Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital accepts grant to help construct helipad

JERSEY SHORE, Pa. – When faced with a severe injury or illness, getting to the highest level of care as quickly as possible is critical. In recognition of that need, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital has received a $250,000 grant from the Williamsport Lycoming Community Fund at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania to assist in constructing a helipad at the hospital.

“This is a tremendous resource we’re bringing to our community,” said Tammy Anderer, CRNP, MSN, PhD, chief administrative officer of Geisinger’s north-central region. “We’re here to care for our community, and it’s great to have a community partner like the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania recognize the work we’re doing and the need to invest in a project like this. The addition of this helipad will save precious time.”

A medical helicopter is often the fastest way to transport a patient to a trauma center, a comprehensive stroke center, a children’s hospital, burn center or other facility for high-level specialty care. Designated as a critical care access hospital, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital provides care for medical emergencies. Should a higher level of care be needed, having a helicopter land at the hospital will save time for getting patients to that next level of care.  

Geisinger Life Flight will be one of the air ambulance services utilizing the new helipad. As the second-largest air ambulance service in Pennsylvania, Life Flight has a fleet of nine helicopters operating from six bases around-the-clock throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania. 

“The addition of this helipad provides our crews the ability to land at Geisinger Jersey Shore to help save lives,” said Gerald Splitt, Life Flight program director. “Life Flight has regional bases in Montoursville, State College and Selinsgrove. The addition of a helipad at Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital significantly decreases the time to quaternary care services for patients who in many cases every minute will matter to their outcome.”

A construction timeline and design plans for the helipad are currently under development.

Geisinger Life Flight averages more than 3,200 transports a year and transported more than 69,000 patients since beginning operation in 1981. In addition to Montoursville, State College and Selinsgrove sites, Life Flight bases are located in Avoca, Minersville and Lehighton. The program includes two critical care ground transport units based in Danville and Avoca and operates with approximately 150 staff members, including pilots, flight nurses, flight medics, communications specialists, emergency vehicle operators, maintenance and administrative staff. Life Flight is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport System (CAMTS) and holds its own Air Carrier certificate through the FAA.

About the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania
The Foundation works to improve the quality of life in north central Pennsylvania through community leadership, the promotion of philanthropy, the strengthening of nonprofit impact and the perpetual stewardship of charitable assets. FCFP strives to create powerful communities through passionate giving. For more information visit www.FCFPartnership.org.

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.