Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Corporation

WE HEAL, COMFORT AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ADVANCED AND COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE OF SUPERIOR QUALITY AND VALUE, SUPPORTED BY EDUCATION AND CLINICAL RESEARCH.

NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA HEALTH CORPORATION, D/B/A LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL-HAZLETON (LVH-H) IS PART OF LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK (LVHN), A MULTI-HOSPITAL SYSTEM LOCATED IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. LVH-H IS THE ONLY INPATIENT HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IN THE GREATER HAZLETON AREA SERVING A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 80,000-100,000 PEOPLE. WE OFFER QUALITY CONTINUUM OF CARE SERVICES BEGINNING AT BIRTH IN THE FAMILY BIRTH AND NEWBORN CENTER, ACUTE INPATIENT MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY SERVICES, INPATIENT REHAB AT THE GUNDERSON CENTER FOR INPATIENT REHABILITATION, HOME CARE SERVICES THROUGH LEHIGH VALLEY HOME CARE-HAZLETON, OUTPATIENT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REHAB SERVICES AT THE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER AT HAZLETON AND THE HEALTH CENTER AT MOUNTAIN TOP, AND OUTPATIENT CANCER TREATMENT AT THE LVHN CANCER CENTER-HAZLETON. LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP (LVPG), A SUBSIDIARY OF LVHN, IS A MULTI-SPECIALTY MEDICAL OUTPATIENT CARE PROVIDER. LVPG-HAZLETON (LVPGH) IS THE OUTPATIENT MEDICAL PROVIDER GROUP ALIGNED WITH LVHH. ADDITIONALLY, LVH-H HAS A ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT DELIVERS HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND HEALTH SCREENINGS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE COMMUNITY. WE DELIVER OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WITH COMPASSION AND HIGH STANDARDS OF QUALITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF GREATER HAZLETON REGARDLESS OF RACE, SEX, RELIGION OR ECONOMIC STATUS.COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER LVH-H ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER ON THE HOSPITAL CAMPUS. WHEN COMPLETED IN SPRING 2023, THE NEW 32,000 SQ. FT., $20 MILLION CANCER CENTER WILL HAVE THREE FLOORS AND INCLUDE MEDICAL HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY PHYSICIAN PRACTICES, AN INFUSION CENTER AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY SERVICES. CURRENTLY, INFUSION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT AN OFF-SITE MEDICAL OFFICE THAT IS QUICKLY OUTGROWING ITS SPACE, AND PATIENTS NEEDING RADIATION TREATMENT MUST TRAVEL TO OTHER LOCATIONS DUE TO A LACK OF THIS SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE NEED IS VERY CLEAR, AND THIS EXPANSION WILL ALLOW OUR PATIENTS TO RECEIVE MANY OF THEIR TREATMENTS IN A CENTRALIZED LOCATION WITHOUT THE NEED TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES.HOSPICE SERVICES LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPICE, A SERVICE OF LVHN, EXPANDED ITS REACH INTO THE HAZLETON MARKET WHERE INPATIENT HOSPICE CARE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. INPATIENT AND HOME CARE HOSPICE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM MODEL IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER PERSON-CENTERED CARE RATHER THAN DISEASE-CENTERED CARE AND TO PROVIDE COMFORT AND CARE TO TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED AND WELCOMED ADDITION TO THE HAZLETON SERVICE LINE.EMERGENCY/EMS SERVICESSINCE BECOMING A LEVEL IV TRAUMA CENTER ON NOV. 1, 2015, THE TRAUMA PROGRAM AT LVHH HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL CARE AND REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEATH OR DISABILITY TO INJURED PATIENTS WHO ENTER ITS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED). BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUED EFFORTS OF INCESSANTLY BEING PREPARED TO STABILIZE AND TREAT THE MOST SERIOUS LIFE-THREATENING AND DISABLING INJURIES PRIOR TO TRANSFER TO A LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER, THE PENNSYLVANIA TRAUMA SYSTEMS FOUNDATION (PTSF) HAS REACCREDITED LVH-HAZLETON AS A LEVEL IV TRAUMA CENTER FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THIS IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF YEARS A TRAUMA CENTER MAY BE ACCREDITED.LVHN EMS, A PART OF LVH-HAZLETON, PURCHASED A NEW FORD TRANSIT OSAGE TYPE II AMBULANCE. THIS AMBULANCE WILL ADD IMPROVED TRANSPORT CAPABILITIES AND SAFETY MEASURES FOR BOTH CREW AND PATIENT WITH A STRYKER MTS POWER LOAD/COT SYSTEM INCLUDED. AN EMS STUDENT PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED BY LVH-H IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT DURING A TIME OF EMT SHORTAGES. CANDIDATES ACCEPTED INTO THE EMS STUDENT PROGRAM BECAME EMPLOYED FULL-TIME AT LVHN EMS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME STUDYING TO BECOME EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS. LVHN EMS SPONSORED THE PROGRAM TUITION AND COMPENSATED STUDENTS WITH A BASE SALARY WHILE THEY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM.LVHN INTRODUCED ITS NEW EC-145 HELICOPTER, WHICH WILL BE CENTRALLY LOCATED IN A HANGAR AT THE HAZLETON REGIONAL AIRPORT. THIS NEW HELICOPTER ENHANCES THE CONTINUUM OF CARE IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS NEW MEDEVAC HELICOPTER WILL SERVE LUZERNE, SCHUYLKILL, MONROE AND CARBON COUNTIES. WITH A LARGER CABIN, PATIENTS WHO NORMALLY WOULD REQUIRE GROUND TRANSPORT DUE TO LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND CARE TEAM MEMBERS WHO NEED TO ACCOMPANY THEM, CAN NOW BE FLOWN TO TERTIARY CARE CENTERS. THIS INCLUDES OUR LITTLEST OF PATIENTS REQUIRING ADVANCED CARE AT LEHIGH VALLEY REILLY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AS WELL AS PATIENTS REQUIRING EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION, OR ECMO. IMAGING DIAGNOSTIC SERVICESTHE RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES FOR PATIENTS OF ALL AGES, 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK. RADIOLOGY SERVICES INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF EMERGENT, ACUTE, PREVENTATIVE, CONSULTATIVE, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC IMAGING TO PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY, SURGICAL, INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SETTINGS AT THE LVH-H HOSPITAL AND THE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER AT HAZLETON. GENERAL X-RAY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE HEALTH CENTER AT MOUNTAIN TOP. DURING FY 2021, THE LVHN CANCER INSTITUTE'S MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY COACH BEGAN PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE GREATER HAZLETON AREA TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE CARE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS. THE MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY COACH PROVIDES A WARM, WELCOMING, PRIVATE AND CONVENIENT WAY FOR PATIENTS TO RECEIVE A 3D SCREENING MAMMOGRAM. BREAST HEALTH SERVICES AT LVH-HAZLETON, PART OF THE LVHN CANCER INSTITUTE SERVICE LINE, EXPANDED BY ADDING A SECOND 3D MAMMOGRAPHY UNIT AT THE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER AT HAZLETON. THIS NEW UNIT ALSO HAS AN UPRIGHT STEREOTACTIC BREAST BIOPSY COMPONENT TO ALLOW FOR BETTER PATIENT COMFORT DURING A BIOPSY PROCEDURE. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND/OR UPGRADES INCLUDED:- NEW CT (128 SLICE) AT HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER- REPLACED FLUOROSCOPY ROOM AT HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER- ADDED BREVERA BREAST SPECIMEN EQUIPMENT AT HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER- IMPLEMENTED VENASEAL/SCLEROTHERAPY/STAB PHLEBECTOMY PROCEDURES AT LVH-HAZLETON- ADDED 3RD C-ARM AT LVH-HAZLETON BREAST ULTRASOUND ACCREDITATION WAS RENEWED, AND THE HOSPITAL RECEIVED ITS INITIAL AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY (ACR) ACCREDITATION IN ULTRASOUND-GUIDED BREAST BIOPSY. ORTHOPEDIC AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICESLVHN ACQUIRED COORDINATED HEALTH, A REGIONAL LEADER IN ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE, IN 2019. IN FY 21, LVH-H, LVPG-H AND COORDINATED HEALTH HAZLETON LOCATION BEGAN PLANNING FOR OPERATIONAL AND CLINICAL MUSCULOSKELETAL AND OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE INTEGRATION TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR PATIENTS.

