Lehigh Valley Health Network

Newest da Vinci program in use

Lehigh Valley Health Network surgeons are the first in the region to use the latest model of the Intuitive Surgical Inc. da Vinci Surgical Systems. The da Vinci Xi robotic and computer-assisted instruments’ 3D-HD visualization, intuitive motion and mechanical wrists allowing a surgeon to make smaller, more precise movements. The minimally invasive approach reduces the chance of surgical complications and lessens costs.

LVHN now has a total eight da Vinci robots at five of its network hospitals. Since the program’s start in 2008, more than 10,000 robotic procedures for complex diseases and conditions in gynecology, urology, thoracic, cardiac and general surgery have been completed.

For more information, visit intuitivesurgical.com.

Neonatal intensive care unit reclassified

The neonatal intensive care unit at Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest was reclassified recently as a level IV unit, according to standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

AAP level IV classification reflects a facility’s ability to provide immediate, on-site pediatric surgery, pediatric anesthesia and pediatric medical specialists for complex and congenital conditions, in addition to the services of a level III unit.

Since it began in 2000, the NICU at LVH - Cedar Crest has grown from 18 beds to 40 beds and treats 650 premature or critically ill newborns each year. The unit had been classified as level III by providing specialty care for large volumes of infants born at less than 32 weeks gestation, or with complex medical or surgical needs.

The network also operates a level II NICU at LVH-Muhlenberg and a level III NICU at LVH-Pocono. Both units have urgent access to the medical and surgical subspecialists, as well as the neonatologists at LVH-Cedar Crest via the neonatal transport team.

LVHN earns ‘Most Wired’ awards

LVHN earned three awards for the “Most Wired” hospitals in the U.S. for 2017 by Hospitals and Health Networks magazine, a publication of the American Hospital Association for the 12th consecutive year.

The network’s winning Most Wired award categories are Advanced, for meeting the advanced criteria in all areas of the Most Wired survey; Innovator, for the electronic health record-supported daily hospital huddle; and Most Improved, for technological advancement at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono.

To earn these awards, LVHN achieved high marks on a survey that examines how organizations leverage information technology to improve performance for value-based health care in the areas of infrastructure, clinical integration, quality and safety, and business and administrative management.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network

Ekso Bionics center of excellence

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, Allentown, has been named as one of four Centers of Robotic Excellence facilities by Ekso Bionics, a leader in exoskeleton technology for medical and industrial use.

GSRH will gather clinical evidence and measurable results and create research protocols for proving standards of care for exoskeletons in rehabilitation.

The original Ekso device was first used with GSRH spinal cord patients in 2012, The facility currently has three devices in continuous use.

Good Shepherd therapists have participated in seven weddings in which the bride, groom and/or father-of-the-bride were using the device; and one graduation. For more information, visit www.goodshepherdrehab.org.

St. Luke’s Health Network

App helps moms stay organized and informed

St. Luke’s University Health Network now offers the St. Luke’s Baby & Me mobile app to help pregnant and new moms stay informed and healthy throughout the stages of pregnancy, labor, birth and newborn care.

The mobile app’s launch coincides with the opening of the new St. Luke’s Baby & Me Support Center at 1425 Eighth Ave.

The app is available for download now in the iPhone App Store for Apple users and on Google Play for Android users.