Latest news with #CommunityBenefitReport
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Business news: Valpo U's MBA program lauded
The practitioners with Crown Point OB/GYN are now part of Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting new patients, according to a release. The practice includes physicians and nurse practitioners including Dr. Nicole Cataldi, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack and nurse practitioners Amy Marciniak and Abigail Reardon. Cataldi attended Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. McCormack also attended medical school at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Marciniak earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond while Reardon earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Franciscan Physician Network Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 800 W. Burrell Drive in Crown Point. Call 219-663-9913. Northwest Health has released its annual Community Benefit Report. The health system provided care to thousands of area residents in 2024, with 884,700 patient encounters across its network of physician offices and other outpatient sites of care, according to a release. In addition to delivering healthcare, Northwest Health's impact totaled an estimated $422,387,000 overall benefit for the region in 2024, the release said. Northwest Health's five emergency rooms provided care in more than 83,000 patient encounters each year, the release said, and provided $57 million in charity and uncompensated care and provided resources to help patients in need of secure medications and medical support devices, the release said. Northwest Health is one of the area's larger employers with a payroll of $284.7 million, the release said. In addition to supporting the local economy through jobs, Northwest Health paid $54.2 million in taxes in 2024, the release said. Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. Vattathara attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency in family medicine at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, a release said. Vattathara's clinical interests include dermatology, nutrition and fitness, preventative medicine and public health, sports physicals and minor sports injury management. He is accepting new patients at the Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. Call 219-374-5970. Valparaiso University's annual Valpo Day, a spirited celebration of the University's mission, that brings together supporters in a day of activities, competition and philanthropy, is planned for April 9, a release said. As VU's largest fundraising event of the year, Valpo Day highlights what it means to be a beacon of light in the community and a champion of the university's legacy, the release said. The university encourages community members to take part in the celebration by visiting the campus as well as sharing Valpo memories using in #ProudToBeValpo, visiting local businesses or making a gift to support university programs. To learn more, visit Valparaiso University has been honored as the top institution in the region for earning an MBA, receiving the 'Best University to Obtain an MBA' award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine's 2025 Best of Business Awards, a release said. This recognition is based on reader survey responses evaluating the leading business schools across seven categories. The award is one of several acknowledgments Valpo's MBA program has earned for its excellence and impact. Valpo's MBA program prepares students for leadership with a values-driven approach, emphasizing ethical decision-making and global awareness. This 'triple-bottom line' perspective encourages graduates to consider social, environmental, and financial impacts in their careers, the release said. For more information about the Valpo MBA program, visit
Chicago Tribune
06-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Business news: Valpo U's MBA program lauded
Four join Franciscan Crown Point OB/GYN The practitioners with Crown Point OB/GYN are now part of Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting new patients, according to a release. The practice includes physicians and nurse practitioners including Dr. Nicole Cataldi, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack and nurse practitioners Amy Marciniak and Abigail Reardon. Cataldi attended Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. McCormack also attended medical school at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Marciniak earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond while Reardon earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Franciscan Physician Network Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 800 W. Burrell Drive in Crown Point. Call 219-663-9913. Report: Northwest Health treated more than 884K patients in '24 Northwest Health has released its annual Community Benefit Report. The health system provided care to thousands of area residents in 2024, with 884,700 patient encounters across its network of physician offices and other outpatient sites of care, according to a release. In addition to delivering healthcare, Northwest Health's impact totaled an estimated $422,387,000 overall benefit for the region in 2024, the release said. Northwest Health's five emergency rooms provided care in more than 83,000 patient encounters each year, the release said, and provided $57 million in charity and uncompensated care and provided resources to help patients in need of secure medications and medical support devices, the release said. Northwest Health is one of the area's larger employers with a payroll of $284.7 million, the release said. In addition to supporting the local economy through jobs, Northwest Health paid $54.2 million in taxes in 2024, the release said. Physician joins Franciscan Health in Cedar Lake Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. Vattathara attended medical school at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency in family medicine at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, a release said. Vattathara's clinical interests include dermatology, nutrition and fitness, preventative medicine and public health, sports physicals and minor sports injury management. He is accepting new patients at the Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. Call 219-374-5970. Valparaiso University to celebrate Valpo Day on April 9 Valparaiso University's annual Valpo Day, a spirited celebration of the University's mission, that brings together supporters in a day of activities, competition and philanthropy, is planned for April 9, a release said. As VU's largest fundraising event of the year, Valpo Day highlights what it means to be a