WellSpan Health News

PinnacleHealth and WellSpan Health Explore Potential Merger

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

Boards of Directors approve Memorandum of Understanding

Leadership at PinnacleHealth and WellSpan Health continue to evaluate the opportunity to formally align the two health care organizations. This week, the boards of directors of both organizations approved a Memorandum of Understanding, which is an agreement that outlines a potential merger.

According to Bruce Bartels, president of WellSpan Health, and Roger Longenderfer, M.D., president and CEO of PinnacleHealth, the Memorandum of Understanding represents an important step in the evaluation of a potential regional integrated delivery system that would combine the best of both organizations and more effectively serve the growing and aging communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland for years to come. The document is non-binding, which means that both organizations may withdraw from ongoing discussions at any time.

The new health system would meet the future challenges of a changing health care environment by offering:

stronger medical, nursing and allied health educational resources to address a projected shortage of physicians and health professionals
a full spectrum of health services, which would be coordinated and located in communities across the region
more efficient operations with costs spread over a larger base and improved access to capital
a commitment to leading efforts to improve health status in Central Pennsylvania’s communities

According to the Memorandum of Understanding, a new regional health care organization would be governed by a board of directors that would include representatives of both systems and communities across the region. The system would continue to operate PinnacleHealth Hospitals, Gettysburg Hospital and York Hospital under their existing names and as distinct facilities with separate licenses and medical staffs. It would also evaluate opportunities to align activities in other parts of the care continuum.

The new organization would be led by the current CEOs in an executive office, with Bruce Bartels as president and CEO and Roger Longenderfer as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Discussions between the two organizations began in March 2009 and have involved senior management and volunteer board leadership.

What’s next?
Community board leaders and senior management will continue to explore the details of the potential merger. The next steps include a period of formal due diligence and consideration of a final merger agreement in early 2010, followed by regulatory review.

About PinnacleHealth
PinnacleHealth was formed in 1996 with the merger of Capital Health System and Polyclinic Medical Center and the subsequent merger with Community General Osteopathic Hospital in 1998. The health care network serves Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties with more than 60 locations, including four multi-specialty health campuses (Community, Cumberland, Harrisburg and Polyclinic), two acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, FamilyCare physician practices, home health and hospice services and array of other ambulatory health care services. Website: www.pinnaclehealth.org

About WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is an integrated health system formed in 1999 when York Health System and Gettysburg Hospital affiliated. The organization provides care to patients in Adams and York counties and northern Maryland through more than 65 patient care sites, and includes Gettysburg Hospital, York Hospital, the WellSpan Medical Group, VNA Home Health, WellSpan Pharmacy, Apple Hill Surgical Center and SOUTHCENTRAL Preferred, along with an array of ambulatory healthcare services. Website: www.wellspan.org

Area Hospitals Expand Restricted Visitors Policy

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

In an effort to protect their patients, Gettysburg Hospital, Hanover Hospital, Memorial Hospital and York Hospital have announced that visitors to all areas must be at least 18 years of age. In some extraordinary cases, however, physicians may give their approval for visitors under age 18.

This temporary policy, which is effective starting Tuesday, Oct. 27, is deemed necessary to limit the potential exposure of patients to those who may have the H1N1 virus. Although anyone can spread the virus, children under 18 years of age are more likely to do so.

People who have flu-like symptoms, which include fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache, chills and fatigue, also are asked not to visit patients.

WellSpan breaks ground for Aspers Health Center

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

New patient care and access features to be introduced at the center’s two practices

WellSpan officials participate in the official ground breaking ceremonies for the Aspers Health Center.

With construction already well underway, WellSpan formally celebrated the groundbreaking of the WellSpan Aspers Health Center on Monday, Oct. 5.

When it opens in the summer of 2010 the health center will offer people of upper Adams County convenient access to primary health care services as well as outpatient lab and imaging services.

WellSpan Aspers Health Center will be the new home to two established medical group practices – Biglerville Family Medicine and both locations of Adams Cumberland Family Medicine.

The practices will relocate to the Aspers Health Center and operate as separate practices within the same facility.

“The Aspers Health Center demonstrates our commitment to making quality health care services available and convenient for people in upper Adams County which will be critical as the area continues to grow,” said Thomas McGann, M.D., president of WellSpan Medical Group and senior vice president of WellSpan Health.

WellSpan Lab Services at the Aspers Health Center will offer patients a convenient location for routine blood draws, urine collection and specimen drop off.

The health center’s imaging services will initially consist of general diagnostic x-ray with the potential for other imaging modalities to be added with the changing needs of the area.

In addition to housing the primary care practices and outpatient services, WellSpan Aspers Health Center is being designed around a new patient care philosophy.

During the project’s development stage, WellSpan Medical Group leaders spent extensive time researching physician care models around the country.

The Aspers Health Center will incorporate several new patient care and access features that will serve as a model for other WellSpan Medical Group practices in Adams and York counties.

“The new patient care and access features we plan to introduce at the Aspers Health Center are designed to offer improved, individualized patient care and attention as well as have a positive impact on the job satisfaction of our staff and physicians,” McGann said.

