Kituo cha Wright kusaidia malengo ya afya ya kitaifa kama Bingwa mpya aliyeteuliwa wa Afya ya Watu 2030

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Vituo vya Wright vya Afya ya Jamii na Elimu ya Matibabu ya Waliohitimu hivi majuzi vimeteuliwa na ofisi ya Idara ya Afya na Huduma za Kibinadamu ya Marekani kuwa Bingwa wa Watu Wenye Afya 2030.

Utambuzi huo rasmi ulifanywa na Ofisi ya shirikisho ya Kuzuia Magonjwa na Ukuzaji wa Afya (ODPHP) na inathibitisha dhamira ya The Wright Center ya kuendeleza juhudi za taifa kuboresha afya na ustawi wa watu wote.

Laura Spadaro

"Tuna furaha kutambuliwa kama mabingwa wa mpango wa Healthy People 2030 na mfumo wake wa kufikia jamii yenye afya bora ifikapo 2030," alisema Laura Spadaro, makamu wa rais wa huduma ya msingi na sera ya afya ya umma katika Kituo cha The Wright. "Shughuli za shirika letu lisilo la faida zinapatana kikamilifu na dira ya kampeni ya Healthy People, ambayo ni kwa ajili ya watu wote kufikia uwezo wao kamili wa afya na ustawi katika muda wote wa maisha."

Mpango huo, unaosasishwa kila muongo, huweka malengo ya kitaifa yanayotokana na data katika aina mbalimbali, ikiwa ni pamoja na hali za afya (kama vile shida ya akili, kisukari, na magonjwa ya kupumua), tabia za afya na makundi maalum.

Kwa jumla, mpango huo unafuatilia malengo makuu 358. Lengo moja, kwa mfano, ni kupunguza matumizi ya sasa ya tumbaku miongoni mwa watu wazima kutoka 21.3% hadi 17.4% au chini. Watetezi wa lengo hili wanabainisha kuwa matumizi ya tumbaku yanasalia kuwa sababu kuu ya magonjwa na vifo vinavyoweza kuzuilika nchini Marekani.

"ODPHP inafuraha kutambua Kituo cha Wright kwa kazi yake ya kusaidia maono ya Healthy People 2030," alisema Admiral wa Nyuma Paul Reed, MD, mkurugenzi wa ODPHP. "Ni kwa kushirikiana na washirika kote nchini ndipo tunaweza kufikia malengo na malengo makuu ya Health People 2030."

Mpango wa Watu Wenye Afya Bora ulianza mwaka wa 1979 wakati Daktari Mkuu wa Upasuaji wa Marekani Julius Richmond alipotoa ripoti ya kihistoria, "Watu Wenye Afya: Ripoti ya Daktari Mkuu wa Upasuaji kuhusu Ukuzaji wa Afya na Kuzuia Magonjwa."

Watu Wenye Afya 2030 ni marudio ya tano ya mpango huo. Hujengwa juu ya maarifa yaliyopatikana na mafunzo yaliyopatikana kushughulikia vipaumbele vya hivi punde vya afya ya umma.

Applicants are selected to become Healthy People 2030 Champions if they have a demonstrated interest in and experience with disease prevention, health promotion, health literacy, or well-being.

Baada ya kukubaliwa, kila bingwa anaweza kuonyesha beji ya kidijitali yenye alama ya biashara kwenye tovuti yake na chaneli za mitandao ya kijamii. Mabingwa pia hupokea taarifa, zana na nyenzo za kuwasaidia kukuza mpango huo miongoni mwa mitandao yao. 

Beji ya Bingwa wa HP2030

As a Healthy People 2030 Champion, The Wright Center joins the ranks of an array of public and private organizations that impact health outcomes at the state, tribal, and local levels.

Current champions include the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the Council on Black Health, the Health Care Improvement Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Trust for America’s Health, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Ili kupata maelezo zaidi kuhusu Healthy People 2030, tembelea health.gov/healthypeople .

Healthy People 2030 Champion ni alama ya huduma ya Idara ya Afya na Huduma za Kibinadamu ya Marekani. Imetumika kwa ruhusa.
Ushiriki wa Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii haimaanishi kuidhinishwa na HHS/ODPHP.

