Letter to Editor: Regional Hospital of Scranton is Vital to the Community

Letter to Editor: Regional Hospital of Scranton is Vital to the Community

4/22/2024

Last year, our Scranton hospital and clinics played a vital role at more than 381,000 encounters where we helped people get well and live healthier. Around the clock, every day of the year, regardless of holidays, weather or other disruptions - we are here for our community. The skills, talents and energy of our employees and physicians are the force powering all that we do and I am grateful for their steady focus on delivering safe, quality care and a compassionate experience for patients.

We care deeply about all the patients we serve. Life-saving medically necessary care is provided for all patients in our emergency room, regardless of their ability to pay. Members of our community who cannot fully afford their medical care are provided deep discounts or even charity care. Last year, we provided more than $24 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community's most vulnerable.

We are applying our resources toward the services, facilities and technologies that are important to our patients. In a recent expansion of neurosurgical services, the hospital, along with physicians from Global Neurosciences Institute, now offer mechanical thrombectomy services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The goal is to provide the local community with the highest quality stroke care close to home when seconds count.

Our impact extends beyond our campuses, including the more than $13 million in taxes we pay that support critical infrastructure such as first responders, schools and roads. And the payroll of $148 million ripples through the local economy as employees buy goods and services.

Regional Hospital of Scranton is essential to our community. We are honored to serve and extremely proud of our hospital's $210 million community impact in 2023.

Michael Curran, CEO Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton