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The final steel beam was put in place on the new Lehigh Valley Center for Healthcare Education today live on Facebook.
The new center, 3900 Sierra Circle, Center Valley, expected to open in early 2023, will be the home of LVHN’s Department of Education, combining three departments into one in the new 70,000-square-foot facility with dedicated space for education, administration and support services.
“As we celebrate this milestone, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to many who have contributed to the success of this construction,” said Dr. Michael A. Rossi, executive vice president and chief clinical officer. “Thank you to our colleagues for their dedication to our education mission and commitment to improve patient care.”
Rossi also thanked BDA Architects, Boyle Construction and Peron Development for their work on the project as well as LVHN’s Board of Trustees and the network’s partners in Upper Saucon Township for their support in investing in the education of LVHN’s caregivers.
“Peron Development is excited to work with Lehigh Valley Health Network on the development and construction of the Department of Education building,” said Rob de Beer, director of development, Peron Development. “Featuring best-in-class design elements and construction materials, this will be a sophisticated building at a prominent location and a true showpiece in Upper Saucon Township.”
Rossi said the health network expects to complete construction in late 2022, and to open the building in early 2023. Education remains in the forefront at LVHN, one of Pennsylvania’s largest teaching hospitals, and this project further enhances a strong legacy of molding future generations of health care professionals, he said.
During the virtual ceremony today, Rossi said education is the key to:
- Attracting providers that are on the cutting edge of medical advancements
- Providing high-quality care and safe patient experiences
- Growing LVHN’s medical education programs to attract the best and brightest candidates
- Facilitating clinical experiences for students in health professions in the region, and
- Onboarding and retaining clinical staff through continued opportunities for professional development
“We want to maintain LVHN’s national certification as a Great Place to Work for all colleagues and doing so involves making sure they have the tools they need to succeed,” Rossi said.
Dr. Robert Barraco, chief academic officer, said in addition to providing education like professional development and onboarding, undergraduate and graduate medical education, health care simulation and electronic medical record training, the Department of Education is also home to the Joseph F. McCloskey School of Nursing at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill.
Barraco said LVHN’s Department of Education supports 1,200 medical, nursing and other students, and 340 residents and fellows. The department has provided 190,000 instructional hours of professional development and distributed over one million health sheets and 250,000 patient education resources.
“This new facility will add to or significantly improve many areas of the existing facilities LVHN uses for colleague and student education,” Barraco said.
Features include:
- A new state-of-the-art simulation center
- A full-size training operating room
- All rooms will have plug-and-play capability for learners and ability to broadcast to other sites.
- Increased classroom size and flexibility
- A reception area, a dedicated food services area, a dining and event area, a 150-person auditorium and large computer labs and storage areas