Geisinger, Evangelical Community Hospital and the Department of Justice Reach Agreement Geisinger, Evangelical Community Hospital and the Department of Justice today announced that the three parties have reached an agreement on a proposed final judgment that will allow Geisinger to maintain an investment in Evangelical. The judgment resolves the underlying Department of Justice lawsuit filed in August 2020. “We are pleased to have worked with the Department of Justice to develop a resolution that allows us to maintain our investment in the health of this community,” said Matthew Walsh, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Geisinger. “We are grateful that the Department of Justice acknowledges the investments Geisinger has made to Evangelical to date and we look forward to our continued work on projects that will benefit patients and the community at large.” Under terms of the agreement, which are pending a public comment period and final court decision in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania later this year, Geisinger would maintain an investment in Evangelical. Since the original minority investment was announced on Oct. 1, 2018, Geisinger has made investments in programs that enhance the health and wellness of the Lewisburg community and surrounding areas. This investment will support expanded access to high-quality care close to home and furthers Geisinger’s commitment to make better health easier in the communities it serves.
Geisinger Issues Alert About Scammers Posing as Vaccine Schedulers Geisinger is alerting patients to recent reports of scammers trying to steal personal data by posing as COVID vaccine schedulers. The suspected fraudulent activity involves automated calls and/or text messages or live callers reaching out to Geisinger patients under the guise of scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine. The scammers are asking patients for their name, date of birth and Social Security number in order to schedule a vaccine appointment. The community and patients should be aware that Geisinger will never ask for a Social Security number, and if someone asks for it, it is a scam. Anyone receiving such a call should hang up or not respond. For more information about this scam and to learn about ways to protect your personal information, visit geisinger.org/security. The webpage provides information about the latest security alerts from Geisinger. This includes more information about phone spoofing scams, ways to help protect yourself against becoming a scam victim, and how to contact Geisinger if you have an information security concern related to Geisinger. As a reminder, never give out personal information, such as your Social Security number or medical record number, over the telephone — and do not rely on caller ID to be accurate. If you receive a call that is unexpected, suspicious or about which you have any doubts, you should hang up and call Geisinger directly at 800-275-6401 or check your myGeisinger account for messages.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Improving, but Remain High Despite Vaccine Rollout Despite daily hospitalizations declining and tens of thousands more members of our community receiving the vaccine, Geisinger continues to feel the strains of the pandemic and asks for patience during the vaccination process. While COVID-19 activity continues to be high in central and northeastern Pennsylvania, Geisinger is seeing fewer positive COVID-19 tests, lower positivity rates and a reduction in overall hospitalizations, but our communities remain at levels we saw in late November. Over the past two weeks, we’ve averaged about 200 positive COVID-19 tests per day, with an average positivity rate of about 14%.That is down from an average of more than 400 new positive tests per day in December and a positivity rate as high as 23%.This past week, we reached the milestone of having fewer than 200 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, getting as low as 185 earlier this week.Our previous peak was more than 350 in late December. “We are still in a tenuous place, so even a small increase in hospitalizations can put us into a troublesome capacity situation that jeopardizes care for COVID and non-COVID patients,” said Jaewon Ryu, M.D., J.D., Geisinger’s president and chief executive officer. “Despite the vaccination rollout underway, we can’t lose sight of the fact we’re still facing challenges in our hospitals. In the past week, we are still admitting more than one new patient with COVID-19 to our hospitals every hour.” There is uncertainty surrounding available vaccine supply, and because of this, we cannot accept any new first dose appointments at this time. All existing appointments will continue as scheduled for the time being. We are working closely with the state to understand quantities we can expect going forward. We look forward to opening additional appointments as supply becomes available. This week Geisinger provided its 50,000th COVID-19 vaccine.About two-thirds of Geisinger employees have chosen to receive the vaccine.We are encouraged by promising trends among the COVID-19 positivity rate for our employees since introducing the vaccine. Current positivity rates among employees are at levels comparable to last summer. “Demand for the vaccine is still incredibly high in our communities, and we will continue to provide the vaccine as supplies and logistics allow,” Ryu said. “We know a lot of people continue to have questions about when they can get an appointment. We ask for everyone’s patience and encourage you to visit geisinger.org/COVIDvax and myGeisinger regularly for the latest information.” Vaccine supply globally is fluctuating each week, but has been and will continue to be low over the next several weeks, increasing the time it will take to get through the state’s Phase 1A. That is why although vaccines are being provided across the Commonwealth each day, it remains necessary to continue following the preventive measures that have been in place to help stop the spread of the virus. Wearing a mask, thoroughly washing hands and avoiding large and small gatherings are still needed, as we are still likely months away from being able to loosen these measures. For continued updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and updates on availability, visit geisinger.org/COVIDvax.
