LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP
2100 MACK BLVD, ALLENTOWN, PA 181035622 www.lvhn.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: OUR MISSION IS TO HEAL, COMFORT AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING ADVANCED AND COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE OF SUPERIOR QUALITY AND VALUE, SUPPORTED BY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND:THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP (LVPG) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1993 AS AN AFFILIATE OF LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK (LVHN). AS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WHICH SUPPORTS BOTH LVHN AND LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL (LVH), LVPG HAS DEVELOPED PHYSICIAN PRACTICES IN THE CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS OF FAMILY MEDICINE, MEDICINE, OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY, PEDIATRICS, PSYCHIATRY, SURGERY, AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE. WITH A CURRENT SIZE OF OVER 1,000 PHYSICIANS AND OVER 500 ADVANCED PRACTICE CLINICIANS, THE ENTIRE MEDICAL GROUP OPERATES AS A SINGLE ENTITY WITH SERVICES PROVIDED AT OVER 150 LOCATIONS. IMPORTANTLY, LVPG PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY COMMUNITY, CARING FOR OVER 50% OF THE POPULATION. LVPG-LEHIGH PROVIDED OVER 2.6 MILLION VISITS TO OUR PATIENTS. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIZES THE MEDICAL SPECIALTIES OFFERED ACROSS LVPG: ADOLESCENT MEDICINE, ADVANCED SPINE, CONCUSSION, HEAD TRAUMA, BARIATRIC MEDICINE, BARIATRIC SURGERY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, BURN SURGERY AND WOUND CARE, GENERAL CARDIOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY, CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE, EAR / NOSE / THROAT MEDICINE, CONCUSSION CARE, CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, ENDOCRINOLOGY/METABOLISM/DIABETES, EXPRESS CARE/WALK IN, FAMILY MEDICINE, GENERAL AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY, GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE (AMBULATORY & HOSPITALISTS), GERIATRICS, GYNECOLOGY, GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE, NEONATOLOGY, NEPHROLOGY, NEUROLOGY, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, NEUROSURGERY, OBSTETRICS, OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE, OPHTHALMOLOGY, OPTOMETRY, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY, PAIN MANAGEMENT, PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, GENERAL PEDIATRICS, PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY, PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY, PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY, PEDIATRIC HOSPITALISTS, PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE, PEDIATRIC INTENSIVISTS, PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY, PEDIATRIC NEONATOLOGY, PEDIATRIC PLASTIC SURGERY, PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, PEDIATRIC UROLOGY, PLASTIC SURGERY, PHYSIATRY, PSYCHIATRY - CHILD & ADOLESCENT, GENERAL PSYCHIATRY, PULMONOLOGY, RHEUMATOLOGY, SLEEP MEDICINE, SPORTS MEDICINE, SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, TOXICOLOGY, TRAUMA SURGERY, TRANSPLANT SURGERY, UROGYNECOLOGY, UROLOGY, VASCULAR SURGERY.LVPG HAS PARTICIPATED FOR SIX YEARS IN A TRACK 1 MEDICARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM (MSSP). OUR MSSP ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATION (ACO) IS COMPRISED OF OVER 40,000 MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES. WE PERFORMED BETTER THAN BENCHMARK OUR FIRST TWO YEARS IN THE PROGRAM, WITH SHARED SAVINGS IN PROGRAM YEAR ONE AND QUALITY SCORES CONSISTENTLY OVER 90%. THROUGH