Submitted photo
Pictured at the ribbon cutting fo the new inpatient nursing unit are: Ashley McMurtrie, RN; Hanna Fultz-Beers, nursing assistant; Amanda Rogers, RN, clinical team coordinator; Anngie Erhard, RN, nursing operations manager; Stacey Osborne, vice president and chief nursing officer, Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital; AJ Hartsock, associate vice president, operations, Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital; Sabrina Sumner, D.O., chief medical officer.

LEWISTOWN — Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital has opened a new inpatient nursing unit that marks a major step in its ongoing transformation to all-private rooms and its commitment to patient-centered care.

The renovated acute care medical inpatient unit, known as 3B, is now welcoming patients. The expansion represents the third of four construction phases in a $6 million investment that will reshape the hospital’s short-term care capacity. When the final phase is finished this summer, the hospital will have increased its number of private rooms by 40 percent — from 43 to 61 — allowing it to better serve the growing needs of the community for acute medical services.

“This renovation reflects our long-term commitment to providing the very best patient care,” said Stacey Osborne, vice president and chief nursing officer at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital. “The transformation to private rooms enhances privacy, dignity and comfort, while creating a more personalized healing environment and allowing for confidential conversations between patients, families and their care teams.”

The 3B unit serves patients who require immediate medical attention for serious or urgent conditions but do not need intensive care or surgery. It’s designed to provide short-term, intensive treatment with a focus on safety, efficiency and recovery. The updated rooms feature modern amenities, improved infection-control measures and new technology that supports both caregivers and patients.

Private rooms, Osborne said, aren’t just about comfort; they’re also about safety. “Private rooms reduce the risk of infection transmission between patients, which is critical in acute care settings,” she said. “We’re focusing on improving safety and infection control.”

The new unit brings a quieter atmosphere that promotes rest and healing, with space that allows families to participate more easily in the care process. “Family involvement becomes easier in a private room setting,” Osborne said. “It supports emotional well-being during hospital stays.”

Osborne, a lifelong resident of the county, said the facility’s updates reflect the organization’s ongoing role as a community hospital that continues to grow with its patients’ needs.

“We’re supporting advanced care, capacity expansion and an investment in the future,” she said. “The renovation aligns with our commitment to exceptional care, integrating technology and features that improve clinical efficiency and patient outcomes.”