Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network

Lehigh Valley Health Network provides a variety of services. It is known as one of the best heart hospitals and is known for its technologically advanced brain care.  The health network's staff practices with a team approach to patient care. LVHN also is largely involved in the community and provides quality care close to home.

For additional information, call 610-402-CARE or visit lvhn.org

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 12, 2009) – The AIDS Activities Office (AOO) at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and the Allentown Health Bureau will co-sponsor a World AIDS Day conference on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.  The theme of the conference is “HIV: The Aging of a Growing Population.”

The keynote speaker this year is Jane Fowler, who describes herself as "the original 1950s good girl." To her, HIV was something that happened to others. She didn't consider herself at risk, so testing positive at the age of 55 was a huge shock.

In 1995, Fowler became inspired to fight back. Today, she speaks publicly throughout the United States about her experiences of living with HIV.  Her story is not just a cautionary tale to women and men who think they aren't at risk because of their age or their small number of sexual partners. Today she is director of HIV Wisdom for Older Women, a national program that she founded in 2002 and now runs out of Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care in Kansas City. She was also the national coordinator of the National Association on HIV Over Fifty.

The World AIDS Day conference is open to all HIV agencies and care givers and is approved for continuing education credits.  The cost is $25 in advance and includes breakfast and lunch. For more information call the AIDS Activities Office at Lehigh Valley Health Network at 610-969-2400, or email aao.hcc@lvh.com.

Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day serves to focus global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Since 1998, the Allentown Health Bureau and the AIDS Activities Office at Lehigh Valley Health Network have co-sponsored the World AIDS Day conference bringing regional experts in the field of HIV/AIDS to the Lehigh Valley.

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 and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVhealthnetwork and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 25, 2009) – The following is a statement from Lehigh Valley Health Network in response to charges announced today by the Pennsylvania Attorney General against four former Network nurses for allegedly diverting medications for their own personal use:

Discovering and reporting this type of activity requires having strong medication safety and security systems in place. Every day we assess how to achieve the appropriate balance of allowing enough access to medications to properly care for patients in a timely fashion, and ensuring proper medication security measures. That’s how we were able to identify and report each of these cases to the proper authorities and work closely with them to address these matters.  Each of the individuals was terminated after we learned of and investigated each case. A review of each case indicates that patient care was not compromised.

Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Updated Visitation Policy Continues to Urge
Those with Flu-Like Symptoms to Postpone Their Visit

Those 18 and under who are healthy are once again permitted to visit

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 20, 2009) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) hospitals, which last month implemented a more stringent visitation policy due to a community-wide surge in influenza-like (flu-like) illness (ILI), are lifting some of those visitor restrictions effective Monday, Nov. 23.

Those 18 years of age and under who are healthy are once again permitted to visit others in the hospitals. However, visitors who have a cough, fever or other flu-like symptoms, regardless of age, are strongly urged to postpone their hospital visit.

LVHN hospitals include Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg in Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley Hospital—17th Street in Allentown.

The more stringent restrictions that were put in place on Oct. 26 did not permit those 18 and under to visit the hospitals in order to protect patients and staff. At that time, hospital emergency departments and physicians’ offices were seeing record numbers of patients, many of them with flu-like symptoms.

Lehigh Valley Health Network greatly appreciates the cooperation of the community as well as physicians, nurses and staff in understanding and complying with the restrictions that have helped to limit the spread of flu-like illness and keep the community healthy.

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 and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

It’s a virtual hospital that teaches caregivers how to respond to different health care scenarios

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 17, 2009) – Most people who learn a new professional skill have margin for error. However, when learning a new skill in the health care setting, an error can impact a life. The Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) Interdisciplinary Simulation Center is a place where physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals are physically present and working together to help a simulated patient. This experience teaches them how to respond when facing the same scenario in real life.

“This is an extremely valuable educational resource for our caregivers and medical students,” said Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., LVHN’s president and CEO. “They will take the lessons they learn in the Simulation Center to the bedside, enhancing the care we provide to our community.”

Located at 1247 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., the Simulation Center includes simulated burn, intensive care and medical-surgical patient care rooms, and a large multipurpose room that can serve as a resuscitation bay or operating room. X-rays, electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other real patient care technology are used during training. Rooms also are equipped with audio/visual equipment that allows simulations to be recorded. Participants review recordings in a debriefing room to discuss their experience and reflect upon what they learned.

“One of the most important lessons caregivers learn is how to interact with colleagues from different specialty areas within our health network,” says William Bond, M.D., interim chief of LVHN’s division of education. “Working in teams, they learn how to communicate clearly, be appropriately assertive and manage critical resources.”

