May 11, 2016 • SusquehannaHealth.org

CURRENTSA weekly publication for physician and employee service partners • Produced by the Marketing/Corporate Communications Department

Divine Providence HospitalMuncy Valley Hospital

Soldiers + Sailors Memorial HospitalWilliamsport Regional Medical Center

SH and UPMC Sign Letter of Intent to Pursue AffiliationSusquehanna Health and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) have signed a letter of intent to pursue an affiliation to expand healthcare services and advance quality care for the people of northcentral Pennsylvania.

Susquehanna Health, which has been conducting a thoughtful, mission-focused process over the last year to explore partnership options, will now hold exclusive, detailed discussions with UPMC about how our health systems can work together. Both organizations have begun the due diligence process to work toward a definitive agreement to affiliate. During this time period, nothing changes for patients and their families, employees and physicians at Susquehanna Health as we continue our mission.

“We could not be more pleased that UPMC, one of the nation’s pre-eminent academic medical centers, is the system selected to move forward with us in this process. This is a natural evolution of our 25-year history of successful partnerships to better serve our community,” said SH President & CEO Steven P. Johnson. “Looking ahead to the changing healthcare environment of the future, we see great opportunities to combine the strength of both organizations to improve the health and well-being of our region.”

Susquehanna Health Board of Directors Chairwoman Ann Pepperman said the Board took several factors into account in deciding to move forward with UPMC. “Since the beginning of this process, above all else, our goal has been to do what is in the best interests of our community. Toward that end, we were looking for a compatible fit with our faith-based, service-oriented culture, and a relationship that enables us to grow services for our community and continue to add family-sustaining jobs,” she said. “UPMC has a proven track record of investing in and growing services for patients in the Erie, Altoona and Bedford communities. In addition, UPMC supports and maintains the Catholic tradition of its member hospital, UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh.”

“UPMC and SH share a commitment to patient-focused clinical excellence and a history of investing in the communities we serve. By combining our world-renowned health care and research programs with our value-driven insurance products, UPMC is able to offer patients and employers clinically integrated programs to better manage the community’s health,” said Jeffrey A. Romoff, President and CEO, UPMC. “Together, we will enhance and position UPMC Susquehanna Health as the leading provider of world-class care at the lowest possible cost in northcentral Pennsylvania.”

“This partnership will bring innovation to this region, introduce another choice for affordable health insurance, recruit top physician talent, increase access to services, and invest in advanced clinical information systems,” added Mr. Johnson.

“Our Board invested considerable time making this decision,” Ms. Pepperman added. “We are deeply committed to doing what is best for the community. Our community deserves it. Choosing UPMC allows us to continue to advance the quality and breadth of services with a tireless focus on the patient and serving others.”

*We will continue to update you as there is more information to share.

SNational Nurses Week is May 6 through May 12.

Happy Nurses Week!Thank you, nurses, for hands that

heal and hearts that care.

Volunteering From the HeartGiving back is vital to a thriving community, and on Wednesday, April 27, Susquehanna Health’s Tioga affiliates honored its many tireless volunteers for giving from the heart at its annual luncheon, held at the Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro.

Each year, the event recognizes local volunteers for their outstanding commitment and service throughout SH, including The Green Home, The Laurels, SSMH, and SH Home Care and Hospice.

Volunteers enjoyed a delicious meal while local musical group Vernal Pond performed traditional, folk, Celtic and gospel melodies. In addition, the volunteers received giveaways and thank you gifts honoring their service.

During the luncheon, healthcare leaders recognized volunteers for their outstanding commitment, logging thousands of hours of volunteer service by staffing both the front desk and at a patient’s bedside. Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital volunteers clocked more than 10,000 hours of service over the past year, as well as 1,200 hours from paramedic assistants, over 1,200 hours from The Green Home volunteers, nearly 500 hours from Home Care & Hospice volunteers, and over 1,500 hours by the hospital auxiliary, which supports the system through special fundraising projects and scholarship opportunities for the community. Additionally, the SSMH Auxiliary raised over $133,000 over the past five years for hospital projects, including the cancer center, operating room, emergency department and same-day surgery.

Janie Hilfiger, Chief Administrative Officer of SSMH, spoke about the wonderful interactions between volunteers, patients and staff, drawing on the “from the heart” theme to note the way a volunteer’s love, compassion and support is such a wonderful resource in the health system.

