To continue addressing the deep need for dental health services in Northeast Pennsylvania, The Wright Center for Community Health in Scranton, Pennsylvania, received approval to expand its partnership with NYU Langone Health’s Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Dental Residency Program.

The world’s largest postdoctoral dental residency program of its kind, the NYU Langone program trains about 400 residents annually at partner sites in nearly 30 states. The Wright Center, the postdoctoral Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency program’s only Pennsylvania site, has hosted two dental residents each academic year since becoming a program partner in 2021.

“There is a great need for dentists in the region,” Dr. Reagan said. “A lot of people have had a bad experience with their dental provider or they can’t afford dental care. That’s not the case here. The Wright Center provides affordable, high-quality oral care.”

The Wright Center features dental clinics at its primary health care centers in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Jermyn. By early October, staff at the Wilkes-Barre dental clinic had treated more than 780 patients. In fiscal year 2024, more than 3,400 unique patients were treated at Scranton’s dental clinic, and nearly 3,400 unique patients visited the Jermyn clinic. All three dental clinics offer exams, cleanings, X-rays, and fillings, as well as emergency services, oral cancer screenings, and denture care.

Dr. McCarthy hopes that more NYU Langone Health residents who complete their residency at The Wright Center will decide to stay and work in Northeast Pennsylvania.

“Workforce development is one of the ultimate goals here at The Wright Center,” she said. “We were thrilled that Dr. Regan decided to stay, and we would like to see other residents follow that path.”

The Wright Center for Community Health participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 3 at the Wyoming County Healthcare Center, 5950 U.S. Route 6 in Tunkhannock. The celebration marked the opening of the facility, which formerly housed Tyler Memorial Hospital. The Wright Center’s primary care center is located on the fourth floor.

The Wright Center for Community Health participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 3 to celebrate the opening of the Wyoming County Healthcare Center in Tunkhannock – and The Wright Center’s first primary care center in Wyoming County.

The Wright Center’s new full-service, family-friendly office opened Sept. 9 on the fourth floor of the new health care center at 5950 U.S. Route 6, Suite 401. The building formerly housed Tyler Memorial Hospital.

Wyoming County businessman Bill Ruark bought the building through a limited family partnership in 2023 and began developing it as a nonprofit medical facility. The Ruark family approached leadership at The Wright Center last fall to discuss adding more whole-person primary health services at the facility.

During the facility-wide ribbon cutting, Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, spoke about how the new primary care center will aid in transforming the Tunkhannock region’s health and wellness.

The Wright Center’s new location in Tunkhannock offers whole-person primary health services, including checkups, physicals, screenings, and treatment of common illnesses and injuries, to people of all ages, income levels, and insurance statuses. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-591-5299.

The Wright Center for Community Health accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines. Based on a family’s size and income, the program reduces barriers to care and ensures everyone has access to affordable, nondiscriminatory whole-person primary health services.

The Wright Center for Community Health has 12 locations in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, including a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health.

For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health’s integrated whole-person primary health services or for the nearest location, visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-591-5299.

Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii kimetambuliwa na Jumuiya ya Moyo ya Marekani na Jumuiya ya Madaktari ya Marekani kwa kujitolea kwake kuboresha viwango vya udhibiti wa shinikizo la damu (BP), na kupata utambuzi wa kiwango cha Fedha kama sehemu ya Lengo: BP.

“Optimal blood pressure management is key for better cardiovascular health and critical today, when heart disease and stroke continue to be leading causes of death for adults in the U.S.,” said Jignesh Y. Sheth, M.D., FACP, MPH, senior vice president and chief medical and information officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. “High blood pressure is a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke that can often be prevented or managed if diagnosed and treated properly.”

Target: BP is a national initiative formed by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association in response to the high prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure, the initiative aims to help health care organizations and care teams, at no cost, improve blood pressure control rates through an evidence-based quality improvement program and recognizes organizations, such as The Wright Center for Community Health, that are committed to improving blood pressure control.