THIS, OUR MEDICAL GROUP HAS DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO REALIZE THE TRIPLE AIM AS MEASURED THROUGH A CMS LENS.PATIENT CARE PROGRAMSLVPG OFFERS A CONTINUUM OF HEALTH CARE PROMOTION, PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. EXTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND ARE A PART OF A HEALTHCARE NETWORK ESTABLISHED BY LVPG TO MEET THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND BEYOND. LVPG SERVES AS A MULTISPECIALTY PHYSICIAN GROUP, ACCEPTING REFERRALS FROM AN AREA POPULATED BY APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION RESIDENTS OF SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. IN CENTER CITY ALLENTOWN, OUR 17TH STREET CAMPUS PROVIDES DEDICATED SERVICE AND CARE DELIVERY TO OUR UNDERSERVED POPULATION. WITH OVER 70% OF THE PATIENT POPULATION UN/UNDER-INSURED, THESE PRACTICES PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE TO PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE PEDIATRIC CHILDREN'S CLINIC CARES FOR OVER 25,000 CHILDREN, AND NOT ONLY PROVIDES HEALTHCARE BUT SUPPORTIVE OUTREACH THROUGH WELL INTEGRATED SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES. OTHER 17TH STREET PRACTICES INCLUDE INTERNAL MEDICINE, FAMILY MEDICINE, OB/GYN, AN HIV-FOCUSED OFFICE, HEPATITIS C CLINIC, A MEDICAL SPECIALTIES PRACTICE AND A WELLNESS CENTER. THROUGHOUT FY20, EFFORTS WERE UNDERWAY TO TRANSFORM MANY OF THESE PRACTICES INTO A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER. THAT INITIATIVE WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY EVEN GREATER IN YEARS TO COME. COVID-19 (C19) PANDEMIC: THE LVPG RESPONSE TO THE C19 PANDEMIC HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE AND IMPACTFUL FOR BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND OUR COMMUNITY. EARLY IN MARCH, LVPG QUICKLY TRANSITIONED ITS CLINICAL FOOTPRINT TO INCLUDE VIRTUAL CARE OFFERINGS, THROUGH VIDEO VISITS, PHONE VISITS AND E-VISITS. THESE MODALITIES REACHED A PEAK VOLUME IN MID-APRIL, COMPRISING UP TO 75% OF ALL AMBULATORY HEALTHCARE DELIVERY. THE VIRTUAL MODEL WAS ROLLED OUT ACROSS THE ENTIRE MEDICAL GROUP AND OPTIMIZED, ALLOWING ANY APPROPRIATE ENCOUNTER TO BE PERFORMED SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, LVPG HAS NOT WAIVERED IN SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH FACE TO FACE VISITS WHEN NEEDED. IN ADDITION TO THE VIRTUAL VISIT OFFERINGS DIRECT FROM LVPG CLINICIANS, THE LVPG PHYSICIAN AND APC WORKFORCE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO OUR CARES CENTER IN DELIVERING CENTRAL COMMUNITY C19 VIRTUAL SUPPORT. THESE SERVICES INCLUDED SCREENING C19 E-VISITS, ON DEMAND VIDEO SCREENING C19 VISITS AND A TRANSITION OF CARE C19 VIRTUAL CARE CLINIC FOR PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL. THESE TYPES OF ENCOUNTERS PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITS TO OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST YEAR THROUGHOUT THE C19 CHALLENGES. THIS MODEL ENABLED PATIENTS TO STAY HOME, STAY SAFE AND RECEIVE CARE IN A MANNER THAT WAS CONVENIENT AND VALUE-ADD.LVPG ALSO TOOK GREAT EFFORT DURING THE C19 PANDEMIC TO CONSOLIDATE SERVICES AND DIAGNOSTICS WHEN NEEDED AND THEN RE-EXPAND AS IT WAS SAFE TO BRING PATIENTS BACK FULLY INTO THE OFFICE. THESE CHANGES INCLUDED EXTENSIVE PRACTICE OPERATIONS THAT FOSTERED A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PATIENTS, WITH AGGRESSIVE CLEANING, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE USE, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND GEOGRAPHIC / TEMPORAL PATIENT DISTANCING. THROUGH ALL THIS, PATIENTS AND COLLEAGUE'S SAFETY WERE ASSURED. CANCER SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE MEDICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE JOHN AND DOROTHY MORGAN CANCER CENTER, A CENTER WHICH OFFERS A RANGE OF CANCER SERVICES IN ONE CONVENIENT, PATIENT-FOCUSED LOCATION. CANCER CARE PROGRAMS INCLUDE PREVENTION, DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY, CLINICAL TRIALS, REHABILITATION AND THE EVALUATION OF CANCER-RELATED CARE. INFUSION SERVICES ARE NOW OFFERED AT A NEW LEHIGHTON LOCATION.CARDIAC SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE THE MEDICAL LEADERSHIP OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE DIVISIONS AT LVHN INCLUDING GENERAL AND INVASIVE CARDIOLOGY, HEART STATION, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, CARDIO THORACIC SURGERY AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE. IN ADDITION, OUR CARDIOLOGISTS SERVE AS PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND CORE FACULTY FOR THE LVHN CARDIOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. IN FY20, AN AMBULATORY HEART FAILURE PATHWAY WAS FINALIZED THROUGH A SERIES OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ACROSS PRIMARY CARE AND CARDIOLOGY, WITH INPUT FROM INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT CLINICIANS. THE GOALS OF THE PATHWAY ARE TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY AND DECREASE COMPLICATIONS; TO REDUCE ADMISSIONS AND READMISSIONS FOR HEART FAILURE; AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS BEING DISCHARGED DIRECTLY TO HOME FROM THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PATHWAY IN LVPG AMBULATORY PRACTICES WILL BE A FOCUS IN FY21.PEDIATRIC SERVICES:LVPG PEDIATRICS STAFFS THE LEHIGH VALLEY REILLY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WHICH PROVIDES SPECIALTY CARE AS WELL AS PRIMARY CARE. WE PROVIDE OVER 30 PEDIATRIC SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY AND PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY.CHILDHOOD OBESITY HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, AND ABOUT 1 IN 3 PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AT LVHN IS OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS, INCLUDING HEALTHY EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, CAN LOWER THE RISK OF BECOMING OBESE AND DEVELOPING RELATED DISEASE. AN AMBULATORY CARE PATHWAY FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY WAS IMPLEMENTED FY19, WITH ONGOING EXPANSION THROUGHOUT FY20. IN ADDITION, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE ROLLED OUT ACROSS AMBULATORY GENERAL PEDIATRICS, WITH AN EMBEDDED THERAPIST IN THE PRACTICES. THEIR FOCUS IS ON DEPRESSION SCREENING, DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS OF PATIENTS WITH BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS, SHORT TERM EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FOR COMMON BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AND EVALUATIONS FOR PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES IMPACTING EXISTING CARE PLANS. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS, WITH ONGOING EXPANSION PLANNED. PALLIATIVE MEDICINE AND HOSPICE:LVPG PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS PROVIDE SERVICES ACROSS THE CARE CONTINUUM TO IMPROVE PATIENT, FAMILY AND PROVIDER SATISFACTION, DECREASED HOSPITAL READMISSIONS AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED ILLNESSES. THE PALLIATIVE CARE TEAM IS CALLED OACIS OPTIMIZING ADVANCED COMPLEX ILLNESS SUPPORT AND CONSISTS OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS THAT TRAVEL TO PATIENTS' HOMES FOR CARE. WE ALSO CARE FOR PATIENTS AT THE END OF LIFE IN COORDINATION WITH HOSPICE HOME SERVICES. THE TEAM SPENDS TIME ENSURING PATIENTS ARE SUPPORTED WITH CARE THAT ALIGNS WITH THEIR MEDICAL AND PERSONAL GOALS; PROMOTING THE HIGHEST QUALITY EXPERIENCE AND LIFE POSSIBLE.

