The LG Experience

In May, Lancaster General Hospital introduced the Decedent Care Department to provide guidance and support for families who have lost a loved one. The new department also partners with clinicians and community services to ensure a seamless transition of care.

Since our very first days, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has recognized the potential to achieve far greater community impact by working together.

In 2018, the LG Health Human Resources team hired more than 2,500 employees. However, before new employees clip on their badges for the first time, the HR Recruitment team invests a significant amount of time identifying quality candidates, coordinating interviews, and managing the onboarding process after the candidate accepts the offer.

In 2018, with community partners, Lancaster Joining Forces achieved one of our primary goals, which was to reduce deaths from opioids and heroin,” said Alice Yoder, executive director of Community Health.

LG Health is dedicated to supporting employees as they live their legacy and to being an organization where employees can succeed together, by building and recognizing careers, not just jobs.

As I reflect on the recently ended fiscal year 2019 at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, the word “extraordinary” comes to mind.

In 2016, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health launched our efforts to create a culture of Continuous Improvement. Over the past three years, we have made considerable progress – and implemented an amazing 23,378 of your ideas.

The annual Penn Medicine Quality and Patient Safety Awards provide an opportunity for teams throughout the health system to showcase leadership and innovation activities that contribute to high-quality clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, patient safety and cost efficiency.

In April, as part of National Donate Life Month, LG Health announced that Lancaster General Hospital will fly a Donate Life flag to honor an organ donation taking place at the hospital.

Each year as winter gives way to spring, first-year residents throughout the country also look forward to a new season.

In 2018, 11 LG Health employees and Medical & Dental Staff members were awarded Penn Medicine CAREs Grants to benefit community outreach activities.

In 2016, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health launched our efforts to create a culture of Continuous Improvement. Over the past three years, we have made considerable progress – and implemented an amazing 23,378 of your ideas.

The annual Penn Medicine Quality and Patient Safety Awards provide an opportunity for teams throughout the health system to showcase leadership and innovation activities that contribute to high-quality clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, patient safety and cost efficiency.

More than 114,000 people nationwide are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

Each year as winter gives way to spring, first-year residents throughout the country also look forward to a new season.

For many LG Health employees, caring for others extends beyond their work and into the communities they care about or call home.

At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, delivering high-quality care on a consistent and reliable basis is our No. 1 priority.

Nearly one in every five people, or 43.8 million American adults, has a diagnosable mental health condition. In Lancaster County, more than 30,000 adults have been diagnosed with a condition, about the same as those diagnosed with diabetes.

In 1903, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health launched the nurses’ training school to help fulfill the hospital’s demand for professionally trained staff.

There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to encourage participation in an event. That was the mindset of Officer Natalie Littlehale of the Manheim Township Police Department when she contacted neighboring police departments about getting involved in the “We Bleed Blue” blood donation challenge.

When Tonya was admitted to Lancaster General Hospital in January 2012, her chances of survival were slim. Tonya had suffered from a heroin overdose on New Year’s Eve, which left her in a coma lasting 30 days.

For more than 125 years, improving the health and well-being of the community has been at the core of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s mission. LG Health works to identify and address health priorities within Lancaster County through partnerships with community organizations.

As you read in the above article, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health is proud to receive the 2018 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service.

LG Health’s Customer Engagement Team recognized teams that exceeded their Likelihood to Recommend goal for five consecutive months in fiscal year 2018. Recent honorees included Family Medicine County Line, Family Medicine Crooked Oak and Hematology & Medical Oncology.

Lancaster General Hospital’s commitment to raising awareness about organ and tissue donation helped the hospital earn a Titanium level designation from the HAP Donate Life Challenge.

LG Health provides safe, competent and cost-free language interpretation services to patients and family members who are considered Limited English Proficient through its Linguistic Employee Advancement Program (LEAP).

Not even a visit to the hospital was going to stop Dale Pasker from marrying the love of his life. After 63 years of romance, Pasker and his bride, Patricia, officially tied the knot Dec. 4, in his 5 North room at Lancaster General Hospital.

In today’s increasingly competitive health-care market, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health recognizes that patients can choose where to go for care.

Studies show that 30 to 40 percent of prescriptions called into a pharmacy are either never picked up by the patient, or the patient never starts the medication.

In October 2018, Lancaster General Hospital became the first and only hospital in Lancaster County to provide mechanical thrombectomy, an advanced stroke treatment that involves physically removing large blood clots from the brain.

