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Pocono Medical Center

PO Box 4000
Allentown, PA 18105
EIN: 240795623
Individual Facility Details: Pocono Medical Center
206 East Brown Street
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
1 hospital in organization:
(click a facility name to update Individual Facility Details panel)
Bed count264Medicare provider number390201Member of the Council of Teaching HospitalsYESChildren's hospitalNO

Pocono Medical CenterDisplay data for year:

Community Benefit Spending- 2021
(as % of functional expenses, which all tax-exempt organizations report on Form 990 Schedule H)
5.27%
Spending by Community Benefit Category- 2021
(as % of total functional expenses)
* = CBI denoted preventative categories
Community Benefit Spending Compared to Functional Expenses, 2010-2021
Additional data

Community Benefit Expenditures: 2021

  • All tax-exempt organizations file a Form 990 with the IRS for every tax year. If the tax-exempt organization operates one or more hospital facilities during the tax year, the organization must attach a Schedule H to Form 990. On Part I of Schedule H, the organization records the expenditures it made during the tax year for various types of community benefits; 9 types are shown on this web tool. By default, this web tool presents community benefit expenditures as a percentage of the organization’s functional expenses, which it reports on Form 990, Part IX, Line 25, Column A. (The more commonly heard term, ‘total operating expenses’, which organizations report to CMS, is generally about 90% of the ‘functional expenses’). The user may change the default to see the dollar expenditures.

    • Operating expenses$ 254,335,873
      Total amount spent on community benefits
      as % of operating expenses
      $ 13,411,130
      5.27 %
  • Amount spent in the following IRS community benefit categories:
      • Financial Assistance at cost
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 484,211
        0.19 %
        Medicaid
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 10,714,421
        4.21 %
        Costs of other means-tested government programs
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
        Health professions education
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 364,537
        0.14 %
        Subsidized health services
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 1,738,689
        0.68 %
        Research
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
        Community health improvement services and community benefit operations*
        as % of operating expenses
        Note: these two community benefit categories are reported together on the Schedule H, part I, line 7e.
        $ 109,272
        0.04 %
        Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit*
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
        Community building*
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 0
        0 %
    • * = CBI denoted preventative categories
    • Community building activities details:
        • Did tax-exempt hospital report community building activities?Not available
          Number of activities or programs (optional)0
          Physical improvements and housing0
          Economic development0
          Community support0
          Environmental improvements0
          Leadership development and training for community members0
          Coalition building0
          Community health improvement advocacy0
          Workforce development0
          Other0
          Persons served (optional)0
          Physical improvements and housing0
          Economic development0
          Community support0
          Environmental improvements0
          Leadership development and training for community members0
          Coalition building0
          Community health improvement advocacy0
          Workforce development0
          Other0
          Community building expense
          as % of operating expenses
          $ 0
          0 %
          Physical improvements and housing
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Economic development
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Community support
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Environmental improvements
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Leadership development and training for community members
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Coalition building
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Community health improvement advocacy
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Workforce development
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Other
          as % of community building expenses
          $ 0
          Direct offsetting revenue$ 0
          Physical improvements and housing$ 0
          Economic development$ 0
          Community support$ 0
          Environmental improvements$ 0
          Leadership development and training for community members$ 0
          Coalition building$ 0
          Community health improvement advocacy$ 0
          Workforce development$ 0
          Other$ 0

    Other Useful Tax-exempt Hospital Information: 2021

    • In addition to community benefit and community building expenditures, the Schedule H worksheet includes sections on what percentage of bad debt can be attributable to patients eligible for financial assistance, and questions on the tax-exempt hospital's debt collection policy. When searching a specific tax-exempt hospital in this web tool, Section II provides information about bad debt and the financial assistance policy, and whether the state in which the tax-exempt hospital resides has expanded Medicaid coverage under the federal ACA.

      • Of the tax-exempt hospital’s overall operating expenses, amount reported as bad debt
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 2,118,706
        0.83 %
        Is the tax-exempt hospital considered a "sole community hospital" under the Medicare program?NO
    • Information about the tax-exempt hospital's Financial Assistance Policy and Debt Collection Policy

      The Financial Assistance Policy section of Schedule H has changed over the years. The questions listed below reflect the questions on the 2009-2011 Schedule H forms and the answers tax-exempt hospitals provided for those years. The Financial Assistance Policy requirements were changed under the ACA. In the future, as the Community Benefit Insight web site is populated with 2021 data and subsequent years, the web tool will also be updated to reflect the new wording and requirements. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this section, we encourage you to contact your tax-exempt hospital directly.

      • Does the organization have a written financial assistance (charity care) policy?YES
        Did the tax-exempt hospital rely upon Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) to determine when to provide free or discounted care for patients?YES
        Amount of the tax-exempt hospital’s bad debt (at cost) attributed to patients eligible under the organization’s financial assistance (charity care) policy
        as % of operating expenses
        $ 546,988
        25.82 %
    • Did the tax-exempt hospital, or an authorized third party, take any of the following collection activities before determining whether the patient was eligible for financial assistance:
      • Reported to credit agencyNot available
    • Under the ACA, states have the choice to expand Medicaid eligibility for their residents up to 138% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Medicaid expansion provision of the ACA did not go into effect until January 2014, so data in this web tool will not reflect each state's current Medicaid eligibility threshold. For up to date information, please visit the Terms and Glossary under the Resources tab.

      • After enactment of the ACA, has the state in which this tax-exempt hospital is located expanded Medicaid?YES
    • The federal poverty guidelines (FPG) are set by the government and used to determine eligibility for many federal financial assistance programs. Tax-exempt hospitals often use FPG guidelines in their Financial Assistance policies to determine which patients will qualify for free or discounted care.

      • If not, is the state's Medicaid threshold for working parents at or below 76% of the federal poverty guidelines?Not available
    • In addition to the federal requirements, some states have laws stipulating community benefit requirements as a result of tax-exemption. The laws vary from state to state and may require the tax-exempt hospitals to submit community benefit reports. Data on this web tool captures whether or not a state had a mandatory community benefit reporting law as of 2011. For more information, please see Community Benefit State Law Profiles Comparison at The Hilltop Institute.

      • Does the state in which the tax-exempt hospital is located have a mandatory community benefit reporting statute?YES

    Community Health Needs Assessment Activities: 2021

    • The ACA requires all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt hospitals to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years, starting with the hospital's tax year beginning after March 23, 2012. The 2011 Schedule H included an optional section of questions on the CHNA process. This web tool includes responses for those hospitals voluntary reporting this information. The web tool will be updated to reflect changes in these questions on the 2012 and subsequent Schedule H forms.

      • Did the tax-exempt hospital report that they had conducted a CHNA?YES
        Did the CHNA define the community served by the tax-exempt hospital?YES
        Did the CHNA consider input from individuals that represent the broad interests of the community served by the tax-exempt hospital?YES
        Did the tax-exempt hospital make the CHNA widely available (i.e. post online)?YES
        Did the tax-exempt hospital adopt an implementation strategy to address the community needs identified by the CHNA?YES

