WellSpan York Hospital Archives - Central Penn Business Journal

WellSpan partners with York firm to recycle plastic waste

WellSpan York Hospital has partnered with a plastics recycling firm to turn the hospital’s plastic waste into building material.

Keith Noll, senior vice president and chief administration officer, said the Center For Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC USA) is taking the plastic waste from WellSpan York Hospital and turning it into RESIN8, a concrete and asphalt additive.

“When CRDC opened in York (in October 2022), I got an email on the business and saw what they were doing,” Noll said. “I called the York County Economic Alliance to get a contact.”

After discussing the possibility of elevating WellSpan Health’s recycling program with CRDC’s Ross Gibby, a pilot program was formed.

“We just started the program a few weeks ago. We thought it would be a weekly pickup at York Hospital, but as we were collecting it, we filled a box truck in less than a week,” he said.

Because the program is new, Noll said he doesn’t know what the volume of plastics will be and how much CRDC can handle.

“It will be considerable,” he said. “It’s cool what they do.”

Gibby said the materials from WellSpan York Hospital’s four departments in the pilot program, along with community collections, account for about 15% of the volume the York facility converts to RESIN8.

Currently, CRDC gets the bulk of its plastic from multiple sources including Georgia Pacific. Gibby said when the company opened to community collections, it was meant to follow the company’s goal of keeping waste out of the environment, especially the ocean.

Noll said when he saw the email about the community collection, he thought it was a great idea. He explained that different types of plastics are recycled differently. In fact, he said a lot of plastic can’t be recycled in the conventional way.

CRDC, he said, takes all plastic, including the plastic wrapping, and through their process, turns it into RESIN8 that strengthens concrete products.

“They take the plastic and pulverize it. It looks like a lava rock when they are done,” Noll said.

Giddy said CRDC in York can convert one ton of plastic into RESIN8 per hour. RESIN8 improves insulation, strength and fire resistance while reducing the weight of concrete with zero waste.

The process was developed in 2018 in Costa Rica. Gibby said the company expanded into New Jersey in 2019 and then around the world on a small scale to demonstrate the technology.

CRDC then partnered with the Alliance on Plastic Waste and opened the York plant on a commercial scale like the one in Costa Rica.

“We sell the products to concrete manufacturers,” he said, “But it is the design engineers, architects and decision makers that will drive the demand as they work with the concrete manufacturers to use the products.”

RESIN8 improves insulation, strength and fire resistance in concrete that is lighter than traditional products and leaves zero waste from the plastic, he said.

“This is very unique,” Noll said. “We are the only system working with CRDC.”

Most health systems, he said, take waste to recycling plants where a lot of plastic is incinerated.

“We decided to repurpose the plastic. We donate it and haul it to them. We are doing it internally now, but plan to partner with a local hauler soon,” Noll said.

There is no charge to the hospital for the plastic. Noll said CRDC repurposes it and sells it, so he sees the partnership as a good fit for both entities.

Noll said the hospital is starting with plastic waste from the operating rooms, facility management, food service and the dialysis unit. The hospital has ordered special containers to collect the plastic that can be recycled.

“Hospitals produce a lot of plastic waste,” he said. “This is exciting to us because it helps from an environmental standpoint and is keeping the community healthier, which is what we do.”

Once the two figure out the volume that can be managed, Noll said the program will expand to the entire hospital and then to all WellSpan facilities.

Giddy agreed, saying the volume doesn’t affect the CRDC’s production and if the volume increases to that level, it can always reduce what is being brought in from elsewhere.

Currently, CRDC has one shift with six employees. Giddy said a second shift will be operational in about six months with an additional five to six employees.

Noll said he hopes to see the hospital’s recycling program expand in the next six months.

“That is ambitious, but we want to do it,” he said. “The staff is excited abouit, so they are helping us roll this out. We have to work with CRDC, so we don’t overwhelm them.”

Noll said the hope is to use the concrete products produced by CRDC in any building projects WellSpan does in the future.

