Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Danville Opens to Patients Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Danville, at 206 Maria Hall Drive, will open its doors and begin accepting patients on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The 96-bed facility will provide care for adults, pediatric and adolescent patients with acute symptoms of behavioral health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis and posttraumatic stress disorder. This array of acute behavioral health services provides a level of care unparalleled in central Pennsylvania. This is the second behavioral health center opened by Geisinger through a joint venture with Acadia Health. The first center opened in Moosic in August 2023. “Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Danville will serve patients with mental health conditions and in an acute setting where they get an intensive treatment plan to help them recover and get back into the community to continue their treatment outside the hospital,” said Imad Melhem, M.D., Geisinger chair of psychiatry. “As a psychiatrist who spent my whole career serving underserved communities, seeing the investment that Geisinger has placed in behavioral health and opening services in our areas couldn’t be more rewarding.” The center will allow Geisinger to consolidate inpatient behavioral health programs from Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, providing additional capacity to expand medical care availability at those hospitals. It will also serve as a teaching hospital, training students and residents from Geisinger’s College of Health Sciences, many of whom will go on to practice in Pennsylvania and carry forth Geisinger’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the region. “I feel this is the fulfillment of what Abigail Geisinger wanted us to do. She wanted to bring health care to our rural communities,” said Dawn Zieger, Geisinger vice president of behavoral health. “For the first time in central Pennsylvania, we’ll be able to offer mental health care in Danville so adults and children can stay in their communities, where they’re connected to their families and support systems. This is a place you’d be proud to stay yourself or send a family member. It really honors patients when they’re in probably the worst crisis of their life.” The total facility investment for the behavioral health center was $49 million.
Geisinger Hospitals Receive Perinatal Quality Improvement Awards Five Geisinger hospitals were recently recognized as recipients of the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s (PA PQC) Designations Awards which were presented at its annual conference in Altoona on May 21. Designation signifies the hospital has established multidisciplinary teams that have demonstrated continuous quality improvement work in maternal and newborn care by sharing best practices and data in their hospital and community in specific issue areas impacting maternal mortality, including Maternal Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), Maternal Sepsis (MS), and Safe Sleep (SS). A gold designation signifies a hospital’s proven commitment to data-driven, population-specific health goals and patient voice in their quality improvement work. A silver designation signifies a hospital’s dedicated commitment to incorporating data driven population-specific health goals or patient voice in their work. A bronze designation signifies the hospital has consistently met quality improvement submission goals. The awards were announced and presented during a ceremony at the Blair County Convention Center. Those earning the silver or gold designation level have undertaken additional projects focused on health equity and/or patient voice within maternal and neonatal health-care. The five Geisinger hospitals receiving recognition included: Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital: bronze for SS; silver for OUD; gold for NAS Geisinger Community Medical Center Scranton: bronze for OUD and SS Geisinger Lewistown Hosptial: bronze for SS; silver for OUD and NAS Geisinger Medical Center, Danville: bronze for MS and OUD; silver for SS Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre: bronze for OUD; gold for SS and MS. “Geisinger has participated in the PA PQC since its inception in 2019. Our hospital teams collect and submit data to the PQC every quarter and, in the spirit of a collaborative, share their successes and challenges so that outcomes can be improved across the system,” said James Cook, M.D., Geisinger director of newborn services and co-chair of the PA PQC advisory committee. “The gold/silver/bronze designations are highly appreciated by our team members who are taking the time to improve patient care to those patients affected by opioid use and those who work to increase safe sleep awareness for newborns in our communities.” Designation awards and levels are based on meeting quality improvement milestone criteria over a 12-month period from April 2024 to March 2025. In Pennsylvania, perinatal health issues persist, including racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes, higher than average maternal sepsis rates, and drug overdose deaths during pregnancy and postpartum. Through collaborative efforts, the PA PQC aims to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes across the state. The PA PQC is administered by the JHF and WHAMglobal, and it is affiliated with the Northeast PQC (NEPaPQC). About the Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative The Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Collaborative (PA PQC) provides quality improvement support to healthcare teams to improve the standard of care for pregnant and postpartum people and babies. Seventy-seven birth sites and NICUs from across the commonwealth participate in the PA PQC. The PA PQC is administered by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and WHAMglobal, and it is affiliated with the Northeast PQC (NEPaPQC). For more information, visit papqc.org. About the Jewish Healthcare Foundation The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and its three operating arms — the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI), Health Careers Futures (HCF), and the Women’s Health Activist Movement Global (WHAMglobal) — offer a unique brand of activist philanthropy to advance healthcare innovation, advocacy, collaboration, and education in the interest of better population health. For more information, visit jhf.org.
