Jefferson breaks ground on neighborhood hospital in Coopersburg

Jefferson Health broke ground on its newest neighborhood hospital this week, its fifth Lehigh Valley microhospital since 2022.

The 22,000-square-foot Lehigh Valley Hospital–Coopersburg is being constructed at 3875 W. Passer Road in Upper Saucon Township and will cost $45 million to build. It is expected to open next year.

The facility, like LVHN’s other neighborhood hospitals, will be a licensed and accredited acute care facility with a full-service emergency department, open 24 hours a day, and will have 11 emergency room beds and 10 inpatient beds.

“I know neighborhood hospitals save lives. I know that minutes matter and when care is right here and right down the street, being seen more quickly is really advantageous,” said Dr. Eric Bean, an emergency medicine physician for LVHN. “We’ve even delivered babies here. Now, we’re not recommending having your babies delivered here, but sometimes the world has its own schedule. And I’d much rather that baby be delivered here than in someone’s car, which happens, or in the back of an ambulance.”

This will be the fifth LVHN-operated neighborhood hospital. Three are currently open and operating: LVH–Macungie, LVH–Gilbertsville and LVH–Pocono Creek. The fourth, LVH–Hellertown, is still under construction.

“LVH–Coopersburg will be a standalone hospital, but clinically connected to the larger network for those needing advanced care. It will feature a welcoming environment and is equipped to treat and stabilize any condition,” said Amy Nyberg, president of ambulatory services for Jefferson.

LVHN’s neighborhood hospital model, also known as microhospitals, offers emergency room services while serving as a step between urgent cares and the emergency rooms of larger hospitals. Dr. Brian Nester, chief operating officer of Jefferson, said that LVHN and Jefferson offer plenty of options for patients to access healthcare, but the neighborhood hospitals offer convenience.

“The majority of patients that we do get are pleased they didn’t have to go to the larger facilities. It can be overwhelming, especially for our seniors in the community, especially for little kids. Going to these big places can be very, very traumatic,” said Bean.

The site of the hospital, which is across the street from the Wawa, will also be the location of the Health Center at Coopersburg, a medical office building offering adult rehabilitation, rheumatology, primary care, and other services.