Geisinger 65 Forward launches in Scranton

SCRANTON, Pa. – Yoga, bingo, arts, crafts, fitness and cooking classes aren’t the typical reasons why you’d visit your doctor’s office. But stopping by the Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center isn’t like a visit to your typical doctor’s office. The health center highlights how Geisinger is custom-tailoring and investing in primary care for those 65 and over in northeastern Pennsylvania. 

Now open at 3 W. Olive St. in Scranton, the Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center is a redesigned space bringing together under one roof all of the health care components those 65 and over frequently need. Available to Geisinger Gold (Medicare Advantage) members, 65 Forward offers longer doctor’s visits and access to wellness activities in a relaxing environment. 

65 Forward members have more time with their doctor, with appointment times of up to one hour, allowing for longer visits to discuss and explain care. Members have access to a team of health care professionals, including nurses, nutritionists and a personal health care advocate who can assist with coordinating care between specialists, hospitals and insurance. 

“The 65 Forward program is bringing concierge-type primary care to our patients and members, custom created for those who are 65 and older,” said Jaewon Ryu, MD, JD, Geisinger president and chief executive officer. “This type of program is the only one of its kind in our area, bringing together top-notch primary care, along with a VIP, senior-focused experience, as well as wellness and social activities, all housed within the center. We know that this approach will make health easier for our Geisinger Gold members by creating a different access point directly in our communities.”

By bringing a comprehensive set of the most-used health services by Geisinger Gold members into one location, 65 Forward enrollees have access to lab services, X-ray services, behavioral health services, community support services, outpatient services and pharmacy home delivery all at one time. This can mean fewer trips to the emergency room or the hospital by managing health within the doctor’s office. 

The 65 Forward Health Center is a hub for activity, featuring a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, space for exercise and wellness classes, and room for educational activities like cooking and arts and crafts. By offering a rotating set of events and activities, 65 Forward members can take advantage of the community-center atmosphere. The 11,500-square foot space underwent a nearly $2 million investment to become Scranton’s 65 Forward Health Center. 

“This program allows us to spend more time with patients and focus on their overall health,” said Kenneth Tomczyk, DO, physician at the Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center in Scranton. “By spending more time with our patients, we can identify and discuss their health concerns upfront and do so in a more personalized setting. By also offering a rotating list of wellness classes, social activities and having fitness equipment on site, we’re just not taking care of our patients in an exam room, we’re providing care in a unique way while addressing the concerns of isolation and loneliness some people experience later in life.”

Primary care physicians with 65 Forward will see a maximum of 450 patients, compared to the national average of 2,500 to 3,000 patients per primary care physician. The more intimate patient experience means doctors can focus on early detection and discussion of possible health concerns and better care management of complex, chronic and other medical conditions. 

According to Geisinger data, since early 2017, Geisinger Gold members who utilized longer appointment times with their primary care physicians saw 35,000 diagnoses resolved or removed from their health records. Additionally, the same patient population had 55,000 new diagnoses caught by their primary care physicians. With more time dedicated to care, members can see better health outcomes so they can spend more time enjoying life. 

“We’re meeting our members where they are by offering comprehensive services all under one roof,” said Steven Youso, Geisinger Health Plan president and chief executive officer. “It’s programs like these that are creating better primary care experiences for our members and are what we need to do to improve health in our communities. This program shows how a team of health care professionals comes together to take care of our community in an innovative way.”

The 65 Forward program in Scranton is enrolling new patients. Those interested in enrolling can call 570-207-5970 or click here to learn more. 

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.