot. All available flu vaccines in the U.S. for the 2022-23 season are the quadrivalent variety, meaning they are designed to protect against four different flu viruses. Appointments to receive the flu vaccine can be made at any of The Wright Center’s locations in Northeast Pennsylvania. The Wright Center for Community Health, headquartered in Scranton, is a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike that operates eight primary care practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties. The Wright Center provides comprehensive primary and preventive health services – including medical, dental, behavioral health, addiction and recovery, and infectious disease services – that cover the lifespan from pediatrics to geriatrics. The Wright Center’s sliding-fee discount program ensures health care is affordable for everyone in need. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay. The Wright Center Presents Healthy MOMS Program to Participants at Conference Maria Kolcharno, LSW, director of addiction services, and Marcella Garvin, Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support program lead case manager, at The Wright Center for Community Health, recently collaborated on the presentation, “Healthy MOMS: It Takes a Village,” at the Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s National Family Week Conference at Mohegan Pennsylvania. The presentation provided a forum to discuss the variety of services available in the region and the best practices to advocate and link mothers with substance use disorder to supportive programs for them and their young children. “The presentation focused on the strong foundation we are building of healthy mothers in our community. It’s a collaborative effort among many organizations across nine counties,” said Kolcharno, who also addressed basic facts about addiction, and how mothers can connect with the program and how they gain independent through their own recovery. The Wright Center for Community Health, for example, recently collaborated with Maternal and Family Health Services to share a lactation specialist who serves as a mother’s coach after the child is born. “This population wouldn’t normally get a lactation coach,” said Kolcharno, who is a key leader of the Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support program. “A lot of insurance companies will not cover this service. By offering it, we are seeing healthier babies and mothers.” The Healthy MOMS program is part of The Wright Center for Community Health’s Opioid Use Disorder Center. It was co-founded with multiple agencies to assist women who are pregnant and have a substance use disorder. Healthy MOMS provides prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care, including medication-assisted treatment to women coping with a substance use disorder. The program strives to break the stigma associated with addiction while building patients’ self-esteem during and after their pregnancies, ideally engaging them in recovery support services. Currently there are 149 mothers active in the program, with 204 babies born through the program. Since its founding, more than 300 mothers have participated in the program. For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, call 570.995.7821 or text healthymoms to 555888. Information about the program and its partners is also available at healthymoms.org. Go to thewrightcenter.org/services for information about the Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence. New Pediatrician joins The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice Dr. Prachi Agarwal, a board-certified pediatrician, will join The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., beginning in January. The Wright Center for Community Health provides primary and specialty care for children of all ages, from newborn check-ups and well visits to vaccinations, school physicals, and overall anticipatory guidance through a child’s developmental stages. Dr. Agarwal earned her medical degree at KLE University, Belgaum, India. She completed her pediatric training and graduated with excellence from Rutgers Health/Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey. She is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and possesses certifications from the Brazelton Touchpoint Parenting Program and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. The Wright Center was designated a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike in 2019. It offers high-quality, affordable integrated health care at its network of primary care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, providing patients with the convenience of going to one location to access medical, dental, and behavioral and mental health care, plus addiction treatment and other supportive services. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Agarwal at the Scranton Practice, go to TheWrightCenter.org to use the express online scheduling system or call 570-941-0630.
Wright Center Will Hold COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic The Wright Center for Community Health’s 34-foot Driving Better Health mobile medical unit. The Wright Center for Community Health is holding a Driving Better Health COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at St. Francis Commons, 504 Penn Ave., Scranton, on Thursday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Driving Better Health is a 34-foot mobile medical unit that brings high-quality health care services directly to the underserved communities of Northeast Pennsylvania. The mobile medical unit has been serving populations of special concern since 2020. It is regularly deployed to senior living centers, regional schools, homeless shelters and other community gathering spots. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available for anybody age 5 and up. A guardian must accompany patients who are younger than 17. Walk-up appointments are welcome depending on vaccine availability, but appointments are encouraged for the convenience of patients. Please go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019 to schedule an appointment. The Wright Center for Community Health clinical staff will also offer COVID-19 testing and flu vaccines at the clinic. Guests are asked to observe public safety measures, including masking and social distancing, during the clinic and bring identification and insurance cards.
