Advanced Technology Contributes to the Patient Experience
Emergency Care
Expert Radiation Therapy
Injury or Joint Pain Have You Sidelined?
New Faces
Here When You Need Us!
HealthLines is a publication of Penn Highlands Healthcare which includes the hospitals of Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands Connellsville, Penn Highlands DuBois, Penn Highlands Elk, Penn Highlands Huntingdon, Penn Highlands Mon Valley, Penn Highlands State College and Penn Highlands Tyrone. It is produced by the system’s Marketing Team and is always available on our website at www.phhealthcare.org/magazine.
For more information, please contact the Marketing Team at HealthLines@ phhealthcare.org.
The Marketing and Communications HealthLines Team
Mary Jo Herzing, System Graphics, Web and Brand Manager
Corinne G. Laboon, System Communications Manager
Joy Weidel, Senior Marketing & Communications Coordinator
The information in this magazine does not take the place of health advice given to you by your healthcare provider. Always call 9-1-1 for any emergency.
Advanced Technology Contributes to the Patient Experience
“The technology you use impresses no one. The experience you create with it is everything.” This message from Sean Gerety, the User Experience Manager at The Home Depot, applies to practically every industry including health care. Penn Highlands State College has incorporated advanced technology in our new hospital and medical office building to provide convenient and positive experiences for patients.
“When people visit a hospital or medical office, they are sometimes anxious because either they or a loved one is experiencing a situation for which they need care,” explained Rhonda Halstead, MSM, Regional Market President – Central Region, Penn Highlands Healthcare. “We strive to make their experience at Penn Highlands State College as relaxing as possible, and the technology we are using is helping make their visit more comfortable and expedite their care.”
MyCheckIn
Even before patients step foot on the campus, they can begin using the latest technology — Penn Highlands Healthcare MyCheckIn — to securely complete some of their intake forms such as patient history, and updates to health information and consents. Patients can use a computer, tablet or Smartphone in the comfort of their home or while on the go to complete or review their personal intake forms at their convenience.
MyCheckIn saves patients time when they arrive for their appointments. They can check-in faster using their Smartphone’s camera to scan the QR code in the provider’s Registration Area or Waiting Room to notify the office staff of their arrival. Patients who do not have a Smartphone can still complete the
Penn Highlands Healthcare
intake forms online at home using a computer or tablet. When they arrive at the provider’s office, they simply alert the staff that they are there.
MyCheckIn is currently being used by patients who have Family Medicine, Pulmonary and Orthopedics and Sports Medicine appointments. It will continue to be introduced throughout the medical office building.
Biometric Registration
In healthcare, it is very important to provide the right care to the right patient.
To ensure accurate patient information and identification, Penn Highlands State College implemented a state-of-theart biometric patient identification system that scans the unique veins in each person’s hand. The system generates a key associated with those scanned veins which have more than 1,000 characteristics unique to each person. That key is then stored and compared upon each patient’s visit during the registration process.
State-of-the-art
Technology Enhances Diagnoses
and Treatments
From the hospital to the medical office building, Penn Highlands State College is using advanced technology to provide expert care to patients. Some examples of this technology include:
• 3 state-of-the-art surgical suites
• Fully equipped Medical Imaging Department with the newest diagnostic technology including:
• CT Scan
• DEXA Scans (Bone Density)
• Imaging (X-rays)
• Mammography
• MRI
• Nuclear Medicine
• PET Scan
• Ultrasound
“Our biometric system uses an algorithm and hundreds of points from the palm’s veins to create a unique digital key for each patient that is only accessible to our health system,” explained John McLendon, Chief Information Officer, Penn Highlands Healthcare. “When a patient places their palm just a few inches above the reader, the digital key then confirms their unique identity and informs the registration clerk that they have the correct patient’s electronic chart making it more secure for our patients.”
