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In Brief – April 25, 2019

Announcements

PTO/Vacation Donation

Four employees have been approved for the primary Paid Time Off (PTO)/Vacation Donation program:

  • Michaela Connors, 5th Floor Acute Care
  • Hillary Lowe, Medical/Surgical Float Pool
  • Nicole Leeper, Hematology
  • Ashley Theal, Food Services

Employees interested in donating their Primary PTO hours may do so by going to mySolutions, searching “PTO Donation” (log-in may be required) and submitting it electronically.

Annual Safety Training

All Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center employees must complete the required annual safety training by May 15. Log into Compass and click the “view transcript” button. Contact Dana Pease with questions.

Pediatric Grand Rounds Survey

The Department of Pediatrics is seeking suggestions through a survey for how it could improve Pediatric Grand Rounds. Anyone who completes the survey and provides their email address will be entered into a drawing for a gift bag containing Penn State Health swag and other treats.

People

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Interim Chair

Dr. Lori Grafton, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, has been named interim chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She will begin on June 1, following the departure of chair Dr. David Gater, who has accepted a position as chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Grafton joined the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital as a staff physician in 2015. She specializes in the care of patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Silvis Named Director of Primary Care

Dr. Matthew Silvis has been named director of primary care for Penn State Health Medical Group. In this newly created position, he will focus on enhancing patient and provider satisfaction, quality, patient safety and contract performance across all primary care services.

Silvis currently serves as professor in the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, vice chair of clinical operations and director of the sports medicine fellowship program for the Department of Family and Community Medicine and director of primary care sports medicine for Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine.

New Community Practice Vice President

Janet Gundling will join Penn State Health Medical Group as vice president for community practice on April 29. She will play a lead role in creating operational efficiencies, enhancing profitability and improving patient experience. Gundling brings more than 30 years of experience in physician practice management, of which the last 22 years were with Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. She began her career in health care administration at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center.

Upcoming events

National Drug Take-Back Day

A Drive-Thru Prescription Drug Take-Back event — one of several nationwide coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) — is slated:

  • Saturday, April 27
  • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Three drive-through drop-off locations:
    • Academic Support Building: 90 Hope Drive, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center campus
    • Penn State Health Medical Group — Lime Spring: 2221 Noll Drive, Lancaster
    • Penn State Health Medical Group — Palmyra: 941 Park Drive, Palmyra

Needles and syringes will be accepted. No items will be taken prior to 10 a.m. Twenty-four-hour drop-off boxes  for medications are also available at police stations. The event is in partnership with Derry Township, East Hempfield Township and North Londonderry Township police departments.

Sub and Bake Sale

The Department of Pharmacy’s Community Outreach Committee is hosting a sub and bake sale:

  • Thursday, May 9
  • 7:30 a.m. until sold out
  • Academic Support building ― first floor lobby

Pretzel sandwiches will be available. All proceeds go to community outreach.

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