INTERNAL MEDICINE AND FAMILY MEDICINE PRIMARY CARE:LVPG PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED CARE TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN THE SETTING OF PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOMES. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO CARE AT THE TIME OF NEED, FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND CHRONIC ILLNESS MANAGEMENT AND PROVIDE COORDINATION BETWEEN SPECIALIST AND SERVICE. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CANCER INSTITUTE, FAMILY MEDICINE LEADERSHIP HAS SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO DEVELOP WORKFLOW AND PROCESSES TO IMPROVE LUNG CANCER AND COLON CANCER SCREENING RATES. WORK ON LUNG CANCER SCREENING HAS BEEN A FOCUS OF OUR PRACTICE BASED RESEARCH NETWORK TEAM, WITH ONGOING COLLABORATION AND EXPANSION THROUGHOUT FY20. LVPG WAS RECENTLY AWARDED A 3-YEAR PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CURE GRANT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF A CENTRALIZED LUNG CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM. IN FEBRUARY OF 2020, FAMILY MEDICINE COLLEAGUES PARTNERED WITH POPULATION HEALTH TO PILOT A MAILED INTERVENTION TO REFER PATIENTS WHO ARE NOT UP TO DATE ON COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING FOR COLONOSCOPY OR TO COMPLETE STOOL IMMUNOCHEMICAL BLOOD TESTING. THIS WORK WAS SUCCESSFUL AND IS EXPANDING TO INFORM FUTURE OUTREACH EFFORTS. BREAST CANCER SCREENING: WITH THE SUPPORT OF A POOL GRANT, FAMILY MEDICINE IS EXPLORING PATIENT-REPORTED BARRIERS TO MAMMOGRAPHY THROUGH QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS, REGIONAL FOCUS GROUPS AND A LARGE SAMPLED SURVEY. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OVERALL EFFORT TO DATE FROM THIS WORK HAVE INCLUDED INFORMATION TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF ON-LINE PATIENT SCHEDULING, POINT OF CARE SCHEDULING, WAY-FINDING TOOLS, AND DISSEMINATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO SOME OF OUR REMOTE PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS AND EVALUATION OF IMPACT ON OUT-MIGRATION AND INCREASE IN ACCESS FOR OVERDUE AND UNMET PATIENTS IS ONGOING. TAILORED OUTREACH MATERIALS ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS PATIENT-REPORTED BARRIERS AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS, AS WELL AS TO OPTIMIZE MOTIVATORS AS REPORTED BY STUDY PARTICIPANTS. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN MAMMOGRAM SCREENING ACROSS OUR POPULATION HAS OCCURRED DUE TO THIS WORK.DIABETES MANAGEMENT: THROUGH ONGOING COLLABORATION AND NETWORK SUPPORT, LVPG HAS IMPLEMENTED A DIABETES PATHWAY ACROSS ALL AMBULATORY ADULT PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES. THIS PATHWAY HAS HELPED OUR CLINICIANS' PARTNER WITH PATIENTS BETTER TO IMPROVE TESTING AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR DIABETES. NEUROSCIENCES SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR STROKE, BRAIN TUMORS, ANEURYSMS, SPINE DISORDERS AND OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: NEUROSURGERY, PAIN MANAGEMENT, NEUROLOGY, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, NEURO-IMAGING, AND NEURO-ONCOLOGY. IN APRIL 2019, LVH LAUNCHED THE FIRST MOBILE STROKE UNIT IN PENNSYLVANIA. AN MSU ALLOWS STROKE PATIENTS TO BEGIN RAPID TREATMENT BEFORE HOSPITAL ARRIVAL, SUCH AS INITIATING CLOT BUSTING MEDICATION OR REVERSING COAGULOPATHY. THE AVAILABILITY OF NEUROIMAGING WILL ALLOW PRECISE TRIAGE AND ROUTING TO APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF STROKE CENTER AND PREVENT INTRA-FACILITY TRANSPORTS CURRENTLY DELAYING ARRIVAL TO THE COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTER. IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF OPERATION, THE MSU WAS DISPATCHED 42 TIMES.BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE MEDICAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE LVH ACUTE CARE INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS IN LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON, CARBON, MONROE, SCHUYLKILL, AND BERKS COUNTIES BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF ADMISSIONS AND PROVIDES INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN ALL CLINICAL AREAS. AMONG THE AREAS OF FOCUS WERE THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE ZERO SUICIDE INITIATIVE, INCLUDING INTERNAL SUICIDAL PREVENTION PATHWAYS, MITIGATION OF LIGATURE RISK, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND MEDICAL-SURGICAL UNITS. LVPG PHYSICIANS ALSO PROVIDE AMBULATORY CARE IN THESE SETTINGS: - PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM OVERSIGHT FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS- OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC FOR THE CHRONICALLY AND SEVERELY ILL- SHORT-TERM, OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES- RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM TEACHING INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TO THE CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL- EMERGENCY SERVICES- MENTAL HEALTH AND HOME CARE SERVICES -TELE-PSYCHIATRY: ACHIEVED UP TO 100% VIRTUAL CARE THROUGHOUT FY20 WITH C19 PANDEMIC. ONGOING HIGH LEVELS OF VIRTUAL CARE HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE THAT TIME.SURGERY SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS, ADVANCED PRACTICE CLINICIANS AND ALLIED HEALTH PROVIDERS PERFORM COMPREHENSIVE, COORDINATED SURGICAL CARE AND PROVIDE SERVICES IN SPECIALTIES SUCH AS: BARIATRIC SURGERY, BURN SURGERY, CARDIAC AND THORACIC SURGERY, GENERAL SURGERY, NEUROSURGERY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY, OTOLARYNGOLOGY, PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY, PEDIATRIC SURGERY, PEDIATRIC UROLOGY, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, TRANSPLANT SURGERY, TRAUMA SURGERY, UROLOGY AND VASCULAR SURGERY. IN ADDITION, OUR SURGEONS SERVE AS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND CORE FACULTY FOR THE GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENCY PROGRAM. IN FY20, SURGICAL VOLUMES AT LVH AND LVH-M WAS 42,019 CASES. THIS PERFORMANCE WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW THE FY 19 VOLUME OF 45,722 CASES. ELECTIVE PROCEDURES BEING CANCELLED DUE TO COVID CONCERNS WAS THE REASON FOR THE DECLINE. TRANSPLANT SURGERY PROGRAM OVER THIS PAST YEAR THERE WERE 122 ORGANS TRANSPLANTED, INCLUDING 119 KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS, 1 PANCREAS TRANSPLANT, AND 1 SIMULTANEOUS KIDNEY PANCREAS TRANSPLANT.TRAUMA SERVICES:LVPG PHYSICIANS AND OTHER PRACTITIONERS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAUMA CARE AND SERVICES AS A MAJOR REGIONAL RESOURCE COVERING A TEN-COUNTY AREA AND A TWO MILLION PATIENT BASE. LVPG PHYSICIANS ARE PART OF THE ACCREDITED PROGRAM FOR PEDIATRIC TRAUMA. LVPG PHYSICIANS ARE AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL TRAUMA PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR THE TRAUMA PATIENT WITH AT LEAST ONE OF EIGHT TRAUMA SURGEONS PROVIDING 24/7/365 IN HOUSE COVERAGE. A TRAUMA REHABILITATION TEAM COMPLETES THE CONTINUUM OF TRAUMA CARE. LVPG PHYSICIANS ALSO PROVIDE CARE IN THE BURN CENTER OPERATING 18 BEDS SERVING NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND WESTERN NEW JERSEY. WOMEN'S SERVICES:LVPG OFFERS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CARE FOR WOMEN IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. LVPG PHYSICIANS DELIVERED 4,796 BABIES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2020. LVPG MAINTAINS A SPECIAL FOCUS ON PRENATAL CARE AS A COMPONENT OF ITS COMPREHENSIVE OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY SERVICES, INCLUDING GENERAL OBSTETRIC / GYNECOLOGIC