St. Luke's Health Network

Allentown Campus offers unique procedure

St. Luke's University Health Network–Allentown Campus surgeons were the first to perform a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as bilio-pancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS). The procedure was performed laparoscopically by co-medical director of Bariatric Surgery for St. Luke's, Maher El Chaar, MD, FACS, FASMBS; with the assistance of co-medical director Leonardo Claros, MD, FACS, FASMBS.

BPD/DS is a unique procedure typically performed on extremely morbidly obese patients, those with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 50. "The results exceed that of traditional gastric bypass," stated Dr. El Chaar. For information, visit www.sluhn.org/bariatrics.

Littner Memorial Lecture for Bereavement

The Dr. and Mrs. Max Littner Memorial Lecture Series for Bereavement and St. Luke's University Health Network will host Ira Byock, M.D, speaking on "The Four Things That Matter Most: A Book About Living" at 7:30 p.m. May 14at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St.

For information or to purchase tickets, call 1-866-785-8537 or visit www.sluhn.org/irabyock. Tickets are also available at Moravian Book Shop. Books will also be available for purchase the night of the lecture

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Mastectomy law changed

After eight years of collaborative effort, St. Luke's employee Susan York,MHA, RN, and Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) staff succeeded in getting lawmakers to repeal legislation written in 1984 requiring women to sign a form about radical mastectomy.

York, Director of Accreditation and Standards for St. Luke's University Health Network, along with Representative Becky Corbin (155th Legislative District, R-Chester) who helped draft the legislation, was present on March 10 to participate in a ceremonial signing of the legislation, House Bill 1656 which Repeals Act 213 of 1984, the consent for treatment of Breast Disease.

She is retiring later this year after 27 years of working at St. Luke's. She commented, "This is a wonderful culmination of many years of work to repeal this law, and I cannot think of a better way to end my long career at St. Luke's!"

Flu advisory

SLUHN's Jeffrey Jahre, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical and Academic Affairs and Chief, Infectious Diseases, and LVHN's Luther Rhodes, M.D., Chief, Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, remind the community that flu shots are still an effective way to prevent this year's flu strain.

Both hospital systems are seeing patients who have deteriorated quickly from having normal flu symptoms that transition into a life-threatening situation in fewer than 24 hours. Currently, both hospitals are treating flu patients with Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). "Extra corporeal" means outside the body, and the ECMO machine supports the functions of the heart and lungs. During ECMO treatment, the patient's heart and lungs continue to work, but because some of their workload is being relieved by the ECMO, recovery is possible.

Flu vaccines, which are strongly recommended for anyone over six month old, are available and are effective in flu prevention for this season. The vaccine takes about 10 days to two weeks to establish immunity.

Both physicians recommend seeing a family physician or urgent care center as a first step if you or a family member feels ill. If someone has severe flu symptoms, they should be seen in the emergency department.

Cardiology in top 50

SLUHN has been named, for the sixth time, one of the nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, formerly known as Thomson Reuters,a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare.

The study evaluates, for the past 14 years, performance in key areas: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, core measures (a group of measures that assess process of care), percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, and wage- and severity-adjusted average cost.

LV Health Network

Hospitals receive awards

Lehigh Valley Health Network's two hospitals, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, each received an A grade from The Leapfrog Group in its fall 2013 update to the Hospital Safety Score. The rating reflects how well hospitals protect patients from accidents, errors, injuries and infections.The hospitals have received straight A's since the inaugural Patient Safety Score was published in 2012.

LVH was one of 66 hospitals in the state to be inacluded as one safest U.S. hospitals. The list was published in the April-May edition of AARP The Magazine. The magazine teamed up with The Leapfrog Group to showcase what some of the most innovative hospitals are doing to prevent errors. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety score is compiled under the guidance of the nation's leading experts on patient safety. Visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org for the list and for safety tips for patients and their families.

100th TAVR done

LVHN has completed the hospital's 100th trans-catheter aortic valve replacement surgery. During the procedure, an aortic valve is replaced using a catheter, similar to ones used to put a stent in a clogged blood vessel. The procedure does not require that the patient's chest be opened as the valve is inserted through a tiny incision in the groin or chest.

Cardiology

Nicole Urban-Miller, patient care coordinator at the Behavioral Health Science Center, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, will receive the Patriot Award for facilitating the work requisites of U.S. Army Reserve Specialist Kaytlin McConnell, a mental health technician, after she was called to serve in Afghanistan. McConnell nominated Urban-Miller for the award. Urban-Miller received a special citation at a ceremony on, Feb. 17 at the Bethlehem facility.

Newest Allentown Campus opened

LVHN opened its newest Center for Orthopedic Medicine at LVHN Tilghman, South Whitehall Township, on Feb. 5.

The former Westfield Hospital will feature an ExpressCARE urgent care no appointment service, a Center for Orthopedic Medicine inpatient facility and an ambulatory surgical center for common illnesses and minor injuries Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Hazleton Alliance joins network

LVHN officially welcomed its new colleagues from the former Greater Hazleton Health Alliance into the Allentown-based health network on Jan. 10. LVHN announced that as a result of the Jan. 1 merger, there was a permanent move of the Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac helicopter stationed in Weatherly to Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton.

Plastic Surgery Associates of the Lehigh Valley

Reception set for Jan. 16

There will be a free cosmetic surgery event at the Plastic Surgery Associates of the Lehigh Valley from 3 to 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at 1243 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Suite 301, Allentown. There will be skin care samples, hors d' oeuvres, demonstrations of Botox, fillers, peels and skin care procedures. Call 610-402-CARE to RSVP.

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