The Wright Center for Community Health is introducing a 12-month nurse practitioner postgraduate fellowship program in family medicine that provides hands-on clinical training experience for newly minted nurse practitioners.

Nurse practitioners who have licenses and are entering their first year of practice can apply to the program in January. The paid fellowship begins in September. The Wright Center is accepting a limited number of applicants for the first fellowship program in the region. To make an application, email twc-np-fellowship@thewrightcenter.org.

The Wright Center for Community Health is an essential community provider that offers nondiscriminatory, comprehensive, culturally competent, affordable, high-quality primary health services for all people, regardless of their income level, insurance status, or ZIP code. The Wright Center for Community Health follows the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model and participates in the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program that addresses America’s primary care workforce shortage, misdistribution, and related health disparities.

The new fellowship provides experience in pediatrics, mental and behavioral health, infectious disease, and addiction treatment and recovery services at The Wright Center for Community Health’s Clarks Summit, Mid Valley, and Scranton practices. 

The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary care fellowship is the fourth in the state, with programs available in Philadelphia, Erie, and Lancaster. The Wright Center follows the model established in 2007 by Community Health Center, Inc., of Connecticut, a pioneer in formal postgraduate training programs for family nurse practitioners.

For more information about The Wright Center for Community Health, call 570-230-0019 or go to TheWrightCenter.org.

Participating in the ceremonial check presentation, from left, are Laura Ducceschi, president and CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Vanessa Zurn, case manager, Healthy MOMS; Michele Coyle, case manager, Healthy MOMS; and Cathy Fitzpatrick, grants and scholarship manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation.

The Wright Center for Community Health was recently awarded an $8,000 grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation in support of the collaborative Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) program that focuses on helping pregnant women and new mothers overcome addiction and rebuild their lives in recovery.

The grant will support working mothers enrolled in the Helping MOMS Out of Poverty (HOP) program with initial costs related to housing – including security deposits, rent, and utility bills. Having stable housing is an important step for program participants in maintaining their sobriety, caring for their children, and building a better life.

The lack of affordable housing remains an issue, with more than one-third of the mothers in the program needing financial assistance with housing and utilities, according to Maria Kolcharno, MSW, LSW, director of addiction services at The Wright Center for Community Health.

“The Helping Moms Out of Poverty project addresses these vital needs,” Kolcharno said. “Many moms live in transitional housing and are exposed to drug use, violence, and unsafe conditions. Stable housing plays a vital role in recovery from substance use disorders. The inability to pay rent and utilities can trigger substance misuse and relapse. While the mom can manage the rent, initial costs are hardships. Funding will help with one-time upfront rental costs and assistance with emergency utility bills for gas, electric, and water to alleviate shut-offs.”

The Healthy MOMS program assists women in recovery from substance use disorder and aims to lower the incidence of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Since October 2018, the program has helped more than 445 moms across nine counties in Northeast Pennsylvania. Currently, there are 144 active moms and 233 babies have been born into this program.

For more information about the Healthy MOMS program, call 570.955.7821 or visit HealthyMOMS.org.

Two of The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary and preventive care practices recently received commendations from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

The Wright Center for Community Health Scranton Practice, 501 S. Washington Ave., and The Wright Center for Community Health Wilkes-Barre Practice, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., each achieved the NCQA’s Patient-Centered Medical Home certificate of recognition, acknowledging that they have the tools, systems, and resources to provide patients with the right care at the right time.

Both practices initially earned the NCQA voluntary accreditation in 2021. Every year, the practice locations undergo a formal review to ensure they comply with the Washington, D.C.-based organization’s high standards.

For the public, the NCQA accreditation is a signal that The Wright Center for Community Health maintains a focus on quality improvement and has key processes in place so that its clinics are prioritizing the needs of patients by following the patient-centered medical home model of care.

