Lehigh Valley Hospital
Tuesday, December 23. 2008
DEBORAH B. ALLEN RECERTIFIED AS A CERTIFIED
DEBORAH B. ALLEN RECERTIFIED AS A CERTIFIED
FUNDRAISING EXECUTIVE (CFRE)
Allentown, PA – CFRE International has recertified Deborah B. Allen, Director of Major and Capital Gifts for Lehigh Valley Health Network as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Deborah joins over 5,000 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation. Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International which include tenure in the profession, education, demonstrated fundraising achievement and a commitment to service to not-for-profit organizations. They have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights. Initially, candidates must pass a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a fundraising executive.
“The CFRE process was developed as a way to identify for the public and employers those individuals who possess the knowledge, skills and commitment to perform fundraising duties in a effective, conscientious, ethical and processional manner,” states Andrew Day, CFRE; Chair of CFRE International. “Achievement of the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential demonstrates the level of commitment on the part of Deborah to herself and the professional as a whole.”
Employers and donors who work with Certified Fund Raising Executives (CFRE) know they are working with a professional who is committed to the best outcomes for all and someone who is committed to excellence. CFRE recipients are awarded certification for a three-year period. In order to maintain certification status, certificants must continue to demonstrate on-going fundraising employment, fundraising results and continue with their professional education.
CFRE International is an independent organization whose sole mission is dedicated to the certification of fundraising executives by setting standards in philanthropy. This single, universal, baseline organization works in cooperation with leading philanthropic associations. The organization is currently celebrating its Silver Anniversary – 25 Years of Voluntary Fundraising Certification and recognition of the credential in five nations around the globe.
CFRE International
Friday, December 19. 2008
LVHN Holds Community Annual Meeting
LVHN Holds Community Annual Meeting
J. B. Reilly chosen to head Board of Trustees; Technology and Community Service Showcased
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Dec. 17, 2008) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) emphasized the function of technology and teamwork in providing quality care to patients at the network’s community annual meeting and health discovery expo. More than 500 community members, invited guests and employees attended the meeting and expo held today at the Kasych Family Pavilion at Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest.
Technology and Quality Care
Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., LVHN’s president and CEO, told Trustees and community members that LVHN invests in technologies that help specialists care for their patients more effectively. Sussman highlighted LVHN’s MI Alert for Heart Attack program. He said the program is a key factor in new government data analyzed and reported by USA Today in August ranking LVHN with the lowest heart attack death rate in the country among the 4,000 hospitals that provide heart attack care. Sussman told the story of Michael Tracy of Carbondale (formerly of Whitehall), and credited the role of EMS and new technology for the program’s success. On Oct. 14, paramedics used a 12-lead EKG to diagnose that Tracy was suffering a heart attack. Paramedics began treatment immediately in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
At Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest, Tracy’s heart had to be restarted 24 times as LVHN’s cardiac team worked to open a totally blocked coronary artery. At the same time, a device called Arctic Sun lowered his body temperature and slowed his metabolism to prevent brain damage. Tracy continues to recover and was in attendance at the meeting and recognized by Sussman along with members of the EMS community.
He cited several technologies that were on display at a health expo held following the meeting, including a demonstration model of LVHN’s da Vinci high-definition surgical system, or robot. The da Vinci system allows for more precise, less invasive treatment for people with prostate, cervical and uterine cancers and other conditions.
“Telemedicine is another example of how we’re using innovative technology to care for our patients,” Sussman said. “Telemedicine has already helped us save the lives of high-risk mothers and babies, trauma victims and others.” Sussman introduced a form of telemedicine called tele-interpretation in which hearing-impaired patients and their caregivers, via wireless videoconferencing, have access 24/7 to a live sign-language interpreter.
Trustees Appointments
J.B. Reilly, managing director of Traditions of America, LVHN Board of Trustees vice chair and a member of the board for seven years, was elected to a two-year term as chair replacing Rev. Jefferson Aiken, Jr., D.Min. Rev. Aiken, retired senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Allentown, served the maximum two, two-year terms as chair and will continue to serve as a trustee.