• Radiation Therapy — For patients who require radiation therapy, the Hahne Cancer Center uses the Varian TrueBeam system that is one of the most advanced radiation therapies available. The system provides pinpoint accuracy in the treatment of many different types of tumors including those in sensitive areas such as the abdomen, liver, lung, breast, head and neck.
For more information about Radiation Oncology at Penn Highlands State College, turn to page 6.
EMERGENCY CARE CLOSE TO YOU
Your husband is raking leaves and rushes into the house holding his chest. While grilling burgers, your hand is accidentally burned. A friend is deeply depressed and threatening to harm himself. These are times when you need an Emergency Department (ED), and now Centre County has the expertise of Penn Highlands State College nearby.
Whether it’s 2:00 AM on a typical Saturday or Thanksgiving Day at 6:00 PM, the Penn Highlands State College ED is always open and staffed by skilled and knowledgeable physicians.
“All of our ED physicians are trained and credentialed in Emergency Medicine, said Shane Sergent, DO, Penn Highlands Healthcare Central Region Medical Director of Emergency Medicine. “Many provide additional areas of expertise such as training at Level I trauma centers, ultrasound, EMS pre-hospital care, wilderness medicine and even dive/hyperbaric medicine.”
Emergency care is provided in 10 private treatment rooms where patients may be seen more quickly. Of course, wait times can vary depending on the number and severity of patients being treated. The ED also includes a trauma room where patients can be stabilized until they are transported to the Level II Trauma Center at Penn Highlands DuBois or another facility of their choice.
For patients in a behavioral health crisis, the ED includes two rooms with special features to keep at-risk patients safe.
“Our ED was designed to provide convenient and comfortable patientcentered care,” said Dr. Sergent. “For example, some of our physicians are trained in bedside ultrasound so patients do not have to leave the exam room for testing. We also have a retail pharmacy onsite so that if a patient needs a prescription, they can have it filled before even leaving the hospital.”
If a patient needs to be admitted, the hospital includes 18 private inpatient rooms for continued care.
To learn more about the Penn Highlands State College Emergency Department, visit phhealthcare.org/ED.
“Our ED was designed to provide convenient and comfortable patientcentered care,” Shane Sergent, DO
10 private treatment rooms where patients may be seen more quickly.
24/7 Emergency Care
A Safe Haven for Babies
The Penn Highlands State College Emergency Department (ED) is one of only two locations in Pennsylvania that has a Safe Haven Baby Box to meet the needs of mothers in crisis in the Centre County region.
The Baby Box is a safety device that is installed in an exterior wall of the ED. When a baby is placed inside the box, the door automatically locks and the ED staff receives notification that a baby has been surrendered. The baby is immediately removed and examined.
The Safe Haven Law was enacted in 2001 to allow mothers to confidentially surrender their unharmed babies within 14 days of birth to staff at any Safe Haven facility without fear of prosecution for abandonment.
To receive counseling and assistance free of charge, mothers can call or text the 24-hour national crisis hotline at 1-86699BABY1.
Should You Visit the Emergency Department or a Walk-in Clinic?
Emergency Department Care
If you have sudden onset symptoms or a life-threatening illness or injury, go straight to the local Emergency Department. If the symptoms warrant, call 911 to get you there faster!
In the ED, a triage system is followed to prioritize the most severely ill or injured patients. Chest pains, stroke symptoms, head injuries, serious burns and uncontrolled bleeding are among the reasons to seek care from an Emergency Department.
QCare State College
If an injury or illness is not severe, but a same-day appointment is necessary, a walk-in clinic is a great choice. QCare State College Walkin Clinic treats basic medical issues that would typically require an appointment with a primary care provider; it is located in the Medical Office Building on the State College campus. Appointments are never needed and care is provided for toddlers to adults. Fever, sprains, back pain, insect bites, flu-like symptoms and many others are among those treated at the QCare State College Walk-in Clinic.
For more information, visit phhealthcare.org/qcare.
