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

The Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) broke ground today on its new health campus in Lower Nazareth Township, which will provide advanced surgical, emergency, and orthopedic care, as well as cancer services, advanced imaging, and diagnostic testing.

The campus has been dubbed Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks and will include a 106,000 square-foot, two-story hospital, as well as a 35,000 square-foot Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute and a 61,000 square-foot medical office building.

“I am looking forward to bringing Lehigh Valley Health Network’s advanced services and technologies to patient care in this area, and am particularly proud to bring an amazing team of health care providers who offer the best in expert and compassionate care,” said Rachel Lefebvre, who will be the new President of LVH–Hecktown Oaks.

A ground-breaking ceremony for Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oats was held on Dec. 6.

More than 150 people attended the Dec. 6 ground-breaking ceremony for the new health campus, which is located just off Route 33 along Hecktown Road. The grand opening for the campus is slated for the summer of 2021.

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

“You will find bright colors and warm tones, a large proportion of glass to allow natural light to filter in, and very easy to navigate facilities,” she said. “At every step of the way, our compassionate and engaged team of LVHN colleagues will be by your side to make your visit a very positive one.”

LVHN President & CEO Brian Nester 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.

“By naming our hospital LVH–Hecktown Oaks, we want the residents of Northampton County and nearby communities to know that we are here to provide strength and sanctuary when you need a health care partner most.”

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.

The new health campus also extends the services LVHN and Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital already provide in the county.

Additionally, Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute will offer convenient cancer care, including infusion services and access to innovative clinical trials through its membership in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, as well as patient-focused multidisciplinary clinic care that provides oncology patients with personalized recommendations for treatment.

The construction of LVH–Hecktown Oaks was a direct response to demand for LVHN care in Northampton County, where nearly one-third of residents already receive health care services from an LVHN provider, Nester said.

Over the last seven years, the number of visits from Northampton County residents to Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) providers increased 91%, he said. In fiscal year 2018, LVPG had more than 430,000 visits from Northampton County residents.

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.