“I’m proud to be part of an organization that is committed to providing the best possible care to the people of our community,” Rev. Aiken said. “I am privileged to have served as board chair for the past four years, and am excited to begin my ninth year on the board as we continue our mission to create a healthier community.”
Newly elected to the board were Maria Rodale, board chair, Rodale Inc. and Michael Pistoria, D.O., associate program director, internal medicine residency, and hospitalist services, and the president-elect of LVHN’s medical staff. Both begin their three-year terms in January. Two trustees were re-elected to three-year terms effective Jan. 1, 2009: Richard Green, CEO, Firstrust Bank, and Kathryn Taylor, vice president NBC (retired). Donald Levick, M.D., pediatrics, leaves the board after six years of service including the last two as immediate past-president of the medical staff.
Improved Access to Care
LVHN is making it easier for the community to identify and access its services as the organization begins to phase in a refined name, new tagline and logo over the next year.
LVHN will begin today to more clearly identify its services under the name Lehigh Valley Health Network with the tagline A Passion for Better Medicine. A new logo represents the organization’s focus on patient care, clinical research and education.
“The services we provide well beyond the hospitals’ walls, including primary and specialty care physician practices, have expanded in recent years to meet our community’s evolving health care needs,” Sussman said. “The community also has asked us to make these services easier to identify and access. By refining our name, tagline and logo we can better reflect the depth and quality of all the health care services we provide, and make it easier for people in our community to get the care they need.” Sussman said the changes are the result of dozens of interviews with community members and LVHN physicians and other staff. He said the term ‘network’ reflects the wide range of health services LVHN provides to the greater Lehigh Valley community. A Passion for Better Medicine tells LVHN’s story of caregivers who strive to improve and exceed expectations for those they treat. Sussman said the new logo features more contemporary, vibrant shades of the network’s previous blue and teal symbol. It emphasizes teamwork, connectedness and energy.
Sussman said a growing population and growing preference for LVHN make easier identification, access and navigation of health care services even more important. In fiscal year 2008, LVHN cared for more than 61,000 patients admitted to the hospital, an 11 percent increase over the previous year. Nearly 144,000 patients sought emergency care, also up 11 percent, and another 130,600 were seen in the clinic practices, a 2 percent increase.
Lehigh Valley Health Network includes three hospital facilities - two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa.; eight health centers caring for communities in four counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes trauma care at the region’s busiest, most-experienced trauma center treating adults and children, burn care at the regional Burn Center, kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Primary Stroke Center. Lehigh Valley Health Network has been recognized by US News & World Report for 13 consecutive years as one of America’s Best Hospitals, is a national Magnet hospital for excellence in nursing, and has been honored seven straight years among the top integrated health networks in the U.S. Additional information is available at www.lvh.org.
Monday, November 24. 2008
New Year's Resolution - Quit Smoking
The new year is just around the corner. Let's start it off SMOKE-FREE! Pennsylvania's new "Clean Indoor Air Act" went into effect in September. Because smoking is prohibited in most public areas and workplaces throughout Pennsylvania, now is a great time to kick the habit. The American Heart Association conducted a study that estimates 46.6 million Americans smoke. They all are at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
Lehigh Valley Hospital recognizes that this addiction gradually can become a silent killer for you and the people you spend time with. At our health network, there are various programs that can help you quit smoking for good, such as Adolescent/Teen Services, Inpatient Services, and Outpatient Services. With your dedication and the support of others, you can quit in a shorter amount of time.
The benefits of quitting heavily outweigh the dangers of continuing or starting smoking. The following facts might make you think twice the next time you want to light up:
Within 20 minutes after quitting your blood pressure and pulse will drop toward normal.
Within 20 minutes after quitting your hands and feet will warm up as circulation improves.
Within weeks teeth stains start to disappear.
Your risk for heart attack lessens.
You'll have more energy.
If you're still not convinced, Lehigh Valley Health Network provides a list of reasons NOT to smoke: (detailed quit smoking list)
Your Heart: Smoking increases your risk for heart disease, the number one killer of men and women in the United States.
Your Looks: Smoking causes facial wrinkles and dry hair.
Your Lungs: Smoking causes 90% of all lung cancers.
Your Reproductive Health: Smoking affects fertility and early menopause.
