Jump to content

Geisinger Health System

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Life Flight (Geisinger))

Geisinger Health
Company typeNon-profit
IndustryHealth care
Headquarters
Danville, Pennsylvania
,
US
Number of locations
10 hospitals
126 care sites[1] (2024)
Key people
Terry Gilliland (President and CEO)
RevenueIncrease$7.7  billion[2] (2023)
Increase-$37 million[2] (2023)
Increase$366.6 million[2] (2023)
ParentRisant Health
Websitegeisinger.org

Geisinger Health System (GHS) is a regional health care provider to central, south-central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Danville, Pennsylvania, Geisinger services over 3 million patients in 45 counties.[3][4] Geisinger operates ten hospitals, a medical school, and Life Flight, an air ambulance service.

On March 31, 2024, Geisinger was acquired by Risant Health.[5] Geisinger will continue to operate under its own name.[6]

History

[edit]
Postcard of the George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital

Geisinger was named after iron magnate George Geisinger by his widow, Abigail Geisinger. The George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital was founded in Danville in 1915 and later became Geisinger Medical Center.[7]

Geisinger Health Plan, a subsidiary health management organization (HMO), was started in 1985.[citation needed]

From 2001 through mid 2015, Glenn Steele served as Geisinger's president and chief executive officer (CEO).[8] Steele left Geisinger in 2015, with David Feinberg joining as president and CEO.[9] In December 2018, Jaewon Ryu became president and CEO. Ryu formerly served as the health system's executive vice president and chief medical officer since 2016.[10]

On April 26, 2023, Kaiser Permanente announced it would acquire Geisinger. As part of the deal, Geisinger would operate as an independent subsidiary, folded into a new non-profit group called Risant Health;[11][12] the transaction was completed on March 31, 2024. Terry Gilliland became president and CEO of Geisinger, while Jaewon Ryu became CEO of Risant Health.[13]

About

[edit]

Geisinger Health System serves over half a million patients across multiple states in the Northeastern United States.[14] Geisinger's primary geographical area of coverage is central and northeastern Pennsylvania.[15] The organization offers internal health insurance plans to the public within its coverage area.[16] Geisinger also conducts medical research and operates both Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine[17] and the Geisinger-Lewistown School of Nursing.[18] The organization also has a charitable arm, the Geisinger Foundation.[19]

Programs and practices

[edit]

In 2015, Geisinger launched a patient satisfaction program called ProvenExperience, which offers refunds of co-pays or deductibles to patients unhappy with their medical treatment or other aspects of care.[14] In 2017, it started the Fresh Food Farmacy, a program that provides free healthy foods and nutrition advice to low-income patients with diabetes.[20][21] In 2018, Geisinger introduced a program that drives patients unable to arrange their own transportation to medical appointments or pharmacies.[22]

Geisinger incorporates electronic health records (EHRs) and genomics into its healthcare practices. Geisinger first adopted EHRs in 1996.[23] By 2002, it was using Tel-a-Nurse, a service that allowed patients to call and receive medical advice from nurses informed by EHRS.[24] In 2007, Geisinger opened a genetic biobank and screening program called MyCode, which sequences the genetic code of volunteer patients to screen them for risk markers of diseases.[25] As of 2018, MyCode had obtained genetic information from over 200,000 patient volunteers.[25] This bank of genetic material has also been used for medical research purposes.[26]

Research

[edit]

In 1967, Geisinger was awarded a federal grant to study the effectiveness of medications to prevent heart attacks or their recurrence.[27] In 1974, the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation awarded a grant to Geisinger to study the potential treatment of Raynaud syndrome with drugs normally used to treat high blood pressure at that time.[28]

Geisinger has a database of electronic health records (EHR), and set up a genetics research program called MyCode in 2007.[26] The use of EHR allows longitudinal study of patient outcomes through a study called "DiscovEHR".[29][30][31] The program uses gene sequencing by the biotechnology company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.[32] The National Institutes of Health awarded a grant of US$5.5 million to the research program in 2016.[32] The program was expanded to include whole exome sequencing in 2018.[25] Using the patient volunteers' genetic data stored in its MyCode program, Geisinger has conducted or collaborated on genetic research studies aimed at identifying potential links between genetic variants and risk factors for certain diseases.[26] Geisinger contributed data from 35,000 of its patients to a 2016 Johns Hopkins University study that demonstrated linkages between asthma and fracking.[33] In 2021, a Regeneron-led study partially based on genetic data from the MyCode biobank identified a genetic variant that appears to lower obesity risk.[34][35][36]

Education

[edit]

On January 1, 2017, Geisinger acquired the Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton, Pennsylvania.[17] Opened in 2008, the school had struggled financially prior to its acquisition. Geisinger agreed to assume the school's nearly $40 million debt as part of the acquisition.[37] Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine received a $3.4 million grant from the federal government in 2017 to promote diversity and provide opportunities for disadvantaged communities.[38] In order to "fix the primary care shortage facing the organization", Geisinger announced a program in 2019 to cover full tuition plus a $2,000 monthly stipend for 40 students committing to work at Geisinger for at least four years after completing a residency.[39]

Partnerships

[edit]

Geisinger has partnered with for-profit behavioral health operator Acadia Healthcare to operate some of its facilities.[40][41]

Facilities

[edit]

Geisinger operates over 100 care sites including 10 hospitals.[1]

Danville

[edit]
Geisinger Medical Center in Danville
Main article: Geisinger Medical Center

Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) is the organization's flagship hospital in Danville. It is an adult level I trauma center, and the adjoined Janet Weis Children's Hospital is a pediatric level II trauma center.[42][43]

Bloomsburg

[edit]
Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital

Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital (GBH), formerly Bloomsburg Hospital, was acquired by Geisinger in 2012.[44] It is located in Bloomsburg.

Centre County

[edit]

Geisinger Healthplex State College is a clinic with 41 exam rooms and a surgical suite. Geisinger completed an expansion of the healthplex in January 2025.[45]

Geisinger collaborates with Mount Nittany Medical Center, and Life Flight is contracted with Centre Lifelink EMS.[6]

In 2024, Geisinger opened a new medical clinic in Bellefonte, consolidating services including urgent care and primary care.[45]

Jersey Shore

[edit]

Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital in Jersey Shore became a level IV trauma center in 2021.[42] A helipad was added for Life Flight.[46]

Lackawanna County

[edit]

Geisinger Community Medical Center (GCMC) in Scranton is a level II trauma center.[42]

Geisinger Marworth is located in Waverly.

Lewistown

[edit]
Geisinger Lewistown Hospital
Geisinger EMS at GLH

Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital (GLH), formerly Lewistown Hospital, is located in Lewistown. In December 2012, it was announced that Geisinger Health System and Lewistown Hospital had signed a letter of intent for a merger.[47] Independent physicians had opposed a merger with Geisinger, stating that with the presence of a Geisinger clinic in Lewistown and with Geisinger offering health insurance, a monopoly might result from the merger, ultimately hurting instead of helping local healthcare.[48][49][50] The full merger and integration of Lewistown Hospital into Geisinger Health System received final approval from the Pennsylvania Attorney General and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The new Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital became effective on November 1, 2013.[51]

GLH has offered a school of nursing since 2005.[52] It became a level IV trauma center in 2021 and has a concrete helipad.[42][53]

Orwigsburg

[edit]

Geisinger St. Luke's Hospital is located in Orwigsburg.

Wilkes-Barre

[edit]

Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center (GWV) is a level II trauma center in Plains Township on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre.[42]

Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Hospital (GSWB) is located in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Shamokin

[edit]

Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital (GSACH) is located in Shamokin.