Expert Radiation Therapy
Just as no two people are exactly the same, no two cancers are the same.
At Penn Highlands State College, the multidisciplinary team at the Hahne Cancer Center works together to develop treatment plans for each individual patient’s unique needs. The team is committed to helping patients win the battle against cancer using advanced technology with a personalized approach.
Radiation therapy is used to treat many types of cancer — either alone or as part of a comprehensive plan that may include surgery and medical oncology. At Penn Highlands State College, the skilled physicians and providers at the Hahne Cancer Center use one of the most advanced radiation treatment systems — the Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator — to deliver radiation to the tumor. Use of this technology:
• Aggressively targets tumors with minimal doses of radiation
• Enables radiation oncologists to precisely conform the radiation
to the shape of the tumor
• Reduces the exposure of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor
• Substantially reduces the duration of treatment times
Many patients are surprised to learn that each session lasts only a few minutes so their visits to the Cancer Center are brief.
For more information about radiation oncology at PennHighlands State College, visit phhealthcare.org /radiationoncology.
Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator
Meet Your Radiation Expert
Jack D. Schocker, MD, FACR
Jack D. Schocker, MD, FACR, has spent decades providing cancer care in a community hospital environment — and that’s where he believes he can deliver the highest level of care in a personalized setting.
“I am excited about this opportunity,” said Dr. Schocker. “I was trained at one of the world’s premier centers for radiation oncology, but I wanted to work in a community hospital.”
At the Penn Highlands Hahne Cancer Center in State College, Dr. Schocker and his full-time staff, which includes nurses, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and medical physicists, are treating all types of cancer. In addition to common malignancies such as lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, head/neck and gynecologic, they are able to treat brain tumors and soft tissue sarcomas, as well as bladder and skin cancers and many others in adults.
The radiation oncology team has one of the best tools available in their arsenal to treat tumors — the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator.
“My staff and I have extensive experience using a linear accelerator
to target tumors and the model we are using at Penn Highlands State College is generally regarded as the finest type of equipment available today,” explained Dr. Schocker.
He continued, “After 40-plus years of practicing oncology, it might be easy for some to approach a cancer diagnosis as something routine; however that is quite the opposite of how I feel. No patient wants to have such a diagnosis, and almost all worry about what will happen during the course of their treatment. My obligation is to make sure that each patient has an individualized care plan that maximizes the chance for cure. Ultimately I want to deliver care that is the same that I would want for my family or even for myself.”
Dr. Schocker’s family includes his wife, Sandy, and three adult children who were all raised in nearby Hollidaysburg.
In his free time, Dr. Schocker enjoys water-related activities including swimming and boating. He also enjoys photography and has had a lifelong love of automobiles.
“My staff and I have extensive experience using a linear accelerator to target tumors and the model we are using at Penn Highlands State College is generally regarded as the finest type of equipment available today”
Jack D. Schocker, MD, FACR
Hahne Cancer Center - State College
PENN HIGHLANDS
RADIATION ONCOLOGY
A Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard
First Floor State College, PA 582-220-2218
Orthopedic Conditions We Treat
• ACL Injuries/Reconstruction
• Bicep Injuries
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Carpometacarpal (CMC) Joint Arthroplasties
• Elbow Injuries
• Fractures (Upper and lower extremities)
• Hip Replacement Surgery (Often, same-day discharge)
• Knee Replacement Surgery (Often, same-day discharge)
• Meniscus Problems
• Shoulder Injuries
• Tendon Repairs
• Trigger Finger
Injured or have chronic joint, bone or muscle pain? Consult the new experts in State College.
There are certain words most people do not want to hear such as “Mom, I fell and my arm hurts;” or “You need a new hip to ease your discomfort.” People in the Centre County region can now hear those words with the confidence that they have a new place to turn for expert care –Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in State College, PA.
