About Us

Pediatric Practices of NE PA (PPNP) is a general pediatric practice located in the semi-rural region of Northeast Pennsylvania north and east of Interstates 81& 84 bordered by the Delaware River. The group consists of 5 pediatricians, 2 physicians assistants, and 2 nurse practitioners. We are able to serve over 13,000 active patients by providing services in three full time offices and one part time office located in Wayne and Pike counties. PPNP provides not only routine pediatric care, but also provides office consultations for chronically ill children and hospital care of critically ill patients at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale.

PPNP was formed in 1976 when Dr. Alan Kohrt came to Tafton to fulfill his commitment to the National Health Service Corp. Soon thereafter a second office was opened in Honesdale next to Wayne Memorial Hospital. Subsequently satellite offices opened in Carbondale (1979), Hamlin (1984), and Milford (1992). The support staff has grown to over 40 people and all but the Waymart office operate full time Monday through Friday. Honesdale remains the hub of PPNP and sees patients 7 days per week. "If you build it, they will come" seemed to be the PPNP motto for a while as Drs. Carl Milks (1979), Robert Morton (1984), Paul Diamond (1990), Kate Cita and Theresa LaFranco (1994) joined PPNP.

Following that growth we learned that, in a practice our size the organization can continue to thrive despite people's changing personal and professional needs and/or interests. In 1997 Dr. Alan Kohrt left PPNP to accept a position as Medical Director for Government Programs and Pediatric Patient Management for a managed care company. He was replaced by Dr. Albert Callahan in 1997 who stayed for 6 years before moving to Massachusetts to live closer to his extended family. Dr.Milks left in 2000 to pursue a career as an Allergist and was replaced the same year by Dr.Amy Betz. In April of 2006 Dr. Cita relocated to Kansas City, Missouri to live closer to her family. In the Spring of 2006 Dr. Monika Pek joined us from Long Island's Schneider Childrens' Hospital.

By 1990 we had outgrown the original Honesdale office and subsequently moved to the present 4000+ square foot location about 1 mile from Wayne Memorial Hospital. The Carbondale office moved from a building adjacent to Carbondale General Hospital to a building across from Carbondale High School in 1993 and in 2007 relocated once more to a new office in nearby Waymart. In 1998 the Hamlin and Tafton practices were combined and moved into the new 5000+ square foot building in Sterling Township. In 1988, PPNP became computerized and since that time all offices have been linked "live". Electronic Claims are state of the art and improve office efficiency. Computerized scheduling is an important feature for staff and patients. The computer improves efficiency in scanning for available appointments and allows parents to schedule new or follow-up appointments at any of our offices at checkout. Many of our managed care referrals are now done directly through the Internet. Physicians can access the office computer from their home computers. Facsimile machines in all offices speed the communication of information between offices and/ or the hospital. Wayne Memorial hospital radiological services are now digital allowing all offices to access and view X-rays from the office. We can also access lab results on line from each office.

All our offices have medication and equipment to begin treatment and stabilize children with life threatening emergencies. Additionally pulse oximetry is available in the offices as well as routine CBCs, strep tests, urinalysis, throat and urine cultures. We suture simple lacerations and do minor surgical procedures using local anesthesia in the office. Pediatric Practices of NE PA is committed to providing the highest quality possible in pediatric care.