QUALITYQUALITY HEALTH CARE IS CARE THAT IS SAFE, EFFECTIVE, PATIENT-CENTERED, TIMELY, EFFICIENT, AND EQUITABLE. AT LVHN, OUR MISSION IS TO HEAL, COMFORT AND CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS DONE THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH ALL LEVELS OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. STANDARD OF CARE AND BEST PRACTICES ARE ALWAYS THE GOAL. IN FY 2021, LVHH RECEIVED AN "A" GRADE ON THE HOSPITAL SAFETY GRADE REPORT FROM THE LEAPFROG GROUP FOR SPRING 2021. THIS REFLECTS THE COMMITMENT OF OUR COLLEAGUES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR PATIENTS. THE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND ACCREDITATION PROGRAM (HFAP) GRANTED THE HOSPITAL FULL ACCREDITATION FOR THREE YEARS THROUGH JANUARY 2024. HFAP ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID (CMS) APPROVE DEEMED STATUS FOR OUR ACUTE CARE FACILITY AND OFF-SITE CAMPUSES.THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY AWARDED A THREE-YEAR CHEST PAIN CENTER ACCREDITATION TO LVH-H. THIS CHEST PAIN ACCREDITATION DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN CARDIOVASCULAR QUALITY FOR PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITIES SERVE.LVH-H'S SLEEP LAB SERVICE RECEIVED FULL ACCREDITATION BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF SLEEP MEDICINE (AASM). STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION HAVE BEEN THE GOLD STANDARD BY WHICH THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC EVALUATE SLEEP MEDICINE FACILITIES. ACHIEVING AASM ACCREDITATION DEMONSTRATES A SLEEP MEDICINE PROVIDER'S COMMITMENT TO HIGH QUALITY, PATIENT-CENTERED CARE THROUGH ADHERENCE TO THESE STANDARDS.THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OF PA (HAP) RECOGNIZED LVH-H FOR EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT SAFETY. THE HAP EXCELLENCE IN PATIENT SAFETY RECOGNITION PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY AMONG PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITALS BY RECOGNIZING THE TOP PERFORMING HOSPITALS THAT HAVE REDUCED HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS (HAI). WITH REGARDS TO STROKE AND HEART FAILURE CARE, LVHHAZLETON WAS RECOGNIZED WITH THE GET WITH THE GUIDELINES STROKE GOLD PLUS AWARD AND GOLD PLUS HEART FAILURE AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN HEART/STROKE ASSOCIATION FOR THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. WE WERE ALSO RECOGNIZED ON THE TARGET: STROKE AND HEART FAILURE HONOR ROLL. HOSPITALS EARNED THE AWARD BY MEETING SPECIFIC QUALITY ACHIEVEMENT MEASURES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF STROKE PATIENTS AT A SET LEVEL FOR A DESIGNATED PERIOD. THESE MEASURES INCLUDE EVALUATION OF THE PROPER USE OF MEDICATIONS AND OTHER STROKE TREATMENTS ALIGNED WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE, EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDELINES WITH THE GOAL OF SPEEDING RECOVERY AND REDUCING DEATH AND DISABILITY FOR STROKE PATIENTS. BEFORE DISCHARGE, PATIENTS ALSO RECEIVE EDUCATION ON MANAGING THEIR HEALTH, GET A FOLLOW-UP VISIT SCHEDULED, AS WELL AS OTHER CARE TRANSITION INTERVENTIONS.LVH-H ADDITIONALLY RECEIVED RECOGNITION AS PART OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S TARGET: TYPE 2 DIABETES HONOR ROLL. TO QUALIFY FOR THIS RECOGNITION, HOSPITALS MUST MEET QUALITY MEASURES DEVELOPED WITH MORE THAN 90% OF COMPLIANCE FOR 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS FOR THE "OVERALL DIABETES CARDIOVASCULAR INITIATIVE COMPOSITE SCORE."LVH-H WAS AWARDED KEYSTONE 10 INITIATIVE DESIGNATION, A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT BREASTFEEDING INITIATIVE DEVELOPED BY THE PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AIMED AT IMPROVING THE PROTECTION, PROMOTION AND SUPPORT OF BREASTFEEDING FOR ALL PENNSYLVANIA INFANTS, MOTHERS AND FAMILIES. TECHNOLOGY AS TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED, THE WAYS HEALTH CARE CAN BE PROVIDED HAVE CHANGED AND ADVANCED TOO. AT LVH-H, PATIENTS ARE BENEFITING FROM SECURE TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ACCESS AND RECEIVE QUALITY, SPECIALIZED CARE CONVENIENTLY. TELEHEALTH SERVICES AT LVH-H NOW INCLUDE: ADVANCED INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (AICU), INFECTIOUS DISEASE, NEUROLOGY, BURN AND TOXICOLOGY. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, LVH-H WAS GRANTED APPROVAL BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE TELE-PSYCHIATRY FOR INPATIENTS AND OUTPATIENTS THROUGH THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, TELEHEALTH FOR MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH FOR PALLIATIVE CARE.LVH-H'S FAMILY BIRTH AND NEWBORN CENTER HAS RECENTLY INSTALLED A NEW AND INNOVATIVE INFANT SAFETY SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY CERTASCAN TECHNOLOGIES. THE PROPRIETARY SYSTEM ALLOWS THE HOSPITAL TO CAPTURE HIGH RESOLUTION NEWBORN FOOTPRINTS WHICH CAN BE USED FOR PRECISE IDENTIFICATION IN SITUATIONS LIKE AN ABDUCTION, LOST BABY OR NATURAL DISASTER. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH AND VIRTUAL OFFICES VISITS IN THE HOSPITAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH THESE SERVICES PATIENTS WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE CONSULTATIONS AND PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CARE WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR HOMES. THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THE MITIGATION EFFORTS PUT IN PLACE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) WAS CONDUCTED IN 2019. BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE ASSESSMENT, PRIORITY AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED. SPECIFIC INITIATIVES WERE DEVELOPED AROUND THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS:BEHAVIORAL HEALTH -ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PREVENTION, COORDINATION, COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION -DECREASE RISK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO ADDICTION TREATMENT INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY -LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION -SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURALLY COMPETENT ORGANIZATIONHEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION -PROMOTE FREE AND LOW-COST HEALTH-CARE SCREENINGS IN COMMUNITIES WITH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONSSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH -IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH FOOD AND REDUCE OBESITY RATES IN OUR COMMUNITIESCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTLVH-H HELD ITS FIRST FREE COMMUNITY DRIVE-THRU FLU SHOT CLINIC IN FY 2021. THE CLINIC PROVIDED OVER 200 FREE VACCINES AND WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY. WHILE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE FACE-TO-FACE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, LVHHAZLETON CONTINUED TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO INTERACT AND INFORM OUR PUBLIC. HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE WAYS:- VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS BY HOSPITAL PRESIDENT TO VARIOUS CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS.- VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCES.- VIRTUAL QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.- PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, INDUSTRIES AND SCHOOLS TO DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON COVID-19 AND OTHER SERVICES.- EXPERT GUEST APPEARANCES (VIRTUAL) ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL TV SHOWS.- PATIENT TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.- FEATURED STORIES IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER.- LVH-H INTRODUCED THE VITALCHOICE PROGRAM. BUILDING ON THE HOSPITAL'S 30-YEAR-STRONG SENIOR CHOICE PROGRAM, WITH ITS CLOSE TO 400 MEMBERS, THE NEWLY NAMED AND ENHANCED VITALCHOICE PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO SENIORS AGE 60. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP MEMBERS IN THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNEY BY PROVIDING THEM WITH MORE CHOICES, SERVICES, CONVENIENCE AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM FEATURES A FITNESS CENTER DISCOUNT, ENROLLMENT IN SILVER SNEAKERS (IF INSURANCE APPLIES), FREE ANNUAL WELLNESS ASSESSMENT, COMPLIMENTARY PERSONALIZED TRAINING SESSION, FREE LUNCH AND LEARN SESSIONS AND MORE. VITALCHOICE ALSO KEEPS MEMBERS ENGAGED AND ACTIVE THROUGH SOCIAL AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS PICNICS, BUS TRIPS AND OTHER SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. - LVPG-H ESTABLISHED THE "REACH OUT AND READ" PROGRAM, A NATIONAL PEDIATRIC LITERACY MODEL ENDORSED BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS. THE PROGRAM FOSTERS PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS AND CHILDREN'S LITERACY SKILLS, ENCOURAGING THE LOVE OF READING. DURING WELL VISITS FOR CHILDREN THROUGH THE AGE OF FIVE, A NEW AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK IS GIVEN TO THE CHILD TO TAKE HOME.- ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY EVENTS WERE ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, LVH-HAZLETON WAS STILL ABLE TO FINANCIALLY SPONSOR EVENTS, SOME OF WHICH WERE HELD VIRTUALLY. LVH-HAZLETON FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE HELPING OUR COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT PARTNERS WHO WERE STRUGGLING TO SERVE THEIR CLIENTS.