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Geisinger’s new Addiction Medicine Program welcoming applicants

Posted on by Chamber of Business & Industry Centre County

Training is for physician assistants and nurse practitioners to provide addiction care in primary care settings

 

Geisinger’s Addiction Medicine Program has received a $2.5 million federal grant to support an  Addiction Medicine Advanced Practitioner Training Program for physician assistants (PA-Cs) and certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs).

The goal is to train advanced practitioners to identify and care for patients with substance use disorder and opioid use disorder — especially people living in rural areas where other options for care are limited.

The first training class will launch in January, with new classes beginning each July and January over the course of the five-year grant. Applicants must be board certified and maintain an active Pennsylvania advanced practitioner license. 

“Studies have shown that Pennsylvania communities — particularly those in rural areas — struggle with access to substance use disorder treatment options, putting more strain on our hospitals,” said Margaret Jarvis, M.D., chief, addiction services for Geisinger Addiction Medicine and the Geisinger Neuroscience Institute. “Putting well trained advanced practitioners in primary care sites will provide a stable environment for long-term treatment of addicted patients. Because they’re treated in their communities, it’s easier to help them stay on course.”

The 12-month program includes lectures and in-clinic training. It will focus on mental health and substance use and opioid use disorder services, including the use of medications to treat opioid use disorder.

To receive an application, visit go.geisinger.edu/apaddictiontraining.

Keller Engineers, Inc. Hires in Transportation and Survey Division

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

Keller Engineers, Inc., with locations in Hollidaysburg, State College, Gettysburg, PA and Haddonfield, NJ is a full-service engineering firm providing client-focused civil and structural engineering, and surveying services.

Keller Engineers, Inc. is proud to announce the hiring of Martin Biesinger, PLS, in the Survey Division and Nathan Cunningham in the Transportation Division.

Martin is a Professional Land Surveyor with over 30 years of surveying and land planning experience, including but not limited to: Boundary, ALTA, Deformation/Monitoring, AsBuilt, Geodetic, and Hydrographic surveys. He also has prior experience in the construction industry, overseeing daily operations at work sites and coordinating with subcontractors to ensure project completion in an efficient manner. Martin holds an Associate Degree in Surveying Technology from The Pennsylvania State University. In addition to his varied work experience and educational background, he is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving from 1986-1994 as a Boatswains mate on the U.S.S. W.S. Sims (FF1059).

Nathan is a current student at the Pennsylvania College of Technology pursuing an Associate Degree in IT Network & User Support. He joins our Transportation Division with an extensive background in IT and technology. He has experience with numerous network and security programs, as well as advanced programming. Nathan is also a recipient of the Jersey Shore Steel Scholarship which is available to students at Pennsylvania College of Technology who maintain at least a 2.5 minimum GPA and is a family member of a current or former employee at Jersey Shore Steel. He is a 2021 graduate of Altoona Area High School and previously worked in the retail, restaurant, and delivery service industry prior to joining us at Keller Engineers.

Chamber Hosts Healthcare Forum

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

A sold-out crowd of Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) members gathered to discuss the evolving healthcare landscape in our region.

Speakers included:

  • Kurt Kissinger, Chief Strategy and System Development Officer at Mount Nittany Health
  • Kirk Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer of Geisinger Western Region
  • Heather Franci, MBHA, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Penn Highlands Healthcare

The panel addressed pivotal topics in healthcare, including the cost of care, how AI is currently impacting healthcare, investments in access to care, and how they are addressing the healthcare workforce shortage.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor

Lead Sponsors

 

Bronze Sponsors

Don’t miss our next Voice of Business Luncheon: State of the County on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Mount Nittany Health’s Physician Group Establishes Tuition Reimbursement Program with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

Mount Nittany Health is pleased to announce a partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology (CPI) to provide tuition assistance to students enrolled full-time or part-time in the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) programs. As part of the program, students will receive employment agreements to work at Mount Nittany Physician Group upon graduation, if they meet the eligibility requirements.

“Mount Nittany Physician Group is looking to the future,” said Kathleen Rhine, President and CEO of Mount Nittany Health. “As we continue in our mission of ‘Healthier People, Stronger Community,’ it is a priority for us to increase our clinical staff to continue providing high-quality care to our patients. This partnership with CPI will help create a pipeline of LPNs and CMAs as we continue to innovate ways to serve the local community.”

The program will cover full tuition for eligible and selected full-time and part time students of the LPN program and the CMA program offered by CPI.

“We’re excited to provide this educational opportunity to the local community,” said Amy Trithart, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources and Ancillary Services Officer, Mount Nittany Health. “As an employer of choice in the area, Mount Nittany Physician Group is an important part of Mount Nittany Health which has over 2,400 employees at our 19 locations in the Centre region. This partnership is an innovative way to continue to attract top talent to our healthcare system.”

“We are very pleased to expand our long-standing partnership with Mount Nittany Physician Group” stated Todd Taylor, Vice President, Post-Secondary Education for CPI. “In addition to outstanding career opportunities available at Mount Nittany Physician Group at graduation, participating CPI students will now have tuition sponsorship funding available to them to focus on their studies and graduate with little to no student debt. It really is a great time to be thinking about a career in the medical field. CPI looks forward to working closely with Mount Nittany Health as we grow our campus and expand our health-related degree programs.” said Taylor.

GET Solar Communities Centre Region

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

With the quickly rising cost of electricity and the new federal incentives available for those going solar, now is the time to explore how going solar on your own property can save you money. Many Pennsylvanian companies and organizations have saved thousands to millions of dollars in energy costs over the life of their solar systems, with many more expected to go solar in the next few years.

That’s why a local group of community leaders have partnered with the PA Solar Center (a statewide nonprofit) to form GET Solar Centre Region. GET Solar Centre Region will provide businesses, nonprofits, and community property owners with free technical assistance and financial guidance on going solar – namely, how it can save them money.

For example locally, University Mennonite Church installed their 27.75 kW solar array in June 2023. The 75 solar modules are designed to offset 100% of the church’s annual electricity consumption. This will save them an estimated $96,000 in energy costs over the next 25 years.

Want to know how your company or organization can do the same? Plan to attend one of the free informational meetings scheduled at noon on September 19th, and 20th over Zoom.
We will be teaching some creative ways organizations like yours could reap the benefits of solar energy. You can expect to learn more about the following:

  • Tax credits
  • Grant programs
  • CPACE
  • Technical assistance
  • USDA REAP program grants and loans

The PA Solar Center will even offer a free assessment of your company’s solar potential and can issue RFPs for estimates from qualified solar developers. The PA Solar Center will review the bids with you and help you make sense of them — serving as your unbiased guide through the whole process.


If you are interested in attending, please register here: GET Solar Centre Region (pasolarcenter.org). Can’t attend but are interested in learning more? Contact Pam Adams at Centre Region COG, padams@crcog.net.