Your Kids: Secondhand smoke causes children to develop bronchitis and pneumonia. In addition, parents who smoke are poor role models for healthy living.
Your Throat: Smoking raises the risk for mouth and throat cancers.
Your Love Life: Smoking turns off many potential partners and can also cause erectile dysfunction
Your Stomach, Bladder and Pancreas: Smoking raises the risk for cancer in these organs, especially in those who use alcohol heavily.
Your Pocketbook: Smoking is an expensive habit.
Your Smile: Smokers' teeth gradually turn yellow and could develop gum disease and tooth decay
An estimated 450,000 Americans die each year from tobacco-related disease. With LVH's Tobacco Treatment Program, you can avoid being part of that statistic.
Smoking Affects a Woman's Heart just as much as a Man's
Lehigh Valley's Deborah Sundlof, D.O., says, "Women smokers typically have heart attacks 19 years earlier than women who've never smoked." Women who smoke are four times more likely to die from heart disease because smoking:
Lowers HDL (good) cholesterol
Raises blood pressure
Speeds up atherosclerosis - the buildup of plaque in the arteries
Causes early menopause
Lehigh Valley Hospital is one of USA's Best Heart Hospitals. Who better to go to for tips and assistance to quit smoking? To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 610-402-CARE (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m, Monday-Friday) and visit lvh.org.
Tuesday, November 11. 2008
LVH Nationally Recognized
Lehigh Valley Hospital is Nationally Recognized for Outstanding Organ Donation Rates
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 11, 2008) – During the fourth National Learning Congress held in Nashville, Tenn. on October 23-24, Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH) was recognized for excellence in family care and outstanding rates of organ donation. Award winning hospitals were presented with Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Medals of Honor for achieving a conversion rate of 75 percent in a 12-month period.
This goal was first created as part of the National Breakthrough Collaborative, established in 2002 in an effort to maximize each and every organ donation opportunity. Since then, approximately 4,000 more transplants were performed in the U.S. last year – more than 28,000 – compared with 24,000 that were done in 2001, the year before the Collaborative began.
Gift of Life Donor Program, the organ and tissue donor program serving eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, celebrated the great work of Lehigh Valley Hospital at the Learning Congress and its dedication to saving lives through donation. A total of 50 people – including Gift of Life staff and hospital partners – attended the sessions in Nashville from this region.
“The success of Lehigh Valley Hospital and its staff with Gift of Life in transforming donation opportunities into donors increases the number of transplants done nationally, but also locally,” said Michael J. Moritz, M.D., LVH’s chief of transplant services. “Though there is not a direct link between donation at LVH and transplantation at LVH, all Gift of Life donors can potentially become transplants of the LVH kidney and pancreas transplant programs.”
Dr. Moritz said all of the donors for the 77 transplants done at LVH last year -- a new high for the hospital -- were coordinated through Gift of Life.
“The National Learning Congress afforded us excellent opportunities to strengthen relationships, celebrate successes, and most importantly, to refocus our collective energies toward the work at hand, ensuring that optimal donation systems are in place across our region,” said Gweneth George, director of hospital services for Gift of Life.
Today, there are more than 5,600 patients in this region awaiting the gift of a life-saving organ transplant. The continued collaborations are paramount to ensuring that we create a future where no patient dies before an organ transplant becomes available.
A premier academic community hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network includes three hospital facilities – two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa. – and Lehigh Valley Health Services, providing home health, hospice, pharmaceutical and health management services. In 2008, US News & World Report named Lehigh Valley Hospital one of America’s Best Hospitals for the thirteenth straight year. LVHHN’s advanced regional resources include the region's busiest, most-experienced trauma center caring for adults and children, regional Burn Center as well as kidney and pancreas transplant, perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities. LVHHN hospitals are designated national Magnet hospitals for excellence in nursing. LVH is one of Pennsylvania’s largest teaching hospitals and is a major teaching campus of Penn State's College of Medicine. Additional information is available at www.lvh.org.
Monday, November 10. 2008
Heart Care: What is a CT Scan?
Heart Care: What is a CT Scan?
