Health Care Quality Unit

The Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU) works in conjunction with mental retardation programs in 13 central Pennsylvania counties to provide health care management services for persons with developmental disabilities. The vision of the HCQU is that all people with developmental disabilities living in Pennsylvania are provided with the finest community services in the nation, assuring the best possible physical and behavioral health. Our purpose is to build capacity and competency in those receiving care and those providing care.  The goal of the HCQU is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities are as healthy as they can be and can fully participate in community life.

One way we can do this is to provide health related trainings to caregivers so that they can better assist persons with developmental disabilities. We focus on individual outcomes, enhanced physical and behavioral health, and an organized system of care.

Responsibilities

• Assure the basic health and safety needs of people in all licensed residential living arrangements are met
• Assist in making caregivers in residential and day program settings more knowledgeable about health, nutrition, therapies, medications, and treatments
• Gather and analyze information to improve services
• Provide resources and locations of physicians, dentists, and other practitioners as well as access to other available health supports

Primary Activities

• Provide health related trainings
• Assess individual health and systems of care
• Identify health care risks by conducting health risk profiles
• Provide clinical health care expertise to county and day program providers 
• Assist case managers in obtaining better information about health issues
• Measure individual outcomes

The HCQU does not:

• Provide direct or primary health care 
• License or regulate activities
• Replace established community resources
• Manage crises
• Diagnose or prescribe medication
• Provide direct consultation

More information about counseling, mental health, and psychiatry

HCQU Training

• Training Index - January 2008
• Training calendar and registration form
• Take an on-line course

Healthy Outcomes Newsletters

• Current issue (.pdf)
• Newsletter archive

Staff

• Lynn Libby, Director
  (570) 271-5935
• Carla Leighow, Secretary
  (570) 271-7240
• Kristy Campbell, Data Support Analyst
  (570) 214-4753
• Patricia L. Patterson, RN, Training Coordinator
  (570) 271-5159 

To access HCQU nurses, dial: (570) 271-5001, then the extension.

• Laura Aungst, RN - Ext. 9665
• Sandra Corrigan, RN - Ext.9662 
• Linda Dutrow, RN - Ext. 9664
• Toby Wolfe, RN - Ext. 9661
• Carol Sumner, RN - Ext. 9421
• Cheryl Callahan, RN - Ext. 9420
• Sheila Zeplin, RN - Ext. 9423

Related link

• Department of Public Welfare, Office of Mental Retardation

Contact Us
Geisinger Community Health Services
Health Care Quality Unit
100 North Academy Avenue
Danville, PA 17822-2412
570-271-7240
570-271-7241 fax
E-mail: hcqu@geisinger.edu