In commemorating 10 years of high-quality care at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, this pillar of both the community and throughout Lancaster County achieves a major milestone this weekend. Ephrata Community Hospital and corresponding care locations officially joined WellSpan Health on Oct. 1, 2013, and continues to have a positive impact in the lives of patients and their families.

"It's always been the people who make this hospital stand out and I am proud of the way the team has delivered on our vision to be such a trusted partner for the thousands we've treated over the last decade," said Tina Citro, vice president at WellSpan and president at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital. "We consistently strive to provide timely, passionate and personalized care to each patient because we understand what matters most to them."

Over the last decade the award-winning hospital has:

• Cared for more than 65,000 admitted patients.
• Treated more than 285,000 patients in the emergency department.
• Delivered nearly 8,000 newborns.
• Completed nearly 56,000 surgeries.
• Conducted more than 7 million lab tests.

"As WellSpan celebrates 10 years in the Ephrata Community, we can see they have made an impact on thousands of members of our community, including myself," said Ralph Mowen, mayor of Ephrata. "I have chosen WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital for treatment and care throughout most of my life. One benefit of the affiliation has been the connection to the rest of the system. I personally received advanced heart care through WellSpan York Hospital to get a Watchman, a device that reduces my risk of stroke. At every emergency or checkup, my family and I have received personalized, timely care and service."

Increased Access to Care

On the hospital campus, a $47 million expansion of the Ephrata Health Pavilion took place in 2016, which added a larger surgical suite with 10 new state-of-the-art operating rooms and expanded physician and administrative offices.

"We've made significant advances across Lancaster County and our commitment to innovative care solutions that fits each person's unique needs," said Jim Stuccio, senior vice president of the East Region at WellSpan. "As we reflect, we continue to reimagine the services we provide with new ways to enhance our care for patients."

WellSpan also recently announced increased access to care in Lancaster County with a 34,000-square-foot surgery center to be constructed in the City Gate Corporate Center. The center will also be the home to numerous WellSpan specialty practices. In addition to the new surgery center, WellSpan will also be building an outpatient endoscopy center and expanding digestive health services in Brownstown. Both centers are expected to open in 2024.

Other investments include an expanded behavioral health unit at the hospital and expanded access through renovations at WellSpan Philhaven – Mt. Gretna Inpatient Unit, a short drive away. Both resources are positioned locally to provide care for patients with complex medical needs and those who need a longer stay for behavioral health treatment.

In 2018, WellSpan opened a WellSpan Urgent Care in Lancaster County, near Lititz, to provide non-emergency care for patients in a convenient location seven days a week. This is in addition to a location in Ephrata, as well as a WellSpan Pharmacy inside the hospital; and a new WellSpan Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine office in Ephrata.

New Programs & Services

Over the last decade, the hospital has added a number of new programs and services. Minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgery was brought to the operating rooms at the hospital in 2018. A total joint program has been designed to offer patients the best possible clinical outcomes through treatment or joint replacements. Similarly, WellSpan's spine program includes a multidisciplinary team committed to providing care for a wide variety of spine conditions.

The hospital also offers access to 3D mammography services, interventional cardiology services and expanded cardiology practice. Full-time behavioral health clinicians were also added to the hospital's emergency department to ensure patients receive the treatment they need quickly. Additional new services include a neurology practice with a pediatric neurologist and a dental sleep specialist at an affiliated physician practice.

WellSpan is committed to providing the best possible experience for patients. The hospital has a Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, reflecting a dedication to quality and safety. Additionally, emergency nurses at the hospital achieved national recognition as a 2023 Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing Certification Champion.

Community Support  

Because WellSpan knows that a healthy community is a thriving community, the health system assesses the community health needs each year from diverse community stakeholders to help inform current needs, identify areas of focus and garner collective support for future strategy development and implementation.

To cultivate those local relationships and address needs of the Lancaster County community, WellSpan formed a philanthropic foundation, the Ephrata Community Health Foundation in 2013. One contribution of note from the foundation is the launch of the sexual assault forensic nurse examiner (SAFE) program to care for and treat local victims of sexual assault at the hospital in 2019. The program was funded by $83,000 in support from the Ephrata Community Health Foundation, through gifts from community donors and WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital physicians and staff.

In addition to the foundation's efforts, WellSpan has awarded more than $500,000 in community grants to local organizations such as the Ephrata Public Library, Good Samaritan Services, Ephrata Social Services, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and more to date. WellSpan team members work across the community in a variety of ways: helping Plain Community families get the care they need, developing the Northern Lancaster County Hub and its wide array of services from career help to housing support, working with the library to encourage families and kids to get outdoors through the GO! program.

Awards & Recognition

WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital has received the highest ranking of five stars for overall hospital quality from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the highest hospital designation from Leapfrog with a grade "A" rating based on its record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

The hospital and its programs and services have also received high recognition and awards from U.S. News and World Report, Healthgrades, American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Blue Cross Blue Shield and American Nurses Credentialing, among others. It is also recognized as a Gold Level Safe Sleep facility for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep. 

For more about WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital and the health system's offerings and services, visit www.WellSpan.org.