SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — A new orthopedic hospital will open soon in South Whitehall Township.
St. Luke’s Orthopedic Hospital, part of St. Luke’s University Health Network, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at West End Medical Center on Cetronia Road.
"It's an exciting day as we look to provide great care for the demanding needs for patients requiring orthopedic surgery,” St. Luke's West Region President Bill Moyer said.
Moyer said the $44 million, 57,800-square-foot facility is St. Luke's first orthopedic hospital and the 15th campus in the greater Lehigh Valley.
It will start seeing patients on Monday, Dec. 18.
"Most patients who need surgery want to have it immediately. They don't want to wait there. They're like, 'I've made a decision, let's get going with it. And there's just a huge problem with access."St. Luke's West Region President Bill Moyer
The hospital has eight operating rooms and 24 rooms for pre- and post-surgery care.
It's also equipped with newer technology, including the VELYS robot-assisted orthopedic surgery system.
The rooms were built with state-of-the-art equipment and extra space to move around, so patients have the room they need for recovery.
St. Luke’s said it will add 80 nurses, technicians, therapists and other staff to work in the two-story orthopedic hospital.
“We'll be doing all kinds of surgery here," Moyer said.
'Focus is always on access'
While the primary procedures will be joint replacements, minor hand and wrist and shoulder replacements also are expected to be done, he said.
Medical professionals at the new facility will do same-day surgeries of the knee, hip, spine, hand and shoulder, and treat an array of sports-related fractures and other injuries, he said.
"Most patients who need surgery want to have it immediately," Moyer said. "They don't want to wait there. They're like, 'I've made a decision, let's get going with it.'
"And there's just a huge problem with access."
"By doing this, not only do we enable the patients with orthopedic needs to be able to be cured in a very efficient and effective way, but we also reduce the pressure on the surgical services across the network.”Dr. Douglas Lundy, St. Luke’s chairman of orthopedics
St. Luke’s Chairman of Orthopedics Dr. Douglas Lundy said there is a tremendous need for operating room space.
"St. Luke's focus is always on access and we don't want our patients to jump through a lot of hoops to get care," Lundy said.
“With that in mind, our strategic plan has always been to make sure that we have a presence in the areas that we serve.
"As the surgical demands within the community keep going up, the pressure on the operating rooms keeps getting higher and higher.
"And so by doing this, not only do we enable the patients with orthopedic needs to be able to be cured in a very efficient and effective way, but we also reduce the pressure on the surgical services across the network.”
St. Luke’s next expansion project includes the opening of the Women & Babies Pavilion in Allentown.
