St. Luke's Named 'Most Wired'

St. Luke's University Health Network has been recognized in the "Most Wired" category according to the 16th annual Health Care's Most Wired survey, conducted by Hospitals and Health Networks. In early 2013, St. Luke's was the first hospital network in the Lehigh Valley to reach stage six in the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model. The Most Wired data showed that shared health information allows clinicians and patients to have the information they need to make the most informed decisions about treatments.

St. Luke's, Rodale offer Organic Farm

St. Luke's University Health Network and Rodale Institute are introducing the St. Luke's Rodale Institute Organic Farm, located on the Anderson Campus. The farm is expected to grow more than 44,000 pounds of organic produce on five acres its first year. The produce will be utilized by Sodexo food services for St. Luke's patients, staff and visitors.

President Swinfard retiring from LVHN

Ronald W. Swinfard, M.D., president and chief executive officer since Nov. 2010 of Lehigh Valley Health Network, will retire July 1. During his tenure, there have been major changes in health care, including implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the merger with the former Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, the formation of AllSpire Health Partners, the Optum Labs Research Collaborative and the transformation of the former Westfield Hospital in Allentown into LVHN-Tilghman, including the Center for Orthopedic Medicine.

The board named Brian A. Nester, D.O., LVHN's chief strategy officer, as acting president and CEO as of July 1. Swinfard and his wife plan to remain in the Lehigh Valley upon his retirement.

LVHN, UPHS Cancer Clinical Trials

Two immunotherapry drugs for skin cancer, the most common of all cancers, have been the subject of a recent clinical trial. Nivolumab and Ipilimumab, made by Bristol Myers Squibb, showed promise to fight melanoma when administered individually. The trial, to discover if there might be some clinical benefit if given sequentially, is being run by locally the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Suresh Nair, M.D., has been working with cancer patients and clinical trials for the last 24 years and is the senior medical director of academic oncology programs at LVHN. For him, getting clinical trials like this one at a community hospital is the culmination of a lifetime of work.

He said that the secret to getting high-level, highly sought after clinical trials lies in the strength of the team and the willingness of LVHN to put the necessary resources and time into creating a great cancer program. "This is just one clinical trial that we're part of, " said Nair. "We've had at least five other trials with Nivolumab and many more in the pipeline with drugs just as promising, each one as exciting as the next."