In the News

Geisinger: Surgery with a warranty is working

The Atlantic Thursday, October 04, 2012

The Atlantic looks at Central Pennsylvania medical innovator Geisinger Health Group and its ProvenCare experiment, which has resulted in a 67 percent reduction in in-hospital mortality.

Here's how they've done it: standardization. Geisinger strengthened their odds by overriding their cardiac surgeons' individual operating styles with 40 set best-care guidelines that everyone, every time, had to follow. Even dissent is strictly formulated -- doctors who veer from the guidelines have to justify their reason for doing so, selected from a previously agreed-upon list of acceptable justifications.

Original source: The Atlantic

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PA's perfect stargazing spot: Cherry Springs Sate Park in Potter County

Washington Post Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Washington Post basks in the darkness of light pollution-less Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County.

At night, Cherry Springs is one of the darkest spots on the East Coast. Free of the light pollution that affects so much of the Eastern Seaboard, the park is an ideal site for stargazing.

Cherry Springs is popular with hard-core amateur astronomers, but it’s also open to starry-eyed know-nothings like Rob and me, who, when we look up at night, can identify airplanes and the moon.

Original source: Washington Post
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Green natural gas well completion technology varies

State Journal Thursday, May 10, 2012

The State Journal in West Virginia writes about the differences in employing green completion technology related to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.

"It's not one-size-fits-all," said Andrew Paterson, executive vice president for technical affairs for the Marcellus Shale Coalition of Canonsburg, Pa. "It all depends on the kind of well that you're drilling."

Original source: State Journal

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PA is one of country's top states for green jobs

The Atlantic Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Atlantic reports on a government study showing that Pennsylvania is the state with the fourth-highest number of green jobs, and about 3 percent of all jobs in the commonwealth can be considered green.

The report defines green jobs across five categories: production of energy from renewable sources; energy efficiency; pollution reduction and removal, greenhouse gas reduction, and recycling and reuse; natural resources conservation; and environmental compliance, education and training, and public awareness.

The majority of these green jobs (2.3 million) come from the private sector. The public sector employed about 860,000 people. The largest sector of employment was manufacturing, with more than 450,000 green jobs.

This squares with a July 2011 Brooking Institution study of clean economy jobs, which identified 2.7 million clean economy jobs across the United States. The report found that median wages for clean economy jobs are 13 percent higher than median U.S. wages, and that a disproportionate share of clean economy jobs are staffed by workers with relatively little formal education. This has created a sizable group of "moderately well-paying green collar occupations," according to the report.

Original source: The Atlantic
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Geisinger among health systems coordinating health care to reduce costs

American Medical News Thursday, March 08, 2012

Uncoordinated care is one reason more than one-fifth of health care spending in the U.S. goes to 1 percent of patients, but Geisinger Health System is among those working to solve the problem, American Medical News reports.

Geisinger Health Plan's sickest patients -- those with heart failure, pulmonary disease, diabetes and other conditions -- are enrolled in its patient-centered medical home program called Proven Health Navigator, said Thomas Graf, MD, Geisinger Health System's associate chief medical officer for population health.

Proven Health Navigator patients in active case management maintain close contact with their case managers, who are registered nurses. The RNs examine patients' medical and social support needs and maintain close phone contact. Some heart failure patients have remote monitoring in their homes. The machines allow them to send their weights, prescribed medications and dosages, and symptoms such as shortness of breath to their primary care teams electronically.

Dr. Graf said the medical home program is reducing Geisinger's costs by at least $1.20 for every dollar invested, in part through decreased hospitalizations. "You don't have to avoid a lot of hospitalizations to pay for these management techniques," he said.

Original source: American Medical News
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Fewer references to nature and animals in children's books, says study powered in part by Bloomsburg

USA Today Thursday, March 01, 2012

A study of conducted by researchers at several universities, including Bloomsburg, shows the presence of nature has declined in children's picture books over time, USA Today reports.

