Two WellSpan walk-in care sites have recently expanded their hours of operation to better meet the urgent care needs of patients.

WellSpan Orthopedics, Suite 275, Apple Hill Medical Center, 25 Monument Road, York, has expanded its walk-in injury care hours. It is now open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, for immediate injury care for sprains, strains and broken bones. For more information, call (717) 812-4090.

Walk-in injury care is also available at Hanover Orthopaedics, 207 Blooming Grove Rd., Hanover. Hours at the Hanover Orthopaedics site are 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday.

WellSpan CareExpress, located at 2058 S. Queen St., York, is now open weekdays. The location is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. No appointment is required.

CareExpress offers a convenient care option for:

• Allergy symptoms
• Conjunctivitis
• Cough/bronchitis/sinusitis
• Urinary tract infection
• Ear ache
• Sore throat/tonsillitis
• Toothache
• Rash/insect bite
• Sunburn/minor burns
• Sprain/strain
• Sports/camp/school and non-commercial driver physicals
• Select immunizations

Other WellSpan CareExpress locations include Giant Food Store at Delco Plaza, 1255 Carlisle Road, York, and Giant Food Store, 3175 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion.

Hours of these sites are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Eye Bank recently recognized WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital for its continuing support of organ donations, including corneas, the clear outer lens on the front part of the eye.

Since January 2013, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital’s continued partnership with the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Eye Bank has resulted in restoring sight to 40 men, women and children.

Audrey McCarty, RN, director of maternal child services and nursing administration, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, said the hospital works through the Gift of Life on all organ donations, including corneas. The Gift of Life contacts the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Eye Bank, which actually harvests the corneas.

McCarty encourages WellSpan staff members to register as an organ and tissue donor. If you have already registered, encourage your colleagues and friends to do so.

For more information on organ and tissue donation, call the Gift of Life at 1-800-KIDNEY-1. To register as an organ and tissue donor, go to www.donors1.org. 

Medications delivered to patients prior to discharge from WellSpan York Hospital

Amy Moritz-Rexroth, right, of the WellSpan York Hospital Pharmacy, delivers a prescription to Tyrese Hart prior to his discharge.

According to a 2012 study, non-compliance with medications prescribed at the time of discharge is a major cause for post-discharge adverse events, which often lead to hospital re-admissions.

In an effort to make sure patients have their prescribed medications before they are discharged, WellSpan Pharmacy at WellSpan York Hospital recently implemented a program where patients can get their medications filled and delivered to them in their room before they are discharged.

“Knowing patients have the medications they need before they leave the hospital is huge,” said Derek Hinds, manager, WellSpan Pharmacy at WellSpan York Hospital.

“It greatly increases their chances of being compliant with the medications and avoiding re-admissions.”

High hospital re-admission rates are seen by many as a key contributor to rising health care costs in the United States.

To help address this problem, the Affordable Care Act initiated a program in October 2012 that reduces payments, up to one percent, to hospitals with excessive re-admission rates for heart failure, heart attack and pneumonia.

Hinds said the pharmacy is filling about 900 to 1,000 prescriptions per month for about 400 inpatients.

The pharmacy uses a pending discharge report to identify patients who may be interested in getting their prescriptions filled prior to discharge. A pharmacy staff member calls the patients and lets them know about the service.

If patients are interested, they contact a nurse, who faxes the prescription to the pharmacy. After finding out how the patient prefers to pay, the prescription is delivered directly to the patient room.

The early feedback from patients has been very positive, according to Hinds.

He said the pharmacy tries to make the process as easy as possible for the nursing staff and patients. Pharmacy staff members check for insurance pharmacy cards and work with Case Management to ensure cost-effective medications are provided.

“For a variety of reasons, some patients don’t get their prescriptions filled once they leave the hospital,” said Hinds. “It may be because they can’t afford them, they forget, or they have transportation problems. We want to remove whatever barriers we can.”

Hinds expects the program to continue to grow in popularity. He said it’s possible the program may be extended to the WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department.

