The University of Scranton Plans for Return to Fully In-Person Classes in Fall

The University of Scranton announced plans to return to fully in-person classes for the fall semester and will begin to open the campus to in-person camps and conferences beginning this summer. The University will adhere to capacity limits established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and will continue to follow other health and safety requirements, which include social distancing and mask wearing.

The campus will remain closed to the general public through the summer.

“Since the pandemic began, the University planned and adapted based on state and federal guidance and directives, the best available scientific advice, and circumstances within our campus and surrounding community,” said Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., acting president, noting the University’s planning placed “the health and safety of our community at the center of our decisions.”

“We have succeeded thus far in responding to the pandemic because our care and concern for each other has inspired personal responsibility and sacrifice,” said Dr. Gingerich in an announcement sent to the University community announcing plans for the fall and summer. “I am confident that our love for each other and for the University will continue to inspire the best in us as we strive to remain Royals Safe Together.”

The University plans to offer undergraduate and graduate classes fully in-person in the fall 2021 semester, which begins August 30. The University will continue to offer graduate programs online that have been traditionally offered in that format.

An in-person Fall Welcome Weekend is being planned for Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29, and in-person summer orientation sessions are being planned for the Class of 2025.

This summer, the University will offer some in-person classes and laboratories, University-sponsored summer programs, and conferences and camps conducted by outside community groups and organizations. On-campus admissions tours will continue to be offered.

Additional information will be shared in the coming weeks, with more details about campus safety requirements as adaptions are made to the University’s Royals Safe Together Plan to follow updated guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Royals Safe Together plan will continue to updated in the months ahead as the situation related to the pandemic continues to develop.

Lackawanna College Plans for Return to In-Person Instruction for Fall 2021

After a year of adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual and hybrid courses, Lackawanna College is planning a return to normal, in-person classes for the Fall 2021 semester.

“We are deciding to return to normal operations as soon as possible, based on the advice of state medical and public health experts, along with Lackawanna’s internal COVID-19 taskforce and with the support of our Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Jill Murray, Lackawanna College President. “We are grateful to all of our students, faculty and staff who have worked together to ensure safety on our main campus and at all of our satellite centers.”

During the 2020–2021 academic year, Lackawanna College implemented policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 at all College locations. Ongoing mitigation efforts include daily self-assessments, contact tracing, masking requirements and the installation of air filtration systems and cleaning measures.

Lackawanna College’s COVID-19 taskforce will continue to monitor the pandemic and maintain all existing health and safety precautions. Any future changes to the fall return plan will be dependent on the pandemic, vaccination distribution and state and local guideline recommendation changes.

Learn more at www.lackawanna.edu.

FDA Grants Breakthrough Device Designation to Tempus in Collaboration With Geisinger

Tempus, a leader in artificial intelligence and precision medicine, today announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the company Breakthrough Device Designation for its ECG Analysis Platform. The platform, developed in collaboration with Geisinger, aids clinicians in identifying patients at increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter. Breakthrough Designation entitles the platform to an expedited regulatory process.

The platform was designated as a Breakthrough Device for use with patients 40 years of age and older, without pre-existing or concurrent AFib or atrial flutter, and who are at elevated risk of stroke based on a commonly used clinical stroke risk assessment tool (i.e., CHA₂DS₂-VASc score of ≥4). The device analyzes the results of a 12-lead ECG administered as part of routine care to provide clinicians with insight into a patient’s risk of future atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter events. When interpreted in conjunction with other available clinical information this can support clinicians in pursuing early and proactive diagnoses of AFib and atrial flutter with the goal of enabling improved clinical management of these conditions and their associated health risks.

AFib, which is a leading cause of stroke, is frequently unrecognized and untreated. Currently, there are no available devices to help physicians identify asymptomatic patients without a known history of cardiac arrhythmia who are at increased risk of future AFib, which carries other health risks including stroke and death. The Tempus ECG Analysis Platform is tackling that challenge by analyzing results of a widely used clinical test, the 12-lead ECG, with software that identifies patients at increased risk of developing AFib or atrial flutter within the next 12 months.

A team of Geisinger and Tempus scientists and clinicians recently published a related study in Circulation, which showed that artificial intelligence can predict risk of new AFib and AFib-related stroke. For this research study, the combined team of data scientists and medical researchers used 1.6 million ECGs to train a deep neural network to predict, among people without a previous history of AFib, who would develop it within the next 12 months. In people with no history of AFib that went on to have an AFib-related stroke, nearly two thirds would have been predicted to be at high-risk before the stroke.