    Supplemental Information: 2021

    This section presents qualitative information submitted by the hospital, verbatim from the 990H record.
    • Statement of Program Service Accomplishments
      Description of the organization's program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses, and revenue, if any, for each program service reported.
    • 4A (Expenses $ 249844310 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 298029628)
      "POCONO MEDICAL CENTER OPERATES LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL-POCONO (LVH-P), A 264 BED, ACUTE CARE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LOCATED IN EAST STROUDSBURG, PA.LVH-P ALSO OPERATES LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL-DICKSON CITY (LVH-DC), A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART HOSPITAL CAMPUS LOCATED IN DICKSON CITY, PA. THIS NEW FACILITY OPENED IN MAY 2022, SO FY2022'S DATA ONLY COVERS TWO MONTHS OF ACTIVITY AT THIS NEW CAMPUS.WITH OVER 400 PHYSICIANS WITH CLINICAL PRIVILEGES AT LVH-POCONO AND LVH-DICKSON CITY AND OVER 1,800 STAFF MEMBERS, OUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS HEALTHCARE TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR THOSE SERVICES MOST CRITICAL TO THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH NEEDS. LVH-P HAD 40,837 PATIENT DAYS OF STAY IN FY22. 4,255 SURGERIES WERE COMPLETED, AND LVH-P RECEIVED 197,970 OUTPATIENT VISITS, WITH 38,929 BEING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS.LVH-DC HAD 412 PATIENT DAYS OF STAY IN FY22. 194 SURGERIES WERE COMPLETED, AND LVH-DC RECEIVED 1,598 OUTPATIENT VISITS, WITH 1,574 BEING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS.LVH-P AND LVH-DC PROVIDE SERVICES OF DIRECT PATIENT CARE, COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL AND PATIENT EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. LVH-P AND LVH-DC PROVIDE QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE REGARDLESS OF AGE, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, HANDICAP, AGE, OR ABILITY TO PAY. ALTHOUGH REIMBURSEMENTS FOR SERVICES RENDERED ARE CRITICAL TO THE OPERATION AND STABILITY OF LVH-P AND LVH-DC, IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT NOT ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE SAME ABILITY TO PAY FOR VITAL MEDICAL SERVICES. TO THAT END, AS PART OF OUR CHARITABLE MISSION TO SERVE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, FREE CARE, SUBSIDIZED CARE, AND HEALTH ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SCREENINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT:LVH-P AND LVH-DC PROVIDE SEVERAL DIRECT PATIENT CARE SERVICES TO THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TYPICALLY SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL MEANS OF HEALTHCARE FOR THESE PATIENTS.DURING FY2022, THE ED AT LVH-P SAW 38,929 PATIENTS, WITH NEARLY 14.1% BEING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, MAKING UP 61% OF LVH-P'S TOTAL ADMISSIONS.THE ED AT LVH-DC SAW 1,574 PATIENTS DURING FY2022, WITH NEARLY 7.3% BEING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, MAKING UP 57% OF LVH-DC'S TOTAL ADMISSIONS.ESSA HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER PART OF LEHIGH VALLEY HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE:LVH-P'S ESSA HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE (HVI) PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR ADDRESSING THE SECOND HIGHEST CAUSE OF DEATH OF ADULTS IN OUR COUNTY, HEART DISEASE. FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR PATIENTS AND TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES, WE CENTRALIZED OUR CARDIAC CARE SERVICES AND OPENED A NEW HEART RHYTHM CENTER. THE CARDIAC CATHERIZATION LABS, CARDIAC REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT, AND VARIOUS NON-INVASIVE CARDIAC SERVICES (SUCH AS PACEMAKER CHECKS, CARDIAC STRESS TESTING, NUCLEAR STRESS TESTING, PULMONARY REHAB, AND STRESS ECHO) WERE RELOCATED TO OFFER COMPREHENSIVE HEART CARE IN ONE LOCATION. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES TO TREAT HEART ARRHYTHMIAS, OUR HEART RHYTHM CENTER PROVIDES A FULLY EQUIPPED ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY (EP) LAB. THE EP LAB PROVIDES ATRIAL AND VENTRICULAR NODE DIAGNOSTICS AND ABLATION, INTRA CARDIAC 3D ECHO AND 3D CARDIO CAPABILITIES, AS WELL AS BI-VENTRICULAR PACEMAKER - SERVICES PATIENTS PREVIOUSLY HAD TO TRAVEL TO OTHER FACILITIES TO RECEIVE.24/7 EXPERT STROKE CARE:LVH-P IS CERTIFIED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION AS A PRIMARY STROKE CENTER AND IS PART OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK, WHICH GIVES OUR PATIENTS AND PHYSICIANS ON-CALL ACCESS TO OUR JOINT COMMISSION CERTIFIED COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTER AT CEDAR CREST. OUR NETWORK PROVIDES TELE CONSULT SERVICES TO OUR NEUROLOGY AND NEURO-INTERVENTIONAL TEAMS, AS WELL AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOFTWARE IN OUR CT SCANNERS TO DETECT LARGE VESSEL OCCLUSIONS ENABLING OUR PHYSICIANS TO PROVIDE FASTER DIAGNOSIS AND MORE EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT.LEVEL III TRAUMA CENTER:OUR LEVEL III TRAUMA DESIGNATION BRINGS AN ADVANCED, LIFESAVING LEVEL OF CARE FOR SEVERELY INJURED PATIENTS, CLOSE TO HOME. THIS MILESTONE ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE QUALITY, PATIENT-CENTERED TRAUMA CARE TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE, VISIT, AND WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR COORDINATED, COMPREHENSIVE TEAM OF TRAUMA SURGEONS, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS, CARDIAC SURGEONS, RADIOLOGISTS, NURSES, LAB IMAGING TECHNICIANS, AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.ADVANCED WOUND CARE:OUR WOUND CARE CENTER HAS TWO HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY CHAMBERS, ENHANCING THE CENTER'S ABILITY TO CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH WOUNDS THAT DON'T HEAL AS THEY SHOULD. INSIDE THE CHAMBER, A PATIENT BREATHES PURE OXYGEN AT A PRESSURE TWO TO THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THE THERAPY IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HEALING OF DAMAGED TISSUE.WELLNESS PROGRAM:AS A FREE WELLNESS PROGRAM AT LVH-P AND LVH-DC, HEALTHY LIVING AIMS TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE PEOPLE TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES TO LEAD THEIR HEALTHIEST, HAPPIEST LIFE. AS A MEMBER, PEOPLE THROUGHOUT MONROE AND LACKAWANNA COUNTIES ARE PROVIDED WITH LIFE-CHANGING HEALTH INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH LEADING EXPERTS, FUN AND INFORMATIONAL ACTIVITIES. AT LVH-P AND LVH-DC, WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING:- EDUCATIONAL TALKS BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS- COMMUNITY WELLNESS EVENTS- FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS- MEMBERSHIP EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GEARED AT IMPROVING YOUR LIFESTYLE AND HAVING FUN- MONTHLY EMAILS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND INFORMATION ON CURRENT HEALTH TOPICS.LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP - POCONO:LVH-P'S COMMUNITY CARE NETWORK WILL ASSIST THOSE PATIENTS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT HOME. LVH-P PROVIDES CARE FOR OUTPATIENTS AT 447 PLAZA, BARTONSVILLE HEALTHCARE CENTER, WEST END HEALTHCARE CENTER LOCATED IN BRODHEADSVILLE, EAST STROUDSBURG HEALTHCARE CENTER AND MOUNTAIN HEALTH CENTER IN TOBYHANNA. THESE LOCATIONS PROVIDE CONVENIENT ACCESS FOR MEDICAL CARE WITH COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE, ENDOCRINOLOGY, OB/GYN, BREAST CENTER INCLUDING 3D MAMMOGRAPHY, IMAGING, AND A LAB.EXPRESSCARE CENTERS:DOTTED THROUGHOUT THE POCONOS, EXPRESSCARE CENTERS ARE ESTABLISHED IN EAST STROUDSBURG, BARTONSVILLE, TOBYHANNA, AND BRODHEADSVILLE. THEY OFFER WALK-IN MEDICAL CARE 12 HOURS A DAY, WITHOUT THE COST OF ED CO-PAYS. THESE FACILITIES ARE FULLY BACKED BY THE SERVICES AT LVH-P AND LVH-DC. EXPRESSCARE CENTERS PROVIDE URGENT TREATMENT WHEN NEEDED WITHOUT REQUIRING AN APPOINTMENT.RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:-LVH-P RECEIVED THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION/AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION'S PRESTIGIOUS ""GET WITH THE GUIDELINES"" - STROKE GOLD PLUS, TARGET TYPE 2 DIABETES HONOR ROLL QUALITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.-LVH-P EARNED AN ""A"" GRADE FOR PATIENT SAFETY FROM THE LEAPFROG GROUP, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT COLLECTS DATA AND REPORTS HOSPITALS' PERFORMANCE BY ASSIGNING A TRADITIONAL LETTER GRADE.-HEALTHGRADES HAS AWARDED LABOR & DELIVERY AT LVH-P WITH ITS PRESTIGIOUS 5-STAR RATING FOR SUPERIOR DELIVERY OF PATIENT CARE.- LGBTQ+ HEALTHCARE EQUALITY INDEX LEADER- FORTUNE BEST WORKPLACEPOCONO RECORD BEST OF THE BEST WINNERS:- BEST PEDIATRICIAN - DR. SUSHIL MODY (LVPG - EAST STROUDSBURG)- BEST URGENT CARE/WALK-IN CLINIC - LVHN EXPRESSCARE- BEST HOSPITAL - LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL- BEST EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM - LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK- BEST HOME HEALTH CARE SERVICES - LEHIGH VALLEY HOME CARE- BEST BENEFITS PROGRAM - LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK"
      4B (Expenses $ 0 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 0)