“As Helen Keller once shared, ‘the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart,’ and it is this sentiment that brings to mind those we honor today. Everything you give is from the kindness of your heart, touching all of us around you: the staff, each other and most importantly, our patients,” noted Hilfiger. “The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. Thank you to each and every one of you for your devotion—your service is valued and appreciated by all of us.”

Rev. John Charnock, Director of Mission Integration & Ethics, also spoke to the volunteers in appreciation of their service, thanking them for their generosity, time commitment before he shared an uplifting poem about the impact of volunteers on the community.

For more information on how you can become a volunteer, call Faith Preston, Auxiliary/Volunteer Coordinator, at (570) 723-0191.

SH Recognized for Work in TanzaniaGlobal Partners in Care, an affiliate organization of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, recently recognized the partnership between SH Home Care & Hospice and Shirati Hospital Palliative Care, Tanzania, with the 2016 Global Partnership Award.

“At SH, we are honored and thrilled to receive this award,” says Dr. Alexander Nesbitt, Medical Director of SH Home Care & Hospice. “The partnership with Shirati has helped us to be inspired and motivated in what we do and to think differently about healthcare, community and community-wide collaboration. It helps us to show the value of quality hospice and palliative care in the U.S. and around the world.”

The Global Partnership Award recognizes the exemplary work of one partnership that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and has significantly contributed to the sustainable development of hospice and palliative care through their Global Partners in Care partnership. The award winner is selected based on creativity in fundraising, partner collaboration, staff contribution and commitment, and community outreach and involvement.

Shirati Hospital Palliative Care will receive a $500 award in addition to the recognition to help with their programming.

“We would like to congratulate SH and Shirati Hospital for creating, building and sustaining a successful partnership,” says John Mastrojohn, Executive Director of Global Partners in Care. “Both organizations have shown great commitment to their partnership and are doing phenomenal work increasing access to hospice and palliative care where the need is so great.”

Free Cholestech ClinicsSusquehanna Health will offer free Cholestech Clinics for all service partners. The clinics test cholesterol (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL) and blood sugar (fasting glucose), and test results are valid to use for service partners participating in the SH Medical Plan Wellness Program.

Clinics will be held at the Health and Wellness Educator offices on each campus.

Tuesday, May 17 — 6 am – noonWilliamsport Regional Medical Center 7 North, Employee Health

Thursday, May 19 — 6 am – noonDivine Providence Hospital4th Floor near Sleep Center

Tuesday, May 24 — 6 am – 10 amMuncy Valley HospitalBasement

Thursday, May 26 — 6 am – 10 amSoldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital3rd Floor old Behavioral Health Unit

Service partners are reminded:

• You must fast 12 hours prior to appointment.• You must still see your Primary Care Physician for the wellness physical. Your doctor may order additional blood work based on your results.

Appointments are scheduled in 15-minute blocks. If you are more than five minutes late, you may be asked to reschedule.

Please call for an appointment at (570) 321-1740.

Deadline for CURRENTS articles is noon each Wednesday a week prior to publication date. Email articles to

CURRENTS@susquehannahealth.org or interoffice mail to CURRENTS - WRMC/Marketing.

Service Partners Participate in Work Climate SurveyThank you to the over 2,700 service partners who participated in the 2016 Work Climate Survey. We are very appreciative of your honest responses and for sharing your feelings and perceptions about SH’s current performance.

HR will be communicating your specific departmental survey outcomes to you through your VP and managers. Managers will be asked to include service partners in developing department-specific plans for sustained performance and improvement, where indicated.

Every member of leadership is committed to creating and maintaining a world-class culture throughout the organization. Our improvement efforts will only be effective when everyone is committed to achieving our organizational goals. Demonstrated teamwork, collaboration and effective communication help to make SH a great place to work!

Congratulations gift card winners!

