Lehigh Valley Health Network

LVHN recognized for LGBTQ health equity

Lehigh Valley Health Network hospitals are receiving national recognition for demonstrating a commitment to advancing health equity in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning community.

The Human Rights Campaign designated Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest as leaders in its LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Index.

HEI is a national benchmarking tool that evaluates health care facilities’ commitment to inclusion and equity of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees.

St. Luke’s Health Network

St. Luke’s joins network of children’s hospitals

St. Luke’s University Health Network announces it is now a member of the Children’s Hospital Association. The network will collaborate through the association to advance innovation in the quality, cost and delivery of care.

St. Luke’s pediatric inpatient unit is being renovated and relocated adjacent to the PICU at St. Luke’s University Hospital, Bethlehem. St. Luke’s has made a significant capital investment in new infrastructure over the past few years to support the Network’s ongoing pediatric growth.

Network ranks high in charitable giving

St. Luke’s was ranked #16 for Charitable Giving nationally on the Lowne’s top-25 list of health care systems. The non-profit private health care system spends more on charity and community investment than it receives in tax breaks.

This “fair share” surplus was calculated from data based on 2019 (or 2018) IRS Form 990.

Charity care and community investment includes community health improvement activities, contributions to community groups, community building activities and subsidized healthcare services. Only private nonprofit hospitals were included in the analysis.

Hepatologist Patel joins SLUHN (WITH PHOTO)

Vishal Patel, M.D., recently joined St. Luke’s University Health Network. Board-certified in gastroenterology/hepatology, he has been practicing transplant hepatology at renowned transplant centers in and around Philadelphia since 2008.

His speciality is acute, chronic and advanced liver disease, including viral hepatitis and autoimmune diseases of the liver, drug induced liver disease, alcohol related liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic liver disease, liver disease specific to pregnancy and liver cancer.

Diseases of the liver, excessive alcohol use and obesity can damage the liver. The goal of a hepatologist is to treat these illnesses early to prevent excessive scarring from developing and progressing to cirrhosis.

A graduate of St. Georges University School of Medicine, Grenada, he completed his residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital Internal Medicine. He completed fellowship training at Albert Einstein Medical Center and earned an additional fellowship at Drexel College of Medicine.

SLUHN Leapfrog ratings

The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, awarded top Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades to more St. Luke’s hospitals than those of any other regional health care network.

The Safety Grade assigns letter grades of A, B, C, D and F twice annually – in the spring and fall – to hospitals nationwide based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms. St. Luke’s University Health Network Bethlehem, Allentown and Anderson campuses were awarded an ‘A’ for their commitment to keeping patients safe and meeting the highest safety standards in the U.S.

Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital was also awarded an ‘A.’

The latest grades provide a look at the impact of COVID-19 on patient safety, with several measures included in the grade showing a significant decline.

To see St. Luke’s full grades, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.

Hospice Bike Ride June 4

The 11th Annual St. Luke’s Hospice Bike Ride will be held at 10 a.m. rain or shine June 4 on the D&L Trail, 200 N. Main Lane, Lehighton. The annual ride enables families and friends of individuals who have been on Hospice to honor their loved one, to support St. Luke’s Hospice and enjoy the scenic outdoors. There is a fee.

Participants may purchase a memorial sign to remember their loved ones. The signs will line the route along the Lehighton Trailhead starting point. Riders can opt for either the 20- or 30-mile trail ride.Pocono Biking, a title sponsor of the event, will provide free loaner bikes and helmets to anyone who registers and does not have their own equipment.

There will be a basket raffle of baskets donated by businesses in the community. Register at https://stlukeshospice.wufoo.com/forms/11th-annual-st-lukes-hospice-bike-ride. Contact Bethany Gray, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, VNA and Hospice, with questions about event registration or sponsorship opportunities.