      DALE AND FRANCES HUGHES CANCER CENTER:THE DALE AND FRANCES HUGHES CANCER CENTER OFFICIALLY OPENING ITS DOORS ON JUNE 18, 2012, AND PROVIDES A FULL SPECTRUM OF STATE-OF-THE-ART CANCER TREATMENTS FOR PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH A HUMAN-CENTERED APPROACH THAT EMBRACES RESPECT AND COMPASSION FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR LOVED ONES. THE HUGHES CANCER CENTER ALSO RECEIVED THE SEAL OF ACCREDITATION FROM THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIATION (ACR) FOR LUNG CANCER SCREENING, BREAST CANCER MAMMOGRAPHY AND IS RECOGNIZED BY THE ACR AS A BREAST CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AND AN IMAGING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. WE ARE ALSO RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMISSION ON CANCER AND THE NATIONAL QUALITY MEASURES FOR BREAST CANCER AS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE. THE CENTER HAS ALSO EARNED NATIONAL QUALITY APPROVAL FROM THE JOINT COMMISSION AND WAS NAMED A TOP REGIONAL CANCER CENTER BY US NEWS & WORLD REPORT.THE HUGHES CANCER CENTER OFFERS SOME OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED RADIATION EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND EXPERTLY TRAINED STAFF FOR CANCER TREATMENT, INCLUDING A CERTIFIED MEDICAL DOSIMETRIST, TWO RADIATION PHYSICISTS, AND A TEAM OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGISTS, INCLUDING BOTH BREAST AND GYNECOLOGICAL. THE CENTER IS ONE OF THE FIRST OF 25 CANCER CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY TO USE INTENSITY MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY (IMRT) AND ONE OF THE FIRST 50 IN THE WORLD TO USE IMAGE-GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY (IGRT). THE HUGHES CANCER CENTER CONTINUES TO EXPLORE NEW, INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS, SUCH AS BRACHYTHERAPY GUIDANCE SYSTEMS, THE VARIAN EDGE FOR TARGETED RADIATION THERAPY AND STEREOTACTIC BODY RADIATION THERAPY FOR TREATING NON-OPERABLE LUNG CANCER MAKING US THE LEADING CANCER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND NATIONWIDE. AFTER BECOMING A PART OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY CANCER INSTITUTE IN 2017, MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING (MSK) CANCER ALLIANCE MEMBERSHIP WAS EXTENDED TO LVH-POCONO AT THE DALE AND FRANCES HUGHES CANCER CENTER IN 2018. ONCOLOGY TEAMS REVIEW PROCESSES AND CLINICAL STANDARDS ACROSS SIX DISEASE SPECIALTIES AND DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE CANCER INSTITUTE MELANOMA, BREAST, COLON, ENDOMETRIAL, LUNG AND PROSTATE TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH MSK STANDARD OF CARE. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE INITIATED SITE-SPECIFIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT TEAMS WHO SPECIALIZE IN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CANCER CARE. OUR CLINICAL PROVIDERS WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR MSK COUNTERPARTS ON INDIVIDUAL PATIENT CASES. IN 2022, WE ARE NOW ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN MORE THAN 150 ELITE CLINICAL TRIALS RIGHT HERE AT THE DALE & FRANCES HUGHES CANCER CENTER.EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS OUR WORLD CLASS TECHNOLOGY IS THE COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT OUR PHYSICIANS AND NURSES AT THE HUGHES CANCER CENTER BRING TO EVERY PATIENT. TO THAT END, THE HUGHES CANCER CENTER OFFERS A VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES DEALING WITH CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. OUR SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE A COMPLIMENTARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PROGRAM, A FULL-TIME BREAST HEALTH NURSE NAVIGATOR AND THORACIC NURSE NAVIGATOR DEDICATED TO ASSISTING PATIENTS AND THEIR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST AND LUNG CANCER. SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES, COUNSELING AND GROUP SUPPORT, PASTORAL CARE, AND MORE ARE ALSO A PART OF THE SUPPORT SERVICES. IN ADDITION, FREE SCREENINGS, INCLUDING PROSTATE, BREAST, SKIN, ORAL, AND COLORECTAL ARE OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.THE CULMINATION OF OUR EFFORTS HAS RESULTED IN THE 59,000 SQUARE-FOOT HUGHES CANCER CENTER PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS, PATIENT CENTERED, AND COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE UNDER ONE ROOF.LVH-P OUTPATIENT DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY:LVH-P'S OUTPATIENT LABORATORY IS RECOGNIZED AS THE PRINCIPAL PROVIDER OF THE FINEST CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES TO OUTPATIENTS, AS WELL AS PHYSICIAN OFFICES AND NURSING HOMES IN THE AREA. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, LVH-P'S OUTPATIENT DIAGNOSTIC LAB TESTS TOTALED 722,296 INCLUDING NURSING HOME COLLECTIONS AND OUTPATIENT TESTS AT OUTPATIENT COLLECTION SITES.INPATIENT REHABILITATION CENTER (IRC):THE LVH-POCONO IRC PROVIDES A FULL COMPLEMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY AND OUR OUTCOMES, LENGTH OF STAY AND PATIENT SATISFACTION SCORES CONSISTENTLY RATE IN THE TOP 5% TIER WHEN COMPARED TO REGIONAL AND NATIONAL BENCHMARKS FOR SIMILAR PROGRAMS. NOW CELEBRATING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, THIS AWARD IS A WELCOME RECOGNITION OF THE SELFLESS DEDICATION OF OUR IRC REHABILITATION TEAM AND HIGHLIGHTS OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE QUALITY REHABILITATION IN OUR AREA. LEARNING INSTITUTE:THE LEARNING INSTITUTE, AN OFF-SITE EDUCATIONAL FACILITY OPERATED BY LVH-POCONO AND STAFFED BY LVH-P NURSE EDUCATORS AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING STAFF, OFFERS COURSES AND SEMINARS TO LVH-POCONO EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING CPR CERTIFICATION AND RE-CERTIFICATION, IN-SERVICE TRAINING, PRE-HOSPITAL TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT COURSES, PREPARED CHILDBIRTH, AND BREASTFEEDING CLASSES. THE LEARNING INSTITUTE ALSO HOUSES A LOCAL NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS A NATIONAL, RESEARCH-BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES:THE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROCESS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO THE ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES TO REQUEST ATTENDANCE AT OFF-SITE MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS PERTAINING TO HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS AND JOB SPECIFICATIONS.AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS:AS A DESIGNATED AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION PROGRAM PROVIDER, LVH-P AND LVH-DC CERTIFIY ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ENROLL IN BLS (BASIC LIFE SUPPORT), ACLS (ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT), AND PALS (PEDIATRIC ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT).NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP:NATIONALLY, THE NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (NFP) IS A RESEARCH-BASED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND CELEBRATED 20 YEARS OF SERVICE IN JULY 2022. THE NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP AT LVH-P PROVIDES CRUCIAL SERVICES TO LOCAL AT-RISK NEW MOTHERS. REGISTERED NURSES WITH SPECIAL TRAINING IN PRENATAL AND INFANT CARE AS WELL AS PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT VISIT EXPECTANT MOTHERS IN THEIR OWN HOMES. THE VISITS BEGIN IN EARLY PREGNANCY AND CONTINUE UNTIL THE CHILD IS TWO YEARS OLD. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS ARE EMPHASIZED, PARENTING SKILLS ARE DEVELOPED, AND CAREER COUNSELING IS OFFERED. IN ADDITION, LIFESTYLE SKILLS SUCH AS MAKING THE HOME A SAFE PLACE FOR BABY, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE INTRODUCED THROUGH INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION AND GROUP ACTIVITIES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN AUGUST 2002, THE NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP OF MONROE COUNTY HAS ENROLLED OVER 1,200 MOMS IN THE NFP PROGRAM.COMMUNITY HEALTH AND OUTREACH:THE LVH-P AND LVH-DC COMMUNITY HEALTH AND OUTREACH PROGRAM IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE TOOLS AND SERVICES NECESSARY FOR HELPING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENJOY LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES. A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS OFFER A HOST OF CRUCIAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES CONVENIENTLY DELIVERED TO BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, OR SOCIAL GROUPS AT NO COST. THE SCREENINGS AND SERVICES INCLUDED ARE CARDIAC RISK ASSESSMENTS, BREAST CANCER RISK, PROSTATE CANCER, SKIN CANCER, HEALTHY LUNCH AND LEARNS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS SEMINARS AND TALKS, AND SUPPORT GROUPS.DIABETES EDUCATION:CERTIFIED DIABETIC EDUCATORS, INCLUDING OUR NEW ENDOCRINOLOGY SERVICE LINE WITH DEDICATED ENDOCRINOLOGIST, REGISTERED NURSES, AND DIETICIANS, CONDUCT LVH-P'S SUCCESS WITH THE DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED TO ENSURE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF DIABETES TREATMENT. COMBINED WITH MEDICAL AND NUTRITIONAL THERAPY, EDUCATION GIVES THE LEARNER THE ABILITY TO BECOME AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN HIS/HER CARE. WELL-MANAGED DIABETES HAS BEEN SHOWN TO PREVENT AND/OR DELAY THE ACUTE AND CHRONIC COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES AND REDUCE THE NUMBER AND LENGTH OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS. EDUCATIONAL TOPICS PROVIDED BY LVH-P'S SUCCESS WITH DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM INCLUDE:- OVERVIEW OF DIABETES- BEHAVIOR CHANGE STRATEGIES- BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS- PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND TREATMENTS OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC COMPLICATIONS- FOOT, SKIN, AND DENTAL CARE- STRESS MANAGEMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT- GOAL SETTING- RISK FACTOR REDUCTION- PROBLEM SOLVING- APPROPRIATE USE OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
      4C (Expenses $ 0 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 0)
      WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES:THE LEVEL III NICU COMPLIMENTS A HOST OF OTHER SERVICES WITHIN OUR OB-GYN SERVICE LINE, INCLUDING PERINATOLOGY FOR HIGH-RISK MOTHERS, MATERNAL-FETAL SERVICES, AND A MIDWIFERY PROGRAM. A UROGYNECOLOGY PROGRAM PROVIDES ADVANCED TREATMENT, INCLUDING MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY, FOR CONDITIONS SUCH AS INCONTINENCE, ABNORMAL BLEEDING, AND OTHERS. LVH-P ALSO OFFERS DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY AND THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED BREAST CANCER TREATMENTS. WE ALSO HAVE DEDICATED BREAST HEALTH NURSE NAVIGATORS TO ASSIST PATIENTS WITH A BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND THE TREATMENT PROCESS. FOUR CONVENIENTLY-LOCATED LEHIGH VALLEY PHYSICIAN GROUP-POCONO OB-GYN PRACTICES ARE IN KEY AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE.
      Facility Information
      Schedule H (Form 990) Section C. Supplemental Information for Part V, Section B.
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP A, PART V, SECTION B, LINES 1 AND 2:
      LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL - DICKSON CITY WAS FIRST LICENSED AND PLACED INTO SERVICE AS A TAX-EXEMPT HOSPITAL IN THE CURRENT TAX YEAR. THE HOSPITAL WAS INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT IMMEDIATELY DUE TO ITS AFFILIATION WITH POCONO MEDICAL CENTER DBA LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL - POCONO.
      PART V, SECTION B
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP A
