December 2015
Be a hero this holiday season: Donate blood through the LG
Health Blood Donation Center
The Blood Donor Center celebrates blood donors in December and January
The spirit of giving is
all around us. So many
Lancaster General Health
employees and family
members give of their
time and treasure to help
those in need during the
holidays. But there is
another way you can give
this holiday season: by
blood donations.
Recruiter.
In recent
years,
the Blood
Donor
Center
has seen
an overall
decline
in the
number of
Phlebotomist Melissa Fern prepares a local donations
The Blood Donor Center
blood donor during one of the Blood Donor received.
Center’s Blood Drives.
collects blood donations
“We
year-round to supply the
especially
LG Health Blood Bank. The blood is
see a dip in donations during the
then used for LG Health patients in
holidays,” said Welsh. “I think it’s a
need. “When you donate through the
busy time of year – everyone is busy
LG Health Blood Donor Center, you can
traveling and visiting with family and
know that your donation stays local and friends – that donating is placed on the
helps patients within Lancaster General back burner.” But the greatest need for
Hospital,” said Amy Welsh, Blood Donor blood occurs in the summer months
and during the winter
months and holiday
Test your blood knowledge.
season. According
to the American Red
O positive is the most common blood type.
Cross, approximately
O negative is the universal red cell donor.
38 percent of the
U.S. population is
Type AB blood can is the universal plasma donor.
eligible to donate, yet
less than 10 percent
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
donate each year. In
less than an hour, by
More than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day.
donating blood, you
The average adult has about 10 pints of blood in their body. could help save the
lives of up to three
A car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood.
people.
A healthy donor may donate red blood cells every 56 days.
What’s the donation process?
Beginning with a medical questionnaire
and a mini-physical, donors can expect
the entire donation process to take
about 45 minutes. Once you have been
cleared to donate, the actual donation
lasts about 10-12 minutes. In addition
to your donation, extra tubes of blood
are taken for testing and typing. “If you
don’t know your blood type, that’s OK,”
Welsh said. “Your blood will be typed
during the processing and you will
receive a blood type card.”
How yo
u
The LG H can donate:
ea
five days lth Blood Donor
Center is
a week:
open
• 10
a.m.-7:3
0
p.m. - M
• 8 a
onday
.m.-4 p.m
.• 8 a
.m.-6 p.m Tuesday & Thu
rsday
. - Wedn
Or visit lg
esd
health.o
rg and se ay & Friday
Center ”
a
for a list
of blood rch “Blood Dono
r
drive loc
ations.
Call 717
-544-017
0, option
eligibilit
2 to che
y and sc
ck your
hedule.
Celebrating those who give.
The American Red Cross recognizes
January as National Blood Donor
month, but LG Health extends the
recognition to December as well. “We
have faithful donors who are consistent
in donating when theycan,” said Karen
Smith, Blood Donor Center Supervisor.
“We want to recognize those who give
throughout the year, and especially
those who give during the holiday
season – one of our greatest times of
need.”
President’s Message
2015 was a year full of significant accomplishments for Lancaster General Health/
Penn Medicine
By Jan Bergen, President & CEO
Your hard work and dedication
played a vital role in all of our
successes during this very busy
and exciting year.
Here are just a few highlights
from 2015:
• In May, we announced
our partnership with Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia
to strengthen community
Jan Bergen
access to pediatric services.
CHOP pediatric hospitalists and cardiologists now
work within LG Health. Neonatologists and pediatric
gastroenterologists will convert to CHOP employees in
the near future.
• In July, Lancaster General Hospital was recognized
among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals
for 2015-16. LGH ranked fifth among Pennsylvania
hospitals, earning a best ranking in three specialties and
“high-performing” rankings in four specialties.
• In August, LG Health officially joined Penn Medicine.
Our partnership with Penn advances clinical care and
ensures long-term financial sustainability, benefiting
both our organization and the community.
