What does "healthy eating" mean to you? Two areas that people typically think about when considering a healthier diet are related to how much salt and sugar they consume.

"Generally speaking, Americans eat too much salt, because we rely on processed foods at home and eat out a lot," says registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator Barb Van Meerbeke, who provides nutrition counseling for WelloSpan Health. "Dietitian nutritionists consider a low-sodium diet to be 2,000-3,000 mg of sodium per day. A lot of people exceed that number.

"But the thing to remember is this: We're not born with a craving for salt," she says. "It's something we acquire. I tell people who need to be on a low-sodium diet that they should try to go cold turkey for two to four weeks. They will realize that afterwards, their tastes have changed a bit and they don't crave salt as much."

Van Meerbeke suggests not always turning to salt to add flavor to foods, and instead using more herbs and spices. "And if you use soy sauce, which is very salty," she says, "buy the low-sodium version and try to use less of it."

Just as sodium affects each person differently, the same is true for foods that affect one's blood sugars.

Some individuals have a lower tolerance for carbohydrates and sweets than others.

"Foods like sweets and sodas are low in nutrition and high in calories," Van Meerbeke says. "As a nation, we simply eat too much of them, which can lead to a variety of health issues." Issues such as diabetes, obesity, inflammation, certain cancers, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and joint problems can result, in part, from poor diets. "But overall," she states, "simply eating too much food--and eating too much processed food, specifically--leads to health problems."

Ultimately, Van Meerbeke says, a healthy diet all boils down to what she refers to as "mindful eating."

"Mindful eating is paying attention to what you are putting in your mouth," she explains. "Eat delicious food, but don't eat when you are distracted and not able to taste the food. Eat slowly, and stop eating before you get too full."

Van Meerbeke says it's best to cook your foods at home and stay away from processed foods as much as possible. "I recommend making your recipes with real foods such as lean meat, chicken, fish, whole grains, eggs, natural low-fat dairy products, healthy oils, nuts, seeds, natural peanut butter, fruits and veggies," she states. "It's easier and quicker than you think, and you and your family will be healthier for it."

Healthy Holidays

It's easy to over-indulge at a holiday meal. Barb van Meerbeke offers the following tips to help you enjoy the feast and eat healthier:

• Decide in advance what you'll eat and stick to your plan.
• Eat only foods that you love. Enjoy seasonal favorites but less of them.
• Don't waste your calories on foods you can get any time, such as chips and pretzels.
• Consider cutting the amount of fat (butter, oil, margarine) by one-third in recipes such as stuffing and mashed potatoes.
• Offer to bring a healthy dish to your family gathering.
• Eat mindfully and exercise more.

Having been a police officer in Philadelphia and Chambersburg for over 20 years, Ana Carey knows a thing or two about being brave. She would come to rely on that bravery in a very different way on Dec. 3, 2014.

"That's the day the doctor sat me down and told me I had breast cancer," Ana says. "He told me a lot of things that day, but after that, I couldn't hear anything else. I cried for days. Not because I was thinking I was going to die, but about how I was going to tell my family this news."

Ana relates that in November of 2014, she felt a lump in her right breast and went to see her family doctor at WellSpan Health. "I initially wasn't concerned because it didn't hurt," she says. "Plus, no one in my family had cancer." Her doctor immediately sent her for a mammogram and ultrasound. The images revealed changes consistent with breast cancer where she felt the mass.

The radiologist at Rhonda Brake Shreiner Women's Center discussed the need for a biopsy, and an ultrasoundguided biopsy was performed on Dec. 1. The test revealed Ana's tumor was malignant and she chose to see breast surgeon Dr. Stephen Carter for treatment. WellSpan Health's Breast Patient Navigator coordinated with Dr. Carter's staff to ensure Ana's appointment was scheduled quickly.

"Dr. Carter told me the tumor was about the size of a tangerine," Carey says. "He and Dr. John Robinson, my oncologist, explained several treatment options to me, including a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation--all tough choices. I chose chemotherapy."

And it worked. Ana says that over the course of her intensive chemotherapy treatment at WellSpan Health, the tumor shrank to the size of a quarter. "My doctors then performed a lumpectomy, and then I did radiation treatments. Today I'm feeling really good and, God willing, the cancer is gone."

The treatment and recovery process wasn't easy, Ana explains, nor was the emotional rollercoaster she was on throughout the course of her difficult journey. "It was incredibly hard, but my surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, the nursing teams, the support group ... they all worked together as one team to help me get better. They made it so much easier. They were all there for me as a person, and they are like a family to me now."

Shoulders to Lean On

In addition to medical treatment for Ana's breast cancer, emotional support played a critical role in getting through the process.

"Being diagnosed with breast cancer and going through treatment for it was really tough, and I had so much fear," Ana says. "Alongside the love of my family and the skills of my medical teams, I couldn't have gotten through the whole thing without my Breast Cancer Support Group at WellSpan Health." Laura Umbrell, LPN and CN-BC, created the group and facilitates it.

For Ana, it was important to maintain a positive attitude about treatment and recovery throughout the whole healing process. "That's hard to do when you're faced with the hard realities of cancer," she says, "but the people in my support group helped me get through it every step of the way." And according to Umbrell, these steps aren't always purely medical. "For some people, they find that they have recovered in mind, body and soul. That's really what the support group addresses," she says.

Today, Ana is giving back. "Now I go to the group to help support people with cancer, not for myself as a patient. Now I do it for them." Umbrell points out that this is not uncommon. "I have some people who have stayed active in the support group because they feel that this is how they give back."

The Breast Cancer Support Group at WellSpan Health meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at WellSpan Medical Oncology & Hematology Services in Chambersburg. For more information, please call Laura Umbrell at 717-217-6747.

