Geisinger Recognized in Gartner’s Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25 For the third consecutive year, Geisinger’s supply chain operations were named among the nation’s top healthcare organizations in the Gartner Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25 for 2023. “Supply chain challenges continue to wreak havoc across the industry, and health care supply chain is no exception. Geisinger’s response has been vital in keeping our staff supplied with what they need to support the communities we serve,” said Kate Polczynski, Geisinger’s vice president of enterprise supply chain services. “Our position in this national ranking is a credit to the team’s commitment to making better health easier, and it highlights the industry leadership Geisinger as a whole represents.” Some of Geisinger’s top focuses include strategic partnerships with suppliers, data quality and standardization and technology innovation — all of it centered around patient care. Now in its 15th year, the Gartner Healthcare Supply Top 25 helps guide supply chain leaders of health systems to build stronger operations to improve patient outcomes and control costs. The rankings program highlights supply chain excellence, recognizing investment in technologies, talent retention and innovation. It is a renowned annual ranking of global supply chains.
Geisinger Announces Importance of Pap Smears for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Routine Pap smears are one of the best (and simplest) ways to prevent and detect cervical cancer.Scott C. Purinton, MD, PhD, chief of gynecologic oncology at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Whether it’s your first or fifth time, it’s completely normal to feel nervous or have questions before a Pap smear. But knowing what to expect can help put your mind at ease before your appointment. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Staying up to date on your Pap smears is a big part of that. Here’s what to know about this valuable procedure. A Pap smear, or Pap test, checks for changes in your cervical and vaginal cells that could develop into cancer over time. One of the biggest advantages of these tests is their ability to detect abnormal cells before they even become cancerous. This leads to earlier treatment and better outcomes. During the procedure, your healthcare provider gently scrapes cells from your cervix. These cells are examined for changes and can also be tested for human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer. While these screenings can be a little uncomfortable and awkward, they should never cause pain. How often you need a Pap smear depends on your age and health history. The guidelines are: Women ages 21 – 29: You should have a Pap smear every three years. Women ages 30 – 65: Discuss the following options with your doctor: Have both a Pap smear and an HPV test every 5 years Have only a Pap smear every 3 years Have only an HPV test every 5 years Women older than 65: You might no longer need to be screened, depending on your health history and doctor’s recommendation. Whether you’re sexually active or not, you still need a Pap smear. While most cervical cancers are caused by HPV (which is sexually transmitted), this isn’t the case for all cancers. Pap smears don’t screen for STIs like HPV, gonorrhea or chlamydia. Instead, they test for any abnormal cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer. If you want additional testing for STIs, ask your healthcare provider during your appointment. A Pap smear is different from a pelvic exam but you should have both. A pelvic exam is typically performed at your annual well-woman visit with your healthcare provider. During this exam, they’ll check your vulva, vagina, cervix, ovaries, uterus, rectum and pelvis for any abnormalities. A Pap smear specifically screens for precancerous changes. If you’re due for one, you can get a Pap smear during your annual pelvic exam. Depending on how heavy your flow is, your period may affect the results of your Pap smear. A lot of blood can make your sample harder to read, which could produce inaccurate results. This shouldn’t be an issue if your flow is lighter. The best thing you can do is call your provider’s office and talk about your options. There’s no reason to avoid it while on your period unless you’re having the exam because of abnormal discharge or another concern. P.S. Your period does not bother your healthcare provider. Cervical cancer is preventable — and receiving regular Pap tests is the best way to prevent it. Remind your mom, sisters, friends — every woman in your life — to schedule their appointment (especially if it’s been a few years). And if you still have questions, don’t be afraid to ask your provider. There are no bad questions when it comes to your health. We want you to be open and honest so we can help you achieve your best health. For the latest health and wellness tips and advice, visit geisinger.org/balance.