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP A CONSISTS OF:
      - FACILITY 1: POCONO MEDICAL CENTER, - FACILITY 2: LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL - DICKSON CITY
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP - A PART V, SECTION B, LINE 5:
      FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA), LVHN DEFINES THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES AS ALL INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITHIN THE COUNTIES THAT CONTAIN OUR HOSPITAL CAMPUSES. LVHN IS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A CHNA HEALTH PROFILE FOR EACH OF OUR LICENSED FACILITIES TO ADDRESS THE LOCAL CONTEXT OF THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. THEREFORE, LVHN HAS PRODUCED SEVEN CHNA HEALTH PROFILES FOR OUR LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL (LVH) CAMPUSES: LVH-CARBON (CARBON COUNTY); LVH-DICKSON CITY (LACKAWANNA COUNTY); LVH-HAZLETON (LUZERNE COUNTY); LVH-POCONO (MONROE COUNTY); LVH-CEDAR CREST, 17TH STREET, MUHLENBERG; LVH-HECKTOWN OAKS (NORTHAMPTON COUNTY); AND LVH-SCHUYLKILL (SCHUYLKILL COUNTY). LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ARE ALSO INCLUSIVE OF OUR COORDINATED HEALTH - ALLENTOWN AND COORDINATED HEALTH - BETHLEHEM CAMPUSES, RESPECTIVELY.WITHIN THE ENTIRE GEOGRAPHIC POPULATION THAT MAKES UP THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, WE PLACE A GREATER EMPHASIS ON INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HEALTH DISPARITIES TO A GREATER EXTENT OR WHO ARE AT-RISK FOR NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING THEIR HEALTH. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE CLINICAL CARE PROVIDED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR A SMALL PORTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S OVERALL HEALTH. THERE ARE MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND HOSPITAL WALLS THAT INFLUENCE HEALTH BEYOND MEDICAL CARE. THEY INCLUDE:- SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS, SUCH AS EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT- PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT FACTORS, SUCH AS HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND AIR QUALITY- HEALTH BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS SMOKING, DRINKING, DIET, AND EXERCISETHEREFORE, THE CHNA HEALTH PROFILE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH CARE AS WELL AS OTHER HEALTH FACTORS FOLLOWED BY HEALTH OUTCOMES. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF DATA INCLUDED IN THE CHNA HEALTH PROFILES. THE FIRST TYPE IS QUANTITATIVE DATA, OR NUMBERS AND STATISTICS ABOUT THE OVERALL POPULATION IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE STATISTICS COME FROM A VARIETY OF LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL SOURCES INCLUDING THE CENSUS, THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND THE CENTERS FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE SERVICES. MOST OF THESE DATA POINTS ARE COMPILED TOGETHER THROUGH A PLATFORM CALLED SPARKMAP FROM CARES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION, WHICH LVHN USES AS THE STARTING POINT FOR ITS CHNA HEALTH PROFILES, ADDING OTHER KEY STATE AND LOCAL DATA SOURCES TO THE DATA PROVIDED THROUGH THIS HEALTH REPORT.IN ADDITION, NON-PROFIT HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN INPUT FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO REPRESENT THE BROAD INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THOSE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTISE AND THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. LVHN CHOSE TO OBTAIN THIS INPUT THROUGH COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND KEY STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS. THIS TYPE OF DATA IS REFERRED TO AS QUALITATIVE DATA. FOR EACH CAMPUS, WE PARTNERED WITH AN EXTERNAL COMMUNITY COLLABORATOR WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION TO CONDUCT THESE FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS ON LVHN'S BEHALF. THIS PROCESS PROVIDED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH AN INDEPENDENT AND OBJECTIVE OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY AND SHARE THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVE ON THE MOST PRESSING HEALTH NEEDS FACING THEIR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS WHERE THEY WOULD LIKE LVHN TO FOCUS ITS ATTENTION. IN MONROE COUNTY, LVH-POCONO PARTNERED WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AT EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY. IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY, LVH-DICKSON CITY PARTNERED WITH HAILSTONE ECONOMIC, LLC, WHICH PROVIDES COMMUNITY-BASED DATA COLLECTION.THE FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2021 AND JANUARY 2022. IN MONROE COUNTY, WHERE OUR POCONO CAMPUS IS LOCATED, 54 PARTICIPANTS WERE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND 6 ADDITIONAL KEY STAKEHOLDERS WERE INTERVIEWED. IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY, WHERE OUR DICKSON CITY CAMPUS IS LOCATED, 40 PARTICIPANTS WERE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND 5 ADDITIONAL KEY STAKEHOLDERS WERE INTERVIEWED.BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED IN THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND INTERVIEWS. RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS AND OTHER GROUPS OF FOCUS, WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS.ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED IN MONROE COUNTY:CARBON/MONROE/PIKE DRUG AND ALCOHOL COMMISSIONMONROE COUNTY FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICEMONROE COUNTY MEALS ON WHEELSPLEASANT VALLEY ECUMENICAL NETWORK FOOD PANTRYPOCONO FAMILY YMCAPOCONO MOUNTAINS UNITED WAYPOCONO SERVICE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDRENSALVATION ARMY OF EAST STROUDSBURGSTROUDSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTSTROUDSBURG WESLEYAN CHURCHORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY:FALLBROOK HEALTHY AGING CAMPUSLACKAWANNA COLLEGELACKAWANNA COUNTY COMMUNITY LEADERSLACKAWANNA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICESLACKAWANNA COUNTY MATERNAL AND FAMILY HEALTH SERVICESUNITED NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERSUNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA AND WAYNE COUNTIESVALLEY IN MOTIONDEMOGRAPHICS OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY FOCUS GROUPS:GENDER: 76% FEMALE, 24% MALEAVERAGE AGE: 61, AGE RANGE: 20-90RACE: 96% WHITE, 2% ASIAN, 2% BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICANETHNICITY: 100% NON-HISPANIC
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP - A PART V, SECTION B, LINE 6A:
      LVHN HAS PRODUCED SEVEN CHNA HEALTH PROFILES FOR OUR LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL (LVH) CAMPUSES: LVH-CARBON (CARBON COUNTY); LVH-DICKSON CITY (LACKAWANNA COUNTY); LVH-HAZLETON (LUZERNE COUNTY); LVH-POCONO (MONROE COUNTY); LVH-CEDAR CREST, 17TH STREET, MUHLENBERG; LVH-HECKTOWN OAKS (NORTHAMPTON COUNTY); AND LVH-SCHUYLKILL (SCHUYLKILL COUNTY). LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ARE ALSO INCLUSIVE OF OUR COORDINATED HEALTH - ALLENTOWN AND COORDINATED HEALTH - BETHLEHEM CAMPUSES, RESPECTIVELY.WE ADDITIONALLY ASSESSED HEALTH NEEDS WITHIN THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN TO REFLECT THE URBAN COMMUNITY SURROUNDING OUR 17TH STREET CAMPUS IN THE LEHIGH COUNTY REPORT, AND THE LUZERNE COUNTY REPORT INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEALTH NEEDS IN THE CITY OF HAZLETON WHERE IT WAS AVAILABLE. WITHIN THE ENTIRE GEOGRAPHIC POPULATION THAT MAKES UP THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, WE PLACE A GREATER EMPHASIS ON INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HEALTH DISPARITIES TO A GREATER EXTENT OR WHO ARE AT-RISK FOR NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INFLUENCING THEIR HEALTH.
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP - A PART V, SECTION B, LINE 6B:
      ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED IN MONROE COUNTY:CARBON/MONROE/PIKE DRUG AND ALCOHOL COMMISSIONMONROE COUNTY FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICEMONROE COUNTY MEALS ON WHEELSPLEASANT VALLEY ECUMENICAL NETWORK FOOD PANTRYPOCONO FAMILY YMCAPOCONO MOUNTAINS UNITED WAYPOCONO SERVICE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDRENSALVATION ARMY OF EAST STROUDSBURGSTROUDSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTSTROUDSBURG WESLEYAN CHURCHORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY:FALLBROOK HEALTHY AGING CAMPUSLACKAWANNA COLLEGELACKAWANNA COUNTY COMMUNITY LEADERSLACKAWANNA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICESLACKAWANNA COUNTY MATERNAL AND FAMILY HEALTH SERVICESUNITED NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERSUNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA AND WAYNE COUNTIESVALLEY IN MOTION
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP - A PART V, SECTION B, LINE 7D:
      OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP - A PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11:
      PRIORITY AREA: ACCESS TO CARE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONSLVHN'S 2019 CHNA HIGHLIGHTED VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO CARE INCLUDING: - VETERANS WHO MAKE UP APPROXIMATELY 8% OF THE POPULATION IN MONROE COUNTY - UNINSURED WHO REPRESENT 9% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IN MONROE COUNTYCOMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ALL COUNTIES EXPRESSED STRESS AROUND THE INCREASING COST OF HEALTHCARE, CRITICAL MEDICATIONS, AND THE STRUGGLE OF BALANCING COST WITH COMPETING BASIC NEEDS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE OR ABILITY TO PAY FOR MEDICATIONS OFTEN RESULTED IN LIMITING THE USE OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR ADDRESSING CHRONIC CONDITIONS. TRANSPORTATION WAS ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED AS ANOTHER BARRIER TO CARE, PARTICULARLY IN THE MORE RURAL SCHUYLKILL AND MONROE COUNTIES. THESE INPUTS FROM THE COMMUNITY ALIGN WITH LVHN'S MISSION OF ADDRESSING THE HEALTH NEEDS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND, THEREFORE, WAS PRIORITIZED WITHIN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AS DISCUSSED BELOW.MEDICATION ASSISTANCETO ADDRESS THE RISING CONCERN ABOUT THE COST OF MEDICATIONS, LVHN'S INTEGRATED CARE COORDINATION TEAM WORKS TO GET PATIENTS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT PROGRAMS, THEREBY, REDUCING THE COST BURDEN ON THE PATIENT. PATIENTS FROM 40 LVPG PRACTICES ACROSS ALL 5 COUNTIES RECEIVED THIS SERVICE. THE INTEGRATED CARE COORDINATION TEAM ADDRESSED A TOTAL OF 3,386 CASES TOTALING $5,788,040 IN PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE IN FY20. IN FY21, THE TEAM ADDRESSED 3,023 CASES IN FY21 TOTALING $6,161,747.62. IN FY22, THE TEAM ADDRESSED 2,974 CASES TOTALING $6,824,758. CONNECTION TO HEALTH INSURANCE & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCELEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK PROVIDES DIRECT LINKAGES TO RESOURCES AIMED AT ASSISTING UNINSURED PATIENTS IN GETTING INSURANCE COVERAGE, AS WELL AS A ROBUST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, CREATING ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.THE PATHS PROGRAM AT LVHN HELPS DETERMINE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR INSURANCE FOR UNDERINSURED AND UNINSURED PATIENTS, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. PATHS REPRESENTATIVES ARE EMBEDDED IN MULTIPLE AREAS IN OUR HOSPITALS, WORKING ALONGSIDE LVHN STAFF. THIS HELPS EXPEDITE THE REFERRAL PROCESS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS PATHS COLLEAGUES CAN CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH PATIENTS, AND COUNTY OFFICES TO EXPEDITE PAPERWORK THAT IS REQUIRED AND IF NEEDED FACILITATE IN-PERSON INTERACTIONS. ON AVERAGE, BETWEEN 75 AND 90% OF APPLICATIONS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE ARE APPROVED. IN FY20, THIS RESULTED IN OVER $17 MILLION IN PAYMENTS FROM THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA AND SURROUNDING STATES. IN FY21, THE PATHS PROGRAM RESULTED IN OVER $30 MILLION IN PAYMENTS ON BEHALF OF PATIENTS, NEARLY DOUBLING TOTALS FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. IN FY22, THE PATHS PROGRAM RESULTED IN JUST UNDER $26 MILLION IN PAYMENTS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REFERRALS DECREASED FROM LAST YEAR DUE TO PREVIOUS ELIGIBILITY BEING EXTENDED THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION TO THE PATHS PROGRAM, LVHN PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PATIENTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO COVER THE COST OF THEIR HEALTH CARE. IN FY20, LVH-POCONO RECEIVED 1,019 APPLICATIONS WITH A 7-DAY AVERAGE TO TURN AROUND AN APPLICATION APPROVAL. IN FY21 THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS DROPPED TO 267 WITH 59% APPROVED ON A 5-DAY TURNAROUND AVERAGE. IN FY22, FOR THE PATIENTS WHO LIVE IN COUNTIES PRIMARILY SERVED BY LVH-POCONO, THERE WERE 2,497 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. THE AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME FOR APPLICATIONS WAS 4 DAYS, AND THE PERCENT APPROVED WAS 76%. PLEASE NOTE THAT IN FY22 REPORTING IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE IN INTEGRATION WITH THE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD RESULTING IN A MORE ACCURATE COUNT OF APPLICATIONS COMPARED TO THE COUNTS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS. PRIORITY AREA: HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTIONIN THE 2019 LVHN CHNA FOCUS GROUPS, PARTICIPANTS ASKED FOR A GREATER PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY FROM HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE MOST FREQUENTLY LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ALL 5 COUNTIES CALLED FOR ADDITIONAL CARE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING FOLLOW-UPS AT HOME, SERVICES AT SCHOOLS AND SENIOR CENTERS WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOCATED, AND OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ABOUT AVAILABLE RESOURCES. FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS ALSO SAID THEY ARE GENERALLY UNAWARE OF WHEN OR WHERE VARIOUS LVHN SCREENING EVENTS OR SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. THIS RANKED IN THE TOP THREE HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANTED TO SEE ADDRESSED. AS SUCH, LVHN LEADERSHIP PRIORITIZED THIS AS AN ISSUE THAT HAD SIGNIFICANT MAGNITUDE, CAPACITY, AND ALIGNMENT. THEREFORE, LVHN COMMITTED TO PROMOTE FREE AND LOW-COST SCREENINGS FOR CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND CANCER SCREENINGS IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ARE TO INCREASE UTILIZATION OF THESE SERVICES AND EARLY DETECTION.THE ZIP CODE WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDES CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCER OF HEALTH OUTCOMES. TO FOCUS HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS, LVHN DETERMINED WHICH ZIP CODES REPRESENT THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WITHIN EACH OF THE 5 COUNTIES OUR PATIENTS RESIDE. THIS WAS DEFINED BY A METRIC OF 15% OR MORE OF THE POPULATION LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND HAS LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. IN ADDITION, LVHN SERVES A SUBSTANTIAL MEDICAID POPULATION IN THESE ZIP CODES. THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN EACH COUNTY: MONROE (LVH-P) - 18342, 18466, 18301, 18302, 18360IN FY20 THROUGH FY22, ACROSS THE REGION, LVHN WAS ABLE TO PROMOTE HEALTH OR PROVIDE HEALTHCARE SCREENINGS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SCREENINGS & SERVICESLVHN ALSO HAD A VARIETY OF SCREENING OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING FOR BREAST CANCER. IN FY20, A TOTAL OF 1,865 MAMMOGRAMS WERE COMPLETED THROUGH LVHN'S MAMMOGRAM COACH. THE BREAKDOWN BY COUNTY IS PROVIDED BELOW, WITH 10% OF THE MAMMOGRAMS PROVIDED IN MONROE COUNTY ON THE MAMMOGRAM COACH FOR PATIENTS FROM THE TARGET ZIP CODES. THIS TREND CONTINUED IN FY21 WITH 1,840 MAMMOGRAMS COMPLETED, BUT THE TARGET PERCENTAGE ROSE TO 28% IN MONROE COUNTY. IN FY22, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 2,075 MAMMOGRAMS COMPLETED THROUGH LVHN'S MAMMOGRAM COACH; 20% WERE FOR PATIENTS FROM THE TARGET ZIP CODES.IN FY22, 521 SCREENINGS WERE HELD, AND 60 SCREENINGS RESULTED IN FOLLOW-UP IMAGING ORDERS, AND 2 CANCERS WERE FOUND BECAUSE OF THESE SCREENINGS.PRIORITY AREA: INCLUSION AND DIVERSITYCOMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPRESSED FEEDBACK REGARDING ISSUES OF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY AMONG LVHN'S STAFF AND SERVICES. PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS STRESSED THE NEED FOR LIVE INTERPRETATION SERVICES, TO ALLOW THEM TO INTERACT WITH THEIR PROVIDERS IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE AND A WARM RECEPTION IN A CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE MANNER. THE TABLE SHOWS THAT THE HISPANIC POPULATION IS 14% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IN MONROE COUNTY, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE SUPPORT AND CULTURAL AWARENESS ACROSS THE NETWORK. THE COMMUNITY MENTIONED THESE ISSUES MULTIPLE TIMES IN FOCUS GROUPS. LVHN LEADERSHIP AGREED, RANKING INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY RELATED ISSUES AS ONE THAT WOULD HAVE A MODERATE IMPACT ON OVERALL HEALTH, BUT IT ALIGNED WITH OVERALL ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS AND WAS AN INITIATIVE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS.IN MONROE COUNTY, THE TOTAL POPULATION IS APPROXIMATELY 167,000. 77.4% OF THE POPULATION IS WHITE, 13.9% BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, 2.1% ASIAN, 3.4% OTHER RACE, AND 3.1% MULTIPLE RACES. 14.6% OF THE POPULATION IS HISPANIC, AND 85.4% IS NON-HISPANIC.LVHN WILL FOCUS ON TWO IMPORTANT STRATEGIES. FIRST, LVHN WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION AT ALL HEALTH CARE SERVICE SITES, BUILDING ON THE ALREADY STRONG SET OF SERVICES AVAILABLE. SECOND, LVHN WILL CUSTOMIZE ROBUST COLLEAGUE EDUCATION AROUND CULTURAL AWARENESS AND INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY TO ENSURE ALL PATIENTS RECEIVE A WARM WELCOME, PARTICULARLY POPULATIONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AT EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES. INTERPRETER SERVICESAT EVERY LVHN CAMPUS, INTERPRETER SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THAT PATIENTS CAN COMMUNICATE WITH CLINICIANS AND STAFF IN THEIR PREFERRED LANGUAGE. LVHN PROVIDES A COMBINATION OF LIVE INTERPRETATION WITH THE PATIENT, PHONE INTERPRETATION, AND VIDEO INTERPRETATION VIA IPAD. THIS MIXED MEDIA APPROACH OFFERS THE FASTEST RESPONSE BASED ON PATIENT NEEDS. IN FY20, 15 TRAINED MEDICAL INTERPRETER STAFF PROVIDED 602,682 MINUTES OF INTERPRETATION ACROSS ALL LVHN SITES.IN FY21, 22 TRAINED MEDICAL INTERPRETER STAFF PROVIDED 701,340 MINUTES OF INTERPRETATION DURING NEARLY 41,000 UNIQUE ENCOUNTERS ACROSS ALL LVHN SITES. AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUES, VIRTUAL INTERPRETATION IS A VITAL SERVICE FOR PATIENTS. THE CHART BELOW SHOWS THE TOTAL OF COMBINED (PREVIOUSLY TRACKED PHONE AND VIDEO SEPARATELY) VIRTUAL INTERPRETING SERVICES PROVIDED IN FY21 FOR LVH-POCONO.
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP - A PART V, SECTION B, LINE 18E:
      COLLECTION ACTIVITIES ARE LIMITED TO HOSPITAL SENDING FOUR STATEMENTS REQUESTING PAYMENT. THE STATEMENTS INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, SOLICITING THE PATIENT PARTICIPATION IN THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP A, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11 (CONTINUATION A):
