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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Geisinger Health System Monday showed off its new $7.1 million short stay unit and surgical suite at the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre on Church Street.</p><p>Geisinger has invested $7.1 million to open a new 14-bed unit that is designed with patients in mind. It features all private rooms, easy parking and access, a peaceful ambiance, room service, and highly personalized care.</p><p>According to information provided by Geisinger, the new short stay inpatient unit and 635-square-foot operating room will allow for more orthopaedic, gynecologic, urologic, general, dental, plastic and ear/nose/throat surgeries. Routine CT scans are also being offered.</p><p>The short stay project is part of $12 million of investments Geisinger has committed since 2010 to the South Wilkes-Barre facility, which is home to more than 300 employees and volunteers.</p><p>Geisinger has added some features to enhance the patient experience, including upgraded linens, local area guidebooks for patients and guests with food, lodging and activity options, free Wifi to allow visitors to go online without having to worry about their cellular bill; a complementary duffle bag to hold belongings; reserved underground parking</p><p>Ron Beer, chief administrative officer of Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, said the greater Wilkes-Barre region continues to be an area of great opportunity for Geisinger Health System, and this opening is the result of a $7.1 million investment in the future of the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus.</p><p>Beer said the new inpatient unit and the 635-square-foot operating room represent a new phase for the South Wilkes-Barre campus.</p><p>&#8220;They allow us to do many more advanced procedures and ultimately bring more volume into the hospital,&#8221; Beer said. &#8220;The team here at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre is outstanding in every way, and we are proud to be celebrating this opening with you.&#8221;</p><p>Beer said the project began back in 2009 and endured several obstacles over the years.</p><p>&#8220;We tried to make this unit unique, and there are a number of added features that create a more comfortable environment for patients and families,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The unit only has private rooms and we&#8217;ve decorated each room to achieve a more comforting, peaceful ambiance.&#8221;</p><p>Beer said patients will be able to select appetizing foods that also meet their dietary requirements. He said the rooms are outfitted with iPads and wireless internet access to help patients pass time while they are in the hospital.</p><p>Beer noted that the bathrobes and linens are made of higher quality fabric and the lamps have U.S.B. ports so that guests can recharge their electronic devices.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Geisinger administrator Alexis Kolpakas holds an iPad in one of the new rooms on the fifth floor of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, which connects to an Apple TV. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL090115GeisingerSouthUpgrades.jpg</photo0><caption0>Geisinger administrator Alexis Kolpakas holds an iPad in one of the new rooms on the fifth floor of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, which connects to an Apple TV. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL090115GeisingerSouthUpgrades2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nurses going through orientation at the new fifth floor at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL090115GeisingerSouthUpgrades2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Nurses going through orientation at the new fifth floor at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Geisinger makes $7.1 million investment at its South Wilkes-Barre facility