Geisinger Opens New Kidney Specialty Clinic in Northeast PA With a mission to bring specialty kidney care to northeastern Pennsylvania, Geisinger has opened a brand-new kidney specialty clinic with three new physicians. Located on the second floor of 521 Mount Pleasant Drive, Geisinger Nephrology Scranton offers specialized kidney care to diagnose and treat a variety of kidney conditions. The clinic cares for conditions ranging from kidney stones to more complex kidney issues, including treatment for hypertension, acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Three nephrologists will practice out of the new office. Mohammad Al Khateeb, M.D., and Badar U Din Shah, M.D., have begun seeing patients at the clinic. Mugda Kulkarni, M.D., recently completed her nephrology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) and will join the team in August. Dr. Al Khateeb graduated from Hashemite University School of Medicine in Jordan. He spent the last two years as a nephrology fellow at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where he helped diagnose and treat acute and chronic kidney diseases and oversaw care for renal transplant patients. Dr. Shah is a graduate of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. During his fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center, Dr. Shah conducted comprehensive assessments and helped manage patients with various kidney disorders, including acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, electrolyte imbalances and hypertension. Dr. Kulkarni earned her medical degree from Ashwini Rural Medical College in India. She treated patients with a wide spectrum of kidney disorders during her fellowship at UCMC, was involved with numerous research projects and also headed clinical case presentations. The team at Geisinger Nephrology Scranton will provide consultations and comprehensive kidney care. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To request a consultation, call 800- 275-6401.
Misericordia University Announces Emeritus Status for Occupational Therapy Professor Misericordia University’s (MU) Board of Trustees recently awarded the rank of professor emeritus to Joseph Cipriani Ed.D., OTR/L to recognize his 34 years of exceptional service in teaching, research, and contributions to the university. In addition to the contributions Cipriani has made to teaching, research and service, he helped shape the lives of numerous students as a teacher and mentor, demonstrating an impressive record of scholarly achievement, authoring papers—both presented and published—and providing extensive service to his discipline, to MU and to the larger community. During his tenure he served as chair of the Occupational Therapy Department for more than three years, and he received the Misericordia University Teaching Excellence Award, the Louis & Barbara Alesi Excellence in Scholarship Award, and the Pauly and Sidney Friedman Excellence in Service Award. Cipriani assumed multiple leadership roles during his tenure at MU and developed several courses and experiences for students to gain real-world experience while serving their community. He created an occupational therapy elective that included working with Ruth’s Place in Wilkes-Barre as well as an elective that incorporated service-learning in Jamaica, working in concert with Mustard Seed communities. Cipriani leaves an impressive legacy at Misericordia University, where his teaching portfolio included vital courses such as Applied Functional Anatomy, Geriatric Occupational Performance Intervention, Research Design, and Contemporary and Emerging Interventions. His extensive involvement in the field of occupational therapy is widely recognized. Cipriani’s work on topics such as horticulture therapy, occupational therapy interventions for mental health, and international service learning has garnered recognition and significantly advanced occupational therapy practice. He has presented extensively at national and international conferences and published numerous articles in esteemed journals, including serving as a reviewer for the Journal of Occupational Science, OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, and Occupational Therapy in Mental Health. He also served on the editorial board of Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics. Throughout his career, Cipriani has been an active member of leading professional organizations, including the American Occupational Therapy Association, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, the Occupational Therapy Association, and the PA Occupational Therapy Association. His commitment to service extended to numerous university committees, including the Middle States Self-study Steering committees and the Mission and Values Committee, and he advised the student honor society. Cipriani shared his insights in the classroom from his clinical experience as an occupational therapist at Geisinger Health Care System and the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at Allied Services. Cipriani earned his Ed.D. in higher education from Nova Southeastern University. He holds a Master of Arts degree in community psychology from Wichita State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from College Misericordia, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Wilkes College.