Robert Coppadge, Tioga Home Care & Hospice – $250 VisaDominic Barrett, PCU - 6E – Buffalo Wild WingsNancy B. Heimbach, Inpatient Rehab – Buffalo Wild WingsRobin Tarbox, OB/GYN – Buffalo Wild WingsJoshua Corman, Clinical Services - SHMG – Buffalo Wild WingsMatt Myers, Central Supply – Buffalo Wild WingsKim Latorre, Laboratory – Dunkin DonutsLoretta V. Myers, Finance - SHMG – Dunkin DonutsGeorgine Clayton, Inpatient Behavioral Health – Dunkin DonutsCathy Byham, ENT – Dunkin DonutsAaron Stephens, Rehab Services - SSMH – Dunkin DonutsKristin Bouch, X-Ray - MVH – SubwayMargaret Covey, SN&RC – SubwayRobin Kent, Hospitalist – SubwaySandy Eck, HR – SubwayKimberly Gair, Housekeeping – SubwayBrady Finogle, IT – WeisMary Tomei, Pre-Admission Testing – WeisMonica O’Connell, Loyalsock Family Medicine – WeisMakenzie Pfirman, PCU-6E – WeisTammy Terre-Blanche, Admissions – WeisJoann Deihl, CareConnect – WeisCortney Killinger, Endoscopy – WeisKati Bachle, CareConnect – WeisNiki Tolomay, Inpatient Behavioral Health – WeisLori C. Luke, Transporter – Weis

Gift cards can be picked up at the HR Administraton Office, WRMC.

Program Proves to Keep Children SafeIn a report recently published by the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF) titled Within Our Reach: A National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, the Nurse-Family Partnership® program was recognized as the only evidence-based program shown to reduce fatalities of at risk children.

Locally, SH Nurse-Family Partnership® has been serving the Lycoming County area for over 12 years, while expanding to Clinton County in December of 2012. Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) is an evidence-based community health program that helps transform the lives of vulnerable mothers who are pregnant with their first child. Each mother that NFP serves is partnered with a registered nurse early in her pregnancy and receives ongoing nurse home visits that continue through her child’s second birthday.

“Nurse Family Partnership is committed to keeping children safe and healthy by providing education, support, and mentoring for first-time moms,” said Juliann Gombosi MS, RN, Supervisor of the SH NFP.

The report points out that if nothing is done differently to prevent child abuse and neglect fatalities, somewhere between 1,500 and 3,000 U.S. children will die from maltreatment in 2016, 2017, and beyond.

The key findings in the report reflect ways to increase prevention, and are highlighted by recommendations that are meant to bring about fundamental reform that is informed by better research, data, leadership, and accountability among which was the recognition of the Nurse-Family Partnership® program.

Nationally, NFP currently serves about 22,000 families in 45 states. The program partners with local agencies like SH Home Care & Hospice to provide specially trained nurse home visitors to first-time moms and their babies.

Strokes 4 Strokes EventMay is National Stroke Awareness Month and SH has partnered with Williamsport Wine & Design to offer Strokes 4 Strokes art classes. Generated proceeds benefit the Stroke and Head Injury Survival Support Group as well as help to establish a nursing award to recognize an outstanding neuroscience nurse.

Class Schedule

• Sunday, May 15 – 4 – 5 pm• Monday, May 16 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm• Tuesday, May 17 – 5 – 6 pm• Wednesday, May 18 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm

Classes cost $35 per participant, dessert will be provided, and participants will also receive a $5 coupon toward a future class. Wine & Design classes are BYOB. Registration is required.

To register, please visit WineandDesign.com/Williamsport.

WELCOME! Please extend a warm welcome to the following new members of the Susquehanna Health family.

Heather Alvirena-Flores, Central Scheduler – WRMCKelly Bradley, Payer Credentialing Assistant – DPHJeri DeMille, RN – WRMCNoah Douglass, Security Officer – WRMCJoshua Gooch, Certified Athletic Trainer – DPHTiara Gough, Service Assistant – SN&RCMelissa Haas, Office Assistant II – WRMCCharles Haney, Physician Assistant – WRMCAshley Imrisek, Physician Assistant – WRMCDenise June, Office Nurse – DPHSamantha Kalacinski, Registration Clerk – SSMHVictoria Pinkstock, Office Assitant – WRMCLesley Schmeltz, Unit Clerk – WRMCHeather Sechrist, Medical Assistant – DPHSandra Sipe, RN – WRMCBetty Wilber, Nurse Aide I – TGHRhonda Williams, Physical Therapist – WRMC

AramarkVictor Brown, Hospitality Associate – SSMHMelaina Chapman, Hospitality Associate – WRMCMegan Hauke, Hospitality Associate – DPHAlexander Myers, Hospitality Associate – WRMCJoyce Shaffer, Hospitality Associate – WRMCKathrine Truax, Hospitality Associate – SSMHHannah Ward, Hospitality Associate – SSMH

Gift Shop Donation Brightens ORs at MVH

Surgeons at MVH are now operating with two brand new headlamp systems, thanks to a generous donation made the by hospital’s gift shop. The Gift Box, which is run by volunteers, donated $6,000 toward the new lighting systems. The donation was made possible by funds raised through gift shop sales and fundraisers.

