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Obesity is one of the most common diseases in the U.S., affecting more than one-third of adults and causing 300,000 deaths annually. Significant excess weight affects quality of life and overall health, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, sleep apnea and some cancers. For chronic obesity, bariatric surgery provides long-term weight loss while reducing the risk of weight-related conditions and in some cases can eliminate them completely. Each year, more than 250,... ... Read More

Winter holidays, parties and social gatherings often provide opportunities to overindulge, but when it comes to alcohol, moderation is important for maintaining good heart health. “Holiday heart syndrome,” or atrial fibrillation (AFib) brought on by binge drinking, can occur in healthy adults without any existing heart conditions and is commonly diagnosed around the holidays. AFib is an irregular and sometimes rapid heart rhythm that if left untreated can lead to blood clots or strokes. Symptoms of AFib... ... Read More

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital continues to offer award-winning physical rehabilitation throughout the region. The Center for Advanced Rehabilitation has been recognized again on Newsweek’s America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2022 list. Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry-ranking provider, present this prestigious award. The America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2022 list ranks the nation’s top inpatient rehabilitation facilities in 25 states w... ... Read More

Commonwealth Health's latest addition in the fight against cancer is a new robotic-assisted platform that enables doctors to perform minimally invasive lung biopsies - navigational bronchoscopy. Robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy allows the specialist to use natural openings in the body, like the mouth, and substantially decreases risk of collapsing the lung. Compared to previous navigational bronchoscopy platforms, the flexibility and shape-sensing capabilities of the catheter increase diagnost... ... Read More

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has approved the merger of Regional Hospital of Scranton with Moses Taylor Hospital and their respective satellite facilities to operate under one license. The transition is effective on Sunday, November 13, 2022. Delivering quality care for the community for a combined 233 years, Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton now formally coordinate operations across their two campuses. “Our boards, physicians and employees are united in a vision for servi... ... Read More

Pennsylvania Ambulance LLC, a locally owned and operated emergency medical services provider dedicated to providing the highest quality of care with compassion, dignity and respect for our local communities, and Commonwealth Health today announced they have reached an agreement for Pennsylvania Ambulance to acquire certain assets of Commonwealth Health EMS (CHEMS) and to continue the services previously provided by CHEMS without disruption, change or reduction in service to the areas served by CHEMS. CH... ... Read More

Schedule appointments, tests and surgeries to maximize your health plan benefits before year end As the holidays approach, it’s easy to forget to take advantage of your insurance benefits. Now is a good time to review your outstanding health care needs and take full advantage of paid-up deductibles or available funds in Flexible Spending Accounts while you still can. “In considering their health care needs, people should also consider the best strategy for using their available health insurance plan ben... ... Read More

Commonwealth Health Physician Network is pleased to welcome Family Medicine Physician Essam Almeky, M.D., to our office located in Shavertown. Dr. Almeky is board-certified in family medicine and obesity medicine and provides general medical care. In addition to diagnosing and treating illnesses, he provides preventive care, including routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunizations, and screening tests. Dr. Almeky also offers treatment options and practical tools for obesity and weight manageme... ... Read More

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital's third quarter DAISY Award was presented to Jennifer Gyory, R.N. The DAISY Award is a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day. DAISY Award honorees personify Commonwealth Health's patient experience commitment. These nurses consistently demonstrate excellence through their clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care. They are recognized as outstanding role models in our nur... ... Read More

Regional Hospital of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital have earned national recognition from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 “Best Hospitals” guidebook. ACC uses this publication to highlight hospitals and health systems that implement high standards in patient care and protocols to ensure best cardiovascular outcomes are delivered to every patient, every time. Commonwealth Health’s two hospitals are recognized for their participation in four ACC ... ... Read More