Geisinger Introduces Military Fellowship Program As part of Geisinger’s continued commitment to military service members and veterans, the health system has launched a new program to support active-duty service members during their transition to civilian life. The Geisinger Military Fellowship Program is a 12-week workplace learning experience for service members as they explore civilian career options after the military. The fellowship is a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Skillbridge program, which gives service members the opportunity to transfer their knowledge acquired in the military and learn through hands-on experiences with civilian employers. Service members who are within six months of transition to civilian life can work alongside employers like Geisinger to gain experience and training for the next step of their career. “The transition from active duty to the civilian workforce is hard,” said Chris Grill, program manager of Military and Veterans Affairs at Geisinger. “The military fellowship will help service members ease into the next step in their career and gain experience in a civilian healthcare organization. We understand and appreciate the tools and skills that those serving in the military have and how they can contribute to our mission of making better health easier for our patients, members and neighbors. Providing this opportunity for these brave men and women is a win for the individual, Geisinger and the community.” Geisinger employs more than 700 military veterans and service members across northeastern and central Pennsylvania in various roles including physicians, nurses, Life Flight pilots, information technology and human resources, among others. The health system has been recognized for its work with the veteran population, including by being named a Military Friendly employer. To learn more about career opportunities and programs for the military population, visit job.geisinger.org/veterans.
Geisinger Announces Plans for New $180 Million Orthopaedic Care Facility Geisinger today announced plans for The Orthopaedic Center Pennsylvania, a new multi-floor, free-standing orthopaedic care facility. Geisinger is investing $180 million to bring world-class orthopaedic care to central and northeastern Pennsylvania – and beyond – in one location through the new specialty care center. The new facility in Buckhorn will be located off Mall Boulevard near the Columbia Mall, so community members don’t need to leave the area for advanced bone, joint and muscle care. “As it’s aptly named, The Orthopaedic Center Pennsylvania will extend its services to patients across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Matt Walsh, Geisinger’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “This is Geisinger’s largest facilities investment for 2021, and one we’re thrilled to make, furthering our commitment to not only make better health easier for the communities we currently serve but also to extend these services to our neighbors throughout the state.” Surpassing large-scale orthopaedic hospitals in major metropolitan areas, The Orthopaedic Center Pennsylvania will serve patients in central and northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond by featuring specialized operating rooms and a dedicated inpatient unit focused on recovery and mobility after surgery. An on-site outpatient clinic will focus on wellness, injury prevention and bone, joint and muscle health. Also planned are an imaging center and pharmacy, as well as outpatient rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy services. “This project is more than a building. This is a whole new patient experience,” said Michael Suk, M.D., J.D., professor and chair of Geisinger’s Musculoskeletal Institute. “The Orthopaedic Center Pennsylvania will be a one-of-kind facility in the region providing the highest level of orthopaedic care. Pennsylvanians don’t need to travel out-of-state for orthopaedic care. We designed the building by listening to the needs and wants of our patients and learning from their experiences. By bringing together specialized surgery options, advanced imaging, overnight recovery and personalized rehabilitation and sports medicine programs, our team-based approach will be singularly focused to make better health easier for our patients while also driving down costs by offering them care that’s closer to home.” By moving orthopaedic surgeries and services out of the hospital, this new facility will create space in Geisinger Medical Center, Geisinger Woodbine and Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital so new and existing programs can grow within the hospitals and outpatient specialty centers. This also makes space available within Geisinger Medical Center as part of a multi-year effort to convert all inpatient units to private rooms. The project is Geisinger’s latest investment in the Buckhorn area. The health system is also establishing a comprehensive primary care facility at its former Buckhorn Office Building, across Mall Boulevard from the future site of the orthopaedic facility. The primary care project will bring primary care services, a Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center, a ConvenientCare walk-in clinic, laboratory testing, imaging and a Geisinger Pharmacy to the region in early 2022. “These investments in Columbia County are not only meeting the health needs of our neighbors where they live, but doing so with a focused and holistic approach,” said Megan Brosious, chief administrative officer for Geisinger’s central region. “Our patients will no longer need to travel outside the area for this level of care. Along with our planned primary care facility, The Orthopaedic Center Pennsylvania will complement the services we already provide in the surrounding region.” Construction on the multi-floor facility is scheduled to being in early 2022 with anticipated completion in 2024.