Robotic surgery earns WellSpan York Hospital recognition

WellSpan York Hospital has been accredited as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery.

The accreditation from Surgical Review Corp. (SRC), a nonprofit patient safety organization, makes it the first health care facility in southcentral Pennsylvania to receive the recognition, WellSpan Health Central Region said.

Robotic surgery spans multiple specialties, including gynecology, gynecologic oncology, urology, urogynecology, bariatric, thoracic, colorectal, and general surgery.

“Earning this accreditation signifies our commitment to excellence and to providing high quality, safe, and effective surgical care that matches the skills of our expert clinicians,” said Victoria Diamond, senior vice president, WellSpan Health Central Region, and president, WellSpan York Hospital. “SRC thoroughly reviewed our surgical outcomes data, medical records and internal processes to confirm what we’ve always known: that the surgical teams behind the medical devices are the very best at what they do.”

SRC accredits top facilities, surgeons, and medical professionals worldwide. Healthcare facilities and surgeons seeking SRC accreditation undergo an extensive assessment and inspection process to ensure the applicant meets SRC’s proven standards and requirements, WellSpan Health Central Region said.

The requirements include surgical volumes, facility equipment, clinical pathways, and standardized operating procedures emphasizing patient education and continuous quality assessment. Inspectors educate staff in the accredited departments on best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.

“We’re proud to recognize WellSpan York Hospital for its commitment to advancing and providing quality care for all patients,” said Gary M. Pratt, chief executive officer of SRC. “This accreditation signals that this facility is among the best in this specialty and is dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible.”

In addition to WellSpan York Hospital achieving the Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery accreditation, six surgeons at the hospital have achieved the designation of Master Surgeon in Robotic Surgery from SRC. They are Dr. Faiz Shariff specializes in robotic bariatric surgery, Dr. Ricardo Patton Po and Dr. Benjamin Vabi in colorectal surgery, Dr. Carlos Roberts and Dr. Eav Lim in gynecologic surgery and Dr. Scott Tiedebohl in thoracic surgery.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our surgical team and robotic surgeons for achieving this accreditation,” said Dr. Tony Aquilina, executive vice president and chief physician executive at WellSpan Health. “It ensures that our teams are all aligned in our mission to provide the best outcomes for our patients as they are seeking access to high quality healthcare from top surgical providers right here in South Central Pennsylvania.”

WellSpan York Hospital has 21 surgeons across eight specialties with four high-tech robots. The team has been performing robotic surgeries for over 15 years and more than 10,000 patients have had this type of surgery with the da Vinci robot since 2008.

Healthgrades: Lancaster General Hospital among best in country

Lancaster General Hospital. Submitted photo.

Lancaster General Hospital was named one of the country’s top 50 hospitals by Healthgrades, ranking it in the top one percent.

Four other local hospitals made Healthgrades Top 100 and Top 250 list.

Healthgrades recognizes national leaders in overall clinical excellence annually as a guide for people to find a doctor or hospital.

LGH, which has made the list for three consecutive years, also earned a top 50 rating for cardiac surgery and a top 100 rating for cardiac care, gastrointestinal surgery and stroke care.

“Using proprietary data, Healthgrades simplifies the research process and empowers consumers to choose experienced doctors who practice at high-quality hospitals” Healthgrades said in a statement.

To determine the top 250 U.S. hospitals, Healthgrades evaluated clinical performance for nearly 4,500 hospitals across more than 31 of the most common procedures and conditions. In tandem with the national recognition, Healthgrades measured the hospitals across 18 key specialty areas to identify the highest-ranking hospitals in 32 eligible states.

WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, UPMC Harrisburg Hospital and Milton S. Hershey Medical Center were named to the Top 100 Hospitals list, which places them in the top two percent; and WellSpan York made the Top 250 Hospitals list, placing it in the top five percent.