When is it appropriate to take an antibiotic if you get sick? Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if his or her diagnosis is that you have a bacterial infection such as strep throat, an ear infection or pneumonia, for example. (Antibiotics are not effective in treating viral infections like colds, flus or diarrhea.)

"Many people have an expectation that because they had been previously prescribed an antibiotic for an illness like bronchitis, they will need it again if they believe they have the same issue later on," says WellSpan Health family medical physician Dr. Stephen Flack.

The reality is the illness you have may not necessarily be related to a bacterial infection. "For example," says Dr. Flack, "you could have sinusitis [inflammation of nasal sinuses] for 10 days, but it may actually be related to a viral problem, not a bacterial issue. We would not want to use antibiotics in a case like that."

Honing in and targeting

If your doctor does prescribe an antibiotic for you, he or she will work to choose a medicine that best suits your individual treatment needs. "Our bodies contain good bacteria as well as bad," Dr. Flack explains. "Doctors try to choose the antibiotic that would treat only the bacteria that is making you sick, versus broadspectrum antibiotics that treat all possible bacteria [good bacteria as well as bad]."

Take only if necessary

Dr. Flack says that you should only take an antibiotic if it's absolutely necessary. Why? Overuse of antibiotics over time can do your body more harm than good.

"The more antibiotics you take," explains Dr. Flack, "the more risk you may have for 'super-bug' treatmentresistant bacteria, which are not able to be treated by certain common antibiotics." Essentially, these "superbugs" are no longer sensitive to the same antibiotics that they used to be. "So you wouldn't be able to use the same antibiotic that you had previously used," Dr. Flack explains. "That's a problem because, at present, there are not enough new antibiotics being developed. So if you use too many of the ones that are available now and bacteria becomes resistant to those, it becomes harder to effectively treat an illness."

Dr. Flack also says to be particularly mindful when children or elderly people are prescribed antibiotics.

"Kids and older people are at higher risk for developing side effects, like diarrhea, from antibiotics," he states. "If you take a number of antibiotics when you're younger, you're at higher risk later on in life for resistant bacteria. So it's important for doctors and parents alike to keep track of the type and amount of antibiotics a child may be prescribed."

As WellSpan VNA Home Care nurse Kelsey Toscano makes the drive to Red Lion to see her patient, her car is stockpiled with personal protective equipment. Before entering the home of her first patient for the day, Toscano must put on the gown, gloves, face mask and face shield sitting in the back of her vehicle.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, before we even make a visit to a patient’s home, we have to call them and ask them the common screening questions – do you have a cough, fever or shortness of breath?” said Toscano. “Even if the answers to those questions are negative, we still have to wear the personal protective equipment. We need to make sure that everyone involved is safe.”

Toscano has worked at WellSpan Health for four years but has spent the last 18 months as a home health nurse with WellSpan’s VNA Home Care agency. They include visiting nurses, aides, therapists and specialized caregivers who work with physicians to care for patients who don't need to be hospitalized but do need health care at home.

“A lot of the patients we help are just getting out of the hospital, and our goal is to give them the proper care at home in order to prevent re-hospitalization,” said Toscano. “We can help a wide range of patients, from those with long-term illnesses like congestive heart failure or COPD, to someone who just had a knee or hip replacement.”

“Our VNA team does tremendous work in making sure patients are given high-quality care in the comfort of their homes,” said Sandra Bennis, vice president of home care for WellSpan Health. “With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made it a top priority to continue providing this essential care while making sure we are taking every step possible to keep our staff and our patients safe.”

A plan in place to safely provide care for all

WellSpan’s home health nurses drive to the patient’s home to provide care. For the last few weeks, Toscano has been carrying some extra supplies in her car. Inside her trunk is a specialized care kit for COVID-19 patients.

"Whenever we have a COVID-19-positive patient, we bring in a care kit for that first visit,” said Toscano. “That includes a blood pressure machine, a stethoscope and a thermometer. It’s all disposable equipment that stays in that one patient’s home, so we don’t have to cross contaminate anything by taking that equipment from home to home.”

In preparing for the spread of COVID-19, WellSpan VNA Home Care created a special team of clinicians who can visit the homes of COVID-19-positive patients or patients who are awaiting COVID-19 testing results. Toscano volunteered to be a part of that team.

So far, she has cared for four COVID-19-positive patients in their homes. The WellSpan VNA team has cared for roughly three dozen COVID-19-positive patients overall.

The protocol for entering a COVID-19-positive patient’s home is very similar to what she now wears for her other in-home patient appointments. Toscano must wear a mask, face shield, gown and gloves. If a patient is using a nebulizer or anything that could produce a cough, Toscano will use an N-95 respirator instead of a surgical mask.

“Our leaders have done a great job of checking in on us to make sure that we have everything we need, like enough personal protective equipment,” said Toscano. “As the pandemic evolves, policies continue to change, and they have been on the ball with keeping us informed, and even just reaching out to make sure we’re all doing okay.”

There is a different routine for each piece of equipment Toscano wears, all with safety in mind. Gloves are disposed of. If a patient is COVID-19-positive, the gown is also thrown away. An N-95 respirator, however, can be used for a week in line with CDC guidance. The face shield must be disinfected after every patient.

Because Toscano may see both COVID-19-positive and non-COVID-19 patients in one day, she plans out her day accordingly, seeing any patients who are positive or may potentially have COVID-19 at the end of her scheduled day.

“That decreases the risk of any cross contamination,” said Toscano. “The safety of our patients is always our number one priority, and our entire team has taken a lot of time and effort to make sure we are doing everything we can to help our patients while keeping them safe.”

Continuing care for all patients in the midst of a pandemic

Toscano’s first patient on this day does not have COVID-19, but she has been screened. Mary Davis, 69, has been suffering from various infections for almost a year. Toscano has been working with Mary’s primary care physician and other specialists to coordinate her care and visits Mary’s Red Lion home twice a week to check up on her.

