The Wright Center for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education receives Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence Designation The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has recognized The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education as a Gold Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) – the first community health center in Pennsylvania to achieve the gold standard. The ACE designation from the national body shows The Wright Center is dedicated to advocating for and supporting community health centers that provide comprehensive primary and preventive health services to medically underserved populations in rural and urban areas. “It is an incredible honor to be recognized by NACHC with the Gold ACE designation,” said Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “Our advocacy efforts extend throughout our organization, as our 625 dedicated employees live and deliver our shared mission to improve the health and welfare of the communities we are privileged to serve. I am very proud of their collective service efforts to ensure high-quality primary and preventative care are available for all of our patients.” An ACE is a community health center that creates a culture of advocacy to ensure that policymakers at all levels of government commit to investing in affordable, equitable and innovative care that health centers provide. ACE levels recognize consistent engagement, success and demonstrated ongoing commitment to making advocacy an organization priority. ACEs are actively engaged with NACHC and forums addressing federal policy issues, as well as their state primary care association and platforms to address key state and local-level policy issues that impact community health centers and their patients. NACHC awards three levels of ACEs: bronze, silver and gold. Each designation is valid for two years. In order to earn ACE status, a community health center must complete a checklist of activities and accomplishments as outlined by NACHC. Wright Center employees, for example, develop and write guest editorials that raise awareness and address important public health issues that affect community health centers and patients. An in-house advocacy committee offers training, while the organization also hosts elected officials at its regional primary care practices. The executive leadership team participates in important meetings at the local, state and national levels that promote responsive solutions to important health care delivery issues and health outcomes. For more information about The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, go to TheWrightCenter.org .
Wright Center’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support Group Returns to In-person Monthly Meetings The Wright Center for Community Health’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support Group, a collaborative program with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, will return to in-person monthly meetings at the Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, beginning Monday, May 2. The monthly meetings will be held the first Monday of the month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Mid Valley Practice. The professionally led group is for caregivers, individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, family members and others personally affected by the disease. “Our support group offers comfort and reassurance for those who are living with the disease and individuals who are actively providing care or have loved ones afflicted with it,” said Nicole Lipinski, director of The Wright Center for Community Health’s Geriatric Service Line. “Support groups can also be a good source of practical advice, camaraderie and emotional support for everyone involved in this journey.” Guests are asked to observe public safety measures due to COVID-19, including masking and social distancing, during the meeting. To register for the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support Group, please call 1-800-272-3900. For more information about The Wright Center, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019. The support group falls under the umbrella of The Wright Center for Community Health’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program. The Wright Center is one of only eight health systems in the country to adopt the award-winning model that was created at UCLA. The clinic helps patients and their families with the complex medical, behavioral and social needs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Advanced practice providers and dementia care specialists collaborate with the patient’s primary care physician to create and implement a personalized care plan that builds in medical needs, solutions for caregiver stress and cultural traditions unique to each individual and their family. The support group and program are components of The Wright Center for Community Health’s Geriatric Program, recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as an Age-Friendly Health System. The program provides a full spectrum of comprehensive primary health and support services for seniors and serves as a trusted primary health advisor for seniors and their families in support of independent living. The Wright Center for Community Health’s Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support Group, a collaborative program with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, will hold in-person monthly sessions from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month beginning May 2 at the Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. Call the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-272-3900 to register.
