Press Releases
Monday, April 19. 2010
Telemedicine Care for Patients in the Philadelphia region
Lehigh Valley Health Network Research Demonstrates Lifesaving Benefits of Advanced ICU, Telemedicine Care for Patients
Results are published in the latest edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (April 19, 2010) - The value of telemedicine, the use of satellite technology, video conferencing and remote monitoring, to connect doctors and patients has lifesaving benefits. As shown in a new research study conducted by a team at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), Allentown, Pa., telemedicine, combined with 24/7 direct intensivist physician supervision, significantly lowers death rates by nearly 30 percent and decreases ventilator use in critically ill patients. This study involved critically ill patients who were cared for using Advanced Intensive Care Unit (AICU) technology along with remote monitoring by intensivists-certified critical care specialists.
Details of the study are published in the April 12, 2010 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine. LVHN's research is important because it contrasts with previously published studies (published in JAMA) that concluded remote ICU telemonitoring made little or no difference in mortality and complication outcomes for patients.
The LVHN study, conducted at the 988-bed academic community hospital network (three hospitals and the remote monitoring unit) reports that the observed mortality rate for the group monitored by telemedicine and intensivists in the AICU was 29.5 percent lower than the control group, and ventilator use was decreased for the remotely monitored patients. The study looked at 954 patients (control group) who received care in the ICU for 16 months before implementation of AICU technology and remote intensivist coverage. The medical outcomes for those patients were then compared to the outcomes of 959 patients (intervention group) who received care for 10 months after the AICU and remote intensivist care began. The mortality for the control groups and intervention groups were 21.4 percent and 14.7 percent respectively, meaning one in every 14 patients who would have died, survived in the intervention group using telemedicine. That means that more than 60 patients in the study group who would have died, survived as a result of the intervention.
Matthew McCambridge, M.D., chief, LVHN's division of critical care medicine, says the results of the study are significant because caring for critically ill patients is complex, and there is an overall shortage of intensivist physicians. The results are telling because they show that by implementing AICU technologies and intensivist care, we are saving lives. We believe this model represents a significant advancement in the quality of critical care medicine."
Dr. McCambridge says the technology used for LVHN's research consisted of an ICU electronic medical record with a notification system for problems, computer-assisted physician order entry for ordering medications electronically, an electronic medication administration record, bar-coding for medication distribution, a picture archiving and communication system for x-rays, and an audio/visual remote monitoring system. The remote telemedicine team, which includes an intensivist physician and a critical care nurse, worked in conjunction with the caregivers in the hospital ICU and interacted with patients with real-time access to all necessary data.
Dr. McCambridge says the earlier research allowed a patient's physician to choose the degree to which the remote specialist would be involved in delivering direct care, while the LVHN study had all patients under the direct care of the intensivist physician both day and night.
We hope that these results will serve as evidence to encourage health care providers and others to invest in Advanced ICU technology and training of intensivist physicians to make a difference in the quality of patient care and save lives, Dr. McCambridge says.
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, 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 nine 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/LVHealthNetwork and twitter.com/LVHNnews.
Friday, May 8. 2009
National Nurses Week - Lehigh Valley Health Network Nurses and Other Caregivers Honored
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (May 7, 2009) - Teresa Bangham, R.N., of Allentown is passionate about her career as a home care nurse. She's cared for several patients through the years who have left a lasting impression on her. One of them was a gentleman in Allentown who was being treated for a non-healing foot wound and diabetes management. He was blind, had very limited financial resources, had no family or friends and was unable to leave his apartment - essentially he was a recluse.
Bangham's goals for their time together were to discuss his medications, diabetes and wound care; his single goal was to explain his needs would be met by God. She listened to him and prayed with him. Eventually he began to trust her. He started taking his medications and accepted help from community services Bangham organized. One day, about a month after he was discharged, she was driving through his neighborhood and saw him standing on the corner, talking to others - smiling and laughing. She stopped to watch him and was thrilled with his progress.
For care such as this, Bangham was honored tonight at Lehigh Valley Health Networks Friends of Nursing Award Celebration where she received The Alma W. Holland Award for Excellence in Home Care Nursing.  