CARE, MATERNAL-FETAL (HIGH-RISK) MEDICINE, GYNECOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY AND PELVIC RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY.INFANTS/CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULTS:LVPG OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT PEDIATRIC MEDICAL CARE BY COMBINING A PHILOSOPHY OF PATIENT/FAMILY-CENTERED CARE WITH DIAGNOSTIC, MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF COMMUNITY AND HOSPITAL-BASED PHYSICIANS AND SUBSPECIALISTS. PEDIATRIC SPECIALTY SERVICES INCLUDE ADOLESCENT MEDICINE, CHILD ABUSE, DEVELOPMENTAL PEDIATRICS, GASTROENTEROLOGY, HEMATOLOGY, HOSPITAL-BASED CARE, INTENSIVISTS, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, NEONATOLOGY, NEUROLOGY, ONCOLOGY, PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, PSYCHIATRY, PULMONOLOGY, RHEUMATOLOGY, GENERAL SURGERY, AND TRAUMA & BURN CARE. LVPG PHYSICIANS PROVIDE CARE TO PATIENTS AT THE LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL 40 BED LEVEL III NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, 8 BED PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, 32 BED PEDIATRIC INPATIENT UNIT, 13 BED ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY UNIT AND A RECENTLY OPENED 12 BED PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. AMBULATORY SERVICES PROVIDED BY LVPG INCLUDE A GENERAL PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT CLINIC, A PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY CENTER, AND A PEDIATRIC AMBULATORY SURGERY UNIT. TELEMEDICINE PROGRAMS LVHN HAS REMAINED A LEADER IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INNOVATIVE TELEMEDICINE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE EXPANDED OUR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGHOUT OUR GROWING NETWORK AND BEYOND. TELEMEDICINE ALLOWS OUR TEAM TO OFFER SPECIALTY CARE TO SITES AND PATIENTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES. THROUGH THE C19 PANDEMIC, AS NOTED, OUR TELEMEDICINE OFFERINGS HAVE EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY TO INCLUDE VIDEO, PHONE AND E-VISITS. THE VIDEO VISITS INCLUDE NOT JUST CLINICIAN AND PATIENT ENCOUNTERS, BUT ALSO INCLUDE MULTIPARTY VIDEO CONFERENCES.

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY AND HOSPITAL MEDICINE:WE OFFER THE REGION'S ONLY CHILDREN'S ER, STAFFED WITH BOARD-CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS, ALONG WITH BOARD-CERTIFIED EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS. FOR MORE SERIOUS INJURIES, THE LVHCEDAR CREST TRAUMA CENTER IS A CERTIFIED LEVEL II PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CENTER. THE LEHIGH VALLEY ERS SAW AROUND 152,000 VISITS IN FY20, A DECLINE OF 23,000 COMPARED TO FY19. THIS REDUCTION IS DUE TO COVID CONCERNS KEEPING PATIENTS AWAY FROM THE ED.TO SUPPORT AND ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, THE DIVISION OF MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY CONTINUES TO PROVIDE CARE VIA A MEDICALLY ASSISTED THERAPY/OPIOID WITHDRAWAL INPATIENT CONSULT SERVICE. THEY MANAGE OPIOID WITHDRAWAL AND IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE INITIATION OF MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT WITH MEDICATIONS SUCH AS BUPRENORPHINE (SUBUTEX, SUBOXONE) OR NALTREXONE (REVIA OR VIVITROL) FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD). MEDICATION TO SUPPORT RECOVERY IS THEN CONTINUED ACROSS THE ENTIRE CONTINUUM AT AN OUTPATIENT BASIS. THROUGH A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LVHN AND THE PYRAMID CLINIC A DEDICATED MAT PROGRAM IS NOW EMBEDDED AND SERVICED WITH OUR LVHN PHYSICIANS. THEY PROVIDE MEDICALLY ASSISTED THERAPY (MAT) IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER COUNSELING. PATIENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, SUPPORTED BY CERTIFIED RECOVERY SPECIALISTS.EXPRESS