Mary suffers from dementia and relies on her husband, Jack, to keep up with her appointments. Having a WellSpan home health nurse visit their home directly helps them avoid frequent hospital trips.

“We have such a great relationship with Kelsey, and she takes excellent care of my wife,” said Jack. “The work these VNA nurses do is so important. I would be lost without being able to talk to someone else, to convey our concerns, and to have this team to look after my wife and find out what is going on. This has also allowed us to continue quarantining, while still making sure my wife gets the care she needs, so this service has been a real blessing.”

After drawing blood from Mary, taking her vitals, and attending to her needs, Toscano takes off the personal protective equipment, discarding her gown and gloves, gets back into her car, and drives to the next patient.

WellSpan VNA Home Care provides at-home health care assistance to patients who are disabled, or those battling chronic or terminal illnesses. WellSpan VNA Home Care sees an average of about 1,300 patients at any given time in York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Adams and Franklin counties. Toscano’s patients have been grateful to have her during this crisis.

“We just can’t thank her enough for what she has done for us,” said Jack. “My wife was a nurse for many years, so we understand the hard work they put in. The VNA nurses being able to come to our home and care for my wife during these times only increases the appreciation we have for them.”

For more information on WellSpan VNA Home Care, visit www.WellSpan.org/VNA. 

Central Pennsylvania families now have additional free resources to help strengthen their physical and mental resiliency. The resources are part of a new campaign intended to help residents in the region cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, WITF, Capital BlueCross and WellSpan Health have launched "Here With You," a special Transforming Health campaign that includes:

• Distribution of 3,600 family resource packs
• Free access to a mobile app to help manage mental wellness
• A 12-week community walking challenge
• A special Transforming Health Summer Read to focus on health and mental resiliency

Family Resource Packs

Over the next three weeks, seven school districts with active meal distribution efforts will give Transforming Health "Here With You" resource packs to families at their regular “grab and go” meal distribution sites. Each bag contains supplies and information for children to help spark creativity and encourage them to stay healthy at home this summer. Supplies include a range of tools that students may not have at home, such as colored pencils, pencil sharpener, ruler and a glue stick. Each pack contains an activity sheet, wellness information, and a first aid kit, lip balm or hand sanitizer. To inspire healthy activities as a family, children will receive a seed packet and planting instruction card.

West Perry School District in Perry County received 100 resource packs to distribute to its families last week. Nancy Snyder, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of West Perry School District, shared what the project means to the district. She said, "We so appreciate WITF’s efforts in helping families stay connected with learning during the COVID-19 school closure. They have assisted us in finding creative ways to engage children in meaningful educational experiences through television programming and by providing at-home learning tools. It is heartening to see the community come together on behalf of families during this unprecedented time."

Additionally, 3,500 "Here With You" family resource packs will be distributed among York City, Gettysburg, Lebanon, Lancaster City, Harrisburg and Chambersburg school districts. WITF Director of Education Debbie Riek added, "WITF is proud to work with Capital BlueCross and WellSpan Health to help meet the needs of families in our communities. Children of all ages need supplies to support their learning – even over the summer. We applaud children's commitment to do their best and are pleased to give them, and their families, tools to make it all a little bit easier."

Free Access to Mental Wellness App

The "Here With You" campaign also provides free registration for myStrength, a behavioral health mobile app offering support for managing depression, anxiety, stress, sleep and more. The myStrength app and website offer innovative self-care resources to improve a user’s positive outlook and help the user to overcome challenges. Users can track their health, enjoy interactive activities and inspirational videos.

Through "Here With You," free registration on myStrength is available by visiting TransformingHealth.org or downloading the myStrength mobile app through the App Store or Google Play. Sign up by entering the Access Code "TransformingHealth" – no spaces. It's private, secure and can be customized to user preferences.

"WellSpan Health is honored to support Transforming Health's "Here With You" initiative to promote physical and mental resiliency for our friends and neighbors in central Pennsylvania during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president & CEO, WellSpan Health. "WellSpan is committed to reimagining healthcare and inspiring health. It's why we're happy to work with WITF and Capital BlueCross as part of this campaign focused on building personal wellness and overall wellbeing."

Community Walking Challenge

The "Here With You" campaign's third and fourth initiatives will debut in the coming months. Later this month, look for a free, 12-week community walking challenge. The walking challenge promotes wellness by encouraging participants to walk in honor of those on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis: essential workers, healthcare staff, first responders and more. At the end of the twelve weeks, a $500 prize will be donated to a nonprofit of the individual winner's and team winner's choosing. Transforming Health hopes it is a fun and effective way to increase the community's physical activity levels while at the same time showing support for our amazing heroes on the frontline.

Summer Read

Lastly, the "Here With You" campaign will include the 8th annual "A Summer Read," a unique community partnership of WITF's Transforming Health, Aligning Forces for Quality- South Central PA and Central PA library systems with additional support from WellSpan Health and Capital BlueCross.

"We've all experienced so much stress this year," said Cara Williams Fry, WITF Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer. "This summer's selection will be an inspirational book with a special focus on behavioral health and mental resiliency. Working together, we'll help make both hard and digital copies of the Summer Read available to 10 library systems throughout the mid-state. Look for the official ’Summer Read’ announcement in early July."

The Transforming Health partners feel a duty to bring hope and resources to central Pennsylvanians.

"As a true community-minded health plan, and the only one headquartered in our region, we feel great responsibility to strengthen our communities and continue to improve the health and mental well-being of the people living here," said Todd A. Shamash, president and CEO of Capital BlueCross. "This collaboration between Capital BlueCross, WellSpan Health and WITF shows our collective commitment to these shared values – and brings resources to promote wellness and foster vital connections, especially during this great time of need."

Details for the Transforming Health "Here With You" campaign can be found at transforminghealth.org.

