Six LVHN Hospitals Achieve SRC’s Center of Excellence in Hernia Surgery Accreditation

Six hospitals in Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health, have been accredited as Centers of Excellence in Hernia Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). The hospitals earning accreditation include Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest, LVH–17th Street, LVH–Muhlenberg, LVH–Dickson City, LVH–Hazleton and LVH–Pocono.

SRC awards the Center of Excellence designation to hospitals that consistently follow best practices in hernia surgery. Choices are made after an extensive assessment and inspection process. Some of the qualifications include leading-edge technology and surgeons who perform a high volume of hernia procedures, including complex cases. These surgeons maintain advanced credentials and are supported by specialized surgical teams trained to deliver safe, efficient care. 

“Accreditation by SRC at six of our sites differentiates us significantly,” says Michael Pasquale, MD, Physician in Chief, Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence. “It means LVHN is a Hernia Network of Excellence, and our surgeons are Surgeons of Excellence. We couldn’t be more honored to have our dedication to patients and excellent capabilities affirmed in this way.” 

Accreditation also reflects a focus on patients. Each hospital provides education before surgery, ensures informed consent and develops treatment plans tailored to individual needs. Care teams track surgical outcomes and analyze them to identify opportunities for improvement and maintain the highest levels of safety and quality.

“The prevalence of hernia repairs makes it important for people to know where to go for quality in surgery, anesthesia and postoperative pain relief,” says general surgeon David Grossman, MD, with LVPG General, Bariatric and Trauma Surgery, and Medical Director, Hernia Center of Excellence. “We conduct thousands of hernia surgeries each year and, over the last 20 years, have mastered robotic-assisted hernia surgery. This accreditation means a lot to us.” 

Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence is a national leader in robotic-assisted surgeries. The health network has recently upgraded all its surgical robots to the latest da Vinci 5, making it one of the first health systems in the U.S. to upgrade its entire fleet. 

Specific to hernia surgery, LVHN goes a step further beyond what SRC accreditation denotes. Its program includes abdominal wall repair for large, complex or recurrent hernias. It involves putting an abdominal wall back together – when hernia disease has rendered it dysfunctional – using advanced surgical techniques. 

“The abdominal wall is one of the most dynamic structures in the human body,” says general surgeon Scott Beman, MD, with LVPG General, Bariatric and Trauma Surgery, and Medical Director, Hernia Center of Excellence. “Due to the serious nature of certain hernias, we cannot repair them with just sutures. We have a special care team that conducts abdominal wall reconstruction if necessary.” 

While not part of the evaluation for accreditation, this aspect and LVHN’s leadership in robotic-assisted surgery demonstrate how these facilities strive to improve surgical outcomes and enhance patient experiences. The SRC accreditation is perhaps the ultimate timely and hard-earned indicator.

“We’re proud to recognize LVHN for its commitment to advancing and providing quality care for all patients,” says Gary Pratt, Chief Executive Officer of SRC. “This accreditation signals that these facilities are among the best in this specialty and are dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible.”