The model is designed to allow patients and their care teams to build better relationships, help patients to more effectively control chronic conditions, and improve the overall patient experience. In addition, the patient-centered medical home model has been shown to increase staff satisfaction and reduce health care costs.

“We are proud to retain this recognition seal for both practices, which is a reflection of the dedicated work being done by The Wright Center’s employees to use our information technology and team-based delivery system so we can coordinate care and get the best results possible for patients,” said Dr. Jignesh Y. Sheth, chief medical officer of The Wright Center for Community Health. “The NCQA seal lets people know these practices will be open outside traditional business hours to meet their primary care needs and that we do all we can to put our patients at the forefront of care.”

The NCQA was founded in 1990 with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It seeks to improve health care quality through measurement, transparency, and accountability.

The Wright Center’s Mid Valley and Clarks Summit practices also maintain the NCQA’s respected recognition seal, undergoing annual renewals.

Overall, The Wright Center operates 10 primary and preventive care practices in Northeast Pennsylvania, including a mobile medical and dental vehicle called Driving Better Health. Its practices offer integrated whole-person care, meaning patients typically have the convenience of going to a single location to access medical, dental, and behavioral health care, as well as community-based addiction treatment and recovery services.

The Wright Center accepts most major health insurance plans, including Medical Assistance (Medicaid), Medicare, and CHIP. No patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.

Members of the sheriff’s office and PCE pose in front of the transport van they aim to fill with toys for children. Participating in the program, front row from left, are Gerri McAndrew, co-director, PCE; Deputy Bob Moore; Cpl. Brenda Goosley; Holly Przasnyski, PCE director; Cpl. Ryan Deluccie; K-9 Ammo; Deputy David Pascolini; Deputy Lisa Deustachio; and Cpl. Joe George; second row, Lt. John T. Padula; Deputy Jason Gilbert; Cpl Kerry MgHugh; and Sheriff Mark McAndrew.

Lackawanna County Sheriff’s deputies will ensure local children have a great holiday season by hosting a toy drive benefiting The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement (PCE).

Deputies are asking the public to help fill the department’s transport van with new, unwrapped toys on Dec. 2-4 during the Lackawanna Winter Market on Courthouse Square, 200 N. Washington Ave., Scranton. The outdoor market will feature craft vendors, live music, food, and the lighting of the county’s Christmas tree.

The drive benefits PCE, a subsidiary of The Wright Center for Community Health, that focuses on improving the health and well-being of residents across Northeast Pennsylvania. Throughout the year, PCE hosts food giveaways at their clinics and provides transportation vouchers to patients who have trouble getting to and from doctors’ appointments. Additionally, PCE distributes backpacks filled with school supplies and hosts school uniform giveaways and clothing closets for needy residents.

Last year, sheriff’s deputies held a food drive for PCE, according to Cpl. Joe George. They collected and donated more than 12 cases of nonperishable food. They hope to build on that success with the upcoming toy drive. The Lackawanna County Sheriff’s Association and Sheriff Mark McAndrew have donated $250 each to purchase toys for the drive.

“There are a lot of people in Lackawanna County who need a helping hand, and we want to ensure families – especially their children – have a happy holiday season,” he said.

Gerri McAndrew, co-director of PCE, also mentioned the deep need in the community, especially during the holidays. “Last year, we helped 60 families at our clinics with toys and clothes, plus we adopt families through the Salvation Army,” she said, adding that PCE serves about 900 children annually. “This drive will enable us to help more families.”

While collecting toys for children might not seem as urgent as some other PCE initiatives, McAndrew thinks about her own kids and how they feel at Christmas.

“I don’t want any child’s heart to break on Christmas morning,” she said. “They should get at least one present.”
Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted by deputies throughout the county’s Winter Market on Friday, Dec. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look for sheriff’s deputies and their transport van near the main entrance to the Lackawanna County Courthouse.

For more information on how to donate, contact Deputy Morgan Holmes at holmesm@lackawannacounty.org or 570.963.6719 x 4857.