Geisinger Working to Make all Emergency Rooms Ready for Kids When emergency rooms are equipped to care for children, outcomes are significantly better for young patients — which is why Geisinger is preparing every ER in the system to specifically treat children. The effort is led by Sarah Alander, MD, Geisinger director of pediatric emergency medicine, who has made readying Geisinger ERs for the 45,000 kids seen each year, systemwide, a priority. “A 2019 landmark study found that if an emergency room is trained and equipped to care for children, they are four times less likely to have a child die in their care,” Dr. Alander said. “It is important to provide the training to our emergency room staffs so they’re equipped to treat children safely and effectively and not treat them as small adults.” A nationwide program called the National Pediatric Readiness Project offers a voluntary survey to assess a trauma center’s level of preparedness for children’s care. Beginning in June 2025, the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation — the trauma center accreditation body for state hospitals — will require hospitals to conduct pediatric readiness assessments and have plans to address gaps. Geisinger has already voluntarily participated in the survey and created a council to help improve gaps at its hospitals. Geisinger’s Emergency Medical Services for Children Council, led by Dr. Alander, focuses on six areas improve pediatric readiness: Identifying personnel as “pediatric champions” at each emergency department Educating nurses and providing a pediatric critical care course and simulation training for physicians Joining national quality improvement programs on pediatric sepsis and airway management Attending regular safety meetings and reviewing safety events Compiling a collection of policies and procedures for children Working to standardize specialized equipment for the emergency care of children The council’s work on these priorities has yielded remarkable results. “In 2019, our system participated in the national pediatric readiness survey for the first time and had scores ranging from 40% to 68%,” said Megan Zelonis, RN, pediatric emergency care coordinator. “In the repeat 2021 assessment, our scores significantly improved to a range of 83% to 94%.”
Geisinger Employee Named on 2023 Becker’s Healthcare’s for CMO Don Stanziano, chief marketing and communications officer (CMCO) for Geisinger, has been named one of Becker’s Healthcare’s 60 hospital and health system chief marketing officers (CMO) to know for 2023. The list includes bold strategic leaders who drive the planning and execution of marketing and communications initiatives for their organizations. “It is an honor to be recognized by Becker’s,” said Stanziano. “As a non-profit health system CMO, I recognize that the system’s growth and success is a critical element in achieving our mission to make better health easier for the people of Pennsylvania.” Mr. Stanziano leads all strategic marketing, communications, and consumer digital engagement across the 10-hospital health system, 650,000-member health plan and college of health sciences. Since 2018, he has led a brand modernization initiative that unified all Geisinger hospitals, clinics, health plan and academic programs under one brand platform, as well as launched a content marketing program and award-winning creative campaign. The result to date is a 10% improvement in brand awareness and 11-point lead in brand preference above other competitors. To drive growth marketing, he implemented an enterprise customer relationship management solution, created a marketing analytics team, and is leading the build of a customer data platform and website redesign to expand the marketing technology stack. Also, under his leadership, the entire employee communications program was redesigned, resulting in 85% of staff and 96% of leaders rating their communications as effective. Mr. Stanziano joined Geisinger in 2018 after leading marketing and communications at Scripps Health in San Diego where he spent 16 years in a variety of marketing and communications roles.
Geisinger Welcomes Scranton Primary Care Practice A trusted provider of primary care in Scranton will join Geisinger in the new year. Effective Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, the practice of Michael Gilhooley, M.D., will become Geisinger Primary Care Scranton. The clinic will remain at its location at 821 Oak St., Suite 1, where patients will be able to continue seeing the practitioners they know and rely on, and will keep the same phone number: 570-703-0539. A Scranton native and board-certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Gilhooley has served Lackawanna County for nearly 30 years and has held clinical and academic leadership positions at several of the area’s institutions of medicine and learning. His partner, Marisa Siekierka, PA-C, has 20 years of experience evaluating, educating and treating patients and performing minor in-clinic procedures. Together, they specialize in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect adults and management of health conditions that range from simple to complex, chronic or acute. Dr. Gilhooley has a clinical interest in geriatric medicine, and he is experienced in working collaboratively with skilled nursing facilities to best care for his patients. After attending The University of Scranton for his undergraduate education, Dr. Gilhooley earned his medical degree at Temple University in Philadelphia. Returning home, he completed his residency training in the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, which is now part of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. “Scranton is my childhood home and my community,” said Dr. Gilhooley. “I’m proud to have served my neighbors for many years, and I’m honored to continue caring for them with Geisinger, a nationally renowned health system with the same focus on caring, excellence and quality that we’ve always maintained at our family-friendly practice.” To transition to Geisinger, the practice will close from Jan. 8 through 12, during which time patients can visit ConvenientCare Scranton at 3 W. Olive St. for any urgent needs. ConvenientCare Scranton is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Patients can save their spot online at geisinger.org/urgent.
Geisinger Recognized as Top Employer by Military Organizations Geisinger has been recognized as a top employer for its continued support of military veterans and active service members with two recent designations. The Pennsylvania-based health system earned the 2024 Military Friendly® Employer with Gold distinction designation by VIQTORY and was also recognized by Military Times on its 2023 Best for Vets: Employers list. This is the fifth consecutive year Geisinger has been recognized with a Military Friendly Employer designation and the second year in a row the system has achieved the gold ranking. It’s also the fourth consecutive year Geisinger has been recognized by Military Times. Both honors demonstrate Geisinger’s ongoing commitment and efforts to building programs and opportunities for military veterans. The Military Friendly Employer with Gold distinction signifies that an employer is setting the example for veteran and service member inclusivity with their programs and initiatives. Companies earning the Military Friendly Employer designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,200 organizations participated in the 2024 Military Friendly survey. Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score with an assessment of the organization’s ability to meet thresholds for applicants, new hire retention, employee turnover and promotion and advancement of veterans and military employees. Geisinger will be showcased as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer in the winter issue of G.I. Jobs® magazine and on militaryfriendly.com. For the Best for Vets recognition, Military Times evaluates the areas of greatest importance to transitioning service members, veterans and their families when looking for an employer. Recruitment and employment practices, along with retention and support programs were given the most weight in scoring and final rankings. Geisinger employs more than 800 veterans and active-duty service members throughout the system. As part of its commitment to the military and its veterans, Geisinger offers a paid military leave benefit, which allows service members employed by Geisinger to be paid for time at annual trainings, encampments and drills. It also is part of a military fellowship program that eases the transition of active-duty service members looking to move into a civilian career.To learn more about Geisinger’s veteran programs and career opportunities, visit jobs.geisinger.org/veterans.
Geisinger Serves 2,900 Veteran Appreciation Dinners To thank local veterans for their service, Geisinger served approximately 2,900 meals during drive-through veteran appreciation dinners at 11 locations across its service area on Thursday, Nov. 9. The dinners for U.S. military veterans and guests were provided at no cost to participants. Meals were provided in Bloomsburg, Danville, Jersey Shore, Lewistown, Mifflintown, Muncy, Pittston, Scranton, Shamokin, State College, and Wilkes-Barre. Members of Geisinger’s executive leadership team, regional leaders and volunteers attended the event to hand out meals to veterans. Members of leadership, along with staff and volunteers, handed out the meals with a smile and “thank you for your service” to express gratitude for the veterans’ selflessness and sacrifice. At some locations, veterans also received homemade cards and notes from local students.
