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.
Sheila Zeplin, a HCQU RN, works with Rita Gallagher at the Avenues Greenhouse located in Schuylkill County. Rita is learning the importance of label reading as part of a health and wellness training.
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
Resources
- Body Systems Flipbook (.pdf)
Healthy Outcomes Newsletters
Related links
- Office of Developmental Programs
- Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association
- Developmental Disabilities Nurses Network
HCQU Contact Information
- Northeast HCQU – (570) 342-7762
- Eastern HCQU – (877) 315-6855
- South Central HCQU – (717) 835-2270
- Northwestern HCQU – (814) 728-9400
- Western HCQU – (724) 283-0990
- Southwest HCQU – (724) 864-0715
- Southeast HCQU – (215) 546-0300
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
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
