SH receives advanced certification award
The Joint Commission, in conjunction with the American heart and stroke associations, recently recognized Susquehanna Health with advanced certification for Primary Stroke Centers.
The achievement signifies that the health care agency has demonstrated that its program meets critical elements of performance to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients.
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Dr. Neerja Gulati
Susquehanna Health underwent a rigorous on-site review in November 2011. A Joint Commission expert reviewed its compliance with the requirements for The Joint Commission's Disease-Specific Care certification program as well as primary stroke center requirements, such as collecting core measure data and using it for performance improvement activities.
"In achieving Joint Commission advanced certification, Susquehanna Health has demonstrated its commitment to the highest level of care for its stroke patients," said Jean Range, executive director, disease-specific care certification, at the Joint Commission. "Certification is a voluntary process and the Joint Commission commends Susquehanna Health for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves."
Developed in collaboration with the American Stroke Association and launched in 2003, the Joint Commission's Primary Stroke Center certification program is based on the Brain Attack Coalition's "Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers." Certification is available only to stroke programs in Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.
"Susquehanna Health is thoroughly committed to providing our patients the highest quality stroke care centered on current scientific research to ensure continued improvement in treatment," said Julie Hawkins, administrative director of neuroscience. "The Primary Stroke Center certification has given us the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide for our patients and help us improve care overall for our community."
Hospital welcomes new pulmonologist
LEWISBURG - Evangelical Community Hospital welcomes Dr. Neerja Gulati, a new pulmonologist at Evangelical Internal Medicine. Pulmonology is the subspecialty of internal medicine that addresses diseases of the lungs and bronchial tubes, which often involves evaluation of the upper respiratory tract - the nose, pharynx and throat - as well as the heart.
Gulati is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions of the chest, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or complicated chest infections.
She treats the most common lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. COPD in its two main forms, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, make it difficult to breathe with emphysema posing a more serious long-term destruction of the lungs. Asthma is a disorder that causes the airways of the lungs to narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.
She is board certified in internal medicine and completed a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at Interfaith Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Gulati is accepting new patients at Evangelical Internal Medicine, 3 Hospital Drive. For more information, call 524-4141 or ask your primary physician for a patient referral.
Linden nurse chosen as item reviewer
Lori Mahaffey, a registered nurse and director of clinical services for North Central Pennsylvania Dialysis Clinics LLC, was approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Nursing and selected by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to participate on the NCLEX item review panel of subject matter experts that was held in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 24-27.
The national council, headquartered in Chicago, is responsible for developing and administering the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN licensing exams.
Mahaffey was one of four nurses from across the nation to be selected for the assignment. She was nominated on the basis of clinical specialty and nursing expertise.
All nurses in the United States and its four U.S. territories must take the NCLEX. The licensing exam identifies candidates who demonstrate minimal competence to practice nursing at the entry level. Passing the NCLEX exam is one of the requirements necessary for attaining a nursing license.
Mahaffey has been employed by North Central Pennsylvania Dialysis Clinics LLC for 11 years as the director of clinical services and also is employed as a registered nurse clinician at Valley View Nursing Center.
She has been a certified nephrology nurse since 1991 and has served on several committees within the American Nephrology Nurse Association and as an officer in the local chapter. She resides in Linden with her husband, Ray, and two sons.
ManorCare celebrates National Physical Therapy Month
ManorCare, 101 Leader Drive, celebrated October as National Physical Therapy Month. Physical therapists help patients improve and learn how to prevent and manage conditions and improve their quality of life.
"Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants help our patients restore skills and learn to adapt to changes resulting from surgery, illness or injury," said Kim Maddox, rehab director at ManorCare. "The knowledge, encouragement and motivation that they provide helps our patients to reach their goals and often exceed the expectations that they set for themselves."
At ManorCare, a team of therapists may work to help a patient recover or regain strength, mobility, coordination or stamina.
"Many of our patients are transitioning between the hospital and home," Maddox said.
Physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, speech therapists and social workers coordinate programs that are unique to the needs of a patient.
Blue Cross of NEPA receives awards
WILKES-BARRE - Blue Health Solutions, the wellness program available to members and customers of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, again has been recognized by a national certification agency for its program excellence.
The Disease Management Purchasing Consortium, the industry's leading outcomes certification organization, recently honored Blue Health Solutions with three awards for its ongoing success with chronic disease management.
The most prestigious of the three awards honored Blue Health Solutions for achieving a 3.8-to-1 return on investment (ROI) based on a decline in events and a decline in events relative to prevalence with chronic diseases. As a result, the consortium awarded BCNEPA its "Letter of Validation" for ROI using a transparent and valid event rate-based methodology.
Another award singled out BCNEPA for achieving the greatest validly measured improvement in outcomes for members with chronic disease of any health plan in Pennsylvania this year.
Blue Health Solutions achieved such outstanding results by bringing focus to health status improvement and impacting the inpatient admission and emergency room visit event rates for diabetes, coronary artery disease, COPD and congestive heart failure.
