Lancaster City Zoners Grant Variances For Lancaster General Hospital $60M Expansion

Lancaster General Health has received variances from city regulations that will enable its planned $60 million expansion of Lancaster General Hospital to move ahead.

With little discussion and no public opposition, the Lancaster Zoning Hearing Board on Monday approved variances to building height and setback requirements.

The county’s largest health care provider wants to expand the Stauffer building on the northeast corner of the hospital at Lime and Frederick streets to eight floors, putting in 66 private rooms.

Joseph Puskar, an LGH senior vice president, said the hospital is responding to changes in the health care industry.

Read more:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-city-zoners-grant-variances-for-lancaster-general-hospital-m/article_3e74556c-fdb1-11e4-bf1e-8f1af7ea2f8c.html

$60 Million Expansion Planned For Lancaster General Hospital

Lancaster County’s largest health care provider announced this morning that it is planning a six-story, $60 million expansion of its flagship facility, Lancaster General Hospital.

The expansion would enable the hospital to provide all private patient rooms, Lancaster General health said in a news release.

The LG Health Board of Trustees is scheduled to make a final decision on the project at its May meeting, according to the release. Work completed thus far is in anticipation of trustee and municipal approvals, it said, “to enable construction to begin as early as this summer.”

“Among LGH’s current 533 inpatient beds, 142 are located in semi-private rooms,” the release said. “LG Health plans to expand onto the northeast corner of the hospital, near Lime and Frederick streets.”

Read more:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/million-expansion-planned-for-lancaster-general-hospital/article_d4bc21b8-f00e-11e4-ad3b-239f83f71d33.html

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

No Arrests Yet In Clay Twp. Home-Invasion Killing; Father Still Alive

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

A 23-year-old man was shot and killed and his father shot and injured in a Clay Township home-invasion shooting Thursday night.

Brett Simmons, 23, died from an apparent gunshot wound, according to county coroner Stephen Diamantoni. An autopsy will be performed Monday morning.

Police have provided few details.

Saturday morning, officials did confirm that no one has been charged. Also, they said, Simmons’ father is alive at an area hospital.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/no-arrests-yet-in-clay-twp-home-invasion-killing-father/article_44b91bc8-452a-11e4-981e-001a4bcf6878.html

Park City Center Reopens After Early Morning Carbon Monoxide Incident

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

All areas of Park City Center have been reopened after an early morning carbon monoxide incident delayed its opening.

Lancaster city fire battalion chief Jeff Oatman said contractors working on an electrical system had to shut down the power where they were working and started an emergency generator.

Oatman said an exhaust system is installed in the area where backup generators for the mall run, but failed to properly alleviate the exhaust from the large diesel generator.

A majority of the mall opened at 10:15, about 15 minutes later than normal.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/park-city-center-reopens-after-early-morning-carbon-monoxide-incident/article_3daf73a0-44b1-11e4-87ca-0017a43b2370.html

Lancaster General Hospital Surplus Soars After Several Years Of Decline

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

After five straight years of shrinking “profits,” Lancaster County’s biggest nonprofit hospital turned things around last year — due in large part to cost cutting.

Lancaster General Hospital’s surplus, or revenues over expenses, ballooned to $92.6 million in 2012-2013, up 54 percent from the previous year and the highest total since 2007-2008, according to the hospital’s IRS Form 990, released earlier this summer.

The hospital’s parent firm, Lancaster General Health, inched closer to becoming a billion-dollar organization in 2012-2013, with total revenues of $919.8 million and a surplus of $100.7 million.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lgh-surplus-soars-after-several-years-of-decline/article_2a806084-2f92-11e4-8770-001a4bcf6878.html

Man Killed In Saturday Morning Shooting In Manheim Township

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

A man was killed in a shooting Saturday morning in Manheim Township.

According to emergency dispatches, the man was transported to a hospital about 3:50 a.m. for a gunshot wound.

The incident reportedly happened in the area of the 800 block of New Holland Avenue, just outside the city.

Officials confirmed Saturday at 10:30 a.m. that the man has died.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/update-man-killed-in-saturday-morning-shooting-in-manheim-township/article_dcf7f144-f92f-11e3-8c74-0017a43b2370.html

Police Search For Shooter In Killing Of 26-Year-Old Lancaster City Man

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

A 26-year-old father of three young children was gunned down late Sunday in Lancaster Township in what police believe was not a random attack.

The Lancaster County coroner identified the victim as Jonathan Santiago of 840 Prangley Ave., which is about a block and a half from where the shooting occurred.

Santiago was with a group of people walking near James Buchanan Elementary School when he was shot just after 11:30 p.m., Manheim Township police Lt. Robert Baldwin said.

The shooter was near a parked white Honda. The suspect and others fled in the vehicle after the shooting, Baldwin said.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/man-shot-and-killed-in-lancaster-township/article_6199f058-f53b-11e3-9491-0017a43b2370.html?mode=story

Lancaster General Hospital Makes Becker’s List Of 100 Great Hospitals In U.S.

Becker’s Hospital Review is pleased to announce its 2014 list of “100 Great Hospitals in America.” Each of following institutions has a rich history, strong credentials and a growing focus on how to best care for patients in an era of reform. These organizations have played home to some of the greatest medical advancements in U.S. healthcare history, and they are also the bastions of their respective communities — serving the roles of academic hubs or local mainstays.

To develop this list, the Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team conducted research, considered nominations and evaluated reputable hospital ranking sources, such as U.S. News & World Report, Truven Health Analytics’ 100 TopHospitals, Healthgrades, Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, The LeapFrog Group, and several other resources.

