News from Around the Region

Dauphin County
National nonprofit The Joint Commission has awarded PinnacleHealth System’s diabetes program its Gold Seal of Approval for health care quality, making the program the first diabetes program in Pennsylvania to receive the recognition.Specifically, the Oakbrook Terrace Illinois-based organization awarded disease-specific care certification to Pinnacle for its advanced inpatient diabetes-management program, Pinnacle said. The Harrisburg-based system’s program is one of only 20 nationwide to gain the certification, it said.
-- Central Penn Business Journal

Cumberland County
Fresenius Medical Care will be the first tenant in the new Hawk Acres Business Park being developed in South Lebanon Township. The new 124,000 square foot building will be a distribution center for medical products and devices related to dialysis.                     
--The Patriot-News

Lehigh County
Brian De Angelis, is a recent recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence.  Brian is employed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and manages a Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits Store. When one of his employees was diagnosed with a hereditary kidney disease, two other employees volunteered to be tested as potential donors. Neither was a viable match. Brian also volunteered to be tested and was found to be a match.  Going well beyond expectations of a colleague and with a full understanding of the risks involved, he donated a kidney to a fellow public servant. Brian’s act epitomizes generosity and personal sacrifice. His former employee is now in good health and has been promoted to a position in another store. Read full story

Lancaster County
Just a few years ago, the public was told the safest way to dispose of expired and unused medicine was to flush it down the toilet or throw it out in the trash. We now know that those practices have contributed to pharmaceuticals entering the nation's waterways and eventually getting into drinking water supplies.As part of a nationwide push for better disposal of what's in medicine cabinets, Darrenkamp's Pharmacy in Mount Joy and Elizabethtown has become the first in the state to initiate a free disposal program for the public. Read full story.
--Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

Across Central Pennsylvania..
U.S. Renal Care Inc. announced that it has completed its $110.25 million acquisition of Dialysis Corporation of America Inc. With this acquisition, USRC will provide dialysis services to approximately 5,500 patients and operate 84 dialysis centers, home and specialty hospital dialysis programs and facilities in nine states: Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

"This transaction represents a major milestone for our organization as we transition from being a regional provider to a national leader," said Chris Brengard, Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Renal Care. "DCA is a top tier company in our industry and from the start of this transaction we have been excited about the many benefits of combining our companies. We look forward to working with the DCA physicians, employees and team leaders to make the transition to a unified company seamless."

"I am very proud of the business we built at DCA," said Thomas K. Langbein, former Chairman of the Board of DCA. "I thank our shareholders who can be proud to have been part of DCA's success. I thank our employees and our physicians for contributing to our growth and success. Given the compatibilities of the two companies, the integration of DCA with USRC will be a smooth and efficient transition."

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