From pain due to an injury or chronic condition, the physicians and providers at Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can help. They provide specialized care to people ages 12 and older and treat routine fractures in children over the age of 2. The skilled team creates custom treatment plans for each patient that work best for their conditions — beginning with the most conservative treatment possible to eliminate or reduce pain and restore function. If surgery is necessary, it can be performed in one of the three new high-tech surgical suites at Penn Highlands State College.
“Orthopedic surgery provides an opportunity to re-introduce quality of life to people and restore their faith in life rather quickly,” explained Jason Clark, DO, FAAOS, a board-certified
From pain due to an injury or chronic condition, the physicians and providers at Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can help.
orthopedic surgeon at Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine who sees patients and performs surgery at Penn Highlands State College.
Penn Highlands Healthcare works with many physicians who specialize in orthopedics and sports medicine. For a list of physicians near you, visit phhealthcare.org/findadoc.
For more information about orthopedic care at Penn Highlands Healthcare, visit phhealthcare. org/orthopedics. To schedule an appointment, call 582-220-2310.
Meet Your Orthopedic Expert
Jason Clark, DO, FAAOS
It is no surprise that Jason Clark, DO, FAAOS, is providing orthopedic care at Penn Highlands State College. His path to the new hospital and medical office building began in Bedford County where he was raised. Before earning a Master of Health Administration degree from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minn., and his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA, he attended Juniata College in Huntingdon County. Through the years, he spent a great deal of time in Centre County – particularly State College.
“I love this area and the people who live here,” he said enthusiastically. “I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be working with and for the people of State College and surrounding areas.”
In the 1990s, Dr. Clark had an injury requiring ACL surgery. He had it performed in this region which inspired him to pursue a career in orthopedics.
“For me to be back here now as a practicing orthopedic surgeon, it feels like I am home,” he said.
Dr. Clark is fellowship trained in shoulder and elbow surgery and performs many general
orthopedic procedures such as same-day discharge hip and knee replacements. He also specializes in sports medicine and is certified in robotic-assisted total knee and hip replacements.
You will often see Dr. Clark and his family around the State College community. He lives with his wife, Kelsey, and 8-year-old daughter just minutes from the hospital. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and attending Penn State University sports events.
While his life focuses around family, he considers his patients part of his family too.
“I’ve sought out a place to practice medicine that emphasizes taking a stressful experience, such as having surgery or an injury, and trying to focus on a welcoming and positive environment for the patient and their family, he explained. Patients should leave my office and/or after surgery feeling like they are part of our family. Penn Highlands State College presents the perfect opportunity to provide care to the community in a way they deserve.”
Dr. Clark’s office is located at Penn Highlands State College, 239 Colonnade Boulevard, 2nd Floor, State College. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Clark, call 582-220-2310.
“Orthopedic surgery provides an opportunity to re-introduce quality of life to people and restore their faith in life rather quickly”
Jascon Clark, DO, FAAOS
Call
for an appointment today!
