Easton Hospital Surgical Residents Successfully Defend 'Surgical Jeopardy' Title

Easton Hospital surgical residents Drs. Nils-Tomas McBride and Stanley Ogu
hold the first place trophy they won at  this year's "Surgical Jeopardy"
competition. This is the second year in a row resident doctors at the hospital
have taken first place at the competition, designed to help
surgeons prepare for their upcoming board examinations.
Contributed photo

For the second year in a row, Easton Hospital surgical residents bested the competition to become the regional champions in "Surgical Jeopardy".

The local hospital's doctors Stanley Ogu and Nils-Tomas McBride took first place honors at the event, which was held earlier this month at Geisinger Henry Hood Center for Health Research in Danville.

The competition included teams from seven hospitals around the region, including teams from Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Luke's, said Easton Hospital marketing director Stephen Wilson.

Wilson added that the competition, designed to help surgeons prepare for their upcoming board examinations, has become so popular that residency programs in Pennsylvania must apply and be accepted to compete.

Ogu and Dr. Aniket Sakharpe were the champions last year.

The trophy is on display in Easton Hospital in the case near the cafeteria.

Low-Cost Shingles Vaccine Offered at Easton Hospital

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is offering shingles shots to those age 50 and older for $5 at the Kroner Auditorium at Easton Hospital, 250 South 21st St. in Wilson Borough. The first vaccine clinic session will be on Friday, February 21 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is required, and payments must be made by check or money order. Cash will not be accepted.

The service will be offered every second Friday of the month through the end of 2014. Each shingles vaccine clinic session is able to accept about 50 reservations, said Easton Hospital marketing vice president Steven Wilson.

To make a reservation for the clinic on Friday or for a future date, call the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 610-250-4268.

Easton Hospital Launches New Diabetes Education Program

Easton Hospital is offering a new diabetes education program called "ABC Diabetes" to help patients manage the disease. The program will include individual sessions, group classes, glucose monitoring systems and support teams, all anchored by Easton Hospital primary care physicians.

Recognized by the American Diabetes Association, the comprehensive program will assist people who been recently diagnosed as well as those who have had the disease a long time.

The program is based on self-management education, and participants can learn the importance of monitoring blood sugar, healthy eating, avoiding complications and living well with diabetes. Participants are encouraged to bring a family member or friend who can help support diabetes management.

The ABC Diabetes Education Program is covered by most health insurance carriers, including Medicare, the hospital notes.

To learn more about the program, call 610-829-9645. For a complete list of services offered at Easton Hospital, click here to visit the hospital’s website.

Easton Hospital Awarded Advanced Certification for Stroke Care

The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recently recognized Easton Hospital with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.

The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization,  accredits and certifies more than 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards.

Easton Hospital underwent a rigorous on-site review in early November.  A Joint Commission expert reviewed Easton Hospital’s compliance with the requirements for The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification program as well as primary stroke center requirements, the hospital said in a media release.

"Easton Hospital is thoroughly committed to providing our patients the highest quality stroke care centered on current scientific research to ensure continued improvement in treatment," said Easton Hospital neurologist Prasad Ancha in the news release.  "In addition to The Joint Commission accreditation, the Primary Stroke Center Certification gives us the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide for our patients and help us improve care for our community."

"The nursing staff during the accreditation process was incredibly engaged," said Karen Vadyak, chief nursing officer.  "This recognition only confirms the care and compassion nurses will provide during a difficult time for stroke patients and families."

For a portion of the program, Easton Hospital partnered with the tele-neurology team at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Easton Hospital will be able to display The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association Heart-Check mark for their Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. Displaying the seal and Heart-Check mark signifies that Easton Hospital is providing the "next generation of stroke or heart failure care" and will help patients easily identify this facility as one of quality that has surpassed numerous goals in the treatment of stroke, the hospital added.

Easton Hospital Partners with Forks UCC for Community Health Talks

Easton Hospital has announced it will partner with Forks United Church of Christ (UCC) to present a series of community health talks over the next six months.

"Healthy Life" will consist of hour-long programs on a variety of health topics on the third Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Forks UCC, 4500 Sullivan Trail in Stockertown.

The talks are free and open to the public.

"We have a host of talented physicians and staff who have a genuine demeanor that is so easy to relate to," says John Zidansek, interim CEO. "The Healthy Life series is such a great opportunity to share their expertise and watch as our Easton Hospital family impacts the lives of our community."