During scenarios, high-tech mannequins serve as patients. The center’s neonatal, infant and adult mannequins are programmed to respond a certain way during a simulation. Participants can check a pulse, listen to heart and lung sounds and observe the chest rising and falling. Like a real patient, the simulator’s vital signs and heart rhythm react to the medication and fluids administered by the caregiver. The center also has a birthing simulator and a mannequin for central venous catheter insertion training.

As LVHN begins a new partnership with the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine, the Simulation Center will be especially beneficial. “We’re creating a Health Care Leadership Track; a medical education curriculum to train a new generation of 21st century physician leaders,” said Ron Swinfard, M.D., LVHN’s chief medical officer.  “The Simulation Center is an important piece of the program because it will give medical students a better understanding of what it takes to deliver high quality, safe care in an evolving technological world.”

The rooms that make up the Simulation Center formerly served as prototypes of patient care rooms in the Kasych Family Pavilion, Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest’s new seven-story tower. Staff toured the rooms and gave opinions about how the design and layout could be improved before the real rooms were built. Community donations received through LVHN’s Nite Lites gala were used to transform the space into an effective educational resource. Ongoing support is made possible through the Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust.

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, home health services 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 care , and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Primary Stroke Center.  Lehigh Valley Health Network is Network Cancer Program accredited, one of only 26 in the nation and the highest available from the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer; has been recognized by US News & World Report for 14 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing.  Additional information is available at www.lvhn.org and by accessing www.facebook.com/LVHealthNetwork and www.twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 12, 2009) – The AIDS Activities Office (AOO) at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and the Allentown Health Bureau will co-sponsor a World AIDS Day conference on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.  The theme of the conference is “HIV: The Aging of a Growing Population.”

The keynote speaker this year is Jane Fowler, who describes herself as "the original 1950s good girl." To her, HIV was something that happened to others. She didn't consider herself at risk, so testing positive at the age of 55 was a huge shock.

In 1995, Fowler became inspired to fight back. Today, she speaks publicly throughout the United States about her experiences of living with HIV.  Her story is not just a cautionary tale to women and men who think they aren't at risk because of their age or their small number of sexual partners. Today she is director of HIV Wisdom for Older Women, a national program that she founded in 2002 and now runs out of Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care in Kansas City. She was also the national coordinator of the National Association on HIV Over Fifty.

The World AIDS Day conference is open to all HIV agencies and care givers and is approved for continuing education credits.  The cost is $25 in advance and includes breakfast and lunch. For more information call the AIDS Activities Office at Lehigh Valley Health Network at 610-969-2400, or email aao.hcc@lvh.com.

Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day serves to focus global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Since 1998, the Allentown Health Bureau and the AIDS Activities Office at Lehigh Valley Health Network have co-sponsored the World AIDS Day conference bringing regional experts in the field of HIV/AIDS to the Lehigh Valley.

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 and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHN and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 9, 2009) – Ronald S. Freudenberger, M.D., has been named Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) chief of cardiology and medical director of the Regional Heart Center.  In this role, Freudenberger will provide leadership for the largest heart program in the region and the fourth busiest heart program in Pennsylvania.

Medical director of LVHN’s Center for Advanced Heart Failure and a member of Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists since 2007, Freudenberger succeeds Michael A. Rossi, M.D., who led LVHN’s heart program for seven years until he was chosen to lead Lehigh Valley Physician Group in January 2009. Since then, Freudenberger has served as acting chief of cardiology.

A native of New York City, Freudenberger joined LVHN in 2007, bringing 11 years of experience in heart failure management to the Lehigh Valley. He previously was director of heart failure and transplantation at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital and Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J.

He also served as director of transplant cardiology and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed fellowships in clinical cardiovascular diseases, research and heart failure, and transplant cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Freudenberger is a member of national and local research groups, including the National Institutes of Health and FDA review committees, and the State of Maryland Health Care Advisory Committee. He has authored more than 50 articles and book chapters on heart failure and transplantation.

He has served as a reviewer for many prestigious journals and served on the steering committee for several clinical trials. He currently is a lead investigator and member of the executive steering committee of the International NIH/NINDS study called Warfarin Aspirin Reduced Cardiac Ejection Fraction (WARCEF) and the CardioMEMS CHAMPION heart failure device trial.

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, home health services 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 care , and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Primary Stroke Center.  Lehigh Valley Health Network is Network Cancer Program accredited, one of only 26 in the nation and the highest available from the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer; has been recognized by US News & World Report for 14 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals; is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing, and has been honored eight straight years among the top integrated health networks in the U.S.  Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHN and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Free shots for adults and children in November again will be all drive-thru and also include Dorney Park 

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 2, 2009) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) will administer free seasonal flu vaccinations (not H1N1) for adults and children six (6) months and older during two community sessions in November.  Shots will be all drive-thru at Dorney Park on Saturday, Nov. 7 and at a new venue, Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Once again this year LVHN is partnering with the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank and the Second Harvest Food Bank to accept donations of non-perishable food items during each of the drive-thru sessions. Food donations are optional and not required to receive a shot.

