Lehigh Valley Physician Group

OUR MISSION IS TO 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 RESEARCH.

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND:THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP (LVPG) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1993 AS AN AFFILIATE OF LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK (LVHN). AS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WHICH SUPPORTS BOTH LVHN AND LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL (LVH), LVPG HAS DEVELOPED PHYSICIAN PRACTICES IN THE CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS OF FAMILY MEDICINE, MEDICINE, OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY, PEDIATRICS, PSYCHIATRY, SURGERY, AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE. WITH A CURRENT SIZE OF ABOUT 900 PHYSICIANS AND OVER 500 ADVANCED PRACTICE CLINICIANS, THE ENTIRE MEDICAL GROUP OPERATES AS A SINGLE ENTITY WITH SERVICES PROVIDED AT OVER 160 LOCATIONS. IMPORTANTLY, LVPG PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY COMMUNITY, CARING FOR OVER 50% OF THE POPULATION. LVPG PROVIDED OVER 2.6 MILLION VISITS TO OUR PATIENTS. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIZES THE MEDICAL SPECIALTIES OFFERED ACROSS LVPG: ADOLESCENT MEDICINE, ADVANCED SPINE, CONCUSSION, HEAD TRAUMA, BARIATRIC MEDICINE, BARIATRIC SURGERY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BURN SURGERY AND WOUND CARE, GENERAL CARDIOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY-ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY, CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE, EAR / NOSE / THROAT MEDICINE, CONCUSSION CARE, CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, ENDOCRINOLOGY/METABOLISM/DIABETES, EXPRESS CARE/WALK IN, FAMILY MEDICINE, GENERAL AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY, GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE (AMBULATORY & HOSPITALISTS), GERIATRICS, GYNECOLOGY, GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE, NEONATOLOGY, NEPHROLOGY, NEUROLOGY, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, NEUROSURGERY, OBSTETRICS, OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE, OPHTHALMOLOGY, OPTOMETRY, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY, PAIN MANAGEMENT, PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, GENERAL PEDIATRICS, PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY, PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY, PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY, PEDIATRIC HOSPITALISTS, PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE, PEDIATRIC INTENSIVISTS, PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY, PEDIATRIC NEONATOLOGY, PEDIATRIC PLASTIC SURGERY, PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, PEDIATRIC UROLOGY, PLASTIC SURGERY, PHYSIATRY, PSYCHIATRY - CHILD & ADOLESCENT, GENERAL PSYCHIATRY, PULMONOLOGY, RHEUMATOLOGY, SLEEP MEDICINE, SPORTS MEDICINE, SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, TOXICOLOGY, TRAUMA SURGERY, TRANSPLANT SURGERY, UROGYNECOLOGY, UROLOGY, AND VASCULAR SURGERY.LVPG HAS PARTICIPATED FOR SIX YEARS IN A TRACK 1 MEDICARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM (MSSP). OUR MSSP ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION (ACO) IS COMPRISED OF OVER 42,000 MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES. WE PERFORMED BETTER THAN BENCHMARK OUR FIRST TWO YEARS IN THE PROGRAM, WITH SHARED SAVINGS IN PROGRAM YEAR ONE AND QUALITY SCORES CONSISTENTLY OVER 90%. THROUGH THIS, OUR MEDICAL GROUP HAS DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO REALIZE THE TRIPLE AIM AS MEASURED THROUGH A CMS LENS.PATIENT CARE PROGRAMS:LVPG OFFERS A CONTINUUM OF HEALTH CARE PROMOTION, PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. EXTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND ARE A PART OF A HEALTHCARE NETWORK ESTABLISHED BY LVPG TO MEET THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND BEYOND. LVPG SERVES AS A MULTISPECIALTY PHYSICIAN GROUP, ACCEPTING REFERRALS FROM AN AREA POPULATED BY APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION RESIDENTS OF SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. IN CENTER CITY ALLENTOWN, OUR 17TH STREET CAMPUS PROVIDES DEDICATED SERVICE AND CARE DELIVERY TO OUR UNDERSERVED POPULATION. WITH OVER 70% OF THE PATIENT POPULATION UN/UNDER-INSURED, THESE PRACTICES PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE TO PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE PEDIATRIC CHILDREN'S CLINIC CARES FOR OVER 25,000 CHILDREN, AND NOT ONLY PROVIDES HEALTHCARE BUT SUPPORTIVE OUTREACH THROUGH WELL INTEGRATED SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES. OTHER 17TH STREET PRACTICES INCLUDE INTERNAL MEDICINE, FAMILY MEDICINE, OB/GYN, AN HIV-FOCUSED OFFICE, HEPATITIS C CLINIC, A MEDICAL SPECIALTIES PRACTICE AND A WELLNESS CENTER. THROUGHOUT FY21, FIVE OF THESE PRACTICES TRANSFORMED INTO A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC) THAT IS NOW CALLED VALLEY HEALTH PARTNERS. THEIR WORK REMAINS TIGHTLY CONNECTED WITH LVHN AND LVPG. THE WORK OF THE VALLEY HEALTH PARTNERS FQHC WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY EVEN GREATER IN YEARS TO COME. COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE LVPG RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE AND IMPACTFUL FOR BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, LVPG QUICKLY TRANSITIONED ITS CLINICAL FOOTPRINT TO INCLUDE VIRTUAL CARE OFFERINGS, THROUGH VIDEO VISITS, PHONE VISITS AND E-VISITS. THESE MODALITIES REACHED A PEAK VOLUME EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, COMPRISING UP TO 75% OF ALL AMBULATORY HEALTHCARE DELIVERY. OVER TIME, THIS NEW CARE DELIVERY MODEL HAS BEEN INTEGRATED THROUGHOUT OUR CLINICAL PRACTICE. THE AVERAGE VIRTUAL CARE VISIT VOLUME CAPTURE RATE IN FY21 WAS 14%. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, LVPG HAS NOT WAIVERED IN SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH FACE TO FACE VISITS WHEN NEEDED. IN ADDITION TO THE VIRTUAL VISIT OFFERINGS DIRECT FROM LVPG CLINICIANS, THE LVPG WORKFORCE AND PRACTICE TEAM WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR HOSPITAL SITES TO DELIVER VACCINES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. THE LVPG EFFORTS ADMINISTERED OVER 31,000 COVID-19 VACCINES TO PATIENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR CLINICS. THESE CLINICS SUPPORTED AREAS OF OUR PATIENT POPULATION ACROSS ALL REGIONS WE SERVE. OVERALL, IT SUPPORTED THE LARGER LVHN VACCINE DELIVERY MODEL, WHICH DELIVERED OVER 438,000 VACCINES TOTAL TO DATE TO OUR COMMUNITY.CANCER SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE MEDICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY CANCER INSTITUTE, COMPRISED OF 5 HOSPITAL LOCATIONS WITH 110 INFUSION BAYS, 3 RADIATION THERAPY DEPARTMENTS WITH 8 LINEAR ACCELERATORS, AND BREAST HEALTH SERVICES IN 6 HEALTH CENTERS AND ONE MOBILE COACH. THE CANCER INSTITUTE OFFERS A RANGE OF CANCER SERVICES IN ONE CONVENIENT, PATIENT-FOCUSED LOCATION. CANCER CARE PROGRAMS INCLUDE PREVENTION, DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY, CLINICAL TRIALS, REHABILITATION AND THE EVALUATION OF CANCER-RELATED CARE. INFUSION SERVICES ARE NOW OFFERED CONSISTENTLY ACROSS THE REGION WE SERVE, INCLUDING IN THE NEWLY OPENED HECKTOWN OAKS LOCATION. THERE ARE OVER 150 CLINICAL TRIALS OPEN FOR ACCRUAL, WITH 403 ADULT ACCRUALS AND 36 PEDIATRIC ACCRUALS IN 2020 BY 30 DIFFERENT PHYSICIAN PROVIDERS. THE GREGORY & LORRAINE HARPER CANCER RISK AND GENETIC ASSESSMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR ONCOLOGY PATIENTS WITH INCREASING PATIENT VOLUMES YEAR OVER YEAR. SOCIAL WORKER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ALL PATIENTS, WITH THE GREATEST REFERRALS FOR TRANSPORTATION, PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH / SUBSTANCE ABUSE REFERRALS AND GRANT FUNDING SUPPORT. DURING COVID, STRONG COLLABORATION OCCURRED WITH INFECTION CONTROL AND LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT FOR COVID-POSITIVE PATIENTS.CARDIAC SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE THE MEDICAL LEADERSHIP OVER THE LVHN HEART