Geisinger ConvenientCare Opens Nicholson Location Getting walk-in care in Wyoming County just became easier as Geisinger opens its second ConvenientCare location in the county. Located at 2631 Lackawanna Trail (Route 11) in Nicholson, Geisinger ConvenientCare Nicholson is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Staffed by advanced practitioners, the walk-in clinic provides care for anyone age 1 and older. ConvenientCare clinics are the best place to go for minor health issues that can be resolved in a single visit. These include cold and flu symptoms, allergies, earaches, tick removal, sprains and minor cuts. “Our ConvenientCare walk-in clinics are designed to be there when you need it the most,” said Richard Martin, M.D., medical director of Geisinger ConvenientCare. “We’re glad to be providing care in Nicholson, and the addition of these services helps to make health care easier for our neighbors in the community.” You can visit geisinger.org/urgent to check wait times at ConvenientCare locations and use the online check-in to hold your place in line to be seen. Geisinger also had a ConvenientCare location near Tunkhannock. To learn more about Geisinger ConvenientCare, visit geisinger.org/urgentcare. The clinics accept most major insurance plans and offer reasonable copays.
Geisinger Relocates Scranton Dermatology Practice Getting skin care in Lackawanna County is easier and more convenient with Geisinger Dermatology Scranton now located in the 3 W. Olive St. complex. In addition to relocating skin care services from Geisinger Community Medical Center, the health system welcomes dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Mary Brady, M.D., to Scranton. The skin care team at Geisinger Dermatology Scranton provides complete dermatology services including pediatric dermatology and Mohs surgery. Additionally, the team treats a variety of conditions including acne, cysts, eczema, hives, melanoma, nail care, psoriasis, rosacea, skin cancer and warts among many other skin conditions. Dr. Brady returns to Geisinger and brings her experience with Mohs surgery to Scranton. She earned her medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia after completing her undergraduate studies in biology at Bucknell University. She completed her dermatology residency at Geisinger Medical Center and fellowship in Mohs micrographic surgery and dermatology oncology at the Cleveland Clinic. For more information about Geisinger’s skin care services in Scranton or to book an appointment, call 570-558-2130 or visit Geisinger.org/ScrantonDerm.
Geisinger Northeast Nurse Residency Program Receives National Accreditation The Geisinger Northeast Nurse Residency Program recently received accreditation with distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), placing it among only 208 programs worldwide to earn the distinction. The ANCC’s Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) sets the global standard for residency and fellowship programs that transition registered nurses and advanced practitioners into new practice settings. Accreditation is granted for four years and includes the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center and Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campuses in Luzerne County and the Geisinger Community Medical Center campus in Lackawanna County. “We offer the only nurse residency program in northeastern Pennsylvania, and we’re proud of this accreditation that puts us on the same level as elite programs around the world,” said Steven Rhone, RN, chief nursing officer for Geisinger’s northeast region. Achieving PTAP accreditation requires a rigorous application process, submission of a self-study document that showcases the program and a site visit, which was conducted virtually this year. To be recognized with distinction is a testament to the valuable hands-on experience and personal support the program provides new nurses. “This is a tremendous honor,” said Lindsey Ford, DNP, RN, director of nursing education and Magnet for Geisinger’s northeast region. “It demonstrates our program’s commitment to helping new nurses acclimate to the clinical setting, so they’ll excel in their nursing careers at Geisinger.” The Geisinger Northeast Nurse Residency Program was established in 2015, and all new graduate nurses are entered into the 12-month residency. It’s designed to transition newly graduated nurses from academia to professional practice in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Geisinger Marworth Tops Newsweek List of “Best Addiction Treatment Centers” Geisinger Marworth Treatment Center has been named to Newsweek’s 2021 list of America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers as the top-ranked facility in Pennsylvania. The America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers 2021 list highlights the nation’s top facilities based on quality of service, reputation and accreditation relative to in-state competition. Facilities in the 25 states with the highest number of addiction treatment centers, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), were included in the survey. The rankings feature the top 300 inpatient/residential and long-term addiction treatment centers. The evaluation process included quality and accreditation scores as well as recommendations from peers. “Geisinger Marworth is dedicated to providing quality, evidence-based treatment for people with substance use disorder, and we are honored to be recognized by this survey and by our peers for the care we offer,” said Margaret Jarvis, M.D., chair of addiction medicine at Geisinger. “Marworth provides a safe and supportive environment to help people gain remission from addiction diseases.” Geisinger Marworth, located near Scranton, offers individualized, holistic inpatient and outpatient treatment to help people overcome alcohol and substance use disorder, including medication-assisted treatment, individual and family therapy, and support groups. Marworth cares for patients from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and New England, and more than 40,000 people have chosen Marworth for treatment since 1982. For more information about Marworth and addiction medicine care at Geisinger, visit Geisinger.org/NewsweekMarworth.