Portal is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Morrie Hooper, a retired California pharmacist and patient at Apple Hill Internal Medicine, uses MyWellSpan to access his lab results, check his medication list and make appointments.

So far 65,000 patients have enrolled in MyWellSpan, the secure online portal for scheduling appointments, viewing lab results and more.

The reaction to MyWellSpan has been typical of many online services: slow, gradual acceptance, until one day people wonder how they ever got along without it.

Morrie Hooper, a retired California pharmacist, originally shrugged at the idea of creating an account.

“I really had no particular interest in using it,” he said.

Then Hooper felt a twinge of guilt. As a volunteer in WellSpan’s Patient Partner Program, he offers feedback on the patient experience. How could he give good advice if he didn’t try all available services?

“Because I was a patient partner, I decided to go ahead and sign up,” he said. “I found it very straightforward and easy to use. It was nice knowing the information was there if you wanted it.”

Brian Pollak, MD, of Apple Hill Internal Medicine said he’s noticed a difference in his patients who are MyWellSpan users.

“In the paper era, we always talked about patients not being engaged in their health care,” Pollak said. “Now we’re giving them the tools to be engaged.”

Hooper began to appreciate the portal’s benefits.

Before transferring to Apple Hill Internal Medicine two years ago, he acquired a copy of his medical records. He assumed the thick stack of notes from various providers would be accurate.

“I just started perusing it, and was amazed at the number of mistakes. Nothing critical, just little mistakes that I didn’t feel comfortable with,” he recalled.

“Now with MyWellSpan, I can make sure my medication list is correct, and the notes from my last visit are accurate.”

Recently, he spotted a duplication error for one of his prescriptions. He sent a quick message, and soon had a reply that it was corrected.

Pollak said secure messaging is one of the portal’s best features.

“All the messages that come in to us would’ve been phone calls anyway,” he noted. “A message is easier to handle from an office workflow perspective, and now everything is documented in the patient’s own words.”

Today, Hooper logs in to make appointments and check his lab results. He likes the ability to access the portal anytime, even when he’s traveling.

“It makes you more interested in what’s going on with your own health care,” he said. “You become more of a participant rather than just an observer.”

Mental health specialists integrated into medical group practices

Each year, one in four Americans experiences a behavioral health illness or problem with substance abuse.

WellSpan Medical Group and WellSpan Behavioral Health Services are teaming up to put mental health specialists in medical group practices.

“This is more than just a co-location of services,” said Allen Miller, Ph.D., director of WellSpan Behavioral Health. “We’re integrating behavioral health clinicians into the treatment teams of Patient-Centered Medical Homes.”

The pilot program began in February at Apple Hill Internal Medicine and Wheatlyn Family Medicine. In the coming months, five more practices will be added.

“We know that people with medical problems get better faster—and stay better longer—if they also get treatment for their depression or anxiety,” Miller said.

The pilot program uses doctoral interns in clinical psychology. They go by the title “behaviorist” to soothe patients who might balk at seeing a psychologist.

Chris Echterling, MD, said he introduces a behaviorist just as he would a nurse or dietitian. “I say, ‘Hey, I have someone on my team who’s really helped other patients cope with this same kind of problem. I have great confidence they can help you, too. Would you like to meet him?’”

Echterling is an associate medical director for quality and innovation at WellSpan Medical Group. He also oversees Bridges to Health, a WellSpan program for people with a history of a high number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. At Bridges to Health, a behaviorist has been helping patients since 2012.

Depression and anxiety are normal human responses to a difficult situation, Echterling noted. He spoke of a patient who was severely injured by a hit-and-run driver and remains unable to work. The man copes daily with physical pain and crushing financial pressure.

“Whether or not he had mental health issues before all this happened, he certainly has them now,” Echterling said.

Treating the mind and body together can yield significant results. A health system in Des Moines, Iowa, found that 79 percent of readmitted patients had a behavioral disorder complicating their physical condition. When psychologists intervened, the readmission rate fell 8 percent in just two months.

At WellSpan’s pilot sites, medical staff have become more adept at spotting and addressing behavioral problems, Echterling said.

