ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A local hospital system has been nationally recognized for its community efforts.
St. Luke’s University Health Network was chosen among the top systems on the 2022 Lown Hospital Index.
- The Lown Institute evaluated hospitals across the country based on inclusivity, equity and community benefit
- St. Luke’s University Health Network was ranked third for social responsibility among health systems
- St. Luke's Monroe Campus made the list of the most socially responsible hospitals
St. Luke's was ranked third out of more than 300 hospital systems across the country for social responsibility in 2022, according to Lown.
The Lown Institute evaluated hospitals across the country based on criteria such as inclusivity, equity and community benefit. The Massachusetts-based research institute aims to improve health care for people living in the United States.
“America needs socially responsible hospitals,” Lown Institute President Dr. Vikas Saini said. “The hospitals topping our index have proven they have what it takes to be great community partners.”
Rajika Reed, St. Luke’s vice president for community health, said the Lehigh Valley health care system’s community health department has been around since the 1990s.
“So we go into schools, we provide summer meals, we work on taking our medical and dental bands out to the communities."Rajika Reed, St. Luke’s vice president for community health
“We have these wonderful, longstanding partnerships and relationships that we build off of to address those needs and care,” Reed said.
“So we go into schools, we provide summer meals, we work on taking our medical and dental bands out to the communities. So we're really addressing those needs as they arise.”
Reed added that in an effort to increase accessibility to health care, St. Luke’s has kept open community hospitals, such as Sacred Heart in Allentown.
“Our vision really is for everyone in our community to have access to exceptional health care, and that needs to be built on a foundation of trust and compassion," she said.
"And I think St. Luke's does an incredible job of delivering that down to the culture of our employees and our communities."
The Lown Hospital Index examined more than 3,600 hospitals for its list of the most socially responsible hospitals in the United States.
Sixty-six of the hospitals earned straight A grades, including St. Luke’s Monroe Campus.
See the complete 2022 Lown Hospital Index here.
