Geisinger Health System receives elite Seven Seals Award from ESGR

Geisinger Health System received the elite Seven Seals Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a U.S. Department of Defense organization, in a ceremony today, July 9, at Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) in Danville. The Seven Seals Award is the highest award given by ESRG, and was created to publically recognize employers who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to employees and families of those who have been called to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

"Citizen-soldiers and their families carry a heavy burden protecting our freedom and defending the nation, and we are proud to support our employees, patients and neighbors serving in the National Guard and Reserves," said Stephen Paolucci, M.D., principal investigator, Reaching Rural Veteran Initiative and Chair, Geisinger Division of Psychiatry. "This recognition is a very high honor, and we are committed to developing initiatives that support members of our community who serve or have served our country."

The ESGR is honoring Geisinger for a number of initiatives, including a program that supports its active-duty military employees by paying the difference between their regular pay and active-duty military pay for up to 15 days each year for Reservist or National Guard service.

Another Geisinger initiative receiving the ESGR nod is the Reaching Rural Veterans Initiative (RRVI) that was launched in November 2009 with a $375,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a $94,000 Federal Grant from the Human Resources and Services Administration. The RRVI addresses the needs of veterans and their families from rural communities who often turn to family doctors when non-specific combat-related symptoms appear months or years after deployment. An assessment of healthcare provider awareness of combat stress-related issues was conducted through the initiative and an education program was developed to help healthcare providers identify and treat those issues. This education program has been presented to three primary care sites within Geisinger Health System and is available to other providers inside and outside of Geisinger.

This initiative also allowed Geisinger to purchase telepsychiatry equipment that will allow Geisinger psychiatrists and psychologists to "see" patients in geographically distant primary care sites who would not otherwise have mental health resources. In addition this funding has also allowed Geisinger research and clinical staff to meet with and assess central Pennsylvania school system guidance counselor needs as they pertain to the families and children of active duty and returning veterans.