Life Flight

[edit]
Life Flight
Life Flight EC145 landing at Williamsport Regional Airport
IATA ICAO Call sign
LFE 1LFE LIFE FLIGHT
Founded1981
Operating bases
Fleet size9
HeadquartersDanville, Pennsylvania, United States

Life Flight is an air ambulance service operated by Geisinger. It consists of nine helicopters[54] and transports around 3,600 patients annually. Each crew consists of a pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic.[46] The aircraft are equipped with autopilot and night vision.[55]

History

[edit]

Life Flight was founded in 1981 as the second air ambulance service in Pennsylvania. It conducted 430 transports its first year with a leased Alouette helicopter.[46] In 2012, Geisinger Life Flight received an air carrier certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allowing Geisinger to directly operate the aircraft and employ support personnel.[55]

Aircraft experienced incidents in 1996 and 2013, with personnel sustaining minor injuries and no injuries respectively.[46]

Fleet

[edit]
Aircraft In Service Notes
Eurocopter EC145 8 Based in Selinsgrove, State College, Avoca, Williamsport, Minersville, and Lehighton
MBB/Kawasaki BK117 1
Total 9

Financials

[edit]
Financial figures for inpatient hospitals in the Geisinger system in 2023
Hospital Net patient revenue (NPR) (thousands) Total operating expenses (thousands) Operating margin Total margin Uncompensated care Medicare share of NPR Medical Assistance share of NPR Total operating revenue (thousands) Operating income (thousands) Net income (thousands)
Geisinger Bloomsburg $71,155 $70,498 3.09% 2.99% 1.99% 28.99% 11.42% $72,743 $2,245 $2,176
Geisinger Community $441,340 $456,988 -2.73% -6.34% 1.18% 36.73% 13.17% $444,860 -$12,129 -$27,265
Geisinger Danville $1,457,206 $1,494,761 3.15% 0.86% 0.97% 32.17% 13.14% $1,543,435 $48,674 $12,892
Geisinger Jersey Shore $43,186 $39,368 9.66% 9.43% 1.68% 49.22% 15.21% $43,577 $4,209 $4,099
Geisinger Lewistown $186,103 $175,346 7.06% 5.12% 1.95% 35.49% 8.51% $188,662 $13,316 $9,460
Geisinger MC Muncy $36,025 $52,607 -39.99% -39.99% 1.59% 59.75% 13.89% $37,580 -$15,028 -$15,027
Geisinger St Luke's $73,960 $67,778 10.50% 10.53% 1.12% 42.15% 6.96% $75,731 $7,953 $7,975
Geisinger Wyoming Valley $739,779 $721,960 5.20% 4.05% 1.22% 32.33% 16.88% $761,574 $39,614 $30,496
Source:[56]

For comparison, in 2023 the Pennsylvania average operating margin and total margin were 2.26% and 3.44% respectively.[56] The Pennsylvania average uncompensated care percent of NPR was 1.39%.[56] The Pennsylvania average portion of NPR paid by Medicare and Medical Assistance was 35.4% and 14.9% respectively.[56] The average payment per inpatient day for Medicare and Medical Assistance was $2,725 and $2,958 respectively, while commercial payers paid an average of $5,960 per inpatient day.[56]

In fiscal year 2020, CEO Jaewon Ryu made $4.6 million.[57]