The new care model calls for patients’ individual time with clinical staff to be expanded to ensure that necessary tests, immunizations and questions are fully addressed.

Special attention will also be given to the conclusion of each patient’s visit. Clinical staff will take the time to give their patient printed instructions, a medication list and forms for lab work or other tests that the patient requires. Clinical staff will also work to schedule future appointments for the patient while in the exam room.

Once implemented, these new models of patient care and access will be rolled out to other medical group practices.

The 15,500-square-foot WellSpan Aspers Health Center will be located at 2060 Carlisle Road near the communities of Aspers and Bendersville. The project will cost an estimated $5.7 million.

PET/CT scanner enhances treatment of cancer patients

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

Michele Hubbard, nuclear medicine technologist, instructs a patient as her PET/CT procedure nears completion. The PET/CT scanner at the Imaging Center on the Apple Hill Health Campus helps physicians make more accurate evaluations and more informed decisions about a patient’s care.

Can help detect cancer, assess disease spread and evaluate treatment response

A permanent PET/CT scanner at the Imaging Center on the Apple Hill Health Campus is enhancing the treatment of cancer patients.

The scanner merges Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Computed Tomography (CT) to help physicians make more accurate evaluations and more informed decisions about a patient’s care.

The scanner can use the PET or CT mode or both together. A PET/CT scan performed on the new unit requires less than 30 minutes.

A PET/CT scan can help detect cancer, assess disease spread and evaluate treatment response.

“The PET/CT scanner is contributing significantly to our treatment of cancer patients,” said MaryEllen Stahl, nuclear medicine team leader.

“A PET scan is very sophisticated,” she added. “It is far more accurate than CT studies alone.”

Stahl explained that diagnostic imaging tests such as CT or X-ray show structural details of the anatomy, while PET shows metabolic or functional activity.

Metabolic “hot spots” and corresponding functional abnormalities can reveal disease states before structural damage is detected.

“Cancerous tumors are active glucose users,” said Stahl. “We can determine a lot by injecting the patient with a radioactive sugar, called FDG, having them wait for one hour for it to circulate and then performing a PET scan.”

The new PET scanner is so sophisticated and sensitive, a lower radiation dosage and a smaller amount of FDG are used.

A PET scan shows the uptake of FDG into living tissue and differentiates normal areas from diseased areas.

“We can determine how active a mass is by how much FDG it picks up,” said Stahl. “If it picks up very little or none at all, then it is most likely non-cancerous.

“Based on information the PET/CT scan supplies, we may start treatment sooner or focus the treatment in a more effective manner.”

Early detection can alter the course of action, in some instances. For example, a physician may be able to avoid sending a patient for a biopsy or another invasive procedure.

The entire PET/CT scanner project, which cost approximately $3 million, was completed this summer in the Imaging Center.

Prior to that, a mobile PET scanner was on site two days a week.

Parkinson’s disease patients keep on the move

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 AM GMT

Exercise improves ambulation, balance, psychological well-being and prevents falls. In some stages of the disease, it is as important as medication.

Anthony May, M.D.
program director
Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Center

WellSpan Adult Neurology offers classes in aquatics, ballroom dance and Tai Chi

Most people associate Parkinson’s disease with celebrities such as Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali, but nearly a million ordinary Americans live quietly with the neurodegenerative disorder every day.

In recent years, WellSpan Neurosciences has found dynamic new ways to engage Parkinson’s disease patients and their families.

Cindy Capresecco is program coordinator of the Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorder Center at WellSpan Adult Neurology. She said that in addition to a traditional support group, Parkinson’s disease patients have the opportunity to join specialized physical therapy programs.

Anthony May, M.D., program director, said, “Exercise improves ambulation, balance, psychological well-being and prevents falls. In some stages of the disease, it is as important as medication.”

The center offers classes in aquatics, ballroom dance, and even Tai Chi. The Chinese martial art reduces stress, improves balance, and may help with sleeplessness and depression.

Capresecco has both a professional and personal interest in Parkinson’s disease—her mother is a longtime sufferer. She said that support groups provide great comfort to patients and their caregivers.

“You don’t feel as if you’re battling this disease by yourself, and it’s a great opportunity to share and receive new information,” she said. “The social connections have proven very valuable.”

Joyce Kearns of Emigsville was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease six years ago, and has belonged to the support group since 2005. She often speaks to the group, encouraging other members to try the exercise class.

“If I don’t exercise, I don’t move as well,” Kearns explained. “If I can convince one more person to exercise, then it’s worth it.”

She added that the ballroom dance class offers an even greater workout.

“When I was in college I did a lot of ballroom and swing dancing, so I love it,” Kearns said.

John Brenneman of York has been fighting Parkinson’s disease for two decades. He agrees that the exercise class is very beneficial. Brenneman attended several dance classes and enjoyed the waltz, foxtrot and the tango.

The Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorder Center also offers a caregivers support group at the same time a music therapy program is conducted for patients. This enables the spouse to attend the caregivers group without needing to find outside help to stay with the patient.

The center also hosts an annual Parkinson’s disease symposium which features new developments and the latest research findings. Capresecco said patients and their caregivers are always eager for new information about the disease.