Geisinger to Launch State-of-the-Art Disinfection Devices in Hospitals Geisinger is deploying advanced ultraviolet (UV) disinfection devices across its hospital campuses, enhancing infection prevention efforts in patient care areas. These cutting-edge devices use UV light to eliminate harmful pathogens. They improve safety by disinfecting patient rooms following manual cleaning, specifically if the room was occupied by someone with an illness that can be spread. “Bringing UV disinfection technology into our hospitals is a powerful step forward in protecting our patients,” said Mark Shelly, M.D., medical director of infection prevention. “It’s not just about adding new tools. It’s about strengthening our commitment to safety and quality and doing everything we can to prevent hospital-acquired infections. A visibly clean surface is just the beginning. Because germs are invisible, they’re susceptible to UV light. This technology helps us take another meaningful step toward becoming a high-reliability organization, where safety is at the center of everything we do.” How the technology works Fast and effective: Disinfects rooms in just 12 to 30 minutes, depending on room size. Smart technology: Tracks usage and automatically adjusts UV light levels to ensure thorough disinfection, even in shadowed or hard-to-reach areas. Safe and secure: Operated exclusively by trained Environmental Services technicians. Rooms are clearly marked during use to ensure safety. Targeted use: Used in patient rooms previously occupied by someone with an illness that can be spread. Tested, trusted and now everywhere Following successful trials at Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, where the devices were integrated without disrupting patient flow, 16 of the devices are now being introduced systemwide. Stopping germs in their tracks The UV disinfection devices are effective against a wide range of pathogens, including: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) Acinetobacter baumannii Klebsiella pneumoniae Influenza A Norovirus
Geisinger Expands 3D Mammography Systemwide deployment enhances diagnostic capabilities and access Geisinger now offers 3D mammography systemwide, providing patients across its service area with access to the latest, best technology for detecting breast cancer early. “Having 3D mammography across the system allows us to increase patient access and improve patient outcomes,” said Timothy Murphy, M.D., director of women’s imaging, Geisinger. “Our patients will no longer need to travel outside of the Geisinger service area to receive state-of-the-art breast imaging.” This advanced technology offers greater accuracy in detecting breast abnormalities, including small tumors that may be undetectable on 2D mammograms. By providing a more detailed and comprehensive view, 3D mammography reduces the need for additional imaging and minimizes false-positive results. 3D mammography is available at: Geisinger Healthplex Woodbine Lane Susquehanna Valley Imaging Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Geisinger Mt. Pleasant Geisinger Viewmont Imaging Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Geisinger Lewistown Clinic Geisinger Healthplex State College Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital Geisinger Medical Center Muncy Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital Geisinger Philipsburg Multi-Specialty Clinic Patients can schedule an appointment through MyGeisinger or the MyChart mobile app or by calling 800-275-6401. Learn more at geisinger.org/breastimaging.
Geisinger Receives Funding to Enhance Cancer Patient Monitoring Geisinger has been approved for funding by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to implement electronic monitoring of patients’ self-reported symptoms during cancer treatment. Patients being treated for cancer often have symptoms such as fatigue, pain and nausea. Managing these symptoms, which can stem from both the disease and its treatment, is a key component of high-quality cancer care and can enhance patients’ well-being, decrease visits to the hospital and improve treatment adherence . Led by H. Lester Kirchner, Ph.D. and Christian Adonizio, M.D., this project will implement Epic’s Electronic Symptom Management (eSyM) module for Geisinger patients receiving systemic chemotherapy, oral chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The work is based on findings from a PCORI- funded patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness (CCE) study demonstrating improved symptom control, physical function, health-related quality of life and overall survival among patients who completed electronic patient-reported outcome surveys, as compared with those who received usual care. Dr. Kirchner is professor and chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences in Geisinger’s Research Institute. He and Keith Boell, D.O., Geisinger’s chief quality officer, are project leads for Geisinger’s Health Systems Implementation Initiative (HSII) participation. Dr. Adonizio is a medical oncologist/hematologist, professor of medicine Geisinger College of Health Sciences, and the associate fellowship director for Geisinger’s Cancer Institute. Geisinger was selected to participate in the HSII through a PCORI opportunity recruiting healthcare institutions to promote evidence-based practice based on findings generated from PCORI-funded patient-centered CCE. HSII aims to reduce the estimated 17-year gap between evidence publication and clinical application. This initiative recognizes that health systems’ practical experience and real- world insights are crucial for sustainable, large-scale implementation of practice-changing findings in clinical care. The funding award has been approved pending completion of PCORI’s business and programmatic review and issuance of a formal award contract.
