Geisinger Lewistown Hospital earns

national accolates for quality, safety

LEWISTOWN — Geisinger Lewistown Hospital earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group, a national recognition of excellence for protecting patients from preventable harm and errors, according to a press release issued on Friday.

This is the sixth straight quarter the hospital received the honor.

Geisinger Lewistown Hospital announced earlier this year it also earned the highest score for quality from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, joining an elite group of hospitals across the country with 5-Star ratings for the latest measuring period.

“Geisinger has been the trusted name for health care in our communities for more than 100 years,” said Sabrina Sumner, D.O., chief medical officer for Geisinger’s western region. “By earning an ‘A’ from Leapfrog, we’re showing our patients that trust is well earned. When they visit Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, they can feel confident that they’re in the safest, most capable hands in the entire country.”

The Leapfrog Group, a national health care nonprofit, assigns grades from “A” to “F” to almost 3,000 general hospitals across the country. The latest grade is based on more than 30 performance measures that track errors, injuries, accidents and infections, as well as the

systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

“This award reflects the tremendous hard work and heart our teams put into providing the safest and highest-quality care for our patients,” said Stacey Osborne, vice president and chief nursing officer for Geisinger Lewistown Hospital. “We’re so proud to see our staff and providers recognized for their dedication to our patients and the community.”

Grange to host exotic animals

program on Thursday

MEXICO — CDE Exotics, of Wilkes-Barre, will present an educational program about the non-profit organization’s reptile program at 7 p.m. Thursday at Walker Grange, 6611 William Penn Highway in Mifflintown. The program is suited for all ages.

CDE Exotics travels to many places with a variety of reptiles to teach audiences about creatures, such as albino Burmese pythons, iguanas and bearded dragons. Also a rescue organization, CDE Exotics has exhibited at the Bloomsburg Fair.

CDE Exotics will bring several reptiles for audiences to observe at the grange’s presentation. The grange will serve a covered dish meal at 6 p.m., with the program to follow.

Operation Christmas Child to

hold national collection week

THOMPSONTOWN — Today starts national collection week for Operation Christmas Child at Thompsontown Baptist Church, 269 Birch Drive, Thompsontown. It runs through Monday, Nov. 24. Hours are 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. today and Monday, Nov. 24, Friday and Saturday; and 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Free pre-printed shoeboxes are available Thursday and Sunday. For more information, call Debby at (785) 215-4889 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.