CARE WITHIN LVPG-LEHIGH THERE ARE 17 EXPRESS CARE LOCATIONS. OUR EXPRESS CARE SITES PROVIDE IMMEDIATE WALK-IN CARE TO THE COMMUNITY. WALK-IN APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMON ILLNESSES AND MINOR INJURIES, SUCH AS SPRAINS, CUTS, RASHES, SEASONAL ALLERGIES, FLU SYMPTOMS, BRONCHITIS, EAR INFECTIONS, SORE THROAT, FEVER AND MORE. IN ADDITION, THEY OFFER COVERAGE FOR ROUTINE SCHOOL PHYSICALS AND FOLLOW UP VACCINATIONS TO ALLOW FOR PATIENT CONVENIENCE. IN FY20, THE EXPRESS CARE LOCATIONS PROVIDED > 147,000 VISITS TO OUR COMMUNITY, CONSISTENTLY INCREASING YEAR OVER YEAR. THIS CLINICAL CARE MODEL IS A LOWER COST, EASY ACCESS ALTERNATIVE FOR LOWER ACUITY PATIENTS AS COMPARED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THROUGHOUT THE C19 PANDEMIC, THE EXPRESSCARE LOCATIONS WERE VITAL AT CREATING REGIONAL ASSESS AND TEST CENTERS, A VITAL RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITY. PROVIDING EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND SIMPLE WAYS FOR PATIENTS TO BE EVALUATED AND TESTED FOR C19 WAS KEY TO ENSURING VIRAL MITIGATION. IN ADDITION, THESE LOCATIONS PROVIDED STAFFING SUPPORT FOR VIRTUAL CARE EXPRESS CARE VISITS. THEY PIVOTED TO PROVIDE CAR-SIDE SWABBING FOR C19 SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND ONGOING COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND SUPPORT. OUR EXPRESSCARE COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AT ENSURING DEDICATED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND AFFILIATIONS:LVPG GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME / UME) AND USF-SELECT (SCHOLARLY EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES AND COLLABORATIVE TRAINING)LVPG RECOGNIZES THE INTEGRAL ROLE OUR CLINICIANS AND AMBULATORY PRACTICES PLAY IN UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (UME), GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME), AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH USF FOR THE SELECT PROGRAM (SCHOLARLY EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES AND COLLABORATIVE TRAINING).THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF OUR OUTSTANDING CLINICIAN-EDUCATORS, WE CAN DELIVER EXEMPLARY MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM OFFERINGS. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MANY LVPG PHYSICIANS, THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE CLINICAL MODEL OF OUR MEDICAL GROUP. THE EMBEDDED STRUCTURE COUPLED WITH A DIRECT 'LEARNING AT THE BEDSIDE' APPROACH ALLOWS OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO FLOURISH.THE GRADUATING SELECT CLASS MEMBERS OF 2019 ALL SUCCESSFULLY MATCHED INTO RESIDENCY PROGRAMS. 32% ARE ENTERING PRIMARY CARE 23% WILL REMAIN IN PARESIDENCY PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH LVHN INCLUDE DENTAL MEDICINE, DERMATOLOGY, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, FAMILY MEDICINE, GENERAL SURGERY, INTERNAL MEDICINE, NEUROLOGY, OB/GYN, PEDIATRICS, AND PLASTIC SURGERY. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH LVHN INCLUDE BREAST SURGERY, COLORECTAL SURGERY, CRITICAL CARE, PULMONARY MEDICINE, DERMATOLOGY, ENDOCRINOLOGY, GASTROENTEROLOGY, HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY, HOSPICE/PALLIATIVE CARE, NEPHROLOGY, RHEUMATOLOGY, SPORTS MEDICINE, SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE, TOXICOLOGY, AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY.LVPG PHYSICIANS SERVE AS FACULTY FOR THE LVH RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS, WHICH CURRENTLY OFFERS FULLY ACCREDITED GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE SPECIALTIES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, GENERAL SURGERY, OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, PLASTIC SURGERY, FAMILY MEDICINE, TRANSITIONAL YEAR, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, DERMATOLOGY, COLON