Geisinger, Wilkes University Extends Sports Medicine Contract Geisinger Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and Wilkes University have renewed their contract for Geisinger to provide athletic training services to the university’s athletic department. The contract extension, which runs through 2028, continues a 23-year partnership began in 2002. “I am very happy to have extended our partnership with Geisinger to provide all of our health care coverage, said Scott Musa, Wilkes University athletics director. “Our student-athletes very much value the care they receive from the athletic trainers, doctors and other health care professionals, and I have 100% confidence in their ability to help keep our student-athletes healthy.” Geisinger offers five athletic trainers for the university for all NCAA sports the school offers. Geisinger also provides physician services that includes coverage for football and ice hockey games as well as weekly training room visits. “The longstanding partnership between Geisinger and Wilkes University has been a tremendous benefit to our student-athletes,” said Geisinger athletic trainer Camille Dudinyak, who is the head athletic trainer for Wilkes University. “Their health and well-being are paramount, and the continued collaboration helps facilitate exceptional care both on and off the playing field.”
Geisinger Cuts Ribbon on New Cancer Center in Dickinson City Standalone facility expands care close to home for Lackawanna County Geisinger officials, employees and community partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 19, to celebrate the impending opening of a new state-of-the-art cancer center. Geisinger Cancer Center Dickson City, expected to see its first patients on June 23, will expand cancer services, offer more appointments in the community and keep care closer to home for the residents of Lackawanna County. Planning for the cancer center was driven by research that showed cancer-related visits are expected to increase in Geisinger’s northeast region by 7% between 2022 and 2032, and demand for chemotherapy is expected to grow by more than 9% between 2022 and 2027. “Every program expansion we complete at Geisinger is driven by the needs of the communities we serve,” said Ron Beer, chief administrative officer of Geisinger’s northeast region. “Lackawanna County and surrounding communities deserve a cancer center of this caliber, where all of the specialty care and supportive care they need can be delivered in one modern facility.” Geisinger Cancer Center Dickson City is 61,000 square feet and home to 22 infusion bays, a hematology and oncology clinic with 17 exam rooms, and dedicated spaces for multidisciplinary care and palliative care. It will also provide radiation oncology — a first for Geisinger in Lackawanna County — as well as a pharmacy and laboratory services. The campus features a variety of patient amenities, including food services, and a courtyard with gardens and natural views. The cancer center was designed with a focus on patient experience. The infusion area, for example, was built around a circular garden that provides a serene view for anyone receiving infusion therapy. “This facility is our commitment to making sure our patients never have to leave Lackawanna County to receive outstanding care during one of the most difficult times of their life,” said Rajiv Panikkar, M.D., chair of the Geisinger Cancer Institute. “This new cancer center and our team of exceptional providers, in partnership with our comprehensive care teams, allow us to offer our patients leading-edge treatment, advanced technologies and access to a variety of clinical trials.” The opening of the cancer center reinforces Geisinger’s pledge to offer the best quality care to everyone it serves. It complements the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, where there is also an inpatient unit for treatment of more complex cancers. “Geisinger Cancer Center Dickson City continues our legacy of investing in our communities so their residents can live their best, healthiest lives, said Terry Gilliland, M.D., president and CEO of Geisinger. Because we do more than treat patients — we treat people, families and communities. And we’ll continue to do so for decades to come.” Geisinger Cancer Center Dickson City is at 703 Martin F. Gibbons Blvd., at the north end of Viewmont Drive, near Dickson City Crossings, Viewmont Mall and Interstate 81. To learn more about cancer care in Lackawanna County, visit geisinger.org/cancerinstitute.