The Wright Centers Celebrate National Doctors Day in Honor of Nation’s Medical Heroes The red carnation is a well-known symbol of National Doctors Day for good reason. It signifies the important qualities of sacrifice, empathy and bravery that are synonymous with successful physicians everywhere. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge our own physicians at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, and those in the region and around the world for the work they do for their patients, communities and medical profession. It is both a challenging and immensely rewarding career that is difficult to put into context. Years of study and perfecting your craft are followed by long hours and thought-provoking cases that can lead to heartbreak, enormous satisfaction and even exuberance. As you can see, health care is also an emotional rollercoaster filled with complex issues, medical advancements, new technology and information that all lead up to diagnosis and treatment of you – our patients. Healing people with their knowledge and insight, society has profoundly benefitted from the care of physicians. In both sickness and in health, they are there for us, as their commitment and investment in our care never wavers, no matter how dire the circumstances may be. As days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, the global pandemic extended into years and tested the best of us in the medical field. Our resolve to care for our regular patients and those infected with a mysterious and sometimes deadly virus did not wane, as we followed the science to treat symptoms and remained united for the overall good of humanity. Today, we have more tools in our toolbox to successfully fight COVID-19’s variants and we collectively talk to our patients and the public, educating them about the efficacy and safety of the vaccines which have undergone countless research studies that have proven their effectiveness in reducing serious illness, hospitalization and death. COVID-19 has not been eradicated, but normalcy is slowly returning, thanks to the sacrifices of many health care providers. I am truly inspired by the care and compassion our resident physicians, physician faculty and doctors show our Northeast Pennsylvania community. Together, we provide primary care and teach the next generation of physicians at The Wright Center. This national day of recognition is a special opportunity to personally thank our compassionate and trusted physicians who put their patients’ needs above their own by going above and beyond the call of duty to make sure our health care needs are their top priority. Many of these same physicians – an estimated 1,062,205 in the United States – have seen and treated generations of families and have become part of an extended family. On this Thursday, March 30, please reach out and say “thank you” to your family doctor or specialty physician or surgeon who has left a lasting impression on you, your family and your own health. After all, physicians respond to late-night calls, work holidays and provide reliable care with you in mind. Now more than ever, we know the value of good doctors who fight against disease and illness and put the health of their communities first – 365 days a year. Jignesh Y. Sheth, M.D., a primary care physician dually board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine, leads The Wright Center for Community Health as chief medical officer and as senior vice president of clinical operations, enterprise IT and education integrations for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. He sees patients at The Wright Center’s Mid Valley Practice in Jermyn and lives with his family in Clarks Summit.
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.
Wright Center Accepting Applications for Medical Assistant Training Program A Wright Center for Community Health and National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) initiative that was formed to address a critical national shortage of professionals is accepting applications beginning March 14 for its fall 2022 cohort of students. The collaboration educates and trains students over 29 weeks to become certified clinical medical assistants. The program combines flexible online learning with a paid internship at one of The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary health practices in Lackawanna, Luzerne or Wayne counties. Federal financial aid is available for students who qualify. Students who are accepted into the program receive personalized training with experienced medical professionals at The Wright Center for Community Health during the clinical portion of their education. After completing the education component, students will be eligible to take the National Healthcareer Association Medical Assistant examination to receive their certified clinical medical assistant credential. Graduates from the NIMAA program have an 85% graduate rate on the exam. A medical assistant is responsible for assisting doctors and nurses in providing care to patients in hospitals, doctor’s offices and other health care facilities. Duties include recording and updating medical histories and contact information in patient files, scheduling patient appointments and performing standard care procedures, such as taking blood samples, measuring and recording vital signs, and more. The employment outlook for medical assistants is projected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 104,400 openings are projected annually on average, over the decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Applications are being accepted through Sunday, May 29, but space is limited. For more information, contact Carla Blakeslee, coordinator of clerkships at The Wright Center, at 570-591-1511 or blakesleec@thewrightcenter.org or apply directly at nimaa.edu/admissions
Wright Center Physician Earns Board Certification Dr. Karen Arscott, a board-certified primary care physician and an addiction medicine specialist at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Hawley and Mid Valley practices, recently became board certified in addiction medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). ABPM was established to promote the health and safety of patients through high standards in the certification and maintenance of certification in the profession of preventive health. Physicians trained and certified as addiction medicine specialists provide comprehensive care for addiction and substance use disorders, including prevention, screening, intervention and treatment with education, experience and examination. A graduate of Dunmore High School, Arscott earned her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from Marywood University and her Doctor of Osteopathy and clinical Master of Science in osteopathic manipulative medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed residency programs in internal medicine, anesthesiology, osteopathic manipulative medicine and addiction medicine. To schedule an appoint at the Hawley Practice call 570-576-8081 or Mid Valley Practice call 570-230-0019 or go to TheWrightCenter.org.
The Wright Center to Hold COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic The Wright Center for Community Health is holding a Driving Better Health COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at St. Francis Food Pantry, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton, on Friday, Feb. 25 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. Patients are asked to observe public safety measures, including masking and social distancing, during the clinic and bring identification and insurance cards.
