Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Corporation

WE HEAL, COMFORT AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ADVANCED AND COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE OF SUPERIOR QUALITY AND VALUE, SUPPORTED BY EDUCATION AND CLINICAL RESEARCH.

NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH CORPORATION, D/B/A LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL-HAZLETON (LVH-H) IS PART OF LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK (LVHN), A MULTI-HOSPITAL SYSTEM LOCATED IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. LVH-H IS THE ONLY INPATIENT HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IN THE GREATER HAZLETON AREA SERVING A POPULATION OF OVER 80,000 PEOPLE WITHIN THREE COUNTIES, INCLUDING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE HISPANIC POPULATION. WE OFFER QUALITY CONTINUUM OF CARE SERVICES BEGINNING AT BIRTH IN THE FAMILY BIRTH AND NEWBORN CENTER, ACUTE INPATIENT MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SERVICES, INPATIENT REHAB AT THE GUNDERSON CENTER FOR INPATIENT REHABILITATION AND HOME CARE SERVICES THROUGH LEHIGH VALLEY HOME CARE-HAZLETON. OUTPATIENT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REHAB SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER AT HAZLETON (PA.), THE HEALTH CENTER AT MOUNTAIN TOP (PA.) AND STATION CIRCLE (HAZLE TOWNSHIP, PA.), AS WELL AS OUTPATIENT CANCER TREATMENT AT THE LVHN CANCER CENTER HAZLETON. LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP (LVPG), A SUBSIDIARY OF LVHN, IS A MULTI-SPECIALTY MEDICAL OUTPATIENT CARE PROVIDER. LVPG-HAZLETON (LVPG-H) IS THE OUTPATIENT MEDICAL PROVIDER GROUP ALIGNED WITH LVH-H. ADDITIONALLY, LVH-H HAS A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND HEALTH SCREENINGS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE COMMUNITY. A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) IS CONDUCTED EVERY THREE YEARS. WE DELIVER OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WITH COMPASSION AND HIGH STANDARDS OF QUALITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF GREATER HAZLETON REGARDLESS OF RACE, SEX, RELIGION OR ECONOMIC STATUS.STRATEGIC DIRECTIONSTRATEGIC PLANNING IN HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVES CREATING OBJECTIVES AND SETTING GOALS FOR WHERE THE ORGANIZATION SEES ITSELF LONG TERM AND HOW IT CAN STRENGTHEN ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE CARE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVED. LVH-H'S THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC GOALS AND PRIORITIES INCLUDE INCREASED PATIENT SATISFACTION, PROVIDER RECRUITMENT, IMPROVED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SERVICES WITH FOCUSES ON TRANSFERS AND ADMISSIONS, REDUCTION IN LENGTH OF STAY, INTEGRATION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL (MSK) SERVICES AND BUILDING OF A NEW CANCER CENTER. IN ADDITION, A MASTER FACILITIES PLAN WAS IN DEVELOPMENT IN FY 2022, TO INCLUDE THE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER AT HAZLETON AND CLINICS AT STATION CIRCLE AND 1000 ALLIANCE DRIVE (DESSEN CENTER), TO BEST DETERMINE WHAT SERVICES WOULD BEST BE LOCATED AT THESE FACILITIES TO ALLOW GREATER ACCESS TO PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE ONE OF THE PRIMARY FOCUSES IN FY 2022 CONTINUED TO BE RESPONDING TO THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC AS NEW VARIANTS EMERGED. LVH-H CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES FROM FY 2021:CONTINUED TO EDUCATE AND UPDATE LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS IN THE GREATER HAZLETON AREA.CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FREE COVID-19 TESTING TO THE COMMUNITY. IN FY 2022, 11,647 TESTS WERE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE COMMUNITY.OPENED A FREE COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC AT THE HOSPITAL IN DECEMBER 2020 AND PROVIDED 25,534 COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FREE TO 9,434 COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING THE REST OF FY 2022. IN ADDITION, LVHN'S MOBILE VACCINATION TEAM BROUGHT VACCINES TO AREA SCHOOLS, INDUSTRIES, LOW-INCOME HOUSING COMPLEXES AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY. IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL INTERPRETATION