At WellSpan Health we're boldly moving forward so you can too. Every day we continue to push ahead relentlessly by finding a better way as your trusted healthcare partner.
— PERSONALIZED CARE PLANS
WellSpan believes in putting the patient’s needs and health goals as top priority while developing a care plan. We know your real health goals aren’t based on test result numbers – they’re about doing the things you enjoy and living your everyday life to the fullest.
Maybe you want to walk the dog or play with your kids or grandkids without pain. Or maybe you’re an athlete preparing for the big game. Or maybe you want to more effectively communicate with your family or need help performing daily tasks. We will collaborate with you on a care plan to bring you one step closer to those goals.
Adeline, age 8, loves to swing. She has a ball jumping on the trampoline. She is a big fan of the show tunes of "Mamma Mia!" and "Hamilton." She also has an autism spectrum disorder. Adeline gets support from the WellSpan Philhaven Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, with goals directed toward improving her communication and daily living skills. To help her meet those goals, a registered behavior technician from CADD attends school with Adeline and works with Adeline and her family after school, in her home. Before she started working with CADD, Adeline could ask for about five things she needed or wanted. Now she can ask for between 80 and 100 things, in sentence form. "It opened up the whole world for her," her mom said. "It changed everything."
— INNOVATIONS IN CANCER CARE
At WellSpan Health our expert cancer care team focuses on your individual needs with advanced technology. We walk alongside you with personal care navigators and collaborative treatment choices. We’re there for the whole journey from routine screening to diagnosis and leading treatment.
With advanced cancer treatment options available locally, we provide the ability to be cared for close to home. We help you feel supported through your cancer journey with the social, financial, spiritual and physical help you need so you can fight with greater peace of mind.
WellSpan leads the way, using state-of-the-art MRI machines, linked to artificial intelligence (AI) to relentlessly detect prostate and other cancers sooner. “We just have not been able to see these tumors prior to this technology,” says Edward Steiner, MD, chair of WellSpan Imaging and Radiation Oncology. “It’s game-changing technology.” Early diagnosis of prostate cancer means greatly improved survival rates. Once the cancer spreads past the gland, the cure rate drops from over 90 percent to 30 percent.
— FINDING A BETTER WAY
We’ve been investing in telehealth for years and have developed tools to make your visits, follow-ups and urgent care easier. When the COVID-19 pandemic shifted much of our care online, we were prepared. Creating a safer environment for you both inside and outside our offices means you get the right care when and where you need it.
Rehabilitation, behavioral health, primary care and other services have provided care in new ways. With our online tools, you’re able to continue moving toward your health goals, receiving mental health care, and more. We will never stop striving to find a better way, so you can live a healthier life.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Candace Kronen, a WellSpan speech therapist, committed to finding a better way to communicate with her patients. Using visual special effects usually reserved for the television and movie industry, Candace was able to help patients like Kylie interact with their instructor and continue their progress. “She has a gift for understanding kids and she has changed Kylie’s life,” said Michelle Mozeliak, Kylie’s mother. “You couldn’t understand anything Kylie was saying before, but since she began virtual learning she can now form sentences and I am just super happy that we can communicate with her now.”
— CARE FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
Care for all means care for everyone in all our communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic we worked with community partners to provide education and resources to all our neighbors. This included an emphasis on Spanish-language materials and programs.
Our focus on inclusivity means every community member has the chance to understand their health, to get timely and appropriate care and treatment options, and to make the best health decisions for themselves. Moving forward together is how we’re taking each step ahead.
Staff helped translate care messages for Julian Montanez, who was on a ventilator battling COVID-19 at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon this spring. "Since the beginning of my sickness, my condition, I feel actually quite happy because everyone has been treating me so well," he said, translated from his native Spanish. We also shared Spanish-language COVID-19 information and materials across Central PA, educating patients and the community on safety. We donated thousands of masks, hand sanitizer and other PPE to those in need. From health information to free care for all COVID-19 patients, we ensured the community was well cared for during this uncertain time.