INSTITUTE, INCLUDING GENERAL AND INVASIVE CARDIOLOGY, HEART STATION, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, CARDIO THORACIC SURGERY AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE. IN ADDITION, OUR CARDIOLOGISTS SERVE AS PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND CORE FACULTY FOR THE LVHN CARDIOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. IN FY21, AN AMBULATORY HEART FAILURE PATHWAY WAS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A SERIES OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ACROSS PRIMARY CARE AND CARDIOLOGY, WITH INPUT FROM INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CLINICIANS. THE GOALS OF THE PATHWAY ARE TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AND DECREASE COMPLICATIONS; TO REDUCE ADMISSIONS AND READMISSIONS FOR HEART FAILURE; AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS BEING DISCHARGED DIRECTLY TO HOME FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. EXTENSIVE EFFORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN FOCUSED AROUND OPTIMIZING OUR PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE THAT ARE DISCHARGED, TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE TRANSITIONS OF CARE AND MITIGATION OF READMISSIONS.THROUGHOUT FY21, THE TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT (TAVR) PROGRAM HAS INCREASED BY 25% COMPARED TO FY20. THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL IMPLANT RATE OF 99.3% WITH 0% INPATIENT MORTALITY. THE PRACTICES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OPTIMIZING ACCESS BY REDUCING NEW PATIENT LEAD TIME AND INCREASING PROVIDER CAPACITY.

PEDIATRIC SERVICES:LVPG PEDIATRICS STAFFS THE LEHIGH VALLEY REILLY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WHICH PROVIDES SPECIALTY CARE, AS WELL AS PRIMARY CARE IN THE AMBULATORY SETTING. WE PROVIDE OVER 30 PEDIATRIC SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY AND PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY. THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER IS AVAILABLE 24/7/365, WITH ONGOING PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENT IN CLINICAL PATHWAYS. CHILDHOOD OBESITY HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, AND ABOUT 1 IN 3 PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AT LVHN IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS, INCLUDING HEALTHY EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, CAN LOWER THE RISK OF BECOMING OBESE AND DEVELOPING RELATED DISEASE. AN AMBULATORY CARE PATHWAY FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY WAS IMPLEMENTED FY19, WITH ONGOING OPTIMIZATION SINCE THAT TIME. IN ADDITION, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE ROLLED OUT ACROSS AMBULATORY GENERAL PEDIATRICS, WITH AN EMBEDDED THERAPIST IN THE PRACTICES. THEIR FOCUS IS ON DEPRESSION SCREENING, DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS OF PATIENTS WITH BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS, SHORT TERM EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FOR COMMON BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AND EVALUATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES IMPACTING EXISTING CARE PLANS. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS, WITH ONGOING EXPANSION PLANNED. OUR LVPG PEDIATRICIANS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH HAS SEEN MANY CHILDREN NAVIGATING THE SCHOOL LANDSCAPE. THEY HAVE BEEN STRONG PARTNERS TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY VIA TESTING, VACCINATION AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORTS.PALLIATIVE MEDICINE AND HOSPICE:LVPG PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS PROVIDE SERVICES ACROSS THE CARE CONTINUUM TO IMPROVE PATIENT, FAMILY AND PROVIDER SATISFACTION, DECREASED HOSPITAL READMISSIONS AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED ILLNESSES. THE PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM IS CALLED OACIS (OPTIMIZING ADVANCED COMPLEX ILLNESS SUPPORT) AND CONSISTS OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS THAT TRAVEL TO PATIENTS' HOMES