SERVICES/INTERPRETER RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH OUR HISPANIC PATIENTS.DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION PLAN TARGETED TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, WHICH MAKES UP 50% OF HAZLETON'S CENTER CITY POPULATION, TO CONTINUE EDUCATING THEM ON COVID-19, HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE COVID VACCINATION. THE TACTICS INCLUDED EMAIL BLASTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, PRINT MEDIA, DIGITAL BILLBOARDS, VIDEOS AND INTERVIEWS WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, ALL PROVIDED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.QUALITY CAREQUALITY HEALTH CARE IS CARE THAT IS SAFE, EFFECTIVE, PATIENT-CENTERED, TIMELY, EFFICIENT, AND EQUITABLE. AT LVHN, OUR MISSION IS TO HEAL, COMFORT AND CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS DONE THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH ALL LEVELS OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. STANDARD OF CARE AND BEST PRACTICES ARE ALWAYS THE GOAL. THROUGH CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES, WE STRIVE TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS THAT RESULT IN IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR OUR PATIENTS. THIS INVOLVES A TEAM EFFORT THAT STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES AND ENABLE BEST USE OF OUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES. PROCESSES SPECIFIC TO QUALITY MANAGEMENT INCLUDE MONITORING AND EVALUATING DATA, FORMULATING STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT AND SHARING INFORMATION WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO INITIATE PROCESS CHANGES AS NEEDED. SPECIFIC AREAS OF ATTENTION INCLUDES CARE OF PATIENTS WITH STROKE, HEART FAILURE, SEPSIS, ALL CAUSE READMISSION RATES, MORTALITY, PATIENT SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT ALONG WITH COMPLIANCE WITH STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATIONS AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE ACCREDITATION COMMISSION FOR HEALTHCARE. BELOW ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF PROGRAMS AT LVH-H AND ALSO SOME RECOGNITIONS FROM FY22 THAT ILLUSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO BEST PRACTICES AND QUALITY PATIENT OUTCOMES:- SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACT AND PRESENTATION BY TWO LOCAL PHYSICIANS AT A VIZIENT CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER 2021. PRESENTATION WAS ENTITLED "YOUR HEALTH DESERVES A PARTNER-NAVIGATING COVID 19 FOR THE LATINO POPULATION AND WAS BASED ON LVH-H'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK AND PANDEMIC. - ACHIEVED LEAPFROG SAFETY GRADE "A" FOR SPRING 2022 - RECEIVED AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GET WITH THE GUIDELINES 2022 STROKE GOLD PLUS WITH TARGET: STROKE HONOR ROLL ELITE AND TARGET: TYPE 2 DIABETES HONOR ROLL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD- RECEIVED AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GET WITH THE GUIDELINES 2022 HEART FAILURE GOLD PLUS WITH TARGET: HEART FAILURE HONOR ROLL AND TARGET: TYPE 2 DIABETES HONOR ROLL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD- RECOGNIZED BY THE HOSPITAL AND HEALTHSYSTEM ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA (HAP) FOR EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT SAFETY - RECOGNIZED BY HAP FOR STELLAR PERFORMANCE ENSURING PATIENTS' SAFETY. LVH-H WAS AMONG 17 HOSPITALS STATEWIDE TO RECEIVE HAP'S EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT SAFETY RECOGNITION IN FY 2022. - RECOGNIZED IN U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT BEST HOSPITALS' EDITION AS HIGH PERFORMING IN THREE COMMON ADULT PROCEDURES AND CONDITIONS: CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD), HEART FAILURE AND KIDNEY FAILURE. - LVH-HAZLETON IS A MEMBER OF VIZIENT, INC., THE NATION'S LARGEST HEALTH CARE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY THAT COMPARES HOSPITAL QUALITY AND PATIENT SATISFACTION. OUT OF 267 HOSPITALS IN OUR COHORT, HAZLETON RANKED 135 IN FY 2022, WHICH IS THE 51ST PERCENTILE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OVER PRIOR YEAR WHEN WE WERE AT THE 29TH PERCENTILE. OUR CONTINUED FOCUS ON PATIENT SAFETY WAS THE BIGGEST DRIVER IN THE IMPROVED RANKING.

