There is a new health care center in Fogelsville serving area residents.

Jennifer Chambers, director of outpatient planning and operations with Lehigh Valley Health Network, and Lori Hulse, MBA, vice president of operations with Lehigh Valley Physician Group, discussed the new center with The Press.

The Health Center at Fogelsville, 1431 Nursery St., is open every day, including holidays, Chambers said.

Services include Health Network Labs, Lehigh Valley Hospital rehabilitation and imaging services, and the Sleep Disorder Center; Lehigh Valley Physician Group family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology and ExpressCARE.

“We have been planning this site since 2013,” she said.

Chambers said the new 40,000-square-foot health center, designed by MKSD Architects, Allentown, was built by Serfass Construction Company Inc., North Whitehall Township.

“Robert Kaplan, project manager, and Lisa Bernarski, business operations manager, with Lehigh Valley Health Network led the project,” Chambers said.

Hulse said Kim Labea, practice manager for LVPG Pediatrics, Fogelsville, played a vital part in the transition of the pediatric practice moving from its 17th Street location in Allentown to the Health Center at Fogelsville.

“LVHN recognized the importance of the residents of the surrounding community to receive the care they need close to home,” Hulse said, adding bringing services to the community, instead of residents traveling for health care needs was an important factor in building the new center.

Hulse and Chambers both commented on Lehigh Valley Health Network’s electronic medical record keeping called “Epic.”

“Fogelsville is the first health center to benefit from our new electronic medical record EPIC, which will record all of a patient’s information on a single electronic medical record that will also enable the patient to access that record on a secure website,” Hulse said.

“The unique benefit of the layout of the space and care for all patients that come to the Health Center at Fogelsville is integrated and coordinated,” Chambers stated. “One of the benefits of being a patient of Fogelsville is the ability for patients to participate in their healthcare and have access to test results, see upcoming appointments, monitor (medication) requests and refills and view lab results through our patient portal MyLVHN.org.”

New Tripoli resident Kevin Cooper, a patient at the Health Center at Fogelsville, commented during a tour of the new medical center.

“This was my first visit to the health center,” he said. “Called today (Sept. 11) at noon and got a same day appointment.”

“Dr. Carlson with LVPG Family Medicine was interested in my overall health and willing to spend time to understand my overall health,” Cooper said, adding the nurses were nice, smiling and pleasant. “There was no waiting, went right into patient room.

“I was quite pleased with the front desk service, and the staff was helpful.”

To learn more about the Health Center at Fogelsville, the hours and doctors who practice at there, visit LVHN.org or call 484-273-4343 or 610-402-2273.