FOR CARE. WE ALSO CARE FOR PATIENTS AT THE END OF LIFE IN COORDINATION WITH HOSPICE & HOMECARE SERVICES. THE TEAM SPENDS TIME ENSURING PATIENTS ARE SUPPORTED WITH CARE THAT ALIGNS WITH THEIR MEDICAL AND PERSONAL GOALS; PROMOTING THE HIGHEST QUALITY EXPERIENCE AND LIFE POSSIBLE.OVER THE PAST FY, EFFORTS WERE ALSO FOCUSED AROUND ADVANCED CARE PLANNING (ACP) AND SERIOUS ILLNESS CONVERSATION. OVER 4,100 PATIENTS HAD ACP DOCUMENTATION ADDED TO THEIR MEDICAL RECORD OVER THE PAST YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, 30 CLINICIANS WERE TRAINED ON GOALS OF CARE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS. INTERNAL MEDICINE AND FAMILY MEDICINE PRIMARY CARE:LVPG PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED CARE TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN THE SETTING OF PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOMES. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CARE AT THE TIME OF NEED, FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND CHRONIC ILLNESS MANAGEMENT AND PROVIDE COORDINATION BETWEEN SPECIALIST AND SERVICE. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CANCER INSTITUTE, FAMILY MEDICINE LEADERSHIP HAS SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO DEVELOP WORKFLOW AND PROCESSES TO IMPROVE LUNG CANCER AND COLON CANCER SCREENING RATES. WORK ON LUNG CANCER SCREENING HAS BEEN A FOCUS OF OUR PRACTICE BASED RESEARCH NETWORK TEAM, WITH ONGOING COLLABORATION AND EXPANSION THROUGHOUT FY21. LVPG WAS AWARDED A 3-YEAR PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CURE GRANT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF A CENTRALIZED LUNG CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM. DIABETES MANAGEMENT: THROUGH ONGOING COLLABORATION AND NETWORK SUPPORT, LVPG HAS IMPLEMENTED A DIABETES PATHWAY ACROSS ALL AMBULATORY ADULT PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES. THIS PATHWAY HAS HELPED OUR CLINICIANS' PARTNER WITH PATIENTS BETTER TO IMPROVE TESTING AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR DIABETES. OUR MOST RECENT FY21 DATA HAS DEMONSTRATED ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS IN DIABETES CARE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, WITH CURRENT PERFORMANCE THE BEST REGARDING PATIENT MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES. LINKAGE TO ADDICTION TREATMENT & OPIOID STEWARDSHIP: IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY, HEALTH NETWORKS AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO INTEGRATE PRIMARY CARE TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) AS A RELIABLE ACCESS POINT FOR CARE. PRIOR TO 2020, ONLY ONE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER AND TWO OBSTETRICIANS OFFERED MEDICATIONS FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT (MAT) FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THE LEHIGH VALLEY PACMAT, INITIATED IN JANUARY 2020, MOBILIZED LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK (LVHN) LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGED 14 PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO EVIDENCE-BASED, PRIMARY CARE ADDICTION MEDICINE. THE PACMAT HUB PROVIDED GUIDANCE FOR PRACTICES AND CLINICIANS NEW TO PRIMARY CARE ADDICTION MEDICINE AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 INDIVIDUALS WHO NEEDED HELP NAVIGATING NEW SYSTEMS. THE HUB WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH LVPG MEDICAL TOXICOLOGISTS TO TRANSITION PATIENTS AFTER BUPRENORPHINE INDUCTION IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND INPATIENT HOSPITAL SETTINGS TO WELL PREPARED, PRIMARY CARE HOMES FOR LONG-TERM MEDICATION MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THE LVHN DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE ESTABLISHED THE PRIMARY CARE ADDICTION MEDICINE AND INCLUSION HEALTH PROGRAM (PCAM/IH) THAT WAS DESIGNATED AS A PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR OPIOID USE DISORDERS IN JANUARY OF 2021. THE PCAM/IH TEAM, NOW INCLUDING CERTIFIED RECOVERY SPECIALISTS (CRSS), HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BASED