“By committing to helping more people in Northeast Pennsylvania control their blood pressure and reduce their risks for future heart disease and stroke, The Wright Center for Community Health is taking a key step to helping more people live longer, healthier lives,” said Yvonne Commodore-Mensah, Ph.D., MHS, RN, FAHA, Target: BP advisory group volunteer and associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “The Wright Center for Community Health’s participation in the Target: BP initiative shows its dedication to turning clinical guidelines into lifelines for patients and their families.”

To learn more about the initiative, go to TargetBP.org.

As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider, The Wright Center serves vulnerable and medically underserved populations, regardless of age, ethnic background, ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines that consider family size and income. No patient is ever turned away due to an inability to pay.

Headquartered in Scranton, The Wright Center operates 11 primary and preventive care community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, as well as a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health, that deliver whole-person primary health services. Patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services.

Daktari wa eneo aliye na uhusiano na hospitali za Scranton na Wilkes-Barre atajiunga na kituo kipya cha huduma ya msingi cha The Wright Center for Community Health huko Tunkhannock, ambacho kilifunguliwa Septemba 9.

Atajiunga na wafanyakazi wa wataalamu wa afya katika kituo kipya cha huduma ya msingi cha The Wright Center katika iliyokuwa Hospitali ya Tyler Memorial, kutia ndani daktari msaidizi Mallory Racoski. Ili kupanga miadi, nenda kwa TheWrightCenter.org au piga simu kwa 570-591-5299.

Dk. Novroski amefanya kazi kama daktari wa dawa za familia huko Dunmore tangu 2021. Pia ana uzoefu kama daktari wa idara ya dharura katika Hospitali ya Moses Taylor huko Scranton na Hospitali Kuu ya Wilkes-Barre.

Mkazi wa Shavertown alipata digrii ya bachelor katika biolojia katika Chuo cha Wilkes wakati huo na digrii yake ya matibabu kutoka Chuo cha Philadelphia cha Tiba ya Osteopathic. Kisha akamaliza ukaaji wa Mazoezi ya Familia ya Wyoming na baadaye akahudumu kama mshiriki wa kitivo cha ukaazi kwa zaidi ya miaka miwili.

Kituo cha Wright ni Kituo cha Afya Kilichohitimu Kitaifa Kinavyofanana na mtandao unaokua wa vituo vya huduma ya msingi katika kaunti zote za Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, na Wyoming. Makao yake makuu huko Scranton, Kituo cha Wright kinaendesha vituo 12 vya afya vya jamii, ikijumuisha kitengo cha simu cha matibabu na meno kiitwacho Driving Better Health. Maeneo hayo yanahudumia wagonjwa wa rika zote, viwango vya mapato na hali ya bima. Hakuna mgonjwa anayekataliwa kwa sababu ya kutoweza kulipa.

Hafla hiyo katika Hoteli ya Radisson Lackawanna Station, 138 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, kuanzia 5:30-7:30 pm itajumuisha maoni mafupi kutoka kwa waandaaji wa mradi huo na pia wakaazi wa eneo ambao walikamilisha na kufaidika na programu ya mafunzo ya taaluma.

Project PROGRESS, iliyofadhiliwa kwa sehemu kupitia ruzuku ya Tume ya Mkoa ya Appalachian INSPIRE, ilikuwa juhudi ya miaka mitatu iliyoongozwa na The Wright Center kwa ushirikiano na washirika katika eneo la kaunti nyingi lililoathiriwa sana na shida ya opioid inayoendelea. Kifupi PROGRESS kinasimama kwa Kutoa Fursa za Urejeshaji kwa Ukuaji, Elimu, na Mafanikio Endelevu.

"Mfumo huo wa ikolojia unatuhitaji kujenga uhusiano kati ya sio tu jamii za uokoaji na programu za afya na huduma za kibinadamu, lakini pia zingine nyingi, pamoja na usafirishaji, usalama wa umma, nyumba, elimu, na watoa ajira."