Heart problems can be scary. Not knowing some of the terminology associated with heart problems can cause added frustration. Here are some details on common heart conditions:
A CT scan can be beneficial during the initial diagnostic phase. A CT scan uses a combination of X-ray and computer technology to produce images of your heart. Lehigh Valley Hospital, one of America's Best Hospitals, uses the most advanced models and equipment in the industry. For more on this topic, please visit our heart care information.
Wednesday, November 5. 2008
Dr. Raymond Singer is Board Certified in Medical Management
Dr. Raymond Singer is Board Certified in Medical Management
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 5, 2008) – The Certifying Commission in Medical Management (CCMM) recently designated Raymond Singer, M.D., a Certified Physician Executive (CPE).
Dr. Singer, a resident of South Whitehall Township, is the associate chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN) and the past-president of both the Lehigh County Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Association for Thoracic Surgery.
The CPE designation indicates that a physician has achieved superior levels of professional excellence and management education, while also demonstrating effective knowledge and leadership skills. The Certifying Commission in Medical Management currently lists just over 1,000 CPE’s nationally.
As the national certifying body for physicians specializing in medical management, the Certifying Commission in Medical Management is a not-for-profit corporation chartered by the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) to establish and maintain the high standards required for physician executive certification. The ACPE is the nation’s largest organization of physicians in health care leadership. The College is recognized by the American Medical Association as the specialty society representing physicians in management and holds a seat in the AMA House of Delegates.
A premier academic community hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network includes three hospital facilities – two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa. – and Lehigh Valley Health Services, providing home health, hospice, pharmaceutical and health management services. In 2008, US News & World Report named Lehigh Valley Hospital one of America’s Best Hospitals for the thirteenth straight year. LVHHN’s advanced regional resources include the region's busiest, most-experienced trauma center caring for adults and children, regional Burn Center as well as kidney and pancreas transplant, perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, and neurology and complex neurosurgery capabilities. LVHHN hospitals are designated national Magnet hospitals for excellence in nursing. LVH is one of Pennsylvania’s largest teaching hospitals and is a major teaching campus of Penn State's College of Medicine. Additional information is available at www.lvh.org.
Wednesday, November 5. 2008
DR. ELLIOT SUSSMAN, of LVH BECOMES AAMC CHAIR
DR. ELLIOT SUSSMAN, OF LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL, BECOMES AAMC CHAIR
Dean of University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. Deborah Powell, Named Chair-elect
Washington, D.C., November 3, 2008—Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN), began his one-year term as chair of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) in conjunction with the association’s 119th Annual Meeting. Dr. Sussman succeeds Dr. Robert J. Desnick, professor and chair of the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and physician-in-chief of the Department of Medical Genetics and Genomics at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
An internist, professor, and administrator, Dr. Sussman has overseen LVHHN since 1993. The hospital network is a clinical affiliate of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, where Dr. Sussman also serves as the Leonard Parker Pool Professor of Health Systems Management, professor of medicine, and professor of public health sciences. He is also former chair of the AAMC Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems.
From 1989 to 1993, Dr. Sussman was associate dean and associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences Pritzker School of Medicine. He also served as executive director for clinical practices and associate professor of medicine for the University of Pennsylvania, and associate administrator and director of the clinical effectiveness program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Sussman earned a B.A. degree magna cum laude from Yale University, an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical residency training and fellowship in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he also served as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. In addition to serving as a trustee of LVHHN, Dr. Sussman serves on the boards of several local and national organizations. He is a member of the Society of Medical Administrators and the Healthcare Executives Study Society.
Deborah E. Powell, M.D., dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS), assistant vice president for clinical affairs, and McKnight Presidential Leadership Chair at the University of Minnesota, was named chair-elect of the AAMC today. She will succeed Dr. Sussman as chair of the association next year.
Dr. Powell is a board-certified surgical pathologist and a medical educator with more than 30 years of experience in academic medicine. Since joining UMMS as dean in 2002, she has played an integral part in transforming medical education and fostering more focused investments in research at the institution.
Through the Medical Education Development 2010 initiative, launched under her leadership, the school has instituted a “Flexible M.D.” program that encourages a more “learner-centered education” by allowing students to earn their medical degrees on a flexible timetable without being penalized financially. In addition, with the university’s Institute of Technology, Dr. Powell founded the new Institute for Engineering in Medicine, which aims to foster interdisciplinary research in medical devices and other biomedical engineering areas.