When it comes to choosing a career, not many are more rewarding than health care. However, sometimes the physical and emotional stresses of the job can have a negative effect on an individual’s well-being.

In the early hours of the new year, Dede Dovey and her husband, Wilfrid Boko, welcomed the first baby born at Women & Babies Hospital in 2019.

In alignment with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Safe to Sleep” campaign and sleep environment guidelines, the NICU enhanced current safe-sleep techniques, including more conversation regarding safe-sleep practices and the replacement of traditional receiving blankets with sleep sacks, which first started in January 2018.

The recently opened Center for Health Care Innovation at LG Health (CHCI-LGH) hosted its first workshop, “Innovation on the Road,” Dec. 7, at Lancaster General Hospital.

Traditions are an important part of the culture of LG Health. From delivering exceptional patient care each day to celebrating accomplishments and giving back, LG Health employees continue to live their legacy within the organization. This holiday season was no exception.

On Nov. 15, Lancaster General Hospital welcomed a meaningful addition, a large Healer’s Touch sculpture, which greets employees and guests alike as they pass through one of the hospital’s main corridors.

Each year, the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania honor exceptional nurses practicing in the Commonwealth.

Emergency Department (ED), which is designed to handle 85,000 cases, sees more than 118,000 patients annually. These numbers, which can lead to longer wait times in the ED, can adversely impact the patient experience and employee satisfaction.

For 10 years, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has been proud to partner with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13, and the Lancaster County Office of Behavioral Health/Developmental Services in Project SEARCH, a workplace immersion program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

According to the American Diabetes Association, every year 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes and a total of 3.5 million Pennsylvanians have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, every year 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes and a total of 3.5 million Pennsylvanians have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

Convenience and access are among the top reasons patients turn to urgent care. In an effort to meet increased demand for these services in the northern part of Lancaster County, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health opened its sixth urgent care in Lititz on Aug. 29.

The 2018 LG Health United Way campaign took place Sept. 10 to Oct. 12. Together, employees exceeded the goal by donating $204,435.

Each year Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health employees celebrate Penn Medicine Experience Week as a way to recognize the life-changing work they do every day.

Imaging techniques are often used as the first step to diagnose and treat a variety of diseases, minimizing the need for invasive procedures.

Care Connections is a community-care team providing a temporary primary-care medical home for high-risk patients.

I am pleased to announce the winners of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s 2018 CEO Award. This annual award, which is LG Health’s highest institutional honor, recognizes teams for extraordinary, measurable value in support of our Mission and Vision.

Thousands of community members celebrated the 125th anniversary of Lancaster General Hospital during a free, family-friendly event at the Suburban Pavilion Sept. 22.

These little-known facts will surprise you!

Take a look at Lancaster General Hospital's past and present.

Throughout the year, I have enjoyed sharing my reflections on the 125th anniversary of Lancaster General Hospital. To honor this milestone, I asked some key community leaders for their perspectives on LG Health’s role in our community.

In a joint partnership, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health and Universal Health Services formally opened the new Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital in July, expanding regional inpatient and outpatient mental-health access.

For more than 25 years, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has partnered with the School District of Lancaster to offer school-based health centers, providing a convenient location for students to access medical care.

In July, Jan Bergen, president & CEO of LG Health; Alex Jorgensen, chief Human Resources officer; and Kay Brady, VP, Human Resources recognized LG Health leaders for their successful efforts to make LG Health an engaging place to work. The more than 40 leaders recognized at the celebratory luncheon had 2017 employee engagement survey results within the 90th percentile.

As the demand for exceptional cancer care close to home increased, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health considered opportunities for growth that would allow the health system to provide outpatient cancer services under one roof.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health’s recycling program advances our mission of advancing the health and wellbeing of our community by reducing waste and protecting the environment.

The Nursing Clinical Excellence Awards celebrate nurses at each Penn Medicine entity in five key areas: community, patient and family relationships; research and innovation; exemplary practice; leadership; and transformational leadership.

Each spring, the three-year program welcomes up to 13 new residents from across the country. “The incoming 2018 class is the 13th year in a row that LG Health has completely filled the class,” said Stephen D. Ratcliffe, MD, Family Medicine Residency Program director.

As the demand for exceptional cancer care close to home increased, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health considered opportunities for growth that would allow the health system to provide outpatient cancer services under one roof.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health announced a $500,000 gift from GIANT Food Stores to support the new Pediatric Inpatient Center at Lancaster General Hospital.

