Healthcare workforce

The Wyoming Valley Nurses Association, a local affiliate of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, represents 240 registered nurses at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. The union and new hospital owner Tenor Health Foundation ratified a new three-year contract Monday.

Tenor Health Foundation purchased the financially struggling Community Health Systems-owned Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, Regional Hospital in Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital. Executives are optimistic about the hospitals’ futures three months after the sale.

The Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by state Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill County), convened a public hearing at Benco Dental in Luzerne County to discuss dental workforce shortages and their impact on the state's health.

Pike County residents have long had to travel out of the county and even out-of-state for medical care. Northwell Health on Monday debuted its new medical center in Dingmans Ferry, which will start taking patients in January.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, or UPMC, started a rural residency program two years ago. The program trains doctors at its Wellsboro and Cole locations in Northcentral Pennsylvania to bolster the rural doctor workforce.

State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski is confident that Regional and Moses Taylor Hospitals in Scranton will remain open and said there are several leads for potential buyers.

The latest proposal comes after the nurses’ five-day strike in February and negotiating sessions on March 25 and 26. Union members said they will not agree to this proposal.

National Match Day was on Friday, March 21 this year. All 115 of Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine's soon-to-be graduates matched with residency programs across the country.

The Vermont senator met virtually with union representatives before tweeting 'Geisinger: do the right thing' amid protracted labor negotiations.

SEIU will join local legislators and advocates to update the community on the future of Regional Hospital after the failed CHS deal.