“Healthgrades makes it easy for consumers to choose a doctor based on the three factors that matter most: compatibility, relevant experience, and the quality of the hospital where you’ll be treated,” said Burt Kann, executive vice president and head of product at Healthgrades. “With these awards, we are helping consumers identify the highest quality care in their community by celebrating the hospitals that consistently deliver better-than-expected clinical outcomes.”

WellSpan Chambersburg was also recognized in the Top 100 for coronary intervention and critical care.

UMPC Harrisburg earned the Top 100 rating for cardiac care, gastrointestinal care, gastrointestinal surgery, pulmonary care and stroke care.

Milton S. Hershey received Top 100 status for gastrointestinal care, gastrointestinal surgery and stroke care.

WellSpan York also made the Top 100 for gastrointestinal care and stroke care.

A recent Healthgrades survey revealed that 64% of consumers are more concerned with their health and wellness than they were before the pandemic, and more than half of Americans (57%) are more concerned with the quality of care provided by the doctors and hospitals they choose today.

By making hospital performance more transparent, Healthgrades said it helps increasingly engaged consumers become informed healthcare customers.

“Healthcare decisions are often complicated and fraught with emotion,” said Dr. Brad Bowman, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades. “By giving consumers an easy-to-understand, data-driven way to identify the hospitals in their area with the best outcomes, Healthgrades is helping all patients – no matter their background – confidently choose higher quality care.”

Five York County projects receive millions in funding

Funding totaling $13 million from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program has been approved for five York County projects, state Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, announced Monday.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.

Hill-Evans said the projects mark a major investment by the state in the York region. “In the education, health, and economic sectors, these projects will have a lasting impact on our community, and I want to thank everyone involved who has helped make them happen.”

The following projects have been awarded funding:

$4.5 million to Northern York County Police Commission

$4 million to York Country Day School
$2 million to WellSpan York Hospital
$2 million to the York County Economic Alliance
$500,000 to LogosWorks

The $4.5 million awarded to Northern York County Regional Police will provide for a new facility to increase staffing capacity, create a space for specialized police operations, and provide the facilities necessary to maintain the health and wellness of the department’s officers.

The $4 million award for York Country Day School has been designated to build additional classrooms and multiple flex spaces to be used for specialized teachings, such as speech pathology and core subject acceleration and remediation. The classrooms will include pertinent technology for both in-school and remote instruction in addition to desks, chairs, and other project-based learning areas.

The $2 million award to WellSpan York Hospital will be used to construct an additional 150 parking spaces and support WellSpan’s nine-story surgical and critical care tower expansion project. Hill-Evans stated that this project will improve access to advanced specialty care for complex conditions.

The $2 million award to the York County Economic Alliance will fund the redevelopment of the former federal post office located in downtown York. Included in the redevelopment are facade improvements, stabilization and restoration of the interior structures, and preparation of the building for occupancy by a large anchor tenant. The construction process will look to restore historic features and maintain the historic integrity of the property wherever possible.

The $500,000 award to LogosWorks will provide a staging facility designed to serve as a backbone structure connecting the under-resourced community to economic opportunities through direct programming and partnerships with nonprofits and businesses. The facility features classrooms, meeting rooms, a training center, a kitchen facility and a fitness/wellness center.

$255 million WellSpan York Hospital expansion underway after pandemic delay

Suzanne McConkey, chair, WellSpan Health Central Region Hospital board; Roxanna Gapstur, president & CEO, WellSpan Health; Hilda Shirk, vice chair, WellSpan Health board; Vicky Diamond, SVP, Central Region, president WellSpan York Hospital; and Dr. James Harvey, vice president and chief medical officer, Heart & Vascular service line – Photo by Cris Collingwood

After a nearly two-year delay due to the pandemic, WellSpan York Hospital ceremoniously began demolition of outdated buildings to make way for a state-of-the-art expansion Thursday.

The hospital plans to start bringing down South Hall, built in 1970, and the Marie Kettering building, built in 1949, next week from the inside out to make way for a new eight-story surgical and critical care tower to meet the growing needs of the community, said Vicky Diamond, senior vice president of WellSpan’s Central Region and president of WellSpan York Hospital.

