You & Diabetes Type 2 Presentation Scheduled

Could you have diabetes and not know it? Our colleagues at Community Nurses, Inc. will present "You and Diabetes Type 2" tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in the Education Center at our St. Marys campus.

The evening includes free screenings to determine your risk, a presentation on symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment, the opportunity to speak with Elk Regional's Certified Diabetes Educators, and nutritious snacks. It's FREE and there is no reservation required!

If you have a family history of diabetes, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or just want to stay healthy ... this is a great opportunity to get checked, learn more, and be aware! We'll see you there!

Elk Regional Officially Joins Penn Highlands Healthcare

Elk Regional Health Center has officially become an affiliate of Penn Highlands Healthcare, a parent corporation that also includes Brookville Hospital, Clearfield Hospital, and DuBois Regional Medical Center.

The affiliation brings together the region’s largest health care providers and creates an organization that will enhance the expansion of services, the acquisition of resources, and opportunities for operational efficiencies for each member hospital. In addition, the communities served by each of the member hospitals will enjoy increased local access to physician specialists, improved quality and coordination of care, and enhanced physician recruitment and retention efforts.

“I am pleased to welcome the addition of Elk Regional to Penn Highlands Healthcare,” said Dennis L. Merrey, Chairman of the Penn Highlands Board of Directors. “The combined strength of our organizations will provide many benefits to the communities we serve. We look forward to working together.”

“It is exciting that this important milestone has been achieved,” said Robert W. O’Leary, Chairman of the Elk Regional Health Center Board of Directors. “There is little doubt that the benefits of a partnership between Elk Regional and Penn Highlands are numerous. We believe that this affiliation will elevate patient care and will be a win-win situation for the residents of this region.”

Elk Regional Health Center joins DuBois Regional Medical Center and Clearfield Hospital as top-level affiliates of Penn Highlands Healthcare. Brookville Hospital is a subsidiary of DuBois Regional Medical Center.

All of Elk Regional’s affiliate organizations will remain in place, including Community Nurses, Inc.; the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center; Elk Regional Professional Group; ELCO Housing; the Elk Regional Health Center Auxiliary; and the Elk Regional Health Center Foundation. Pinecrest Manor, the 138-bed long-term care facility, will remain a division of Elk Regional Health Center.

The Penn Highlands Board of Directors is made up of representatives, including physicians, from each of the member hospitals.

Serving with Mr. Merrey on the Penn Highlands Board of Directors are Brookville Hospital representative Ron King; Clearfield Hospital representatives William Wood, Dr. Thomas Carnevale, and Dr. Richard Bedger; DuBois Regional Medical Center representatives Edward Nasuti, Thomas Gasbarre, Richard Pfingstler, Scott Foradora, Dr. Hazem El-Kassas, Dr. Gregory Roscoe, and Dr. Carmine Marchioli; and Elk Regional Health Center representatives Mr. O’Leary, Robert Ordiway, and James Ryan. Raymond A. Graeca, the CEO of Penn Highlands Healthcare, also serves on the Board of Directors.

Each member hospital of Penn Highlands Healthcare retains its community base, medical staff, and Board of Directors. Past and future community donations designated for each hospital remain in the control of that organization and are used according to the donor’s wishes.

A strategic planning committee, composed primarily of physicians from the member hospitals, is working to develop effective approaches for long-range planning.

PHOTO: Robert W. O’Leary, right, the Chairman of the Elk Regional Health Center Board of Directors, signs the affiliation agreement as Dennis L. Merrey, the Chairman of the Penn Highlands Healthcare Board of Directors, looks on. The affiliation agreement was effective Monday, July 1.

Flash Flood Warning in Effect This Morning

Earlier this morning, the National Weather Service in State College issued a flash flood warning for parts or all of Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, McKean, Potter, Centre, Lycoming and Clinton counties. The warning is in effect until 10:45 a.m.

For continually updated information from the NWS, click here.

If you see water of ANY depth on the road, please do not drive or walk through it! Allow yourself extra time to get where you're going in case roads are closed. Take it slow and be mindful of going too fast -- especially around wet curves. It's easy to hydroplane and lose control of your vehicle.

Be safe out there!

Elk Regional's CHNA Plan Available for Download

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires that all hospitals conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and adopt an implementation strategy at least once every three years.

Elk Regional Health Center began this process in the spring of 2012 to establish, evaluate, and understand the region’s health needs. Through the CHNA process, Elk Regional was able to evaluate the region's health needs -- an important first step toward connecting health and human services with the needs of the region's residents. The process was undertaken in partnership with Brookville Hospital, Clearfield Hospital, and DuBois Regional Medical Center.

Because Elk Regional is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, it is required to submit IRS Form 990 annually. As part of the IRS 990 requirements, an implementation plan that was based on the outcome of the CHNA process will be adopted as part of Elk Regional's overall strategic plan.The implementation plan addresses each of the health needs identified through the CHNA process and explores avenues to better meet the needs.

To download and read the CHNA implementation plan, click here.

Save Lives Before the Holiday Weekend :)

Before you head out of town next week for July 4th festivities, maybe you could squeeze in about 30 minutes to give blood and save a few lives? We're hosting the Community Blood Bank on Tuesday, July 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Education Center at our St. Marys campus. They're the ONLY supplier of blood & blood products to Elk Regional Health Center.

Those who donate ...

• Have a photo I.D.
• Must be in general good health
• Must weigh at least 110 pounds
• Must have no new tattoos or piercings within the last year
• Must be at least 17 yrs of age (or 16 yrs of age with a signed parental consent form from the Community Blood Bank)

You can visit the Community Blood Bank online or connect with them on Facebook and Twitter!

Potential Scam Targets Elderly, Home Bound

We’d like to call attention to a potential scam that could target elderly and home-bound individuals in our area.

An unidentified telemarketing company is making high-pressure telephone calls promoting a personal emergency response service, such as the LifeLine service. The caller will try to pressure the individual into providing their credit card information, bank account information, or other sensitive personal identification information over the phone. 

These calls are not valid. If your care provider feels that you or a loved one might benefit from the LifeLine service (or a different personal emergency response service), they will speak with you in person. Organizations who offer LifeLine do not make sales telephone calls to individuals to promote the LifeLine service.

If you or your loved one are LifeLine subscribers and find yourselves faced with a situation that makes you unsure of your safety, you can press your personal help button to speak to someone in LifeLine’s Emergency Response Center.

To report that you have received a potential scam telephone call, please call (800) 242-1306, extension 4506.

Elk Regional to Host Emergency Preparedness Drill

Local emergency, healthcare, medical and law enforcements agencies throughout the county will participate in an annual emergency preparedness drill that will be held beginning at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4 at Elk Regional Health Center’s St. Marys campus on Johnsonburg Road.

The drill is being hosted by Elk Regional Health Center and the Elk County Department of Emergency Management and is being coordinated under the direction of Agosti Fire Safety Services.

This collaborative effort allows the local agencies to work together and be prepared for an actual disaster. Agencies taking part in this drill include the St. Marys City Police Department, Elk County 911, St. Marys and Fox Township Ambulance Services, and the Crystal Fire Department.  

Elk Regional Health Center asks area residents to refrain from using the parking areas near the historic stone building while the drill is taking place.