February 9th, 2012 by Brian Downs
There were smiles all around when representatives of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) and Lehigh Valley Health Network cut the ribbon for PMMC’s newly renovated 10-bed inpatient pediatrics unit on February 2. The partnership between the two health care organizations involves Lehigh Valley Health Network providing two full-time pediatric hospitalists at PMMC. Pediatric hospitalists are pediatricians who care for children who are hospitalized with a wide variety of illnesses and medical conditions. Besides inpatient coverage, the hospitalists will give consultations for children coming through PMMC’s emergency room and newborns in the Maternity and Women’s Health Center, and attend high risk deliveries. If there is a need for more specialized care, pediatric patients at PMMC now have a direct link to Lehigh Valley Health Network’s comprehensive pediatric services.
February 8th, 2012 by Rick Martuscelli
The Lehigh Valley Health Network specialists who annually provide emergency care during Pocono Raceway NASCAR events received national recognition for their outstanding work. (L-r) NASCAR nurse liaisons Jennifer Partee and Pam Talbert joined NASCAR president Mike Helton to present the NASCAR Teamwork Award to Lou Puentes, Mike Wargo, Jeff Kuklinski, DO, Robert Tomsho, DO, Lori Sheppard, NASCAR nurse liaison, and Denise Meeks, NASCAR nurse liaison, during the 2012 NASCAR Safety Summit in Charlotte, NC. The award is given annually to an infield care center that has an outstanding group of medical professionals who exceed NASCAR’s medical standards and demonstrate excellent teamwork on a daily basis.
February 2nd, 2012 by Lauren Fetterman
To help moms in our community have healthy, full-term pregnancies, Lehigh Valley Health Network is sponsoring the March of Dimes’ March for Babies Walk on Sunday, April 22, 2012. The 3.5-mile walk begins at 10 a.m. at Dorney Park in Allentown. Money raised from the walk supports programs in our community that fund research and programs that help babies begin healthy lives. To join us in the March for Babies Walk, visit marchforbabies.org or click here and select “Lehigh Valley.”
January 26th, 2012 by Matthew Burns
When an elderly woman came to the back door of the Lehigh Valley Hosptial—17th Street operating room in need of help, Theresa Valentin took charge. Valentin, a medical assistant in the Children’s Clinic, worked with the hospital’s interpreters to learn the woman spoke a unique dialect of Cantonese. Through conversation and hand gestures, Valentin discovered the woman was lost and hungry. As Valentin walked her to the hospital cafeteria, a security guard recognized the woman and suggested they take her to a neighborhood Chinese restaurant. There the woman was quickly identified. Allentown police contacted a thankful family member who picked her up. For going above and beyond, Valentin recently received Lehigh Valley Health Network’s monthly Service Star award.
January 24th, 2012 by Matthew Burns
The CITGO Petroleum Corporation recently named Lehigh Valley Health Network a CITGO Fueling Good Fall 2011 winner. The health network was recognized for ongoing efforts to provide dental care and education to low-income children through the Miles of Smiles mobile dental clinic. CITGO representative David Laughner (left) presented the $5,000 award to S. Clarke Woodruff, DMD, chair of the health network’s department of dental medicine. The award is part of CITGO’s Ripples of Good program. The Miles of Smiles mobile dental clinic program was chosen from more than 1,500 charities through a nationwide online vote.
January 23rd, 2012 by Brian Downs
You see them all around the Lehigh Valley—Stop Texting magnets on vehicles to educate the community about the dangers of distracted driving. One in every 80 Americans dies in a motor vehicle collision. About 6,000 of those people die in car crashes caused by distracted driving—and cell phone use is by far the greatest distraction. Now Lehigh Valley Health Network is partnering with The Morning Call and Viamedia to continue to spread the message of the public awareness campaign begun in late 2010 by asking everyone to take the pledge. You can do your part to make the community safer by pledging to stop texting.
Log on to mcall.com/stoptexting, or take the pledge at any of the upcoming events:
March 31 – April 3, Greater Lehigh Valley Auto Show
April 22, March of Dimes March for Babies
January 20th, 2012 by Rick Martuscelli
Lehigh Valley Health Network is partnering with Keystone Villas at Fleetwood, a retirement community in Blandon, Pa., to provide on-site care for its residents. (L-r) Joselito Ouano, MD, and Roland Newman II, DO, of Blandon Medical Group, helped dedicate a state-of-the-art medical office suite at Keystone Villas. They spoke to residents about the benefits of seeing a physician inside the facility, their goal of hosting wellness programs and educational presentations there in the future, and how rewarding it feels to care for residents and link them to Lehigh Valley Health Network services.
