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Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) this evening cut the ribbon officially opening the lobby dedicated specifically for Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital−Cedar Crest. The lobby, which measures about 1,200 sq. ft., was made possible in part by a generous gift from Lutron Electronics, Inc. of Coopersburg.
It features interior and exterior lighting elements, landscaping, an interior color feature wall and welcome desk with interactive LED play elements, a family seating area and a soft-side toy Jeep for children to play on that ties into the animal/safari themed Children’s Hospital units.
The interior lighting includes the Kaleidopops, a glass sculpture with a majority of the 519 pieces individually handcrafted by members of the community at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem. Six-year-old Bryce Bennett of Allentown, a cancer patient at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, had the honor of lighting the structure for the first time publicly.
“When children need health care, it can be a scary time,” said Brian Nester, DO, MBA, FACOEP, LVHN’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “So, we designed this lobby to help kids and families feel comfortable. Its bright colors, and its animal and safari theme help to ease anxiety. It reaffirms families that they made the right decision when they chose our Children’s Hospital.”
The façade of the Children’s Hospital, the only one in the region, also features multi-colored lighting that points skyward. Nester said the lights will remind people that quality children’s care is right here in this community, close to where families live, parents work and children play.
Other features of the Lutron Lobby area that provides entry to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital were designed with convenience and comfort for the whole family in mind. The lobby connects directly into the new Auxiliary Gift Shop. There is a colorful wall that honors donors to LVRCH. Also, if families need a refresher, the Starbuck/Sodexo beverage cart was redone and now is a permanent stand that offers more options, including a juice bar. And just down the hall, the Diagnostic Care Center was renovated and expanded.
Last November, LVHN received one of the largest gifts in its history from local philanthropists and business owners J.B. and Kathleen Reilly. The sizable gift will be dedicated to supporting ongoing enhancements to programs, services and facilities of what is now known as Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.
LVHN has cared for more kids than any other health system in the area since the 1970s. As part of its commitment to the care of children, LVHN opened the Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in 2012. The Reillys’ gift will help to bring more than 30 pediatric specialties – from childhood cancer to cystic fibrosis – all under one roof.
At the Lutron Lobby ribbon-cutting, Nathan Hagstrom, MD, Chair of LVHN’s Department of Pediatrics, noted the progress since the Reilly’s gift was announced in November. In February, the Children’s Hospital opened a new inpatient pediatric unit on the fifth floor. It features 30 private rooms and has numerous features to give kids a comfortable place to get well. Work is underway on a project to expand the Children’s ER from 12 to 24 beds including 12 pediatric observation beds for patients requiring further evaluation. It will open in 2021. Hagstrom said LVHN will soon welcome the region’s only pediatric plastic surgeon to the team. He also said pediatric ENT services are planned at the Health Center at Palmer Township.
“Each of these accomplishments adds another building block to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. We vow to continue to add more blocks because our children deserve to have the best health care right here in this community.”