LVHN Investment to Meet Growing Community Need Sets Record

Network’s community annual meeting message also encourages people to ‘take charge of their wellness’

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Dec. 2, 2009) – In keeping with the ongoing national theme of reforming health care, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) emphasized the importance of transforming health care to achieve higher quality care in more efficient ways at its community annual meeting. About 450 community members, invited guests and employees attended the meeting and health expo held today at the Kasych Family Pavilion at Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township.

Community Service, Charity Care and Financial Strength

Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., LVHN’s president and CEO, told Trustees and community members that never before has commitment to community been as important as it has this year. He emphasized the personal transformations many community members might have experienced, including a change in lifestyle or income due to the economy. He said those changes were evident as the network’s free and reduced cost-of-care program experienced a 21 percent increase in applications to more than 6,100 total—an increase of nearly 1,300 from the previous year.

Sussman said that charity care is part of a record $181 million investment in community service in fiscal year 2009, which includes the care delivered at 40 clinics and other programs for the uninsured and underinsured, and a broad range of school and community education, wellness and screening programs.

LVHN's patient services net margin for fiscal year 2009 (year-ended June 30, 2009), which is reinvested in programs, services, facilities and technology, was $36.4 million, or 2.8 percent of total revenues. Over the previous ten years the average patient services net margin was 4.0 percent. Health care experts have determined a 5 percent margin is proper to be able to reinvest in the necessary improvements. In fiscal year 2009, LVHN cared for more than 63,700 patients admitted to the hospital, a 4.5 percent increase over the previous year. Nearly 154,800 patients sought emergency care, up 7.5 percent, and another 147,800 were seen in the clinic practices, a 13 percent increase.

Transforming Health Care

Sussman said LVHN is looking toward successful models of quality and efficiency like the automaker Toyota to transform health care. "Efficiency isn't the flavor of the month at Toyota; it’s an integral part of everything they do."

He said LVHN has begun to adopt Toyota principles to help eliminate common wastes in health care such as delays for treatment and unnecessary diagnostic tests. He said the changes can be as simple as a better organized and streamlined work environment. For example, by changing procedures for cleaning and sterilizing instruments used in the operating room, a planned expansion of the sterile processing area was no longer necessary saving more than $800,000.

Sussman said similar improvements to benefit patients happened at the largest children's clinic in the area at Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th Street. An increase in patient visits to 28,000 made responding to phone calls difficult. Without adding staff, the clinic created a dedicated call center to provide advice over the phone. The results are fewer dropped calls, the ability to serve more patients in the clinic and a reduced need for some children to unnecessarily use the emergency department for care.

Sussman also urged community members to think about one way in which they can transform in the coming year. “You can improve your own health through an exercise class, a fitness class and a proper diet,” he said. “You can drive a loved one to the doctor, or help encourage them to embrace a heart-healthy diet. You can volunteer or, if you already volunteer, you can find ways to give more of yourself for your community.”

Trustees Re-elected/Paxton Retires

The LVHN Board of Trustees re-elected the following members to three-year terms effective Jan. 1, 2009: Rev. Jefferson Aiken Jr., D.Min., senior pastor (retired), First Presbyterian Church, Allentown; Jeffrey P. Feather, vice chairman, National Penn Bancshares, Inc.; Stephen K. Klasko, M.D., M.B.A., CEO, USF Health, dean, College of Medicine, University of South Florida; Matthew M. McCambridge, M.D., president, medical staff, Lehigh Valley Health Network; Daniel H. Weiss, Ph..D., president, Lafayette College; and Susan C. Yee, CEO, Active Data Exchange, Inc.

Trustees also approved a resolution recognizing the retirement of Stuart Paxton, LVHN's chief operating officer who has served the organization for 26 years. Sussman announced Paxton’s retirement in February and at that time appointed Terry Ann Capuano, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., as the next COO, effective Jan. 1, 2010. Capuano has been LVHN’s senior vice president of clinical services the past ten years.

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 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 by US News & World Report for 14 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals Additional information is available at LVHN's website and by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

This page last updated 12/3/09 04:01 PM