“They talk to the behaviorist about how to handle one patient, and then they incorporate those techniques for future patients,” he explained.

Karen Jones, MD, FACP, is vice president and chief medical officer of WellSpan Medical Group. She believes this innovation will reduce costs and improve the patient experience.

The challenge, she said, will be convincing insurers, so the pilot program needs to produce measurable outcomes.

“The behavioral health piece of our care redesign is going to be huge,” Jones predicted. “This is absolutely where we need to go. The early signs are very promising.”

Four WellSpan Medical Group practices involved in pilot program

It’s no surprise that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables helps to protect one’s health.

Throughout the summer months, local farmers provide plentiful fruits and vegetables for sale at markets in our communities.

Yet, according to the latest Community Health Needs Assessment for York and Adams counties, a large percentage of adults may not be consuming an adequate amount of vegetables.

Only three percent of adult respondents ate the recommended servings of vegetables the day before. Among those adults who are living in poverty, no one reported consuming the recommended servings of vegetables the day before.

WellSpan Community Health and Wellness aims to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables through a two-part pilot program involving staff members and patients from Gettysburg Adult Medicine, Stony Brook Family Medicine, Thomas Hart Family Medicine and Yorktowne Family Medicine.

From June through September, the four participating practices are distributing Fruit and Veggie RX “prescriptions” which prompt patients to eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. The back of the "prescriptions" also provide useful links to online recipes and local farmers’ markets.

Additionally, the four practices have identified 40 low-income patients diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes who will participate in the WellSpan Market Bucks program.

The patients will receive $20 worth of fruit and vegetable vouchers per month redeemable for produce at local markets from June through September.

Health coaches at the practices also will distribute resources to inform patients of healthy food options and assist patients in creating a plan to increase fruit and vegetable consumption.

The success of the pilot program will be determined through patient participation tracked through pre- and post-surveys, clinical metrics and voucher redemption rates per each patient, along with interviews from health coaches and market owners.

For more information about the program, contact Joe Anne Ward Cottrell at mwardcottrell@wellspan.org, or call 851-3231.

To find a farmers’ market near you, visit www.buyfreshbuylocalyork.com for York County or www.acfarmersmarkets.org for Adams County. For Lancaster County's farmers markets, visit http://www.padutchcountry.

For recipes which incorporate fruits and vegetables in tasty ways, visit www.wellspan.org/marketbasket.

Ed Beitz, left, clinical laboratory program director at WellSpan York Hospital, presents a Siemens ASCP scholarship award certificate to Shelby Bleile, right, a student in the clinical laboratory science program.

Brenda Williams of the York Hospital Hospitality Shop, left, scans Krista Swarr’s loyalty card as she makes a purchase. WellSpan staff members can earn one loyalty point for every dollar spent. Sign up for the loyalty program at the York Hospital Hospitality Shop, and you will receive a 10 percent off coupon.

The York Hospital Hospitality Shop is joining the likes of Weis, Giant, Rutters and Sheetz by rewarding customers for their shopping loyalty.

The program is a basic points for purchases. Customers will earn one point for every dollar spent in the Hospitality Shop. The points-for-purchase program excludes candy, balloons, flowers, food, beverage, magazines and newspapers.

“This is a form of thank you to our loyal customers,” said Christi Brown, director of volunteer services. “Consumers are very familiar with other loyalty programs, and they have come to expect them.”

To be eligible for the loyalty program, customers need to enroll by completing a simple form. Once you are enrolled, you will receive a loyalty card and an enrollment coupon, which entitles you to a 10 percent discount off your entire purchase (exclusions apply and the coupon may not be used in conjunction with any other discount/offer such as Appreciation Day in November). The coupon expires in 30 days. All coupons in the loyalty program have the same restrictions.

There are four loyalty levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Customers receive a 10 percent off coupon when they reach the bronze level after accumulating 100 points.

Three hundred points are required for the silver level and a 20 percent off coupon. The gold level requires 500 points. At that level, customers receive a 30 percent off coupon. The platinum level is reached after 1,000 points have been earned. Customers at this level receive a 50 percent off coupon.

