Pending necessary approval, Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network will embark on a $111 million expansion project that will more than double the capacity of its emergency department at its hospital in Salisbury Township, Pa., according to a Lehigh Valley Live news report.
The project calls for adding 120,000 square feet to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest's existing ED and increasing the bed count to 97 from 42. In addition, the hospital is planning to expand its specialized pediatric ED to 26 beds from 12.
Construction is slated to begin between late 2018 and early 2019. The revamped adult ED is expected to open by fall 2020. Once the ED addition is complete, the existing emergency room will be renovated into the expanded children's ED. The pediatric ED is slated to open in 2021.
Lehigh Valley Health Network still needs approval from the Salisbury Township Planning Commission.
"Patients and families expect and deserve access to emergency care, an excellent experience when they're in the ER and efficiency if they need to remain in the hospital for additional care following their visit," Leigh Valley Health Network President and CEO Brian Nester, DO, said, according to Lehigh Valley Live. "To meet our community's needs, we are making a significant investment to expand the ER and create an innovative acute care facility at LVH-Cedar Crest."