• In October, construction began on a new six-story
addition to Lancaster General Hospital. The expansion
will enable LGH to eliminate semi-private rooms, a
major contributor to patient dissatisfaction.
• Also in October, our Board of Trustees and leadership
team expressed our appreciation for your hard
work with a Special Employee Recognition. It was
heartwarming to read the many stories of how the
recognition would enrich your lives.
• In November, we opened The LG Health Center –
Lebanon, offering primary and urgent care, access to
LG Health/Penn Medicine specialists and an array of
outpatient services to the Lebanon community.
Thank you for your many valuable contributions to our
successes in 2015 -- and your continued efforts toward our
Vision of delivering on the promise of a healthier future.
As 2015 winds down, we at LG Health have even more
reasons to be excited about the future. Check back in
January, when my column will take a look ahead at 2016.
Lancaster General Health Foundation names new inductees into
Societas Generalis
The Lancaster General Health Foundation honored its 2015
inductees into Societas Generalis during its recent annual
recognition dinner. This year’s inductees are:
• Gerald W. Rothacker, Jr., M.D., for Excellence in Medicine
• Bruce R. Limpert for Excellence in Board Service
• David L. Charles, Lynda A. Charles and Lydia I. Yeager for
Excellence in Community Service & Volunteerism
• Beverly R. Steinman and Ronald D. Schrotberger for
Excellence in Philanthropy
Taken from the Latin, Societas Generalis honors trustees,
physicians, philanthropists, community leaders and volunteers
who have made extraordinary contributions of service and
commitment to the health and well-being of the Lancaster
community. Since its inception in 2007, 85 members have been
inducted into Societas Generalis.
Pictured, left to right, are Lynda A. Charles, David L. Charles,
Beverly R. Steinman, Bruce R. Limpert, Lydia I. Yeager,
Gerald W. Rothacker, Jr., M.D., and Ronald D. Schrotberger.
LG Health’s Women’s Specialty Center first of its kind in region
Radio live-broadcast and community open house celebrate opening
The LG Health Women’s
Specialty Center, located
on the second floor of the
Women & Babies Hospital, is
the only facility in the region
focused on the health and
wellness of women at all
stages of life.
The team focuses on
wellness and preventive
care, and guides the
management of chronic
conditions. Patients can
see a female primary care
physician, a cardiologist or a
urogynecologist in the same
center. The center also has
options and services to help
women refocus
their energy, relax
and de-stress.
Dec. 3 kicked off
a series of events
at the Women’s
Specialty Center.
Local country
station The Big
I-105 (WIOVFM)’s morning
Members of the team who supported the community open house on Dec. 3
show, Murph &
included staff of the Women’s Specialty Center, Centralized Scheduling,
Casey, hosted a
Wellness and more.
live broadcast
highlighting the
Later in the evening, the
house, offering the chance
center’s many features and
Women’s Specialty Center
to tour the facility and meet
interviewing clinical staff
welcomed more than 140
the clinical team.
members.
guests to a community open
Pictured above from left to right: WIOV’s Casey Allen interviewing Dr. Lauren Westermann; morning show hosts Murph & Casey (Allen)
talking with Dr. Nancy Rist; and Casey Allen talking with Nurse Navigator Phyllis Hennessy.
Getting winter ready - know where to go for cancellations &
closures
The winter months bring weather that requires Lancaster General Health/Penn
Medicine facilities to close, reduce hours or cancel events.
Be informed and know where to go for the latest information on cancellations and closings. Visit lghealth.org and click on
the weather icon in the middle of the homepage. All weather-related cancellations and closures will be posted on this site.
Lancaster General Hospital and the Emergency Department are open 24-hours, 7-days a week. Employees should always
communicate with their manager about weather-related concerns or questions.
Our Mission
To advance the health and well-being of the communities we serve.
Our Vision
Delivering on the promise of a healthier future.