Geisinger to Host Hiring Events As Geisinger continues recruitment efforts to help make better health easier for the communities of northeastern and central Pennsylvania, the health system will hold in-person hiring events in Danville, Pittston, Williamsport, and Reedsville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25. Those attending the events will have the opportunity to discuss career opportunities at Geisinger, potential sign-on bonuses and recruitment incentives, and benefits including retirement programs, parental paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and health insurance on the first day of employment. Attendees should bring an updated resume as there will be opportunities for on-site interviews for certain positions. Geisinger offers a variety of career opportunities within departments that provide direct patient care and those who support operations. Openings throughout Geisinger’s operations in northeastern and central Pennsylvania include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, patient care unit assistants, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomists, social workers, environmental services technicians, and food service workers, among others. The hiring events will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the following locations: Geisinger Office Building, 32 Justin Drive, DanvilleGeisinger CenterPoint, 300 Keystone Ave., PittstonHoliday Inn Williamsport, 100 Pine St., WilliamsportHoliday Inn Express & Suites Reedsville, 30 Happy Valley Dr., Reedsville “Our staff plays a critical role in bringing important health services close to home for our patients, members and neighbors,” said Jeff Lowry, director of recruitment for Geisinger. “Additionally, we work to provide the area with career growth opportunities with competitive salaries and benefits. We are always looking for talented and dedicated individuals to join our team and work to make better health easier for our communities.” Registration is encouraged, but not required for the Oct. 25 hiring events. Walk-ins are welcome. Visit jobs.geisinger.org/hiring to register and view all roles that are eligible for sign-on bonuses and hiring incentives. To learn more about job opportunities at Geisinger or to sign up for Geisinger job alerts, visit jobs.geisinger.org.
Geisinger Invests in Dickson City Cancer Center Geisinger has announced the planned construction of a new, state-of-the-art cancer center designed to make better health easier in Lackawanna County by expanding services, hiring new providers and offering more appointments in the community. According to market forecasts, the need for cancer care in Lackawanna County is expected to grow by 3.2 percent over the next five years, and Geisinger has outgrown its current cancer center at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. The planned 55,000-square-foot, $58 million Dickson City facility, located on the north end of Viewmont Drive, will provide a broader spectrum of services closer to home for county residents. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2022, and when the center opens in late 2023, it will house a hematology/oncology clinic with 17 exam rooms, 22 infusion bays and 3 multidisciplinary spaces and will also provide radiation oncology – a first for Geisinger in Lackawanna County – palliative medicine, pharmacy and laboratory services. Patient amenities will include food service and a coffee bar, a specialty boutique and courtyards and gardens with natural views and vistas. “As more of our friends and neighbors trust us with their care, we need to provide more world-class cancer services to contribute to healthier, more vibrant communities in Lackawanna County,” said Ron Beer, chief administrative officer of Geisinger’s northeast region. “Geisinger has served northeastern Pennsylvania for 40 years, and this investment is further proof that we intend to care for and grow with our communities for many years to come.” This new, full-spectrum cancer center will complement the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, which is currently undergoing its own extensive expansion and renovation that includes the addition of an inpatient unit for treatment of complex blood cancers. Together, the centers anchor a regional cancer program that provides everything patients can find in major hub cities right here in northeastern Pennsylvania. “The cancer program at Geisinger already features top-tier providers, comprehensive care teams, leading-edge treatment, advanced technologies and clinical trials,” said Rajiv Panikkar, M.D., chair of the Geisinger Cancer Institute. “By allowing the program to flourish, this new facility is another step toward making sure patients never have to leave the region for outstanding care.” Located near the intersection of Interstate 81 and the Scranton-Carbondale Highway, the center will be within a short drive for most county residents. Chosen for its ability to serve as many patients as possible within a 20-minute drive time, the site is conveniently situated in the same hub as the Viewmont Mall and Dickson City Crossings. It will bolster the community not only by providing a destination for exceptional cancer care but also through the creation of dozens of new jobs. The new facility will also free up much-needed space at Geisinger Community Medical Center to expand private room availability, improve the overall patient experience, and continue developing the city’s hospital as the region’s gold standard for critical care, cardiovascular care, trauma and more. Additionally, Geisinger continues to explore all opportunities for growth at the Geisinger Community Medical Center that will provide even more investments for a healthier, more vibrant city.