“In addition to the four loyalty levels, there are other benefits,” said Brown. “Customers will receive a 15 percent off coupon (with exclusions and restrictions) during the month of their birthday. Other benefits of the loyalty program include special double point days and invitations to exclusive sales events.”

Stop in the York Hospital Hospitality Shop today, fill out the loyalty program form and receive your 10 percent off coupon.

WellSpan sports medicine experts have developed an algorithm that helps providers to know what steps to follow in diagnosing and treating concussions.

Goal is to provide appropriate level of care regardless of complexity of the case

A high school football player takes a severe blow to the head. He shows signs of a concussion. The next steps are critical.

WellSpan sports medicine experts are seeking to ensure that young athletes—and others with head trauma—receive the care they need.

The team of six experts has created an algorithm for diagnosing and treating concussions. Their step-by-step guide helps providers navigate this notoriously elusive injury.

“We’re trying to bring all providers onto the same playing field so our patients can benefit,” said Mark E. Lavallee, MD, CSCS, FACSM, director of the WellSpan York Hospital Sports Medicine Fellowship Program.

Lavallee said recent research has proven many past treatment methods ineffective.

“For example, we no longer grade concussions,” he said. “You either have one or you don’t.”

“There’s a whole cascade of symptoms, and people can experience a broad range of severity with those symptoms,” added Troy Rang, MPT, ATC, director of clinical operations at WellSpan Rehabilitation. “The algorithm is a standardized progression for reading the symptoms.”

Some warning signs are obvious: headache, nausea and confusion. Others are more subtle, like insomnia, trouble concentrating, or clumsiness.

“You can measure a person’s loss of ability to balance, so that’s one of the tools we use,” Lavallee explained.

Another tool is ImPACT (Immediate Post-concussive Assessment and Cognitive Testing), a computerized test for measuring memory, reaction time and processing speed. Many athletes now take the test before the start of their season to have a personal baseline if they suffer a head injury.

Concussion patients must rest in order to fully recover, so the team developed a set of discharge instructions that emphasizes physical and cognitive rest.

“Younger individuals are at higher risk for post-concussion syndrome,” Rang said. “That’s why there’s been such a push in recent years to protect student athletes, and make sure their symptoms have completely cleared before going back to sports.”

Sleep and inactivity are essential, Lavallee noted. “We’re talking about letting the brain rest. Not playing video games, not doing calculus, just letting the brain rest.”

With their algorithm, the team hopes to raise public awareness of proper concussion treatment.

“We’re seeing the long-term effects—at the highest level of sports—of not managing concussions appropriately,” Rang said. “Now, regardless of the simplicity or complexity of your case, you’re going to be getting the appropriate level of care.”

U.S. News & World Report has recognized WellSpan York Hospital as one of the Best Regional Hospitals in its 2014-15 Best Hospitals publication.

WellSpan York Hospital, ranked 17th in the state, was cited for eight high-performing specialties: ear, nose and throat; gynecology; gastroenterology and GI surgery; geriatrics; nephrology; neurology and neurosurgery; pulmonology and urology.

U.S. News and World Report publishes Best Hospitals to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face a particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age.

Objective measures such as patient survival and safety data, the adequacy of nurse staff levels and other data largely determined the rankings in most specialties.

More teens die in motor vehicle crashes each year (about 2,500) than from any other cause of death. Fatalities are split almost equally between teen drivers and passengers.

In half of the fatal crashes, the teen was not wearing a seat belt. To develop strategies to reduce the number of teens killed in cars, Safe Kids Worldwide conducted a survey among teen passengers and drivers.

One in four teens surveyed said they don’t use a seat belt on every ride. The top reasons they gave for not buckling up were that they forgot, or it was not a habit (34 percent); they were not going far (16 percent); or the seat belt was uncomfortable (11 percent).

“We need to encourage everyone to buckle up on every ride, every time,” said Helen Lehman, Safe Kids York County. “It only takes one time to forget to buckle up for a life to be changed forever.”