“In granting our request for Breakthrough Device designation, the FDA is helping bring the power of artificial intelligence to patients, with new, smarter tools that can support clinicians in predicting future clinical events,” said Joel Dudley, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Tempus. “Every year, hundreds of millions of ECGs are performed in the U.S. to detect cardiac abnormalities as part of routine clinical care. We are making ECGs smarter so that they can also identify the risk of future clinical events of interest, such as AFib, thus enabling clinicians to act earlier in the course of disease and improve patient outcomes.”

“Much of what we do as clinicians relies on predicting the future. Geisinger and Tempus are working together to make smarter, more accurate predictions about future clinical events,” said Brandon Fornwalt, MD, Ph.D., Chair of Geisinger’s Department of Translational Data Science and Informatics. “This is ultimately about helping patients and fulfilling the promise of precision health by supporting clinical decision making with additional patient-specific information, and we are excited that the FDA recognizes the importance of this work.” The FDA’s Breakthrough Device Program was established to accelerate the availability of transformative medical devices to patients and healthcare providers by speeding up their development, assessment and review, while preserving the statutory standards for premarket review and authorization. Designation is awarded to innovative devices that provide more effective diagnosis or treatment of life-threatening conditions and that offer significant advantages over the existing standard of care, where no approved or cleared alternatives exist, and where early device availability is in patients’ best interests.

The Wright Center: Alzheimer’s and Dementia Webinar

Join the Wright Center for Community Health for a webinar: “Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia” on Wednesday April 14, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

In the United States alone, more than 5 million individuals are living with Alzheimer’s and 16 million are serving as their unpaid caregivers. The disease is a global crisis that impacts numerous families right here in our community. However, no one has to face this disease alone or without information.

The Alzheimer’s Association® has created an education program covering the basics of Alzheimer’s and dementia to provide a general overview for people who are facing a diagnosis as well as those who wish to be informed.

The free one-hour Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia program:

● Explores the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

● Examines what happens in a brain affected by Alzheimer’s

● Details the risk factors for and three general stages of the disease

● Identifies FDA-approved treatments available to treat some symptoms

● Looks ahead to what’s on the horizon for Alzheimer’s research

● Offers helpful Alzheimer’s Association resources

The program is via Zoom and attendance is free but registration is required. Register below or call our 24/7 helpline for registration assistance 800-272-3900. Once you register, a link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to your email a few days before the program.

REGISTER

PCN Features Scranton During Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood

PCN, an award-winning, nonprofit television network, announced the April feature and premiere date of its original series, Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood. The program, centered on celebrating the people, places, and events that make each neighborhood unique, will take a one-of-a-kind look at the state’s most electrifying city, Scranton. Join us April 5th-9th to see the many reasons Scranton is a special place to live and work including:

  • Insights into Scranton’s history as the “Electric City” and it’s Anthracite Coal Mining Heritage
  • Interviews with Notable Residents like U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr., Olympic Figure Skate Adam Rippon, and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti
  • A Look Back at President Joe Biden’s Roots
  • Bite-sized Tours of Popular Restaurants
  • Visits to the Electric Trolley Museum, Steamtown National Historic Site, and La Festa Italiana

Viewers who join us each night to learn more about the Electric City can win from home! Test your Scranton knowledge during PCN’s nightly trivia contest April 5th – 9th, beginning at 7 PM. Each night, two people who answer the question correctly on our Facebook or Twitter page will an electrifying prize! Contest information including official rules are available at pcntv.com.
Get to know your neighbors all across the keystone state. Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood: Scranton airs April 5th – 9th at 7 PM. Watch on cable and streaming worldwide with PCN Select.

Johnson College’s Specialized Soldering Training and Certification Course

Johnson College is offering a 16-hour IPC J-STD-001 Training and Certification Course through its Continuing Education Program. This specialized course introduces the materials, methods, and acceptance criteria for producing high-quality soldered electrical connections. The course will be held on the Johnson College campus during the late afternoons starting Monday, May 17, 2021, through Thursday, May 20, 2021. The total cost of the course is $500 and space is very limited. To learn more or to enroll, visit johnson.edu/continuingeducation or contact the Johnson College Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.

This course can be utilized by workers in industries such aerospace, bio-medical, computer technology, and electronics to name a few, who are interested in expanding their careers while helping their companies grow.