Longtime Wilkes-Barre Provider Joins Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center Joseph Anistranski, M.D., a longtime Wilkes-Barre family medicine physician, is joining the Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center team in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Geisinger 65 Forward is a healthcare program designed exclusively for people age 65 and over where patients get longer appointments, more on-site health services and social, educational and wellness activities. Dr. Anistranski has been practicing family medicine in Luzerne County for more than 30 years. He earned his medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University after completing undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his family medicine residency at Wyoming Valley Family Practice in Kingston. Dr. Anistranski has practiced medicine at several Wyoming Valley locations throughout his career, including as an emergency room physician at the former Mercy Hospital, and in family medicine with Mercy Family Practice, Intermountain Medical Group, and The Wright Center for Community Health. Since 1996 he has served at the medical director for Catholic Social Services in Wilkes-Barre. “I’m looking forward to being part of this team and to supporting this unique program,” Anistranski said. “The 65 Forward program is about making health care easier. Having these services and activities in the heart of downtown Wilkes-Barre can help us improve the health of our neighbors like never before.” Dr. Anistranski is board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Practice and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP). Dr. Anistranski is currently accepting new patients. He joins George Avetian, D.O., at the Wilkes-Barre 65 Forward Health Center located in Midtown Village. Complimentary parking for tours and appointments is available in the lot adjacent to the 65 Forward Health Center off Northampton Street. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Anistranski, or for more information on enrolling in the program, can call 866-807-2849 or visit geisinger.org/forwardnewsWB to learn more.
Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute Offers Virtual Training Program Geisinger’s Autism & Developmental Medicine Institute (ADMI), in partnership with the Autism Collaborative Centers of Excellence (ACCE), is offering an online training program for professionals — and family members — who care for people with autism spectrum disorder. The program provides training in evidence-based interventions developed to improve the quality and consistency of services for people with autism and their families. Topics include applied behavior analysis, or the study of how behavior works, which, when paired with therapy, can increase communication skills, focus and social skills. The program also covers speech and language evaluation, genetic testing and transitional, vocational and housing options for people with autism. “We’re thrilled to offer a substantial training program about evidence-based practices to those in our region who work to support people with autism spectrum disorder and their families,” said Barbara Haas-Givler, Geisinger ADMI’s director of education and behavioral outreach. “While the program targets professionals, parents and caregivers are also welcome to take advantage of the curriculum. The webinars can be viewed at your own pace and cover a wide range of topics.” To receive a certificate of completion, participants must register and view five core webinars, complete a brief post-webinar quiz, view and attest to reading consensus documents for each of the core areas, and view four additional webinars. The Professional Training Program was developed in collaboration with ACCE partners from Misericordia University, University of Scranton, Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, and Friendship House. Funding support for the program was provided by the AllOne Foundation. To register or for more information, visit alloneforautism.org/professional-training/ptp-overview.html.
Geisinger Recognized by American Heart Association Geisinger has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA) for commitment to helping improve blood pressure and cholesterol control rates among adult patients. Through participation in the AHA and AMA’s Target BP™ initiative, Geisinger has earned Gold-level recognition. The Gold award recognizes health care organizations that have 70 percent or more of their adult patient population with high blood pressure controlled. Geisinger has also earned Gold-level recognition through participation in the AHA’s Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol™ initiative. The Gold award recognizes health care organizations that have 70 percent or more of their adult patient population at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) appropriately managed with statin therapy. “Our Primary Care teams are profoundly dedicated to preventing, identifying and treating chronic conditions. Their work around management of these conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, is a testament to their practice and the patients they serve,” said Stacei Faust, quality program coordinator for Geisinger Care Gaps. “It’s an honor to be recognized for that work by the AHA and AMA, and my pleasure to work alongside these remarkable colleagues.” Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a leading risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and preventable death in the United States. There are 116 million U.S. adults living with high blood pressure, and less than half of those people have it under control – making diagnosing and effectively managing hypertension critical. Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S., with an estimated 92.1 million adults having at least one type of cardiovascular disease that can lead to heart attack, stroke or death. The use of statin therapy for the prevention of ASCVD in many higher-risk patients is supported by an extensive body of evidence, but many patients who might benefit from this therapy go untreated or undertreated, according to the AHA. “We recognize how important aggressive and early treatment of chronic conditions like hypertension and hyperlipidemia is in preventing disease progression and serious complications like heart attack, stroke and kidney disease,” said Cybele Pacheco, M.D., director of Community Medicine in Geisinger’s west region. “Prevention and team-based management of chronic diseases is our focus in Primary Care, and it shows the collaborative work among our Geisinger teams.”
