Newsroom

If it seems like more people are getting sick each day – it’s not your imagination. Diagnoses of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are on the rise across the U.S with the CDC trackers showing flu activity to be minimal here in Pennsylvania but more people visiting the emergency department or needing hospitalizations for treatment of severe symptoms. If you are one of those who has gotten ill, the symptoms for each condition are similar and it’s important to know when they signal a medi... ... Read More

The Heart & Vascular Institute at Regional Hospital of Scranton successfully performed the first transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) at the end of last week. The procedure was performed by Nishant Sethi, M.D., interventional cardiologist, who was assisted by Brian Mott, M.D., FACS, FRCS, cardiothoracic surgeon, and the cath lab team. TMVR replaces the degenerative surgical mitral valve or a surgical ring in the heart without needing the conventional open-heart surgery. TMVR is minimally in... ... Read More

Courtesy of Scranton Times-Tribune Claire Davis had recently moved to Scranton from New York state when she arrived for a physical with a cough and other concerning symptoms. It prompted a referral to Dr. Brian Mott, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Commonwealth Health’s Regional Hospital of Scranton, who in June used a procedure known as robotic-assisted navigational bronchoscopy to biopsy a cancerous nodule in Davis’ lung. Davis, 61, who smoked for about 40 years before quitting four years ago, underwent s... ... Read More

Check your deductible status and FSA balance to see if there’s money to be saved or used Most consumers pay significant premiums for their health insurance, but not everyone takes full advantage of the benefits of insurance coverage, especially once the annual deductible has been reached. Using your health plan benefits for medical visits, screenings and procedures is the best way to support your overall health. And, as the current plan year comes to an end, right now may be the best time to address any... ... Read More

Flu, COVID-19 and RSV viruses will be circulating To protect yourself and those you love when respiratory viruses are circulating this fall and winter, getting vaccinated against both the flu and COVID-19 will be important. Individuals who are age 60 or older may also need to get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These three viral, respiratory illnesses are active this year and hospital admissions for COVID are already starting to increase around the country. Here in Northeastern, PA... ... Read More

Board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist Jason Wynberg, M.D., has joined the Commonwealth Health Physician Network and is a member of the medical staff at Regional Hospital of Scranton. Prior to joining Commonwealth Health, Dr. Wynberg was in private practice in New Jersey and most recently served as the Director of Endourology for NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn. Dr. Wynberg treats a range of health issues from overactive bladder, incontinence, urinary tract infection to male infertility. He has... ... Read More

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital announced that they have received accreditation under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). MBSAQIP is a comprehensive, nationwide surgical quality program aimed at ensuring the safe and effective performance of metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surgical outcomes focus on weight loss and... ... Read More

Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton has received statewide recognition for its for outstanding performance in patient safety. The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) is recognizing Regional Hospital of Scranton through its 2023 Excellence in Patient Safety Recognition program. The recognition honors Pennsylvania’s top-performing hospitals that have demonstrated low rates of health care-associated infections. HAP is recognizing 29 hospitals this year based on their p... ... Read More

To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, volunteers from Commonwealth Health conducted the annual Mammothon and scheduled 221 mammograms! Final results show over 1,600 calls were made during the two-hour Mammothon. Thank you to the more than 60 volunteers from Commonwealth Health hospitals, clinics and other locations that helped women who were past due for their annual mammograms by offering to schedule these critical screenings or giving a gentle reminder about the importance of yearly mammograms. R... ... Read More

Patrick Aquilina, M.D., is a board-certified and fellowship-trained cardiac electrophysiologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions associated with abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation. With more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Aquilina offers arrhythmia management through non-invasive and invasive methods such as medication, catheter ablation and device implantation. Dr. Aquilina has joined Commonwealth Health Physician Network and is a member of the Heart & Vascula... ... Read More