      "CULTURAL AWARENESS AND STAFF EDUCATIONTHE CHIEF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION LIAISON OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR LVHN STAFF, RANGING FROM GENERAL CULTURAL AWARENESS COVERED AT ""CONNECTIONS"" (THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR ALL NEW LVHN EMPLOYEES) TO AUDIENCE-SPECIFIC CONTENT INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP, UNCONSCIOUS BIAS, RESPONDING TO MICROAGGRESSIONS, AND CROSS-CULTURAL CARE. IN FY20, OVER 60 TRAININGS WERE HELD WITH JUST OVER 4,000 EMPLOYEES ATTENDING. IN FY21, NEARLY 50 TRAININGS WERE HELD WITH JUST OVER 4,000 EMPLOYEES ATTENDING IN TOTAL. WITH LVHN LEADERSHIP'S INCREASED STRATEGIC FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE NETWORK, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCREASE RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK. ON MARCH 8, 2021, A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) PROJECT MANAGER COLLEAGUE WAS BROUGHT ON STAFF. THIS IMPORTANT ROLE SUPPORTS NETWORK INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE ACTIONS AGAINST RACISM AND ADVANCING EQUITY COUNCIL, CULTURAL AWARENESS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND THE LGBTQ PATIENT AND FAMILY CARE EXPERIENCE PROJECT TEAM. IN FY22, 37 TRAININGS WERE HELD FOR 2,641 EMPLOYEES IN ATTENDANCE. ADDITIONAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AND RESOURCES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO COLLEAGUES VIA A NEW DEI INTRANET SITE THAT LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY 2022.PRIORITY AREA: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTHSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ARE AT THE HEART OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORK AT LVHN. DURING THE PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION PROCESS, LVHN RECEIVED COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT CONFIRMED THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT REQUIRE MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER IN A COORDINATED MANNER ARE HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY. BOTH WERE HIGHLIGHTED DURING COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUPS. IN ALL COUNTIES LVHN SERVES:- AN AVERAGE OF 20% OF THE POPULATIONS ARE AT RISK FOR FOOD INSECURITY. - AT LEAST A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION SPENDS MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.LVHN CHNA EXECUTIVE TEAMS RECOGNIZED THE MAGNITUDE OF HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES, BUT ALSO WERE LESS CERTAIN ABOUT HEALTHCARE'S ABILITY TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN THIS AREA, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT ISSUES THAT HEALTHCARE CAN ADDRESS ALONE. THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIPS IN THIS AREA IS HIGHLIGHTED IN LVHN'S CHNA IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. BELOW ARE BOTH INTERNAL AND CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.FOOD ACCESS THE FIRST STRATEGY TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH OUTLINED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD AND REDUCE OBESITY RATES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THROUGH IN-SCHOOL EDUCATION, PROMOTION OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND COMMUNITIES, AND SUPPORT OF MOBILE MARKET FOOD DISTRIBUTION. WELLER HEALTH EDUCATION AT LEHIGH VALLEY REILLY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH OVER 25 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE HEALTH NETWORK'S EIGHT-COUNTY SERVICE AREA TO PROVIDE INTERACTIVE RESEARCH-BASED PROGRAMS THAT HELP PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASE AND IMPROVE CHILDREN'S OVERALL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELL-BEING. ALL PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED HEALTH EDUCATORS WHO ARE EXPERTS AT CONNECTING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND TRANSLATING COMPLEX INFORMATION INTO EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS. LVHN IS THE ONLY HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE REGION OFFERING THIS TYPE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE CARL E. AND EMILY I. WELLER FOUNDATION, CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION FUNDERS, AND IN-KIND SUPPORT FROM THE LEHIGH VALLEY REILLY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTED FREE TO ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. OVER 80% OF THE STUDENTS SERVED ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. IN FY21, WELLER REACHED 30,000 STUDENTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF IN-PERSON, VIRTUAL AND ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS OUR REGION. IN ADDITION TO DELIVERING CLASSROOM PROGRAMS EITHER IN-PERSON OR VIA REMOTE LEARNING PLATFORMS, WELLER'S TEAM HAS CREATED A VIDEO LIBRARY WITH NEARLY 40 ASYNCHRONOUS LESSONS THAT RANGE FROM DEALING WITH PANDEMIC-INDUCED STRESS, ANXIETY AND FATIGUE, TO SCHOOL DISTRICT CURRICULUM-BASED CONTENT ON MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PREVENTION, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND NUTRITION AND FITNESS. THE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THE SCHOOLS AND LVHN IS THE ONLY HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE REGION OFFERING THIS TYPE OF PREVENTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.IN FY22, WELLER REACHED 21,688 STUDENTS THROUGH IN-PERSON AND SYNCHRONOUS VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS OUR REGION. NUTRITION AND EXERCISE ACCOUNTED FOR 8% OF THE PROGRAMMING PROVIDED IN THE SCHOOLS. LVH-POCONO SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AND IS A PARTNER FOR A WELLNESS PARK ESTABLISHED IN MIDDLE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP. LVH-POCONO EFFORTS IN FY20 INCLUDE SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY GROUP TO GET GRANT TO BUILD A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE FISHING PIER AS A PART OF THIS PARK. LVH-POCONO ALSO SUPPORTS THE MONROE COUNTY FARMER'S MARKET. THIS INVOLVES SUPPORT OF THE DOUBLE BUCKS PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION FOR THE POCONO MOUNTAINS UNITED WAY. LVH-POCONO PROVIDED $6,000 IN DOUBLE BUCKS IN FY20 AND ANOTHER $5,000 IN FY21. IN FY22, LVH-POCONO PROVIDED $6,000 IN DOUBLE BUCKS. PRIORITY AREA: BEHAVIORAL HEALTHONE CONSISTENT AREA OF NEED VOICED BY THE COMMUNITY, IN BOTH THE 2016 AND 2019 LVHN CHNAS, WAS THE NEED TO BETTER ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND MENTAL WELL-BEING IN THE COMMUNITY. ACCORDING TO THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE MORE THAN 4 ""UNHEALTHY"" MENTAL HEALTH DAYS PER MONTH, ECHOING THE DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM FOCUS GROUPS. THIS NEED WAS DISCUSSED IN ALL FIVE COUNTIES AND THEREFORE WAS MADE A CROSS-CUTTING PRIORITY AREA FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. WITHIN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRIORITY AREA, THERE ARE 3 AREAS OF FOCUS: MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION. WHILE PUBLIC DATA AROUND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS LACKING, IT WAS A CLEAR CONCERN EXPRESSED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS. LVHN LEADERSHIP BELIEVES THIS IS A HIGH IMPACT AREA OF WORK, BUT WE NEED TO INCREASE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS ADEQUATELY. THE SECTIONS BELOW OUTLINE THE APPROACHES BEING IMPLEMENTED IN EACH OF THESE FOCUS AREAS TO ADDRESS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES LVHN SERVES."
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP A, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11 (CONTINUATION B):
      "MENTAL HEALTHREFERRAL COORDINATIONTHE SECOND STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IS A CENTRALIZED REFERRAL PROCESS TO OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. IN FY19, LVHN RECEIVED OVER 9,000 REFERRALS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND WERE ABLE TO SERVE 1 IN 8. TO IMPROVE TREATMENT AND REFERRAL WORKFLOWS FOR PATIENTS, LVHN CREATED A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL SPECIALIST ROLE. THIS ROLE PROVIDES SUPPORT TO PROVIDERS, PRACTICES AND PATIENTS SEEKING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES. SUPPORT BY THIS ROLE IS PROVIDED ON THREE LEVELS: INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND EDUCATION: PRACTICES RECEIVE RESOURCE INFORMATION TO ENABLE THEM TO MAKE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE REFERRALS FROM THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES SHAREPOINT DATABASE WITH INFORMATION THAT IS ALWAYS CURRENT AND ACCURATE. IN ADDITION, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL SPECIALIST HAS BEEN PROVIDING EDUCATION ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY REFER A PATIENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES TO THE FOLLOWING: PEDIATRIC PRIMARY CARE, ADULT SPECIALTY PROGRAMS, INPATIENT CASE MANAGEMENT, LVHN LEADERSHIP AND ADDITIONAL OUTSIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.CONSULTATION TO PROVIDERS SEEKING SERVICES FOR THEIR PATIENTS WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO SO UTILIZING THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES SHAREPOINT AND PAST REFERRAL EDUCATION.DIRECT PATIENT CONTACT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES IF THE FIRST TWO LEVELS OF SERVICE FAIL TO SUPPORT THE PATIENT. IN FY19, THERE WERE 620 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL SPECIALIST. IN FY20, DUE TO THE HIGH DEMAND, A NEW PROCESS WAS IMPLEMENTED TO HAVE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRAL SPECIALIST MANAGE ALL OUTPATIENT PSYCHIATRY REFERRALS FOR LVHN AFFILIATED PRACTICES. THIS NEW PROCESS WAS MADE TO IMPROVE THE REFERRAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE AFFILIATED PRACTICE PROVIDERS WHILE BETTER ASSISTING PATIENTS WITH CONNECTING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES. THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST HAS BECOME A TEAM OF 5.5 FTE DEDICATED TO MANAGING ALL REFERRALS TO AMBULATORY PSYCHIATRY PRACTICES, WHICH IS NOW CALLED CENTRALIZED INTAKE. THIS SERVICE OFFICIALLY WENT LIVE ON MAY 4, 2020, AND THEY RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM OUTPATIENT PRACTICES FROM ALL LVHN CAMPUSES. IN FY21, CENTRALIZED INTAKE RECEIVED 10,179 REFERRALS. OF THE 10,179 REFERRALS, 6,240 (61%) WERE SCHEDULED WITH LVHN PSYCHIATRY PRACTICES OR PROVIDED WITH A LIST OF EXTERNAL PROVIDERS WITH THE OPTION TO CALL BACK FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IF UNABLE TO CONNECT WITH A PROVIDER. IN FY22, CENTRALIZED INTAKE RECEIVED 10,922 REFERRALS. OF THE 10,922 REFERRALS, 7,440 (68%) WERE SCHEDULED WITH LVHN PSYCHIATRY PRACTICES OR PROVIDED WITH A LIST OF EXTERNAL PROVIDERS WITH THE OPTION TO CALL BACK FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IF UNABLE TO CONNECT WITH A PROVIDER. INNOVATIONTHE THIRD STRATEGY LVHN HAS COMMITTED TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IS INNOVATION THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE TELE-PSYCHIATRY, TELE-THERAPY, AN APP DEPLOYMENT, AND ECONSULTS. THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TELE-PSYCHIATRY AND THERAPY SERVICES WAS UNDERWAY AT THE START OF FY20. WITH THE ONSET OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE SCALE AND REACH OF THESE SERVICES INCREASED RAPIDLY AND DRAMATICALLY. OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH VIRTUAL VISITS INCREASED FROM 2% BEFORE COVID-19 TO 98% SOON AFTER THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. IN FY21 THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY COMPLETED NEARLY 45,000 VIRTUAL VISITS. IN ADDITION, TELE-CONSULTS WERE PROVIDED FOR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS. A PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENT CONSULTATION REFERRAL ORDER WAS ESTABLISHED