Lancaster General Health Looking At Joining U. Penn Health System

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lancaster General Health, the organization that serves about three-fourths of Lancaster County’s health care market, is looking at becoming part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

LG Health and the Penn system, UPHS, have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore “a consolidated relationship,” the two organizations said Tuesday.

If those explorations bear fruit, LG Health would combine with UPHS, becoming a member organization, LG Health CEO Tom Beeman told LNP.

He called Penn a “world-class strategic partner” that shares LG Health’s values and has complementary strengths.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-general-health-looking-at-joining-u-penn-health-system/article_cf339d20-5ecd-11e4-bd68-0017a43b2370.html

Experts Worry Stagnant Wages Are Delaying Economic Recovery

Editor’s note:  Came across this article right after I posted about grocery store price increases. They certainly speak to each other.

Jim Talerico got a $900 raise this year, but he isn’t happy about it.

“It’s a terrible wage,” said Talerico, a part-time faculty member in Robert Morris University’s English department. “Now I’m making a whopping $14,400.”

It was the first pay raise in 10 years for the 54-year-old Ingomar resident. Even with the $13,500 he earns from his other part-time teaching job at Community College of Allegheny County, he said a barista job at Starbucks looks tempting. At least it would come with benefits.

Working Americans have had to make difficult choices — from canceling doctor’s appointments to cutting their grocery budgets — as their paychecks barely keep up with the cost of living.

Consumer spending drives 70 percent of economic activity, and wage stagnation has been a stubborn problem that might be holding back the recovery as other measures such as unemployment improve.

Read more: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/6812082-74/percent-pay-employers#ixzz3FO9O6Fhr
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Geisinger Health System Gives Nanticoke $3M Booster Shot

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

NANTICOKE, PA — Another Geisinger health care site in Luzerne County also is a shot in the arm for Nanticoke’s revitalization.

Patients have been coming in to the Geisinger-Nanticoke family practice center since late November. On Thursday, the health care system and local officials made it official with speeches, a ribbon-cutting and an open house.

State Sen. John Yudichak, who was among the speakers during the brief ceremony, characterized the nearly $4 million center at 128 E. Main St. as another part of the plan to aid Nanticoke’s ailing downtown.

He said local officials came together 10 years ago to put together a plan to revitalize the city. The health care facility joins Luzerne County Community College’s adjacent Health Sciences Center and the nearby Joseph A. Paglianite Culinary Arts Institute in the city’s downtown.

Read more: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news/1113901/Geisinger-gives-Nanticoke-$3M-booster-shot

Pennsylvania Struggles To Retain Doctors, Report Says

Map of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pennsylvania has a strong supply of doctors, but is struggling to keep its younger, newly graduated physicians in the state, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The association’s annual State Physician Workforce Data Book ranked Pennsylvania 10th in the country for its percentage of patient care doctors, but 37th in retaining those training through medical schools, residency programs, and fellowship positions.

The report was discussed Tuesday during the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s end-of-the-year state medical political news conference.

“Considering that the report indicates Pennsylvania has the fourth highest percentage of medical school students in the country, we should be concerned that our retention rate appears low,” said Dr. Bruce A. MacLeod, president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, in a statement.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article/20131211/NEWS/312119947/1052#.UqhmxPRDsxI

‘Doc-In-A-Box’ Centers On Rise For Urgent Care

Temple University logo (no text, “T” only) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Only a week after Shannon Cropper first noticed Temple University‘s cherry-and-white “T” on a ReadyCare Center at the Pavilion in Jenkintown, he found himself sitting in an examination room there with his 9-year-old daughter, Kennedy, who had tumbled off her bicycle and twisted her ankle.

“I’m having a hard time walking on it,” Kennedy said as she rested the injured joint on her father’s lap.

Just 45 minutes after entering the ReadyCare’s bright waiting room, Kennedy had had her vital signs taken, been examined by a doctor, and had her swollen ankle X-rayed.  Father and daughter were now waiting for a radiologist a few miles down the road at Temple University Hospital to read the film.

“It’s well-organized,” Cropper said of ReadyCare, one of a growing number of urgent-care centers set up by hospitals like Temple. “My first impression is that this is amazing.”

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/health/20130602__Doc-in-a-box__centers_on_rise_for_urgent_care.html#uUgTPq9FCI56bmds.99