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESPONSE THE PRIMARY FOCUS IN FY 2021 WAS THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC. THE CITY OF HAZLETON QUICKLY BECAME A HOT SPOT FOR CORONAVIRUS IN LUZERNE COUNTY, AS WELL AS ONE OF PENNSYLVANIA'S TOP HOT SPOTS, SO EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY BECAME A MAJOR FOCUS FOR LVH-H IN ORDER TO FLATTEN THE CURVE. HAZLETON'S POPULATION IS OVER 50 PERCENT HISPANIC AND MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WORK IN THE LARGE INDUSTRIAL PARKS. THEREIN LAID TWO MAJOR STUMBLING BLOCKS IN EFFORTS TO FLATTEN THE CURVE, LANGUAGE BARRIER AND INDUSTRIAL PLANTS THAT CONTINUED TO OPERATE. LVH-H IMPLEMENTED THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:LVH-H BECAME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE NEWLY FORMED GREATER HAZLETON COVID-19 TASK FORCE THAT MET REGULARLY TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, LEGISLATORS, EDUCATORS AND LVHN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.LVH-H IMPLEMENTED A DAILY STATUS CALL WITH AREA STATE LEGISLATORS, LOCAL MAYORS, COUNTY MANAGER, THE HAZLETON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UNITED WAY OF GREATER HAZLETON AND LVH-H PHYSICIAN AND SENIOR LEADERS. THESE CALLS HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN SOLICITING THE HELP OF THE COUNTY AND STATE AND HAZLETON RECEIVED THEIR FULL ATTENTION AND ASSISTANCE. HERE ARE SOME OF THE RESULTS OF THIS TEAM: - EDUCATED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS IN THE GREATER HAZLETON AREA.- DEVELOPED STRATEGIES IN INCREASE SOCIAL DISTANCING INCLUDING:--IMPLEMENTED A NIGHT CURFEW IN HAZLETON, WEST HAZLETON AND HAZLE TOWNSHIP.--IDENTIFIED HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COVID PATIENTS WHO LIVE IN MULTI-FAMILY HOUSES TO ISOLATE THEM UNTIL THEY HAVE RECOVERED. --IMPLEMENTED DELIVERY SERVICE OF GROCERY AND PHARMACY ITEMS TO DISCHARGED COVID PATIENTS WHO STILL NEED TO BE ISOLATED IN THEIR HOMES. --IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL INTERPRETATION SERVICES/INTERPRETER RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH OUR HISPANIC PATIENTS.- DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION PLAN TARGETED TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THEM ON COVID-19 AND HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD. THE TACTICS INCLUDED EMAIL BLASTS, SOCIAL MEDIA, PRINT MEDIA, DIGITAL BILLBOARDS, DIGITAL ROAD SIGNS, VIDEOS AND INTERVIEWS WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, ALL PROVIDED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.- SERIOUS CONCERNS WERE IDENTIFIED DUE TO THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF HISPANICS TESTING POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS, MANY OF WHICH WORKED IN THE SURROUNDING INDUSTRIAL PARKS. WORKING WITH THE LOCAL CHAMBER, LVH-H LED A SERIES OF TELECONFERENCES WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES TO EDUCATE THEM ON PROPER CDC REGULATIONS FOR CORONAVIRUS. PLANT INSPECTIONS WERE CONDUCTED TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE, SOME PLANTS CLOSED FOR CLEANING, OTHERS INITIATED PHYSICAL DISTANCING PROCEDURES AND CONDUCTED THERMAL TEMPERATURES ON EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS.- WITH REGARD TO INPATIENT SERVICES, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS MET DAILY WITH THE HEALTH NETWORK'S (LVHN) COVID-19 COMMAND CENTER AND REFINED THE INPATIENT SURGE PLAN BASED ON REAL-TIME INFORMATION. THE LVH-H CRITICAL CARE SURGE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED TO ACCOMMODATE AN INFLUX OF PATIENTS ABOVE WHAT OUR ICU CAN ACCOMMODATE. STAFF MEMBERS FROM MOSTLY OUTPATIENT SERVICES WERE IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE SURGE PLAN AND RECEIVED JUST-IN-TIME EPIC/COMPETENCY TRAINING.- LVH-HAZLETON OPENED A COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC AT THE HOSPITAL IN DECEMBER 2021 AND CONTINUES TO HOLD THESE CLINICS WEEKLY AT THE HOSPITAL AND NOW AT SOME LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP-HAZLETON OFFICE SITES. IN ADDITION, LVHN COVID-19 MOBILE VACCINE CLINIC TEAMS WORKED WITH LVH-HAZLETON TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN THE GREATER HAZLETON COMMUNITY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19. THE MOBILE TEAM BROUGHT VACCINES TO AREA SCHOOLS, INDUSTRIES, LOW-INCOME HOUSING COMPLEXES AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE ABOVE COVID INTERACTIONS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT FY 2021 AS THE SECOND AND THIRD WAVES HIT OUR COMMUNITY.