Pocono News Section

Scranton Healthcare Center Gets Financial Shot in the Arm

Scranton Healthcare Center Gets Financial Shot in the Arm - Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 5:10PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 @ 05:10pm EST
var images = new Array(); SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Congressman Paul Kanjorski gave the Scranton Primary Healthcare Center a financial shot in the arm Thursday afternoon. Kanjorski brought nearly $800,000 in federal stimulus money to the facility.

If you take just one look around the center, you could see it's a busy place. Nurses and workers are all on top of each other to use every ounce of space.

"We've used every knook-and-cranny, every closet, everything we can to make office spaces and exam rooms. We've taken nursing areas apart to make exam rooms," chief nursing officer Paula Keenan said.

The federal money is expected to go towards new staff, improved exam rooms, new equipment and building renovations.

Patients like Fred Grant couldn't be happier.

"We find the services to be very helpful to us. The staff and doctors here are all very personable and very helpful," Grant said.

Right now, the center has a four month waiting list for each of its pediatric and dentistry departments. The federal money means about 800 more children can be treated.

"Even after the doors are closed, we're still seeing patients, especially in the winter-time when all the children are getting sick," senior pediatrician Cecilia Ventura said.

Facility directors say, as part of their mission, they won't turn anyone away.

"With the change in demographics out there and immigrants coming into the community, this is the first place they come, to a Community Health Care Center," executive director Mary Lou Czyzyk said.