Geisinger Honors 237 Providers for High Patient Satisfaction Ratings

Geisinger recently honored 237 caregivers for ranking in the top 10% nationally for patient experience at the health system’s annual Top Patient Experience Clinicians Awards on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Danville, Pa. 

Geisinger providers — including physicians, physician assistants and certified registered nurse practitioners — were ranked among the best in the country by their patients, according to Press Ganey’s 2022 medical practice survey results. This survey gives patients an opportunity to grade the service and care they received from a provider.

“There’s no better indicator of being an exceptional provider than to hear it directly from your patients,” said J. Edward Hartle, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer for Geisinger. “Year after year, we have more Geisinger providers ranking in the top 10% nationally for patient experience, all while the standards keep getting tougher. We’re very proud to see our care providers continuing to excel in making better health easier for our patients.”

Among the 237 clinicians honored, three were spotlighted for exemplary work, receiving Geisinger awards for going above and beyond when it comes to compassionate patient care.

  • Kara Anne Levandoski, PA-C, in cardiology at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, received the Christina Appleman Award. The award is named in honor of Christina Appleman, certified registered nurse practitioner, and is given to the advanced practitioner at Geisinger with the highest overall score on the care provider section of the patient satisfaction survey.
  • Greg Francis Burke, MD, Geisinger’s chief patient experience officer and internal medicine physician at Geisinger Medical Center, and Jason R. Woloski, MD, family medicine physician at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, received the Victor J. Marks Award for best Outpatient Specialty Physician and Primary Care Physician, respectively. The award was established in 2002 to honor Victor Marks, MD, who served as Geisinger’s interim CEO from 2000 to 2001, and his commitment to making patients the primary focus of the health system. It’s given to the outpatient specialty physician and primary care physician at Geisinger who have the highest overall scores on the care provider section of the patient satisfaction survey.

The 90th percentile Geisinger winners in the Northeast Region are:

Amanda Maria Ketusky, PA-C

Alyson E. Evans, LGC

Alyssa Marie Callela, PA-C

Atul Bali, MD

Barry G. Bernstein, DPM

Bianca Maria Cerminaro, PA-C

Birju Bhatt, MD

Bogdan Protyniak, MD

Brianna Maglio, PA-C

Bryan E. Martin, DO

Cassandra Lynn Tunis, DO

Charles David Peters Jr., MD

Christian Stephen Adonizio, MD

Christina Lynn Feldmann, PA-C

Christopher Giddings Connolly, MD

Collin Douglas Hair, MD

Courtney Shingler, CRNP

Daniel William Upton, MD

David J. Kolessar, MD

Debra A. Lehr, OD

Dennis Michael Fisher, MD

Eileen Marie Rattigan, MD

Eric J. Kemmerer, MD

Erin Alexandra Colarusso, PA-C

Evan Lee McClennen, DO

Falan Eileen Glynn, PA-C

Fernando S. Carlos, MD

Gehred D. Wetzel, DO

George Ruiz, MD

Halime Ibrahim El-Hajmoussa, MD

Holly Maria Drutarovsky, PA-C

Jacob Adam Baber, MD

James A. Tricarico, DO

Jan M. Golden, DPM

Jason Raymond Woloski, MD

Jennifer Lynn Riccardo, PA-C

Jennifer Lynn Balinas, PA-C

Jillian M. Roush, PA-C

John Francis Danella, MD

John Joseph Sobuto III, DO

John Mark Prater, MD

John Robert Ramey, MD

Kaitlyn Elizabeth McDonough, PA-C

Kara Anne Levandoski, PA-C

Kathleen Quigley Whitney, PA-C

Karina Geronilla Phang, MD

Katrina Laura Kincel, PA-C

Kelly Jo Dalton, OD

Kenneth Louis Koury, MD

Kimberly A. Kovalick, DO

Kimberly Kaminsky, PA-C

Lakshmi Neeharika Saladi, MD

Laurie Campfield, DO

Leopoldo Legaspi, MD

Mary Catherine Brady, MD

Mary Rachel Wolf, PA-C

Matthew Gerard Mullen, MD

Megan Ward Harris, PA-C

Melissa Laporte, CRNP

Michael Andrew Kovalick, DO

Norma Michelle Boechat, PA-C

Ogechukwu Ndum, MD

Paul Anthony Arkless, MD

Paul R. Long, MD

Peter Joseph Cawley, MD

Renae Ann Keiper, PA-C

Sandeep Mehrok, MD

Sandra L. Pensieri, DPM

Shane Steven Young, MD

Shreya Sinha, MD

Stacy J. Conway, OD

Stanley John Yanik, PA-C

Steven Andrew Sluck, DO

Theodore James Tomaszewski, MD

Thomas I. Miller, PA-C

Timothy Jude Farrell, MD

Vernon H. Mascarenhas, MD

G.R Noto Electrical Construction Earns 2022 GASE Award

G.R. Noto Electrical Construction, Inc., has the pleasure to announce it has earned the 2022 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence (GASE). This award recognizes outstanding workplace safety. G.R Noto makes it a priority to protect workers and prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. G.R. Noto Electrical Construction, Inc., efforts help to make not only itself a safe work environment, but also Pennsylvania a much safer place in which to work.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Bureau of Workers Compensations stated they “were impressed with G.R. Noto Electrical Construction, Inc’s engineering innovations implemented since last winning the GASE award in 2016, most notably the Prefab shop and the Building Information Modeling System (BIM). G.R. Noto Electrical Construction, Inc. safety efforts have continued to result in incident rates well below industry averages.

SACF To Host Press Conference

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is hosting a press conference on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at the Hilton Scranton Hotel & Conference Center to announce that it was selected to serve as a host site for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Workforce Leadership Academy, a fellowship program designed by the Aspen Institute designed to support leaders in workforce development committed to the advancement of the regional workforce ecosystem. The Scranton Area Community Foundation was one of only eight organizations chosen from across the country selected through a competitive process to deliver an Academy in partnership with the Aspen Institute.  Other cities selected include Tucson, Detroit, Cleveland, Memphis, San Antonio, Baltimore, and Buffalo.

The Workforce Leadership Academy will bring leaders – recognized as Fellows of the Academy – from across the local workforce ecosystem together for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects. Fellows work with leading practitioners throughout the country as they deepen networks; strengthen systems leadership skills; apply race, equity, and systems change frameworks to their work; and increase understanding of effective strategies and programs.  An advisory board comprised of regional experts will help to shape the Academy.

WHAT: Members of the media are invited to a press conference including Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, The Institute’s Executive Director Teri Ooms, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Durkin, NEPA Black Chamber of Commerce Director of Operations Rashida Lovely, and Scranton Area Community Foundation President and CEO Laura Ducceschi.

WHEN: Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Hilton Scranton Hotel & Conference Center (2nd floor outside the Casey Ballroom)

Space Time Mead and Cider Works Collaboration Wins Best of Class

Honey Hole Winery’s/Space Time Mead & Cidery Work’s “Collaboration Pyment” made with Pennsylvania Chambourcin grapes and local honey received a Double Gold medal and “Best of Class” at the American Wine Society’s (AWS) 2022 Commercial Wine Competition held in Bellevue, Washington. In 2021, their Collaboration Lavender Mead won American Wine Society’s (AWS) Commercial Wine Competition Best of Class Mead

“What is so great about this recognition is that the mead was made from all Pennsylvania sourced ingredients including honey from local apiaries The Bee Keeper’s Daughter, and Murphy’s Bee Farm.” said Pete Aiello of Honey Hole Winery. “Northeastern Pennsylvania has some quality beekeepers!”

“Happy to be winning this with our friends at Honey Hole Winery”, weighed in Dan Schreffler of Space Time Mead & Cider Works. “Not only winning Best of Class two years in a row, and receiving a high score of 96, and Double Gold is special.”

Out of 7 collaboration wines, the Chambourcin Grape Pyment is their third double gold medal award winning mead. This is the 3rd American Wine Society’s Commercial Best of Class Mead won by Space Time Mead & Cider Works. Their next collaboration is under development and will be released in Spring of 2023.

SBDC WVIA Live Business Segment

On Monday, December 12th, join moderator Steve Stumbris, Director of Bucknell University SBDC, for an all-new Keystone Edition Business, find out what business owners are doing to reinvigorate and reinvent downtown shopping. Host Steve Stumbris is joined by a panel of experts including Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Downtown Center; Betsy Kramer, Revitalization Coordinator at SEDA COG PTAC and Michael Lombardo, the Mayor of Pittston.

Audacy Holiday Greetings Sale

Audacy has a great way for your business to end the year by saying thank you to all your customers, partners and employees!

How would you like to stand out and promote your holiday sales, extended hours or a shop now message to 400,000 listeners in NEPA? 

