Brittany Sweeney
Health and wellness reporterI’m LehighValleyNews.com’s health and wellness reporter and also host “Living in the Lehigh Valley,” PBS39's health and wellness show. I have covered health-related topics for Lehigh Valley Public Media, contributing to PBS39 and 91.3 WLVR, since 2018. Winning the 2020 Emmy Award for Video Journalist is something I am proud of accomplishing while working for Lehigh Valley Public Media. I grew up in Montgomery County and I'm passionate about telling compelling stories in my home state of Pennsylvania. I'm a graduate of Temple University (go Owls!) and spent most of my career working as an anchor and reporter for NBC affiliates in Northeast Pennsylvania and Ohio. When I'm not covering news around the Lehigh Valley, I can be found exploring the great outdoors with my family. Contact me at BrittanyS@lehighvalleynews.com or 610-984-8170.
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A measles outbreak in Philadelphia has Lehigh Valley health officials on alert. St. Luke’s University Health Network reports that there are no current cases of measles in the Lehigh Valley, but the virus is very contagious. -
Emergency calls for house fires increase in the winter months as people spend more time indoors using supplemental heating sources. Four officials say being prepared and having a family fire plan can be the difference between life and death.
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Reporter Brittany Sweeney's dishwasher recently caught fire. She tells how a smoke detector and extinguisher made all the difference
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A recently released hospital performance report shows a significant increase in hospital mortality rates from 2017 to 2022. The Pennsylvania Health Care Coalition on Cost Containment releases the report each year.
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The CEO of St. Luke's University Health Network addressed the potential merger of competitor Lehigh Valley Health Network with Jefferson Health. CEO Rick Anderson sent a message to St. Luke's thousands of employees.
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Is it COVID-19, RSV, or the flu? Doctors are saying it could be any of the three or even whooping cough. Respiratory illnesses are on the rise following the holiday season and there may not be a reprieve for a while.
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Resources for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren are limited. A Pennsylvania nonprofit is working to change that in the new year.
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New therapies for sickle cell disease could be available in the Lehigh Valley next year. The FDA approved the treatments earlier this month for people 12 and older. The disease disproportionately affects people who are Black and of certain other descents.
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Lehigh Valley Health Network plans to merge with Jefferson Health, but deals like this are nothing new to the Philadelphia-based system. For nearly a decade, Jefferson has been combining forces with hospitals in two states.
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Getting physical and mental health in check is a popular new year resolution. Lehigh Valley health leaders are explaining how they plan to accomplish their goals for 2024.
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Chris Norton, known for his viral videos and Netflix documentary, will speak at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation in Allentown. The Wednesday evening event is free to the public.
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Both major health networks in the Lehigh Valley are on the receiving end of money for their neonatal ICUs. The donations are from the Lehigh Valley Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Foundation.
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Summer is a time for travel and outdoor adventures, but an illness can ruin those plans. A local physician is offering up some ways to avoid getting sick this season.
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It's that time of year for summer cookouts and barbeques, but there are a few things to know about food safety. A local dietician has tips to avoid food poisoning.
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The Allentown Health Bureau is collecting menstrual products for residents that don't have access or can't afford them. The period poverty initiative is underway during Menstrual Health Awareness Month.
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The Peeps chick paid a visit to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital to help celebrate the pediatric hospital's 12th anniversary.
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The Veterans Affairs clinic in South Whitehall Township is hosting a free event Wednesday aimed at helping veterans enroll in VA health care and understand the PACT Act. More people are now eligible for benefits following changes to the law.
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Changes to breast cancer screening recommendations are out from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. A Lehigh Valley Health Network physician is calling for more frequent screenings than those in the updated recommendations.
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Northampton Community College hosted the Lehigh Valley’s annual Safety & Health Expo. The Lehigh Valley Safety Committee welcomes people from around the area to the free event.
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A new behavioral health hospital is being built in Hanover Township, Northampton County. Ground was broken Wednesday for Lehigh Valley Health Network’s new facility on the LVHN-Muhlenberg campus.
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The merger is expected to be finalized later in the summer. Once fully approved, the two health care behemoths will form a partnership resulting in a regional provider overseeing 30 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient care sites.
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The Allentown branch of the Greater Valley YMCA is back open following a fire last June. The reopening Monday brought back regulars for workouts — and the public can try it out for free through the end of May.