About WITF
WITF is a trusted provider of public media news and programming for approximately 2.3 million citizens in 19 counties of Central Pennsylvania, encouraging children and adults to Live Inspired®. A member station of PBS and NPR, WITF uses its broadcast and digital media to connect us to each other and to opportunities for lifelong learning. In 2012, WITF launched Transforming Health to address the rapid changes in the healthcare landscape. Transforming Health is about health care, its quality and its costs, but most importantly it's about maintaining health in the first place, through individual and collective action. WITF, in partnership with Capital BlueCross and WellSpan Health, are dedicated to empowering Central Pennsylvanians to make choices that lead to better personal health and a strengthened community. For more information, visit transforminghealth.org.

About Capital BlueCross
For more than 80 years, Capital BlueCross has served Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley by offering health insurance products, services and technology solutions that provide peace of mind to consumers and promote health and wellness for our members. The company delivers innovative solutions through a family of diversified businesses to create healthier lives and lower healthcare costs. Among these solutions are patient-focused care models, leading-edge data analytics and digital health technologies. Additionally, Capital Blue health and wellness centers provide in-person service and inspiration to help people reach their health goals. Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

About WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization is comprised of more than 1,600 employed physicians and advanced practice providers, a regional behavioral health organization, a home care organization, eight respected hospitals, approximately 20,000 employees, and more than 200 patient care locations. WellSpan is a charitable, mission-driven organization, committed to exceptional care for all, lifelong wellness and healthy communities.

In some ways, the work of the Housekeeping and Environmental Services‘ (EVS) staff members during the COVID-19 pandemic is no different than any other time. But in many ways, it’s not the same.

These dedicated teams of housekeeping staff clean and disinfect patient care rooms to ensure they are germ free. Hospital offices are kept clean. All floors continue to shine, windows continue to sparkle and all high touch surfaces are sanitized.

These teams also work the frontlines, donning appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe as they ensure all areas of the hospital are cleansed and remain as germ free as possible. They also find it necessary to clean certain areas of the hospitals several times each day.

“A lot more responsibility is on the staff in different ways,” said Brad Munn, manager of the Environmental Services at WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital.

This includes his team of at least 25 staff members spending more time to ensure they have the right tools and PPE to complete their jobs as safely and as thoroughly as possible, often taking more time to properly get the job done.

The role of the EVS team members

Housekeeping staff members remove trash from the buildings and clean patient rooms daily so they are as germ free as possible for patients. After patients are discharged, they clean, disinfect and prepare the rooms for future patients.

“We disinfect high touch surfaces throughout the facility to break the chain of infection, especially during the pandemic,” Munn said.

In addition, team members also clean restrooms, hallways, lounges, office areas, and all other patient service areas. All floors are kept clean and shiny. Team members deliver clean laundry to the hospital departments and retrieve soiled laundry for processing.

During the pandemic, the processes for how to appropriately clean a room with a COVID-19 positive or potential positive patient have changed and require staff to wear appropriate safety gear.

“Depending on what procedures were done in the room would determine which PPE we are required to wear,” said Scott Snyder, manager of Food and Nutrition Services and Environmental Services at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital.

With safety at the forefront, COVID-19 cleaning has specific requirements and often entails cleaning some areas more often during a 24-hour period, said Diane Frey, manager of EVS at WellSpan York Hospital. As a result, Frey’s supervisory team jumped in to educate everyone on these new requirements.

Communication is essential

During this unprecedented time, communication has been key to ensure staff members stay informed of all changes that may impact their housekeeping roles and what safety gear is necessary for them to properly do their jobs.

“In the beginning of the pandemic there was a lot of uncertainty,” Munn said, and added that there were a lot of changes occurring to ensure staff members were kept safe.

At WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, Snyder uses a huddle board to communicate changes with his team of 60 EVS employees.

“Some of the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seemed to change hourly,” Snyder said, and added that this caused confusion for him and his staff. As a result, he created a designated area that staff may view all of the new changes that need to be implemented.

Working as one during these challenging times

During the pandemic, housekeeping staff members are busier than ever.

“We are normally busy on a non-COVID-19 day, but during this challenging time, going the extra mile is needed,” said Peggy Sensenig, manager, Housekeeping at WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital. “We work harder to make sure we are hitting every requirement and then some.”

Sensenig added that her team of 16 housekeepers often lean on one another and strive to be as positive as much as possible.

At WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, following the standard work is key to the safety, quality and productivity for the busy staff of 25, said Dan Laird, manager of Housekeeping.

His team members are more aware of the potential hazards they face daily. By following the guidelines that are communicated from the health system, they can ensure that they are cleaning and disinfecting areas properly, he added.

“I can’t speak enough about having solid processes in place and the benefits of having a great team of individuals to work with,” Laird said. “Our folks work hard to accomplish the goals and maintain the values WellSpan has in place.”

Laird’s housekeeping staff has taken their new work standards and challenges in stride.

Although the new standard work ensures proper cleaning of COVID-19 rooms, Carol Scott, lead housekeeper, said the pandemic hasn’t changed the way in which she views her role.

“Housekeeping is infection control regardless if it’s before the pandemic or now,” she said.

Barbara Milligan said thoroughness is the key. “You have to make sure we do everything correctly so you and the next patient in that room don’t get COVID-19,” she said.

At WellSpan York Hospital, Frey said she is proud of her dedicated and flexible staff, especially during the crisis. With the EVS department of 182 members, work attendance during this pandemic has been phenomenal.

In addition, her staff includes several redeployed team members from other areas of the health system who have since learned the work and are just as dedicated to their new roles.

“They are additional support for us and help boost the ability to clean more often,” Frey said.

Dan Farner, director of Safety and Environment of Care at WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital, is grateful to all WellSpan EVS staff members for their work and credits them for helping to lessen the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The work they do each day is very important to the safety and health of our patients, visitors and staff,” Farner said.

