LEWISBURG – Evangelical Community Hospital received some high praise from Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter during her visit to the Valley Tuesday, “Evan is one of the most innovative hospitals I’ve had the privilege of getting to visit recently. I really admire not just the investment they’ve made not just in the physical infrastructure, which is extraordinary, but also in their people. It’s a testament to Kendra’s leadership.”
Klinepeter had a one-on-one meeting with President and CEO Kendra Aucker during her visit and also met with hospital staff discussing rural healthcare needs.
Klinepeter also praised the hospital’s pandemic response, “This community hospital really did an incredible job and serviced and provided extraordinary care. I think our teams spent a lot of time really talking about how we can continue to collaborate and partner. It’s been a real priority of mine to establish a different type of relationship with the hospital community.”
Klinepeter says this reinforced the need for the state to continue investing in its healthcare workforce and infrastructure. She noted Governor Tom Wolf is looking to do so with his $1.7 billion proposal from the state’s American Rescue Plan funding.
Aucker says both sides also discussed how everything has unfolded so far during the pandemic, “It’s always a learning experience to hear someone else’s perspective on why things occurred. You look to the state for certain things, they look to you for certain things. Are there ways to improve communication? Are there services where we didn’t feel supported? What are the challenges?”
Aucker says the acting health secretary reached out to Evangelical officials through State Representative Jeff Wheeland (R-84th, Lycoming). State Representative Lynda Schelgel Culver (R-108th, Sunbury) and a representative of U.S. Congressman Fred Keller (R-12th, Kreamer) also attended.
Watch Klinepeter’s press conference here.