“I am very appreciative of the donation toward the purchase of the new headlamps,” said Dr. Zachary Ritter, SH Foot & Ankle surgeon. “I use them on nearly every case. Not only do they help to better illuminate the surgical field, but they also increase my level of precision of repair, which increases surgical and patient safety.”

Each year, volunteers at the Gift Box at MVH donate funds used toward equipment that will enhance the safety and quality of care provided to our patients.

“The volunteers at the gift shop have provided the community as well as the surgeons of MVH with a wonderful gift,” Dr. Peter Trevouledes, general surgeon with SH. “We enjoy having state-of-the-art equipment at Muncy Valley Hospital, and this donation provides us with additional means to continue having the best.”

For Sale2006 Yamaha Road Star motorcycle, 102 cubic inch engine with 42,000 miles and in excellent condition. Call Pat at (814) 321-4507.

Susquehanna Health is accepting bids on the following vehicles: 2007 Chevrolet Suburban with 209,000 miles and 2010 Chevrolet Suburban with 217,000 miles. There are minimum bids required for each vehicle. Both vehicles are located at SSMH. They can be seen by contacting Gary Phelps at (570) 723-0461. Please email all bids to gmitchley@susquehannahealth.org by Friday, June 3. Please identify the year of the vehicle you are bidding on in your email along with your name, phone number and address. Each vehicle will be sold to the person with the highest bid above the minimum. Purchaser is required to pay with a cashier’s check made out to Susquehanna Health.

8’ wooden picnic table with attached benches and eight solar ring covers for swimming pool. Call Emily at (570) 322-1945.

From left: Heather Lamper, RN; Viola Watson, Gift Shop Treasurer; Ron Reynolds, Chief Administrative Director of MVH; and Betty Fisher, Gift Shop Coordinator.

TGH Hosts Special Volunteer Meet & GreetAre you searching for a way to give back to your community? Find out if volunteering at The Green Home is a good fit for you at a special meet-and-greet on Thursday, May 19 from 3–6 pm in TGH Conference Room. Tours will also be available.

Light refreshments will be served as staff shares the host of ways volunteers can help at the skilled nursing facility, which offers short-term and long-term rehabilitation as well as around-the-clock nursing care.

No medical background is needed—only a kind heart, willingness to help, a listening ear and a caring presence. Opportunities to volunteer include providing company and conversation, letter writing, reading to residents, playing music or singing, arts and crafts, pet visitation, family support, transporting residents to meals or activities, and much more.

For more information on the event, contact Pat O’Conners at (570) 723-0805 or Faith Preston at (570) 723-0191.

Free Wellness and Healthy Living Program for Cancer SurvivorsSusquehanna Health Cancer Center and the River Valley Regional YMCA have partnered to bring a healthy living program to cancer survivors in our community.

If you are a cancer survivor who has completed treatment within the last ten years, you could qualify for this program that includes a free YMCA membership for you and your family, personal training sessions, social activities, a community of other survivors, and more!

Sign up or learn more by calling Rachel Bryant, YMCA Williamsport Branch, at (570) 323-7134.

Program offered at Williamsport and Eastern Lycoming branches of the River Valley Regional YMCA.

Community Volunteers Participate in Day of Service

Nine volunteers from Liberty Mutual Insurance, Montoursville, spent their day on May 5 helping distribute Bibles, setting up the new volunteer work room and planting/landscaping at the Cancer Center at DPH. The volunteers were participating in Liberty’s Serve with Liberty program, an employee community service program through which employees are given the opportunity to spend a workday volunteering outside of the office.

Congratulations, service partner!

March Service Partner Milestone Name Campus Department Years of ServiceKelly Morrison OFF The Meadows 5