IN FY20 TO FACILITATE A BRIEF PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTION BY A PSYCHIATRIST OR APC WITH THE GOAL OF EVALUATING AND PROVIDING TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE PRESCRIBING OF PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS, AND THEN RETURNING THE PATIENT BACK TO THEM FOR ON-GOING CARE. IN FY21, 618 TELE-PRIMARY CARE CONSULTS AND 268 ECONSULTS WERE COMPLETED, UP FROM 80 AND 208, RESPECTIVELY IN FY20, WITH SOME CONSULTS COMPLETED IN LVH-POCONO. IN FY22, 591 TELE-PRIMARY CARE CONSULTS AND 254 ECONSULTS WERE COMPLETED.SUBSTANCE ABUSELVHN HAS ADOPTED A 4-PRONGED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE EPIDEMIC IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE:STIGMA REDUCTION BY PROVIDING EDUCATION AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND ADDICTION.OPIOID STEWARDSHIP BY PROVIDING EDUCATION TO FRONT-LINE STAFF (E.G., PROVIDERS, NURSES) TO MINIMIZE OPIOID PRESCRIBING, PROMOTE SAFETY MEASURES TO MINIMIZE ADDICTION TO OPIOIDS, AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF TOOLS AVAILABLE.LINKAGE TO TREATMENT BY REDUCING THE BARRIERS BETWEEN A PATIENT WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR ADDICTION AND THEIR ACCESS TO TREATMENT OPTIONS.HARM REDUCTION BY REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT HARM WILL COME TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.STIGMA REDUCTIONSMALLER, FREE PRESENTATIONS WERE HELD THROUGHOUT FY20 IN THE COUNTIES SERVED BY LVHN, INCLUDING:IN SEPTEMBER 2019, A LVHN PROVIDER PRESENTED ""SCIENCE, STIGMA & SOLUTIONS"" AT A GRAND ROUNDS AT LVH-POCONO. IT WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE MONROE COUNTY OPIOID TASK FORCE MEMBERS FOR A TOTAL OF 40 ATTENDEES.IN MARCH 2020, A LVHN PROVIDER WAS THE FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER FOR THE EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY PROVOST'S COLLOQUIUM SERIES (LVH-POCONO), PRESENTING ""SCIENCE, STIGMA, SOLUTIONS: WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS"" TO THE 45 ATTENDEES.THROUGHOUT FY21, LVHN LEADERS AND COLLEAGUES CONTINUED TO WORK TO REDUCE THE STIGMA SURROUND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND PROMOTE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS THIS COMMUNITY CONCERN. IN FY22, EDUCATIONAL BROCHURES ADDRESSING STIGMA WERE PRINTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. OPIOID STEWARDSHIPIN ADDITION TO PRESENTING AND HOSTING DISCUSSION IN THE COMMUNITY, LVHN COLLEAGUES ENGAGED IN SIGNIFICANT EDUCATION TO 451 PROVIDERS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS TO EMPOWER PROVIDERS AS KNOWLEDGEABLE STEWARDS OF THE SIGNS AND IMPACTS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. IN ADDITION, IN FY21, THE FOLLOWING TACTICS WERE DEPLOYED:A 2-HOUR TLC (EDUCATIONAL LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) BUNDLE WAS DEVELOPED AND DISSEMINATED TO ALL LVHN PROVIDERS DURING FY21 TO ENSURE ADEQUATE EDUCATION AROUND OPIOID STEWARDSHIP AND LINKAGE TO TREATMENT, AND TO FULFILL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PA STATE MEDICAL BOARD.THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY OPIOID REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS IMPLEMENTED TO REVIEW OPIOID STEWARDSHIP CASES OF CONCERN AND TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO PROVIDERS.UTILIZATION OF STANDARDIZED DISCHARGE OPIOID WEANING PROTOCOLS FOR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) AND INPATIENT SETTINGS HAS BEEN TRACKED SINCE 2018. BASED ON UTILIZATION DATA AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY INPUT FROM ALL SURGICAL AND HOSPITAL MEDICINE STAKEHOLDER SPECIALTIES, THE OPIOID WEANING PROTOCOLS ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING REVISION TO INCREASE MEDICATION OPTIONS AND DURATION OF WEANING PROTOCOLS. PRESCRIBER FEEDBACK IS EMAILED MONTHLY TO GENERAL SURGERY, CT SURGERY, AND ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY. LIDOCAINE PROTOCOL FOR NEPHROLITHIASIS WAS IMPLEMENTED ACROSS ALL ED AND INPATIENT SETTINGS IN OCTOBER 2020.NON-OPIOID PAIN MODALITY INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED IN FY21 HAVE INCLUDED:- ED BACK PAIN PROTOCOL IN COLLABORATION WITH PT- DEVELOPMENT OF A NON-OPIOID PAIN MANAGEMENT ORDER SET WITH PT/OT INTERVENTIONS- IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OT-LED AROMATHERAPY FOR PAIN PROTOCOL WITHIN THE ED OBSERVATION UNIT CLINICIANS ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES WERE TRAINED IN NON-OPIOID PAIN MANAGEMENT MODALITIES INCLUDING EMPOWERED RELIEF AND EXPLAIN PAIN.BUILDING ON THE WORK OF PAST YEARS, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WERE COMPLETED IN FY22: THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY OPIOID REVIEW COMMITTEE FURTHER EVOLVED TO REVIEW OPIOID STEWARDSHIP CASES OF CONCERN AND TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO PROVIDERS.ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOID (ALTO) PAIN MODALITY INITIATIVES CONTINUED INCLUDING:- ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OT-LED AROMATHERAPY FOR PAIN PROTOCOL WITHIN THE ED OBSERVATION UNIT.- IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OMM & ACUPUNCTURE REFERRAL PROCESS WITHIN LVPG PRIMARY CARE, DOEHM US TEAM PROVIDED FASCIA ILIACA NERVE BLOCK TRAINING OFFERED TO FACULTY AND RESIDENTS DURING 2 SESSIONS IN 2021-2022.FLEMING FUNDS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CHAIR FUNDS WERE USED TO TRAIN CLINICIANS ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES IN NON-OPIOID PAIN MANAGEMENT MODALITIES INCLUDING EMPOWERED RELIEF AND EXPLAIN PAIN, AS WELL AS MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING AND PEER SUPPORT TRAINING.RELEASED A REVISED OPIOID PRESCRIBING DASHBOARD WHICH BETTER ADDRESSED TRACKING OF COMPLIANCE WITH OPIOID TREATMENT AGREEMENTS. IN APRIL 2022, ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES FOR OPIOID TREATMENT AGREEMENTS HAD GO-LIVE."
      FACILITY REPORTING GROUP A, PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11 (CONTINUATION C):
      LINKAGE TO TREATMENTAT THE LVH-POCONO CAMPUS, THE HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH MONROE COUNTY ON A WARM-HAND OFF PROGRAM THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WHEN PATIENTS COME INTO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONCERNS LVHN STAFF CAN CALL A COUNTY ASSESSOR WHO COMES DIRECTLY TO THE ED TO PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT AND CONNECT THE PATIENT TO TREATMENT, DECREASING THE TIME BETWEEN IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL TO TREATMENT. WHILE DATA COLLABORATION IS DIFFICULT DUE TO DIFFERING SYSTEMS, THE WARM-HANDOFF STAFF HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT PRESENCE FOR PATIENTS IN NEED. IN FY22, LVHN CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL AUTHORITIES IN LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON, SCHUYLKILL, LUZERNE, AND CARBON/MONROE/PIKE COUNTIES TO DELIVER WARM HAND OFF SERVICES IN BOTH THE ED AND INPATIENT SETTINGS AT ALL LVHN SITES. HARM REDUCTIONIN THE PAST FEW YEARS, LVH-LEHIGH VALLEY HAS INCREASED ITS ACTIVITIES RELATED TO HARM REDUCTION. TAKE-HOME NALOXONE WAS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PATIENTS FROM ALL NETWORK EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS (ED) AS WELL AS LEHIGH VALLEY PHARMACY SERVICES LOCATIONS WHERE A PATIENT WITH A NALOXONE PRESCRIPTION IS UNINSURED OR UNDER-INSURED.LVHN MARKETING AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, IN COLLABORATION WITH LEHIGH COUNTY, HAS FUNDED THE PURCHASE OF 4000 MEDICATION DISPOSAL KITS WHICH WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO PATIENTS AT RISK AT BOTH HOSPITAL PHARMACIES, AND AT LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENTS ACROSS THE NETWORK.
      Supplemental Information
      Schedule H (Form 990) Part VI
      PART I, LINE 7:
      LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL - POCONO USES A COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO IN DETERMINING THE FIGURES REPORTED IN THIS TABLE. TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES LESS BAD DEBT EXPENSES LESS NON-PATIENT ACTIVITIES LESS MEDICAID PROVIDER TAXES EQUALS COSTS RELATED TO PATIENT CARE DIVIDED BY GROSS PATIENT CHARGES.
      PART I, LN 7 COL(F):
      THE AMOUNT OF BAD DEBT EXPENSE REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 25 IS $15,546,876.
      PART II, COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES:
      LVH-POCONO AND LVH-DICKSON CITY PROVIDE A MYRIAD OF HEALTH SCREENINGS AND COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND DISEASE AWARENESS THROUGH THE WELLNESS INSTITUTE AND THE SPIRIT OF WOMEN INITIATIVE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FOR PATIENTS IN NEED, PROVIDING FREE SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS, TELEVISION AND RADIO HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS OUTREACH.
      PART III, LINE 2:
      PATIENT ACCOUNTS WRITTEN OFF AS BAD DEBT ARE IDENTIFIED. THE COST TO PROVIDE CARE TO THESE PATIENTS IS CALCULATED BY MULTIPLYING THE TOTAL CHARGES WRITTEN OFF AS BAD DEBT BY THE COST TO CHARGE RATIO.
      PART III, LINE 3:
      THIS AMOUNT IS THE COST TO PROVIDE CARE TO UNINSURED PATIENTS THAT DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE COST IS DETERMINED USING COST TO CHARGE RATIOS. THE RATIONALE FOR INCLUDING THE COST TO PROVIDE CARE TO UNINSURED PATIENTS THAT DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROCESS IS THE HOSPITAL'S EXPERIENCE WITH UNINSURED PATIENTS THAT DO PARTICIPATE IN THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WHEN THE HOSPITAL EVALUATES UNINSURED PATIENTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE MOST COMMON FINDING IS THAT UNINSURED PATIENTS HAVE INCOME LESS THAN 400% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE AND QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE HOSPITAL BELIEVES THAT UNINSURED PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROCESS AND HAVE THEIR ACCOUNTS WRITTEN OFF AS BAD DEBT, HAVE INCOME THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE HOSPITAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
      PART III, LINE 4:
      THE ORGANIZATION ESTIMATES AN IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSION RELATED TO UNINSURED ACCOUNTS, NET OF THE AGB (AMOUNTS GENERALLY BILLED) DISCOUNT, TO RECORD THE NET SELF-PAY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AT THE ESTIMATED AMOUNTS THE ORGANIZATION EXPECTS TO COLLECT. COINSURANCES AND DEDUCTIBLES WITHIN THE THIRD-PARTY PAYER AGREEMENTS ARE THE PATIENT'S RESPONSIBILITY SO THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDES THESE AMOUNTS IN THE SELF-PAY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND CONSIDERS THESE AMOUNTS IN ITS DETERMINATION OF THE PROVISION FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE DEBTS BASED ON HISTORICAL COLLECTION EXPERIENCE. FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022, AND 2021, RESPECTIVELY, LVH-P RECORDED A PROVISION FOR IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS OF $8,684,000 AND $14,914,000 AS A DIRECT REDUCTION TO PATIENT SERVICES REVENUES.IN INSTANCES WHERE THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES A PATIENT HAS THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES AND, AFTER APPROPRIATE COLLECTION EFFORTS, PAYMENT IS NOT MADE, THE UNPAID PORTION OF THE ACCOUNT BALANCE IS WRITTEN-OFF TO THE PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS. AMOUNTS RECORDED AS PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS DO NOT INCLUDE CHARITY CARE.
      PART III, LINE 8:
      THE SHORTFALL SHOULD BE TREATED AS 100% COMMUNITY BENEFIT. THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 MEDICARE COST REPORT WAS UTILIZED TO CALCULATE THE COST REPORTED ON LINE 6. SERVING PATIENTS WITH GOVERNMENT HEALTH BENEFITS, SUCH AS MEDICARE, IS A COMPONENT OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD THAT TAX EXEMPT HOSPITALS ARE HELD TO. THIS IMPLIES THAT SERVING MEDICARE PATIENTS IS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND THAT THE HOSPITAL OPERATES TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
      PART III, LINE 9B:
      FINANCIAL COUNSELING STAFF WILL DETERMINE WHETHER PATIENTS MEET ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ACCOUNTS THAT DO NOT MEET THE ELIGIBLILTY REQUIREMENTS WILL BE REFERRED TO AN EXTERNAL RECEIVABLES FOLLOW UP AGENCY, AND IF NOT PAID, REFERRED TO A COLLECTION AGENCY AND SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSFERRED TO BAD DEBT STATUS IF THE ACCOUNTS REMAIN UNPAID.
      PART VI, LINE 2:
      AS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, STARTING IN 2013, ALL NON-PROFIT HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) EVERY THREE YEARS. THE CHNA REPORT EXAMINES THE FACTORS THAT IMPACT THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN A PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHIC AREA. BEYOND ITS REGULATORY FUNCTION, THE CHNA IS AN IMPORTANT OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE OF HEALTH IN OUR REGION AND IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL AREAS OF CONCERN WHICH INFORMS LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK'S (LVHN) POPULATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT EFFORTS. LVHN'S CHNA INCLUDES A HEALTH PROFILE, A REPORT THAT LOOKS AT ALL THE FACTORS THAT GO INTO MAKING PEOPLE IN A PARTICULAR AREA HEALTHY. THIS INCLUDES SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS LIKE EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND AIR QUALITY, INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORS LIKE SMOKING OR HEALTHY EATING, AND THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH CARE IN THEIR AREA. THIS INTRODUCTION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2022 CHNA HEALTH PROFILE AND LVHN'S CHNA PROCESS. THE 2022 HEALTH PROFILE COMBINES DATA AND INFORMATION FROM LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL SOURCES ABOUT DISEASE, THE ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL FACTORS, AND INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORS, WITH IDEAS, STORIES, AND EXPERIENCES FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LEADERS FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTIES SERVED BY LVHN. THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THE LVHN'S CHNA INCLUDES AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, WHICH OUTLINES OUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE HEALTH PROFILE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE 2022 CHNA HEALTH PROFILES AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE PROVIDED AT WWW.LVHN.ORG/CHNA.THE 2022 LVHN CHNA HEALTH PROFILE IS BROKEN OUT INTO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS: DEMOGRAPHICS, INCOME AND ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, HOUSING AND FAMILIES, OTHER SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS, PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, CLINICAL CARE AND PREVENTION, HEALTH BEHAVIORS, HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND SPECIAL TOPICS - COVID-19. TO INCREASE THE READABILITY OF THE REPORT, THE COMMUNITY WILL FIND TWO TYPES OF CALL-OUT BOXES THROUGHOUT THE CHNA HEALTH PROFILES. THE FIRST TYPE SUMMARIZES SOME OF THE DATA PRESENTED ON THAT PAGE, PROVIDING EASY-TO-READ, SUMMARY STATEMENTS OF IMPORTANT DATA ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE SECOND TYPE PROVIDES INFORMATION FROM THE INTERVIEWS AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS. THESE REPORTS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY LVHN'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD.VISIT WWW.LVHN.ORG/CHNA TO VIEW THE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN OUR MOST RECENTLY CONDUCTED CHNA AND HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE NEEDS.
      PART VI, LINE 5:
      POCONO MEDICAL CENTER DBA LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL - POCONO QUALIFIES AS AN INSTITUTION OF PURELY PUBLIC CHARITY IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS REGULATION IS REFERRED TO AS ACT 55. TO BE CONSIDERED A PURELY PUBLIC CHARITY, NONPROFITS MUST:(1) ADVANCE A CHARITABLE PURPOSE; (2) DONATE OR RENDER GRATUITOUSLY A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF ITS SERVICES; (3) BENEFIT A SUBSTANTIAL AND INDEFINITE CLASS OF PERSONS WHO ARE LEGITIMATE SUBJECTS OF CHARITY; (4) RELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT OF SOME BURDEN; AND (5) OPERATE ENTIRELY FREE FROM PRIVATE PROFIT MOTIVE.POCONO MEDICAL CENTER DBA LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL - POCONO IS REQUIRED TO REAPPLY FOR THIS CHARITABLE STATUS EVERY FIVE YEARS AND CURRENTLY QUALIFIES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2023.
      PART VI, LINE 7, REPORTS FILED WITH STATES
      PA
      PART VI, LINE 3:
      CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION AND VALUES OF LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK, IT IS THE POLICY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO ALL INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES. THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY APPLIES TO UNINSURED AND UNDER-INSURED INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS TO EVALUATE THEIR ABILITY TO PAY FOR LVHN SERVICES.PATIENTS ARE IDENTIFIED BY LVHN REGISTRATION, BENEFITS AND VERIFICATION, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND FINANCIAL COUNSELORS AS BEING IN FINANCIAL NEED. THE FINANCIAL COUNSELORS HELP PATIENTS COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. LVHN FOLLOWS THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES TO EVALUATE ELIGIBILITY. PATIENTS WHOSE FAMILY INCOME FALLS BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE WILL HAVE THEIR ENTIRE BALANCE FORGIVEN FOR THEIR QUALIFYING SERVICES AT A PARTICIPATING LVHN PROVIDER. PATIENTS WITH A FAMILY INCOME BELOW 400% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES WILL HAVE A PORTION OF THEIR BALANCE FORGIVEN FOR QUALIFYING SERVICES AT A PARTICIPATING LVHN PROVIDER. PATIENTS ARE EVALUATED FOR NO COST OR REDUCED PREMIUM INSURANCE PLANS. THE LVHN FINANCIAL COUNSELORS WILL OFFER INFORMATION TO PATIENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THESE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY COMMERCIAL INSURANCE COMPANIES.PATIENTS OFTEN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CONCERN OR NEED BY CONTACTING THE LVHN CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES EXPLAIN THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE; FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT IN APPLYING FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR INSURANCE THROUGH THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE. PATIENTS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE FINANCIAL COUNSELORS WHO WORK WITH PATIENTS TO APPLY FOR PENNSYLVANIA MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE FINANCIAL COUNSELORS ARE LOCATED ONSITE. THE FINANCIAL COUNSELORS VISIT PATIENTS IN THEIR INPATIENT ROOMS, IN THE CANCER CENTER, AND IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, LVHN ADVERTISES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, ON OUR PUBLIC WEBSITE AND ON THE STATEMENTS SENT TO OUR PATIENTS.
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      POCONO MEDICAL CENTER DBA LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL-POCONO (LVH-P) IS A PENNSYLVANIA NOT-FOR-PROFIT MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES AS A CORPORATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA OF OUR LVH-POCONO SITE INCLUDES MONROE, NORTHAMPTON, AND PIKE COUNTIES. U.S. CENSUS BUREAU DATA FOR THE 2020 CENSUS INDICATES THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA POPULATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 539,813. DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 2021, 94.5% OF THE DISCHARGES FROM LVH-POCONO WERE RESIDENTS OF THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA. BASED ON THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ACS, THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA ESTIMATED POPULATION IN 2021 IS 542,863. THE 2010 POPULATION OF THE SECONDARY SERVICE AREA, CARBON, AND LACKAWANNA COUNTIES WAS APPROXIMATELY 279,686. DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 2021, 3.6% OF THE DISCHARGES FROM LVH-POCONO WERE RESIDENTS OF THE SECONDARY SERVICE AREA. THE ESTIMATED 2021 POPULATION OF THE SECONDARY SERVICE AREA IS 281,075 (U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ACS). DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR 2021, 1.9% OF THE DISCHARGES FROM LVH-POCONO WERE RESIDENTS OUTSIDE THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SERVICE AREAS. BASED ON PROPRIETARY DATA ESTIMATES (SCANUS), THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA CURRENT POPULATION PROJECTION WILL INCREASE BY LESS THAN 1% BY 2027.DUE TO THE SHORT OPERATING PERIOD OF OUR LVH-DICKSON CITY LOCATION, NO COMMUNITY/DEMOGRAPHIC DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR FY2022.