Kimberlee can do that for you, call her for more information at 570-880-5307 

Wolf Administration, AARP Highlight Safety for Drivers

With nearly a quarter of Pennsylvania’s licensed drivers 65 years of age or older, the Pennsylvania departments of Transportation (PennDOT), Aging (PDA) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), along with the AARP, hosted an event today at The Manor at Oakridge, a Holiday by Atria community in Harrisburg, to highlight the unique challenges faced by older drivers during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, which is observed December 5-9.

“Mobility is essential to quality of life at any age,” said Kurt Myers, PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services. “Many older drivers have a lifetime of valuable driving experience to draw from, and PennDOT continually seeks to balance the safety of our roadways with the need for independence and autonomy.”

Approximately 25% of Pennsylvania’s 9.1 million licensed drivers are 65 and older. In 2021 there were more than 19,700 crashes involving at least one driver aged 65 or older, which resulted in over 300 total fatalities. This represents about 17% of all crashes and about 25% of all fatalities.

“As Pennsylvania’s aging population continues to grow, the Wolf Administration is committed to ensuring that older adults have the resources they need to remain active in and connected to their communities,” said Secretary of Aging Robert Torres. “Driver safety awareness is a big part of that picture and if older adults need to make adjustments, accessible and available transportation alternatives become key to getting around. Pennsylvania is fortunate that our lottery proceeds help to fund these alternative services.”

Representatives from PennDOT, PDA, PSP, AARP and others provided information to help older Pennsylvanians extend their years on the road, and to make them aware of other transportation options available to them.

Pennsylvania has a network of shared-ride service providers dedicated to keeping older adults mobile, safe, and engaged in their community. This free transportation program allows citizens ages 65 or older to ride for free on a local, fixed-route service whenever local public transportation is operating. During FY 2020-21, there were 1.7 million Senior Shared Rides.  

Additionally, working with the PA Department of Human Services and transit agencies, PennDOT recently developed an online tool called Find My Ride that allows older drivers to access free ride services online. Find My Ride allows transit agencies to process applications more efficiently, so users can access benefits more quickly. Find My Ride can be found at findmyride.penndot.pa.gov. You can also find it at www.penndot.pa.gov by clicking on Travel in PA, then Public Transit Options.

“Along with the unique challenges already faced by older drivers, winter weather conditions, longer nights, and heavy holiday traffic create challenges for drivers of all ages,” said Lieutenant Adam Reed, Director of the Communications Office with the Pennsylvania State Police. “Before getting behind the wheel be sure you are up to date on eye exams and understand how your prescribed medications could affect your driving. Remember to buckle up every time!”

While every person ages differently, aging typically brings certain — sometimes subtle — physical, visual, and cognitive changes that could impair an older person’s ability to drive safely. Older drivers and their families should work together to identify potential issues that may affect driving, outline courses of action to assist the older driver, and plan for when it’s time to hang up the keys.

Signs that can indicate it may be time to limit or stop driving altogether include:

  • Feeling uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous when driving;
  • Unexplained dents/scrapes on the car, fences, mailboxes, or garage doors;
  • Frequently getting lost and frequent “close calls” (i.e. almost crashing);
  • Slower response times, particularly to unexpected situations;
  • Difficulty paying attention to signs or staying in the lane of traffic; and
  • Trouble judging gaps at intersections or highway entrance/exit ramps.

The Wolf Administration encourages older drivers and their loved ones to review PennDOT’s Seniors Driving Safely publication series, which can be downloaded for free from the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website. These publications help older drivers assess their abilities and offer guidance on next steps if their medical condition is reported to PennDOT. The series also includes a publication designed to guide family and friends of older drivers in what can sometimes be difficult conversations about deciding to stop driving, as well as information for healthcare providers on PennDOT’s medical reporting program.

The following safe-driving habits, which should be routine at any age, are especially useful to older drivers:

  • Plan ahead: lengthy car trips should be made during daylight hours. Morning may be best because most people aren’t as tired as they are in the afternoon. 
  • Don’t drive in rush-hour traffic if you can avoid it. Plan trips after 9:00 AM or before 5:00 PM. Know what roads near home are most congested and avoid them.
  • When driving long distances, especially in winter, call ahead for weather and road condition updates.
  • Look ahead. Good drivers get a jump on trouble by looking far down the road and making adjustments before encountering problems that may involve other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists or animals. 
  • Maintain a safe speed. This depends on what the road is like, how well the driver can see, how much traffic there is and how fast traffic is moving.
  • Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. The PA Driver’s Manual advises that you should always keep a 4-second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Additional information on older driver safety and mobility resources is available at both PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services and the Department of Aging websites.