What’s Happening in Our Network
Walk Your Way to Wellness
Looking for a free, easy way to stay physically fit? Consider walking. The health network recently mapped out indoor walking trails inside Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for patients, visitors and community members. The trails start in the main lobby and loop around to different destinations, and some include steps for added exercise. Maps are available and signs are posted along the walking routes. There are many benefits of walking, including improving heart health, reducing stress and anxiety, preventing diseases and weight loss.
Summer Safety Twitter Chat
Dr. Michael Consuelos, a pediatrician with Lehigh Valley Health Network, recently participated in a live Twitter chat. He fielded questions about common hazards encountered during the summer months and gave parents tips on how to keep their children safe. Topics ranged from trampoline injuries to sunburn protection. Check out video clips from the interview on YouTube.
Ultimate Shopping Party
Lehigh Valley Health Network pediatrician Michael Consuelos, M.D., and his wife served as models during the recent Sunkissed Soiree, held at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Center Valley, Pa. For $10, shoppers enjoyed discounts in select stores, refreshments, entertainment, a celebrity fashion show, giveaways and prize drawings. The event raised money for the health network's pediatric department.
Inspired to Run
Five colleagues from Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest's Emergency Department (ED) are preparing for the Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via coming up in September. The team will run in honor of the many ED colleagues who serve in the military; two of which, Matt Gaffney and Anthony Interrante, are serving overseas right now. The team, dubbed V-TACH, short for ventricular tachychardia or a fast heart rhythm, is made up of Jack Basile, D.O; Marcie Basile, P.A; Steve Conroy, M.D; Kim Liszka, R.N; and Brian Lovett, M.D.
New Look, Same Great Care
Visitors to Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest are now greeted by signs that reflect Lehigh Valley Health Network's new name and logo. The refined name, tagline and logo announced in December better reflect the wide range of quality health care services available within the health network, which includes: three full-service hospitals; several community health centers and clinics; more than 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians; pharmacies; imaging services; home health and hospice care; and other health care services. The Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg and Lehigh Valley Hospital—17th Street campuses will get new signage in the near future.
Beginning a New Chapter in Medicine
After years of schooling and hard work, 87 medical residents and fellows recently received their diplomas at the 34th Annual Lehigh Valley Health Network resident graduation. The night marked the end of a long journey and the start of a new generation of physicians. The graduates, such as Nicolas Teleo, M.D., will now take the lessons and skills they learned during their training here and apply them as they find work at health care institutions across the country.
The Power of Laughter
Husband and wife team, Dr. Stitches and Dr. Bandaides, love clowning around with patients. They say humor is healing, and our patients agree. The pair stopped by a medical-surgical unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest recently to bring the joy of laughter to patients. Dr. Stitches and Dr. Bandaides are members of The Bumper "T" Caring Clowns, Inc., a volunteer organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of hospitalized patients, their families, friends and caregivers.
Running Away from Home
Sarah Lichtenwalner, R.N., doesn't need a car to get to her Nazareth home from Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. She runs. It's only 11.5 miles, and it's part of the way she's training for the upcoming Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via. She is motivated to compete in this year's marathon, to be held Sept. 13, because she loves the feeling of accomplishment when she crosses the finish line. She has been competing in mountain bike races for the past four years and last year she began competing in triathlons.
Why is FeFe Smiling?
With a smile on her face, FeFe, the IronPigs' female mascot, stepped up to get her mammogram at Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg. Marie Hrinkonich from breast health services helped FeFe through the process. FeFe volunteered for her very first mammogram to promote breast cancer awareness. The IronPigs, in conjunction with Lehigh Valley Health Network, recently hosted "A Day at the Ballpark," where spectators watched the game and learned about breast cancer. A silent auction was held during the game for the limited edition pink game day jerseys that were worn by Iron Pigs players. Proceeds from the auction benefited breast cancer awareness programs at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
Future caregivers
Local students put on scrubs and toured Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest to learn about careers in health care. Sponsored by the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, the students visited the operating room, emergency room, and open heart unit before seeing the inside of a Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac helicopter. Cardiothoracic surgeon Ray Singer, M.D. (second from left), and other health care professionals talked about the workings of a hospital and the benefits of a career in health care.
A Glimpse Inside MedEvac
Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac 1 made a special landing at the recent Macungie Ambulance Corps Open House. Once on the ground, people of all ages lined up for their chance to see inside the BK-117 IFR. During the event, Daniel Rymond, EMS liaison and flight paramedic for the health network, educated local community and EMS providers about the high level of care provided by the network's trauma and burn centers. The network is home to the region’s only trauma center accredited to care for children and one of the country's most advanced burn centers.