The survey also addressed the perilous practice of distracted driving. Thirty-nine percent of teens said they have ridden with a teen driver who was texting, and 95 percent said they think other teens have ridden with drivers who were texting.

Teens who don’t always use seat belts are also more likely to report that they text while driving than those who say they wear a seat belt every time. About 43 percent of teens reported riding as a passenger with a teen driver who was talking on a phone.

When asked what teens did in a situation when in a car with someone driving dangerously, four in 10 teens said they asked the driver to stop. But, almost the same number said they did nothing.

“It can be a challenge to speak up when you feel unsafe riding in a car, especially in a car filled with teens,” said Lehman. “But we all need to buckle up every time.”

Lehman provided the following tips for families:

• Buckle up on every ride, every time. This is important for everyone, both drivers and passengers.
• Be a role model in your driving habits.
• Talk to teens and kids about ways to speak up if a driver of any age isn’t driving safely.

For more information, visit http://www.safekidsyorkcounty.org/.

As construction begins on the new WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department, a number of campus access changes will occur.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 4:

• The employee shuttle will drop off and pick at the cafeteria and Ketterman Building entrances only.
• Tower Drive (roadway behind the patient care tower) will be closed to traffic.
• Terrace level patient pickup and drop-off and WellSpan Pharmacy will be accessible through the front parking garage – level 2.
• Employees can access the front parking garage via Rathton Road.
• West Drive (roadway from South George Street to the helipad) will intermittently become one lane onto the campus; exit will be via Irving Road. Restricted access to West Drive will occur sporadically between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. West Drive will be unrestricted during off hours.
• Driveway from West Drive to the south parking lot (behind Lot 5) will be closed to traffic.
• Entrance to, and exit from, the south parking lots will be at the entrance closest to Irving Road – at Lot 8.
• Pedestrian traffic will be able to exit Lot 5 at the north end of the lot; a walkway will be provided.
• Receiving dock on the Terrace level of the patient care tower will be open, but with restrictions.
• All routine ambulance transport will move from the south entrance area of the hospital to the north entrance off of the main drive.

To alleviate the congestion at the front of the hospital at the north and main entrances:

• All patient discharges should go through the Terrace entrance.
• All care areas that give patients and families directions for dropping off patients for outpatient procedures should be directed to the Terrace entrance.

Your cooperation and understanding during this construction phase is greatly appreciated.

Once the WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department project is completed in 2017, patients will experience less waiting time and more timely care, thanks to a larger facility and more efficient processes.

Other benefits include safer, specialized care through new state-of-the-art rooms, as well as more privacy during treatment, care and counsel.

Meagan Clark, right, a summer volunteer at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, delivers a specimen to lab technician Allison Watts, left.

Students value experience

Ravi Patel is one of approximately 70 high school and college students volunteering this summer at WellSpan hospitals.

Patel, who’s volunteering at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, is a junior at Penn State University. He’s majoring in biology and hopes to attend medical school.

“I’m volunteering because I want to gain first-hand experience of what goes on in a hospital setting. It will be very beneficial to my future.”

Patel said clinical experience is an important factor when applying to medical schools, which are very competitive.

“I am appreciative of the opportunity WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital has given me,” he said. “I have enjoyed every minute of my volunteering experience.”

Summer volunteers must be at least 14 years old and have completed the eighth grade. They must go through a selective process and commit to serving 100 hours, which averages to about 12 hours a week.

Christi Brown, director of volunteer services, said the summer program, which runs from June 2 through Aug. 15, has attracted teens who are talented, committed and community-minded.

“We have an outstanding group of summer volunteers,” she said. “They perform a variety of duties and have been a tremendous asset to the staff.”

Meagan Clark, a sophomore at Fairfield Area High School, returned for her second summer volunteering at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital. She covers the front lobby desk and helps in other areas throughout the hospital when needed.

“Volunteering gives me something to do with my summer and the opportunity to help people.”

Jax Kelly, a sophomore at Dallastown High School, returned for his second year of volunteering at WellSpan York Hospital.

