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Here’s the latest for Friday January 27th: Clashes resume between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza; 5 police officers fired in Memphis accused of killing Black motorists; Biden criticizes economic report; Strong Santa Ana winds in Southern California.
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The renovation of the Mt. Gretna Philhaven was unveiled on Friday with a ribbon cutting and tour of its new hospital.
22 beds have been added to the facility bringing the number of inpatient beds at the facility to 140.
According to Wellspan, the increase in beds will enable them to treat 100 patients every month.
In 2019, Philhaven’s patient capacity was increased to 15. Between these two expansions, the facility has seen an increase of 40% in the past three years.
The $7 million expansion is part of the hospital’s ongoing efforts to address the growing need for emergency medical care.
Philhaven Mt. Gretna treats all types of patients with behavioral and emotional needs of all ages and needs, including those with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In 2022, Wellspan saw a 30% increase in behavioral patients compared to the previous year.
Earlier this month, Wellspan announced plans to hire more than 200 people this year.
About 50 of these positions have been in addition to Philhaven’s medical services.
“I think there are a lot of problems that people are facing. Of course, the COVID epidemic has contributed to this,” said Montha Kotsalos, vice president of patient care. “I think the good thing is that people are open to help and that’s why we want to make sure we’re here to help.”
The expansion turned the former out-patient facility into an inpatient facility with common facilities and permanent medical facilities.
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The increase will reduce the patient waiting list, which currently exceeds a thousand, and reduce the time it takes for patients to have their first appointment, which now takes about 8-12 weeks.
The nurses on the floor will be working at a 5-to-1 or 6-to-1 patient to provider ratio, Kotsalos said.
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Wellspan plans to move its medical operations from Philhaven for the next year and a half to the Lebanon and Ephrata areas with the goal of reducing the number of patients who go to the emergency room.
Currently, health care providers see about 370 patients in their emergency departments each month and would like to see 200 of those patients referred to outpatient facilities.
Daniel Larham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Approach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on Twitter @djlarlham