Co-author Chris Podeschi of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania says: "This is just one sample of children's books, but it suggests there may be a move away from the natural world as the population is increasingly isolated from these settings. This could translate into less concern about the environment."

Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, says this study and others suggest "a physical disassociation with the natural world. … Nature experience isn't a panacea, but it does help children and the rest of us on many levels of health and cognition. I believe that as parents learn more about the disconnect, they'll want to seek more of that experience for their children, including the joy and wonder that nature has traditionally contributed to children's literature."

Original source: USA Today
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How did a Central PA squirrel turn purple? Speculation abounds but no one knows

AccuWeather Thursday, February 16, 2012

AccuWeather explores some conjecture about why a squirrel found in Central PA had purple fur. Since being trapped by a couple in Jersey Shore in early February, the creature has gained an international fan base and accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

John Griffin, Director of Humane Wildlife Services for the Humane Society, said "It might be possible that there was some introduction of a product into the nesting material that imparted this color to the fur, or accidental immersion/contact with a dying or coloring compound during (its) lifetime." He also said "The color (of the squirrel) does not appear to be even which would make me think that it is likely to be the natural color of the fur."

Krish Pillai, a professor at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, commented that "This is not good at all. That color looks very much like Tyrian purple. It is a natural organobromide compound seen in molluscs and rarely found in land animals. The squirrel (possibly) has too much bromide in its system."

Original source: AccuWeather
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Students can soon major in car restoration at Pennsylvania College of Technology

The Patriot-News Thursday, February 16, 2012

This fall the Pennsylvania College of Technology will become one of the few colleges in the country to offer a degree in auto restoration, The Patriot-News reports.

It is almost a recession-proof industry to work on high-end classic cars, (college dean Colin) Williamson said. Unlike work in a body shop that often takes only days, restoration can take a year or longer and cost upward of $80,000, he said.

There are no computers or replacing a damaged fender with a new one, he said. Students will learn how to pound out dents and restore the cars to their original condition, he said.

Williamson expects the first class to have 18 to 20 students. They will have to take collision-repair courses the first year, he said. Only students with at least a B average can opt to take the restoration course the second year, he said.

Original source: The Patriot-News
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Pennsylvania helping pay for wind farms being built across the commonwealth

EarthTechling Thursday, February 16, 2012

EarthTechling spotlights several wind power projects funded partially with state money, including planned wind farms near Altoona, Johnstown and Somerset.

The Twin Ridges Wind Farm in Somerset County, being developed by New York City-based EverPower Wind Holdings, received a $12.7 million Renewable Energy Program construction grant. The grant is the largest ever awarded by the program, which has also provided grants to the 30-MW Patton Wind Farm in Cambria County and enXco’s 38-MW Chestnut Flats Wind Farm in Blair County. Once completed, Twin Ridges will generate 20 percent of Pennsylvania’s wind power.

The $238.8 million project is expected to generate an additional $226.2 million in private economic investment, and is expected to be operational by the end of 2012.

In addition to Twin Ridges, funded projects include a ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) array in Chester County, a solar thermal system for the Franklin County YMCA, two residential geothermal systems, and a high-performance building project in Bucks County, among others.

Original source: EarthTechling
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New WikiLeaks-style website created as outlet for whistleblowers in Appalachia

Associated Press Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Associated Press reports on Honest Appalachia, a newly launched website set up to accept leaked government and corporate documents from several states, including Pennsylvania.

The region also was selected, (co-founder Jim) Tobias said, because of its relatively rural area, believing there was less media scrutiny in the region and that a resource like Honest Appalachia would be particularly valuable.

Many newsrooms have shut down and many journalists have lost their jobs, Tobias says, increasing the chances that corruption and misconduct will go unchecked. And many whistleblowers are skeptical of sharing their information with mainstream media.

"We believe our country desperately needs watchdogs at the local, state and regional level," Tobias said.