In 1997, she was named executive dean and vice chancellor for clinical affairs at the University of Kansas and, prior to that, served as the vice chair and director of diagnostic pathology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington before being named chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at that same institution.
Dr. Powell is currently a board member of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and has been a former president of both the American Board of Pathology and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. She is a former chair of the AAMC Council of Deans, a former member of the Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health Office of Research in Women’s Health, and a former member of the board of trustees of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Dr. Powell received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Georgetown University Medical Center and the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health.
The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 130 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and nearly 90 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 125,000 faculty members, 70,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.
Monday, November 3. 2008
LVHN Annual Benefit Reaches $146 Million
Lehigh Valley Health Network Annual Community Benefit Reaches $146 Million
Leadership cites not-for-profit’s financial strength amid increasing government reimbursement challenges
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Nov. 3, 2008) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) today announced a record community benefit of $146 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2008, an increase of $18.9 million or 15 percent compared to 2007.
The community benefit includes:
- $101.4 million in direct patient care, the largest portion of LVHN's community benefit
$32.8 million physician, nursing and patient education and research
$7.6 million for community partnerships and support for schools and community organizations, including $1.4 million in real estate taxes paid on not-for-profit owned and leased property and payments and services to municipalities and school districts in our region
$4.2 million for community health education and prevention
The total represents the community benefit of Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH), Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg (LVH – Muhlenberg), Lehigh Valley Physician Group and Lehigh Valley Health Services. LVHN also donates space, equipment and the time and expertise of physicians and staff.
LVHN contributes to the Lehigh Valley’s economic growth by providing over 9,500 jobs, which result in income tax payments to government.
LVHN also announced total revenues for fiscal year 2008 of $1.193 billion and total expenses of $1.152 billion, for a patient services net margin of $40.7 million, or 3.4 percent of total revenue. LVHN’s patient services net margin for fiscal year 2007 (year-ended June 30, 2007) was $65.5 million, or 6.0 percent of total revenues. Over the past ten years the average patient services net margin has been 4.0 percent or $35.6 million annually.
“Lehigh Valley Health Network remains financially strong,” said Elliot J. Sussman, M.D., LVHN’s president and CEO. At the same time he stressed that health care experts have determined a 5 percent margin is proper to be able to reinvest in the necessary improvements to continue to care for the community. “Our biggest challenge in the future will be to stay strong financially amid changes that limit health care reimbursement from government payers like Medicare and Medicaid and private insurers.”
In fiscal year 2008, LVHN cared for more than 61,000 patients admitted to the hospital, an 11 percent increase over the previous year. Nearly 144,000 patients sought emergency care, also up 11 percent, and another 130,600 were seen in the clinic practices, a 2 percent increase. “As our community continues to grow, so does the need to provide quality and safe health care, as these numbers show,” Sussman said. “That’s why it is important for LVHN to remain financially strong in order to be able to address these growing needs now and in the future.”
Sussman cited the opening of the new Kasych Family Pavilion in January, which added 182 private patient rooms to LVH-Cedar Crest, as well as the new Center for Advanced Health Care as ways LVHN is meeting these needs. He said by reinvesting its patient services net margin in people, technology and facilities LVHN is ensuring that patients receive the highest quality care in the safest possible environment.
The fiscal year 2008 margin will be reinvested in the community to pay for things such as:
Completion of the expansion at LVH-Cedar Crest
Replacement of the 13-year-old pharmacy robot at LVH-Cedar Crest with an updated version for dispensing medication to ensure patient safety
Initiate installation of celing lifts in each patient room throughout the LVHN network hospitals for patient and staff safety
Expansion of clinical exam space for the Center for Women's Medicine outpatient practices at LVH-17th and Chew to meet increased demand
According to Sussman, LVHN is working with more patients and their families to help them afford care based on income guidelines. The number of people filing for reduced cost-of-care applications in fiscal year 2008 increased 32 percent to more then 5,600 at LVHN. "We are obligated to make sure everyone in our community gets the care they need regardless of their ability to pay," Sussman said. "We offer charity care policies that are both beneficial to those truly in need, and fiscally responsible."
