Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence

Experience surgical excellence at Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence

Here’s how you benefit from the Institute for Surgical Excellence:

Unmatched surgical expertise

Many of our physicians have trained at the nation’s best academic institutions and published promising research in prestigious medical journals. Our surgeons perform more than 85,000 surgeries every year – 25 percent more than other centers in the region. 

Depth and breadth of services

Our team includes nationally known experts in complex types of neurosurgery and advanced cancer care. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital has a specialized team of board-certified pediatric surgeons with training in minimally invasive techniques. They provide surgical care to newborns, children, teens and young adults.

Leading-edge technologies

We have the largest, most advanced robotics program in the region.

• We were the first in the Lehigh Valley to offer this specialized technology for procedures such as weight-loss surgery.
• The Institute for Surgical Excellence is one of the first sites in the world to acquire the da Vinci SP® (single port) robotic surgery system and one of a few places in the world to offer IRIS, a medical imaging technology that produces 3D imaging of patients’ anatomy. Robotic surgery increases surgical precision while decreasing your recovery time, so you experience better results and a shorter hospital stay.
• We are the first health system in Pennsylvania to offer patients robotic procedures using the new da Vinci 5 surgical system. Two da Vinci 5 robots, one at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest in Allentown and one at LVH–Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, offer patients the advantages of the latest technology for minimally invasive general, urologic, gynecologic and thoracic surgeries and more. With 150 design innovations, the state-of-the-art system enables better overall outcomes through improved visualization, insight, efficiency and Force Feedback technology enabling gentler surgery.  
• In addition, we’re the first health network in the region to obtain the Mazor X Stealth™ Edition robotic guidance platform that delivers improved accuracy and precision in back surgeries. This allows surgeons enhanced 3D pre-surgery planning, greater precision, increased visibility during surgery, reduced surgery time and less patient X-ray exposure.
• We’re the first in Pennsylvania to use the SeaSpine FLASH™ navigation system that provides a radiation-free tool for placing spinal implants. Featuring 7D technology, it uses machine-vision cameras and advanced algorithms for image-guided surgery. For the first time, spine surgeons can guide their tools to the critical anatomy using sophisticated camera technology linked to a computer in the operating room. Increased precision and speed, and less radiation, mean less time the patient is under anesthesia, which can reduce recovery time.
• We are among the first in the nation to offer the iotaSOFT Insertion System for adult cochlear implant surgery. The iotaSOFT system uses robotics, much more precise than the human hand, to carefully implant the electrode array in your inner ear, better protecting sensitive areas and giving you a higher standard of care.

Team mindset

At the Institute for Surgical Excellence, surgeons with different areas of expertise work closely together and with other highly trained professionals – all for your benefit. Our care teams have a passion for providing you the highest level of care before, during and after surgery. 

Access and convenience

Our extensive network ensures you can get the care you need, close to home. You benefit from the same level of expertise and advancements at every campus throughout the region. 

Focus on research

Our doctors are always looking for ways to offer you more. We base our recommendations on the latest research and participate in promising clinical trials, which eligible patients can access.

Commitment to patient care

Our medical and nursing teams are dedicated to exceeding your care expectations. U.S. News & World Report consistently gives our specialty surgery programs high marks, which speaks to our excellent results and high standard of care. Since 2002, LVH–Cedar Crest, LVH–17th Street, LVH–Muhlenberg, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)–Tilghman and Home Health and Hospice Services have earned Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. No other center in the Lehigh Valley has achieved this distinction.