SALISBURY TWP., Pa. — Lehigh Valley Health Network has expanded the capacity of its inpatient pediatric unit.
Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital has added 20 beds to the unit, increasing the inpatient medical-surgical pediatric capacity to 50.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the facility Tuesday.
- Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital expanded their inpatient pediatric unit
- Added 20 more 30 beds for a total of 50
- The severe respiratory contributed to the need for more room
The expansion reflects the growing demand for specialized pediatric care, health network officials said.
“There is a real need for additional pediatric beds in our community and we are thrilled to expand access to families in our region,” said Dr. Nathan Hagstrom, Physician-in-Chief of the children's hospital.
Also at the ribbon-cutting for the unit was hospital President Anne Baum.
“We've seen a consistent increase in admissions and particularly during the respiratory illness surge that we saw, starting last fall, we really saw the need for additional beds,” Baum said.
“We've seen a consistent increase in admissions and particularly during the respiratory illness surge that we saw, starting last fall, we really saw the need for additional beds."<br/>Lehigh Valley Reilly's Childrens Hospital President Anne Baum
The expansion comes on the heels of a severe respiratory season.
Highest level of care sought
Baum explained that part of its goal is to provide high-level care to Lehigh Valley families close to home.
Baum said children who come into the space are typically experiencing a more critical illness or health condition.
“This would be somebody who needs to stay overnight for one or a few days," she said. "So they're a little bit sicker than the emergency visit, they need to stay here for some extra care before they go home, they would come to this unit."
The unit was expanded into an existing space in the children’s hospital. Patients will start to be seen in the unit this week.
The 50 inpatient pediatric beds are complemented by other pediatric services at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, including 12 observation beds next to the 25-bed children’s emergency room, a 12-bed pediatric intensive care unit and a 40-bed neonatal intensive care unit.
Over the past 10 years, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital has grown to have more than 100 locations caring for kids. The hospital now has the most pediatric specialists in the region and offers more than 30 specialties just for children.
It also has the region’s only Children’s ER, Children’s ExpressCAREs, Children’s Surgery Center, Children’s Cancer Center and highest level (Level IV) NICU.