NEW/EXPANDED SERVICESLVH-H IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH NEW OR ENHANCED SERVICES OR BY DIRECTING THEM TO SPECIALIZED CARE AT ONE OF OUR SISTER HOSPITALS AT LVHN. HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE NEW OR ENHANCED SERVICES LVH-H PROVIDED IN FY 2022.COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTERLVH-H ANNOUNCED PLANS IN APRIL 2021 TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER ON THE HOSPITAL CAMPUS. WHEN COMPLETED IN LATE SUMMER 2023, THE NEW 32,000 SQ. FT., $20 MILLION CANCER CENTER WILL HOUSE MEDICAL ONCOLOGY WITH SEVEN EXAM ROOMS, A PROCEDURE ROOM AND A PHLEBOTOMY LAB; RADIATION ONCOLOGY WITH TWO EXAM ROOMS, A PROCEDURE ROOM, A LINEAR ACCELERATOR AND A CT/SIM; AN INFUSION SUITE WITH 14 PRIVATE INFUSION ROOMS; AND A SESSION SUITE WITH TWO EXAM ROOMS AND ONE PROCEDURE ROOM FOR ROTATING PROVIDERS. CURRENTLY, INFUSION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT AN OFF-SITE MEDICAL OFFICE THAT IS QUICKLY OUTGROWING ITS SPACE, AND PATIENTS NEEDING RADIATION TREATMENT MUST TRAVEL TO OTHER LOCATIONS DUE TO A LACK OF THIS SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE NEED IS VERY CLEAR, AND THIS EXPANSION WILL ALLOW OUR PATIENTS TO RECEIVE MANY OF THEIR TREATMENTS IN A CENTRALIZED LOCATION WITHOUT THE NEED TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES.EMERGENCY SERVICES SINCE BECOMING A LEVEL IV TRAUMA CENTER IN 2015, THE TRAUMA PROGRAM AT LVH-H HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL CARE AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEATH OR DISABILITY TO INJURED PATIENTS WHO ENTER ITS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED). BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUED EFFORTS OF INCESSANTLY BEING PREPARED TO STABILIZE AND TREAT THE MOST SERIOUS LIFE-THREATENING AND DISABLING INJURIES PRIOR TO TRANSFER TO A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER, THE PENNSYLVANIA TRAUMA SYSTEMS FOUNDATION (PTSF) IN FY 2022 HAS REACCREDITED LVH-HAZLETON AS A LEVEL IV TRAUMA CENTER FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THIS IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF YEARS A TRAUMA CENTER MAY BE ACCREDITED.LVH-HAZLETON EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED), ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR HEALTH NETWORK HOSPITALS, CONTINUES TO BE CHALLENGED WITH HIGH PATIENT VOLUMES IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A RAPID IMPROVEMENT TEAM WAS DEVELOPED TO FOCUS ON IMPROVEMENT IN EFFICIENCIES OF OPERATIONS OF THE ED, REDUCE PATIENT WAIT TIMES AND IMPROVE PATIENT THROUGHPUT. THIS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM CONSISTED OF ALL AREAS THAT TOUCH THE ED INCLUDING LAB, RADIOLOGY, PHARMACY, HOUSEKEEPING, FOOD SERVICE, EMS, AND REGISTRATION. INITIATIVES WERE DEVELOPED RESULTING IN A DECREASE IN LEFT WITHOUT BEING SEEN (LWBS) FROM 18 PERCENT TO 5 PERCENT. HOSPICE SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPICE, INPATIENT AND HOME CARE HOSPICE SERVICES NOW ARE PROVIDED TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THIS IS THE ONLY INPATIENT HOSPICE PROGRAM SERVING THE GREATER HAZLETON AREA. THE PROGRAM MODEL IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER PERSON-CENTERED CARE RATHER THAN DISEASE-CENTERED CARE AND TO PROVIDE COMFORT AND CARE TO TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN FY22, HOSPICE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 53 LVH-H PATIENTS FOR A TOTAL OF 175 DAYS OF CARE. THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED AND WELCOMED ADDITION TO THE HAZLETON SERVICE LINE.TELE-HEALTH SERVICESAS TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED, THE WAYS HEALTH CARE CAN BE PROVIDED HAVE CHANGED AND ADVANCED TOO. AT LVH-H, PATIENTS ARE BENEFITING FROM SECURE TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ACCESS AND RECEIVE QUALITY, SPECIALIZED CARE CONVENIENTLY. IN FY 2022, LVH-H ADDED INPATIENT TELE-PSYCH, TELEHEALTH FOR MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH FOR PALLIATIVE CARE TO ITS GROWING LIST OF TELE-HEALTH SERVICES THAT INCLUDE INFECTIOUS DISEASE, NEUROLOGY, ADVANCED INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (AICU), BURN, NEUROSURGERY AND TOXICOLOGY. ORTHOPEDIC AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH LVHN ACQUIRED COORDINATED HEALTH, A REGIONAL LEADER IN ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE, IN 2019. IN FY 22, LVH-H, LVPG-H AND COORDINATED HEALTH HAZLETON LOCATION CONTINUED TO PLAN FOR OPERATIONAL AND CLINICAL MUSCULOSKELETAL AND OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE INTEGRATION TO PROVIDE BETTER, QUICKER ACCESS TO OUR PATIENTS AND TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR PATIENTS. SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMAN ATHLETIC TRAINING CONTRACT BETWEEN LVH-H AND THE HAZLETON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (HASD) HAS BEEN RENEWED FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD. THE CONTRACT NOW