beacon of light in the community and a champion of the university's legacy, the release said. The university encourages community members to take part in the celebration by visiting the campus as well as sharing Valpo memories using in #ProudToBeValpo, visiting local businesses or making a gift to support university programs. To learn more, visit Valparaiso University MBA program recognized Valparaiso University has been honored as the top institution in the region for earning an MBA, receiving the 'Best University to Obtain an MBA' award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine's 2025 Best of Business Awards, a release said. This recognition is based on reader survey responses evaluating the leading business schools across seven categories. The award is one of several acknowledgments Valpo's MBA program has earned for its excellence and impact. Valpo's MBA program prepares students for leadership with a values-driven approach, emphasizing ethical decision-making and global awareness. This 'triple-bottom line' perspective encourages graduates to consider social, environmental, and financial impacts in their careers, the release said. For more information about the Valpo MBA program, visit
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Legislators confident Regional Hospital won't close as work to secure next operator continues
Union health care workers at Regional Hospital of Scranton, elected officials and other stakeholders are continuing their public push to save the facility following the late 2024 collapse of a sale many considered a potential lifeline. Efforts to safeguard lives and livelihoods at Regional and its Moses Taylor Hospital campus have been ongoing since the nonprofit WoodBridge Healthcare's would-be purchase of those Commonwealth Health facilities, Commonwealth's Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and other health care assets fell through for lack of financing. The sale's collapse in November renewed concern that Regional could close absent acquisition by another buyer and prompted an ongoing search for the next potential owner. Against that backdrop, the SEIU Healthcare workers' union and other advocates held Thursday another town hall aimed at preserving critical services at Regional and Moses Taylor and the union jobs necessary for the delivery of care there. It was the second such town hall held at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center since December, when Democratic state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski — a longtime nurse and local leader on the issue of health care access — reported that other health care organizations had expressed interest in potentially taking over the Scranton hospital facilities. Regional and Moses Taylor are separate facilities but operate under a single license following a 2022 merger, with operations coordinated across the two campuses. When advocates talk about saving Regional, they're referring to jobs and services at Moses Taylor as well. 'I feel a little bit of déjà vu,' Kosierowski told the crowd at Thursday's town hall. 'We were here in December, and we were very hopeful (that) by now we would be able to have an announcement about where our future is with Regional. I do know and I am very confident to say that we are going to keep this hospital open. These doors will remain open, because the service lines that are provided and the staff that provides those service lines — specifically OBGYN, cardiac and emergency room — are vital to this community and it would be catastrophic if they were to be taken away.' Finding another organization to take over the hospital and service lines remains an active effort, she said, stressing the adverse impact a closure would have on a local health care landscape already grappling with inpatient capacity constraints, crowded emergency rooms, workforce pressures and other challenges. A 2023 Community Benefit Report for Regional and its Moses Taylor campus put the number of patient encounters there, at Commonwealth Health Physician Network clinics and other outpatient sites at 381,000 that year — demand SEIU and other advocates argue surrounding facilities would be unable to absorb should the Commonwealth facilities close or cut services. A closure would also create a major void in terms of birth and delivery services, as Regional accounts for about 70% of the births in Lackawanna County, SEIU said in a press release. Kosierowski told the crowd at Thursday's town hall that Geisinger and Lehigh Valley Health Network, which operate Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton and Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City, respectively, are 'as desperate as you are' to make sure Regional stays open. 'Because we all know the waiting time in those hospitals now is at a high level,' she said. 'They're overrun, they're stressed, their workforce is stressed, so for them to have to entertain the possibility of Regional closing is just as frightening and stressful for them as it is for you all here in this room.' As the push for a new operator continues, organizers announced Thursday the launch of a 'Coalition to Protect Regional Care and Jobs' that handed out window signs for residents and businesses. The coalition also launched an online open letter at expressing a commitment to work collaboratively with the hospital's next owner, whoever it might be, to improve and expand care, preserve union jobs and address community concerns related to health care. While acknowledging the uncertainty, anxiety and unease many workers and patients feel, Democratic state Rep. Kyle Mullins shared Kosierowski's confidence that Regional will remain open. 'To the extent that you can trust us, and that you're willing to, I'm sitting here telling you that leadership (at) the highest levels of our state government are working to ensure that these doors of Regional Hospital will not close,' he said. 'There are multiple nonprofit, reputable operators at the table, and I'm looking all of you square in the eye and telling you I don't know who they are. We are not privy to that … at this point in the process because there are nondisclosures and things involved.' But Mullins said he and others have repeatedly been reassured that the parties involved in those behind-the-scenes conversations are negotiating in good faith. He also noted that local state legislators working with the governor's budget office secured funding for a facility assessment providing prospective buyers with a better idea of what type of investment Regional might require — information meant to inform a potential deal. 'There are really, really good people in all parts of this conversation trying mightily to bring this to a resolution,' Mullins said.
