Lack of workers forces Geisinger cafeteria to temporary cut cafeteria hours

PLAINS TWP., Pa. — The woman on the other end of the phone sounded worried in her voice mail message.

Geisinger was closing its cafeteria at 2 p.m. on weekdays and it wasn’t even open on weekends, the anonymous caller said. She wanted to know where patients’ families would get something to eat when the cafeteria was closed.

But patients’ families and employees don’t have to worry — they still can grab a bite late in the day and on weekends at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, even though the cafeteria is, in fact, closed after 2 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend.

Geisinger temporarily cut the cafeteria’s hours due to a worker shortage that occurred when several students went back to school, spokesman Matt Van Stone said.

However, a food kiosk is available on the hospital’s main floor seven days a week.

“Some students and different people are going back to school,” Van Stone said. “It’s a temporary change until we fill some positions.”