Month: July 2022

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After extensive discussion Tuesday, a Luzerne County Council majority agreed to guarantee a new infrastructure loan currently estimated at $51 million because all proceeds will be used to address county-owned roads and bridges.

Replacement of the Nanticoke/West Nanticoke Bridge over the Susquehanna River, currently estimated at $45 million, is stated as a project to be funded, although county officials will have flexibility if they deem other projects a higher priority, officials said.

In other business, a council majority chose to retain real estate agent Lori Spencer and Classic Properties to market and seek buyers for a county-owned residence in West Pittston and possibly other properties no longer needed by the county.

Councilman Kevin Lescavage, Spencer’s boyfriend, abstained from the discussion and vote.

Loan guarantee

The loan is possible because new state legislation customized solely for the county redirects $3 million annually for 25 years from the casino-gambling Local Share Account (LSA) to create an infrastructure fund.

The way it is set up, the county Redevelopment Authority must borrow to create the fund and then repay the debt using the annual $3 million LSA earmark.

However, the county is involved because financial institutions want assurance the county would repay the debt if the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino in Plains Township unexpectedly closes down the road.

The legislation leaves it up to the county redevelopment authority to recommend projects that should be funded, with final award approval by the Commonwealth Finance Authority — a state entity that already approves other LSA awards that are not part of this special program.

To address county council concerns about the guarantee, a memorandum of understanding between the county and redevelopment authority approved Tuesday allows council to decide which projects the authority submits to the Commonwealth Finance Authority.

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SEAFORD — Without technology, Dr. William Doran would have to measure by hand while preparing for knee or hip replacement surgeries.

But thanks to the Mako Robotic-Arm, TidalHealth Nanticoke’s Dr. Doran can create a 3D-image of the joint, which includes the bone structure and the surrounding tissues. This robot allows him to plan surgeries down to the millimeter, personalized for each patient.

“There’s no reason for me to pretend that my hands can be as good as this robot,” Dr. Doran said.

Dr. Doran said TidaHealth Nanticoke recently performed its 500th surgery using the Mako Robotic-Arm.

Robotics have played a big role at TidalHealth Nanticoke since it purchased the Mako Robotic-Arm and the da Vinci Surgical System last year. The hospital has performed more than 200 heart and lung surgeries while using the da Vinci Surgical System.

The robots have helped patients with quicker recovery times from surgery and lower costs. They cost about $2.5 million but Dr. Kurt Wehberg said performing surgeries robotically saves the hospital about $100,000 a month.

“These are expensive robots, but in the long run, they save money,” Dr. Wehberg said.

Dr. Wehberg performs minimally invasive lung procedures with the da Vinci Surgical System. The system allows for smaller incision points, which leads to smaller scars and faster healing times.

He said patients typically used to stay in the hospital for up to seven days for recovery from lung surgery. Since TidalHealth started using robotics, however, most patients can go home the same day.

Dr. Wehberg added the mortality rate for lung infections used to be 50% 50 years ago — now it’s 1%.

Patients can also save money because they won’t need as much pain medication, said Dr. Jarrod Buzalewski.

Dr. Buzalewski leads TidalHealth’s bariatric surgery program in Delaware, which has served more than…

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