Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) has announced that it will acquire the assets of Westfield Hospital in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, and transform it into the Center for Orthopedic Medicine.
The Center will likely be opened in early 2014, but LVHN will take ownership of the services in December 2013.
The new facility will offer a range of orthopaedic care, with a focus on total joint replacement and spine surgery.
As part of the transaction, LVHN will also run the Westfield Surgery Center for ambulatory surgery.
As per the preliminary plans, the hospital’s emergency department will be converted into an urgent care facility.
LVHN president and CEO Ronald Swinfard said that the availability of Westfield Hospital provides LVHN with a unique opportunity to expand and enhance its orthopaedics programme.
"This location offers convenience for our patients because of its accessibility and operational efficiencies for both inpatient and outpatient care," Swinfard added.
He said that LVHN will operate its existing orthopaedic services, which are currently located at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, Lehigh Valley Hospital-17th St. and Fairgrounds Surgical Center, as part of the Center for Orthopedic Medicine.
Westfield employees will be given an opportunity to seek jobs at the new Center for Orthopedic Medicine or at other LVHN campuses.
The new facility is expected to create about 100 jobs.
Westfield Hospital CEO Dr Yasin Khan thanked the "dedicated and professional" physicians, nurses and staff who have provided patient care to the community since 2007.
"Westfield Hospital and Westfield Surgery Center will continue caring for their patients, fully, until the December 2013 transaction date," Dr Khan added.
Image: Westfield Hospital in South Whitehall Township will become LVHN’s Center for Orthopedic Medicine. Photo courtesy of Lehigh Valley Health Network.
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