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.
Sky Zone Holds Fundraiser for Detective Gilmarten Tonight Join Sky Zone in Supporting Detective Kyle Gilmartin and His Family. On January 11th, 2024, Detective Kyle Gilmartin, while on patrol in the streets of Scranton, PA, was injured by a heartless act. In his commitment to protecting our community, he took swift action, demonstrating true heroism.In light of these events, we are coming together to host a fundraiser for Detective Kyle Gilmartin and his family. This dedicated officer has not only served our community with unwavering dedication but has also gone above and beyond the call of duty.20% of all Proceeds Will Be Donated To The Scranton FOP Wellness Fund Thursday, January 18th4:00pm – 8:00pmSky Zone Pittston, 195 Enterprise Way, Pittston, PA 18640, United States
Lackawanna College and Police Academy Extend Support to Wounded Detective Lackawanna College and the Lackawanna College Police Academy extends our unwavering supportand prayers to Detective Kyle Gilmartin, his family, friends, and all of the brave men and womenwho make up the Scranton Police Department. Detective Kyle Gilmartin was shot and seriously wounded while honorably performing his duties onJanuary 11, 2024. This tragic act of violence services as a stark reminder of the dangers our local lawenforcement officers face on a daily basis while serving and protecting our communities. Lackawanna College has a longstanding and meaningful relationship with the Scranton PoliceDepartment, and Detective Kyle Gilmartin was a distinguished graduate of our Police Academy in 2010. His resilience, integrity, heroism, and unwavering dedication to duty serve as a shiningexample of the highest standards in law enforcement. We extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and complete recovery for Detective Kyle Gilmartin. Ourthoughts and support are with him and all those who uphold the noble cause of ensuring the safetyand well-being of our society.
Waverly Community House to Host Spanish for Adults Course The Waverly Community House is hosting Spanish for Adults with Kate Cawley. The objective of this six-week course is to establish a foundational understanding of the Spanish language through practical vocabulary development, a stock of frequently used phrases, and an idea of fundamental grammar and cultural perspectives. Using listening, reading and writing activities, the course will explore the following topics: Greetings/Introductions/Courtesy Letters, numbers, pronouns, days, months, weather, common objects Asking and responding to common questions: Who/What/Where/When/How Noun/adjective agreement Subject/verb agreement Tuesdays for six weeks at 6:00pm beginning January 23, 2024 in the CRB Room To register, please click HERE $65
The Scranton Counseling Center Launches Crisis Unit The Scranton Counseling Center marked a significant milestone with the successful launch of its Crisis Receiving Stabilization Unit on January 5th, 2024. This facility represents a crucial advancement in mental health care for Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties, providing both overnight and crisis residential support for adults in a secure environment for up to 72 hours. The center specializes in delivering immediate crisis counseling and creating personalized safety plans, catering to adults from the mentioned counties. The emphasis on direct and personalized care reflects the center’s commitment to addressing mental health concerns promptly and effectively. Importantly, the center adopts a no-appointment-necessary approach, eliminating barriers to access and ensuring individuals can seek immediate support during times of crisis. This proactive stance aligns with the center’s dedication to making mental health services readily available, underscoring the importance of timely assistance for those in need. The launch of this facility signifies not only a significant step forward in mental health care but also a tangible commitment to fostering a responsive and accessible support system within the community.
The RailRiders Pinstripe Pals Program Returns to Support Local Youth Leagues The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, in partnership with US Foods, are thrilled to announce that the Pinstripe Pals program has returned in support of area youth softball and baseball leagues. Applications are being accepted now and 10 youth leagues will be selected for the program once again this year. League representatives are encouraged to fill out the Pinstripe Pals application form and submit a 500-word (or less) essay describing why their league should be chosen. Each of the ten leagues selected will receive a $500 sponsorship from the RailRiders to assist in league expenses, as well as a $500 gift card courtesy of US Foods, which can be used to help teams pay for concession stand products and supplies. Applications are due by March 1. Each league selected will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-game parade at PNC Field before a RailRiders home game and the opportunity for RailRiders assistance with league fundraising. Selected leagues will have a photo of their choice placed in the GuideRail game day program on their league’s designated night. One of the teams in each league will serve as the “Field of Dreams” club on that night and take the field with the RailRiders players. Applications can be found on our website under the Community tab or upon request. Completed applications can be emailed to Robby Judge at rjudge@swbrailriders.com, faxed to (570) 963-6564 or mailed to: SWB RailRiders Attn: Pinstripe Pals 235 Montage Mountain Rd. Moosic, PA 18507 Winning leagues will be announced on March 8. For more information on the Pinstripe Pals program, presented by US Foods, please contact Krista Lutzick or Robby Judge at (570) 969-2255. The 2024 season begins on March 29 in Buffalo with the RailRiders home opener slated for April 2 against the Syracuse Mets. Season ticket plans are available now on www.swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 969-BALL.