As the list of precious lives lost to racial injustice continues to grow, so does our collective pain, frustration and anger.

At WellSpan, we stand in solidarity with our friends and neighbors in strongly denouncing and condemning the pervasive racism, bigotry, inequities and injustice that persist in our country, in our institutions, and in our communities. As a health system, we see every day the impact inequities in our society have on the health and wellbeing of our community members – from lack of access to affordable housing, food, and transportation to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on black and brown people in our region.

As a nation, we must do better. These injustices must not continue.

Unity is our path forward. Only when we come together will we eliminate the discrimination, bias and tragedy stemming from racism. We at WellSpan Health are committed to working together, with our community partners, to address these issues and to make Central Pennsylvania a place where everyone can live healthier and more vibrant lives.

These are troubling times, to be sure. As our community grapples with these difficult but critically important issues, we also continue to endure the stress, anxiety and worry of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Remember that you are not alone. We are here to help. If you are struggling with stress, anxiety or depression, call our WellSpan Philhaven behavioral health experts who are available 24/7 by calling toll-free at 1-800-932-0359 or visit WellSpanPhilhaven.org for additional resources and information.

In these difficult moments, it's important that we take care of ourselves – and one another. We must lean into the power of conversation, empathy and humanity. And we must listen, believe and learn – together. WellSpan stands as a trusted partner in this important endeavor – committed to making a difference in our communities.

This work will require each of us and all of us. Let's begin with urgency now.

- Roxanna Gapstur, PhD, RN, President and CEO, WellSpan Health

Our patient’s health and safety are top priorities as we continue to address the COVID-19 pandemic in our communities. In response, WellSpan Health has developed protocols to maximize the health and safety of our patients, visitors and staff from the spread of COVID-19. As we thoughtfully resume certain services that our patients need, we have made changes to our visitation policies and enhanced safety protocols to protect you and others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WellSpan Health facilities now permit one patient support person for hospital inpatient visits, Emergency Department patients, and those patients at outpatient locations. Additionally, all patients, support persons and approved visitors over the age of two coming into our facilities must have a face covering regardless of COVID-19 status. If a support person refuses to wear a mask, they will not be admitted into the facility. Hospital staff will use clinical judgment when issues of patient safety prevent the use of a mask.

The full visitation policy can be found on this page, or by visiting www.WellSpan.org/Coronavirus and clicking on WellSpan Visitation Restrictions.

We commit to providing our patients safe, timely, and appropriate care in all of our facilities. We are constantly working to ensure we have adequate personal protective equipment and sanitizing supplies to meet our care needs for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients and procedures. We are taking these steps to ensure a safe environment for all.

Election Day is one of Gilson Kendall's favorite days of the year.

He's typically one of the first to arrive at the poll location on Treher Road in Fayetteville, where he often volunteers. Even when the 79-year-old Fayetteville resident was hospitalized Sunday night due to complications with his blood pressure, voting was still top of mind.

"One of the first things I thought of when I was in the ambulance was that I wouldn't be able to vote. It kind of upset me," Kendall recalled.

Since he wasn't able to be at the poll Tuesday morning, staff at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital brought a ballot for the primary election to him.

"I was really excited when I found out I could vote," Kendall said.

It has become tradition at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital for staff to go door-to-door on Election Day asking patients if they would like to cast their vote. If they do, initial paperwork is filled out and notarized. It is then taken to the Franklin County Courthouse where emergency ballots are issued for patients.

According to Barbara Selman, patient relations coordinator at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, only a handful of patients took advantage of the voting opportunity Tuesday as many Pennsylvanians already used mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania's primary election had been scheduled for April 28.

"Voting is something that is a tradition, a right, and gives patients some sense of normalcy and control," Selman said. Kendall immediately shared the news via phone with some of his fellow volunteers at the polling location where he normally puts the first pot of coffee on to start a long day.

He is also known to remind people in his Fayetteville circles, "Don't forget to vote."

During the 10-plus years that Kendall has served volunteering at polls, he says the most gratifying thing for him is when he sees younger people come out and vote.

"It really brings joy to my heart," said Kendall.

For a Navy veteran who has always taken great pride in his country, given the chance to vote Tuesday was a huge boost to his spirits.

"This meant a lot to me. I can't give enough praise for the care I am getting here," Kendall said.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Employee Health and Safety team at WellSpan Health have been working diligently to ensure the safety and health of our staff. Worker’s Compensation Case Manager and registered nurse Lauren Ackley has been vital to this team that has been behind-the-scenes of the front lines.

At the beginning of COVID-19, Employee Health and Safety opened a call line for all WellSpan Health employees in order to help navigate the questions surrounding the crisis. This included managing those employees that have been furloughed for testing, answering questions about testing in general, and referring to the mental health resources that the system had put in place.

“The line was manned by one of our staff members and redeployed nursing staff 24-hours a day, 7 days a week,” Lauren said. “When the call line went live, I answered all the after-hours calls and weekend calls until the call volume became too great for one person to answer. There were days in March and April when we had over 500 calls a day from employees. It was very intense.”

Lauren’s first contact with employees was to walk them through the COVID-19 testing process, and if necessary, the furlough process. If an employee tested positive, Lauren’s team helped them obtain a leave of absence and finalize a return to work policy.

In the span of just over two months, Lauren completed this process for all 82 COVID-19 positive employees system-wide.

“Some days it is really overwhelming,” Lauren said. “We talk with our employees and reassure them, and we want to make sure that they are OK. We are going through this right there with them.”

In addition to helping positive COVID-19 employees, Lauren and her team also has been testing new personal protective equipment (PPE) coming in and ensuring those that need to be FIT tested are. WellSpan Employee Health and Safety has implemented virtual new hire visits and worked with the MacGyver team to enact new ideas for helping and protecting our staff.