Wright Center Dentist Appointed to NYU Langone Dental Medicine Faculty Dr. Satya Upadhyayula, a board-certified general practice dentist at The Wright Center for Community Health, recently received a faculty appointment to NYU Langone Dental Medicine, enabling him to share his oral surgery and dental treatment know-how with dental residents who are training locally. The Wright Center became a dental training site and welcomed its first two residents in 2021 through a new affiliation with NYU Langone Dental Medicine. The Brooklyn, N.Y.,-based organization operates the world’s largest postdoctoral dental residency program of its kind, training about 400 residents annually at partner sites including community health centers, hospitals and other affiliates in nearly 30 states. The Wright Center is currently the only partner site in Pennsylvania. The affiliation between the two health care organizations represents another way in which The Wright Center is bringing more health professionals to Northeast Pennsylvania to address the community’s pressing health needs. “I’m glad to have attained this faculty appointment, allowing me to play a more integral role in preparing the next generation of dentists, especially those with a heart for serving in medically underserved and economically disadvantaged areas,” said Upadhyayula. Known to many of his patients and colleagues as “Dr. U,” Upadhyayula is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Prior to joining The Wright Center, he completed an oral and maxillofacial surgery internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He becomes the second faculty physician based at The Wright Center to support the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency, joining site director Dr. Caitlin McCarthy. Faculty physician Dr. Isaac Navarro, who is based in California, was instrumental in the program’s startup at The Wright Center and remains critical to its success, leading grand rounds virtually each month. The dental residents train at The Wright Center’s Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., Scranton, and its Mid Valley Practice, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn. Each site has a state-of-the-art dental clinic that offers the public access to oral care services including check-ups and cleanings, fillings, X-rays, extractions, emergency services, oral cancer screenings and denture care. NYU Langone Dental Medicine’s residency program, which is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, complements The Wright Center’s existing educational activities. For more than 45 years, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education has been a provider of residency training in Greater Scranton, helping to build a pipeline of medical professionals to meet the needs of the region and the nation. Today it offers residencies in internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatry as well as fellowships in cardiovascular disease, gastroenterology and geriatrics. For more information, visit TheWrightCenter.org.
Wright Center’s Dr. Eisenberg Named Senior Advisor at the Center for Healthcare Innovation Dr. David Eisenberg, the deputy chief medical officer for value-based care, health informatics and operational sustainability at The Wright Center for Community Health, has been named a senior advisor by the Center for Healthcare Innovation. The Center for Healthcare Innovation is a nonprofit research and educational institute based in Chicago, Illinois, that brings diverse global leaders together to work on improving health care for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, race, ethnicity or other social determinants. Its members include health care providers, executives, caregivers, authors, entrepreneurs, researchers and more who work collaboratively on the common goal of reducing health disparities. At The Wright Center, he leads value-based care contracts across four major payers and three Medicaid managed care organizations for primary and behavioral health service lines; collaborates with executive leadership on business development and sustainability, and engages in cross-functional initiatives that drive integration and alignment to improve operational and financial performance. Eisenberg earned his Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh and his Doctor of Medicine from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He served an internship in The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s Psychiatry Residency and is a candidate for his Master of Management in clinical informatics from Duke University. In addition, Eisenberg has clinical and administrative experience in developing and implementing interoperability workflows across multiple disciplines of health care. Overall, the Center for Healthcare Innovation advocates for those who are vulnerable, at-risk and underserved by developing collaborative relationships that make health care more equitable for all patients; increases understanding and metrics of health equity; produces impactful research on trends and challenges to health equity; analyzes and disseminates best practices for reducing disparities, and develops ideas for policymakers that work to eliminate obstacles to care and reducing health disparities. It accomplishes its objectives by hosting educational events for global health care innovators, conducting independent research, and advising leaders and teams on how to solve strategic health care and health equity challenges in the industry. For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, please go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-343-2383.
Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Scholarly Abstract Accepted for Presentation at HRSA’s National Conference Dr. Karen ArscottDr. Meaghan RuddyDr. Linda Thomas-HemakScott ConstantiniJumee Barooah A scholarly research team at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education has had their scholarly abstract, “An Addiction Medicine Fellowship’s Valuable Engagement in an Essential Community Provider’s ‘Whole Person’ Care and Education Model,” accepted for presentation at a highly competitive national conference. The federal Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) abstract review committee chose the research article for its Bureau of Health Workforce Virtual All Grantee and Stakeholder Meeting in April. The focus of the meeting is for participants to learn from grantees and trainees about programs, ideas and research that can improve the health workforce. Dr. Karen Arscott, a primary care and addiction medicine specialist, will make the public presentation of the abstract for the research team. Drs. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO, and Jumee Barooah, designated institutional officer, also contributed to the research along with Scott Constantini, director of behavioral health, and Meaghan Ruddy, Ph.D., senior vice president of assessment and advancement for The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education. The abstract, one of 72 accepted for presentation, illustrates how HRSA’s investment in the Geisinger-Wright Center for Community Health addiction fellowship partnership helped improve access to health care services and trained the health workforce to address behavioral and community health needs.
