Geisinger Family Bonds: Ashley Mingle

Healthcare had always interested Ashley Mingle as a potential career path, but it was her daughter’s experience of spending months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital that led Ashley to Geisinger.

“I have always had an interest in the healthcare field. I started as a student nurse, but realized that it was not for me,” says Ashley, a medical records clerk (preparation and processing) at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

A life-changing experience

Ashley’s daughter Kimmie was born more than two months premature at 2 pounds, 10 ounces. She was born with amniotic band syndrome and gastroschisis, and has had approximately 20 surgeries at Geisinger, most of which took place before she was 2 years old.

“When Kimmie was in the NICU, I saw there were other things I could do besides just nursing,” recalls Ashley. “I really do think the three months in the NICU and the several admissions after that helped to inspire me to become part of Geisinger.”

Kimmie’s hospitalization was a stressful time for the family, and Ashley says the exceptional care and selfless compassion she and her family were shown by the physicians and staff made her realize that Geisinger was the perfect place for her to work. Kimmie was born in 2012, and Ashley started working at Geisinger in 2013.

“I didn’t know if Kimmie was going to make it, and Geisinger truly saved her,” says Ashley. “I owe everything to Geisinger -- without the exceptional care she received, Kimmie might not have lived.”

Ashley says Kimmie is doing well and will soon turn 7 years old. Ashley keeps in touch with staff at Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital and is a member of its NICU parent board. She still sees in her coworkers the service of caring and compassionate attitude that made her want to work for Geisinger in the first place.

“While working here, you can see how much employees care about patients,” she says. “There are good people here, and they really dedicate themselves.”

A career with lasting impact

As a medical records clerk in the Health Information Management Department, Ashley performs work that is critical to patient care. She has responsibilities both in the office and in the clinical areas. When she’s working in the office, Ashley handles several different calls from many departments within the Geisinger system as well as from patients. She supports clinicians by ensuring demographics and medical record numbers are correct and accessible. One facet of Ashley’s work is as a mobile scanner, which provides her the opportunity to interact with patients and their families. Mobile scanning allows Ashley to scan paper documents into a patient’s electronic medical record, putting pertinent information at clinicians’ fingertips to enhance care and treatment. Ashley’s daily tasks provide support and service throughout the entire Geisinger system.

 “Every day is something new and different,” says Ashley. 

Geisinger has afforded Ashley the ability to expand her knowledge base and grow in her career. When Kimmie was born, Ashley had to leave college to care for her. Through Geisinger’s tuition assistance program, Ashley recently received her associate degree in health information management, allowing her to pursue a career with lasting impact.

“I look forward to continue growing in my career, and I love everything Geisinger has brought to my life,” says Ashley. “I enjoy coming to work and that’s what makes me stay.”