“It’s been wonderful having our profession highlighted in such a positive way,” Lauren stated. “Nursing is hard work physically, mentally and emotionally. I think we have been blessed to live in a community that truly appreciates and supports its healthcare workers.”

“The Year of the Nurse is recognition of all nurses and shows an awareness that nurses are in critical demand,” she said. “This need is recognized on a global level. I think the COVID crisis highlights the importance of nursing as a profession, but also the importance of nurses as individuals.”

WellSpan York Hospital reached a significant milestone, discharging the 100th COVID-19-recovered patient from the hospital since the pandemic began.

Martha Carbajal, from Adams County, was admitted into WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital in late April with COVID-19 symptoms, and was then airlifted to WellSpan York Hospital where she spent two weeks on a ventilator fighting the virus. 

"It was very, very hard," she explained. "But it's the first time I've been sick, because all of my life I've been very healthy."

"When she started going downhill and had to go on a ventilator, we never lost hope," explained her daughter Jannie. "I knew she was strong and that she was going to make it. But it was hard. It was really hard."

Following 30 days apart due to visitor restrictions that limited interactions to Zoom sessions, the two shared a big hug when Jannie finally arrived to pick up her mother at the hospital.

"I cannot explain how happy I feel, and blessed, because we believe this was a miracle," explained Jannie. "You can be good one day and the day after you might not be in this world. So you appreciate life better now."

Carbajal doesn't remember much from her COVID-19 experience, but she does remember the care she received when she started to recover.

"All the nurses here are very, very good persons," she explained. "They are like angels. They care for every people with love."

"I was telling every single doctor that she was an amazing woman and we still have so many memories to build together," explained Jannie. "And we are also going to continue to pray for every person getting sick, because it's not easy. But yes, they can get better. Just like my mom did."

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Applications are now being accepted for the Kristin Runyon Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded yearly to area nursing students.

This year, three scholarships of $3,000 will be awarded to students currently enrolled in a full-time registered nurse education program.

Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.8 and be residents of Franklin County or the surrounding communities serviced by WellSpan Health-Franklin & Cumberland County. Preference will be given to students who have completed at least one clinical rotation in the nursing core curriculum. 

WellSpan Health announces today that Women’s Health Care Group and its respected, trusted and experienced physicians and staff will join WellSpan Health as WellSpan OB/GYN – Tri Hill on Sunday, July 19.

The practice is located at 1693 South Queen St., in York. It is served by 11 providers, including four physicians, three certified nurse midwives and four certified nurse practitioners.

"Joining WellSpan Health, with their vast resources in the region, is going to open up even more opportunities for us to serve our patients’ healthcare needs," said John Lawrence, M.D., a renowned urogynecologist with the practice. "The Women's Health Care Group is bolstered by a team of highly trained physicians that have earned the trust of the community, and we are excited to now be backed by south central Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive health system."

"WellSpan and Women's Health Care Group have a long history of collaboration for caring for women in our community, and this will certainly enhance those efforts," said Megan Lecas, senior vice president for service lines, WellSpan Health. "We are excited to bring all of the benefits that WellSpan has to offer to the patients of Women’s Health Care Group."

As part of WellSpan, patients of Women’s Health Care Group will have access to the MyWellSpan patient portal, which makes it easier to manage your health online. Moms-to-be can utilize BabyScripts, a pregnancy tracking app that can help monitor mother and her baby between appointments, track progress, and have access to care teams when needed most.

The practice will be open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., Tuesday; and 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday. In addition to the OB/GYN services offered by Women’s Health Care Group, Dr. Lawrence is a urogynecologist with expertise in urinary incontinence, pelvic prolapse and robotic surgeries.

The women's health team at WellSpan offers leading scientific, technologic and procedural advances in women’s care. The Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at WellSpan York Hospital provides the most comprehensive medical services for premature and critically ill newborns in southcentral Pennsylvania. For more information on all of the women's health services provided by WellSpan, visit WellSpan's Women's Health services.

WellSpan Health has named Victoria Diamond as new senior vice president for the central region of WellSpan Health. She will also serve as president of WellSpan York Hospital.

Diamond, who has been with WellSpan since 2015, previously served as senior vice president for the health system and president of WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital, where she led strategic and operational efforts to advance the hospital, including achieving Magnet accreditation. Diamond also served as vice president of ancillary services, where she led the development and opening of the WellSpan Health and Surgery Center in Hanover, and also redesigned WellSpan’s employer service offerings, Well at Work.

"Vicky’s experience developing solutions to complex healthcare issue will undoubtedly help us advance our WellSpan vision and strategy," said John Porter, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WellSpan Health. "She embodies the WellSpan Working As One spirit and we’re excited to welcome her back to WellSpan York Hospital, where her journey with us began."

In her new role, Diamond will serve as the leader of WellSpan York Hospital, focusing on service and operational excellence, quality, safety and engagement. She will also oversee WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital and Apple Hill Medical Center.

"I am so proud of the dedication and hard work of this team to provide quality, value-based health care to our patients," said Diamond. "I am thrilled to lead such an exceptional group of healthcare professionals at WellSpan York Hospital and the entire York region, as we remain committed to being a trusted partner in this community."

Diamond previously served as chief operating officer of WellSpan York Hospital. Previously, she held several leadership positions at NYU Medical Center in New York and UMass Memorial Health Care System in Massachusetts.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from City University of New York, Queens College and her master’s degree in public administration from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. Additionally, Diamond is a Lean-certified Green Belt, as well as a Patient Safety Officer, as certified by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement.

Diamond is also an active member of her community, previously serving on nonprofit boards, including American Red Cross – PA Chapter and United Way of York County.

WellSpan Medical Group physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, staff and medical students showed solidarity for their colleagues, patients and community members by uniting and kneeling in the grassroots movement #WhiteCoatsForBlackLives. WellSpan witnesses the impact inequality can have on the health and wellbeing of community members – from lack of access to affordable housing, food, and transportation to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on black and brown people in our region.