Muda wa ruzuku ya Project PROGRESS unaisha rasmi mwezi Septemba. Hata hivyo, tovuti katika ProjectProgressNEPA.org , itaendelea kutumika kwa angalau miaka mitatu, ikitoa viungo vya nyenzo muhimu kuhusu mada kama vile kushinda unyanyapaa, kutafuta kazi ukiwa katika ahueni, na kutafuta sehemu za kazi zinazofaa kupona.

Kituo cha Wright kilishirikiana na Chuo cha Jumuiya ya Kaunti ya Luzerne, Kituo cha Elimu ya Afya cha Eneo la Kaskazini-mashariki la Pennsylvania, Taasisi, na Muungano wa Wayne Pike Workforce ili kutoa mpango wa kurejesha kazini katika kaunti za Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, na Wyoming. .

"Kuna hitaji kubwa la usaidizi wa rika katika huduma za kurejesha uraibu na uhaba wa wataalamu walioidhinishwa wa kupona katika Kaskazini-mashariki mwa Pennsylvania," alisema Susan Spry, makamu wa rais wa masuala ya kitaaluma katika Chuo cha Jamii cha Luzerne County. "Wataalamu wa urejeshaji walioidhinishwa hutoa usaidizi muhimu na rasilimali kwa wale wanaotaka kuishi maisha ya kupona. Project PROGRESS na washirika wetu wa jamii wamechukua jukumu muhimu katika kushughulikia unyanyapaa unaohusishwa na kupona na kuunda njia kwa watu binafsi kupata mafunzo wanayohitaji ili kujaza nafasi hizi muhimu za kitaaluma.

"Wataalamu walioidhinishwa wa urejeshi wana jukumu muhimu katika huduma za kurejesha uraibu Kaskazini-mashariki mwa Pennsylvania," aliongeza Mary K. Murphy, mkufunzi aliyeidhinishwa wa urejeshaji katika Chuo cha Jamii cha Luzerne County. "Uzoefu wao, nguvu, na matumaini, pamoja na zana na elimu inayotolewa na Project PROGRESS, huwawezesha wataalam walioidhinishwa wa uokoaji kusaidia watu katika safari yao ya kupona kutokana na uraibu."

Usaidizi na mwongozo pia ulitolewa na Wakfu wa AllOne, Chama cha Wafanyabiashara cha Greater Scranton, Muungano wa Kaskazini-mashariki wa Pennsylvania, Makamishna wa Kaunti ya Wayne, Shirika la Maendeleo ya Kiuchumi la Wayne, na Ofisi ya Mbunge Matt Cartwright.

Watu ambao walitimiza masharti ya kustahiki kujiandikisha katika mafunzo ya mtaalamu wa urejeshaji walioidhinishwa waliweza kuchukua darasa bila malipo. Mradi wa ruzuku pia ulilipa gharama ya ada zao za mitihani ya uthibitisho.

Mtaalamu wa urejeshaji aliyeidhinishwa ni mtu ambaye ameshinda ugonjwa wa matumizi ya dawa na ambaye anafanya kazi kama sehemu ya timu ya utunzaji wa taaluma mbalimbali ili kusaidia watu wengine kufikia na kudumisha kiasi cha muda mrefu. Kwa kutumia uzoefu wao wenyewe wa maisha, wataalam wa urejeshaji walioidhinishwa hushauri, huhamasisha, na kutetea kuhakikisha wagonjwa wanasaidiwa katika safari yao ya kuelekea afya njema.

"Kituo cha Elimu ya Afya cha Eneo la Kaskazini Mashariki mwa Pennsylvania (NE PA AHEC) kilifurahishwa kushiriki katika PROGRESS ya Mradi," alisema Debra Youngfelt, mkurugenzi mtendaji wa NE PA AHEC. "Kwa kutoa mafunzo ya wafanyikazi wa afya ya jamii, tuliwapa watu walio katika hali ya kupona fursa ya kupata ujuzi mpya na kupanua chaguzi zao za ajira. Umuhimu wa wataalam walioidhinishwa wa kupona na wahudumu wa afya ya jamii katika jamii zetu, pamoja na uzoefu muhimu wa maisha wanaoleta kwa wale wanaopata nafuu, hauwezi kupitiwa kupita kiasi kwani mahitaji ya majukumu haya yanaendelea kukua.