“We try to offer two different locations to the community each year for our drive-thru flu shots to give as many people as possible an opportunity to get immunized,” said Terry Burger, R.N., LVHN’s director of infection control and prevention. “Dorney Park has been ideal for the drive-thru shots because of its location, ease of access, size and layout.  Coca-Cola Park offers those same advantages. Also, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs organization has been well received by the fans and quite active in the community and we applaud them for joining us in this effort to take better care of our community.”

Burger said 12,000 people received a shot during the two-day campaign last November.

"The IronPigs are certainly excited to offer our facility for this worthy and unique opportunity," said IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. "We have made it our mission to continuously support endeavors that benefit the local community -- whether during baseball season or not -- and we are thrilled Lehigh Valley Health Network sees us as being beneficial to this cause."

Those planning to receive a flu shot during LVHN’s November drive-thru vaccinations are asked to abide by the following requests:

• Access a vaccine information sheet and consent form for each person to be vaccinated at lvhn.org, or request forms by calling 610-402-CARE (2273).

• Complete the consent form and bring it with you when you get vaccinated.

• Please do not arrive earlier than 9 a.m.

• Dress appropriately—loose-fitting clothing for the shot to be administered in the arm of an adult and the leg of children less than two (2) years old.

• Please NO PETS in the vehicle.

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 and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHN and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Only seven nurses in the state receive this honor each year.

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 6, 2009) – Lehigh Valley Health Network nurse Erin Brazil, L.P.N., has been named a recipient of the Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania for 2009. The Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania recognizes and honors exceptional nurses who practice in the Commonwealth. With more than 100 nominations submitted annually, Brazil was one of only seven Pennsylvania nurses to receive the honor this year. 

Brazil, of Allentown, was a recipient of the Nightingale Clinical Practice Licensed Practice Nurse (LPN) award. She is part of Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Regional Burn Center Team at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. For 31 out of her 33 years in nursing, she has dedicated herself to the specialty of burn care.  She worked with acute patients in the inpatient Burn Center for several years. She now cares for adult and pediatric patients in the outpatient Burn Recovery Center. She is passionate about caring for burn patients and is highly specialized in the field. On top of providing thorough and holistic care to her patients, Brazil is committed to educating the public about burns and how to prevent a burn injury. She volunteers her time at a wide variety of community outreach events and even designed a teaching cart to help people in the community learn about burns. She was thrilled to receive the award.

Lehigh Valley Health Network nurses June Kelly, R.N., of Pottstown, and Megan Snyder, R.N., of Whitehall were also finalists for Nightingale Awards this year. The health network has had at least one Nightingale Award finalist in 18 of the 19 years the program has been in existence. Fifteen Lehigh Valley Health Network nurses have been named Nightingale Award recipients during this period.

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, home health services 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. Additional information is available at www.lvhn.org.

Surgery is the most common treatment for brain tumors.  A brain tumor can form for many reasons, and treatment is based on each individual case.  At Lehigh Valley Health Network, physicians, surgeons and staff members all work together to provide each patient individualized care.

Options for brain tumors, include:

• Embolization

• Fractionation

• Gamma Knife

• Intensity-Modulated Radio-Therapy (IMRT)

• Linear Accelerator-Based Stereotactic Radiosurgery

• Neuro-Chemotherapy

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery

For more information on brain tumor treatments, you can speak with nurses and other experts at 610-402-CARE and/or visit our Web site lvhn.org

Lehigh Valley Health Network offers quality care, close to home.

Patients at Lehigh Valley Health Network receive care from a team of experts ready to provide the best individualized treatment options, while creating the most comfortable and positive experience for the patient, family and friends.

When seeking a brain tumor hospital, Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley Health Network is equipped with experienced staff and the latest advances in technology for state-of-the-art procedures.  During the brain tumor diagnosis stage, a variety of technologically advanced tests are available, including:

• Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis

• Cerebral Angiography

• CT (Computerized Tomography) Scans

• MRI Scans

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan

• X-ray

For additional information on why LVHN would be a good choice if you need a brain tumor hospital, call 610-402-CARE or contact LVHN at lvhn.org

Join LVHN today on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for the latest updates and news.

At Lehigh Valley Health Network, you can guarantee you are in the right hands from diagnosis to treatment when seeking a brain tumor hospital for conditions such as glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common type of brain tumor. It is ultimately what caused the death of Ted Kennedy, who served as a Democratic senator (full story here).  Although there is no specific age when brain tumors occur, typically glioblastoma multiforme brain tumors are diagnosed after the age of 50.  

Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive brain tumor. However,  each patient is treated and cared for with the optimism for long-term survival.

Treatment for brain tumors varies from patient to patient and on the significance of the tumor (tumor growth, size, location, etc.).  Options and recommendations are tailor-made for each patient. 

LVHN Teams Up with Lehigh Valley IronPigs to Add Coca-Cola Park as a New Venue for the Network’s Annual Seasonal Community Flu Shot Campaign

Free shots for adults and children in November again will be all drive-thru and also include Dorney Park

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 2, 2009) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) will administer free seasonal flu vaccinations (not H1N1) for adults and children six (6) months and older during two community sessions in November.  Shots will be all drive-thru at Dorney Park on Saturday, Nov. 7 and at a new venue, Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Once again this year LVHN is partnering with the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank and the Second Harvest Food Bank to accept donations of non-perishable food items during each of the drive-thru sessions. Food donations are optional and not required to receive a shot.

“We try to offer two different locations to the community each year for our drive-thru flu shots to give as many people as possible an opportunity to get immunized,” said Terry Burger, R.N., LVHN’s director of infection control and prevention. “Dorney Park has been ideal for the drive-thru shots because of its location, ease of access, size and layout.  Coca-Cola Park offers those same advantages. Also, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs organization has been well received by the fans and quite active in the community and we applaud them for joining us in this effort to take better care of our community.”

Burger said 12,000 people received a shot during the two-day campaign last November. 

"The IronPigs are certainly excited to offer our facility for this worthy and unique opportunity," said IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. "We have made it our mission to continuously support endeavors that benefit the local community -- whether during baseball season or not -- and we are thrilled Lehigh Valley Health Network sees us as being beneficial to this cause."

Those planning to receive a flu shot during LVHN’s November drive-thru vaccinations are asked to abide by the following requests:

• Access a vaccine information sheet and consent form for each person to be vaccinated at lvhn.org, or request forms by calling 610-402-CARE (2273).

• Complete the consent form and bring it with you when you get vaccinated.

• Please do not arrive earlier than 9 a.m.

• Dress appropriately—loose-fitting clothing for the shot to be administered in the arm of an adult and the leg of children less than two (2) years old.

• Please NO PETS in the vehicle.

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 and is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at lvhn.org and by following us on facebook.com/LVHN and twitter.com/LVHNnews.

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Oct. 26, 2009) -- Due to a community-wide surge in influenza-like (flu-like) illness (ILI) as evident in hospital emergency departments and physicians’ offices, hospitals/health systems in the Lehigh Valley have agreed to a uniform hospital visitation policy as follows until further notice: 

• No visitors 18 years of age and under

• No visitors with any symptoms of flu-like illness

The new restrictions are effective immediately and are designed to protect all of the hospitals’ patients and staff.

All area hospitals, the Allentown and Bethlehem health bureaus and the Lehigh and Northampton county emergency preparedness offices support implementation of the visitation restrictions, which apply to the following:

• Easton Hospital

• Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital

• Lehigh Valley Health Network

• Sacred Heart Hospital

• St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network

All of the above health care providers would greatly appreciate the cooperation of the community as well as physicians, nurses and staff in helping to comply with the new restrictions to limit the spread of flu-like illness and keep the community healthy.

President Obama has declared the outbreak of H1N1 flu to be a national emergency. By declaring a national emergency, the President is making it easier for U.S. medical facilities to handle a surge in flu patients.

The declaration is a preemptive step to free the medical community from any constraints that might hamper the treatment and prevention of the growing epidemic.  

Health authorities report that more than 1,000 people in the U.S., including 100 children, have died from the strain of flu known as H1N1.

For more information contact:
Christine Biege, Easton Hospital – 610-250-4360
Mac McKeithen, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network – 610-776-3144
Brian Downs, Lehigh Valley Health Network – 610-402-0825
Valerie Downing, Sacred Heart Hospital – 610-776-5906
Denise Rader, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network – 610-954-4104 or
Susan Schantz, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network – 610-954-3760

At Lehigh Valley Health Network, one procedure to treat brain tumors is Gamma Knife surgery.  Gamma Knife surgery occurs while the patient is awake and does not involve an actual knife.  

During the Gamma Knife procedure, beams of gamma radiation (electromagnetic energy) are directed at the abnormality within the brain.  Medical advances in technology have allowed Gamma Knife Surgery to enhance the way patients are treated and the options available.  Precise and accurate Gamma Knife surgery reduces the risks for complications.

Advantages of Gamma Knife:

• Quicker recovery (hospital stay)

• Fewer complications

For additional advantages and more information about Gamma Knife, call 610-402-CARE or check out more information on lvhn.org