North Central PA Times

More than 50 employees from Geisinger were joined by a dozen community partners from the borough and Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce during a celebration at Geisinger Cancer Center Dickson City on March 5. The event marked a milestone for the rapidly progressing construction of the new facility.

Over the past year, the construction has moved swiftly, with a portion of the center's drywall displayed in the Geisinger Community Medical Center lobby. Dozens of employees signed the drywall to symbolize their contribution to the organization's growth. Ron Beer, chief administrative officer of Geisinger’s northeast region, commented, “The compassionate care you provide every day encourages people in our region to increasingly trust us with their care year after year. It is our employees who make Geisinger so special. None of this is possible without you.”

At the event, those who had not yet signed the wall were invited to do so. The segment, once more individuals added their signatures, will be installed in a wall of the cancer center, preserving it for future commemoration. Beer highlighted the importance of community ties, stating, “Without strong relationships in our community, we can’t follow through on projects like this. Dickson City has welcomed our efforts to expand care in Lackawanna County, and the Chamber of Commerce continues to be a great partner to Geisinger.”

The new cancer center will expand services such as hematology-oncology, infusion, and palliative medicine in Lackawanna County. The 61,000-square-foot facility, expected to welcome its first patients in June, will offer radiation oncology care—a first for Geisinger in the region—and space for multidisciplinary care.

Rajiv Panikkar, M.D., chair of Geisinger’s Cancer Institute, expressed optimism for the center’s potential. “Geisinger Cancer Center Dickson City will have the space, resources and technology our care teams need. We will deliver specialized care, close to home, for people in Lackawanna County and surrounding communities,” Panikkar said. He also praised the Geisinger staff, stating, “Our outstanding providers and specially trained support staff are the heart of our program, and we’re here to honor them today.”

Geisinger, founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, is a major provider of value-based care to 1.2 million people across Pennsylvania. It generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites, including 10 hospitals. The Geisinger Health Plan covers 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The organization, employing 26,000 people, including 1,600 physicians, has a significant economic impact on Pennsylvania, estimated at $14 billion. Geisinger was the first to join Risant Health, a nonprofit aimed at expanding value-based care nationwide, as of March 31, 2024.

For more information, visit geisinger.org or connect on social media.