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses Available for All Adults at Geisinger Following recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Geisinger is offering booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines for all adults. People can get their booster dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine beginning six months after receiving their second dose for non-immunocompromised patients. People who are immunocompromised can receive their booster after their third dose. The booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is half of a single dose (0.25 milliliters). The booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the same dosage (0.3 milliliters) as a single dose. People who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive a booster dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines two months after their initial J&J dose. If you’re unsure if you qualify for a booster or have any specific questions, contact your doctor. You can make an appointment for a first, second, third or booster dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Geisinger through MyGeisinger or by calling 570-284-3657. Appointments are available at the vaccine centers at the Geisinger Health Plan Building near Danville, Geisinger CenterPoint in Jenkins Township, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital and Geisinger Lewistown Hospital. Appointments are also available at Geisinger Philipsburg and Geisinger Pharmacy locations in Dallas, Danville, Lewistown, Lock Haven, Mount Pocono, Pottsville, State College and Scranton. Remember to bring your COVID-19 vaccine card or proof of having received the vaccine to your appointment. More information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available at Geisinger.org/COVIDVax. As a reminder, no visitors are permitted for outpatient appointments, unless medically necessary, and masks must be worn by everyone in all Geisinger buildings and facilities.
Update: OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccine The OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring employers with at least 100 employees to require employees to either obtain a COVID-19 vaccination or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing has been placed on OSHA’s website, and is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on November 5, 2021 (which will be the ETS’ effective date). This Client Alert is intended to serve as an initial primer about the key points of the ETS.The determination of whether the employer has at least 100 employees is initially made as of November 5, 2021. If an employer has fewer than 100 employees on that date, the ETS would not apply to that employer – but if that employer subsequently hits the 100-employee threshold for coverage, the employer would then be required to comply with the ETS. The determination of whether the employer has 100 employees is made on an enterprise level – there is not a separate calculation for individual facilities. Part-time employees should be included in the calculation.The ETS requires an employer to take the following steps: The employer must establish, implement and enforce a written mandatory vaccination policy – UNLESS the employer establishes, implements, and enforces a written policy allowing any employee not subject to a mandatory vaccination policy to choose either to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or provide proof of regular testing for COVID-19 in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section and wear a face covering as required by the ETS. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. The employer must determine the vaccination status of each employee by requiring each vaccinated employee to provide acceptable proof of vaccination status. Acceptable proof of vaccination status includes: Record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy;A copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card;A copy of medical records documenting vaccination; A copy of immunization records from a public health, state or tribal immunization information system; or A copy of any other official documentation that contains the type of vaccine administered, date(s) of administration, and the name of the health care professional(s) or clinic site(s) administering the vaccine(s). In some cases where an employee is unable to provide proof of vaccination, an employer may be able to accept a sworn statement from the employee attesting to their vaccination status. If an employee does not provide proof of vaccination, the employer must treat the employee as being unvaccinated. Proof of vaccination must be maintained as a confidential medical record. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021.Employers must provide paid leave for vaccination and recovery from potential vaccine side effects. Employers must provide up to 4 hours of paid time for vaccination (including travel), and “reasonable time and paid sick leave” to recover from side effects experienced following any primary vaccination dose. The ETS does not define “reasonable time and paid sick leave”, but FAQs that accompany the regulations indicate that that OSHA “presumes that, if an employer makes available up to two days of paid sick leave per primary vaccination dose for side effects, the employer would be in compliance with this requirement.” Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Employers must ensure that any employee who is not fully vaccinated undergoes regular COVID-19 testing. The specific testing requirements are as follows: An employee who reports at least once every 7 days to a work location where other individuals are present must be tested for COVID-19 at least once every 7 days and provide the most recent results to the employer at least once every 7 days. An employee who does not report to a work location where other individuals are present during a period of 7 or more days must be tested for COVID-19 within 7 days prior to returning to the workplace, and must provide documentation of that test to the employer. If an employee receives a positive COVID-19 test, or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 by a licensed healthcare provider, the employer may not require the employee to undergo testing during the 90 day period following their test or diagnosis. If an employee does not provide proof of testing as required, the employer cannot allow the employee into the workplace until the required proof of testing is presented. Testing records must be maintained as a confidential medical record. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by January 4, 2022.Although the ETS states that employers are not required to pay for the costs of required COVID-19 testing, employers may be required to bear the cost of testing under state law or other legal provisions. Employers should consult with employment counsel prior to determining who will bear the cost of testing. Employers must require employees to promptly notify the employer of positive COVID-19 test results, and ensure employees who test positive are removed from the workplace in compliance with CDC guidelines. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. The employer must ensure that each employee who is not fully vaccinated wears a face covering when indoors and when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes. There are exceptions to this rule in the following circumstances: When an employee is alone in a room with floor to ceiling walls and a closed door; For a limited time while the employee is eating or drinking at the workplace or for identification purposes in compliance with safety and security requirements; When the employee is wearing a respirator or facemask; Where the employer can show that use of face coverings is infeasible or creates a greater hazard that would excuse compliance with this requirement (for example, where wearing a face covering would cause a greater safety hazard). The employer must ensure that any face covering worn covers the nose and mouth, and ensure that coverings are replaced when they become wet, soiled or damaged. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Employers must provide each employee, in a language and at a literacy level the employee understands, information about: The requirements of the ETS; The CDC publication “Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines”, available online at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html; andInformation about federal regulations prohibiting retaliation for reporting workplace injuries or illnesses and penalties for knowingly supplying false statements or documentation. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Employers must report COVID-19 fatalities and hospitalizations to OSHA in accordance with OSHA reporting requirements. OSHA has prepared a fact sheet to assist with these requirements, available online at: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4129.pdf. By the end of the next business day following a request, the employer must make available for examination and copying the individual COVID-19 vaccine documentation and any COVID-19 test results for a particular employee to that employee and their designated representatives. Employers must comply with this section of the ETS by December 5, 2021. Additional information about the ETS is available on OSHA’s website about the following link: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2. Other federal agencies are publishing additional COVID-19-related requirements today and tomorrow; additional guidance on those measures will be forthcoming.We expect that legal challenges to the ETS will be filed quickly by multiple governmental and private organizations. It is possible that these challenges may delay or prevent the implementation of at least some aspects of the ETS.As additional information about the ETS becomes available, our office will provide you with updated information and guidance. If you have any questions about OSHA’s new Rule or other workplace safety issues, please call our office. Thank you.This Client Alert provides a general overview of new legal developments. It is not intended to provide legal advice. If you have questions or would like more information about how these developments may affect your business, please contact us at (570) 341-8800.
Booster doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine available at Geisinger Following recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Geisinger is offering booster doses of the Pfizer (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine for people who are eligible. Those eligible for a booster include people who have received their two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and: Are age 65 and olderAre a long-term care residentAre age 18 to 64 with an underlying medical condition that puts them at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19Are age 18 to 64 and have a job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to COVID-19 People can get their booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine beginning six months after receiving their second dose. If you’re unsure if you qualify for the booster or have any specific questions, contact your doctor. The booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the same dosage (0.3 milliliters) as the first and second vaccine doses. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine received full FDA approval in late August. Anyone who has received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is not eligible for a booster vaccine at this time, according to the CDC. You can make an appointment for a booster COVID-19 vaccine at Geisinger through MyGeisinger or by calling 570-284-3657. Appointments are available at the vaccine centers at the Geisinger Health Plan Building near Danville, Geisinger CenterPoint in Jenkins Township, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital and Geisinger Lewistown Hospital. Appointments are also available at Geisinger Philipsburg and Geisinger Pharmacy locations in Dallas, Danville, Lewistown, Lock Haven, Mount Pocono, Pottsville, State College and Scranton. Remember to bring your COVID-19 vaccine card or proof of having received the vaccine to your appointment. More information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available at Geisinger.org/COVIDVax. As a reminder, no visitors are permitted for outpatient appointments, unless medically necessary, and masks must be worn by everyone in all Geisinger buildings and facilities.
