Follow a patient's journey at TidalHealth Nanticoke

When patients enter through the doors of TidalHealth Nanticoke, their experience is shaped by each team member, practitioner and volunteer they meet along the way. Every interaction — from a welcoming smile at registration to the reassuring words of a nurse or physician — contributes to a journey centered on compassion, safety and excellence.

This dedication to high-quality care recently earned TidalHealth Nanticoke a prestigious 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the highest possible score and a reflection of the collective commitment of every team member within the hospital.

The journey begins the moment a patient arrives. Registration team members greet each person with warmth and efficiency, ensuring that the process is seamless and reassuring during what can often be a stressful time.

“Our registration team is the first point of contact for our patients to begin their care,” said Beth Cairo, patient access coordinator. “We make sure they are registered accurately with a sense of comfort and empathy to build rapport. To leave that lasting impression encourages them to return — and it also makes us feel that we went above and beyond our job for our patient care when they come in and greet us by name.”

From there, nurses and ancillary team members carry that sense of calm and confidence to the bedside.

“By providing great care to our patients in a timely manner, and by being respectful and caring towards them during their time of need, we can help them feel supported,” said Loretta Sheren, clinical support technician in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU).  

PCU Unit Secretary Mary Holston echoed that sentiment, saying, “Our team works together with a positive attitude and carries that into patient care. We not only meet physical needs, but also care for emotional needs and support families, too. I’ve been with this hospital for 24 years and we’ve come such a long way. I’m proud to say that I’m a part of this team.”

Licensed practitioners build upon this foundation of trust with expert treatment, diagnoses and any needed plans for continued treatment after discharge. Grounded in evidence-based practices, TidalHealth Nanticoke’s practitioners deliver care that balances cutting-edge medicine with genuine empathy.

“We credential physicians, nurse practitioners, CRNAs and physician assistants who are highly skilled, compassionate and caring to provide the best possible care to our patients,” said Natasha Snead, medical staff coordinator.

Behind the scenes, dozens of disciplines play equally vital roles in a patient’s journey. In the Operating Room (OR), the Sterile Processing team ensures every procedure is safe.

“We clean and sterilize all surgical trays and instruments and make sure they’re ready for the surgeon to use to help each patient have a safe and successful surgery,” said Darryl West, sterile processing lead tech. “By doing this, we help our community trust us with their healthcare needs.”  

That work supports surgical teams like general surgery, obstetrics and orthopedics.

“The orthopedic team helps contribute to our hospital’s 5-star success by providing excellent care and surgical intervention,” said Crystal Reichenberg, orthopedics practice manager.

RN Branagh Jones added, “As a current OR nurse and past Emergency Department team member, I’ve seen how our hospital departments come together seamlessly to give our patients the best care in their most vulnerable moments. The interdisciplinary teamwork at TidalHealth Nanticoke is what makes me proud to be part of this organization for the past eight years.”

Elsewhere in the hospital, imaging and respiratory services provide critical support.

“We work as a team all day every day in X-ray,” said Brandi McAvey, radiologic technologist. “We take on each day with a together mindset!”

Respiratory Therapist Patricia “Trish” Hitchens shared how personal the work feels in a close-knit community: “Being part of a 5-star hospital in a small community means everything to me, because every breath I help restore is for a neighbor, a friend, or a family member. Excellence here isn’t just a rating, it’s a promise to the people we love.”

Every role, whether visible to patients or not, is essential to the hospital’s success. Even moments as simple as passing in the hallway can help shape the hospital’s culture of care.

“This is one of the only places I’ve worked where the majority of the people I pass in the hallway say good morning, not only in my department, but throughout the hospital,” said Pharmacy Technician Toby Kenyon.

Penny Short, MSM, BSN, RN, senior vice president of TidalHealth and president of TidalHealth Nanticoke, shared her gratitude: “Our five-star rating is not the achievement of any single department — it’s the direct result of every team member throughout our hospital. Each role, no matter how big or small, impacts a patient's experience and contributes to the trust our community places in us. This rating reflects our team’s dedication, compassion and excellence, and I could not be prouder of the team we have here at TidalHealth Nanticoke.”

From admission to discharge, every interaction, every small act of kindness, and every moment of diligence adds up. TidalHealth Nanticoke earning the 5-star rating for the second year in a row is more than a badge of honor — it’s a reflection of the hospital’s unwavering commitment to providing the best possible care for every patient, every day. It’s proof that when each team and team member works together, patients receive not just treatment, but healing, hope and the highest quality of care.