Sussman also stressed a growing community interest in LVH and LVH-Muhlenberg. He said the level of philanthropic support has increased considerably over the past five years averaging $14.9 million per year toward investment in technology, service, programs and facilities.
Based in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pa., Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network comprises Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest & I-78, Lehigh Valley Hospital – 17th & Chew, Lehigh Valley Hospital--Muhlenberg and Lehigh Valley Health Services, which includes home health, hospice, pharmacy and health management. Advanced regional resources at these non-profit hospitals include the region's busiest, most-experienced trauma center caring for adults and children, as well as burn, kidney and pancreas transplant, perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer care, and neurology and complex neurosurgery. LVHHN hospitals are designated national Magnet hospitals for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at www.lvh.org.
Tuesday, October 21. 2008
LVHHN Steps Up Recycling Efforts to Save Money, Go Green
LVHHN Steps Up Recycling Efforts to Save Money, Go Green
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Oct. 21, 2008) – In six months, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s (LVHHN) three hospitals generate nearly 230,000 pounds of paper waste and more than 12,000 pounds of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass. While the network has always recycled these items, a new initiative is underway to ensure these materials are consistently placed in the proper container for recycling.
“Not only will it save us thousands of dollars that we can use to invest in health care services for our community, recycling is the right thing to do for our environment,” says Linda Zengen, LVHHN waste reduction specialist.
LVHHN purchased more than 1,800 containers to hold paper waste. A container was placed at every hospital work station. Because some of the paper waste contains protected health information, each container has a lid to keep the documents secure. Paper from these containers is collected and taken to an off-site, secure facility for shredding and recycling. LVHHN also purchased nearly 400 containers to hold bottles, cans and glass (commingled) that will be sent off-site for recycling. These containers were placed in areas where commingled waste is generated. All of the containers purchased were made with 55 percent recycled plastic.
Zengen also is visiting each hospital department to teach staff the importance of discarding waste in the proper container. Part of the education includes stickers that are placed on the four kinds of hospital waste containers: regular trash, paper, commingled and medical waste. The stickers remind employees which items should not be thrown into a particular container.
LVHHN hopes the education will prevent recyclable items from being thrown in the regular trash. “For example, we hope to collect 800,000 pounds of paper for recycling this year. That would be double the amount we collected in previous years,” Zengen says. In total, LVHHN hopes to save $250,000 a year through its recycling and other waste management initiatives.
Recycling is not the only way LVHHN is creating a “green” hospital. The Kasych Family Pavilion and The Center for Advanced Health Care, two new buildings on the campus of LVH-Cedar Crest, recently earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the national benchmark for green buildings. The buildings received certification because:
Recycled materials were used whenever possible
Most materials were purchased from companies that manufactured and shipped them from within 500 miles of the hospital
Heating and cooling systems, and appliances are energy efficient
Shower heads and toilets are water efficient
Reflective roofing material reduces cooling costs
Large windows provide abundant natural light
Unoccupied areas, like storage closets, have motion sensors that turn lights on and off when someone enters and leaves.
A premier academic community hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network includes three hospital facilities - two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa. - and Lehigh Valley Health Services, providing home health, hospice, pharmaceutical and health management services. In 2008, U.S. News & World Report named Lehigh Valley Hospital one of America's Best Hospitals for the thirteenth straight year. LVHHN's advanced regional resources include a Level I Trauma Center with added pediatric qualifications; a regional referral Burn Center for critical care burn patients; national certification as a Primary Stroke Center; the largest cancer program in the region and fourth largest in Pennsylvania; the Regional Heart Center - the second largest heart program in Pennsylvania based on volume; and an Advanced ICU with tele-intensivists to provide an extra level of care for critical care patients.