During a ceremony for hospital staff, builders and designers, and local dignitaries, Diamond said designs for the surgical suites and critical care facilities are almost complete and the hospital-based health care system hopes to start construction later this year. The project is expected to take about two-and-a-half years at a cost of about $255 million.

The expansion is expected to add 500 nurses, nursing aids, physicians and respiratory, physical and occupational therapists to the health care system’s 10,000 York County employees, more than half of whom work at the hospital, Diamond said.

The new facility will have large surgical suites with state-of-the-art robotic capabilities, large pre- and post-operative care rooms, and intensive care suites large enough for family to stay on site.

Diamond said the tower will also house a women’s center with labor and delivery rooms large enough to accommodate patients through the whole birthing process in one room. A neonatal intensive care unit will also be housed in the new almost 250,000-square-foot facility.

“We will have more information in a few weeks,” including renderings of the space, Diamond told the gathering on the roof of the employee parking facility which faces the two buildings that are being torn down. “We expect this to take two-and-a-half years to complete, opening in 2025,” she said.

The more than 300 team members housed in the Marie Kettering building are in the process of relocating. South Hall, a corner of which was knocked down for the ceremony, is already vacant.

Even with the delays from the pandemic and supply issues, the project is targeted for the original completion date.

“We are at the midpoint of the project, and I can’t thank you all enough for your support, especially the board,” she said. “The next two-and-a-half years are going to be fun.”

Dr. James Harvey, vice president and chief medical officer, Heart & Vascular service line, WellSpan, said the project has special meaning to him. “We’ve changed so much. This is like what we saw in Star Trek and now we will have it.”

Harvey spoke to the importance of the enlarged space allowing for family members to be with the patients throughout their stay. “When people are in the critical care unit, they need family. We’ve learned that social and psychological issues are as important as the medical,” he said.

The expansion, he said, “means we will not be prisoners of the present and we can plan for the future now.”

Not only will patients get improved care, but Harvey said the facility will attract providers to York as well. “This will be a preferred place for providers to work,” he said.

Dr. Roxanna Gapstur, president and CEO, WellSpan Health, said the new tower is “pioneering.”

“This supports our vision as a Gold LEED Certified facility to add green space, sustainable energy, a healing environment and a healthy environment for our team,” she said.

WellSpan York Hospital recognized for LGBTQ+ care

WellSpan York Hospital has been recognized as a healthcare equality top performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).

The recognition highlights its policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of gay, bisexual, transgender and others, including team members, patients, and visitors. 

“Our increasingly diverse communities deserve an equally diverse and inclusive care environment,” said Victoria Diamond, senior vice president for the central region of WellSpan Health and president of WellSpan York Hospital .

“The programs, policies and training we have in place ensure we present our best selves to provide exceptional care for all,” she said. “This recognition validates WellSpan’s concerted efforts not just for our patients, but the equal respect for our LGBTQ+ team members as well.”

WellSpan Health has a decades-long history of providing medical care for the LGBTQ+ community, she said. In recent years, services have expanded to about 30 providers across the regions it serves in South Central Pennsylvania who deliver a range of gender-affirming healthcare services including case management, hormone prescribing in primary care settings, therapy and letters, obstetric care, fertility, surgeries, and voice therapy.

“We are very proud of our history of gender-affirming healthcare services and inclusive work throughout our organization, said Dr. D. Scott McCracken, clinical lead for WellSpan’s LGBTQ+ Steering Committee. “It is exciting to be able to offer this level of care to the historically marginalized LGBTQ+ community, and in line with our mission, we will continue to increase and improve access to top-quality care for all that we serve.”

The hospital earns the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” designation by achieving 95 points out of 100 in the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey, WellSpan said.

The Healthcare Equality Index evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Foundational policies and training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care
LGBTQ+ patient services and support
Employee benefits and policies
Patient and community engagement

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Five York County projects receive millions in funding

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