Innovations in pain management and mental health will be the first technologies tested in the newly opened Smart Health Innovation Lab.

Each year, the Helping Hands/Helping Hands Abroad program invites employees and Medical & Dental Staff members to apply for grants on behalf of a not-for-profit organization for which they volunteer.

In 1893, patient care at Lancaster General Hospital was very different from what patients experience today. In the last decade of the 19th century, hospitals were uncommon, causing a need for “Conduct and Duties of Patients” to be posted to allow the clinical staff to do their jobs without distraction.

To anyone outside of the clinical setting, a high-five is a lighthearted way to acknowledge an accomplishment. Within the walls of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health facilities, a high-five is the first step to stopping health-care-associated infections.

Throughout the month of May, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health hosted multiple educational opportunities for community members on "Time is Brain," an effective first step in stroke response, and “Stop the Bleed,” techniques used to reduce and stop blood loss.

Lancaster General Hospital’s new Frederick Building is designed to enhance the patient experience. The building’s first nursing unit, 8 Frederick, opened in April.

Mammograms can be an intimidating experience for women. The team at the Suzanne H. Arnold Center for Breast Health is continually working to help patients have the best possible experience before, during and after an appointment.

When Lancaster General Hospital was founded, its mission was not only to serve as a place for patient care but to provide education for future nurses. Though nursing trainees were on LGH’s staff when the hospital opened in 1893, a formal nursing school was not officially established until 1903.

Connie Metzler, MSN, RN, program coordinator at LG Health Physicians Alzheimer's & Memory Care, (second from right) was named a Central Penn Parent magazine 2018 Healthcare Heroes Award finalist in the nursing category.

In the fall of 2015, the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health store room temporarily moved its operations to the Suburban Pavilion to accommodate construction of the Frederick Building. With the construction of the Frederick Building complete, the store room could move back to its original location – 7,500 square feet in the basement of Lancaster General Hospital.

Health care has reached a pivotal moment, renowned surgeon, author, and speaker Atul Gawande, MD, told a Lancaster audience on April 5.

Many blockbuster movies feature superheroes – but not all superheroes wear capes. Some carry a card, an organ donation card. Every April 13, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health team members gather to honor organ and tissue donors by wearing blue and green and raising a special “Donate Life” flag at the Lancaster General Hospital flag pole.

In January 1938, Lancaster General Hospital purchased its negative pressure ventilator, commonly referred to as the iron lung for $1,350, through a gift from an anonymous donor. That same year, the average annual income was approximately $1,700.

Cancer survivor and wood-turner Doug Reesor surprised members of his cancer and creative writing class with pens he crafted from turned maple burl. Maple burl is an imperfection, or “cancer,” on trees – Doug’s message being that out of the ugliness of cancer can come beauty.

Burnout is so prevalent in health care that some researchers call it an “occupational hazard.” It’s easy to understand why. While our work as health care professionals is important and incredibly fulfilling, it also can lead to significant physical and emotional stress.

For a group of students at Ross Elementary School in Lancaster City, the daily commute to school is now a walk of fame, thanks to a recent art project organized by Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

In March, team members from Family Medicine Twin Rose volunteered their time to support the Plant the Seed of Learning program at the Columbia Outpatient Center.

It’s been a little over a year since Colleen Levitan, LPN, CC, first started her weight loss journey. When the nursing supervisor at Family Medicine Mount Joy decided she wanted to be a health coach, she first decided to help coach herself to a healthier weight.

In May 1916, Lancaster General Hospital received its first motorized ambulance to better serve area residents. The ambulance was a gift from Henry Keiper, who pledged to keep the vehicle in repair during his lifetime.

In September, the Cardiac Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) at Lancaster General Hospital, identified a priority issue: Zero percent of morning cases started on time.

In January 2008, Lancaster General Health’s MyHealthyLiving (MHL) Team launched a campaign to promote a tobacco-free lifestyle.

In January, Penn Medicine recognized nine nurses from across the health system for their clinical excellence. Among them was Nay Saechao, Clinical Nurse IV in the Intensive Care Unit.

In 2007, LG Health invested $100 million in the implementation of Epic, the electronic medical record (EMR) used by physicians and clinicians throughout the health system.

To kick off Heart Month, the American Heart Association – Central PA delivered 300 tiny red hats to Women & Babies Hospital.

When we are truly engaged in consistently doing our very best work, we provide the highest quality of care to our patients, while increasing our own personal fulfillment.