St. Luke’s Health Network

Habitat home repair partner

St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley to help its neighbors obtain exterior home repairs at little or no cost to the resident owner.

The Habitat for Humanity Repair Program serves homeowners who meet eligibility and income guidelines and are interested in assistance with necessary exterior home repairs that address safety, security, accessibility and code violations. The program focuses on the Jordan Heights (between Tilghman and Hamilton and Seventh and Jordan streets, Allentown) neighborhood surrounding the St. Luke’s Campus. Homes in the Jordan Heights neighborhood average about 200 years old and many need costly repairs.

The Habitat for Humanity staff and/or subcontractors make exterior home repairs, such as roof, foundation and siding repairs.

St. Luke’s established the St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus Community Health Initiative, which brings together community-based organizations to improve access to care, reduce rates of chronic disease and improve mental and behavioral health. Other subcommittees are working on workforce, substance use disorders, chronic disease and education. The subcommittee works with many other government entities, community organizations, businesses and individuals to meet the family’s needs. This includes the city of Allentown, City Center Allentown, a real estate development company that is revitalizing downtown, and Community Action Lehigh Valley (CACLV). The goal is not only about repairing the structure, but also about creating a healthy living space for the families.

The Habitat for Humanity Repair Program has helped five families so far but would like to repair 25 homes a year, according to Ellen Denizard, MPA, Community Health Liaison Manager, St. Luke’s Allentown and Sacred Heart Campuses. Eligible participants must own the home, maintain homeowners’ insurance and be current on mortgage and property tax payments. Income guidelines are based on family size, ranging from $45,900 for an individual to $86,550 for a family of eight.

St. Luke’s invites community organizations and businesses to become involved with the St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Campus Community Health Initiative by joining a committee. The Initiative also welcomes contributions from businesses or individuals. For more information, contact Denizard at 610-776-5456 or Ellen.Denizard@sluhn.org.

IMplant relieves chronic pain

Chief of Neurosurgery Doron Rabin, MD, recently implanted the newly FDA-approved Medtronic VANTA SCS Recharge-Free Spinal Cord Stimulator in a patient with chronic pain. Rabin is among an elite group of specialists introducing this innovative device to leading hospitals nationwide.

After undergoing a successful spinal cord stimulator trial through St. Luke’s Spine & Pain Associates, the VANTA SCS Recharge-Free spinal cord stimulator can be implanted to manage chronic leg and back pain. This smart device, whose pulse signal delivery can be adjusted by its user through a small, cellphone-like controller, can accommodate the person’s level of pain or physical activity or body position.