References

[edit]
  • "Geisinger timeline". The Times-Tribune. April 27, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  1. ^ a b Mamula, Kris (July 10, 2024). "Geisinger Health System commits $1.8 billion to upgrades as competition stiffens in Central Pennsylvania". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Cass, Andrew (March 28, 2024). "Kaiser-target Geisinger posts $366.6M net income in 2023". Becker Hospital Review. Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  3. ^ Hurdle, John (December 7, 2009). "Inside a U.S. healthcare "island of excellence"". Reuters. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  4. ^ Drobnyk, Josh (September 11, 2009). "Why rural Pa. hospital wins praise from Obama. Geisinger strives to make services reliable for every patient,despite how expensive it really is,a vice president says". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "Risant Health completes acquisition of Geisinger". The Express. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Moyer, Josh. "Geisinger has been officially acquired by Risant Health. Here's what that means for you". Centre Daily Times. McClatchy Media Network. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  7. ^ "Looking back at Geisinger's start: Abigail items, photos on display". The Danville News. January 27, 2015. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Landen, Rachel (July 18, 2014). "Steele to step down as Geisinger CEO next year". Modern Healthcare. Modern Healthcare. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  9. ^ Robeznieks, Andis (February 23, 2015). "UCLA's Feinberg named Geisinger CEO". Modern Healthcare. Modern Healthcare. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  10. ^ Vaidya, Anuja (November 9, 2018). "Geisinger taps CMO as interim CEO: 6 things to know". Becker's Hospital Review. ASC Communications. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. ^ Abelson, Reed (April 26, 2023). "Kaiser Permanente to Acquire Geisinger". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  12. ^ "Kaiser Permanente and Geisinger come together to launch Risant Health". www.geisinger.org. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "Geisinger names Terry Gilliland, MD, as president and future chief executive officer". PR Newswire. March 4, 2024. Archived from the original on October 29, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Sun, Lena H. (April 15, 2016). "The most unexpected hospital billing development ever: Refunds". Washington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  15. ^ Rubinkam, Michael (February 24, 2021). "Health network allowed employees' kin to skip vaccine line". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  16. ^ Andrews, Michelle (November 10, 2015). "Some Hospital Systems Want To Care For You And Sell You Insurance". NPR. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  17. ^ a b O'Connell, Jon (December 31, 2016). "Geisinger/medical school deal final". The Scranton Times-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  18. ^ Peachey, Meredith (April 26, 2019). "Understanding cultural health practices crucial in medicine". Lewistown Sentinel. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  19. ^ "Geisinger Foundation Dedicates New Center". The Morning Call (Allentown, PA). September 23, 1987.
  20. ^ Aubrey, Allison (May 8, 2017). "Fresh Food By Prescription: This Health Care Firm Is Trimming Costs — And Waistlines". Time. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  21. ^ Park, Alice (February 21, 2019). "Why Food Could Be the Best Medicine of All". Time. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  22. ^ Krize, Nikki (March 22, 2018). "Geisinger Unveils New Transportation Program". WNEP. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  23. ^ Erskine, Alistair R.; Karunakaran, Bipun; Slotkin, Jonathan R.; Thomas, David A. (December 15, 2016). "How Geisinger Health System Uses Big Data to Save Lives". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  24. ^ Raghupathi, Wullianallur; Tan, Joseph (December 1, 2002). "Strategic IT applications in health care". Communications of the ACM. 45 (12): 56–61. doi:10.1145/585597.585602. S2CID 15722439. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  25. ^ a b c Andrews, Michelle (May 22, 2018). "Routine DNA Screening Moves Into Primary Care". NPR. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  26. ^ a b c Pollack, Andrew (January 13, 2014). "Aiming to Push Genomics Forward in New Study". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "Geisinger Gets Federal Grant". The Scranton Times-Tribune. July 17, 1967. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  28. ^ "Geisinger receives foundation grant". The Daily Item (Sunbury, PA). February 15, 1967. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  29. ^ Pandi, Maria-Theodora; Williams, Marc S.; van der Spek, Peter; Koromina, Maria; Patrinos, George P. (May 18, 2020). "Exome-Wide Analysis of the DiscovEHR Cohort Reveals Novel Candidate Pharmacogenomic Variants for Clinical Pharmacogenomics". Genes. 11 (5): 561. doi:10.3390/genes11050561. PMC 7290308. PMID 32443490.
