MILFORD TWP., Pa. — People living in and around Upper Bucks County now have more access to OB GYN and oncology services in their community.
St. Luke’s University Health Network on Monday cut the ribbon on its new $72 million Women and Babies Pavilion and Oncology Center.
- St. Luke’s University Health Network cut the ribbon on its new Women and Babies Pavilion and Oncology center
- It will expand services to the Upper Bucks County community
- Obstetric services will start March 1 and oncology services to follow in six to eight weeks
“In addition to having just more capacity and more labor rooms and more space on labor and delivery, is the fact that we will now have a NICU capable of caring for babies down to 32 weeks," said Dr. Elizabeth Dierking, chairwoman of St. Luke's obstetrics and gynecology department.
The project broke ground two years ago. St. Luke’s Upper Bucks Campus opened in Milford Township in 2019.
Dierking said the expansion will make it easier for people of all ages living in the area to become more familiar with their healthcare providers.
"They want to have a unit that feels like it's part of their community, that they don't have to drive a great distance to get there."Dr. Elizabeth Dierking, chairwoman of St. Luke's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
“They want to have a unit that feels like its part of their community; that they don't have to drive a great distance to get there," Dierking said.
"One where they feel like they know the staff and know their physicians and feel like they're all part of the community. I think those are all really important things to patients and that's the motivation to come here and expand our services at Upper Bucks is to make sure that patients can feel that,” she said.
Dierking said the facility will begin offering obstetric services in the new 118,000 square-foot wing March 1.
In addition, the oncology center will make infusion therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation more accessible there within six to eight weeks.
”These are all going to be expanded and improved services as well," said Dr. Israel Zighelboim, St. Luke's network chairman of oncology and cancer center director.
"So even the ones that were getting chemotherapy before will get a very different experience in a beautiful new space with gorgeous views to our gardens.”
Zighelboim said patients also will be able to take advantage of nutrition services, genetics and genetic counseling, and other supportive community services, as well as have access to clinical trials.
“We're going to have gynecologic oncology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology and access to all the ancillary services that the cancer center has,” he said.