Original source: Associated Press
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Monitoring PA's dirt and gravel roads to maintain pollution-free waterways

Bay Journal Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Bay Journal spotlights a state-run program that maintains gravel and dirt roads as a way of keeping pollution out of local streams.

Worried about the deteriorating quality of Pennsylvania's streams, it didn't take long for Trout Unlimited to mobilize volunteers to drive thousands of miles around the state to identify sites affected by pollution and excessive water coming from Pennsylvania's dirt and gravel roads. At each location -- primarily drinking water reservoirs, high quality and exceptional-value coldwater fisheries and other priority watersheds -- volunteers conducted surveys based on specific criteria. The effort, which stretched over the summers of 1996-98, resulted in the identification and assessment of more than 900 sites statewide.

What began as a volunteer-driven Trout Unlimited initiative gained steam and support, culminating in 1997 when Pennsylvania enacted into law the Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. Administered by the State Conservation Commission, the program funds local projects that reduce stream pollution caused by runoff and sediment from the state's more than 20,000 miles of unpaved public roads.

Original source: Bay Journal
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Hundreds of jobs expected with expansion of Muncy business park

Williamsport Sun-Gazette Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that three new companies are moving into a local business park and are expected to create more than 400 jobs.

Vince Matteo, Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce president, said the land where the development is happening used to be a farm that Fishlips LLC purchased.

He said the collaboration is possible because of active businesses, senate and county leadership and regional spirit.

"The county and the community continues to grow because of the natural resource under our feet," Matteo said.

Original source: Williamsport Sun-Gazette
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Central PA towns hope to become friendlier to pedestrians and bicyclists

Williamsport Sun-Gazette Thursday, October 06, 2011

The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports on a plan to connect several local towns on a walking and biking trail.

"This project evaluates the community from a standpoint of pedestrian and bicycle safety," Brian Auman, landscape architect for the community resource center said.

Auman said SEDA-COG has analyzed the entire city, focusing on major points of interest or destinations such as parks, schools, churches, post offices, libraries and the farmer's market to take into consideration where people live and how to safely connect them to these locations.

The big picture view is to ultimately connect the west end of Jersey Shore and give people access to a pathway that would take them from Wellsboro on a single trail to the city, according to Auman.

Original source: Williamsport Sun-Gazette
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North Carolina utility building wind farm near Williamsport

Charlotte Business Journal Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Charlotte Business Journal reports that a 30-turbine, 69-megawatt wind farm is under construction near Williamsport.

Construction started last month at the site in Lycoming County, Pa., more than 60 miles west of Scranton. The project is expected to start producing power in September 2012.

Duke also operates the 70-megawatt North Allegheny Windpower Project 95 miles east of Pittsburgh, which it bought in 2009.

In announcing plans for the plant, Duke Renewables President Greg Wolf cites the “remarkable growth” the company has sustained in its wind and solar business.

Original source: Charlotte Business Journal
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Biologists hike to remote Pennsylvania streams to learn where trout live

The New York Times Thursday, September 01, 2011

The New York Times reports on fishery biologists who temporarily electro-shock trout in Pennsylvania streams to inventory the fish so the waterways can be protected.

Participants make rigorous treks, often to remote, mountainous areas, and electro-fish headwater streams to temporarily immobilize trout so they can be captured, counted and measured before they are released.

While about 3,650 streams are currently managed for wild trout, scores of new prospects are now on the agency’s radar. The goal, according to a commissioner of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Bill Worobec, is to ensure that they receive maximum protection before fish and their habitats are in danger of being destroyed.

“This project is extraordinarily proactive, which, in government, is rare,” said Mr. Worobec, who lives in north central Pennsylvania, a region that abounds both in trout and Marcellus shale. “We’re discovering we have substantially more wild trout waters than most people ever imagined and we don’t want to lose them through ignorance.”

Original source: The New York Times
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Williamsport : In the News