A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks on June 29. (photo courtesy LVHN)

The name Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks isn’t just a reference to its location on Hecktown Road in Lower Nazareth Township.

“Oak trees symbolize strength and protection,” said Brian Nester, President & CEO of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). “We want the people of Northampton County to know that Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks is here to provide strength and sanctuary when you need a health partner the most, and that is our pledge to you.”

LVHN cut the ribbon at LVH-Hecktown Oaks on June 29, marking the phase one completion of the first hospital built by the network in almost 50 years. It will officially open on July 1.

Located just off Route 33, it includes a 201,000-square-foot hospital, 35,000-square-foot Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute, 60,000-square-foot health center, and an emergency room caring for adults and children, including an area dedicated just for children.

Nearly 400 employees will staff the new hospital. Nearly one-third of all Northampton County residents had already received care from an LVHN provider, and this hospital was built as a direct response to the demand for LVHN care in the county, Nester said.

An interior photo of the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks facilities. (photo courtesy LVHN)

“A health partner is there for you in times of illness and in times of crisis,” he said. “Here at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks, we can be an even better health partner to the people of Northampton County by bringing a greater breadth of LVHN services closer to where you live, work and play.”

During the ribbon-cutting, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure praised both LVH-Hecktown Oaks and the overall culture of LVHN, noting that the health network helped provide drive-through testing sites and vaccinations for the county during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We need Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks, and LVHN is precisely the system that we need here in Northampton County now,” McClure said. “Our population is growing, but so is our average age. There will be a need for this facility moving forward into the middle of the 21st century, and this is a 21st century facility.”

LVH-Hecktown Oaks includes 20 emergency room bays, 4 bays dedicated just for children, and 8 observation beds. It also has an inpatient unit with 20 private rooms, each with private bathrooms, telehealth capabilities and a 55-inch flat screen television in every room.

“To help patients focus on healing, all rooms are private and welcoming in a very modern design,” said Jim Miller, Vice President of Operations at LVH-Hecktown Oaks. “Each room has peaceful views and some of the comforts of home. At every step of the way, our compassionate LVHN colleagues will be there to ensure you have a positive patient experience.”

Services provided at the hospital include a Diagnostic Care Center with imaging services, lab medicine and cardiac diagnostics, including the Multitom Rax precision x-ray technology, Nester said.

Cancer services will be provided at LVH-Hecktown Oaks through Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute, which is part of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Alliance. 

The hospital also features four state-of-the-art surgical suites, breast health services, a joint and spine center, an outpatient rehab, family medicine, and Lehigh Valley Heart Institute cardiology and cardiac diagnostics.

Amenities include a meditation room, market bistro, valet parking, and smart car charging stations. The hospital also includes bright colors and warm tones, and large expanses of glass to allow for natural light to illuminate both public and private patient care areas.

LVHN includes eight hospital campuses: three in Allentown, 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.