PENN HIGHLANDS ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS
MEDICINE
A Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon 239 Colonnade Boulevard 2nd Floor State College, PA 582-220-2310
AT PENN
HIGHLANDS
STATE COLLEGE
Physicians
Cary Amundson, DO Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Jeffrey Brandon Armstrong, MD Family Practitioner
Jason Clark, DO, FAAOS Orthopedic Surgeon
James V. Lieb, DO Oncologist
Penn Highlands Family Medicine
Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2305
Sandeep Bansal, MD, FCCP, FACP Pulmonologist
Penn Highlands Lung Center Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard 814-375-3770
Craig Callovini, DO Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Medical Office Building
239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2310
Christopher Glynn, MD, MBA Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Corey Gill, MD, MS Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Craig Herring, MD Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Penn Highlands Oncology/Hematology Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2215
Peter Patitsas, MD, MBA Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Cody Pepperday, DO Radiologist
Radiology Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2172
Bruno J. Romeo, MD Pulmonologist
Penn Highlands Lung Center
Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard 814-375-3770
Jack Schocker, MD, FACR
Radiation Oncologist
Penn Highlands Radiation Oncology
Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2218
Meike Schuster, DO, FACOG, FACOOG
Perinatologist
Penn Highlands Perinatology
Medical Office Building
239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2315
Shane R. Sergent, DO
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Shaun Sheehan, DO, EMT-HP
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Kyle Yebernetsky, MD
Emergency Medicine Specialist
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Advanced Practice Providers
Dana Conroy, DNP, FNP-C
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Penn Highlands Family Medicine and QCare State College
Medical Office Building
239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2305
Dawn R. Jeannerat, AGACNP-BC
Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Penn Highlands Lung Center
Medical Office Building
239 Colonnade Boulevard 814-375-3770
Erica Rulon, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College
239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Sarah Ryan, PA-C Certified Physician Assistant
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Medical Office Building
239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2310
Jena Schellhammer, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Kyle M. Sutherland, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Penn Highlands Family Medicine and QCare State College
Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2305
Eryn Thomas, FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
Penn Highlands Lung Center Medical Office Building 239 Colonnade Boulevard 814-375-3770
Stephen Verona, PA-C Certified Physician Assistant
Emergency Department
Penn Highlands State College 239 Colonnade Boulevard 582-220-2205
Penn Highlands State College Here When You Need Us!
In real estate, people say “location, location, location.” In healthcare, it’s “expertise, skill, convenience, location and innovation” — just to name a few. Penn Highlands State College encompasses all of those qualities.
“Penn Highlands State College is in a great location which makes the hospital and medical office building easily accessible for people in the region to receive expert care in state-of-the-art facilities without having to travel far,” said Rhonda Halstead, MSM, Regional Market President – Central Region, Penn Highlands Healthcare.
Patient-Centric Hospital
Since the hospital opened in July 2024, people from Centre County and surrounding areas have been visiting the Emergency Department for a host of reasons ranging from chest pains and gastrointestinal issues to psychiatric emergencies and traumatic injuries. The 10 private treatment rooms accommodate patients for prompt assessment and expert care.
The hospital includes a full complement of services including, Medical Imaging which uses the latest digital imaging equipment; three high-tech Operating Suites;
and an Endoscopy Procedure Room.
The 18 private inpatient rooms, which are located on the second floor, are designed for patient comfort.
Services for the Whole Family
The medical office building, which is connected to the hospital, offers many primary and specialty services.
“Much consideration and evaluation went into which services would be offered at Penn Highlands State College,” said Trina Abla, DO, MBA, System Chief Medical Officer, Penn Highlands Healthcare. “We are confident that people who live in the region will receive the medical care they need in their community from Penn Highlands Healthcare physicians they can trust.”
From the QCare Walk-in Clinic that provides expert care for the entire family to cancer care provided by nationally respected oncologists, the medical office building is a hub for care.
239 Colonnade Boulevard
State College, PA 582-220-2345
Services at a Glance
THE HOSPITAL INCLUDES:
• An Emergency Department open 24/7 with 10 treatment rooms and a trauma room
• 18 Private Inpatient Rooms designed for patient comfort
• 3 high-tech Operating Suites, an Endoscopy Procedure Room and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
• An Imaging Suite with CT Scan, MRI, Nuclear Medicine and Radiology
THE STATE COLLEGE MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING INCLUDES:
• QCare State College providing walk-in care for toddlers to seniors
• Penn Highlands Hahne Cancer Center
• Multidisciplinary care including advanced medical oncology infusion services
• State-of-the-art radiation services
• The latest, most modern advanced linear accelerator for precision accuracy
• Skilled and compassionate family medicine, pediatric and specialty care including orthopedics
• Breast Care Services staffed by individuals who understand a woman’s special needs
• Cardiology services offering specialized heart care close to home
• Laboratory services for quick, convenient and accurate diagnosis
• Retail pharmacy with convenient drive-thru service