Monday, October 20. 2008
Learn More About Quality Heart Care
Life Saved Within Minutes
Lehigh Valley Hospital is not just a medical facility that provides ordinary heart care, LVH is one of the most reliable heart hospitals in the United States. A best heart hospital is one in which the care of the patient comes first. You might have seen a USA TODAY story about Richard Silverman, a patient who was treated by LVH, the nation's best hospital for heart attack care. Richard Silverman's life was saved within minutes. When he began experiencing chest discomfort, his wife Janet called 9-1-1. An ambulance arrived within minutes. Only 24 minutes after arriving at the hospital, lifesaving treatment was performed.
A procedure that normally takes 90 was done in less than 30 minutes! If you are looking for a hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital is your best choice for quality care!
Monday, October 13. 2008
Treating Back Problems
School is back in session! Back aches, pains and strains are bound to occur. Today's core curriculum in school can be rather intense, with more books and notes. Where do students put these books? On their backs.
Another factor that can cause back pain is studying for hours on end while hunched over at a desk. Back problems can occur at a young age and can worsen with time if left untreated.
One of "America's Best Hospital's," such as Lehigh Valley Hospital, has the experts to diagnose and treat back problems. Treatments vary and may include:
anti-inflammatory medication
epidural injections along the spine
physical therapy
weight management
wearing a back support
For more information, questions and/or concers, or to schedule an appointment please call 602-402-CARE & please visit us at lvh.org
Wednesday, October 8. 2008
HEALTH CARES ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DAY
HEALTH CARES ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DAY
On Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 purple ribbons will be evident in a multitude of health care settings throughout the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network, Sacred Heart Hospital, and some of their affiliated clinics and physicians’ offices, and other health care settings will join Turning Point of Lehigh Valley and health care providers across the country to mark National Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day (NHCADVD.) The day is designed to heighten awareness of domestic violence and to honor the work health care providers do to promote patient safety and improved health through early intervention by routine screening and referral of patients experiencing domestic violence. Purple ribbons will be worn and distributed as a symbol and in recognition of NHCADVD.
The wearing of purple ribbons began over two decades ago in scattered communities as a visible gesture of support for survivors and victims of domestic violence. The exact history is somewhat difficult to pinpoint. Over the years, a number of sources have been credited with originating the use of the purple ribbon as a unifying symbol of courage, survival, honor and dedication to ending domestic violence. Today it has become one of the most widely-recognized symbols of the movement to end domestic violence. People across the United States and abroad, recognize the purple ribbon as a sign of strength and awareness of domestic violence.
After hours, years, a lifetime of verbal, emotional, financial, and perhaps physical and/or sexual abuse, domestic violence can negatively impact health and may, ultimately lead to serious injury and death. The incidence of domestic violence is astounding. Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, Inc. is the only domestic violence service provider in Lehigh and Northampton Counties with confidentiality covered by state statute for service recipients. In FY 2007-2008, Turning Point received 3,801 HelpLine calls and provided 4,458 women, men and children with direct service.
Domestic violence poses a serious threat to safety and health for all Americans. From June 22 – July 16, 2008, 17 Pennsylvania counties experienced 18 lethal domestic violence incidents involving shootouts, manhunts, standoffs, multiple murders and suicides. The carnage left 31 people dead—21 of them were victims, including a 13-year-old girl shot by her father, a 2-year-old girl and 11-month-old boy, asphyxiated by their father who also killed their mother, and a 14-month-old girl, ejected from a car that was rammed into a concrete barrier by another car driven by her father. Eight were perpetrators who committed suicide; one was shot in self-defense and one man was killed in a shootout with another man, reportedly in a fight over a woman. Firearms were used in 13 of the 18 total incidents. Nationally, nearly one in five homicides (19 percent) is precipitated by intimate partner violence, according to an April 2008 report from the CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). Fifty-two percent of female homicides, and nine percent of male homicides, are precipitated by intimate partner violence. In addition, 32 percent of suicides are precipitated by a problem with an intimate partner.
On October 8th, wear or display a purple ribbon to recognize the work area health care providers do to promote patient safety through routine screening for domestic violence. Join area health care providers and Turning Point on October 8th, NHCADVD, and throughout the month of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Wear or display a purple ribbon. Demonstrate support for those experiencing domestic violence, advocates, and healthcare providers. Convey a powerful message that there is no place for domestic violence in the homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, or health care facilities in the Lehigh Valley.