The 16-hour course will focus on modules 1 and 2 of the IPC J-STD-001. Module 1 includes General requirements: applicable documents; materials, components, and equipment requirements; general soldering and assembly requirements; cleaning; printed circuit board requirements; coating, encapsulation, and staking; anti-tampering; and rework and repair. In module 2, students will learn how to make wire and terminal connections; demonstrate wire stripping, wire tinning, and gold removal; and assemble turret, bifurcated, pierced, hooked, and hollow cup terminals to the highest performance standards. Upon successful completion, students will receive an IPC Certification in J-STD-001 soldering.

For additional information on Johnson College’s Continuing Education Program, please call 570-702-8979, email continuinged@johnson.edu, or visit Johnson.edu/continuingeducation.

Greater Scranton YMCA QUEST and Summer Scholars Program

Kids from low-income families often start school unprepared. Despite progressing at the same rates during the school year, gaps widen each summer and students fall further behind their peers. The gap culminates in low high school graduation and college attainment rates, limited job prospects and negative economic impact. This gap is referred to as the Achievement Gap, or Summer Slide.

Now, perhaps more than ever before, providing children with learning opportunities over the summer months is crucial to their educational success. Through the Greater Scranton YMCA’s summer learning loss prevention programs, QUEST and Summer Scholars, the Y makes a profound impact in combating the achievement gap. These programs allow the Y to provide children with the tools and resources they need to succeed at the start of their next school year.

“For years, the Greater Scranton YMCA has worked to combat the achievement gap and provide all children in our community with the tools and resources needed to continue developing academically during the summer,” said Trish Fisher, President & CEO, Greater Scranton YMCA. “In light of the pandemic, we understand summer learning programs are more important than ever before and we are so proud to continue providing our community with these invaluable resources.”

QUEST is a learning program integrated into our summer day camp. The program serves all campers in kindergarten through eighth grades and is offered at no additional cost. QUEST is held four days per week. Weeks one and two include pre-testing, weeks two through nine are program weeks and week ten includes post-testing. During each of the four days per week the program is held, children filter through different subjects, like math, literacy, geography and sign language.

Summer Scholars is a free research-based and research-proven six-week summer learning program with a goal to get elementary students on track to read at or above grade level by the start of their next school year. In some cases, participants will have the opportunity to exceed grade level expectations. In summer 2021, the program will serve rising first and second grade students attending the Mid Valley and Dunmore School Districts. Breakfast and lunch, as well as transportation at the Mid Valley School District, are provided. Since the program began in 2016, more than 125 students have been served.

Summer Scholars participants’ days consist of 2.5 hours of literacy in the morning followed by lunch and enrichment in the afternoon. Enrichment activities include field trips (dependent upon COVID-19 regulations), as well as trips to the Greater Scranton YMCA for use of the pools. The program is instructed by certified teachers, as well as Y staff. The program will be held from 8:00am – 3:00pm on Mondays through Thursdays beginning July 5th and running through August 12th.

To learn more about summer learning loss prevention at the Greater Scranton YMCA, contact Trish at tfisher@greaterscrantonymca.org or (570) 828-3130.

Geisinger Launches Innovative, Non-Invasive Treatment Option for Patients With Knee Pain

Geisinger, in partnership with AposHealth, today announced that a new non-invasive, drug-free treatment for patients suffering knee pain from osteoarthritis will be available to Geisinger Health Plan’s commercial members in Pennsylvania starting on April 1.  AposHealth treatment is available exclusively at Geisinger in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania.

Developed by experts in orthopedics and sports medicine, the AposHealth device is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help temporarily reduce knee pain and improve lower extremity function.

The AposHealth program is a year-long, at-home treatment that requires patients to wear a personalized device for approximately one hour a day during normal daily activities.  Supported by more than 60 clinical studies, including recent research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), patients using the AposHealth system have experienced significant improvements in temporary pain relief, function and gait patterns.

“Providing personalized treatments for individual conditions is a tenet of Geisinger’s approach to musculoskeletal care,” said Michael Suk, MD, JD, Chief Physician Officer, System Services and Chair of the Musculoskeletal Institute at Geisinger. “AposHealth’s at-home treatment is perfectly aligned with our way of thinking of managing total health. Embracing new technologies and treatments allows us to reimagine the care pathway for knee osteoarthritis.”

“We are excited to be part of the innovative approach to treating knee pain taken by Geisinger, a Center of Excellence for Knee Replacements. This partnership brings a convenient, clinically proven knee osteoarthritis treatment option to patients and provides clinicians with an alternative non-invasive option,” added Cliff Bleustein, MD President and CEO of AposHealth®.

