Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER
Geisinger EMS vans sit outside of the former Bobby Rahal property on Electric Avenue in Lewistown.

LEWISTOWN — Major renovations at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital are nearing completion, with the facility’s final unit of private patient rooms expected to open in mid-August, a hospital official told the Rotary Club of Lewistown.

A.J. Hartsock, associate vice president of clinical operations at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, provided an update on several hospital initiatives Tuesday, explaining that the hospital has undergone significant renovations during the past 12 to 18 months, including converting patient rooms from double occupancy to primarily private rooms.

“The hospital was very outdated and was in need of changes,” Hartsock said.

The renovations were completed unit by unit and floor by floor to minimize disruptions to patient care. Once the final phase opens in August, Hartsock said approximately 95% of patients can expect a private room, though some double occupancy may still occur during periods of high demand, such as the winter months.

Hartsock also highlighted continued growth at the Geisinger School of Nursing in Lewistown.

According to Hartsock, 26 students graduated in May, 38 students are expected to begin classes in fall 2026, and total enrollment currently stands at 139 students.

Hospital officials are exploring the possibility of adding a nurse practitioner program in the future, he said

“Really great opportunity for nurses to continue to advance as well as add providers to the area to grow,” Hartsock said.

He noted the nursing school has received strong support from the community and downtown businesses.

Downtown Lewistown developer Mike Buffington said the school has had a positive impact on the downtown economy.

“Students are going to the shops and eating at the restaurants,” Buffington said.

Hartsock also addressed speculation regarding Geisinger’s recent purchase of the former Rahal property.

“We purchased the land simply because the opportunity was there,” he said.

While no immediate development plans have been announced, Hartsock said the property could support the hospital’s recently established Geisinger EMS service, which focuses on interfacility patient transports.

He explained that when local emergency medical services transport a patient to facilities such as Danville or Hershey, an ambulance and crew can be unavailable for approximately four hours.

“This stretches them, so our program focuses only on interfacility transports — patients from Lewistown to Danville or Hershey,” Hartsock said.

Additional improvements completed within the past year include the addition of a wheelchair van service, a new sleep laboratory on the second floor, four new treatment rooms in the emergency department and upgrades to the hospital’s clinical laboratory.

In other Rotary business, members presented a donation to the Lumina Center to help purchase an automatic water shutoff valve designed to detect leaks and immediately stop water flow.

The donation follows recent water-related damage at the facility. Lumina Center Executive Director Sherri Bickert previously spoke with Rotarians about challenges the organization has faced in recent months.