September 14, 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

Service Partners Enjoy Milestone Recognition Event

Susquehanna Health hosted a milestone celebration event on Wednesday, August 31 on the Hiawatha. The event was an evening of fun, cocktails and hearty hors d’oeuvres, served

onboard the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat. Service partners included in this year’s celebration had career milestones of 30, 35, 40 and 45 years, which were reached on or before December 31, 2015.

Susquehanna Health congratulates and thanks service partners for their dedication in achieving these milestones!

Welcome, Dr. Jenna BrownSusquehanna Health welcomes Dr. Jenna Brown. She joins Drs. David Lopatofsky and Michelle Cavanaugh at Family Medicine at Duboistown, 145 Shaffer Street, South Williamsport.

Dr. Brown earned her medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Susquehanna Health’s

Williamsport Family Medicine Residency program.

For more information, call (570) 326-2447 or visit SusquehannaHealth.org/DrBrown.

Our MissionExtend God’s healing love by improving the health of those we

serve. Our Vision

Create a clinically integrated community health system that delivers world class care.

Education Celebration PlannedSusquehanna Health values the dedication and commitment many of our service partners make to further their education. To recognize the extraordinary commitment those service partners make, an Education Celebration will be held outside of the Walnut Room, Williamsport Regional Medical Center on Monday, October 10 from 5 – 6 pm.

The celebration is for any service partner who is currently receiving SH Educational Assistance and continuing his or her education. A special recognition will also be made for anyone who has completed a degree program (associate, bachelors, masters or doctorate) within the past 12 months, while employed at SH. The event is reception-style, with hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments.

Interested in attending? Registration is required. Contact Cindy Grier in Human Resources at extension 22452 or email cgrier@susquehannahealth.org.

Reservations will be accepted up until Monday, October 3.

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.

Join the Fun at the Autumn Fest 5K Run/Walk

Susquehanna Health is hosting the first annual Autumn Fest 5K Run/Walk Saturday, September 24 in Williamsport with proceeds benefiting the SH Breast Health Center.

Event registration will be held from 7:30–8:30 am at the start/finish line located at Divine Providence Hospital. The race begins at 9 am.

The 3.1-mile course is all paved. The entry fee is $25 if received by September 16 and $30 if received after September 16. The first 200 registered participants will receive a running shirt. Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers in multiple age categories.

A special pancake and sausage breakfast will also be available from 7–11 am near the race start and finish line. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, coffee, tea or juice and a fruit cup. Proceeds from the breakfast benefit the SH Breast Health Center.

To register, visit SusquehannaHealth.org/Events.

For more information on the run, contact Jerrod Ferrence at (570) 321-1743.

Autumn Fest and Car Show Planned for Sept. 25

The Susquehanna Health City Hospitals Auxiliary Autumn Fest and Car Show is slated for Sunday, September 25 on the hospital grounds at 1100 Grampian Boulevard, Williamsport.

The Autumn Fest and Car Show activities run from 10 am to 4 pm, and include hundreds of cars, special exhibits, great food and fun for all ages.

The car show will take place in the hospital’s main parking lot. Vehicle registration will be available from 10 am – 1 pm. All makes and models are welcome; registration costs $5 if pre-registered online, or $10 the morning of the event. Awards will be offered in many categories and will be announced at 3 pm.

The Autumn Fest will feature craft vendors, a pumpkin patch with hay rides, games of chance, Bingo and more. A raffle will also take place with the winners being announced at the conclusion of the day’s events.

Proceeds from the event benefit the SH Breast Health Center.

The Autumn Fest and Car Show are part of a weekend full of activities at Divine Providence Hospital.

For more information about the Autumn Fest and Car Show or to pre-register your vehicle, visit DivineAutumnFest.com.

Survey Available for VeteransIn preparation for Veterans Day, Human Resources is offering service partners who have served or are serving in the armed forces an opportunity to complete a short survey identifying their service record.

The survey is only two questions long, and will help SH to properly acknowledge our service partners who are military veterans. The survey can be found on insideSH.

Susquehanna Health appreciates the men and women of our armed forces, both present and past.

UPMC Affiliation FAQ – Week 15Thank you for continuing to ask questions about the upcoming UPMC affiliation.

Recent Question

Given SH’s numerous partners in the community, including financial partners, is there a plan to address Williamsport leaders and business owners, as well as answer questions, when the affiliation is finalized? Perhaps in a town hall setting?