Geisinger Health Plan announces Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage plans for 2022 Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) announced its Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage plans for 2022 with benefits designed to make better health easier for its members and premiums starting as low as $0 per month. Medicare’s annual enrollment period begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7, 2021. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their current coverage for 2022. Geisinger Gold plans are available in 44 counties in Pennsylvania and include cost-saving features and wellness programs not available with original Medicare, such as prescription drug coverage, fitness, dental, hearing and vision benefits. “Geisinger Gold members have access to the extra services and programs that make managing their health easier and more affordable,” said Kurt Wrobel, Geisinger Health Plan president and executive vice president of insurance operations. “Whether it’s by managing high blood pressure and arthritis pain, getting preventive cancer screenings, saving thousands of dollars a year on insulin or getting your prescriptions delivered right to your door, Geisinger Gold helps our members get the most out of their Medicare Advantage plan to live healthier lives.” GHP members have access to more than 29,000 doctors and 100 hospitals across Pennsylvania, as well as virtual visits with their primary care physician, urgent care, mental health and substance abuse services, with copays starting at $0. By enrolling in Geisinger’s mail-order pharmacy, members can save up to 50% on prescription copays and have their medications mailed directly to their home. Geisinger Gold members can use this service to order a three-month supply of select insulin for $52.50. Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans also include: Vaccines covered at $0Prescription drug copays as low as $0Monthly allowance on over-the-counter healthcare productsGlobal emergency and urgent coverage up to $100,000Up to $650 annual allowance for dental careAdditional $500 flexible spending card to supplement dental, vision and hearing coverage Additionally, only Geisinger Gold members have access to Geisinger 65 Forward, a program designed exclusively for people 65 and older with everything they need under one roof. Geisinger at Home, which brings healthcare directly to people in their own homes, is also only available to eligible Geisinger Gold members. Supported by a locally based customer care team, GHP was ranked first in member satisfaction among commercial health plans in Pennsylvania for the second year in a row in the J.D. Power 2021 Commercial Health Plan Study. Geisinger’s trusted Medicare advisors are available to answer questions, compare plans and costs and help navigate the enrollment process virtually, by phone or in person. For more information, visit geisinger.org/enroll or call 855-904-0153, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Geisinger Physician Helps Afghan Evacuees When Afghani Roshan, M.D. learned that planes carrying evacuees from Afghanistan were headed to Philadelphia, she instantly knew she had to help. The Geisinger Wyoming Valley emergency medicine physician was raised in a Pashto-speaking household. Her parents and older siblings escaped Afghanistan in the early 1980s under circumstances much like today’s evacuees. Having grown up hearing their stories, Dr. Roshan felt the least she could do was welcome frightened and weary people to the U.S. in their own language. Dr. Roshan reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Medical Reserve Corps to offer her linguistic services, but once they learned she was a physician, they quickly asked her to help organize and run the medical operation at the Philadelphia International Airport. For the last few weeks, Dr. Roshan was often one of the first faces countless evacuees saw upon landing in the U.S. “My parents and siblings are delighted and proud that I am able to help. They have always looked for ways they can pay it forward,” she said, adding that she has found it to be personally rewarding even through small acts such as greeting the evacuees, “I greet them in a Pashto phrase which translates to ‘Welcome, I hope you arrived safely.’ This takes them by surprise but allows them to open up and smile. It brings me joy to see the little ones running around the airport and to know that they have more opportunities here. I hope that by seeing an Afghan American female physician, they recognize that they also have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.”
