In commemorating a decade of high-quality care as an integral part of the WellSpan Health system, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon proudly celebrates a major milestone. As a pillar of the community across Lebanon County, the hospital has consistently provided a positive impact in the lives of patients and their families.

Good Samaritan Hospital and its corresponding care locations officially joined WellSpan Health on July 1, 2015. Currently, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital is a 163-bed acute care facility known across the region for offering a comprehensive range of services provided through more than 1,100 team members. WellSpan also offers a full system of specialized care and services across Lebanon County encompassing urology, cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, imaging, geriatrics, digestive health, women’s health, behavioral health and numerous other essential health services.

“This hospital has provided life-saving care, advanced medical treatments and compassionate services deeply rooted in the community for over 130 years. We are honored to be a part of its rich history and promising future,” said Tina Citro, vice president, WellSpan Health and president, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital. “The distinguishing factor of this hospital has always been the people who make this hospital stand out and I am immensely proud of our team’s commitment to our vision of being a trusted partner for the thousands of patients we have served. We consistently strive to deliver timely, compassionate and personalized care to each patient, understanding what matters most to them.”

Over the last decade the award-winning hospital has:

• Cared for nearly 80,000 admitted patients.
• Treated nearly 490,000 patients in the emergency department.
• Delivered more than 7,300 newborns.
• Completed more than 70,000 surgeries.
• Conducted nearly 11 million lab tests.

"Over the last decade, we have made significant advances across Lebanon County demonstrating our commitment to continue innovating care solutions that cater to each individual’s unique needs," said James Stuccio, senior vice president of WellSpan’s east region. "From bringing health services closer to home, to expanding clinical care support, to introducing new approaches to patient care, WellSpan has consistently raised the bar to best serve the community with excellence. This anniversary milestone is a reflection of that unwavering dedication.”

Increased Access to and Optimization of Care

Over the last decade, WellSpan has expanded care services in Lebanon County by:

• Opening the WellSpan Sechler Family Cancer Center in 2016 to offer comprehensive, integrated care, including chemotherapy, infusion therapy and radiation treatment.
• Partnering with Family First Health to open the WellSpan Dixon Foundation Health Center in 2020.
• Opening its first urgent care location in the county in 2020 to provide non-emergency care for patients in a convenient location seven days a week.
• Expanding access to care through the acquisitions of a cardiology practice in 2016, OB/GYN services in 2020 and an additional family practice in 2023.
• Opening a new outpatient palliative care clinic in 2022 aimed at improving the comfort and quality of life for patients facing serious or chronic illnesses.
• Expanding access through renovations at WellSpan Philhaven – Mt. Gretna inpatient unit in 2023 to provide care for patients with complex medical needs and those who need a longer stay for behavioral health treatment.
• Opening a crisis intervention office near WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital in 2024, offering immediate support from trained counselors for individuals experiencing emotional crises or personal challenges.

WellSpan's network of primary care offerings, specialty practices and telehealth services continue to expand, providing patients, employers and payers with more opportunities to choose and remain within WellSpan’s system of care.

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital was recognized by HAP in the Optimal Operations category for its efforts to streamline processes and provide the best possible care for patients in Lebanon County. This recognition is a part of WellSpan’s ongoing strategic efforts to reduce a patient’s length of stay. The focus was on expediting discharges and enhancing transitions for ill patients. The project successfully reduced barriers, fostered innovation and resulted in significant improvements in patient flow, safety and satisfaction.

New Programs & Services

Over the past decade, the hospital has introduced numerous programs and services. The hospital has offered minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgery, but it was recently recognized as a Robotic Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation. This continued work subsequently spearheaded numerous technological advancements over the past decade.

The hospital also offers access to 3D mammography services, contrast enhanced mammography services, interventional cardiology services and an expanded cardiology practice. Full-time behavioral health clinicians have added to the hospital's emergency department to ensure patients receive the necessary treatment promptly. Additional new services include a neurology practice with a pediatric neurologist and a dental sleep specialist at an affiliated physician practice.

WellSpan is committed to providing the best possible experience for patients. The hospital received the Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, reflecting a dedication to quality and safety. Additionally, the hospital’s emergency nurses achieved national recognition as a 2023 Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing Certification Champion.

Workforce Innovation

As part of its 10-year journey of transformation, WellSpan and community leaders gathered to unveil the recognition wall at the Jeanne Donlevy Arnold Nursing Center of Innovation at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital, marking a significant milestone in the health system’s commitment to nursing excellence made possible by a generous $1.5 million donation from Jeanne and Ed Arnold.

The center offers opportunities to explore and develop best practices for nurse recruitment, retention and leadership along with management programs and initiatives. The center exemplifies WellSpan’s broader commitment to innovation, leveraging artificial intelligence and next-generation care models to support a thriving nursing workforce.

Meanwhile, the Family Medicine Residency program at WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon has made significant contributions to patient care and physician development since it was founded it 2016. To date, 40 residents have graduated from this program, underscoring WellSpan’s dedication to developing future physicians.

Community Support  

Recognizing that a healthy community is a thriving community, WellSpan annually assesses the health needs of the community through diverse stakeholders to inform current needs, identify areas of focus and garner collective support for future strategy development and implementation. To cultivate those local relationships and address needs of the Lebanon County community, WellSpan established the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation in 2015.

Notably, Lebanon County Christian Ministries, Lebanon Rescue Mission and Lebanon Lancaster Habitat for Humanity recently received a combined investment of $800,000 to support the innovation and development of housing initiatives to address community needs.

Furthermore, with one in 10 Lebanon County residents experiencing food insecurity, WellSpan has invested more than $1.5 million in the last three years alone to address the issue, including funding the Lebanon County Community Hunger Mapping Report from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and supporting a mobile Women, Infant and Children (WIC) and food-centered self-sufficiency program in Lebanon.

WellSpan team members engage with the community in a various of ways like assisting Plain Community families get the care they need, bringing the mobile mammography motor coach to underserved communities to ensure life-saving scans are not missed as well as collaborating with the library to encourage families and children to participate in the GO! program.

Awards & Recognition

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital has received the highest ranking of five stars for overall hospital quality from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the highest hospital designation from Leapfrog with a grade "A" rating based on its record of patient safety. This recognition helps consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. In 2023, the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) recognized the hospital as a top performing hospital for ensuring excellence in patient safety.

The hospital and its programs and services have also received high recognition and awards from U.S. News and World Report, Healthgrades, Money, American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. It's also recognized as a Gold Level Safe Sleep facility for its commitment to best practices and education on infant safe sleep, as acknowledged by Cribs for Kids.

Further, the hospital was recognized by Practice Greenhealth for its achievement and innovation in environmental sustainability in 2022, 2024 and 2025. The hospital completed a comprehensive baseline assessment to identify sustainability goals, practices and opportunities to enhance the health of the community, reduce the cost of care and improve the environment.

For more information about WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital and the health system's offerings and services, visit www.WellSpan.org.