We are committed to sharing information with our stakeholders as soon as more details become available. The forums for sharing this information will vary and possibly include CEO forums for employees, and visits to area service clubs and organizations.

We invite you to continue to submit your questions to informationdesk@susquehannahealth.org for consideration.

As always, your ongoing support of our mission is greatly appreciated.

SH Partners with PSU to Offer Discounted Tickets

As a way of showing appreciation for our service partners and volunteers, SH has once again partnered with Penn State University football to extend an invitation to employees and their families to attend matchups for a

discounted price. All games will be played at Beaver Stadium, in State College.

All service partners can purchase tickets for the games of their choosing, in an area of their choosing. Available games are:

• Saturday, October 1 vs Minnesota (Blue Band Jam)• Saturday, October 8 vs Maryland (Homecoming)

Penn State University is offering service partners access to advanced sales of tickets for the games. Tickets are available at different price levels and discounts vary based on seat location.

*All tickets are allotted on a first come, first serve basis.**Seats are not guaranteed until payment is received.***Discounted parking passes must be purchased two weeks prior to the game date.

To purchase tickets, game day parking or for more information, please contact Lowell Berg, General Manager of Ticket Sales with Penn State Athletics at LBerg@psu.edu or (814) 863-1124, or click through the hyperlink available on insideSH.

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

Elizabeth Affsprung, Chaplain – WRMCMorgan Anderson, RN – WRMCKymberly Browne, LPN – SN&RCLindsey Charbonneau, Speech Pathologist – WRMCAlyssa Cooper, Radiographer Tech I – SSMHHoward Fulmer, BMET II – SSMHNicole Henderson, LPN – WRMCNicole Hepler, CRNP – Family Med. at MontoursvilleMorgan Holmes, Registration Clerk – WRMCJoel Legoskey, CRNA – WRMCWilliam McGill, PA-C – WRMCMason Merrill, EMT – SREMSMatthew Pride, Phlebotomist – WRMCTiffany Rainey, LPN – WRMCKimberly Reaves-Canty, OA II – WRMCHeather Riefer, Service Assistant – SN&RCJennifer Ross, Social Worker – WRMCLakara Smith, LPN – WRMCShelbie Vancise, Nurse Aide I – TGHKelli Winder, OA II – WRMC

AramarkRenee Carnahan, Hospitality Associate – DPHGale Ferguson, Hospitality Associate – WRMCMary Getz, Hospitality Associate – MVHBradley Glant, Hospitality Associate – WRMCDennis Kriner, Electrician – WRMCCaleb Tennis, Hospitality Associate – SSMHMichael West, Hospitality Associate – SSMH

Help Protect Our Patients by Getting a Flu ShotFlu shots will be available to all service partners starting September 26. Employee Health & Wellness will be offering the vaccinations on specific units, as well as open clinics on each campus. The flu shot schedule is available on insideSH.

Flu shots are available for free to service partners. You must present your SH ID to receive your vaccination.

Flu Fact: What is influenza (flu)? Influenza is a serious disease caused by a virus. It can make you feel miserable and symptoms include fever, cough, chills, body aches and weakness. The virus is spread through an infected individual’s respiratory droplets either through the air (cough or sneeze) or through contact (shaking a dirty hand, kissing). The virus is most dangerous to people with health conditions that compromise their immune system, as well as very young children and pregnant women.

All service partners are reminded that healthcare personnel have a special role in the fight against influenza, and the vaccination is one way we can help protect those around us. Each service partner will be given a specific sticker stating whether or not a flu shot was received.

For more information, contact Cindy Gresh, Manager of Employee Health & Wellness, at (570) 321-1745.

Education on Advance Directives Sept. 27 & 28When most people hear the words, “advance directive,” they often assume death is near, and panic about why it is being broached with them before a routine procedure, or brush it off as unimportant when they are at a younger age.

In reality, advance directives are appropriate for all ages and are not limited to end-of-life care. They are simply a record of your pre-determined choices regarding your medical care. They ensure your wishes are carried out should you ever be incapacitated and unable to direct your care.

It is best to plan ahead and make these types of thought-provoking decisions when you are in a clear, healthy and relaxed state of mind, instead of during an emergency.

