Geisinger Health System announces $100 Million Patient Pavilion Expansion

One of Numerous Growth Projects throughout Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania

DANVILLE, PA—The Board of Directors of Geisinger Health System have approved funding for the construction of a new $100 million Patient Pavilion to be built on the Geisinger Medical Center campus in Danville, PA.

“The population in Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania is an aging one,” said Geisinger President and Chief Executive Officer Glenn Steele, Jr., MD.  “The demand for complex medical care will continue to increase dramatically.  This expansion is an example of Geisinger’s commitment to providing the residents of this region with access to quality care, today and well into the future.”

The nine-story, 300,000 square foot expansion will include orthopedic and heart “hospitals” that will be located within the current main medical center building, new patient beds, and an adjoining four-level parking garage. Groundbreaking is scheduled for March 2007 with expected completion of construction in February 2010.

“The benefit of a ‘hospital within a hospital’ is that it will enable us to center care around the patient,” said Geisinger Medical Center’s Chief Medical Officer Joseph Bisordi, MD. “For example, all services that a heart patient would need would be located in one area. This will help us to continue to focus on new standards of care, quality, and patient satisfaction.”

This project marks the continuation of a major reinvestment effort by Geisinger throughout the region. Other recent initiatives include:

· A $60 million, 136,000 square foot Critical Care Building now under construction at Geisinger Wyoming Valley medical center, in Plains Township in Wilkes-Barre. 
· A $18.5 million, 65,000 square foot research center in Danville, PA, scheduled for completion in spring 2007. Researchers at The Geisinger Center for Health Research will focus on developing methods for motivating lifestyle and behavioral changes to help decrease the incidence and effects of such medical conditions as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
· A new 25,000 square foot, $4.5 million physician office building in Tunkhannock, PA, scheduled to be completed this fall.
· A new 60,000 square foot, $12 million multi-specialty physician office building at Grays Woods near State College, PA. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2007.
· Multiple facility upgrades and improvements at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. Geisinger acquired the former Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre in December 2005.
· The first CareWorks Convenient Care in-store health clinic, opened in July 2006 in a Weis Markets food store in Clarks Summit, near Scranton. More CareWorks Convenient Care clinics are planned for next year.

“This growth is a major factor in the health system continuing its mission of quality healthcare, research and community service,” said Dr. Steele. “Our goal is to make Geisinger services available close to where our patients live and work.”

Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System has evolved into one of the nation's leading fully integrated healthcare providers. Serving more than two million residents throughout Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. The health system includes three major regional medical centers, a 650-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company, and the renowned Geisinger Center for Health Research—dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes.  For more information, visit www.geisinger.org.

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