McNeill: State to invest $1 million in Lehigh Valley Health Network

Funding to expand, improve critical care services at Muhlenberg location

HARRISBURG, Dec. 6 – State Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh, today announced the state has awarded $1 million to the Lehigh Valley Health Network, Muhlenberg location, for a project that will expand and improve patient access to critical and trauma-related care.

According to McNeill, the project involves demolishing and renovating existing office and other medical spaces within the existing building adjacent to the current intensive care unit and adding eight new critical care beds.

“Currently, many patients face situations where they’re subjected to long transportation times to access appropriate levels of care and delays in treatment. Addressing this problem now, as our population continues to grow -- and is predicted to grow for another decade -- ensures our ability to meet the evolving health care needs of the entire community because of improved access and the timeliness of care made available,” said McNeill. “These dollars will address the growing demand for critical care and trauma-related services we have in the Lehigh Valley.”

The state’s investment, provided by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, covers 52% of the construction costs and 50% of the overall project budget.

“Once this project is complete, eight new critical care beds will be added, bringing critical care capacity to 28,” McNeill said. “The intensive care unit cares for all types of critically ill patients, and the added capacity will benefit the entire Lehigh Valley.”

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs. More information about the program is available here.