DANVILLE - A report by The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) indicates Geisinger Health System (GHS) has an annual $6.1 billion positive impact on the local, regional and Pennsylvania economy.
According to a press release from Geisinger, the impact includes data from Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital, Geisinger-Community Medical Center in Scranton and affiliates that became part of Geisinger Health System last year.
As a major employer of more than 19,000 people and through the ripple effect utilization of Pennsylvania suppliers and other businesses, GHS, including its new facilities in Tharptown, Bloomsburg and Scranton, supports more than 30,280 jobs in the state, according to the report.
"As Geisinger continues to grow important programs and services to care for our patients, we are also supporting employment and enhancing overall quality of life in the communities we serve," Frank Trembulak, executive vice president and chief operating officer, was quoted in the press release. "This latest HAP report highlights our role as a major employer and driver of the economy."
Overall, Pennsylvania hospitals and health systems support nearly 586,000 jobs and have a total economic impact of nearly $98 billion. In 2011, Pennsylvania's 255 hospitals admitted more than 1.6 million patients, cared for nearly 39 million outpatients, evaluated six million patients in emergency departments and delivered more than 124,000 babies.