Hifadhi ya 'Paddy O'Basket' inanufaisha wagonjwa wa Kliniki ya VVU ya Ryan White

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Kliniki ya VVU ya Ryan White ya Kituo cha Afya ya Jamii ya Ryan White imekuwa ikihudumia Northeast Pennsylvania kwa zaidi ya miaka 20 kwa kutoa huduma za kina kwa watu wanaoishi na au walio katika hatari ya VVU/UKIMWI. Hivi karibuni wafanyakazi walikusanya vikapu vya nguo vilivyojazwa vifaa vya kusafishia ili kuwagawia wagonjwa. Shukrani kwa "Paddy O'Basket Cleaning Drive" wagonjwa walipokea taulo za karatasi, sifongo, sabuni ya kufulia, bidhaa za usafi na zaidi.

Wafanyakazi wanaoshiriki katika mpango wa The Wright Center, walioketi kutoka kushoto, ni Joe Farley, msaidizi wa mpango wa VVU; Kimberly Simon, mfanyakazi wa kijamii aliye na leseni; Marah Lettieri, meneja wa kesi ya matibabu; Shauna Havirlak, meneja wa kesi ya matibabu; Daniel Hammer, meneja wa kesi; Judith Chavez, mratibu wa kliniki; na Sharon Whitebread, mratibu wa elimu ya uhamasishaji na utunzaji wa PrEP; amesimama, Kevin Tonic, Mdogo, meneja wa kesi ya matibabu; Michael Zrile, msaidizi wa utawala; Keisha Holbeck, meneja wa kesi ya matibabu; Karen McKenna, RN, BSN; Dada Ruth Neely, CRNP; Dk Mary Louise Decker, mkurugenzi, Ryan White HIV Clinic; na Roman Ealo, meneja wa kesi.

Daktari mpya wa watoto ajiunga na Kituo cha Wright cha Mazoezi ya Afya ya Jamii ya Scranton

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Dk. Prachi Agarwal, daktari wa watoto aliyeidhinishwa na bodi, atajiunga na The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., kuanzia Januari.

Dk. Prachi Agarwal

Dk. Prachi Agarwal

Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii hutoa huduma ya msingi na maalum kwa watoto wa umri wote, kuanzia uchunguzi wa watoto wachanga na kutembelea visima hadi chanjo, kimwili shuleni, na mwongozo wa jumla wa kutarajia kupitia hatua za ukuaji wa mtoto.

Dr. Agarwal earned her medical degree at KLE University, Belgaum, India. She completed her pediatric training and graduated with excellence from Rutgers Health/Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey. She possesses certifications from the Brazelton Touchpoint Parenting Program and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program.

Kituo cha Wright kiliteuliwa kuwa Kituo cha Afya Kilichofuzu Kinachofanana na Serikali mwaka wa 2019. Kinatoa huduma ya afya jumuishi ya ubora wa juu na nafuu katika mtandao wake wa mazoea ya huduma za msingi Kaskazini-mashariki mwa Pennsylvania, na kuwapa wagonjwa urahisi wa kwenda eneo moja kupata matibabu. , huduma za meno, kitabia na kiakili, pamoja na matibabu ya uraibu na huduma zingine za usaidizi.


Ili kuratibu miadi na Dk. Agarwal katika Mazoezi ya Scranton, nenda kwa TheWrightCenter.org ili kutumia mfumo wa kuratibu wa mtandaoni au piga 570.941.0630 .

Kituo cha Wright kitakachotumika kama tovuti ya waandaji wasaidizi wa madaktari wanaotarajia kupitia mpango mpya wa ushirikiano na washirika wa kitaifa

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Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii kilikaribisha darasa la kwanza la wanafunzi wasaidizi wa daktari wa ngazi ya shahada ya uzamili kutoka mpango wa Msaidizi wa Madaktari wa Pwani ya Kati hadi mtandao wake wa mazoea ya utunzaji wa msingi. Mpango mpya wa Chuo Kikuu cha Bado cha Sayansi ya Afya, kwa ushirikiano na Chama cha Kitaifa cha Vituo vya Afya ya Jamii, huwezesha wanafunzi kupata ujuzi na uzoefu katika nyanja hiyo. Washiriki wa darasa la uzinduzi, mstari wa kwanza kutoka kushoto, ni Kari Nhi Pham, Lisa Lac, Adjoa Ghansah na Rachel Aroneo; na kusimama, Bryan Boyle, MPAS, PA-C, The Wright Center; Gregory Castle, Stefan Howard, Diana Omozee, Tomislav Lojpur na Angelo Brutico, MPAS, PA-C, The Wright Center.

Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii kilikaribisha darasa la kwanza la wanafunzi wasaidizi wa daktari wa ngazi ya shahada ya uzamili kutoka mpango wa Msaidizi wa Madaktari wa Pwani ya Kati hadi mtandao wake wa mazoea ya utunzaji wa msingi. Mpango mpya wa Chuo Kikuu cha Bado cha Sayansi ya Afya, kwa ushirikiano na Chama cha Kitaifa cha Vituo vya Afya ya Jamii, huwezesha wanafunzi kupata ujuzi na uzoefu katika nyanja hiyo. Washiriki wa darasa la uzinduzi, mstari wa kwanza kutoka kushoto, ni Kari Nhi Pham, Lisa Lac, Adjoa Ghansah na Rachel Aroneo; na kusimama, Bryan Boyle, MPAS, PA-C, The Wright Center; Gregory Castle, Stefan Howard, Diana Omozee, Tomislav Lojpur na Angelo Brutico, MPAS, PA-C, The Wright Center.

Hivi majuzi Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii kiliwakaribisha wanafunzi wanane wa ngazi ya shahada ya uzamili ambao watakuwa wakipata ujuzi na uzoefu katika mazoea yake ya utunzaji wa kimsingi wanapokamilisha mpango wa kuwa wasaidizi wa madaktari.

Wanafunzi hao ni sehemu ya darasa la kwanza kujiandikisha katika programu ya Msaidizi wa Madaktari wa Pwani ya Kati, mpango mpya wa Chuo Kikuu cha AT Still cha Sayansi ya Afya (ATSU) kwa ushirikiano na Chama cha Kitaifa cha Vituo vya Afya ya Jamii na vituo vya afya vilivyochaguliwa kote nchini.

Washiriki katika mpango wa miezi 24 wanahudhuria chuo cha ATSU cha Santa Maria huko California kwa mwaka mmoja wakati wa awamu yao ya kabla ya kliniki. Kisha wanaingia katika awamu ya kimatibabu, ambayo inajumuisha wiki 35 za uzoefu wa mazoezi ya kliniki unaosimamiwa katika Kituo cha Wright au kituo kingine cha afya cha jamii chenye washirika.

"Vituo vya Wright vya Afya ya Jamii na Elimu ya Matibabu ya Wahitimu vimezama sana na wamejitolea kwa dhati kukuza na kuhamasisha wafanyikazi wetu wa sasa na wa baadaye wa huduma ya afya," alisema Dk. Linda Thomas-Hemak, rais na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Vituo vya Wright vya Afya ya Jamii. na Elimu ya Uzamili ya Matibabu. "Tunafuraha kukumbatia jukumu lililopanuliwa la kuwatayarisha wasaidizi wa madaktari kufanya kazi katika mazingira ya vituo vya afya vya kufundishia vya kijamii, ambapo watahudumia na kutunza watu ambao hawakuwa na huduma nzuri kihistoria.

"Ushirikiano wetu na Chuo cha ATSU cha Jumuiya za Afya utalazimisha-kuzidisha uwasilishaji wa dhamira yetu ya pamoja ili kuboresha afya na ustawi wa Amerika," aliongeza. "Wahitimu wa siku zijazo wa mpango huu watakuwa muhimu kwa kuendelea kufanya kazi upya kwa watoa huduma za usalama wa jamii kama vile Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii, ambacho kinategemea timu zilizojitolea za waganga wanaojali, wagonjwa na jamii." 

Madaktari wasaidizi Bryan Boyle na Angelo Brutico, ambao kila mmoja wao ni mhitimu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Marywood na mfanyakazi wa Kituo cha Wright, watatoa usimamizi na uongozi wa programu kwenye tovuti kama wakurugenzi wa mikoa wa ATSU wa elimu ya udaktari msaidizi.

Mpango wa Msaidizi wa Madaktari wa Pwani ya Kati huwatayarisha wahitimu wake kuwa "wataalamu wenye uwezo mkubwa katika sayansi ya dawa" ambao "wamezama katika utamaduni wa osteopathic wa utunzaji wa mwili, akili, na roho kwa mtu mzima."

Kituo cha Wright na ATSU vina rekodi ndefu ya kushirikiana kwa mafanikio kutunga na kuzindua programu zinazokuza matabibu wenye huruma, ujuzi na wataalamu wengine wa afya ili kusaidia kukabiliana na uhaba wa wafanyakazi katika maeneo ya mashambani ya taifa na jumuiya nyinginezo ambazo hazijahudumiwa.