Click here to see the list in alphabetical order: http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/100-great-hospitals-2014/full-list.html

Lancaster General Hospital Leads Area Hospitals In Rankings

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

Area hospitals made the annual U.S. News “Best Hospitals” lists in several categories.

Lancaster General Hospital was ranked nationally in four specialties and ranked sixth in the state overall on the lists, which the magazine released recently.

Lancaster Regional Medical Center was ranked 34th in the state.

In the region, Penn State Hershey Medical Center was ranked 16th in the state and the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital was nationally ranked in five specialties.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/873980_LGH-leads-area-hospitals-in-rankings.html#ixzz2ZjESCFyk

Lancaster Teen Temar Boggs Hailed As A Hero In 5-Year-Old’s Abduction

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

Temar Boggs had a feeling he’d find the 5-year-old girl who was abducted Thursday in Lancaster Township.

He was right.

Boggs, a McCaskey freshman who lives in Gable Park Woods, had been hanging out with a friend at nearby Lancaster Arms apartments and helping move a couch when a man came by asking if they’d seen a missing girl.

They hadn’t, Boggs said, so they went to watch TV.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/872026_Lancaster-teen-Temar-Boggs-hailed-as-a-hero-in-5-year-old-s-abduction.html#ixzz2Z8QWS7e5

Lancaster Police Shoot, Kill Homeless Man On North Queen Street

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

Lancaster city police said an officer shot and killed a homeless man who lunged at an officer Monday morning with a knife after they questioned him about urinating and exposing himself in public.

Police said they attempted to stun the man, who has not been identified, with a Taser but the charge had no effect on him.  After the man refused to drop his knife, an officer fired three shots at him and struck him once.

The man died a couple of hours later at Lancaster General Hospital.

District Attorney Craig Stedman, who reviewed video footage of the incident, said the shooting appeared to be “entirely justified” but that he had not reached a final conclusion.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/859735_Lancaster-police-shoot–kill-homeless-man-on-North-Queen-Street.html#ixzz2Vpd3pBUx

What Lancaster County’s 4 Hospitals Made In Profits In 2012

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

The bottom line is starting to look healthier for local hospitals, which saw profits of between $7 million and $65 million in 2012 after some recent lean years.

All four hospitals saw an increase in profits, with two sister hospitals here seeing the biggest leap, according to a new state report.

All of the hospitals also had robust profit margins, according to the report by the Pennsylvania Health Cost Containment Council.

One local hospital official, however, said things might not be as good as they appear, due to the fact that the data included in the report does not include losses from hospital-owned physician practices.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/849894_What-Lancaster-County-s-4-hospitals-made-in-profits-in-2012.html#ixzz2TQB2Ff8W

Hospital Charges A Mystery To Many

If you need hip replacement surgery, you will face a wide range of charges here, depending on the hospital you choose.

Lancaster Regional Medical Center charged the most for major joint replacement surgery, $60,434, of the four hospitals here, according to a recent federal report on 2011 charges.

Across town, Lancaster General Hospital charged the least, $37,761, about $23,000 less than Regional.

But hang on to your crutches, patients.  There’s more.

Though LGH charged the least, Medicare, the federal insurance for the elderly paid it the most of all the hospitals here, $13,400.

Confused yet? Join the club.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/848413_Hospital-charges-a-mystery-to-many.html#ixzz2T2HQPO3o

Mount Joy Borough Agrees To $900,000 Payment To Family Of Man Who Died In Taser Incident

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

Mount Joy Borough Council  on Monday approved a $900,000 settlement agreement for the family of a man who died in 2010 after attempts to subdue him included repeated discharges from a police officer’s Taser.

The settlement will be paid to the family of Robert A. Neill Jr. by the borough’s insurance carrier, according to borough officials.

The borough’s insurance company recommended the settlement, according to a one-paragraph statement read by council President Chris Metzler.

The insurance company was not identified, and no other comments were made by members of council.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/788936_Mount-Joy-Borough-agrees-to–900-000-payment-to-family-of-man-who-died-in-Taser-incident-.html#ixzz2E7KMA9Gr

Lancaster General Hospital: Profits Dip But Hosptial Remains 6th Most Profitable Hospital In PA

Lancaster General Hospital showed a $66.6 million profit for the fiscal period from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.  Only five hospitals in Pennsylvania showed higher profits in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, they were: Thomas Jefferson, CHOP, University of Penn, Lehigh Valley and UPMC –Presbyterian Hospital.  For fiscal year 2006-2007 Lancaster General Hospital showed a profit of $136.8 million.  Salaries and benefits were the number one cost that contributed to lower profits.  Pension expenses were the main culprit.  Lancaster General’s profit margin is 7 percent.  The state average is 4.5 percent.

Lancaster General contributes significantly to the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster City School District.  Each entity receives about $1.35 million a year.  According to Mayor Gray, Lancaster General’s tax contribution equals three-quarters of a mill.  In addition to taxes, Lancaster General gives well over a half-million dollars in grants to various local organizations and provided $83.3 million in charity care for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Lancaster General Health is a not-for-profit regional healthcare system with a reputation for excellence. Located in Lancaster,PA, Lancaster General Health has a 600 bed Magnet Hospital as its cornerstone with multiple outpatient facilities.  Twice designated a Magnet hospital for clinical excellence, LGH was named one of America’s 100 Top Hospitals, nine of the past 11 years.  LGH has been recognized regionally and nationally for its intensive care unit and cardiology and orthopedic services.  Other key specialty services include obstetrics, open-heart surgery, neurosurgery and trauma.  Lancaster General Health system is the county’s largest employer with 6,693 employees.  LGH was named as a 100 Best Places to work in PA – the last three years.