"The sadness and frustration of racial injustice is felt by healthcare workers throughout WellSpan, but none more than the pain, anger and exhaustion felt by our black and brown physicians, advanced practice physicians, and team members," said Karen Jones, MD, senior vice president, WellSpan Health, and president, WellSpan Medical Group. "Today's demonstration was a symbol of unity – that we acknowledge the ever-growing list of senseless, racially motivated deaths in our country and we are committed to working together to eradicate the systemic inequities present in healthcare."

The WellSpan Medical Group is made up of a diverse group of caregivers that share equitably in the singular mission of providing the safest, highest-quality care to every member of our communities across central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.

Inspired by the coordinated kneeling demonstrations taking place in healthcare settings across the country today, members of WellSpan’s Medical Group posted photos on the company’s internal social media platform to show their support of eliminating discrimination, bias and tragedy stemming from racism.

Among the many who participated in the demonstration was WellSpan physiatrist Deborah Bernal, M.D.

"As an African American female physician, I am concerned with the wellbeing of the entire community, and in particular the racial disparities in medicine, medical care and the social determinants of health," said Bernal. "I am proud of my 12-year affiliation with WellSpan Medical Group, as well as the development of the Office of Talent Acquisition, Diversity & Inclusion that has promoted and supported a diverse workforce while highlighting cultural competence for diversity within the entire organization."

WellSpan stands united in the calls to end racial injustice in all forms. Read a statement from our President and CEO Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N.

Traumatic injuries and chronic conditions requiring orthopedic interventions couldn’t simply wait out the storm brought on by COVID-19.

Knowing that important care is “top priority” for these patients, Michael Day, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, and his team at WellSpan Orthopedics in Chambersburg reimagined their approach through telemedicine and installed a new safety plan for office visits.

“The key for all industries including ours is adaptability,” said Day.

“Often people will sustain a traumatic injury that is not serious enough for them to be hospitalized but does need to be dealt with in a time sensitive manner and therefore prompt evaluation is beneficial to them.”

Day continued prompt care by performing dozens of video visits over the past few months to allow patients the option to stay home through COVID-19 restrictions.

Meanwhile, the WellSpan Orthopedics location in Chambersburg looks and performs a little differently these days.

Patient safety comes first

To ensure safety at WellSpan Orthopedics, and all WellSpan locations, safety guidelines have been developed and implemented, requiring staff and patients to wear masks in the office, and mandatory screenings at the entrances of every building.

Additionally, every attempt is made to minimize time spent in the waiting room where chairs are positioned six feet apart and patients are roomed shortly after checking in. Patients also have the option to wait in their cars instead of in a waiting room.

Some ambulatory medical practices, including WellSpan Orthopedics are also extending their services to help patients who might otherwise have started their care journey in an emergency room. By routing patients with urgent orthopedic needs to the office, it reduced traffic and volume at other locations.

Quality orthopedic care continues through COVID-19

While Shippensburg resident Stephen Wilkinson did visit the ER for an injury he sustained to his knee, he experienced quality office care followed by a successful surgery performed by Day during the pandemic.

On the morning of May 18, Wilkinson phoned WellSpan Orthopedics and was seen in the office that same afternoon.

“They heard my sense of urgency and pain,” said Wilkinson, who underwent an MRI that verified the source of his pain and led to surgery to repair his right knee meniscus a few days later at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital.

“The surgical prep team was awesome. They were efficient, knowledgeable, caring and made me feel very comfortable prior to surgery. Dr. Day’s staff and the hospital staff did an outstanding job.”

Wilkinson returned to WellSpan Orthopedics on June 3 for his first post-op visit and continues to recover from surgery.

“I find it very rewarding to see a patient return to function and resume the activities they enjoy,” Day said.

Acclimating to moratorium on some surgeries, local sports

While patients may be experiencing a different health care atmosphere, things have also changed for providers including Day.

The sports medicine side of his practice is different since spring sports were cancelled due to COVID-19, and there is still uncertainty whether Day and his team will be roaming the sidelines of fall sporting events since decisions on whether or when play will begin haven't been made yet.

Since that is a big part of Day’s practice, and there have been less sports-related injuries, he’s been focusing more on general orthopedics through the interim.

COVID-19 restrictions also postponed all elective surgeries for a period of time, but in line with guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, WellSpan Health continues to thoughtfully plan a regional, phased approach which has already led to resuming many services that patients need.

Pre-op procedure now includes routine testing for COVID-19 and the hospital has many other rigorous precautions in place to maintain a safe environment.

Our Commitment to Safety during COVID-19

More information on elective surgeries and procedures

Walking to the moon and back sounds like an ambitious if not insurmountable task. Transforming Health wants the community to collectively prove that it can be done by participating in the fun-filled "To the Moon & Back Walking Challenge."

Together as partners of the Transforming Health "Here With You" campaign, WITF, Capital BlueCross and WellSpan Health invite everyone in central Pennsylvania to join the free, 12-week initiative. The walking challenge promotes wellness by encouraging participants to walk in honor of those on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis: essential workers, healthcare staff, first responders and others. Each week, a participant will be randomly selected to receive a prize package. At the end of the challenge, a $500 donation will be made to two nonprofits chosen by the individual and team winners.

"So, how does one walk to the moon and back? Well, it is 238,900 miles to the moon. Together, we can get there and back with a combined 1,008,923,520 steps," explained Heather Woolridge, WITF’s director of community engagement.

Over a billion steps is a hefty goal, even as a community. To reach the goal, it is estimated that it will take 1,750 participants walking nearly 7,000 steps a day over the 12 weeks of the campaign. Participants are encouraged to complete at least 7,000 to 8,000 steps per day to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.

