Workers with Stone Bridge Iron and Steel, Inc. finish placing the final steel beam for the construction of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks in Lower Nazareth Township. (photo provided by LVHN)

The final steel beam was placed this month in the construction of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks, the 106,000 square-foot health campus being built off Route 33 in Lower Nazareth Township.

Lehigh Valley Health Network hosted a virtual topping-off ceremony on June 12 to mark the beam placement, with participants able to provide a digital signature that will be included on a large durable vinyl sticker affixed to the beam.

“As we reach the topping-off milestone, we are well on our way to bringing exceptional Lehigh Valley Health Network services to Northampton County, services requested and sought out by residents of the county,” said Bob Begliomini, Senior Vice President of Operations and President of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg.

The new campus being built along Hecktown Road will include a two-story hospital, as well as a 35,000 square-foot Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute and a 61,000 square-foot medical office building.

The campus is expected to open in the summer of 2021, and will provide advanced surgical, emergency, and orthopedic care, as well as cancer services, advanced imaging, and diagnostic testing. LVHN broke ground on the campus in December.

“At the heart of the care is an exceptional patient experience.” Begliomini said. “What I mean by that is that your care will always be of the highest quality, which is then enhanced by the attention of a compassionate and engaged team of LVHN colleagues. They will be by your side to make your visit a positive one.”

Drone imagery of the planned Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks campus in Lower Nazareth Township, located off Route 33 along Hecktown Road.

Nearly one-third of Northampton County residents already receive health care services from an LVHN provider, Begliomini said. Over the last seven years, the number of visits from Northampton County residents to Lehigh Valley Physician Group providers increased 91%.

In fiscal year 2018, Lehigh Valley Physician Group had more than 430,000 visits from Northampton County residents. The new health campus extends the services LVHN and Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital already provide in the county, Begliomini said.

LVH–Hecktown Oaks’ two-story hospital will look and feel different than a typical high-rise institution and offer easier navigation, according to LVHN officials. A healing garden will provide patients and visitors a peaceful place to connect with nature and pause and reflect.

LVHN President & CEO Brian Nester previously said the “Hecktown Oaks” name was partially inspired by the sense of strength and protection evoked by oak trees, as well as the awe of nature they inspire.

The hospital will include an emergency room that cares for adults and children, and state-of-the-art operating suites and services will be provided by the Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, along with advanced imaging services.

The medical office will provide primary and specialty care, including a Joint and Spine Center, comprehensive care from Lehigh Valley Heart Institute, complete rehabilitation services, and care provided by Breast Health Services, Nester said.

LVHN includes eight hospital campuses: three in Allentown (including the region’s only facility dedicated to orthopedic surgery), one in Bethlehem, one in East Stroudsburg, one in Hazleton, and two in Pottsville. The network also includes 26 health centers for communities in seven counties, as well as numerous primary and specialty care physician practices.