‘You’re getting good care’
The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock focuses on expanding access to health care services
Rush Township resident Elmer “Butch” Richie, center, a patient at The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock, meets with his care team, Jocelyn Griffin, LPN care coordinator, left, and Mallory Racoski, a board-certified physician assistant. The two health care clinicians check in regularly with Richie to make sure he stays healthy as he ages.
For Elmer “Butch” Richie, nothing is more important than relationships.
Richie watched medical services in his region dwindle over the last decade. Longtime Tunkhannock family doctor Dr. John McIntyre Jr., who treated the Richie family, retired in 2017. The area’s major hospital, Tyler Memorial in Tunkhannock, shuttered inpatient and surgical care in September 2021 and then closed its emergency department about nine months later.
The closures meant Richie had to travel 45 minutes or more to seek medical care, including his 2022 pacemaker operation at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. The 82-year-old from Rush Township, Susquehanna County, also receives weekly treatments for neuropathy in his feet from a home health nurse.
He began looking for a primary care physician closer to home, and the nurse who administers his infusions mentioned The Wright Center’s community health center on the fourth floor of the former Tyler Memorial Hospital, 5950 U.S. Route 6. It’s now part of the Wyoming County Healthcare Center, a nonprofit medical hub that aims to expand access to health care in the Tunkhannock region.
When he learned that Mallory Racoski, a board-certified physician assistant who treated his late wife years ago, was offering whole-person primary and preventive care services at The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock, he quickly booked an appointment.
“It’s something I always say: Relationships are the most important thing,” Richie said. “When you see your doctor and your nurse enough, they know about you and your family, and you know about them and their families. You know you’re getting good care.”
Racoski credits Dr. McIntyre, with whom she worked for nearly eight years before his retirement, for teaching her the value of building strong relationships with patients. The physician assistant has served the Tunkhannock community for 16 years.
Mallory Racoski, right, a board-certified physician assistant, listens to Elmer “Butch” Richie at an appointment at The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock. After watching medical services in his region dwindle over the last decade, Richie said seeking primary care services at The Wright Center’s offices inside the Wyoming County Healthcare Center has been easy and convenient.
“Having the ability to care for neighbors, friends, and local families makes my work incredibly meaningful,” she said. “It gives me the privilege of forming lasting relationships and understanding the unique needs of our community on a deeper level. As both a clinician and a fellow community member, I am committed to delivering compassionate, accessible, and personalized care to every patient I serve.”
Racoski joined The Wright Center in Tunkhannock in August 2024 and, by 2025, had been promoted to clinical site director. She was already familiar with the organization’s mission, having worked with its president and CEO, Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, during her student training. Today, Racoski offers responsive, whole-person primary health services for people of all ages, from routine checkups, physicals, and screenings to treatment of common illnesses and injuries.
The community health center in Tunkhannock also offers lifestyle medicine, women’s health, psychiatry, addiction and recovery services, with dental care set to launch in spring 2026. Patients can additionally connect with community health workers for support with basic needs – including access to food pantries and clothing closets, help securing health insurance, and transportation to and from appointments.
Rush Township resident Elmer “Butch” Richie, 82, checks in at The Wright Center for Community Health Tunkhannock for a well visit. He relies on the clinicians there to ensure his health and well-being.
“One of the reasons I love working at The Wright Center is that we care for the whole patient,” Racoski said. “Every patient is supported, understood, and has direct access to all the care they may need.”
Richie sees Racoski and the care team every three months. Additionally, he calls in weekly to report information to Jocelyn Griffin, the office’s LPN care coordinator.
“She always calls me back quickly, and sometimes she’ll just call me to check in,” Richie said. “It’s almost unheard of for a doctor’s office to do that.”
Richie said he relies on Racoski and her care team to ensure his health and well-being
“I have four grandchildren, including a granddaughter in college and a grandson in high school,” he said. “I want to make sure I stay around to see the two youngest graduate and start their lives. The Wright Center is helping me with that.”
