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Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) broke ground today for its new health campus just off Route 33 along Hecktown Road in Lower Nazareth Township. The new medical campus will include a 106,000-square-foot, two-story hospital; 35,000-square-foot Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute and 61,000-square-foot medical office building, each designed for patient comfort and convenience.
At the groundbreaking, Brian Nester, DO, MBA, FACOEP, LVHN’s President and Chief Executive Officer, announced that the new hospital will be called Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks.
“Oak trees evoke a sense of strength and protection and inspire awe in nature. By naming our hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks, we want the residents of Northampton County and nearby communities to know that we are here to provide strength and sanctuary when you need a health care partner most,” said Nester.
The campus will serve people of all ages and offer advanced surgical, emergency, and orthopedic care, cancer services, advanced imaging, diagnostic testing and more. Grand opening is slated for summer 2021.
Nester also announced that the President for LVH–Hecktown Oaks is Rachel Lefebvre, currently Vice President, Operations at LVH–17th Street in Allentown. “I am looking forward to bringing Lehigh Valley Health Network’s advanced services and technologies to patient care in this area, and am particularly proud to bring an amazing team of health care providers who offer the best in expert and compassionate care,” Lefebvre said.
In addition, surgeon Pat Toselli, DO, Chief Medical Officer at LVH–Muhlenberg in Bethlehem was introduced as Chief Medical Officer for LVH–Hecktown Oaks.
The construction of the campus is a direct response to demand for LVHN care in Northampton County, where nearly one-third of residents already receive health care services from an LVHN provider. Over the last seven years, the number of visits from Northampton County residents to Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) providers increased 91 percent. In fiscal year 2018, LVPG had more than 430,000 visits from Northampton County residents. The new health campus extends the services LVHN and Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital already provide in the county. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in the region. With care provided in more than 30 pediatric specialties, children and their families can remain close to home whenever they need pediatric expertise.
LVH–Hecktown Oaks' two-story hospital will look and feel different than a typical high-rise institution and will offer easier navigation. A healing garden will provide patients and visitors a peaceful place to connect with nature and pause and reflect. The goal is to create a calming, comforting environment that will help people feel at ease and heal better. The campus will contain leading-edge equipment needed for today’s innovative treatments and telemedicine technology to make care more convenient. With these features, patients and their families can expect extraordinary care and a top-notch health care experience.
The hospital will include an emergency room (ER) that cares for adults and children, with an area dedicated just to children. All private patient rooms will have natural light and feature views of the innovative healing garden. State-of-the-art operating suites and services provided by Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, along with advanced imaging services, also will be located at the new hospital.
The medical office building will provide primary and specialty care, including a Joint and Spine Center, comprehensive care from Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, complete rehabilitation services, and care provided by Breast Health Services.
Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute will offer convenient cancer care, including infusion services and access to innovative clinical trials through its membership in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, as well as patient-focused multidisciplinary clinic care that provides oncology patients with personalized recommendations for treatment.
The campus is the latest addition to a group of health care resources LVHN established in Northampton County to make care more accessible and convenient for area families. Over the last 20 years, LVHN opened health centers in Bangor, Bath, Bethlehem Township, Easton, Hellertown and Palmer Township; established four ExpressCARE locations, including the region’s first Children’s ExpressCARE at the Health Center at Palmer Township; and opened numerous practices providing primary, specialty and rehabilitation services for the whole family.