CARE MANAGEMENT WHILE DEVELOPING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO MAXIMIZE REACH AND IMPACT. PCAM/IH, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE LVHN COMMUNITY HEALTH TRANSFORMATION CHAIR FUND, WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT KEY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS DURING COVID-19 SHUT DOWN. THE RELATIONSHIPS BUILT DURING CRISIS NOW SUPPORT A "VILLAGE" APPROACH TO COLLABORATION, WHERE ORGANIZATIONS WORK TOGETHER TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS. PCAM/IH ALSO CONVENED THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (RCLC), WITH 14 MEMBERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, REPRESENTING EIGHT COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY VOICES SHAPE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRIMARY CARE INTEGRATED MODEL BASED ON SAFETY, TRUST, RESPECT AND DIGNITY. NOW, PCAM/IH IS WELL POSITIONED TO RENEW EFFORTS TO ENGAGE AND STRENGTHEN PRIMARY CARE AND OB/GYN SPOKES, PROMOTE A PARADIGM SHIFT TOWARD HARM REDUCTION AND DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES FOR LOW BARRIER ACCESS TO MAT AND INTEGRATED PRIMARY CARE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND NORTHERN TIER SERVICE AREAS. NEUROSCIENCES SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR STROKE, BRAIN TUMORS, ANEURYSMS, SPINE DISORDERS AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: NEUROSURGERY, PAIN MANAGEMENT, NEUROLOGY, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, NEURO-IMAGING, AND NEURO-ONCOLOGY. IN APRIL 2019, LVH LAUNCHED THE FIRST MOBILE STROKE UNIT (MSU) IN PENNSYLVANIA. AN MSU ALLOWS STROKE PATIENTS TO BEGIN RAPID TREATMENT BEFORE HOSPITAL ARRIVAL, SUCH AS INITIATING CLOT BUSTING MEDICATION OR REVERSING COAGULOPATHY. THE AVAILABILITY OF NEUROIMAGING WILL ALLOW PRECISE TRIAGE AND ROUTING TO APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF STROKE CENTER AND PREVENT INTRA-FACILITY TRANSPORTS CURRENTLY DELAYING ARRIVAL TO THE COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTER.IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE SERVICES, PROGRAMS INCLUDE A NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE PROGRAM, AN ALS CENTER, A NEUROIMMUNOLOGY / MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PROGRAM, AN EPILEPSY PROGRAM AND MONITORING UNIT, A HEADACHE CENTER, MOVEMENT DISORDERS PROGRAM, GENERAL NEUROLOGY PROGRAM AND MULTIPLE SUBSPECIALTY MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS INCLUDING NEUROCARDIOLOGY AND NEUROLOGY IN PREGNANCY. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE MEDICAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE LVH ACUTE CARE INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS IN LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON, CARBON, MONROE, SCHUYLKILL, AND BERKS COUNTIES BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS AND PROVIDES INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN ALL CLINICAL AREAS. AMONG THE AREAS OF FOCUS WERE THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE, INCLUDING INTERNAL SUICIDAL PREVENTION PATHWAYS, MITIGATION OF LIGATURE RISK, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND MEDICAL-SURGICAL UNITS. LVPG PHYSICIANS ALSO PROVIDE AMBULATORY CARE IN THESE SETTINGS: - PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM OVERSIGHT FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS- OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC FOR THE CHRONICALLY AND SEVERELY ILL- SHORT-TERM, OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES- RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM TEACHING INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TO THE CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL- EMERGENCY SERVICES- MENTAL HEALTH AND HOME CARE SERVICES- TELE-PSYCHIATRY: ACHIEVED UP TO 100% VIRTUAL CARE THROUGHOUT FY20 AND CONTINUES TO RUN AROUND 50%. IN FY21, AND THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, ONGOING HIGH LEVELS OF VIRTUAL CARE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED.

