Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

Congratulations to The DAISY Foundation award recipient Jingwei, "Jenny" Li, BSN, RN, a nurse in the intensive care unit at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital. These words from the grateful spouse of a cancer patient say it all: "From the first introduction, Jenny was so attentive, gracious and thoroughly professional. She took time to listen to both my wife and me; to understand our situation and needs. When informed I would be staying over, she quickly organized a care package of toiletries, towels, socks, and scrubs to fit my 6'3 frame without hesitation. Jenny constantly checked on our condition without being overly present, but also took time to just be with us, to make us feel as though we were her sole patient. When presented with a challenge Jenny surpassed our expectations. My wife was restricted to ice chips only, which is less than ideal. Jenny took it upon herself to produce her own made popsicles from small cups and tongue depressors which meant so much more than just a cool treat. Jenny understood how something so small can be impactful to an anxious patient."

It was great to partner with the Lancaster Stormers for this week's Love Lancaster Night. Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health CEO John Herman addressed the crowd and some patients we've been privileged to serve were on hand as their stories were shared. We ❤️the Lancaster community!

Judson Long has had two stays at the Seraph-McSparren Pediatric Inpatient Center at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital. This is how his mother Kristen described his experience: “The first stay included an emergency surgery, and the recovery afterwards was very scary and rough for Judson. He had a hard time eating and drinking, but the Child Life specialists were an immense help. I am certain his stay would have been a bit longer had it not been for them! Their role in the hospital is SO important, and in my opinion, the positive impact they have on patients is crucial for healing and a speedy recovery. Thank you to all the donors who make this program possible!” Thank you everyone who joined celebrity guest golf pro Gary McCord this week at the Lancaster General Health Foundation’s annual United Fore Golf Tournament, raising more than $100,000 for the Child Life program. A special shout-out to presenting sponsors Benchmark Construction Company and Capital Blue Cross. Child Life specialists help children and teens stay calm through the stress and uncertainty of illness and hospitalization. They give emotional support, prepare children for procedures through therapeutic play, answer questions using language they understand, offer distractions, and teach coping techniques to reduce anxiety and restore a child’s sense of control. And guess what Judson wants to be when he grows up? A Child Life specialist! You can find information on how to support patients like Judson here: http://spr.ly/6043cRw4B

Members of the Spin4Gin Board of Directors visited the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute last week with proceeds of their first Smash Out Sarcoma Tennis Tournament, held in May at the Lancaster Tennis & Yacht Club. Thank you so much for your generosity! Spin4Gin, a nonprofit organization created in 2022 in memory of Virginia “Ginny” McCreary, supports sarcoma research and patients who are undergoing treatment for the disease. The group has donated more than $15,000 to establish “Ginny’s Fund” at the Cancer Institute. They are sponsoring their fourth annual Drive Out Sarcoma event to benefit the fund Sept. 19 at Overlook Golf Course. Pictured, from left: Rebecca McCarron, oncology clinical support manager; Sarah Jordan, Spin4Gin Board member; Ryan McCreary, Ginny’s husband; Abby Pasic, Spin4Gin Board member; Gus and Robbie Payne, Ginny’s parents; Dr. Randall Oyer, executive medical director; and Patti Roda, director of operations.

We thank our patients for their patience and understanding during Friday’s global CrowdStrike outage. Penn Medicine’s computer systems and operations have been fully restored, and outpatient appointments and procedures that were able to be safely delayed on Friday are in the process of being rescheduled for times within the next two weeks. We understand and regret the stress and inconvenience those patients experienced as a result of the CrowdStrike outage and are grateful for their trust in our healthcare heroes who worked tirelessly around the clock to provide care amidst this unprecedented event.

Today we remember with fondness and gratitude, Ann Boyd Barshinger, founding donor of our Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute and Lancaster County community philanthropist. Ann passed away July 21 at 100 years of age. Ann committed $5 million to name the Cancer Institute in 2010. She enjoyed every minute of her work as the Cancer Institute lead donor and capital campaign volunteer, including hard hat tours, milestone celebrations, and of course, the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute ribbon-cutting in July 2013. She built many wonderful relationships with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health staff and patients over the years. Recently, she said, “I think the Cancer Institute is the best thing I’ve ever done!” On behalf of a very grateful community, we send condolences to Ann’s family and friends.

A major worldwide computer outage is impacting Penn Medicine's systems and appointments. Appointments in some locations may need to be canceled and rescheduled today. We are making every effort to contact patients whose appointments need to be canceled. We will also contact you to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible. Penn experts are working to restore our usual operations ASAP. Our hospitals, including our emergency departments, are fully staffed and continuing to care for patients.

When a cardiac emergency brought a patient to the intensive care unit at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, a grateful patient and family were very glad Jennifer Jupin, BSN, RN, was on duty. Her expertise and focus during this critical time, along her compassion and clear communication, provided reassurance when it was most needed. The patient's spouse expresses it best: "I was so impressed by Jen's ability to manage the stress of this situation. She never wavered in her mission of caring for her patient, and barely left the room during the hours I was there. I feel The DAISY Foundation award is for someone like Jen who gives 110% every day to the patients she cares for." Congratulations, Jen!

Since 2017, Penn Medicine HealthWorks has been providing convenient and affordable health and wellness services to Lancaster-area workplaces — and we're only continuing to grow! Read more about the evolution of our innovative employer-based health clinics at the link below.

Our Sports Medicine team is offering free PIAA sports physical for student athletes entering grades 7-12, Aug. 1 at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Students must bring the PIAA physical form (available online at http://spr.ly/6049iwZ3L under the Resources tab) with Section 5 on health history completed and signed by a parent or guardian. To sign up call 717-627-7675 or go to: http://spr.ly/6040iwZ30