Geisinger providers – including physicians, physician assistants and certified registered nurse practitioners – were recognized for ranking in the top 10 percent in patient experience nationally at the health system’s annual Top Patient Experience Clinicians Awards Dinner. Scores were based on Press Ganey survey results, which gives patients an opportunity to grade the service and care they received from a provider.
“Making health easier for our patients starts with the amazing providers who work every day to bring world-class care to the communities we serve,” said Jaewon Ryu, M.D., J.D., Geisinger president and CEO. “To receive such overwhelming feedback from our patients is the highest honor these fantastic providers could receive.”
Among the 170 clinicians honored, three were spotlighted for exemplary work, receiving Geisinger awards for going above and beyond when it comes to compassionate patient care.
Michael Kovalick, D.O., family medicine physician at Geisinger Dallas clinic, and Timothy J. Farrell, M.D., general surgeon at Geisinger Community Medical Center, received the Victor J. Marks Award for best Primary Care and Outpatient Specialty physician, respectively. The award was established in 2002 to honor Dr. Victor Marks, who served as Geisinger’s interim CEO from 2000 to 2001, and his commitment to making patients the primary focus of the health system. Recipients of the award are identified by patients as “the best of our best.”
Melissa Laporte, CNRP, endocrinology at Geisinger Scranton, received the Christina Appleman Award. The award is named in honor of Christina Appleman, certified registered nurse practitioner, and is given to the advanced practitioner for achieving the highest overall care provider section score for the system.
Providers were identified for the honor by results of patient satisfaction surveys. Clinicians were compared to more than 89,000 providers throughout the country that use Press Ganey surveys.
Locally, the 90th percentile Geisinger winners are:
Benjamin Darhun, MD, Family Medicine at Geisinger Orwigsburg
Pamela Gressens, CRNP, Obstetrics/Gynecology at Geisinger Pottsville
Elyssa Johnson, PA-C, Family Medicine at Geisinger Frackville
Marylou Rainone, DO, General Surgery at Geisinger Cancer Services Pottsville