January 16th, 2012 by Matthew Burns
Burn survivor Shannon Anderson of Ephrata, Pa., knew “the big question” was coming, but she wasn’t exactly sure when her boyfriend David Kurtz, also of Ephrata, Pa., would ask her to marry him. She thought he might ask during the holidays. She also thought it would be a private moment between just the two of them. So she was surprised when he got up in front of the crowd during the recent Lehigh Valley Health Network burn survivor celebration, and dropped to one knee. When he asked for her hand in marriage, she said yes. The newly engaged couple met at a nursing home where Anderson worked while Kurtz was there visiting a friend. You can learn more about Shannon’s story here.
January 10th, 2012 by Amy Koch
Heather Rodale believes strongly in the healing power of art. She founded a non-profit organization called Healing Through the Arts (HTTA) after her own experience with stage 3 melanoma. “After my treatment, I just wasn’t the same anymore,” she says. “I didn’t know how to live my old life, and the only thing that made me feel whole again was art.” HTTA provides information and resources to encourage and support individuals, caregivers and their families. In 2011, HTTA held its first annual juried art exhibition for high school students in the region. Students were invited to create art based on the theme of “hope and healing.” Area hospitals were invited to choose pieces from the exhibition, held at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, to install in cancer-related public areas. Lehigh Valley Health Network chose six pieces which were recently installed in the main corridor of the John and Dorothy Morgan Cancer Center. The students represented are Edward Hozza, III, Emily Smith, Angela Anatalio, Samantha Quinones, Nicole Gencarelli and Hannah Bankos.
January 10th, 2012 by Matthew Burns
Before his concert at the Croc Rock in Allentown, Pa., season seven American Idol winner David Cook stopped by Lehigh Valley Health Network’s pediatrics department to bring good will and holiday cheer to the children. The children enjoyed the visit, and so did parents and health network colleagues. Pediatrician Kris Rooney, MD, and sisters Gabby and Brittney contacted Cook and asked him to come to the hospital. Earlier in 2011, the sisters also brought Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly fame and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers to the hospital to visit with children.
January 9th, 2012 by Matthew Burns
Lehigh Valley Health Network medical oncologist and physician director for the National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP), Gregory Harper, MD, introduced state Sen. Bob Mensch, vice chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, during a recent educational event. Mensch was invited to address members of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s NCCCP steering committee about two bills that directly relate to breast tissue density as a risk factor for breast cancer. SB 1332 (Breast Density Notification Act) will require the notification of breast density to patients who receive a mammogram. The bill also requires an explanatory report to be accompanied with the notification. SB 1333 will amend the Insurance Company Law to include all costs associated with a mammogram as well as other supplemental screening if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue.
January 9th, 2012 by Lauren Fetterman
Spending time in the hospital can be scary for children. To help young patients and their families feel more comfortable and relaxed while in Lehigh Valley Health Network’s pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), funds from the health network’s PICU general fund were used to renovate the PICU waiting room. Renovations included new carpeting and flooring, paint, furniture, cabinetry and a TV to make the area more inviting and child-friendly. In addition, a colorful mosaic created by a local artist was installed on one of the waiting room’s walls. The PICU general fund is funded by donors who designate their gifts to be used for the PICU.
January 5th, 2012 by Matthew Burns
It’s the start of a brand new year, and that means it’s time to start working on those New Year’s resolutions such as quitting smoking or exercising more. To help you on your way to wellness, 69 News WFMZ-TV broadcast live from Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest and talked with registered dietitian Susan O’Donnell. She gave tips on healthy snack foods, portion control and food labeling. You can watch part of the broadcast here. To learn how to stay focused on your diet and stick to your New Year’s plan, go to lvhn.org/healthyyou.
December 23rd, 2011 by Amy Koch
It is far better to give than to receive. That’s why Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Professional Excellence Council adopts families through the network’s community health clinics. The council collects donated gifts from employees who work in departments throughout the health network, and distributes them to the selected families. The families receive gifts ranging from basic household items to toys for the children.
December 23rd, 2011 by Brian Downs
Children in the pediatrics unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest and those who receive care at the health network’s clinics didn’t have to dream about being able to attend the holiday classic The Nutcracker. They got to see the famous ballet live as dancers from the Pennsylvania Classical Ballet Academy in Northampton, Pa., performed selections at the hospital on December 18. The young artists entertained about 100 patients, their families and LVHN staff, bringing to life several of Tschaikovsky’s timeless scenes including the Snowflakes, Russian dance, Chinese, Spanish, Arabian and the Waltz of the Flowers.