“Volunteering has given me great insight into the medical field,” he said. “I’ve seen how the care team comes together. Volunteering has been a great experience.”

Jacob Swartz, a junior at Central High School, is interested in a career in the hospitality industry. He believes volunteering at a hospital will be helpful.

“Patient satisfaction is a top priority at WellSpan York Hospital,” he said. “It’s interesting to see all the things staff members do to help ensure patient satisfaction. I’m getting an opportunity to learn what it’s like when you work on the front line.”

The Central York and York Suburban lacrosse clubs recently donated $4,000 to the Cancer Patient Help Fund. The money was raised through the Keith Martin Memorial Invitational that kicked off the 2014 season. Martin passed away from cancer on Oct. 15, 2013, and the donation was made in his name. On hand for the check presentation were, back row, left to right, Diane McElwain of the York Cancer Center, Kim Martin, Dean Kimball and John Kollasch. Front row, left to right, lacrosse players Justin, Carson and Nathan. Accepting the check is Doug Arbittier, MD, vice president of oncology services.

As part of WellSpan Health’s continual effort to offer quality healthcare services that are convenient for the people of central Pennsylvania's local communities, WellSpan is welcoming several new services and providers to Gettysburg.

Robert Rice, MD, Ph.D., already a familiar face to many people in Adams County, is now the lead medical oncologist for a new practice, WellSpan Medical Oncology, located in the WellSpan Adams Cancer Center.

Rice previously had been part of a private medical oncology practice that operated in the Adams Cancer Center since its opening in 2008. Fellowship trained in hematology-oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Rice will continue to be a strong asset to area patients as he helps to build this new practice.

With the formation of WellSpan Medical Oncology, the opportunity to expand and further develop the high level clinical services offered through the Adams Cancer Center continues.

This service makes it possible for residents to receive a continuum of care close to home, from diagnosis to specialized treatment options. All support services are connected through WellSpan’s comprehensive system of care.

One of the Adams County area’s growing needs in recent years has been in urology care. With the addition of a new WellSpan Urology practice in Gettysburg, access to urology care has become more convenient for patients in Adams County and northern Maryland. The WellSpan Urology practice in Gettysburg is led by William Daiber, DO.

Daiber joins WellSpan after serving the needs of patients in the Harrisburg area for many years. The practice is located in the WellSpan Washington Street Health Center (450 S. Washington Street, Suite E).

Also, WellSpan’s Gettysburg Surgical Associates (450 S. Washington St., Suite C) has welcomed Sachin Vaid, MD, to the practice’s complement of general surgeons.

Vaid joins the Gettysburg-based surgical practice after completing an internship and residency at WellSpan York Hospital. He completed fellowship training in colorectal surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Vaid will focus on these types of procedures as well as other general surgery needs at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital.

Vicki Wilson of Lititz is one of more than 700 WellSpan patients participating in nearly 250 clinical trials.

New drug compared to the current standard treatment

This time last year, Vicki Wilson of Lititz had completed six months of chemotherapy for breast cancer, and she was preparing for a grueling regimen of 34 radiation therapy treatments.

Today, however, she’s energetic and positive. She gardens, rides her quarter horse and trains two miniature horses to be therapy horses.

Wilson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2012, visits Dr. Wilfred Layne and her radiation oncologist at the Ephrata Cancer Center every three months. Her prognosis is good.

Prior to receiving chemotherapy, Layne asked Wilson if she would be interested in participating in a phase III clinical trial, which compares a new drug to the current standard treatment. Patients must meet specific criteria and give their consent to participate in a clinical trial.

The clinical trial compares chemotherapy regimens with and without Anthracycline for patients with certain pathology testing results, according to Diane Noll, RN, clinical trials coordinator for the Ephrata Cancer Center.

The clinical trial program is part of WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital’s affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

“If I could advance medicine, save sisters, help mothers and daughters, I felt I had an obligation to participate in the clinical trial,” said Wilson, a 53-year-old mother of two.