SURGERY SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS, ADVANCED PRACTICE CLINICIANS AND ALLIED HEALTH PROVIDERS PERFORM COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED SURGICAL CARE AND PROVIDE SERVICES IN SPECIALTIES SUCH AS: BARIATRIC SURGERY, BURN SURGERY, CARDIAC AND THORACIC SURGERY, GENERAL SURGERY, NEUROSURGERY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY, OTOLARYNGOLOGY, PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, PEDIATRIC UROLOGY, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, TRANSPLANT SURGERY, TRAUMA SURGERY, UROLOGY AND VASCULAR SURGERY. IN ADDITION, OUR SURGEONS SERVE AS PROGRAM DIRECTORS AND CORE FACULTY FOR THE GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY PROGRAM. IN THE PAST YEAR, SURGICAL VOLUMES AT LVH AND LVH-M WAS 45,259 CASES. TRANSPLANT SURGERY PROGRAM:OVER THIS PAST YEAR THERE WERE OVER 100 ORGAN TRANSPLANTS, INCLUDING KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS AND SIMULTANEOUS KIDNEY PANCREAS TRANSPLANTS. OF NOTE, WAS COMPLETION OF THE EPIC PHOENIX ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD CONVERSION AND ACHIEVEMENT OF RANKING SECOND IN THE GIFT OF LIFE ORGAN PROCUREMENT SYSTEM.TRAUMA SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS AND OTHER PRACTITIONERS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAUMA CARE AND SERVICES AS A MAJOR REGIONAL RESOURCE COVERING A TEN-COUNTY AREA AND A TWO MILLION PATIENT BASE. LVPG PHYSICIANS ARE PART OF AN ACCREDITED PROGRAM FOR PEDIATRIC TRAUMA. LVPG PHYSICIANS ARE AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE LVH TRAUMA PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS WITH AT LEAST ONE OF EIGHT TRAUMA SURGEONS PROVIDING 24/7/365 IN-HOUSE COVERAGE. A TRAUMA REHABILITATION TEAM COMPLETES THE CONTINUUM OF TRAUMA CARE. LVPG PHYSICIANS ALSO PROVIDE CARE IN THE BURN CENTER OPERATING 18 BEDS SERVING NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND WESTERN NEW JERSEY. WOMEN'S SERVICES:LVPG OFFERS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CARE FOR WOMEN IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. LVPG MAINTAINS A SPECIAL FOCUS ON PRENATAL CARE AS A COMPONENT OF ITS COMPREHENSIVE OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING GENERAL OBSTETRIC / GYNECOLOGIC CARE, MATERNAL-FETAL (HIGH-RISK) MEDICINE, GYNECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY AND PELVIC RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY. LVPG PHYSICIANS DELIVERED 4,745 BABIES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021. CLINICAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE APPROPRIATE INDUCTION, C-SECTION PERFORMANCE, WELL-WOMAN CARE, PAIN MANAGEMENT, SURGICAL SITE INFECTION PREVENTION AND PATIENT EDUCATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM OF CARE. EXTENSIVE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS AND ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OCCUR IN AREAS SUCH AS PERINATAL CARE AND ELECTIVE INDUCTION.INFANTS/CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULTS:LVPG OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT PEDIATRIC MEDICAL CARE BY COMBINING A PHILOSOPHY OF PATIENT/FAMILY-CENTERED CARE WITH DIAGNOSTIC, MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF COMMUNITY AND HOSPITAL-BASED PHYSICIANS AND SUBSPECIALISTS. PEDIATRIC SPECIALTY SERVICES INCLUDE ADOLESCENT MEDICINE, CHILD ABUSE, DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS, GASTROENTEROLOGY, HEMATOLOGY, HOSPITAL-BASED CARE, INTENSIVISTS, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, NEONATOLOGY, NEUROLOGY, ONCOLOGY, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, PSYCHIATRY, PULMONOLOGY, RHEUMATOLOGY, GENERAL SURGERY, AND TRAUMA & BURN CARE. LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE CARE TO PATIENTS AT LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL'S 40-BED LEVEL III NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, 8-BED PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, 32-BED PEDIATRIC INPATIENT UNIT, 13-BED ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY UNIT AND A RECENTLY-OPENED 12-BED PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. AMBULATORY SERVICES PROVIDED BY LVPG INCLUDE A GENERAL PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT CLINIC, A PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY CENTER, AND A PEDIATRIC AMBULATORY SURGERY UNIT. TELEMEDICINE