The AposHealthtreatment is currently available to Geisinger Health Plan’s commercial members in selected Geisinger locations in Danville, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Throughout 2021 Geisinger will be exploring opportunities to make this treatment available to more Geisinger patients across the it’s footprint in Central Pennsylvania. Please call 800-275-6401 to schedule an appointment.

Federal REAL ID Enforcement Begins Oct. 1, 2021

With only six months left until the federal enforcement of REAL ID begins for commercial domestic air travel and other federal purposes, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding Pennsylvania residents who want a REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and photo ID cards to gather their needed documents as soon as possible to ensure they leave plenty of time to get their REAL ID before the federal enforcement date.

To date PennDOT has issued approximately 1.1 million REAL ID products.

REAL ID is a federal law that affects how states issue driver’s licenses and ID cards if they are going to be acceptable for federal purposes, such as boarding a domestic flight or entering a federal building that requires federally acceptable ID upon entry. A federally acceptable form of identification (whether it’s a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license or ID card, a valid U.S. Passport/Passport Card, a military ID, etc.) must be used for these purposes on and after October 1, 2021.

There is no requirement that any resident obtain a REAL ID; PennDOT continues to offer standard-issue driver’s licenses and photo IDs.

“Although October may seem far away right now, we encourage our customers who want a REAL ID to get one as soon as possible,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “We continue to focus on providing the best possible customer service to all of our customers as the federal deadline approaches.”

Based on data from other states offering an optional REAL ID program, PennDOT projected that 1.3 million of its customers would get a REAL ID prior to the federal deadline of October 1, 2021. Having crossed the threshold of issuing 1 million REAL ID-compliant products in December 2020, PennDOT is well-positioned to reach this target by the federal enforcement deadline.

Since March 1, 2019, PennDOT has processed about 5.4 million customers, with more than 1.1 million individuals choosing to opt into the REAL ID program. The remaining 4.3 million have chosen not to participate or use an alternative federally acceptable form of ID come the October deadline.

PennDOT paused REAL ID issuance in March 2020 due to COVID-19 out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public health and resumed issuing REAL IDs in September 2020.

Additionally, the federal Department of Homeland Security postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2021, in response to COVID-19 and the national emergency declaration.

“We want to do everything we can to encourage residents interested in applying for a REAL ID to start the process now and be aware of all the proper documentation needed,” said Gramian. “This will help ensure our customers have their REAL ID well in advance of the October 1, 2021 deadline.”

Customers can obtain a REAL ID by presenting documents for verification and processing at any driver license center. Federal regulations require that to be issued a REAL ID-compliant product, PennDOT must verify the below documents:

  • Proof of Identity: Examples include original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised seal/embossed or valid, unexpired, U.S. Passport;
  • Proof of Social Security Number:  Social security card, in current legal name;
  • Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address: Examples include a current, unexpired PA driver’s license or identification card, vehicle registration or a utility bill with the same name and address; and 
  • Proof of all Legal Name Changes (if current legal name is different than what is reflected on proof of identity document): Examples include a certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name or amended birth certificate issued by the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics. If current name is the same as what is reflected on proof of identity document (usually birth certificate or passport), a customer does not need to show proof of legal name changes.

Customers have three options for obtaining a REAL ID product: Customers may order their REAL ID online if they have been pre-verified and their REAL ID product will be mailed to them within 15 business days; they can visit any PennDOT driver license center that is open for driver license services, have their documents verified and imaged, and their REAL ID product will be mailed to them within 15 business days; or they can visit one of 13 REAL ID Centers and receive their REAL ID product over the counter at the time of service.

For a full list of driver license centers and their services, please visit the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.

When a customer gets their first REAL ID product, they will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus the applicable renewal fee (current renewal fee is $30.50 for a four-year non-commercial driver’s license, and $31.50 for a photo ID). The expiration date of their initial REAL ID product will include any time remaining on their existing non-REAL ID product, plus an additional four years, unless the customer is over 65 and has a two-year license. This expiration date structure means that the customer won’t “lose” time that they’ve already paid for. After the initial REAL ID product expires, the customer will pay no additional fee, beyond regular renewal fees, to renew a REAL ID product.

REAL ID-compliant products are marked with a gold star in the upper right corner, standard-issue (non-compliant) products include the phrase “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES,” per federal regulations. Sample images can be viewed on PennDOT’s website.

More information about REAL ID in Pennsylvania, including frequently asked questions and information on documents required for REAL ID, can be found at www.penndot.gov/REALID.