LOWER MACUNGIE TWP. — Lehigh Valley Health Network will expand its reach with its first neighborhood hospital.
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Macungie is set to open by the end of 2023. The building will be 22,000 square feet and constructed on the former Weis grocery store location at 3369 Route 100 in Lower Macungie Township, closely bordering Macungie.
- Lehigh Valley Health Network broke ground on its first "neighborhood hospital" of its network and a new health office in Lower Macungie Township Monday
- The site will expand nearby access to those in the area, while speakers say it can reduce costs and ER wait times
- The site is expected to open by the end of 2023 and costs $27 million.
The “micro-hospital” will feature 10 inpatient beds alongside 11 ER beds. Those requiring more advanced care will be stabilized and then sent to one of the larger hospitals in the network, such as Cedar Crest in nearby South Whitehall Township.
The hospital will have greater capability than the current express care facility nearby.
Alongside the new hospital, there will be a new 30,000-square-foot medical office building called the Health Center at Macungie, which will house a variety of medical services including an HNL Lab Medicine draw center, orthopedics, cardiology, family medicine and pediatric practices.
“Those that we serve want the very best clinical outcomes they can have, but they also like it to be convenient.”Brian Nester, Lehigh Valley Health Network President
“Those that we serve want the very best clinical outcomes they can have, but they also like it to be convenient,” LVHN President Brian Nester said. "They'd like it to be nearby."
Nester said that by being able to better engage patients and allow easier access to health services, costs may be lowered from less transport and keeping those in the area more on track with their health. He said the location was chosen because of growth of the Macungie area.
Speakers at a news conference said the facility will be a new style of health care campus for the community. They said it will allow for reduced ER wait times, among other benefits.
Lehigh Valley Health Network said it plans similar smaller neighborhood hospitals throughout the region in the coming years.
LVHN Public Information Officer Brian Downs said the project is set to cost $27 million.
Downs said 50 to 60 jobs will be added from the hospital, with 75 to 100 more added in the medical office.
Concerns about workforce shortages continue for nurses and other hospital staff, which Nester acknowledged.
“We have a national crisis of staffing,” Nester said. “It's not just nurses. It's every nursing-related job, and it's a challenge for us. It's a challenge for all of our hospitals in Pennsylvania right now.”
Nester said he believes the location is attractive for potential workers and the company can't be sitting still toward improving care and access in the face of staffing challenges.