INCLUDES A NON-ATHLETIC COMPONENT WHEREBY LVHN WILL BRING ITS SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM TO HAZLETON. THIS PROGRAM WILL MEASURABLY IMPROVE STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCY IN THE HAZLETON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT BY LAUNCHING EVIDENCE-BASED INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FACULTY TO HELP STUDENTS ADDRESS THEIR TRAUMA, IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR OVERALL WELL-BEING.PROVIDER AND STAFF RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT OF PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY PHYSICIANS AND ADVANCED PRACTICE CLINICIANS TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUED TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR LVH-H AND LVPG-H IN FY 2022. IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES TO ATTRACT PROVIDERS TO OUR SMALL COMMUNITY, LVPGH WAS SUCCESSFUL IN RECRUITING ONE FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN, TWO CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONERS, TWO PART-TIME CARDIOLOGISTS, A FULL-TIME PEDIATRICIAN AND ONE PART-TIME OB/GYN PHYSICIAN DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. IN ADDITION, HAZLETON LOST A FEW LONG-TERM PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS DUE TO RETIREMENT DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO A STRATEGIC PLAN WAS DEVELOPED TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF NEW PROVIDERS NEEDED TO SUFFICIENTLY CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE BEST LOCATIONS TO RECRUIT AND PLACE PROVIDERS.CLINICAL STAFFING WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE HEALTH NETWORK, PARTICULARLY FOR NURSES. SOME OF THE INITIATIVES AND OFFERINGS WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO RECRUIT NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS INCLUDE:- FORMATION OF EMERGENCY STAFFING OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (ESOC)- NURSING RECRUITMENT EVENTS- VISITING AREA COLLEGES WITH MEDICAL PROGRAMS- OFFERING SIGN-ON BONUSES- COLLEAGUE REFERRAL BONUSES- CRISIS PAY- COMPETITIVE WAGES- MARKETING OUTSIDE OUR REGION- BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH AREA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH NURSING AND OTHER CLINICAL PROGRAMSTECHNOLOGY/EQUIPMENT/FACILITIESADDITIONAL FACILITY RENOVATIONS TO THE HOSPITAL, THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE MOST RECENT HOSPITAL RENOVATIONS AND MODERNIZATION PROJECT, BEGAN IN FY 22. THESE INCLUDE RENOVATING AND UPDATING EQUIPMENT IN TWO OF THE HOSPITAL'S OPERATING ROOMS, A NEW ROOF FOR THE RENOVATED SECTION OF THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, CHANGING OF AIR HANDLER UNITS AND WATERPROOFING THE BUILDING, UPGRADING INTERIORS OF THE PATIENT AND STAFF ELEVATORS, MISCELLANEOUS WINDOW AND PLUMBING REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS AND UPGRADING PATIENT BATHROOMS.LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL HAZLETON'S FAMILY BIRTH AND NEWBORN CENTER HAS RECENTLY INSTALLED A NEW AND INNOVATIVE INFANT SAFETY SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY CERTASCAN TECHNOLOGIES. THE PROPRIETARY SYSTEM ALLOWS THE HOSPITAL TO CAPTURE HIGH RESOLUTION NEWBORN FOOTPRINTS WHICH CAN BE USED FOR PRECISE IDENTIFICATION IN SITUATIONS LIKE AN ABDUCTION, LOST BABY OR NATURAL DISASTER. THE NEWBORN SAFETY SYSTEM, WHICH USES LIVESCAN TECHNOLOGY, HAS GARNERED THE ATTENTION AND PRAISE FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN (NCMEC) AND HAS BEEN INCLUDED AS A RECOMMENDATION FOR HOSPITALS IN ITS MOST RECENT INFANT SECURITY GUIDELINES. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH AND VIRTUAL OFFICES VISITS IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH THESE SERVICES, PATIENTS WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE CONSULTATIONS AND PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CARE WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR HOMES OR CONSULTATIONS WITH SPECIALTY PROVIDERS DURING VISITS WITH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS. THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THE MITIGATION EFFORTS PUT IN PLACE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH GREATER ACCESS TO CARE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