"Project PROGRESS ilikuwa mafanikio makubwa, sio tu kwa kutoa mafunzo na fursa za ajira kwa wengi waliopona, lakini pia kwa kujaza pengo katika mwendelezo wa huduma kwa watu binafsi wenye matatizo ya matumizi ya dawa."

Shukrani kwa ushirikiano na Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance, Project PROGRESS iliweza kupanua ufikiaji wake hadi kaunti za mashambani na, kwa upande wake, kuvutia watahiniwa zaidi katika programu ya mafunzo.

"Uhusiano wetu wa kipekee na Project PROGRESS ulibadilisha maisha, ukaimarisha jamii zetu, na kushughulikia unyanyapaa ambao mara nyingi huzuia watu kutoka nyanja zote za maisha kushughulikia shida yao ya utumiaji wa dawa na kuishi maisha ya kupona," alisema Katheryne Hait, SHRM CP, mkuu wa uendeshaji. afisa wa Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance. "Ninajivunia sana ushirikiano wa kudumu tulioanzisha na mashirika kadhaa ya jamii na wanajamii wetu ambao sasa wanaongoza kwa mfano katika majukumu yao kama wataalamu walioidhinishwa wa kupona."

Leo, waajiri huko Pennsylvania wanatafuta kujaza nafasi hizi za kitaaluma katika anuwai ya mipangilio ya biashara, kama vile vituo vya uokoaji na matibabu, magereza, hospitali na huduma za kibinadamu na mipangilio ya afya.

Dk. Stephen S. Long Jr., daktari wa magonjwa ya ndani ya watoto (Med-Peds), hivi majuzi alijiunga na The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. Sasa anapokea wagonjwa wa rika zote katika vituo viwili vya The Wright Center for Community Health ya huduma za msingi za afya ya jamii.

Dk. Long anapatikana kwa miadi katika Kituo cha Wright cha Afya ya Jamii cha Clarks Summit kituo cha huduma ya msingi katika 1145 Northern Blvd. katika Kitongoji cha Abington Kusini siku za Jumatatu na Jumanne na kituo cha huduma ya msingi cha Mid Valley katika 5 S. Washington Ave. huko Jermyn, kuanzia Jumatano hadi Ijumaa.

Ili kupanga miadi na Dk. Long, tembelea TheWrightCenter.org au piga simu kwa Clarks Summit kwa 570-585-1300 au eneo la Mid Valley kwa 570- 230-0019.

Dr. Long has also embraced an institutional academic leadership role in faculty development which will allow him to thoughtfully guide and contribute to the professional growth and development of his physician colleagues, while fostering an environment of continuous lifelong learning and improvement.

Dr. Long lives in Moscow with his wife, Juliette Meyers, an Archbald native recently hired by The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education as an art therapist. A Valley View High School graduate, she received a master’s degree in art therapy and a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies from Marywood University.

As a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike and safety-net provider of whole-person primary health services, The Wright Center for Community Health serves vulnerable and medically underserved populations of all ages, regardless of ethnic background, ZIP code, insurance status, or ability to pay. It accepts all insurance plans and offers a sliding-fee discount program based on federal poverty guidelines that consider family size and income. No patient is ever turned away due to an inability to pay.

Headquartered in Scranton, The Wright Center for Community Health operates 11 comprehensive primary and preventive care community health centers in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties, as well as a mobile medical and dental unit called Driving Better Health. Patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access integrated medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services, including medication-assisted therapy. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-230-0019.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, a community-based internal medicine residency. Today, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education are one of the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums in the nation.

Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wrights Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education train residents and fellows in a community-based, community-needs-responsive primary care workforce development model to advance their shared mission.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education’s residency and fellowship programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The Wright Center for Community Health’s Advanced Education General Dentistry Residency under New York University Langone is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. For more information, go to TheWrightCenter.org or call 570-866-3017.