“I didn’t feel that I would receive a lesser medication, or I was putting myself at risk,” she added. “Participating in the clinical trial gave me a good feeling.”

Wilson is one of approximately 700 patients who participate in nearly 250 clinical trials throughout WellSpan, according to Tara Moore, quality assessment specialist for research.

WellSpan clinical trials are currently being conducted in the areas of oncology, cardiology, neurosciences, orthopedics, emergency medicine and medicine.

“Clinical trials help us to develop better treatments,” said Noll. “Without clinical trials, we wouldn’t have the medications we do.”

Each clinical trial goes through four phases before it can receive approval for general use. With the different phases and information review necessary for each trial, it is often years before a procedure, treatment, or therapy receives final approval.

WellSpan has a strong track record of conducting sponsored projects and participating in clinical trials. The Emig Research Center at WellSpan York Hospital provides comprehensive central administrative services for all of WellSpan.

A research team works with physicians, nurses and patients to help facilitate enrollment in clinical trials, provide protocol therapy and detail collection of research data. Patients should check with their insurance companies to see if they cover clinical trials.

Wilson encourages other patients to participate in clinical trials, if they meet the criteria.

“It’s a great way to help others, and advance the field of medicine,” she said.

Wilson also praised the treatment she received at the Ephrata Cancer Center. “It sounds strange to say, but it was almost worth it to get breast cancer for the chance to know all the people who cared for me at the Ephrata Cancer Center. They are wonderful, caring and professional people.”

2,500 homes have received a Pack N’ Play to assure a safe sleep environment

WellSpan York Hospital has won a Hospital Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) Community Benefit Achievement Award for its entry, “The Hospital as a Village: Saving Babies’ Lives.”

The hospital was recognized for its community-wide infant safe sleep program, which was been successful on multiple levels and has shown evidence of sustained improvements.

Sleep-related infant death is the No. 1 killer of infants age 1 month to 1 year in the United States.

“I’m proud of the work our institution has done to support the efforts to make babies as safe as possible,” said Mike Goodstein, MD, of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“We have created a culture of safety, and it has taken the work of a lot of people to do so. I’m proud to have worked with everyone.”

In 2003, WellSpan York Hospital helped to develop a local chapter of Cribs for Kids with the mission to reduce infant mortality by providing infant sleep safety information to all new families, and providing a safe sleep environment (Graco Pack N’ Play) in cases where the family couldn’t afford one.

To date, 15,000 families have been provided with safe sleep education, and 2,500 homes have received a Pack N’ Play.

Goodstein is the director of the York County Cribs for Kids program. The simple consistent messaging of the national Back to Sleep campaign has resulted in a decrease in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by 53 percent over 10 years. In the same time period, the increase in back sleeping jumped from 13 percent to 76 percent.

WellSpan York Hospital health care providers have demonstrated improvements in attitudes and knowledge of infant safe sleep six to nine months after receiving education.

Improvements were noted in the familiarity with the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations; asking families if they had a safe place for the baby to sleep; recognizing numerous factors that increase the risk of SIDS; and feelings of adequate safe sleep education. Meanwhile, approval of bed sharing decreased.

Recognizing the difficulty in maintaining adequate funding, Cribs for Kids was named the charity for the Employee Giving Campaign in 2013.

The campaign allowed for extensive safe sleep education for thousands of employees outside of the Women and Children’s Service Line.

The support throughout the hospital for keeping babies safe was overwhelming. More than $90,000 was raised for the program. This is expected to sustain the program for the next six years.

While significant progress has been made in the past decade, Goodstein noted that Pennsylvania rates 39th in infant mortality.

“The state needs to do better,” he said. “Hopefully, HAP’s recognition of our program will bring more attention to what we have done, and encourage other hospitals to follow suit.”

Judy Alder, manager of community philanthropy, Gettysburg Hospital Foundation, left, and Esther Little, second from right, recently presented Esther Little nursing scholarships to Andrea Blust, RN, second from left, and Audrey Mazur of WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, right.

Duo exemplifies the face of nursing at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital

Andrea (Andi) Blust and Audrey Mazur are this year’s recipients of Esther G. Little Nursing Scholarships.

