An Investment in Tomorrow

As researchers and educators, we bring you the latest knowledge.

Arctic Sun is just one example of the pioneering treatments available to people in the Lehigh Valley. Because our hospital is so active in research and education, our patients have access to the latest medical knowledge. Heart and stroke care is one of our main areas of research, and we’re now coordinating and promoting that effort in a new centralized Cardiovascular Research Institute. The Institute will support research into such questions as the value of stents versus surgery in clearing blockages of the carotid artery; and the usefulness of a new device in treating atherosclerosis of the renal (kidney) artery.

Researchers throughout our network also are studying:

• An accelerated type of breast cancer treatment in which a balloon-tipped catheter delivers radiation directly to the lumpectomy site. “Partial-breast irradiation” takes only five days, versus 34 days for standard whole-breast treatment.

• The best method to help depressed adolescents quit smoking. Depression raises the likelihood of early smoking, which nearly always continues—with all its damaging health effects—into adulthood.

• How to reduce the rate of hospital-acquired infections. Pennsylvania is the first state to collect information on this nationwide problem, and we’re one of six hospitals studying new ways to reduce the infection rate as much as possible.

Hand-in-hand with research goes education. More than 440 members of our medical staff hold university appointments, and thousands of health care professionals take part in programs sponsored by our Center for Education.

‘Heart Help for Women’—More than 700 women attended our April symposium featuring actress Phylicia Rashad (whose father died of heart disease and diabetes). The symposium launched a new program we created to educate women and their physicians about women’s heart health.

We also provide dozens of health education programs to the community, and one of this year’s highlights is Heart Help for Women. In a study of 500 local women ages 40-70, we discovered that 83 percent are at risk for a first heart attack, but only 33 percent realize it. Many women still think breast cancer is their greatest risk; the truth is that heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined. Through Heart Help for Women, we’re raising women’s awareness of their heart attack risk factors and symptoms, educating physicians, and improving communication between women and their doctors.

Another education program designed to promote heart health is VIP (Vascular Improvement Plan) for Life.® Focusing on such areas as cholesterol, blood pressure and metabolic syndrome, the program helps people make lifestyle changes to better manage or reduce their risk for vascular disease. We’re now offering VIP for Life® to local employers as well as community members.

Community education is built right into our new facility at Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest. A multipurpose Medical Education Center and library will have an easily accessible area in front for patients and the public. Visitors can find health-related information in a variety of formats, with an e-librarian to help them navigate. The Center also will have class and lecture space, and resources for health professionals.

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