Geisinger Welcomes Cardiac Surgeon Into Leadership Roles An accomplished surgeon and experienced leader in his field, John Conte, M.D., has joined Geisinger as chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery and vice chair of the Geisinger Heart Institute. Dr. Conte brings more than 25 years of clinical practice to the heart care team at Geisinger, and he provides surgical care in addition to serving in his leadership capacity. He currently cares for adult patients at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre and Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. Dr. Conte specializes in minimally invasive aortic and mitral-valve surgery. He is an expert in valve repair and replacement, and – in patients with abnormalities of the aorta, such as aortic aneurysms – valve-sparing aortic root surgery. He also has a special interest in complex and re-operative cardiac surgery. Dr. Conte earned his medical degree at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he also completed a residency in surgery and served as a fellow in cardiovascular research. He accomplished fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California. Before coming to Geisinger, Dr. Conte was Professor of Surgery and held leadership roles at the University of Maryland Medical Center, The Johns Hopkins University Hospital and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and has served as a member and officer in many professional organizations. Throughout his career, Dr. Conte has been an academic surgeon known for clinical research and his ability to mentor and train young cardiac surgeons. He is committed to remaining an active, practicing surgeon while driving innovative therapies in the Geisinger Heart Institute.
Geisinger Expanding COVID Vaccine Availability for Tier 1A Healthcare Personnel Geisinger is continuing to provide the COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare personnel who qualify as part of the state’s Phase 1A groups by expanding administration with new community-based vaccine centers throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Appointments are required to receive the vaccine, and can be made online using myGeisinger. A questionnaire must be completed prior to scheduling to ensure eligibility and for health screening purposes. Healthcare personnel must bring to their appointments their healthcare-related identification (certificate, license etc.) to verify eligibility as part of the state’s Phase 1A groups and a valid driver’s license. Healthcare personnel who have been cared for by Geisinger or have Geisinger Health Plan insurance, but don’t have a myGeisinger account, can create one online. Those who haven’t been cared for by Geisinger and don’t have Geisinger Health Plan insurance or anyone under the age of 18 can call 570-284-3657 for help setting up an account. In alignment with federal and state guidelines and as supplies, staffing and logistics allow, COVID vaccines will be available to all healthcare personnel who qualify as part of the state’s Phase 1A, including: ChiropractorsClinical personnel in school or university settingsContracted healthcare personnel not directly employed by a health care facilityDentists and dental hygienistsDirect support professionalsEMSMedical students and traineesNon-Geisinger providers and their staffsNurses, nursing assistantsPersons not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious material that can transmit diseasePharmacists and Pharmacy TechniciansPhlebotomistsPhysiciansTechniciansTherapists Geisinger is administering the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna COVID vaccines. When scheduling appointments, it’s important to remember that two doses of the vaccine are required so healthcare personnel are encouraged to consider both doses when scheduling. The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is needed 21 days after the first, and the second dose of the Moderna vaccine needed 28 days after the first. It’s required to receive both vaccines doses at the same location. Vaccines also remain available to Geisinger staff. To date, Geisinger has provided about 15,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Even as the vaccine becomes more available in our communities, preventive measures to help stop the spread of the virus continue to be important. Everyone, including those who receive the vaccine, should continue to properly wear a mask, avoid group gatherings, maintain physical distancing and practice proper handwashing. For answers to questions about the vaccine, visit the Geisinger COVID-19 vaccine resources center at geisinger.org/COVIDvax.
Progressive Care Unit Opens at Geisinger Community Medical Center A new Progressive Care Unit (PCU) featuring private rooms and a modern, evidence-based design is now open at Geisinger Community Medical Center and specializes in caring for the complex needs of trauma, medical and surgical patients. Located on the hospital’s fourth floor, directly above the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the PCU houses 18 private rooms and nursing alcoves that allow direct visual oversight of patient rooms through large glass windows. The care model decentralizes nursing stations to improve surveillance of each patient and enhances the care team’s communication with patient families, giving family members closer access to nursing staff. “The nursing model used in the new PCU allows for improved monitoring of critically ill patients from the nurses’ station that extends around the entire unit,” said Glenna Barletta, nursing operations manager at Geisinger Community Medical Center. “Nursing alcoves are located outside each room to ensure the care team is always close by.” Development of the PCU is part of a $16 million project that also begins the hospital’s approach to a private-bed model. Designed to improve patient experience, quality of care and efficiency of operation, the unit’s spacious, state-of-the-art, private rooms meet the need to care for critically ill patients. “We know the benefits of the private-room model on clinical quality and patient experience are well-studied and indisputable,” said Ujwal Tuladhar, M.D., hospitalist at Geisinger Community Medical Center. “They include reduced risk of hospital-acquired infection, reduced patient stress levels due to improved privacy and reduction of unwanted noise, and better facilitation of care. Private rooms cater to patient comfort, better rest and more room for caregivers and loved ones.” The PCU’s private rooms are larger than the semi-private rooms of the previous step-down unit with enough space to accommodate critical care technology, allowing the care team to treat higher-acuity patients, such as ventilator patients who require medications that elevate blood pressure. “The room size allows for more sophisticated equipment to fit into the space and provides our care team with greater ability to move around the patient to deliver care,” Barletta said. “This allows us to broaden the criteria of patients the unit can accept.” The PCU has two waiting rooms — a quiet room and another with a television — and features multiple family meeting rooms, a wellness room with massage chairs, and two bariatric patient rooms with showers. To get to the PCU from the main lobby at Geisinger Community Medical Center, take the C elevators to level 4, then take a right off the elevator and follow signs to the PCU.