"Stories like this truly capture our passion for better medicine," says Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., president and chief executive officer of the health network.  "They define the kind of care that we are proud to say people get when they choose Lehigh Valley Health Network.
Thirty-two caregivers and five care teams from the health network received their awards at the celebration, held during National Nurses week. Themed "A Passion for Better Medicine," the celebration honored caregivers and the stories they help write every day while providing exceptional care to patients. The awards are part of the Friends of Nursing Program, which helps fund continuing education, professional development and research opportunities for the health network's nurses to enhance patient care. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been granted Magnet status twice from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It is the only Magnet hospital in the region and among less than 5 percent of hospitals nationwide to hold the designation that recognizes excellence in nursing care.
The following is a complete list of 2009 Friends of Nursing award recipients:
Ellen Reid Allen of Bethlehem
6 Tower, LVH-Muhlenberg
Josephine Ritz Nursing Award for Excellence in Patient and Family Teaching
Katrina Elise Allen of Allentown
Student
The John M. Eisenberg, M.D. Award for Excellence as a Student Nurse
Teresa Bangham, R.N., of Allentown
Home Health Services
Alma W. Holland Award for Excellence in Home Care Nursing
Erin Brazil, L.P.N., of Allentown
Burn Recovery Center, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Helen Potts Licensed Practical Nurse Award
Michaelene Butler of Macungie
Case Management, LVH-Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence as a Case Manager
JoAnn Dillinger of Allentown
Medical/Surgical ICU, LVH-Cedar Crest
Wendy Heller of Bath
6 Tower, LVH-Muhlenberg
The Medical Staff Support Partner Awards
Ashley Donchez of Allentown
6 Tower, LVH-Muhlenberg
Anita Robin Riddick of Allentown
7C, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Medical Staff Technical Partner Awards
David Freeman, R.Ph., of Kutztown
Health Spectrum Pharmacy
Award for Excellence as a Pharmacist
Margaret E. Gergar, R.N., of Bethlehem
Enterostomal Therapy
LVHN Department of Legal Services Award for Excellence in the Promotion of
Patient Care
Michael Goldner, D.O., of Allentown
Muhlenberg Primary Care, Bethlehem
Professional Excellence Council Physician Friends of Nursing Award
Janet Haines, R.N., of Slatington
GI/Pulmonary Endoscopy Lab, LVH-Cedar Crest
William F. Ihrie, Jr. & Elizabeth A. Ihrie Digestive Sciences Award
Elizabeth Dideon Hess of Allentown
Regional Burn Center, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Robert Lurig Memorial Award for Excellence in Burn Care
The Invasive Cardiology Suites at LVH-Cedar Crest and LVH-Muhlenberg
The Lehigh Valley Health Network Board of Trustees Patient Satisfaction Award
for Ambulatory Services
Renee A. Johnson, R.N., of Whitehall
Float Pool, LVH-Muhlenberg
Joseph and Judith Kaminski Award for Excellence as a Float Nurse
June M. Kelly, R.N., of Pottstown
3A/IPCU, LVH-Cedar Crest
Debra Sellers, R.N., of Bath
4 Tower, LVH-Muhlenberg
The Fleming Nursing Caring Awards
Beth Kessler, R.N. of Bangor
6 Tower, LVH-Muhlenberg
Commitment to Patient Safety Award
Rosemary A. King, R.R.T., of Pottsville
Respiratory Care, LVH-Cedar Crest
Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Respiratory Care
Kari Kolwicz of Emmaus
6B, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Medical Staff Administrative Partner Awards
Debra Kay Sterner of Allentown
Emergency Department, LVH-Muhlenberg
The Medical Staff Administrative Partner Awards
Denise M. Lawyer, R.N., of Emmaus
Operating Room, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Jeffery A. Bartges Award for Excellence in Neuroscience Nursing
Mary Lenahan-Durnin, R.N., of Allentown
Jennifer Brennan, R.D. of Allentown
Radiation/Oncology, LVH-Cedar Crest
Cancer Services Leadership Council Excellence in Cancer Care Award
Rose Lesniak, R.N., of Mohrsville
Post Anesthesia Care Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest
Allentown Anesthesia Associates, Inc. Post Anesthesia Care Nursing Award
