LVHN to Offer Greater Access to Endoscopies, Including Colonoscopies, Beginning in October

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), through a new joint venture with Eastern Pennsylvania Gastroenterology and Liver Specialists (EPGI), will provide upper and lower endoscopies, including screening colonoscopies, outside the hospital setting beginning Oct. 1.

LVHN currently performs colonoscopies at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)−Cedar Crest, LVH−Muhlenberg, and LVH−17^th Street. The two new outpatient locations being added are Eastern Pennsylvania Endoscopy Center (EPEC), 1501 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown and Nazareth Endoscopy Center (NEC), which will be located at LVHN’s Health Center at Easton, 2401 Northampton St., Easton.

EPEC is currently taking appointments for Oct. 1 and beyond. NEC will be constructed on the second floor of the Health Center at Easton and is expected to begin services in the summer of 2020.

“We are delighted to collaborate with our colleagues at EPGI in this exciting venture,” said Timothy Friel, MD, Chair, LVHN Department of Medicine and holder of the Leonard Parker Pool Endowed Chair in Medicine. “This partnership strengthens our relationship with this tremendous gastroenterology team which has provided exceptional specialty inpatient and outpatient care to LVHN patients for many years. Through our joint venture at EPEC and the new endoscopy center at the Health Center at Easton, we will be able to drive exceptional care delivery, enhance colon cancer screening and expand access to other outpatient endoscopic procedures for our patients and the surrounding communities.”

Friel said the new locations also will afford the hospitals additional capacity to treat acute, complex cases.

“EPGI is excited to partner with LVHN to expand our ability to provide preventative colon cancer screening to our community in a state-of-the-art, comfortable outpatient setting,” said Tony Auteri, MD, Managing Partner, EPGI. “Along with the existing Endoscopy Center in Allentown, plans are in place for a new Endoscopy Center in Northampton County. In addition to cancer screening, these centers will enhance our diagnostic capabilities related to gastrointestinal health. Working together, we hope to provide greater ease and access to comprehensive GI care across the Lehigh Valley.” 

Friel said the long-standing, exclusive clinical alignment between LVHN and EPGI features 18 board-certified providers who will continue to care for patients as part of the new outpatient arrangement.

Friel said EPEC is an established endoscopy practice in Allentown. Its clinicians have performed outpatient procedures at that location since 2002 and treated 7,000 cases in 2018. Friel is encouraging patients to begin scheduling their appointments now at the 1501 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. location by calling 610-821-2828.

At the Health Center at Easton, NEC will join other services already offered including primary care, pediatrics and women’s services.