RailRiders Announce Annual Valentine’s Day Diner Reservations Knock Love Out of the Park: The RailRiders annual Valentine’s Day Dinner is back by popular demand! Choose from two sessions on February 14. Indulge in a delectable four-course meal for $85/person, spend a romantic evening in a private suite, and receive tickets to a 2024 RailRiders game of your choice! Want to dine as a group? Enjoy an evening with multiple couples or bring the little sweethearts in your life! Review the menu and event details online at https://loom.ly/1RYxZfo. Contact Kirsten Peters at kpeters@swbrailriders.com or (570) 558-4545 to reserve your spot! (Suites are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
RailRiders Selling Football Squares for February 11 Game Prizes Don’t Fumble Your Chance to Win Big: RailRiders Football Squares are BACK in advance of the Big Game on February 11! Fans who purchase any season ticket plan between NOW and February 9 will receive the corresponding number of football squares with your chance to win one of five prize packages. Prizes include Yankees tickets, a David Cone autographed baseball, replica jerseys, and more! Call (570) 969-2255, email info@swbrailriders.com, or review season ticket plans online at https://loom.ly/IEnyLsY.
The Wright Center Fights Against National Lack of Maternal Health Services One of the more unfortunate trends in American medicine is the lack of access to health services available to new mothers and their babies. Fortunately, this dire situation is getting some much-needed attention via the annual observance of Maternal Health Awareness Day, which will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 23. This year’s theme is the highly appropriate “Access in Crisis.” All over the country, maternal health services are becoming increasingly unobtainable for too many mothers and their babies, due to financial, staffing, and policy challenges that have led to more and more labor and delivery units shutting down, both in urban and rural areas. More than 2.2 million women ages 15 to 44 live in maternity care deserts with no hospitals that provide obstetric care, birth centers, OB-GYNs, or certified nurse-midwives, according to a 2022 March of Dimes report. Meanwhile, numerous mothers in the postpartum period lost their Medicaid coverage as the COVID-19 public health emergency drew down. That 12-month period is enormously critical to patients, given the potential for pregnancy-related complications. This is a significant crisis, so people should be striving to play a role in raising awareness about the crucial role maternal health care access plays for mother and baby. The Wright Center is happy to say that locally they have high-quality maternal health care providers, among them Maternal & Family Health Services. The Wright Center also delivers exceptional pediatric services. From newborn check-ups and well-visits to vaccinations, school physicals, and guidance through all the development stages, The Wright Center is here to help patients navigate their child’s health and well-being from infancy through the beginning of adulthood. The Wright Center’s pediatricians, family medicine physicians, and medical care teams are specially trained to manage all aspects of your child’s health care needs. Services include newborn care, routine vaccinations, well-child visits that test children’s hearing, vision, height, and weight, same-day sick appointments, back-to-school and daycare physicals, sports and camp physicals, asthma management, mental health screenings for ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and counseling centered on growth, development, nutrition, safety, and injury prevention. Great work is also being done by the Healthy MOMS (Maternal Opiate Medical Support) program, which was launched by The Wright Center and several other community organizations more than five years ago to assist pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and embrace a life in recovery. The program provides medication-assisted treatment, behavioral health, case management, and social services, ideally engaging mom and baby all the way up until the child’s second birthday. The evidence suggests that mothers who join the program and participate in recovery services well before their delivery dates are less likely to give birth to babies who experience neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a potentially painful and costly medical condition caused when a newborn withdraws from opioids or other drugs that the baby had been exposed to in the womb. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of community partners representing Northeast Pennsylvania’s health care, legal, housing, and social service organizations, Healthy MOMS has proven to be a resounding success, with more than 151 mothers active in the program today and 257 children born in the program since its inception. The Wright Center will continue doing it’s part to ensure local mothers have the care and resources needed for them and their children to enjoy a happy, healthy life.
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%.”
