Lehigh Valley Hospital—Hecktown Oaks a level IV trauma center

Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)—Hecktown Oaks is officially a level IV adult trauma Center, making it the fifth Lehigh Valley Health Network hospital to receive trauma center accreditation.

Trauma centers typically treat patients injured in falls, motor vehicle crashes, industrial accidents and other situations that produce life-threatening injuries. There are 50 approved trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with LVH—Hecktown Oaks the latest addition.

In addition to LVH—Hecktown Oaks, LVHN’s other accredited trauma centers are LVH—Cedar Crest (adult level I and pediatric level II), LVH—Muhlenberg (level II), LVH—Pocono (level III) and

LVH—Hazleton (level IV), making LVHN the only health network in Pennsylvania to achieve all levels of adult trauma center accreditation.

Level IV trauma centers provide enhanced care to injured patients within the emergency department and focus on stabilization and quick transfer to a higher-level trauma center. They may admit mildly injured patients.

Lehigh Valley Health Network has had a formal trauma program since July 1978. In 1981, LVH—Cedar Crest became the first trauma center to be designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In 1985 LVH—Cedar Crest applied for accreditation as a level I trauma center and was approved in 1986. It also is an accredited level II pediatric trauma center as well as a regional burn center verified by the American Burn Center and a trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons.

LVH—Hecktown Oaks has a helipad, and its trauma bay features specialized equipment along with the latest technology, including indigo lighting, which helps to prevent infections and hospital-acquired illnesses.