Muhlenberg College to Outsource All Campus Health Services to LVHN

In the first partnership of its kind in the Lehigh Valley, Muhlenberg College in Allentown will outsource its campus health services to LVHN. It is the first time a Lehigh Valley-based college or university has outsourced its entire student health operation to a health network.

The 10-year partnership will enhance physical and behavioral health services to Muhlenberg College students while building on LVHN’s decades of experience working with colleges and universities to provide health and wellness services.

Outsourcing student health services to major health networks is a growing national trend, as colleges and universities work to meet growing student health needs while improving services and managing costs. LVHN is well-positioned to provide Muhlenberg College students with access to a world-class system of preventive, acute and specialty care, and to help them develop a solid foundation for lifelong health. LVHN also will work with Muhlenberg College leadership to anticipate and meet the changing needs of students while enhancing quality over time.

Beginning Aug. 1, as students return to campus for the fall semester, the LVHN campus health and counseling center in Muhlenberg’s Life Sports Center will become an on-campus family practice to be named LVPG Family Medicine–Muhlenberg College.

The center will provide student-centered primary and behavioral health care, as well as treatment for illness and injury, colds and infectious diseases, and reproductive health and public health concerns.

To maintain and strengthen the personalized approach and student-focused climate, employees of Muhlenberg College Health Services will transition to become colleagues of LVPG. LVHN already provides physician services to Muhlenberg College, and that arrangement will continue.

The LVHN health and counseling center will be open to Muhlenberg students during regular business hours. After hours, it will provide on-call nurse triage services for emergencies.

As part of the partnership, LVHN and Muhlenberg College will form a Health and Counseling Center Leadership team that will:

• Establish strategic goals and priorities for the campus health program.
• Continually assess the ongoing physical and behavioral health needs of Muhlenberg students, reducing barriers of access and increasing engagement, particularly with underserved populations.
• Identify opportunities for health promotion programming to address ongoing and emerging health issues such as substance use disorders, chronic diseases and behavioral health.

LVHN already provides some student health and wellness services at Cedar Crest College, East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, and at Penn State University’s Schuylkill and Lehigh Valley campuses.

“Elevating health care on campus is a key factor in student success,” says Lisa Liddington, Vice President, LVH–17th Street, and Program Director of School-Based Health Services. “We’re pleased that Muhlenberg College leadership has recognized the value of partnering with LVHN, and we look forward to providing comprehensive health and counseling services to the more than 2,000 Muhlenberg College students.”