Integration and Relocation of Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery and Gynecologic Surgery Announced at Geisinger Northeast

Wilkes-Barre—Geisinger Northeast officials today announced the integration and relocation of gynecologic surgery to the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus, and interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery to the Geisinger Wyoming Valley campus.

Beginning on January 28, the majority of gynecologic surgeries are being performed at the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus of Geisinger Northeast. Other than the new surgical location, patient care will not change. Gynecologists Krystal Ascencio, MD; Ronald Daniel, MD; Bridget Roots, MD, Reneita Ross, MD, and George Valenta, MD, will perform surgeries at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre and continue to see patients in each of their local physician offices at the Valley Medical Building at Geisinger Wyoming Valley and the Medical Arts Building at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.

Gynecologic surgeries associated with the fertility practice of Jennifer Gell, MD, will continue to be performed at Geisinger Wyoming Valley and the Geisinger Outpatient Surgery Center on Route 315 in Plains Township. Gynecology/Oncology cases such as lymph node dissection and cases involving acute cardiac conditions will also remain on the Geisinger Wyoming Valley campus.

Interventional cardiology and cardio-thoracic surgeries will all be completed at The Richard and Marion Pearsall Heart Hospital on the Geisinger Wyoming Valley campus beginning on February 1. This move will consolidate cardiac surgical services previously performed at both Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. Joseph Stella, DO, cardio-thoracic surgeon at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, will join Al Casale, MD, and Deepak Singh, MD, at the Heart Hospital.

Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre will continue to provide ancillary cardiology services including EKG, nuclear stress testing, echocardiography, holter monitor and pace makers. When necessary, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre patients requiring treatment for acute myocardial infarction will be transferred for interventional services. Both Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre will continue to treat patients with cardiac conditions such as congestive heart failure and those who present to the emergency department with chest pain.

The moves are part of an overall integration of Geisinger services in the area that were announced in November. Under the Geisinger Northeast model of care, the Geisinger Wyoming Valley campus in Plains Township and the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus are each focusing on a portion of the continuum of healthcare services. Geisinger Wyoming Valley is continuing its evolution of providing advanced tertiary and quaternary medical services for the most seriously and critically ill and injured patients, as well as advancing educational and research programs. The Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus is pioneering a new model of care in the region by offering a variety of acute care medical services, many of which require a shorter hospitalization.

“The integration and relocation of interventional cardiology and cardio-thoracic surgery to Geisinger Wyoming Valley and the integration and relocation of gynecologic surgery to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre are evidence of our intent to provide a wide spectrum of medical services in the appropriate locations so the people of the northeast will not feel the need to leave our community for excellent healthcare,” said Geisinger Northeast Chief Administrative Officer Lissa Bryan-Smith.

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