6B Medical Surgical Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Fleming Award to Recognize a Department which Demonstrates a Commitment to
Professional Excellence
Larisa Morgenhesser of Easton
Health Network Laboratories
Kathy Mundt-Bulla Memorial Award for Excellence as a Laboratorian
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Fleming Award to Recognize a Department which Promotes Family Presence
Vanessa L. Pasch, R.N., of Easton
Regional Heart Center-Medical, LVH-M
The Florence Nightingale Nursing Practice Award
Patricia Pavelco, R.N., of Walnutport
Virtual Burn Team
Dr. & Mrs. Donald H. Gaylor Medical-Surgical Nursing Award
Regional Burn Center and Burn Recovery Center, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Fleming Award to Recognize the Search for Best Practice
Jill Rothermel, R.N., of Blandon
Perioperative Services, LVH-Cedar Crest
Joseph J. Prorok, M.D. Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing
Maureen Smith, R.N., of Allentown
Neuroscience ICU, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Jeffery J. Hitchings Award for Excellence in Education
Trauma Neuro Intensive Care Unit, LVH-Cedar Crest
The Senior Management Council Patient Satisfaction Award for In-Patient Care
Michelle Trzesniowski, R.N., of Bethlehem
Neuroscience ICU, LVH-Cedar Crest
Pulmonary Associates Award for Excellence in Critical Care Nursing
Gloria Jean Wagner, R.N., of Walnutport
Transitional Skilled Unit, LVH-17th Street
Rose Trexler Award for Excellence as a Preceptor
Friday, September 12. 2008
Increase Access with Retail Health Clinic Collaboration
Lehigh Valley Health Network and Careworks Convenient Healthcare Increase Access with Retail Health Clinic Collaboration
Allentown, Pennsylvania (Sept. 12, 2008) – Careworks Convenient Healthcare (Careworks), a Geisinger Health System Business operated through Geisinger Ventures, announces its collaboration with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) to operate two retail health clinics in Allentown and Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
Careworks is a retail health clinic located inside the Allentown King’s Market at 365 South Cedar Crest Boulevard and the Schecksville Weis Market at 5020 Route 873. Careworks provides quick, convenient and affordable treatment for many minor, common illnesses and routine tests. Board-certified physician assistants and nurse practitioners treat minor illnesses and injuries such as bronchitis, ear infections, minor sprains and strains, flu symptoms, and pinkeye; provide various health screenings such as cholesterol testing and camp and sports physicals; administer immunizations; and perform laboratory tests. The clinics are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Careworks’ evening and weekend hours create a quality healthcare option when care is needed quickly, but a trip to the emergency department is unnecessary and an appointment with a primary care provider is unavailable. No appointment is necessary and there is little or no waiting time. A complete list of services and prices are posted on a menu board in the clinic. While patients can pay cash for services, Careworks also accepts many insurance plans including Valley Preferred and Capital Blue Cross.
“Lehigh Valley Health Network is truly excited to join Geisinger Health System in this unique collaboration on these two Careworks Convenient Health Clinics in Lehigh County,” said Ron Swinfard, M.D., LVHN’s chief medical officer. “We believe that this collaboration, utilizing the respective strengths of each health system, has the potential to become a national example of efficient and effective use of regional healthcare resources.”
LVHN’s close alignment with more than 400 area physicians enables Careworks to integrate retail health clinics into the local system of care. For patients with primary care providers affiliated with LVHN, this means enhanced continuity of care. Careworks utilizes an electronic medical record that allows all patient activity to be communicated back to the patient’s personal physician within 24 hours of the patient’s Careworks visit, enhancing the patient’s continuity of care. Additionally, Careworks will help interested patients find a primary care physician that is accepting new patients through LVHN’s physician referral line at 610-402-CARE.