An Environmentally Friendly Thank You
This "den of zen," complete with decorative trees, relaxing music and free massages is just one way the post-anesthesia care unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest celebrated Nurses' Week in May. Throughout the week nurses and caregivers also enjoyed locally grown, organic foods and homemade treats made with organic ingredients. Lastly, to wrap up the celebration, the caregivers received gifts including reusable shopping bags and water bottles.
Pink Pigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs baseball players were recently spotted wearing pink jerseys. Fans placed bids on the jerseys to help raise funds for Lehigh Valley Health Network's breast cancer awareness services. Health network nurse Deborah Corcoran, R.N. (left), and her husband, Joe, both of Keller Williams Real Estate, sponsored the game and organized the fund-raising event. Joining thousands of fans wearing pink that day, were Rachael Scheffler, of the network's development department, and cancer surgeon Heiwon Chung, M.D.
We're Doggone Grateful
Epi, the Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac mascot, made special appearances during our 2009 EMS Appreciation Week celebrations. She helped the health network thank local EMS providers for their commitment, dedication and teamwork in providing the people of the community with emergency health care services. Epi, short for Epinephrine Nitro, is an English bull dog owned by Mark Walck, a MedEvac flight paramedic, and his wife Veronica McMichael Walck, a MedEvac flight nurse.
Farm Fresh
This summer, health network staff, patients and visitors are enjoying locally grown produce from a farmers'market held the first and third Wednesday of each month at Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest in the Kasych Family Pavilion. Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg has plans for a farmers' market in the near future. The network also is discussing the possibility of a partnership with the Lehigh Valley Food co-op to provide fresh, locally grown produce year-round. The farmers market is hosted by Sodexo.
The Fight of a Champion
World-known figure skater, author and TV personality Peggy Fleming visited Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest recently for a special presentation. She openly shared the challenges of becoming an Olympic gold medalist and how that experience prepared her to meet her greatest life challenge—a battle with breast cancer. Fleming won the United States Figure Skating Championship five years in a row, and the World Figure Skating Championship three years in a row. She won her Olympic gold medal at Grenoble, France in 1968. Here she signs autographs for the health network's Breast Health Services staff.
Game Day
More than 2,500 school children from the Lehigh Valley attended the first of two Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Education Game Days sponsored by Lehigh Valley Health Network. Trauma surgeon Robert Barraco, M.D., shown here with IronPigs mascot Ferrous, threw the ceremonial first pitch and provided tips on injury prevention and children's safety. Education Game Days are a chance for thousands of area school children to learn life lessons through baseball.
Clinicians Honored at Annual Friends of Nursing Celebration
Jacqueline Sellers (right) says if it wasn't for her sister's care, she never would have survived breast cancer. Sellers recently flew from North Carolina to Allentown to celebrate her sister, Deb Sellers, R.N., receiving the Friends of Nursing Fleming Nursing Care Award. Deb (left), director of a Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg medical-surgical unit, received her award at the annual Friends of Nursing Celebration attended by more than 600 colleagues and community members. Celebrating with her were (l-r) vice president, patient care services, Molly Sebastian, R.N., Claudia Hille, her dear friend, and son Jeremiah Fennell.
Walk on the Wild Side
Lehigh Valley Health Network's Mini Medical School 2009—"The Cancer Frontier" concluded recently with a special interactive session. Participants such as Jeninne Buzzard and Steve Drechsler of Pen Argyl, Pa., walked through a giant inflatable colon while learning about signs, symptoms, screening and prevention of colorectal cancer from colorectal surgeon John Park, M.D., right. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men and women combined in the United States. The Prevent Cancer Foundation's Super Colon is an interactive educational tool used to spread the message that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable.
An Inspiration to All
Cameron Clapp, right, is a triple amputee athlete who competes in running, swimming and golfing events. People heard his powerful story of overcoming adversity and becoming a successful athlete and actor in a recent presentation to amputee support group members and others at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. Clapp was a hit with the audience, particularly with children such as Eric McGovern, left, and Shesby Bonhomme, center.
Debbie Salas-Lopez, M.D., Receives Girl Scout Award
Debbie Salas-Lopez, M.D., recently received the Take the Lead award from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania. Salas-Lopez was recognized for her work in culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and health care disparities, as well as her determination to succeed. She entered medical school at the age of 38 after a career in real estate. Today she is the chair of the health network's department of medicine. Four other local women also received the Take the Lead award.
LVHN Recognized for Highest Standards for Research
Lehigh Valley Health Network is the first community hospital in Pennsylvania, and the seventh in the nation, to receive full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). This means the health network is committed to the most comprehensive protection for research participants and the highest quality research. The health network is among 175 organizations that have demonstrated they have safeguards surpassing the highest state and federal requirements. Application for accreditation by AAHRPP is voluntary. Click here to learn more about how clinicians like Tim Friel, M.D., conduct research to improve patient care.