Wawakilishi kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine huko Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), kilichoko Mesa, walihusika katika hatua za kupanga za The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education's National Family Medicine Residency - mpango wa kwanza wa aina yake. ambayo inawaweka madaktari wakazi katika mojawapo ya tovuti nne za mafunzo ya washirika nchini Marekani

Mnamo 2020, kama sehemu ya mpango tofauti, Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii kilikuwa tovuti ya mzunguko kwa madaktari wanaotaka waliojiandikisha katika ATSU-SOMA - ambayo inajivunia kuwa "shule ya matibabu ya siku zijazo." Mtindo wa kipekee wa elimu ya matibabu wa shule hiyo unawaruhusu wanafunzi kutumia mwaka wao wa kwanza kwenye chuo kikuu huko Mesa, Arizona, ikifuatiwa na miaka mitatu katika kituo cha afya cha jamii, ambapo msisitizo umewekwa katika kukuza madaktari wanaozingatia jamii ambao watakuwa watetezi wa upatikanaji wa huduma za afya kwa usawa. . Takriban wanafunzi 30 wa shule ya matibabu ya ATSU-SOMA kwa sasa wako katika mazoea ya huduma ya msingi ya The Wright Center huko Northeast Pennsylvania.

Programu hizi, pamoja na mpango wa ukaaji na ushirika uliopo wa Kituo cha Wright cha Elimu ya Uzamili ya Elimu ya Tiba, zimeweka shirika lisilo la faida la The Wright Center kuwa mtoaji wa kweli wa elimu wa afya wa kikanda.

Kundi la kwanza la wanafunzi wasaidizi wa madaktari limeratibiwa kukamilisha mzunguko wake wa kimatibabu katika Kituo cha The Wright mnamo Juni 2023.

Ili kujifunza zaidi kuhusu fursa katika mpango wa Msaidizi wa Madaktari wa Pwani ya Kati, tembelea tovuti ya ATSU katika atsu.edu. Au wasiliana na Carla Blakeslee, mratibu wa ukarani wa Kituo cha Wright, kwa kupiga simu 570-591-5116 au kutuma barua pepe kwa [email protected] .

Mpango wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha: Ufadhili wa Makaazi, Kuongeza Upyaji, Kutoa Matumaini

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Kama Kituo kikubwa zaidi cha Afya cha Kufundisha nchini, tuna bahati ya kuwafunza madaktari ambao wanapenda kuleta mabadiliko ya kweli katika jamii zao. Shukrani kwa bidii ya viongozi katika Elimu ya Tiba Waliohitimu na usaidizi wa maafisa wetu waliochaguliwa, mpango wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha unapata udhihirisho muhimu katika ngazi ya kitaifa, hivi majuzi zaidi kupitia ripoti ya utafiti yenye kichwa. "Wakazi wa Huduma ya Msingi katika Vituo vya Kufundishia vya Afya: Madhumuni Yao ya Kufanya Mazoezi Katika Mipangilio Isiyohudumiwa Baada ya Mafunzo ya Ukaazi".
Waandishi wake: Zohray Talib, MD; Mariellen Malloy Jewers, MIA; Julia H. Strasser, MPH; David K. Popiel, MD, MPH; Debora Goetz Goldberg, PhD, MBA, MHA; Candice Chen, MD, MPH; Hayden Kepley, PhD; Fitzhugh Mullan, MD na Marsha Regenstein, PhD aliorodhesha maoni ya wakaazi wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha kutoka kote nchini. Wakaaji wetu wa Kituo cha Wright walichangia mawazo na uzoefu wao.
Usambazaji mbovu wa talanta za watoa huduma, pamoja na mazingira yenye changamoto ya huduma ya afya kumesababisha maeneo ambayo hayajahudumiwa kote nchini bila ufikiaji ufaao wa huduma za afya kwa bei nafuu. Programu za Kituo cha Afya cha Ualimu zimejibu wito kwa madaktari katika maeneo yanayowahitaji zaidi na kuchukua jukumu muhimu katika kutoa mafunzo kwa kizazi kijacho cha watoa huduma.
Upungufu wa daktari haubagui. Mikoa kote nchini - mijini na vijijini - inahitaji huduma ya msingi. Huku wakaazi wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha wakishughulikia takriban ziara za wagonjwa milioni moja katika kipindi cha kila mwaka, programu imesaidia kuanzisha msingi muhimu wa kuchochea uboreshaji wa madaktari. Kwa kweli, ripoti ya hivi karibuni ya mwaka huu ilionyesha hivyo Asilimia 82 ya wahitimu wa Kituo cha Afya cha Ualimu wanasalia katika mazoezi ya utunzaji wa msingi, ikilinganishwa na 23% ya wahitimu wa Elimu ya Tamaduni ya Udaktari - na huo ni mwanzo tu.
Hapa kuna mambo matano ya haraka kuhusu mpango wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha:

