Lebanon, PA - WellSpan Health received a $1.5 million donation to establish a center at Good Samaritan Hospital to address the nursing shortage.
The York-based health system said the center will serve as
the framework for selecting and testing innovative care delivery models.
The proposed Jeanne Donlevy Arnold Center for Nursing
Innovation will be the namesake of former WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital team
member and community leader Jeanne Donlevy Arnold, who along with her husband
Ed, donated the funds.
WellSpan Health said the center will offer
opportunities for nursing leadership to explore and develop best practices,
nurse recruitment strategies and retention, and leadership and management
programs.
“Jeanne has a deep passion for the nursing profession, and she understands the importance of innovating in nursing care delivery across the country and right here at home,” said Patty Donley, vice president, WellSpan Health and president, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital. “This center will bring together all facets of research and education to develop innovative solutions that support our nurses who are the heart and soul of the care we provide here at WellSpan.”
Donley said Arnold is a pillar in the community and the
donation enshrines her legacy.
“I just can’t give up having a foot in the nursing world because nursing is embedded in my heart,” Arnold said. “I may not be able to take on patient assignments anymore, but I can lend, be creative and get things done in a small community to make a difference again.”
The aging population has led to recent nursing
workforce challenges. WellSpan Health said it has been intentional
about reimagining the profession, leveraging technology and innovative tools
such as virtual nursing options in certain situations. This approach frees up
bedside nurses to spend more time on direct patient care, while streamlining
other processes and duties.
The proposed center of nursing innovation to build on this
progress will have three key focuses:
Professional development and recognition, including
mentorships and coaching.
Innovation and research, involving academic partnerships and
research fellowships.
Clinical practice, which will include evidence-based
practice to improve patient care, as well as advanced delivery models of
care.
The Arnolds have deep roots in the community and their
philanthropic spirit has helped organizations across the Lebanon Valley over
the past two decades, WellSpan Health said. The Arnolds have aimed
most of their charitable donations toward supporting health and wellness
programs, including gifts to support programs at WellSpan
Philhaven.
“It has been 25 years since I’ve cared for a patient, but we love this community and giving back is one way we can still help patients find the best care right here in Lebanon,” Arnold said.