Wednesday, October 1. 2008
LVHHN's Regional Burn Center
LVHHN’s Regional Burn Center Receives Re-verification from the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (Oct. 1, 2008) – Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s (LVHHN) Regional Burn Center received re-verification from the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons for adults and children. This achievement recognizes the Burn Center’s dedication to providing superior care for its patients from the point of injury through the rehabilitation process.
To receive re-verification, which lasts for three years, LVHHN’s Burn Center underwent an on-site review by a team of experienced surgeons. The team used the “burn care” chapter from an American College of Surgeons’ manual as a guideline in conducting the survey. For the second time, LVHHN’s Burn Center received no deficiencies, meaning all core criteria were met. “This is a true mark of distinction for our Burn Center,” says Daniel Lozano, M.D., Burn Center medical director. “We pride ourselves in providing our patients the highest level of burn care possible, whether the injury is minor or severe.”
LVHHN’s Regional Burn Center is the largest and busiest of Pennsylvania’s six burn centers. Working with 100 referring hospitals, LVHHN cares for more than 600 burn patients every year. That’s three times the number of patients the average burn center sees.
In January, a new 18-bed unit opened inside LVH-Cedar Crest’s Kasych Family Pavilion. It features private rooms equipped with a ceiling lift to safely move patients and suspend extremities during dressing changes. Rooms also have air filters, window blinds embedded between two panes of glass, and other features to prevent infection. The Center’s tele-burn service allows referring physicians to securely share photos of patients’ burn injuries with a member of the Center’s full-time medical staff. A Lehigh Valley Hospital burn specialist can review the photos while consulting with the referring doctor to ensure the best care and prepare for the patient’s arrival should they need to be transferred. LVHHN’s Burn Recovery Center cares for patients after hospitalization and for those whose injuries are less severe. Here, patients receive wound care, rehabilitation, scar management, pressure therapy, tattooing, instruction on makeup techniques and support services. To learn more about LVHHN’s Regional Burn Center, visit www.lvh.org/professionals/burn.
A premier academic community hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network includes three hospital facilities - two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa. - and Lehigh Valley Health Services, providing home health, hospice, pharmaceutical and health management services. In 2008, U.S. News & World Report named Lehigh Valley Hospital one of America's Best Hospitals for the thirteenth straight year. LVHHN's advanced regional resources include a Level I Trauma Center with added pediatric qualifications; a regional referral Burn Center for critical care burn patients; national certification as a Primary Stroke Center; the largest cancer program in the region and fourth largest in Pennsylvania; the Regional Heart Center - the second largest heart program in Pennsylvania based on volume; and an Advanced ICU with tele-intensivists to provide an extra level of care for critical care patients.
Tuesday, September 23. 2008
Follow your Heart to LVH
Heart hospitals like Lehigh Valley Hospital are one in a million. Doctors, nurses and related staff treat patients, family members and friends like they are part of their family. The following is a list of our heart surgeons:
With the available technology and research, this heart hospital is always one step ahead, offering care as good as what you'd find in Philadelphia but close to home. LVH has the awards and accreditations to prove its success in the heart field. Searching for heart specialty of PA ?...look no further. Visit lvh.org.
Monday, September 22. 2008
Why Choose Lehigh Valley Hospital?
Choosing a hospital can be difficult. Making the right choice in a short amount of time is crucial in finding the BEST care. You can rest assured that LVHN is recognized with numerous awards that make us stand out among the top hospitals in Pennsylvania. The following is a list of our awards and accreditations:
- Cited for the 13th consecutive year among America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 2008
- A FORTUNE 100 Best Company to Work For
- Rewarded for Quality and Safety
- Home to Two Primary Stroke Centers
- A Magnet Hospital
- '100 Most Wired' and '25 Most Wireless' Hospitals
- National Network of Children's Hospitals
- Highest Accreditation from Commission on Cancer
More than 100 years ago, 13 auxiliary members combined their resources and began raising money for a hospital that could care for its community. Since those humble beginnings in 1899, from The Allentown Hospital to today's Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, our high-quality care continues to evolve, and we are grateful for our community's support.
The story behind our health network
Visit lvh.org to see how you can make a difference and continue the tradition of this inspirational medical facility.