PROGRAMS:LVHN HAS REMAINED A LEADER IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE TELEMEDICINE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE EXPANDED OUR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT OUR GROWING NETWORK AND BEYOND. TELEMEDICINE ALLOWS OUR TEAM TO OFFER SPECIALTY CARE TO SITES AND PATIENTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES. THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AS NOTED, OUR TELEMEDICINE OFFERINGS HAVE EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY TO INCLUDE VIDEO, PHONE AND E-VISITS. THE VIDEO VISITS INCLUDE NOT JUST CLINICIAN AND PATIENT ENCOUNTERS, BUT ALSO INCLUDE MULTIPARTY VIDEO CONFERENCES. DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY AND HOSPITAL MEDICINE:WE OFFER THE REGION'S LARGEST EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES, WITH THE ONLY CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY ROOM STAFFED WITH BOARD-CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS, ALONG WITH BOARD-CERTIFIED EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS. FOR MORE SERIOUS INJURIES, THE LVH-CEDAR CREST TRAUMA CENTER IS A CERTIFIED LEVEL II PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CENTER. THE ACUITY OF OUR AMBULATORY AND HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS CONTINUED TO INCREASE AS REFLECTED IN OUR ADMISSION PERCENTAGE. OUR PERFORMANCE IN HOSPITAL MORTALITY IS IN THE TOP PERCENTILE AS BENCHMARKED TO THE VIZIENT DATABASE. THE VISIT VOLUMES AT BOTH CEDAR CREST AND MUHLENBERG WERE RECORD-SETTING, WHILE MAINTAINING QUALITY MEASURES SUCH AS IMPROVED CLINICAL CARE AND PATHWAY ORDER SET COMPLIANCE. THE LEHIGH VALLEY EMERGENCY ROOMS SAW AROUND 147,000 VISITS IN FY21, A DECLINE OF 5,000 COMPARED TO FY20. THIS REDUCTION IS DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS KEEPING PATIENTS AWAY FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM.TO SUPPORT AND ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, THE DIVISION OF MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE CARE VIA A MEDICALLY ASSISTED THERAPY/OPIOID WITHDRAWAL INPATIENT CONSULT SERVICE. THEY MANAGE OPIOID WITHDRAWAL AND IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE INITIATION OF MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT WITH MEDICATIONS SUCH AS BUPRENORPHINE (SUBUTEX, SUBOXONE) OR NALTREXONE (REVIA OR VIVITROL) FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD). MEDICATION TO SUPPORT RECOVERY IS THEN CONTINUED ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM AT AN OUTPATIENT BASIS. THROUGH A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LVHN AND THE PYRAMID CLINIC A DEDICATED MEDICALLY-ASSISTED THERAPY (MAT) PROGRAM IS NOW EMBEDDED AND SERVICED WITH OUR LVHN PHYSICIANS. THEY PROVIDE MAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELING. PATIENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, SUPPORTED BY CERTIFIED RECOVERY SPECIALISTS.EXPRESSCARE:WITHIN LVPG-LEHIGH THERE ARE 17 EXPRESSCARE LOCATIONS. OUR EXPRESSCARE SITES PROVIDE IMMEDIATE WALK-IN CARE TO THE COMMUNITY. WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMON ILLNESSES AND MINOR INJURIES, SUCH AS SPRAINS, CUTS, RASHES, SEASONAL ALLERGIES, FLU SYMPTOMS, BRONCHITIS, EAR INFECTIONS, SORE THROAT, FEVER AND MORE. IN ADDITION, THEY OFFER COVERAGE FOR ROUTINE SCHOOL PHYSICALS AND FOLLOW UP VACCINATIONS TO ALLOW FOR PATIENT CONVENIENCE. IN FY21, EXPRESSCARE LOCATIONS PROVIDED OVER 213,000 VISITS TO OUR COMMUNITY, CONSISTENTLY INCREASING YEAR OVER YEAR. THIS CLINICAL CARE MODEL IS A LOWER COST, EASY-ACCESS ALTERNATIVE FOR LOWER ACUITY PATIENTS AS COMPARED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE EXPRESSCARE LOCATIONS WERE VITAL AT CREATING REGIONAL ASSESS-AND-TEST CENTERS, A VITAL RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITY. PROVIDING EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND SIMPLE WAYS FOR PATIENTS TO BE EVALUATED AND TESTED FOR COVID-19 WAS KEY TO ENSURING VIRAL MITIGATION. IN ADDITION, THESE LOCATIONS PROVIDED STAFFING SUPPORT FOR VIRTUAL CARE EXPRESS CARE VISITS. THEY PIVOTED TO PROVIDE CAR-SIDE SWABBING FOR COVID-19 SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND ONGOING COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. OUR EXPRESSCARE COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AT ENSURING DEDICATED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.