  • Wakazi 742 wanatoa mafunzo katika programu 59 za Mafunzo ya Wahitimu wa Elimu ya Matibabu ya Kituo cha Afya 59
  • Asilimia 63 ya wakazi wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha wamebobea katika matibabu ya familia
  • Programu za Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha ziko katika majimbo 27 na Wilaya ya Columbia
  • Programu za Elimu ya Matibabu ya Wahitimu wa Kituo cha Afya zilipokea zaidi ya maombi 100 kwa kila nafasi ya ukaaji
  • Wakaaji wa Kituo cha Afya cha kufundisha watatoa zaidi ya ziara milioni 1 za matibabu ya msingi katika 2017 kwa jamii ambazo hazijahudumiwa.

Tunajivunia kuwa idadi kubwa ya wahitimu wa The Wright Center wamechagua kufanya mazoezi katika maeneo ambayo hayajahudumiwa. Kati ya darasa letu la hivi majuzi la wahitimu wa mpango wetu wa Ukaaji wa Dawa ya Familia wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha, 76% walichagua kufanya mazoezi katika eneo ambalo halina huduma nzuri ya kiafya; wengine hata walichagua kusainiwa na tovuti ya washirika ambapo walimaliza mafunzo yao katika hatua za mwanzo za ukaaji wao.
Kama shirika linalojumuisha watoa huduma na wasimamizi wa fani mbalimbali, tunaelewa thamani ya timu iliyojitolea, yenye aina mbalimbali tunapoendelea kutekeleza dhamira yetu ya kuendelea kuboresha huduma na elimu kwa wagonjwa kwa moyo wa ushirikiano ili kuboresha matokeo, ufikiaji na uwezo wa kumudu. .
Kudumisha ufadhili wa Kituo cha Afya cha Mafunzo ni hatua muhimu kuelekea dhamira ya Kituo cha Wright. Ufadhili wa Kituo cha Afya cha Ualimu cha Shirikisho kwa sasa umewekwa kuwa $116,000 kwa kila mkazi, chini sana kuliko makadirio ya gharama ya mafunzo ya $157,000. Ili kutoa huduma za kina za afya kwa wagonjwa wanaohitaji zaidi, programu za Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha zinahitaji usaidizi kamili wa serikali ya shirikisho na watetezi ili kuwasaidia kufika huko. Timu ya Kituo cha Wright imekuwa ikishawishi kwa dhati upanuzi wa ufadhili wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha kwa niaba ya wanafunzi wetu na wagonjwa wetu wanaohitaji zaidi.
Sheria (S. 1754 na HR 3394 kuidhinisha upya kifungu cha 340H cha Sheria ya Huduma ya Afya ya Umma ili kuendelea kuhimiza upanuzi, matengenezo, na uanzishwaji wa programu zilizoidhinishwa za ukaaji wa kitabibu katika vituo vya afya vya kufundishia vilivyohitimu, na kwa madhumuni mengine) imepokea bi- uungwaji mkono wa vyama na shukrani kwa juhudi za ushawishi za wengi, unapata mvuto ambapo ni muhimu zaidi. Upanuzi, na pengine upanuzi, wa ufadhili endelevu wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha unaweza kuwa kichocheo cha mabadiliko, onyesho la kutia moyo la ushirikiano wa jamhuri na kidemokrasia kwa ajili ya kuendelea kutekeleza Azma ya Quadruple - matokeo, ufikiaji, uwezo wa kumudu gharama na furaha katika mazoezi - huko Amerika. .
Bofya hapa kusoma ripoti kamili.

Ukweli na takwimu zote zinazotokana na utafiti na juhudi zisizo na kuchoka za Muungano wa Marekani wa Vituo vya Afya vya Kufundisha.