Find out exactly what advance directives are, how to complete one, how they’re used and why they’re important at a free outreach program offered by Cynthia Compton, MSW, on September 27 from 6—7 pm and September 28 from 10—11 am in SSMH’s Pine Grove Conference Room.

For more information, contact Cynthia at (570) 723-0485 or cmcompton@susquehannahealth.org.

Save the Date: PTSD Education Event PlannedSusquehanna Health is hosting Beyond the Wall the Power of One: Healing PTSD & Preventing Suicide on Monday, November 7 in the Walnut Conference Room, WRMC. Two sessions will be offered.

Session one, offered from noon to 4:15 pm, features an interactive workshop and panel discussion, which provides an in-depth exploration of veteran post-combat issues, such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide, along with how healthcare providers can care for and support veterans and their families. Registration is required for this session as registered participants may qualify for continuing education credits through the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) and the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors. The registration fee will be waived for service partners, but you will still need to register and confirm your registration.

Session two, offered from 6 to 7:30 pm, is open to the general public and registration is not required. This session will include a condensed interactive workshop, panel discussion and question/answer discussion.

More information will be available soon.

Informatics Boot Camp a SuccessThe Nursing Informatics and Innovation Council recently hosted an Informatics Education Boot Camp at WRMC.

Over one hundred service partners attended the Boot Camp that featured multiple booths with representatives discussing topics such as orders management, plan of care, general navigation, EDM/EHIM, clinical summary and patient story, Outlook, MyKeyCare and more.

Congratulations to Steph Reed, Inpatient Behavioral Health, winner of the iPad Mini, and Donna Fought, ICU, winner of a $50 gift card!

Thank you to everyone for making the event a success.

Prayer Service Planned at Tower ChapelAs the number of heroin overdoses increases in our area, the Faith-based Initiative subcommittee of Project Bald Eagle is offering a prayer service in support and thanks of first responders and healthcare providers serving on the frontlines battling the heroin/opioid epidemic. The service is open to the public and will be held Sunday, September 18, 2-3 pm in the Tower Chapel at WRMC.

The service is being held in cooperation with Project Bald Eagle.

For FreeBeautiful, friendly, black and white cat looking for a good home. Young, neutered, has all its shots and good with others. Call Rick at (570) 322-2794.

SSMH Offers Free Mammograms Sept. 29A regular mammogram can save lives. In its early stages, breast cancer is at its most treatable, and mammography is one of the best tools available for determining breast health, cancer risks and detecting abnormalities early.

If you know someone uninsured or underinsured whose insurance does not cover mammograms, encourage them to take advantage of SSMH’s free mammography day. Mammograms are by appointment only on Thursday, September 29.

The appointments are on a first-come, first-serve basis and are made possible through a grant by the Susan G. Komen Twin Tiers Region. To make an appointment, call (570) 723-0160.

Make Your CMBA Appointment Today!Your blood says a lot about your health. Blood analysis can establish a normal, healthy baseline for your body, detect potential health problems early and help you target wellness goals.

Take advantage of SSMH’s Community Multi-diagnostic Blood Analysis (CMBA) screenings this September, featuring 38 blood tests — all from one blood draw and for one low cost of $55. Pre-registration is required.

Men aged 50+ or with a family history of prostate cancer can opt to add the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test to the CMBA panel for an additional $20. Other available add-on screenings include HgbA1C ($20) and Vitamin D ($20). Cash or checks made payable to “Susquehanna Health” accepted.

Anyone participating in the CMBA testing is required to fast for at least 12 hours prior to the test (14 hours is preferred). During this time, participants may drink as much water as they like and should continue to take all medications.

Specimens are sent to SSMH’s clinical laboratory to screen for diabetes, anemia, prostate cancer and diseases of the heart, liver, thyroid or kidney. Results will be sent to participants and their primary care provider.

For a full list of dates and locations or to schedule an appointment, call 1-800-808-5287.

City Hospitals Auxiliary Hosts Jewelry SalesThe City Hospitals Auxiliary is hosting two designer jewelry sales in September.

A sale will take place in the main lobby at Divine Providence Hospital on Tuesday, September 20 and Wednesday, September 21 from 8 am to 4 pm. A sale will also be held in the Tower lobby at Williamsport Regional Medical Center on Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23 from 8 am to 4 pm.

The sales feature a large selection of gold designer jewelry at excellent prices. Representatives will also be available to purchase old or unwanted gold.

All sale proceeds benefit SH Breast Health Services.