Geisinger Employees Begin Receiving Second Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Geisinger’s health care heroes are now receiving their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Wednesday morning, exactly 21 days since vaccine doses first were given within the health system, employees returned and rolled up their sleeves to get their second dose. In three weeks Geisinger has ramped up to the point of more than 1,000 vaccines per day over the past week, totaling approximately 12,000 people with their first dose of the COVID vaccine. When people get their first doses, they’re scheduled immediately to receive their second dose. Receiving that second dose is a critical step in the COVID vaccine process. Both doses are necessary to trigger the immune response needed to develop an immunity level against COVID- 19. Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center nurse Tara Skutack was the first health care worker to receive the second vaccine dose on Wednesday at the hospital. “I received the COVID vaccine for my family and patients,” Skutack said. “I’m excited for a better and healthier future. So far, I’m feeling great.” Resident physician Muhammad Sabih Saleem, M.D., said he received the vaccine as a step in moving forward, and as someone who cares for COVID patients. “I currently work in the intensive care unit and see COVID patients every day,” Saleem said. “It’s up to us to take this first step forward so that everyone else will join us when the vaccine becomes available to them. I feel relieved after getting the vaccine — we have been waiting for it for a long time. It’s a step towards a better future.” Geisinger has been receiving the Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines at facilities over the past few weeks. The Pfizer vaccine was received first, and front-line employee vaccines began on December 16. Both vaccines require two doses, with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine requiring a second dose 21 days after the first, and the Moderna vaccine requiring a second dose 28 days after the first. Emergency medicine physician Luke Sullivan, D.O., said his family was a major motivator for why he received the vaccine. “I got the COVID vaccine so I could safely take care of my patients and remain healthy while doing so,” Sullivan said. “I also got it for my 2-year-old, my wife who works in healthcare, and my elderly parents, who I haven’t been able to see. It feels awesome to have received my second dose and I look toward the future.” In line with state guidelines and recommendations, Geisinger has been focusing on vaccinating its employees and healthcare workers. Geisinger is in the process of reaching out to EMS personnel and community providers to coordinate their vaccines, in alignment with the PA Department of Health order to use 10 percent of the vaccine supply to vaccinate those in Tier 1A. The vaccine is being administered as quickly as it can, but is completely dependent on supply, staffing and the logistics with distribution. While it’s expected to be well into the year until the vaccine becomes widely available to the public, Geisinger is working to make it easy to receive both COVID vaccine doses, including making the vaccine available at no cost to patients. With more shipments of the vaccines making their way to Geisinger and many in the community receiving the vaccine, Geisinger continues to encourage the preventive measures that have been stressed to help stop the spread of the virus as it’s expected to be well into the summer before vaccines are readily available for all community members. Everyone, including those who receive the vaccine, should continue to properly wear a mask, avoid group gatherings, maintain physical distancing and practice proper handwashing. For answers to questions about the vaccine, visit the Geisinger COVID-19 vaccine resources center at geisinger.org/COVIDvax. CUTLINES: Skutack COVID vaccine: Nurse Tara Skutack receives the second dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday morning at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre. Skutack was one of the first Geisinger front-line healthcare workers to receive the first dose of the vaccine on December 16. Nurse Alison Krakosky administered this second dose. Abbas COVID vaccine: Resident physician Sayeda Abbas, M.D., receives the second dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday morning. Given by nurse Alison Krakosky at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Abbas was one of the first Geisinger employees to receive a COVID vaccine when it was first available on December 16. Saleem COVID vaccine: Resident physician Muhammad Sabih Saleem, M.D., receives the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes- Barre. Saleem, one of the first front-line health care workers at Geisinger to receive a first dose, received this second dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine from nurse Alison Krakosky. Sullivan COVID vaccine: Geisinger emergency medicine physician Luke Sullivan, D.O., rolls up his sleeve to receive the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Sullivan received the second dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine from nurse Alison Krakosky.