Geisinger and Local Food Chain Address Food Insecurity Geisinger is partnering with The GIANT Company and Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO) to pilot a mobile food pantry that will serve food-insecure people living in the Central Susquehanna Valley. The GIANT Company is committing a total of $597,000 to fund the mobile pantry, including a donation of $325,000 in 2023 in honor of its 100th anniversary to cover startup costs for the initiative. Expected to launch in early 2024, the mobile food pantry will aim to provide fresh, healthy food to 75 households in its first year. “We’re grateful to The GIANT Company and CSO for their collaboration in bringing healthy food to underserved communities,” said Nancy Lawton-Kluck, Geisinger’s chief philanthropy officer. “It’s a privilege to work with community leaders who share our values as we contribute to healthier, more vibrant neighborhoods.” According to the state Department of Human Services, more than a million Pennsylvanians were food insecure in 2022. Geisinger screens patients to understand their social needs, including food insecurity, and gets them connected to local community resources. Among Geisinger patients who have taken an adult social needs screening, nearly 10,500 have worried they would run out of food before having resources to buy more, and more than 3,800 have reported the same concern across Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Snyder counties. As an extension of Geisinger’s food-is-health strategy designed to help people with challenges accessing healthy food live well and manage diet-responsive conditions, the client-choice mobile food pantry will launch in targeted underserved areas. The mobile unit will be available for anyone in the community in need of food assistance. The mobile food pantry is the latest in a long list of projects for which The GIANT Company has partnered with Geisinger to improve health and quality of life for local communities. This includes previous commitments to the Fresh Food Farmacy program, Children’s Miracle Network and Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital. In total, The GIANT Company has given more than $8.5 million to Geisinger programs, facilities and initiatives. “Reducing food insecurity, increasing access to healthy foods and promoting nutrition is a priority for The GIANT Company,” said Nick Koch, Head of Wellbeing for The GIANT Company. “When Geisinger approached us with their idea for a mobile food pantry to help address these issues in their community, we knew we wanted to be a part of it. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this life-changing program will have on families across the central Susquehanna Valley.” CSO, a community action agency for Columbia, Montour and Northumberland counties, will staff the unit with a community health worker, driver and volunteers, and the pantry will also provide nutrition education and referrals to Geisinger for any clinical care needs. CSO is a partner agency of the Central PA Food Bank. Because 37% of Geisinger patients who reported food insecurity also identified more than one social need, Neighborly, an easy-to-use online search tool for free and reduced-cost community resources will be available on kiosks or mobile devices at distribution sites. To learn more about Neighborly, visit neighborlypa.com. The GIANT Company’s 100th anniversary celebration efforts honor team members, customers and the communities it serves. Building on its century-long commitment to grow strong, healthy communities, philanthropy is a cornerstone of the company’s anniversary celebration. It is building its legacy by making donations and participating in volunteer activities aligned with its purpose of connecting families for a better future through efforts to eliminate hunger, change children’s lives, heal the planet, promote wellbeing and foster a culture of inclusion and belonging. To learn more about how The GIANT Company is supporting the communities it serves, visit giantfoodstores.com/pages/our-purpose.
Geisinger Medical Centers Nationally Recognized for Quality Heart Attack Care Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre have received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Center Gold Plus recognition. The three Joint Commission/American Heart Association Comprehensive Heart Attack Centers and Mission: Lifeline Receiving Centers were recognized for delivering rapid, evidence-based care to people having the type of heart attack known as ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which is known to be more severe and dangerous than other types of heart attacks. All three medical centers are perennial recipients of Mission: Lifeline honors, but this is Geisinger Community Medical Center’s first year achieving Gold Plus recognition. Each year, about 285,000 people in the U.S. experience a STEMI,caused by a complete blockage in a coronary artery. Like all heart attacks, this requires timely treatment to restore blood flow as quickly as possible. “When one of our patients is having a heart attack, it’s important that we move quickly, move together, and deliver treatment that gives them the best chance at survival and recovery,” said Cinde Bower-Stout, manager of cardiovascular quality at Geisinger. Mission: Lifeline is a national, community-based initiative improving systems of care for patients with STEMI, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), stroke and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Recognition as a Mission: Lifeline Receiving Center is designed to showcase hospitals that provide 24/7 support for STEMI. Accredited facilities coordinate with a network of referring hospitals and emergency medical services to provide guideline-directed STEMI and NSTEMI care. “We are dedicated to always improving coordination among our teams and always delivering the latest, evidence-based care to heart attack patients,” said Vishal Mehra, M.D., Ph.D., director of cardiovascular quality at Geisinger. “The Mission: Lifeline initiative helps us achieve our goals by offering guidelines to follow on a daily basis as we focus on making better health easier for our patients.”
