World-Class Care, a Half Mile From Home

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has a long tradition of providing high-quality, safe care. This is something Matthew McCambridge, MD, knows firsthand.

Dr. McCambridge has been part of LVHN for most of his life, both as a patient and a physician, and he’s excited to be part of the health network’s next phase as part of Jefferson Health.

“In many ways, LVHN and Jefferson are similar organizations, so this is the next natural step in LVHN’s 125-year history,” says Dr. McCambridge, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality, Patient Safety and Acute Care Continuum Officer, LVHN. “Our deep foundational commitment to people is why we complement each other so well. Together, LVHN and Jefferson will have opportunities to collaborate and solve complicated patient cases. We’ll build on quality and safety initiatives and provide better access to leading-edge technologies and treatments that only the best health systems in the country can offer.”

After the organizations combined, Dr. McCambridge was named Chief Medical Officer, Acute Care Quality for Jefferson Health in addition to his role at LVHN. He is looking forward to working with Jefferson because its professions-focused university will create a pipeline to numerous careers within the combined organization.

“With access to Thomas Jefferson University’s medical and nursing schools, our region will continue to be home to generations of world-class clinicians,” says Dr. McCambridge. “This means our rich tradition of healing, comforting and caring for our communities will only grow. Our future is brighter, and I am so proud to be part of this historic fusion of two incredible health care organizations.”

Dr. McCambridge’s connection to LVHN was formed long before he practiced medicine. He grew up in Allentown and lived a half mile from where Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest currently sits.

“Some of my earliest memories are playing in the dirt mounds at the hospital’s construction site and riding my bike to LVH–Cedar Crest to buy gum from the Tree Top Gift Shop,” says Dr. McCambridge. “From that point in my life, I’ve watched LVH–Cedar Crest blossom into the regional leader in care, something that began well before I practiced medicine.”  

He was also a patient at LVH–Cedar Crest. Dr. McCambridge broke his leg in a skiing accident when he was 9 years old and was one of the first to be treated in the LVH–Cedar Crest emergency room.

“What stayed with me the most from my experience was the quality of care I received. My amazing doctors and nurses showed tremendous compassion, which meant so much to me,” says Dr. McCambridge.

His family also received care at LVH–Cedar Crest. Dr. McCambridge’s sister was treated for measles and his father was a heart patient. Both received exceptional care.

“The colleagues at LVH–Cedar Crest left a lasting impression on me,” says Dr. McCambridge. “When I finished medical school and my service in the United States Army, I couldn’t think of another place where I would want to work aside from LVHN. My ambition was to practice medicine for an organization that provided quality, leading-edge care to its community.”   

Dr. McCambridge began practicing medicine as a pulmonologist at LVHN. A few years later he served as president of the medical staff and now works across the unified health system to improve inpatient quality.

“What we’ve accomplished at LVHN over the past two decades is remarkable and we keep getting better,” says Dr. McCambridge. “We’ve grown significantly throughout the region and serve so many communities. We’re able to provide the best care possible because of our ability to understand our patients’ needs and how they’re constantly changing, and by combining LVHN and Jefferson, our ability to serve our community will only get better.”

About Matthew McCambridge, MD

Matthew M. McCambridge, MD, is Jefferson Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Acute Care Quality, and Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) Senior Vice President and Chief Quality, Patient Safety and Acute Care Continuum Officer. He oversees quality, patient safety, infection control, infection prevention, radiation safety, regulatory, accreditation and inpatient value-based care at all LVHN inpatient locations. He works closely with many LVHN leadership teams to drive improvement and has several active initiatives in the broad areas of safety, experience and value-based care.