Dr. Raj Patel Elected Chief of Medical Staff at Lock Haven Hospital

Lock Haven, PA.  December 30, 2008 –

Lock Haven Hospital is pleased to announce that Dr. Raj Patel, Board-Certified in Internal Medicine, has been elected as Chief of Medical Staff effective January 1, 2009.  Dr. Patel was elected to the post by his colleagues and peers and will serve as Physician Director for two years.  The Chief of Staff’s duties include leading the Medical Executive Committee, forming hospital policy, and credentialing and promoting hospital staff physicians and providers.  Currently, Dr. Patel is serving as Chairman of the Continuing Medical Education Committee and Director of the Coronary and Intensive Care Unit at Lock Haven Hospital.

Of his new duties, Dr. Patel stated, “My goal is to work with the medical staff and Hospital Administration to show the community that Lock Haven Hospital is committed to providing the highest level of quality care.  This will occur with a united medical staff and strong support from leadership to create confidence in the services provide at Lock Haven Hospital."

Dr. Patel has been in private practice for 16 years and has two office locations, Lycoming Internal Medicine, located in Jersey Shore and in Lock Haven at 930 Bellefonte Ave., in the NWD Building.  Dr. Patel performed his internal medicine residency at Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, NJ prior to relocating to the Central Pennsylvania.

Cindy Segar-Miller, Lock Haven Hospital CEO, stated, “The commencement of Dr. Patel’s term as Chief of Medical Staff brings a positive opportunity for our continued improvement of our ability to deliver quality care, right here to patients and offer resources to physicians to practice medicine.  We look forward to the challenges ahead in 2009 and with a strong physician group and dedicated employees, better healthcare for Clinton County will be right here.”

Hospital projects on the horizon for Dr. Patel include the opening of a new multi-million dollar ICU, expansion of surgical service lines, and continued infrastructure upgrades to complete the modernization of facilities.

For additional information, please contact, Mitch Christensen, Business Development Director, Lock Haven Hospital at 893-5386.