RECTAL SURGERY, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, HOSPITAL PALLIATIVE CARE, BREAST SURGERY AND SURGICAL CRITICAL CARE. ADDITIONALLY, A NON-ACCREDITED MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY FELLOWSHIP WAS ADDED IN AUGUST OF 2005 AND PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN GENERAL PEDIATRICS AND NEPHROLOGY.LVPG PROVIDES CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION (CME) TO ITS PHYSICIANS AND ALLIED HEALTH PERSONNEL AS WELL AS TO PHYSICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED DURING THE YEAR.LVPG ALSO CONDUCTS EXTENSIVE CLINICAL IN-SERVICE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR NURSING PERSONNEL.RESEARCHOUR MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED IN INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED CLINICAL TRIALS, HEALTH STUDIES RESEARCH, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH THAT HAS RESULTED IN EXTRAMURAL FUNDING FROM A VARIETY OF PRESTIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, AND THE AGENCY OF HEALTHCARE RESEARCH. AS A MEMBER OF VIZIENT, LVPG PHYSICIANS AND APCS HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF LVHN'S LEADING THE NATION IN SEVERAL KEY HOSPITAL OUTCOME PERFORMANCE METRICS, DEMONSTRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. IN ADDITION, LVPG IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR PRODUCING QUALITY OUTCOMES COMPETITIVE WITH THE TOP HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.PATIENT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS:COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS - LVPG PHYSICIANS AND PROVIDERS ARE DEDICATED TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGH PATIENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING, AND CHRONIC ILLNESS MANAGEMENT. WE FOCUS ON DIABETES, OBESITY, ASTHMA, HYPERTENSION, AND CANCER SCREENING. NEW APPROACHES ARE BEING EXPLORED TO IMPROVE PATIENT ENGAGEMENT IN LVPG, THROUGH THE OPERATIONS OF THE LVPG PATIENT EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE GOAL IS TO MANAGE EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION THROUGH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, SYSTEMATIC AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH BY COORDINATING ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROVIDE CONSISTENT INFORMATION AND OUTCOMES FOR OUR PATIENTS, FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS. PRINT RESOURCES ARE THE PRIMARY METHOD TO COMMUNICATE HEALTH CARE INSTRUCTIONS TO PATIENTS. GIVEN THAT, THE COMMITTEE IS EXPLORING HOW MOBILE APPS AND PATIENT PORTALS WILL REINFORCE LEARNING BY CHANGING THE DELIVERY MODEL. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR: LVPG CLINICAL PATHWAYS, PEDIATRIC OBESITY PATHWAY, MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER PATHWAY, DIABETES TYPE 2 A1C IMPROVEMENT PATHWAY, AT-RISK POPULATIONS: HIV, OPIOID MEDICINE AND DEPENDENCE, AND SUICIDE: REDUCING LETHAL MEANS.IN FY19, LVPG-LEHIGH WRAPPED UP A THREE-YEAR JOURNEY TO IMPROVE THE COMPLETION RATE OF MEDICARE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISITS (AWV). IN JUNE 2016, THE NUMBER OF AWV COMPLETED WAS APPROXIMATELY 16%. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, LVPG-L ACHIEVED AND SUSTAINED A COMPLETION RATE OF ALMOST 70%. COUNTERMEASURES CONTRIBUTING TO THIS IMPROVED CAPTURE RATE INCLUDED EPIC TOOLS (E.G. SMART SET, TEMPLATE, HEALTH MAINTENANCE AND BPA CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT), DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF AN AWV STANDARDIZED WORK FLOW, AND THREE RN CLINICAL QUALITY SUPPORT STAFF TO SUPPORT LOWER PERFORMING PRACTICES. OUR QUALITY PERFORMANCE IS IN THE TOP DECILE CONSISTENTLY AS DEFINED BY HEDIS METRICS AND BENCHMARKING.

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