Hospitals to study drilling and health

Geisinger is part of first large-scale study of Marcellus Shale’s medical impact.

 

DANVILLE – Geisinger Health System will team with two other regional health systems to study the health impacts of Marcellus Shale gas drilling in what’s said to be the first large-scale, “scientifically rigorous assessment” of the health effects of natural-gas production.

Geisinger announced Monday it received a $1 million grant from the Degenstein Foundation to help underwrite data-gathering and develop studies of the data.

Geisinger will partner with Guthrie Health of Sayre, a health-care system serving northern Pennsylvania and southern New York, and Susquehanna Health of Williamsport, for the study.

“The Degenstein Foundation’s support of this research project comes at a critical time for the residents of Pennsylvania who live in the Marcellus Shale region,” said Dr. Glenn D. Steele Jr., M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer at Geisinger Health System.

“The establishment of reliable and valid data regarding the potential health impacts of Marcellus Shale gas drilling is essential for informed policy decisions.”

Surveillance network

The study will include the development of a health surveillance network to assess patient-level data secured via electronic health record and make data available for research purposes.

Geisinger said some of the health effects that will be investigated first may include asthma, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Preliminary results of data analysis may be released within the next year, while other aspects of the research will unfold over five, 10 or 15 years.

Michael Apfelbaum, co-trustee of the Degenstein Foundation, said, “Geisinger’s research into the health impacts of natural-gas drilling fits perfectly with our mission, and we are proud to support this important initiative.”

In August 2012, Geisinger announced plans to use its extensive electronic health records, along with the electronic health records of Guthrie Health and Susquehanna Health, to investigate the possible health effects of Marcellus Shale gas drilling.

The study will look at detailed health histories of hundreds of thousands of patients who live near the Marcellus Shale, a rock formation in which energy companies already have drilled about 5,000 natural-gas wells.

“We anticipate additional institutional partners,” said Dr. Joseph Scopelliti, president and CEO of Guthrie.

“Our aim is to create a cross-disciplinary and sharable repository of data on environmental exposures, health outcomes and community impacts. The analysis of this data will further allow for the development of appropriate interventions.”

Jeffrey Apfelbaum, co-trustee of the Degenstein Foundation, said the landscape of the region is in a state of immense change.

“This project will make a difference in our region as we seek to better understand the shifts occurring around us,” he said.

The majority of the funding will be used to underwrite growth of the necessary data-gathering infrastructure and to help develop strategic studies of the data gathered.

Degenstein Foundation

The Degenstein Foundation was created by Charles B. Degenstein to improve the quality of life and to provide financial support to organizations with clear statements of purpose, well-defined programs and competent leadership.

Special consideration is given to unique, innovative and creative projects that benefit children, promote education, improve health care, encourage business, culture, conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment.

www.timesleader.com/stories/Hospitals-to-study-drilling-and-health,265425?category_id=487&town_id=1&sub_type=stories

Bill O’Boyle – boboyle@timesleader.com – 570-829-7218