The NEPA Philharmonic Kicks Off Summer with Independence Day Celebrations and Community Events The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic kicks off its 2025-26 Season, Presented by PNC, with a lineup of summer festivities, Independence Day celebrations, and three nights of music under the stars on July 3-5, 2025. With full-orchestra fireworks performances, patriotic favorites, community education and wellness events, and chamber music in the great outdoors, the NEPA Philharmonic presents outdoor large-ensemble concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre on July 3rd and 4th; an outdoor chamber music concert at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley on July 5th; and community programs in Scranton, Peckville, and Carbondale. On Thursday, July 3, 7:30 PM, the full NEPA Philharmonic returns to Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton for a free concert as part of the Lackawanna County Scrantastic Spectacular. The performance – led by guest conductor Jeffrey Spenner, Assistant Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Band – features the full orchestra for the first time since 2019, with an array of patriotic classics capped by a fireworks display. For more details, visit https://www.scrantasticspectacular.com/. “I’m thrilled to celebrate the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic’s performance at our annual Scrantastic Spectacular on July 3rd,” says Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak. “Their vibrant orchestra will bring patriotic spirit to Courthouse Square, uniting our community in a joyful Independence Day celebration. We’re proud to support their artistry and look forward to an unforgettable evening of music and fireworks.” Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan also notes, “The Scrantastic Spectacular always is a great event and it will be even more so this year, with the full Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic bringing its extraordinarily talented musicians to the perfect setting of Courthouse Square. I can’t think of a better way for the whole community to come together to celebrate the nation’s 249th anniversary.” The celebration continues Friday, July 4, 9:00 AM, with the 12th Annual Yoga on the Roof atop the Marketplace at Steamtown’s parking garage. The NEPA Philharmonic string trio joins Jaya Yoga Clarks Summit for a unique sunrise yoga session with live music, highlighting powerful connections between arts and wellness. Registration is $20, online at www.nepaphil.org/tickets or at the door; proceeds benefit NEPA Philharmonic community and education programs. Maximum Zen Bakery of Clarks Summit provides light breakfast. On July 4, 8:00 PM, the NEPA Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble return with guest conductor Paul Bryan to Wilkes-Barre’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration at Kirby Park. This free, festive event features music, food, games, and another evening of lighting up the sky with fireworks. The NEPA Philharmonic Brass also presents two all-ages educational events: Once Upon an Orchestra at Valley Community Library in Peckville on Thursday, July 3, 10:00 AM and Meet the Instruments outside at Memorial Park in Carbondale on Saturday, July 5, 11:00 AM. Once Upon an Orchestra blends music and storytelling, bringing to life Ben’s Trumpet by Rachel Isadora with a brass trio performing 1920s-style jazz, while Meet the Instruments features instrument demonstrations and short musical excerpts with brass quintet. Both events are free; registration for the July 3 library event is at https://lclshome.org/event/once-upon-an-orchestra/. The weekend concludes as the NEPA Philharmonic expands the Stoppini Chamber Series with a special concert in partnership with Harmony in the Woods, a premier outdoor performance venue in Hawley, PA. On Saturday, July 5, 6:00 PM, the NEPA Philharmonic Brass Quintet takes center stage with “Americana Brass in the Woods”. The performance will feature a dynamic mix of New Orleans jazz, lively ragtime, and classic film scores, alongside timeless works from Gershwin, Ellington, Bernstein, Irving Berlin, and more. Tickets ($50 for adults, $25 for children) are available at www.harmonyinthewoods.org. The Scrantastic Spectacular is sponsored in part by Lehigh Valley Health Network, Scranton Tomorrow, The Lackawanna County Commissioners, The City of Scranton, and Audacy Pennsylvania. Additional support for the NEPA Philharmonic at Scrantastic Spectacular is provided by PNC, Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC, Fidelity, Geisinger, and Xfinity. Once Upon an Orchestra is presented by the Lackawanna County Library System. The NEPA Philharmonic Brass at Wilkes-Barre’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July is presented by the City of Wilkes-Barre. Americana Brass is presented by Harmony in the Woods, with additional support for the Philharmonic from PNC and the Stoppini Foundation. In case of inclement weather, the July 3rd, 7:30PM Scrantastic Spectacular concert will go on as scheduled, with a rain location at Scranton High School; rain location announcements will be provided by Lackawanna County on the event website. The rain location for the July 5th, 11AM Meet the Instruments event in Carbondale will be at the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the NEPA Philharmonic’s summer programs and the upcoming 2025–2026 Season, Presented by PNC, visit nepaphil.org, or call (570) 270-4444.
