- Another pediatric emergency room now is open in the Lehigh Valley
- St. Luke’s University Health Network opened the Isaacman Family Children’s Emergency Room, after establishing a children’s hospital in June
- The current space is a renovated area of the hospital, but new construction is under way
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley now has another option for children needing emergency medicine.
A pediatric emergency room now is open at St. Luke’s University Health Network.
The Isaacman Family Children’s Emergency Room has six beds at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Bethlehem.
"Children are not just small adults, they experience disease differently and have different ailments that they suffer from sometimes," said Dr. Alana Arnold, medical director for pediatric emergency medicine services.
"So it's really important to have specified pediatric-trained clinicians and nurses, and a team of specialists that can serve children specifically.”
Arnold said the emergency room will evolve in phases, with the current location operating in a renovated space in the hospital, while a new space is being built over the next two years on the Fountain Hill campus.
"It's great that it's going to be in the community, close to family, so they don't have to travel very far to get that excellent care."Dr. Alana Arnold, medical director for pediatric emergency medicine services at St. Luke's
"It's great that it's going to be in the community, close to family, so they don't have to travel very far to get that excellent care,” she said.
“Our goal, really, in the children's ER, is to make sure that the children are comfortable, families are comfortable, to receive the best care possible right in their own backyard."
The pediatric ER has more than 35 pediatric specialists, including a pediatric nephrologist, developmental pediatricians and a team of fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeons.
'Can't think of a better place'
The project was made possible with a donation from the Isaacman family.
"All things change and medicine does as well," said Jared Isaacman, of Easton, founder and chief executive officer of Shift4, an integrated payment processing solutions company based in Allentown.
"It needs modernization and investment, so what I saw was some pretty incredible renderings of a pediatric emergency department.”
Isaacman also is an accomplished pilot and astronaut.
"I try and make a lot of contributions to organizations that are really trying to help families in their kind of their darkest days. And I can't think of a better place to help in that effort than in our own backyard here and what St. Luke's is doing with their pediatric emergency department."Jared Isaacman, of Easton, founder and chief executive officer of Shift4
"I try and make a lot of contributions to organizations that are really trying to help families in their kind of their darkest days," Isaacman said.
"And I can't think of a better place to help in that effort than in our own backyard here and what St. Luke's is doing with their pediatric emergency department."
Rick Anderson, president and chief executive officer of St. Luke’s University Health Network, said the "important addition" was made possible by a "generous contribution" from Jared and Monica Isaacman.
“Thanks to their kindness and the commitment to our community demonstrated by the Isaacmans, the Isaacman Family Children’s ER will provide care to children and their families in their time of need,” Anderson said.
The children’s ER has a number of pediatric specialists, including board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physicians.
It is equipped with a range of special diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and young patients have access to on-site therapists with expertise in child development, psychology and counseling.
St. Luke’s announced the establishment of its children’s hospital in June.