  30. ^ Dewey, Frederick E.; Murray, Michael F.; Overton, John D. (December 23, 2016). "Distribution and clinical impact of functional variants in 50,726 whole-exome sequences from the DiscovEHR study". Science. 354 (6319): aaf6814. doi:10.1126/science.aaf6814. PMID 28008009. S2CID 10045803.
  31. ^ Abul-Husn, Noura S.; Cheng, Xiping (March 22, 2018). "A Protein-Truncating HSD17B13 Variant and Protection from Chronic Liver Disease". New England Journal of Medicine. 378 (12): 1096–1106. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1712191. PMC 6668033. PMID 29562163.
  32. ^ a b O'Connell, Jon (October 13, 2016). "Geisinger receives $5.5M grant". Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, PA). Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  33. ^ Cohn, Meredith (August 5, 2016). "Fracking linked to asthma attacks in Hopkins study". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  34. ^ Sholtis, Brett (July 28, 2021). "Study links genetic variant to lower obesity risk". WITF (PBS affiliate). Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  35. ^ "Scientists find genetic mutation associated with obesity". The Daily Item. July 8, 2021. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  36. ^ Schaffer, Regina (July 27, 2021). "Rare genetic variant may protect against obesity, provide new drug target". Healio. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  37. ^ O'Connell, Jon (December 31, 2016). "Geisinger acquisition opens doors for TCMC research, financial stability". The Scranton Times-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  38. ^ O'Connell, Jon (November 28, 2017). "Medical school gets $3.4 million federal grant to target disadvantaged communities". The Scranton Times-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  39. ^ Ramsey, Lydia. "A health system hidden in the heart of Pennsylvania is offering free tuition to its medical students to fix one of the biggest problems in healthcare". Business Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  40. ^ Silver-Greenberg, Jessica; Thomas, Katie (September 1, 2024). "How a Leading Chain of Psychiatric Hospitals Traps Patients". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  41. ^ Herman, Bob (July 8, 2024). "Pulling back the curtain on psychiatric hospital joint ventures". Stat. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  42. ^ a b c d e "Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital designated Level IV trauma center". LockHaven.com. November 2, 2021. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  43. ^ "Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital — Level II Pediatric Trauma Center". Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  44. ^ "Geisinger Health System, Bloomsburg Hospital Transaction Receives Approval". Becker's Hospital Review. July 2, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  45. ^ a b Rushton, Geoff (January 29, 2025). "Geisinger Opens Major Expansion at State College Area Clinic". StateCollege.com. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  46. ^ a b c d Moore, Marcia (October 4, 2021). "Life Flight turns 40: Geisinger program has served 75,000 people ... and counting". The Daily Item. Centre Daily Times. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  47. ^ Linhard, Lauren. "It's Geisinger - Hospital announces merger agreement". Lewistown Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 12, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  48. ^ "Opposition Group Discusses Concerns". Lewistownsentinel.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  49. ^ "Weighs in on Possible Local Hospital Merger". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  50. ^ "News, Sports, Jobs - The Sentinel". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  51. ^ "Merger of Lewistown Hospital and Geisinger Health System Approved". News Wise. October 28, 2013. Archived from the original on April 21, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  52. ^ "Geisinger Lewistown Hospital Nursing School Class of 2018". Pennsylvania Business Central. August 8, 2018. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  53. ^ "5PN6 GEISINGER-LEWISTOWN HOSPITAL". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  54. ^ Bullock, Clara (October 5, 2021). "Metro Aviation equipped Geisinger Life Flight's new EC145". AirMed&Rescue. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  55. ^ a b "Geisinger Life Flight obtains FAA air carrier certification". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. March 5, 2013. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  56. ^ a b c d e "Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council Financial Analysis 2023". Phc4.org. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  57. ^ Hajela, Ashad (April 3, 2023). "How much north-central Pennsylvania nonprofit hospital executives are paid". Spotlight PA. Archived from the original on December 28, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://ergngevd.top/w/index.php?title=Geisinger_Health_System&oldid=1274930509#Life_Flight"