"'To the Moon & Back' offers a simple and fun way for people of all ages to get outside and exercise, improve cardiac health, and alleviate some of the stress and fatigue that we've all faced over the past four months," said Maria Royce, senior vice president strategy & market development, and chief strategy officer for WellSpan Health.

"We're happy to be a part of this community-wide effort to promote health and wellness," said Karie Batzler, Capital BlueCross' director of behavioral health. "Walking not only benefits physical health, it's a real boost to mental well-being. It's a natural mood lifter, and summer is a perfect time to get out and walk, whether you're starting an exercise routine, building on one, or just getting outside for a relaxing stroll."

The "To the Moon & Back Walking Challenge" begins Monday, June 15, and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 7. Participants may register as individuals or as part of a team. Registration is open now at transforminghealth.org.

About WITF
WITF is a trusted provider of public media news and programming for approximately 2.3 million citizens in 19 counties of Central Pennsylvania, encouraging children and adults to Live Inspired®.? A member station of PBS and NPR, WITF uses its broadcast and digital media to connect us to each other and to opportunities for lifelong learning. In 2012, WITF launched Transforming Health to address the rapid changes in the healthcare landscape. Transforming Health?is about health care, its quality and its costs, but most importantly it's about maintaining health in the first place, through individual and collective action. WITF, in partnership with Capital BlueCross and WellSpan Health, are dedicated to empowering Central Pennsylvanians to make choices that lead to better personal health and a strengthened community. For more information, visit transforminghealth.org.

About Capital BlueCross
For more than 80 years, Capital BlueCross has served Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley by offering health insurance products, services and technology solutions that provide peace of mind to consumers and promote health and wellness for our members. The company delivers innovative solutions through a family of diversified businesses to create healthier lives and lower healthcare costs. Among these solutions are patient-focused care models, leading-edge data analytics and digital health technologies. Additionally, Capital Blue health and wellness centers provide in-person service and inspiration to help people reach their health goals. Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

About WellSpan Health
WellSpan Health is an integrated health system that serves the communities of central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. The organization is comprised of more than 1,600 employed physicians and advanced practice providers, a regional behavioral health organization, a home care organization, eight respected hospitals, approximately 20,000 employees, and more than 200 patient care locations. WellSpan is a charitable, mission-driven organization, committed to exceptional care for all, lifelong wellness and healthy communities.

WellSpan Health has named P. Geoffrey Nicholson, Jr., M.D. as senior vice president for population health, effective June 6.

Nicholson, who has been with WellSpan for 18 years, previously served as vice president and chief medical information officer (CMIO) since 2011. Prior to that, he served as hospital informatics specialist and as a hospitalist physician at WellSpan.

"Geoff's leadership and innovation for nearly 20 years at WellSpan has fortified this organization as a trusted partner in our communities," said John Porter, executive vice president and chief operating office, WellSpan Health. "He has cultivated a stronger, more efficient health system and will apply his experience to enhancing data-driven approaches for healthier outcomes."

As CMIO for WellSpan, Nicholson served as lead executive on Project One, a multi-year project to integrate and unify the organization’s electronic health systems to one common platform. He also led WellSpan's achievement of recognition for adoption and utilization of electronic health records - a designation reached by just five percent of hospitals and health systems nationally.

As senior vice president for population health at WellSpan, he will be responsible for the development, planning and execution of WellSpan’s value-based strategy across the organization. He will also provide physician leadership for the WellSpan Provider Network and WellSpan Population Health Services Board of Directors. He will oversee WellSpan’s efforts in the areas of overall population health, risk contracting, case management and continuing care.

"The commitment to excellence shown by our team here at WellSpan is second to none, and it is why I am proud to consider this place my home," said Nicholson. "Serving this community is so important to every single person I work with, as we know our neighbors entrust their health and well-being in WellSpan."

Nicholson earned his medical degree from the University of Maryland and his bachelor's degree from Lock Haven University. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at WellSpan York Hospital. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Preventative Medicine with a subspecialty in Clinical Informatics. He completed Lean for Healthcare training at the University of Tennessee.

Nicholson assumes the role vacated by Charles H. Chodroff, M.D., who retired in April 2020.

In response to changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, WellSpan Health doctors and advanced practice providers are offering alternative care options that don’t require patients to visit a care site in person. WellSpan is harnessing the power of technology to bring care directly to our patients through digital platforms and telemedicine.

Digital visits can be used for primary and urgent care appointments, as well as for specialty care, including behavioral health and physical therapy appointments.

Video visits surge

More than 300 WellSpan practices now provide care through video visits. In 2019, we completed 1,900 video visits over the course of the year. In April 2020, we averaged 1,900 video visits each day.

Video visits aren’t only being utilized by our younger patients—20 percent are scheduled by patients older than 60. In fact, the age of patients for whom video visits are being used ranges from newborns to the elderly.

Recently, WellSpan has begun using video visits for inpatient care, allowing doctors to see patients in the hospital without needing to travel or use PPE as they move between patient rooms.

In addition to video visits, some appointments can be conducted by telephone. Lately, WellSpan has averaged 9,000 such calls per week.

WellSpan was one of the first health systems in the country to give patients access to an interactive tool that allows those who have been tested for COVID-19 to track their symptoms. MyWellSpan Care Companion (launched on April 1) has given personalized care to hundreds of patients who are actively tracking their symptoms using this feature on our app.

When to use e-visits

For less complex conditions, patients can take advantage of e-visits with WellSpan providers. For this type of digital appointment, a patient answers questions about symptoms via email and can attach a photo if needed. Patients can expect a response within one business day.

WellSpan continues to expand its other digital offerings, including Online Urgent Care and Madeline, an online pharmacy and prescription service for women to receive birth control.

Having already launched many digital care options prior to the pandemic, WellSpan had the framework to expand those innovations quickly and scale them up to handle the rapidly growing need for tools that would allow patients to be cared for in the comfort and safety of their homes.