Earlier this month, we wrote about a massive fire that damaged, forced patient evacuations and closed Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) Lehigh Valley Hospital - Dickson City in Pennsylvania. LVHN parent Jefferson Health has provided an update on the status of the facility, announcing that it reopened the hospital, including its emergency department and ORs, last Friday.
The reopening followed an inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and coordination with borough officials.
The health system lauded “the extraordinary coordination, commitment and resilience of more than 400 Jefferson colleagues, partners and contractors who worked around the clock to safely restore care for the community.”
“This milestone speaks to the unwavering dedication and teamwork of our Jefferson colleagues, and the strong partnership we’ve had with local and state partners throughout this recovery,” said Joseph G. Cacchione, MD, CEO of Jefferson Health, which acquired LVHN in 2024.
While emergency, surgical and limited inpatient services have resumed, work to restore additional services is ongoing. “Jefferson Health continues to assess, repair and prepare remaining areas of the campus, with patient and colleague safety as the top priority,” stated the health system.
Surgeries resumed over the weekend, with accelerated access for patients whose procedures were delayed by the fire. A mobile kitchen is providing essential food services to patients.
“Our goal is to ensure that when patients walk through our doors again, they feel the same confidence and trust they always have,” said Bob Begliomini, PharmD, MBA, FASHP, president, Jefferson Health - Lehigh Valley Region. “That means being deliberate, thorough and patient‑centered at every step of reopening.”
“Since the fire, we heard countless stories of people stepping in without hesitation," said Joseph Pinto, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Jefferson Health. "Doctors who ended their shift and drove immediately to Dickson City, clinicians who took the jackets off their backs to help warm cold patients during the evacuation, and volunteer firefighters, EMS, police and state troopers who helped usher our patients and staff to safety. Those acts of quiet heroism made a profound difference.”
The health system says hospital staff proactively reached out to hundreds of patients who were impacted by the closure of the attached medical office building that was the center of the fire to reschedule their appointments, either virtually or at alternate locations.
An online FAQ addresses patients’ most common questions.
The health system says additional updates regarding services and operations will be shared as they become available.
