Dr. Patrick Conaboy was born at Regional Hospital of Scranton.
Now, he’s overseeing it through an era of transition, as the CEO of both Regional and Moses Taylor Hospitals.
“For a long time, this door has been closed, and it was symbolic of the fact that a lot of people in this community thought we were closed," Conaboy said at a ceremonial reopening of Regional’s front entrance Monday morning.
"We never were, but you couldn't come here, and the place looked dark, and people thought we were gone. We've never left, but we're back now, and we're better than ever,” Conaboy said.
What’s new at Commonwealth Health?
Michael Clark, Commonwealth Health’s President, celebrated the changes Commonwealth Health has made under Tenor Health Foundation's leadership since the organization purchased Regional, Moses Taylor and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in February of this year.
Moses Taylor Hospital reopened its hospital pharmacy, called ‘The Apothecary’ and launched the ‘Meds-to-Beds’ program, which allows patients to get their prescriptions filled before they leave the hospital.
Clark thanked Tenor president and board chair Radha Savitala for her “vision” and stewarding the hospitals through these changes.
Regional Hospital received the American College of Cardiology HeartCARE Center designation, the organization’s highest recognition for hospitals and health systems providing cardiovascular care.
“That designation is only earned by a few hundred hospitals in the United States. So you can know that you have the very best serving you right here,” Clark said.
Clark said they remain focused on physician recruitment and working on opening a dedicated women’s center.
“We're looking at other opportunities. A women's center dedicated with the latest cutting-edge technology, and also the cutting-edge employees to operate that equipment.”
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Luzerne) requested more than $3 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2027 for a women’s imaging and breast care center at Moses Taylor Hospital. The center would provide screening, diagnostic imaging, biopsy and surgical services.
Bresnahan worked with local leaders, like State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski (D-Lackawanna), to find a buyer for the area hospitals.
“Based off of the people that are here today, it shows that it took a village, it took a community to keep these doors open, and we're very grateful to have been trusted to play a very small part in this process,” Bresnahan said during Monday’s ceremony.
Reflecting on months of progress
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a Democrat who is running against Bresnahan for Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional seat, thanked the hospital leaders for their hard work in executing positive changes under Tenor’s leadership.
“This is a place of great emotion, and it is so important that we continue to make sure that this hospital thrives right here in the heart of Scranton. It's important to us from a morale standpoint, but also from an economic standpoint,” Cognetti said.
She said “Scranton is on the right track,” crediting the hospitals’ staff for sticking it out through “so much turbulence in the last few years.”
Rep. Kosierowski, who worked as one of the primary leaders in the fight to secure a buyer, thanked the community, including local foundations, for their support.
“Unfortunately, it is about the patients, it is about the staff, but we needed funding,” Kosierowski said. “This is an antiquated structure that needed funding and needed a little help. We have an enormous partnership with our foundations. We could not do this without our foundations here locally. So I'm really grateful that Tenor saw the pathway forward, and I'm grateful to be here today.”
The foundations include Scranton Area Community Foundation, AllOne Foundation & Charities, Luzerne Foundation, Moses Taylor Foundation, NEPA Health Care Foundation, Allied Services, The Wright Center and the Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
“They came up with millions of dollars to keep CHS at the table,” Conaboy said. "[They] all stepped up and actually wrote checks and kept this place going until we could stand on our own two feet. And I want to publicly thank them for that.”
Dr. Frank Kolucki saw the hospital through the challenges of the past few years. He said Monday’s reopening ceremony showed “proof of the commitment” of the hospitals’ employees to “better the healthcare and the lives of the people of Northeast Pennsylvania.”
“There have been so many positive things that have occurred. You've heard a lot of them from Dr. Conaboy, but from the recruitment of physicians, increasing services, revitalization of the structure, getting incredible new technology. So it's a bright new day for healthcare in Scranton. We want people to know that we're here to stay,” said Kolucki, the chief medical officer of Regional and Moses Taylor Hospitals.
To cheers and applause, Clark cut a ribbon to symbolize that Regional Hospital is here to stay.
“Thank you very much and welcome to Regional Hospital 2.0,” Conaboy said.
