Lehigh Valley Health Network announces telemedicine partnership

March 1st, 2011 by Lehigh Hospital

Blue Mountain Health System and Lehigh Valley Health Network
announce telemedicine partnership

LEHIGHTON-The Blue Mountain Health System (BMHS) and Lehigh Valley Health
Network (LVHN) today announced a partnership to provide telemedicine services
that will expand the availability of infectious disease medicine for the
residents of Carbon County and the surrounding areas.

The partnership will link the infectious disease specialists of the Lehigh
Valley Health Network with the Gnaden Huetten and Palmerton Hospital campuses
of the Blue Mountain Health System. Patients and physicians will have
telemedicine access to the LVHN infectious disease team for consults. The use
of a patient exam camera, electronic stethoscope and high definition
audio/video connections, mixed with other health information technologies make
this service a first in Northeast Pa.

In 2009 when we announced our affiliation with LVHN, we stated that we
wanted to enhance the quality of care for our patients by increasing access to
physician specialists through telemedicine. It is now a reality. The residents
of this area no longer have to travel to have a consult from a specialist,
says Andrew E. Harris, president and chief executive officer of the Blue
Mountain Health System. We are so proud to be collaborating with some of the
finest infectious disease physicians at LVHN. And, this is only the
beginning.

Our health network has worked with Blue Mountain to provide advanced care for
heart attack, stroke and burn patients here in Carbon County, said Ronald W.
Swinfard, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Lehigh Valley Health
Network. Today, we are excited to talk about a new affiliation that will
help patients who have contracted infectious diseases, such as influenza,
malaria, measles, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and the list goes on. We have
the expertise to diagnose and treat those diseases, and we’ll be using
telemedicine to make that expertise available here at Blue Mountain Health
System.

Telemedicine care for infectious diseases will use a mobile videoconferencing
cart nicknamed George.

George supports multiple telehealth services. He has a high definition
videoconferencing system, a 19 high-definition monitor and uninterruptible
power supply. He can operate on a wired or wireless network. For the provision
of infectious disease consultations, George is equipped with an electronic
stethoscope, a document camera and an auxiliary patient exam camera. This
provides the tools necessary for the infectious disease specialist at LVHN to
properly examine the patient and make treatment recommendations to the
patient’s attending physician at BMHS.

Theresa Long, vice president of nursing for the BMHS states, There has been a
core team of our nursing and information technology staff that coordinated the
program with the telehealth and infectious disease teams at LVHN for
approximately two months. Several practice sessions with the George system
were arranged to ensure the process was flawless from both sides of the
consult. It really is amazing and the possibilities for future specialty
consults are wide open.

The Blue Mountain Health System and the Lehigh Valley Health Network have been
affiliated since February 2009 and have successfully collaborated in advanced
cardiac and stroke care with the MI Alert for Heart Attacks program and the
TeleBurn for severe burn injuries.

The Blue Mountain Health System consists of the Gnaden Huetten Memorial
Hospital, a 101-bed community hospital in Lehighton, Pa.; the Palmerton
Hospital, a 70-bed community hospital located in Palmerton, Pa.; and The
Summit, a 91-bed nursing and rehabilitation center. The hospitals of the Blue
Mountain Health System are regional providers of health care services to the
people living in Carbon County and parts of Monroe, Lehigh, Northampton and
Schuylkill counties. The hospitals have received numerous accolades for their
commitment to providing high quality healthcare. Combined, these facilities
have been serving the region for more than 100 years.

Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital facilities – two in
Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; ten health centers caring for communities
in four counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices
throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging and lab services; and preferred
provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes trauma
care at the region’s busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults
and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas
transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, and neurology and complex
neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Primary Stroke
Center. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized

http://www.lvh.org/awards by US News & World Report for 15 consecutive years
as one of America’s Best Hospitals; is a national Magnet hospital for
excellence in nursing; and has been honored nine straight years among the top
integrated health networks in the U.S. Lehigh Valley Hospital has been
selected as a National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program.
Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by

Follow us on facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Brian Downs
Director of Media Relations
Lehigh Valley Health Network
NEW PHONE: 484-884-0825; Fax: 484-884-0826
lvhn.org/media

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg heart care

December 15th, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

If you live in Easton, Bethlehem or anywhere in the Lehigh Valley or New Jersey and want top of the line heart care,  please look to Lehigh Valley Heath Network.  Conveniently located in the hub of the Lehigh Valley at Route 22 and Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, Pa., Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg features all private rooms and a vast array of heart care services and technology.  The Heart Care Facility located in Muhlenberg is considered one of the leading medical facilities in the region.

Much effort has been made into ensuring that the highest levels of modern technology have been implemented  for your heart care needs.

It is strongly urged that you look at the Muhlenberg facility before selecting where you choose to have your care.

American Hospital Association Awards LVHN

August 19th, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

WASHINGTON (Aug. 19, 2010) – The American Hospital Association (AHA) awarded the
Carolyn Boone Lewis Living the Vision award to Lehigh Valley Health
Network (LVHN), in
Allentown, Pa. for their work to improve the community’s health through actions that go beyond traditional hospital care. The award was presented today to LVHN’s president and CEO, Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., by AHA’s president and CEO, Rich Umbdenstock.

LVHN is passionate about growing healthy, strong and safe communities. Through partnerships and sponsorships of organizations and schools in the community, they are able to promote their mission and better the community they serve. Their programs aim to be fun, innovative ideas for educating community members of all ages about how to better care
for themselves and their loved ones. LVHN has also worked hard to provide health education resources for the community that extend the hospitals reach to promote healthy lifestyles and improve wellness.

LVHN’s efforts in the community have been numerous and include:

  • Miles of Smiles –a mobile dental van that helps bring the dentist’s
    office to the children of the community. Dental cavities are the
    most common chronic childhood disease, yet they often go untreated
    leading to major health consequences. With
    two exam rooms and an X-ray area services can include teeth
    cleaning, cavity treatments and education on proper brushing and
    flossing and healthy eating.

  • Camp Red Jacket – a free day camp that helps children ages 6-12 with Type
    I diabetes find the answers to their questions about managing this
    serious disease through a fun, game-based environment. Activities
    can include: confidence-building games that teach coping skills; a
    professional staff of diabetes educators, nurses, dietitians; and
    junior teen counselors with Type 1 diabetes, who can relate to the
    children through personal experience.

  • Communities in Schools –a program for adolescents at risk for dropping out
    of school. About 200 Allentown-area high school students
    participate. In addition to classroom instruction, they get
    mentoring, tutoring and training in job readiness and life skills
    that provide a great start for a healthy and successful future.

  • Safety Town –a trauma prevention program for children. Using a portable,
    interactive town, it is designed to teach children (kindergarten
    through second grade) how to be safe in their everyday lives. The
    town depicts how a child travels through a normal day, including
    home, school, park and neighborhood, while discussing dangers they
    may encounter along the way. It can be used at school, community
    and church events.

“When you serve your community, as Lehigh Valley Health Network does, everyone is
made better and gains strength from the connection,” said AHA president and CEO, Rich Umbdenstock. “This award is given when a hospital achieves a special level of success – Lehigh Valley Health Network offers their community support, care and compassion for their health and personal needs. I am pleased and honored to recognize Lehigh Valley Health Network for their achievements and know their community shares this excitement.”

Established in 1996 and first presented in 1998, The Living the Vision Award recognizes institutions or individuals living the AHA’s vision of a society of healthy communities where all individuals reach their highest potential for health. In 2002, it was renamed the Carolyn Boone Lewis Living the Vision Award, in memory of the first hospital trustee to serve as AHA chair. An important element of the award is that a hospital must be recognized as a leader and nominated by others in the health care field. This is the first year the award has been given since 2005.