INITIATIVES:- PARTNERED WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD - PROVIDED FITNESS AND NUTRITION EDUCATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITYBEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEED TO BETTER ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY WITH FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SUICIDE PREVENTIONINITIATIVES:- DEVELOPED A CENTRALIZED REFERRAL PROCESS FOR OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. - CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHEAST COUNSELING TO PROVIDE PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION SERVICES IN THE LVH-H EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.- IMPLEMENTED THE USE OF TELE-PSYCHIATRY FOR INPATIENTS.- EDUCATED STAFF IN PSYCHIATRY, SURGERY, FAMILY MEDICINE, NEUROLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND OPIOID-RELATED ISSUES.- CONTINUED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNCIL TO DELIVER WARM HAND-OFF SERVICES IN BOTH THE ED AND INPATIENTS SETTINGS. THERE WERE 143 WARM HAND-OFFS AT LVH-HAZLETON IN FY 2022.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTLVH-H HELD ITS ANNUAL FREE COMMUNITY DRIVE-THRU FLU SHOT CLINIC IN FY 2022. THE CLINIC PROVIDED OVER 300 FREE VACCINES AND WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY. VACCINES WERE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN 6 MONTHS TO 12 YEARS OF AGE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.HIGHMARK BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AWARDED A $15,000 GRANT TO THE HAZLETON INTEGRATION PROJECT (HIP) TO PROVIDE MEDICAL EXAMS FOR THE UNDERSERVED IN OUR AREA. LVH-H AND LVPG-H PARTNERED WITH HIP IN THIS HEALTH INITIATIVE TO SEE PEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN THE LVPG PEDIATRIC PRACTICES. THE HAZLETON INTEGRATION PROJECT IS A COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORT THAT SEEKS TO UNITE THE PEOPLE OF MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES WHO CALL HAZLETON HOME. THE PROJECT'S MAIN FOCUS IS THE OPERATION OF A HIGH-QUALITY COMMUNITY CENTER THAT SERVES ECONOMICALLY UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.WHILE THE RATE OF COVID-19 CASES STARTED TO DECREASE SOMEWHAT IN FY 22, LVH-H CONTINUED TO LIMIT FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND USED INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INTERACT AND INFORM OUR PUBLIC. HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE WAYS:- VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS BY HOSPITAL PRESIDENT TO VARIOUS CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS- VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCES- VIRTUAL QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY- PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INDUSTRIES AND SCHOOLS TO DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON COVID-19 AND OTHER SERVICES- EXPERT GUEST APPEARANCES (VIRTUAL) ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL TV SHOWS- PATIENT TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA- FEATURED STORIES IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERLVH-H CONTINUED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MONETARY SPONSORSHIPS. IN FY 2022, APPROXIMATELY $75,000 WAS AWARDED TO SUPPORT CHNA-RELATED AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.LVH-H CONTINUED ITS OUTREACH TO SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE VITALCHOICE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNEY BY PROVIDING THEM WITH MORE CHOICES, SERVICES, CONVENIENCE AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM FEATURES A FITNESS CENTER DISCOUNT, ENROLLMENT IN SILVER SNEAKERS (IF INSURANCE APPLIES), FREE ANNUAL WELLNESS ASSESSMENT, COMPLIMENTARY PERSONALIZED TRAINING SESSION, FREE LUNCH AND LEARN SESSIONS AND MORE. VITALCHOICE ALSO KEEPS MEMBERS ENGAGED AND ACTIVE THROUGH SOCIAL AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS PICNICS, BUS TRIPS AND OTHER SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. LVH-H COLLEAGUES PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS THAT PROVIDED FREE EDUCATION AND MEDICAL SCREENINGS, CPR TRAINING, PLAYGROUND CLEAN-UPS, SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING PROGRAM, CITY HALLOWEEN EVENT AND SERVING MEALS AT THE LOCAL SALVATION ARMY. THE HEALTHY YOU (NORTHWEST EDITION) PUBLICATION MADE ITS DEBUT IN JUNE WITH MAILED DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT COUNTIES WE SERVE. THIS FREE PUBLICATION IS YET ANOTHER WAY WE PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON SERVICES, AS WELL AS HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION. IN FY 2022, A SPECIAL FUND WAS SET UP FOR LVH-H IN HONOR OF LONG-TIME BOARD MEMBER AND BOARD CHAIR THOMAS L. KENNEDY. CLOSE TO $80,000 WAS RAISED FOR THE THOMAS L. KENNEDY COMMUNITY HEALTH FUND THROUGH A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER. THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR THE UNDERSERVED, SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, DRUG AND ALCOHOL, WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES AND MEN'S HEALTH. LVH-HAZLETON WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE CASA DOMINICANA DE HAZLETON FOR SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY, AND IN PARTICULAR THE PATRONS OF CASA DOMINICANA DE HAZLETON, DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE FORMED WITH THE HISPANIC LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES.LVH-HAZLETON WAS THE PROUD WINNER OF THE 2022 STANDARD SPEAKER READER'S CHOICE AWARDS IN THE FOLLOWING HEALTH CATEGORIES: - BEST HOSPITAL-LVHN-HAZLETON- BEST PATIENT CARE-LVHN-HAZLETON