Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania through 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than 500,000 members. Additionally, Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. Geisinger’s 27,000+ employees make it one of Pennsylvania’s largest employers. The nonprofit system’s purpose to be the best is driven by great people and continuous learning and prioritizes providing exceptional care to all; fostering trust, connection and well-being; leading healthcare forward and strengthening its communities. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.
Team Members are Geisinger’s Strength
Geisinger is “committed to maintaining a culture that is grounded in respect, trust and safety…where team members are engaged…and can thrive, no matter their backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, levels, [or] functions”. To achieve this goal for its individual contributors, Geisinger turned to Catalyst Learning Company to support frontline employee development through its CLiMB® microlearning solution, to strengthen individuals’ skills sets and team performance.
“The CLiMB program represents a strategic investment in our frontline staff, equipping them with essential professionalism skills that foster confidence and unlock opportunities for career advancement. Through a focus on communication, collaboration, and self-care, CLiMB cultivates a more empowered and resilient workforce. Supervisors and learners alike have praised the program’s flexibility, making it easier for busy departments to support employee development without disrupting operations,” said Donna Johnson, MSHR, SHRM-CP, Development and Learning Specialist at Geisinger.
In 2024, 266 frontline employees completed Geisinger’s CLiMB program. Supervisors reported a 74% improvement in employee communication, particularly communicating “in a positive manner” and demonstrating a positive image. Just as exciting, 87% of learners reported an improvement in their ability to listen and understand what others tell them. After completing the CLiMB cohort session, 29% of the learners moved up in their careers. Survey data is summarized in the graph below.
CLiMB is Catalyst Learning’s professional development program designed for frontline healthcare employees. The program builds essential workplace skills that are critical to success but often not taught in a structured format for individual contributors. Skill focus areas include communication, conflict resolution, stress management, teamwork, and professionalism.
Delivered in short, flexible microlearnings, CLiMB is accessible in today’s stressed-for-time environment and makes it easy for employees to apply what they learn directly on the job. For hospitals, CLiMB strengthens engagement, improves retention, and develops a stronger internal pipeline of talent by preparing frontline staff to grow within the organization. Geisinger strengthens the CLiMB outcomes with a hybrid model that adds group discussion and role play following microlearning completion. Credits are tracked through Geisinger’s learning management system.
Enhanced Engagement, Healthier Communication
Supervisors throughout the organization applaud the changes in employee engagement and communication. Krista Panco, Radiology Operations manager, shared “this course helped my team member with coworker conflict…she followed the processes and did an outstanding job.”
Jude Moscatelli, Environmental Services supervisor, has seen a transformation in his employees’ communication skills. “One of my team members has made positive strides communicating with staff members and has improved handling difficult situations with peers as well. My other employee is more aware of her interactions and conversations with the team.”
Rebecca Winters, RN, an inpatient nursing manager, shared that her staff has “expressed self-growth through the program, and we are able to see that as well.” Karyl Moser, RN, clinic nurse supervisor, noted that her staff has become more engaged in their work in general and offering solutions to issues.
Building Better Relationships, Achieving Goals
Frontline employees throughout Geisinger echo Johnson’s observations that the CLiMB program fosters confidence and unlocks opportunities for career advancement. Patricia Sones, a CT Technologist III says, “I applied for the clinical ladder in CT scanning — a system that provides framework for career advancement for CT technologists — and I feel this course helped me tremendously in achieving that goal.”
Misty Flock, an Information Systems Generalist II for Laboratory, says, “The content was very informative. It has helped me build better relationships with co-workers and communication skills” to be heard and understood. Kristen Grebey, patient access representative, says, “I loved the CLiMB program” and feels it has helped her grow as a team member in her department.
Elizabeth Stanton, an Administrative Secretary, says she found the program very helpful. “I transitioned into a new position within a few weeks of completing the program, so I was able to use some of the things I learned to help me settle into my new role.” Another employee shared, “The information that I learned from this program really helped me understand more of how to act and interact with my colleagues.”
Striving for Excellence
Geisinger is realizing its value of excellence through investing in the development of frontline employees. Jayne Bartlett, Assistant Director of Learning and Design, explains, “Our many years of working to promote entry-level team member advancement through School at Work led us to develop a broader solution that could impact more individual contributors with targeted professional skills. Now in its third year, CLiMB has accomplished that for us.” This approach honors Geisinger’s culture and creates an environment where team members can thrive.