Living the Vision/Page 3

About the AHAThe AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities.  The AHA is the national advocate for its members, 4,800 hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 33,000 individuals.  Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.  For more information visit the Web site at www.aha.org.

Lehigh Valley Health Network

Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital facilities – two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; eight health centers caring for communities in four counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes: trauma care at the region’s busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer
care, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Primary Stroke Center. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized by US News & World Report for 15 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals; is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing; and has been honored eight straight years among the top integrated health networks in the U.S. Lehigh Valley Hospital has been selected as a National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on
facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Everybody Needs a Primary Care Doctor

May 3rd, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

LVNH has an outstanding resource on finding the most effective primary care doctor for your needs.  The LVHN website has all the proper contact information for making that critical call to locating the proper doctor for you and your family.

The knowledgeable support staff will comb though their extensive database to find out what doctor makes the most sense for your needs.  If it’s a Family medicine doctor ,  Internal medicine doctor,  gynecologist or Geriatricians LVHN could help!

For the Little ones,  LVHN has an extensive database of Pediatricians,  which will make your life easier when connecting you with the proper doctor for your family deserves.

If you have any questions at all,  feel free to contact us though the link above.

Telemedicine Research in the Philadelphia Area

May 3rd, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

New Lehigh Valley Health Network research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrates the lifesaving benefits of the combined use of telemedicine technology along with the care of specialist physicians known as intensivists. For more information including coverage details and a brief video explaining Advanced ICU/Telemedicine technology go to http://www.lvhn.org/media

Brain Surgery Expertise

May 3rd, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

Lehigh Valley Health Network offers a strong Neurosurgery department that has expertise in the following areas:

Advanced Neurovascular Treatment
Primary Stroke Center
Neuro-oncology Program
Spine Program
Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit
Neuropathology and Neuropsychiatry Expertise

If you live in Eastern PA, LVHN’s services are a close-to-home option rather than traveling to a location outside of the local area. Our facilities are world-class. 

When it’s your brain or spine, you want compassionate, well-educated
physicians who expertly perform the most advanced procedures available
today—and that’s what you’ll find at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

You don’t need to travel far for advanced brain surgery. You can find it at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Why Lehigh Valley Health Network makes sense for Brain Surgery

May 3rd, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

There are a lot of reasons why Lehigh Valley Health Network makes sense for brain surgery.  The facility is world-class, and you’ll receive the most advanced treatment available. 

Another aspect that people sometimes overlook is the location. LVHN is centrally located in the Lehigh Valley, minutes from Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, making it easier for loved ones to visit during recovery.

The results and the recovery period for brain surgery depend on the procedure, the general health of the patient and the surgical techniques. This recovery is helped significantly when your friends and family are at your side.

During this difficult time, LVHN can help you.

Telemedicine Care for Patients in the Philadelphia region

April 19th, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

Lehigh Valley Health Network Research Demonstrates Lifesaving Benefits of Advanced ICU, Telemedicine Care for Patients

Results are published in the latest edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (April 19, 2010) – The value of telemedicine, the use of satellite technology, video conferencing and remote monitoring, to connect doctors and patients has lifesaving benefits. As shown in a new research study conducted by a team at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), Allentown, Pa., telemedicine, combined with 24/7 direct intensivist physician supervision, significantly lowers death rates by nearly 30 percent and decreases ventilator use in critically ill patients.  This study involved critically ill patients who were cared for using Advanced Intensive Care Unit (AICU) technology along with remote monitoring by intensivists-certified critical care specialists.

Details of the study are published in the April 12, 2010 edition of the “>US News & World Report for 14 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals; is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing, and has been honored nine straight years among the top integrated health networks in the U.S.  Additional information is available at lvhn.org  and by following us on facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Brain Surgery Close to Philadelphia

April 5th, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

When someone in the Philadelphia region is exploring options for Brain Surgery, he or she typically seeks a hospital that is state-of-the-art, has clean, modern hospitals, can provide the necessary treatment and is located nearby.