Scholarly paper highlights partnership of Behavioral Health Initiative to combat psychiatrist shortage

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A 2015 white paper published by a physician staffing firm called it a “silent shortage.” In a country gripped by the grim phenomenon dubbed “deaths of despair,” “it” is a severe and under-appreciated shortage of the very people with the skills and knowledge necessary to reverse the trend. Our region, like the rest of the nation, needs psychiatrists.
How bad is the problem? The late Richard Cooper, M.D. of the University of Pennsylvania, a noted national authority on physician supply, distribution and utilization, finds that a population of 100,000 should have 14.7 psychiatrists, or one for every 6,800 people. The counties of northeastern Pennsylvania average about 8.5, according to Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. Moreover, the few psychiatrists we have must cope with three of the “Top 10” diseases most associated with lost quality of life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “unipolar depressive disorders” are the No. 1 cause of medical disability in the United States. Dementias, including Alzheimer’s, and alcohol and ecstasy disorders come in at No. 3 and No. 4. The escalating opioid crisis is, no doubt, claiming its place as it climbs the rank order.
Despite the suffering and lost years of life caused by (often undiagnosed) behavioral and mental health diseases, we still cling to outdated ideas about psychiatry like, “If people just had more willpower and determination, they’d “snap out of” their depression,” and, “Addiction is a sign of moral weakness, so patients have only themselves to blame.” The healthcare system is fragmented; it is not built on resiliency, but on brokenness. The persistence of these discredited notions about mental health has led to what should be a national wake-up call – for the first time in decades, mortality rates for a certain U.S. demographic (whites aged 45 to 54 – an important demographic in NEPA) rose by half a percent a year since 1998. The cause of these deaths is overwhelmingly attributed to suicide and addiction. No other rich country has experienced anything like these “deaths of despair.” As Angus Deaton, an economist, Nobel Laureate and co-author of the paper which first identified the trend, told the Washington Post, “That means half a million people are dead who should not be dead. That’s about 40 times the Ebola stats. You’re getting up there with HIV-AIDS.”
Although Dr. Deaton’s ground-breaking report was published in 2015, a Community Health Needs Assessment conducted by the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development in 2012 identified mental and behavioral health challenges, including higher-than-national-average suicide rates, in our region. That’s when Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine convened an advisory group for the school’s Behavioral Health Initiative (BHI). The advisory committee was charged with identifying gaps in access to mental health services in several counties of northeastern Pennsylvania. Market intelligence firm, Open Minds, working on behalf of BHI, concluded that a seven-county region of NEPA would need to increase its number of psychiatrists by 40 percent simply to meet current need. With that data, at the time of its formal launch in 2015, BHI generated a key recommendation: the School of Medicine and The Wright Center should co-create a psychiatry residency program to train new doctors in this desperately needed specialty. All parties humbly recognized a new psychiatry residency could serve as an educational fulcrum for much larger inter-professional workforce development initiatives by leveraging this powerful partnership.
This July, just two years after BHI’s 2015 launch (light speed in academia), we are proud to announce that The Wright Center will welcome four residents to its brand-new, ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) accredited psychiatry residency program. The fact that one of these new psychiatry residents is also a 2017 graduate of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine makes this accomplishment all the more meaningful. Psychiatry training takes four years, so once all four classes are filled, we will train 16 residents here in Scranton and Wilkes Barre, and graduate four newly-minted psychiatrists per year.
The School of Medicine and The Wright Center have long been partners committed to addressing the specific health needs of our community, with a formal commitment solidified through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2015. That’s why we and our BHI partners worked so swiftly and purposefully to establish the psychiatry residency program despite the significant challenges of funding and accreditation. Wide-scale community collaboration, including Scranton Counseling Center’s generosity with the time and the expertise of Sanjay Chandragiri, MD, our pioneering program director, has generated the opportunity for four new doctors to learn how to treat and heal patients struggling with behavioral health issues. In this way, our community is taking an important step toward reducing “deaths of despair” in our region, replacing years lost to disability with years of enhanced health and wellbeing.

Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD ni Rais/Mkurugenzi Mtendaji Mkuu wa The Wright Center Medical Group na The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, muungano mkubwa zaidi wa Kituo cha Afya cha Kufundisha (THC) kinachofadhiliwa na HRSA nchini Marekani.
Terri Lacey, RN ni mkurugenzi mtendaji wa Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's Behavioral Health Initiative, mpango shirikishi, unaotegemea jamii kushughulikia mapengo ya kimfumo katika afya ya akili na huduma za matumizi mabaya ya dawa zinazopatikana kaskazini mashariki na kaskazini kati ya Pennsylvania.