Blust, a RN at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, will use her scholarship toward pursuing her MSN as a clinical nurse educator.

Since 2005, Blust has worked as a phlebotomist, nursing assistant and RN.

“Andi is kind and caring to her patients as well as her peers,” wrote one of her nominators. “She goes above and beyond for her patients, from a simple gesture such as holding their hand, supplying a blanket to the complexity of identifying deteriorating symptoms of her patients.

“She is kind to the families of patients and ensures they are informed of the care that their family member is receiving. Andi is a hardworking professional nurse, striving to improve patient outcomes.”

Blust said she wants to be a clinical nurse educator to be able to help guide nurses in learning best practices, lead them in new changes and assist them in improving current practices.

“Teaching undergraduate nursing students has been an aspiration of mine,” she said. “Nursing students will always be the future of health care, and I want to be part of their education. I want to help guide them to becoming great nurses.”

Mazur is a PRN operating room assistant at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital. She will use her scholarship toward acquiring her RN degree from Harrisburg Area Community College.

In addition to her academic preparations to become a RN, she recently completed a year of volunteer service in the WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital operating rooms.

“Volunteering has enabled me to gain valuable experience and to confirm that this is the setting in which I most want to work upon graduation,” offered Mazur.

“Audrey has been a dedicated and dependable volunteer,” said Laurie Woods, coordinator of volunteer services at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital. “The Surgical Services staff relies on Audrey to assist with a variety of patient care responsibilities. She consistently provides caring and compassionate customer service to our patients, families and staff.”

Mazur said her long-range goal is to become a surgical program coordinator, which would permit her to combine clinical practice, administrative knowledge and a passion for patient education.

Adams County philanthropist Esther Little established the endowed nursing scholarship with Gettysburg Hospital Foundation in 2008 to support WellSpan employees and volunteers pursuing or furthering a career in nursing.

“The pool of applicants was excellent this year, and we were fortunate to give two scholarships thanks to Esther’s generosity,” said Judy Alder, the foundation’s manager of community philanthropy. “Andi and Audrey exemplify the face of nursing at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital.”

Participating in the WellSpan York Hospital emergency department groundbreaking, from left to right, are David Vega, MD, emergency department physician and chairman; Jolene Biesecker, president, York Hospital Auxiliary; Jeffrey Lobach, vice chairman, York Health Foundation board of directors; Keith Noll, president, WellSpan York Hospital and senior vice president, WellSpan; Dan Waltersdorff, president, WellSpan York Hospital board of directors; and Rick Seitz, president, Alexander Builders.

Special features will enhance the patient experience

WellSpan York Hospital held a groundbreaking for its new emergency department on Thursday, Aug. 7.

WellSpan staff members, board members and community leaders were on hand for the groundbreaking.

Construction has begun on the project which will provide patients with a private, patient-centered care experience.

The hospital’s current emergency department cares for nearly 78,000 patients per year in a facility designed to treat around 50,000.

The emergency department will continue to care for patients seven days a week, 24 hours a day during the renovation and construction.

Once the approximate 46,000-square foot project is completed in 2017, patients will experience less waiting time and more timely care, thanks to a larger facility and more efficient processes.

Special features of the hospital’s new emergency department will include:

• Private patient care environment
• Fully dedicated treatment area for patients with minor injuries and illnesses
• Dedicated patient treatment areas for pediatric, cardiovascular, orthopedic and behavioral health patients
• Multiple work pods for staff and providers, hospitalists and specialists for clinical staff efficiency
• Improved patient support facilities
• Improved presence of financial counselor, registration and checkout areas for patients
• Patient/visitor amenities
• Pediatric waiting area

Efforts of the York Health Foundation will play a significant role in providing funding resources for specific areas of the project.

To date, the foundation has raised $1.7 million toward its $3 million goal.  Emergency department physicians have raised $47,000 in memory of Dr. Noelle Rotondo.

For updates on the WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department construction project, go to the www.wellspan.org.