Sometimes you may overlook what Lehigh Valley Health Network can do for you.  LVHN offers advanced, convenient care in a state-of-the-art facility.

Brain Surgery is not something to be taken lightly.  You need a state-of-the-art facility that allows you the best possible chance at a full recovery.   Lehigh Valley Hospital is one of the strongest in the field.

We have a robust program and have helped thousands of individuals succeed after having brain surgery.

Consider LVHN for brain surgery. If you have any questions at all please contact us.  

Lehigh Valley Health Network to Establish First Pediatric Emergency Department in the Region

February 23rd, 2010 by Lehigh Hospital

Lehigh Valley Health Network to Establish First Pediatric Emergency Department in the Region

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Feb. 22, 2010) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is announcing plans to establish the first pediatric emergency department (ED) in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding area. The facility will be constructed in existing space adjacent to the current emergency department at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township. The project is tentatively scheduled for completion in the spring of 2011.

Richard MacKenzie, M.D., LVHN’s chair of emergency medicine says the existing emergency department at LVH-Cedar Crest cares for 13,000 children a year. He stresses that the creation of an emergency department just for children is important to the community because pediatricians and parents alike desire highly specialized care in a dedicated pediatric emergency department.

The planned pediatric ED would include 11 beds covered by specially trained staff to care for children, including dedicated pediatric emergency medicine physicians, pediatric emergency nurses and a child life specialist to assist children and their families with the psychological and social issues of an emergency room visit.

Dr. MacKenzie says there also will be a separate waiting area for children and their families. "A child-friendly atmosphere is critical," he says. "It is often very difficult for children, particularly young children, to be in an environment where adults are suffering from illness or injury."

Dr. MacKenzie says a child-friendly atmosphere can help make the pediatric emergency department as painless as possible.  According to Dr. MacKenzie, research shows severe pain and worry can stick with children for a long time and even permanently.  He says the goal will be to manage a child’s pain through staff education, consistent assessment criteria, implementation of protocols and technological advances.

Dr. MacKenzie says the creation of a pediatric emergency department at other hospitals around the country also has shown that a separate pediatric emergency department can further reduce wait times for both child and adult emergencies. The space we free-up in the existing emergency department by creating a dedicated pediatric emergency department will allow us to care for more adult patients.

John Van Brakle, M.D., LVHN’s chair of pediatrics says an emergency department dedicated to serving the needs of children is the next logical step for the community. We currently offer our young patients and their families access to a wide range of specialty care services, including a specialty care center, pediatric intensive care unit-the only one in the region, neonatal intensive care unit and the most experienced trauma center in the region treating adults and children. A pediatric emergency department would take the care of children, especially those with special health care needs, to the next level.

LVHN is an associate member of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), the only health network in the Lehigh Valley region to attain that designation. "Providing the highest quality emergency care services for children requires an infrastructure designed to coordinate, support and constantly improve care for pediatric patients, said Sue Dull, director, child health and financing at NACHRI.  The specialized knowledge and experience of staff, family-centered approach, unique medical equipment, and comforting and reassuring environments found in pediatric emergency departments are indispensable to all children needing emergency care."

LVHN is staffed by more than 60 local pediatric specialists in 26 care areas including pediatric oncology, pediatric hematology, pediatric surgery, pediatric anesthesiology and pediatric radiology. A pediatric intensivist/hospitalist is in-house 24/7 to cover the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), inpatient pediatrics and consults throughout the hospital.  In addition, a neonatologist and neonatal nurse practitioner are in-house 24/7 to cover the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

In addition to a pediatric specialty center, outpatient/ambulatory services consist of a ten-bed pediatric ambulatory surgery unit (PASU), outpatient pediatrics (hospital-based primary care pediatric clinic), and a network of community pediatricians and family practice physicians. Inpatient pediatric specialists include pediatric respiratory therapists, pediatric focused pharmacists, pediatric occupational, physical and speech therapists, and pediatric nutritionists.

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