The Experience is a monthly publication for
employees of Lancaster General Health
Contact Corporate Communications
Melissa Frill, Editor, at mfrill2@lghealth.org
Keeping you safe is all in a day’s work
Additional bike patrol officers added to the
Lancaster General Hospital security team
In November, Lancaster General Hospital’s Security Department
increased the number of bike security officers from one to five.
“We have found that employees and the public want to see security
around the hospital. They want to know that security is here for them if
they are needed,” said Dan Ford, Director of Security.
Each bike officer goes through a certified public safety bicycle course the same training that a police bike officer completes. Bike officers will
patrol around the hospital, 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Customer Service Hall of Fame
Honoring staff members named
in patient surveys
Lancaster General Hospital
Children’s Health Center: Wendy Stipe, RN; Melissa
Omuya, RN; Matt Bailey, Food Service; Jen Myers, RN;
Amanda Peznosky, PtCA
Guest Services: Cindy Commero-Cook, Guest Service
Rep/Skylight
4 East: Kathy O’Kane, RN; Bridget Daly, RN; Haja
Dukuray, RN; Chris Halvorsen, RN; Ryan Bair, RN; Joe
Schwartz, PtCA; Allison Duckworth, PtCA
4 Lime: Timothy Pepo, PtCA; Eric Libarios, RN; Emilita
Miller, RN; Diane Wheary, RN; Daniel Prifer, Nurse
Residency Program; Stephanie George, RN; Jaclyn
Gyger, PtCA; Katie Wright, RN; Stephanie Raj, RN;
Katie Lowrie, RN
4 North: Rachel Petro, RN; Julie Grodzicki, RN; Brooke
Maurer, RN
4 West: Erica Richardson, Nurse Residency Program
5 North: Amber Leed, RN; Jessica Burkman, RN;
Jesslyn Weaver, RN; Sharon Myers, RN
7 Lime: Jami Werner, RN
7 North: Sondra Gardner, PtCA; Sam Catalfano, PtCA;
Tina Roehm, PtCA; Tabitha Martin, Nurse Residency
Program
8 Lime: Bonnie Shetler, RN; Laura Bair, Nurse
Residency Program; Amanda White, RN
8 North: Dana Newswanger, RN; Deb Candy, RN; Val
Choi, RN; Jenn Grinestaff, PtCA
Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute
Pictured from left to right: Todd Stahl, Jay Kieley, Jordan Reynolds, Kerri
Schrader, Maurice Patterson, Mike Logan.
Peter Jupin, Chaplain
Radiation Oncology: Michelle Hess, Nurse Navigator;
Denise Turoczi, Radiation Oncology RN; Janay Ryan,
Radiation Therapist; Krista Budzick, RN Oncology
Research
‘Get Tested’ campaign kicks off in December
Campaign focuses on HIV/AIDs awareness and prevention
Lancaster General Health/Penn
Medicine received a $95,000 grant
from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
to increase local HIV awareness, testing
and access to care.
Nationally, it is estimated that
approximately 15-20 percent of those
with HIV do not actually know their
status.
The LG Health/Penn Medicine
campaign hopes to increase testing
locally – in Lancaster – and encourage
individuals to know their status.
The campaign – Get Tested – will focus
on de-stigmatizing HIV testing and
encourage those who do test positive
to start treatment. Ultimately, the goal
is to decrease the number of new HIV
infections in Lancaster County.
The campaign launched on World AIDS
Day, Dec. 1, and will continue through
August 2016. Messaging will include
radio spots, outdoor boards and signs
on buses, newspaper ads and digital
ads on a variety of websites.
LG Health Physicians Comprehensive
Care offers free, confidential HIV
testing without an appointment 9-11
a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Monday–Thursday
and 9-11 a.m. Friday. The test requires
only an oral swab and results are
available in 20
minutes. Individuals
interested in the free
testing should not eat
or drink anything for
20 minutes prior to the test.
For more information click here: www.
LGHealth.org/GetTested.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant
number P06HA29265-01-00—Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part
C Development Grant. This information or content and
conclusions are those of the author and should not be
construed as the official position or policy of, nor should
any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S.
Government.