The series begins in November and is slated to run through April, excluding the month of February. The series includes:

• "Cardiac Health" with Lori Jones, RN, manager of cardiovascular services, on Thursday, November 21
• "Growing Older" with Stanley Walker MD, internal and geriatric medicine, on Thursday, December 19
• "Nutrition" with Heather Farkas, clinical nutrition manager, on Thursday, January 23, 2014
• "Stroke Prevention" with Cathy Weston, RN, stroke program coordinator, on March 20, 2014
• "Women’s Health" with Douha Sabouni, MD, OB/GYN, on Thursday, April 24, 2014

"Forks United Church of Christ has been a landmark on Sullivan Trail for hundreds of years," says Gary Barraco, lay minister at Forks UCC.  "We want to be part of the growing community and open our doors for personal and spiritual growth. The 'Healthy Life' series is an example of how we can welcome all into our building as a real community center."



For more information about the series, contact Forks UCC at 610-759-5676 or Easton Hospital at 610-250-4953.

Easton Hospital Make Interim CEO Permanent

John Zidansek, who has served as Easton Hospital's interim Chief Executive Officer since July, was named to permanently serve in the position yesterday.

"It’s been a pleasure to get to know the exceptional physicians, employees and volunteers at Easton Hospital," said Zidansek in a press release announcing the appointment. "I’m honored to continue working with them to provide a destination where patients can seek high quality care."

Zidansek has 30 years of hospital operations experience.

Before joining Easton Hospital, he was CEO of Lock Haven Hospital in central Pennsylvania. During his tenure, employee and patient satisfaction as well as key quality metrics increased significantly. He continued the growth of the primary care base including the establishment of a new rural health clinic. Additionally, he enhanced the hospital’s orthopedic and hospitalist programs through regional collaboration and recruitment efforts.

Before joining Lock Haven, he was with Sharon Regional Health System in western Pennsylvania for 23 years, and served as CEO for his last four years there.

"John’s expertise will support the hospital’s growth and mission to provide the Easton community with quality care close to home," said Tom Muller, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Easton Hospital. "We look forward to working with him in his permanent role."

Pomeroy Gets Green Light for Second Building, Easton Home to

By Christina Georgiou

The second portion of the Pomeroy building redevelopment was given a unanimous nod of approval from the Easton Planning Commission Wednesday evening, and construction work on the back portion of the site is expected to begin in 30 to 45 days.

Developer Mark Mulligan said the 90 percent of the apartments in the front portion of the property have been already leased.

"So the demand in 60 days was great. It even surprised us," Mulligan said.

The second building will include 22 more apartments similar to those on Northampton Street, along with medical and professional offices with some already under agreementwith Easton Hospital, and a small personal training gym in the basement, along with resident storage. That building, which was formerly part of the Northampton Street structure, was detached as part of the redevelopment plan and faces Pine Street.

Mulligan said prices in the second phase of the project are likely to be more expensive.

"We're going to be raising prices," he said. "We have a waiting list of people that want to live in the tower."

The courtyard between what is now two buildings will likely have tables and chairs, but whether they are for residents or will be outdoor seating for a second restaurant on the site is yet to be determined.

Maxim's 22, a new restaurant being opened by the owners of Sette Luna on Ferry Street, has decided they will place their outdoor seating on Bank Street, Mulligan said.

"The configuration of the courtyard will be determined," he added.

Representatives of Easton Home also appeared before the board to discuss a planned expansion of their facilities to include independent living senior apartments. However, as some critical parts of the plan are not yet complete, including stormwater management details, the board didn't vote on the matter, though they said they have no problems with what has been presented so far.

"The project overall meets the criterion...but we're not there yet when it comes to details," said Planning Director Becky Bradley.

The senior living facility's expansion will include two new buildings near the corner of South 10th and Northampton streets, which will adjoin the current assisted living home. A total of 104 one- and two-bedroom apartments, intended for low- to moderate-income seniors age 55 and older, are planned for the site.

Representatives for Presbyterian Senior Living, who owns the facility, said they are seeking the preliminary approval vote to help them get a tax credit application approved, a critical part of the financing they're seeking. The deadline is in October.

The matter is expected to be revisited in September. If the plans cannot be approved by then, they hope to at least get a letter of support for the project's intent from the planning commission, representatives said, adding that municipal support for the project is crucial to their tax credit application being approved.