Executives at Lehigh Valley Health Network and Westfield Hospital, both in Allentown, Pa., have signed an asset purchase agreement, in which LVHN will buy Westfield Hospital and convert it into an orthopedic center.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In a news release, LVHN President and CEO Ronald Swinfard, MD, said the 25-bed Westfield Hospital will eventually be transformed and rebranded as the Center for Orthopedic Medicine. Most of the care at the center will focus on total joint replacement and spine surgery. LVHN plans to convert Westfield Hospital's emergency department into an urgent care facility.
LVHN also will acquire Westfield Surgery Center.
Westfield Hospital currently has 100 employees, and LVHN will give those employees a chance to look for employment at the new center and at other LVHN campuses. LVHN expects to assume ownership of the facilities in December and open the Center for Orthopedic Medicine in early 2014.
LVHN has been active within the transaction environment. In September, it was one of seven major health systems in the Northeast to form AllSpire Health Partners, a collaborative alliance to focus on healthcare quality and population health management. Earlier this year, LVHN signed a merger agreement with Greater Hazleton (Pa.) Health Alliance, which resulted in the current LVHN structure.
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