Lehigh Valley Hospital

The Lehigh Valley Health Network is the largest employer in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania.

Lehigh Valley Hospital, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is the largest hospital in the Lehigh Valley and the flagship hospital of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). LVHN includes two full-service hospitals in Allentown, Pa., and Bethlehem, Pa., plus Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Community Health Centers, primary care and specialty physicians, pharmacy, imaging, home health, hospice and laboratory services. The health network’s motto is "A Passion for Better Medicine."

Lehigh Valley Health Network

Founded as the Allentown Hospital in 1899, LVHN is currently represented by three clinical campuses -- Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem. The network also includes Lehigh Valley Health Services, the 500-member Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) and community health centers located in Bath, Bethlehem Township, Emmaus, Hamburg, Kutztown, Macungie, Moselem Springs, Trexlertown and Upper Bucks Health & Diagnostic Care Center. The network’s key clinical areas are cancer treatment, cardiovascular medicine, mental health, neurosciences, pediatrics, surgery services, trauma, women's health, perinatal care, kidney transplantation and burn treatment.

Statistics

LVHN has 981 licensed-acute beds on its three campuses.^[1][2] In 2007 there were 50,070 admissions, 14,319 inpatient surgeries, 453,477 outpatient visits, 14,841 outpatient surgeries, 119,017 ER visits and 3,184 births in network hospitals.^[1][2] LVHHN operates the third largest heart surgery program in Pennsylvania with more than 1,200 open-heart procedures performed each year.^[3] Pennsylvania’s first Level I Trauma Center was at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest and this trauma center remains the only Level I trauma center in the Lehigh Valley with additional qualifications in pediatric trauma.^[3] The LVHHN Cancer Center is the fourth largest in Pennsylvania and cares for more than 2,400 new patients each year.^[3]

Financials

In 2007 LVHN’s operating revenue was $964 million with an operating margin of $96 million^[4] Approximately 2.5% of care was uncompensated care.^[4] LVHHN is the Lehigh Valley’s largest employer.^[5]

Quality of care

Lehigh Valley Hospital has achieved national recognition continuously since 1995^[6] as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals.^[7] Lehigh Valley Hospital has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report eight times for cardiac care and cardiac surgery. The hospital has received a total of 28 specialty category listings in the past five years, including heart care and heart surgery, hormonal disorders including diabetes, digestive disorders, orthopedics, urology, and ear, nose and throat care.^[6]

LVHN hospitals are the only Lehigh Valley hospitals participating in the Leapfrog Group’s^[8] evaluation of health care safety, quality and customer value. Lehigh Valley Hospital is one of 39 hospitals nationwide to receive the 2007 Leapfrog Group Top Hospital award.^[8] All LVHN hospitals meet Leapfrog standards for patient safety.^[9] All LVHN campuses are accredited by the Joint Commission.^[10][11][12]

On February 23, 2011, Becker's Hospital Review listed Lehigh Valley Hospital under the 50 Best Hospitals in America.^[13]

It is also a National Magnet Hospital for Nursing Excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. 

Community service

The mission of LVHN is to “…heal, comfort and care for the people of our community."^[14] Measurable Enhancement of the Status of Health (MESH) is a collaborative initiative of LVHN funded by the Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust to facilitate community engagement, capacity building and social action.^[15] MESH has partnered with more than 70 community agencies and organizations to deliver programs leading to the fluoridation of Allentown's water supply and other public health benefits. LVHN publishes an annual “Report to Our Community” summarizing improvements to the health of the community that come from investments made by LVHN.^[16]

Notes

External links

• Lehigh Valley Health Network

Coordinates: 40°33′59″N 75°31′27″W / 40.56633°N 75.52403°W / 40.56633; -75.52403