Careworks CEO Dean Q. Lin said that these clinics have been well received by consumers and that communications informing area physicians about the partnership and inviting them to work with Careworks has generated many positive responses. “As a physician-led health system our goal is to provide greater access to affordable, high quality health care for people on the go in places where they conveniently shop.”
Both health systems also view the retail clinics as an opportunity to provide an option for patients who might otherwise see emergency rooms as their only treatment choice for non-emergency situations. A recently released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that there was a 32 percent increase in visits to the ER between 1996 and 2006, yet researchers found that there haven’t been any recent increases in the number of cases considered to be true emergencies.
“The results of our recent customer satisfaction surveys indicate that Careworks is helping decrease unnecessary visits to the ER,” said Lin. “More than 16 percent of those surveyed said they would have gone to a hospital emergency room if Careworks had not been available to them.”
Joseph A. Habig II, M.D., medical liaison for Careworks in Allentown and Schnecksville, will be coordinating the relationship between Careworks and primary care practices. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to identify ways that Careworks can assist their busy practices with daily overflow support and after-hours and weekend coverage for low-acuity patients that do not need emergency care.” Habig said. “I am also excited about the possibility of using these Careworks locations to link the significant portion of our community that does not have a primary care physician with those physicians that are accepting new patients.”
Habig said close to 30 percent of patients that visit Careworks do not have primary care providers. “We hope to be able to compliment our already existing primary care network by connecting these patients with an appropriate medical home.”
About Geisinger Health System
Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System (Danville, PA) is one of the nation’s largest integrated health services organizations. Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country’s rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. Geisinger is comprised of three medical center campuses, a 700-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company and the Center for Health Research—dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org
About Lehigh Valley Health Network
A premier academic community hospital with 988 beds at three sites, Lehigh Valley Health Network is based in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pa. Also included in the network is Lehigh Valley Health Services, providing home health, hospice, pharmaceutical and health management services. All three Lehigh Valley Health Network hospitals are designated national Magnet hospitals for excellence in nursing. Lehigh Valley Health Network is a U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital for 13 straight years. Additional information is available at www.lvh.org.
About Weis Markets
Weis Markets, which is based in Sunbury, PA, is a Mid-Atlantic supermarket company. It currently operates 158 stores in six states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia. The company also owns SuperPetz, a pet supply superstore chain with 31 units in 10 states.
Friday, August 8. 2008
Collaboration in Quakertown
to Open The Upper Bucks Health & Diagnostic Center
QUAKERTOWN, Pa. - Grand View Hospital (GVH) and Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN) officials recently marked the opening of a collaborative facility, The Upper Bucks Health & Diagnostic Center.
The 38,063 square-foot center on Route 309 in Quakertown brings together primary and specialty care services offered by each hospital. GVH has been providing high-quality care to residents of Bucks and Montgomery counties for nearly 100 years. LVHHN is well-known for its advanced specialty care and has been recognized as one of the nation's top hospitals for the past 13 years by U.S. News and World Report, ranking in 28 specialty category listings during
the past five years.
"Both hospitals are committed to the health of the region," said Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., LVHHN's president and chief executive officer (CEO). "This partnership will ensure the residents of the community get the most advanced care, close to home.
Employing about 70 employees, the new building will offer services that include: primary care for children and adults; obstetrics and gynecology services; spine, neurological and orthopedic care; physical and occupational therapy for adults and children; speech therapy for children; and specialty care consultations for diabetes and endocrinology, general surgery, pediatric surgery and surgical oncology. Digital radiology, ultrasound, bone densitometry, EKG and laboratory services are also available. MRI and digital mammography, as well as other specialty services, will join the line-up in the near future.
"Through this partnership of Grand View and Lehigh Valley hospitals, we are greatly and cost-effectively enhancing local access to state-of-the-art health care services and technologies," said Stuart H. Fine, president and CEO of Grand View Hospital. "We are pleased to be able to respond in such a positive way to the many, many requests that we've received from Quakertown area residents to make our services more readily available to residents of
Upper Bucks.
Designed by Phillips Associates and completed by The Norwood Company, the total cost of the project was about $9 million, with construction and design accounting for $6 million of that figure. The hospitals expect to serve 50,000 patients at the center during the first year.