Lehigh Valley Health Network

I cannot emphasize enough how substandard the care is in LVH Cedar Crest. My father was treated like he was not even human at this facility. The incompetence, negligence, and cold demeanor of the staff are unparalleled. The most horrible experience I have come across in health care.

I was having some intermittent chest pain and numbness in my left foot. I called my PCP and his office referred me to the ER.
The intake clerk at the ER warned us that the wait was currently «an hour or two» but we’ve been here for 4 ½ hours, with no end in sight.
With nothing but time on my hands, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to observe:
A lack of basic infection control: feverish and coughing patients sent to wait in an overcrowded waiting room without masks.
A lack of security: people walking in the ER doors, directly past security and through the unit doors without speaking to a single employee. Presumably these were family members and concerned friends, but it was surprising to see none the less.
TVs tuned to a couple of classic episodes of Sister, Sister! (That show was groundbreaking!)
A woman who left a family member in the waiting room, and returned a few hours later with a McDonalds bag and –I swear to God– a brand new tattoo! Her family member was still waiting.
A surprisingly patient guy named Tim, who was doubled over in pain for hours, but never complained. (Hey Tim, hope you’re feeling better!)
An intake clerk who actually enjoyed telling another patient (who had been waiting closer to five hours) that «lots of people have been here for *six or more* hours so you can choose to talk to a nurse and leave if you don’t want to wait.»

I was in the Lehigh Valley Hospital for Atrial fibrillation. Lets get one thing straight, Cedar Crest LVH is a nightmare!!!
I was left in a dark, freezing ER for two hours, without a blanket or a sheet on my gurney. I had no call bell, and no urinal, even after 1000 cc’s of fluid was received IV.
When I finally got a nurse, after yelling for 5 minutes, he literally threw the call bell at me, with a snide remark, then left; without addressing my issues.
I had absolutely no means of getting to a bathroom, since I was wired with an EKG, BP cuff and an IV line going.
The doctor in charge that evening never gave a hoot, and her and a colleague were shoe shopping (yes…shoe shopping) on the internet most of the time. The reason why it was so cold in the ER that evening, was that they shut down the side of the ER that I was in, I guess that included heat.
Their bedside manner was non existent, and the doctors would not listen to the patients real issues, it was cookie cutter at best. After complaining, I had never received (even after multiple requests) a Press-​Ganey form!
Now my credentials:
I am a Certified emergency Nurse, and ran ambulance for three years, and also a CPR instructor for multiple organizations, and have trained some of the LVH Staff in CPR.
So, this is not just a crazy rave, THESE COMMENTS ARE REAL!!!

I took my fiancé to the ER at Lehigh Valley Cedar Crest Hospital and it was nothing short of a nightmare. My fiancé was in serious pain (which we now believe to be a reaction to Yaz), and had taken cough medicine with acetaminophen to try to alleviate the pain (it was the only painkiller we had in the house). Unfortunately, the cough medicine and my fiancé’s reaction did not go well, and it ignited the pain to the point she was screaming, in tears.
Off to the ER we go.
We waited over an hour before we were seen in an otherwise empty room. The entire ER was dead quiet. Even the parking lot was near empty. Despite that, there was zero sense of urgency in getting us the forms or checked in.
We got in, my fiancé was seen and the ER doctor stated he couldn’t find anything wrong, didn’t believe my fiancé’s pain to be real and that we would probably need to see a specialist. Fair enough. We asked several questions, wanting to try to rule out what it wasn’t, what it could be or where we should go based on her symptoms and what we could do to best relieve her pain. During this entire time, we were talked down to, condescended and lectured by the doctor in return.
My fiancé was in serious pain, and the doctor somehow concluded since he couldn’t find anything wrong with her the logical conclusion is that we must have gone to the ER for nothing more than for a quick fix — that we wanted painkillers, and nothing more. I don’t know how that conclusion was made since we never asked for painkillers to be administered, but I do know that he drew that conclusion. How? After we left, the doctor tracked down my fiancé’s regular physician (who is NOT a part of the Lehigh Valley hospital network) and sent an email with a warning that he thought my fiancé was a junkie looking for a quick fix, and to be wary. We know this because my fiancé’s physician showed it to us.
In the end, my fiancé’s stomach pain continued, the ER doctor destroyed the relationship between my fiancé and her regular physician and we were out of a hell of a lot of money. All over a false assumption that we were «addicts».
I will NEVER suggest people to Lehigh Valley Hospital unless it’s an emergency, and to check out alternatives.

Over the Thanksgiving holidays my mom had a slight stroke and had to be hospitalized for a few days. Immediate family members came in from all over the tri-​state area and congregated in her tiny semi-​private room. After a while hunger struck and we headed down to the cafeteria. But this one was unlike any hospital cafeteria I had ever seen or heard of. It was a freakin’ food court! There was an Asian station like Panda Express, Fresh Pizza and Pasta like a Sbarros, a salad and sandwich bar, dessets galore and even fresh Sushi. Yes, that’s right, a sushi counter in a hospital cafeteria in Allentown, PA. The best part was that the food was pretty tasty and CHEAP! We joked that we found a new place to go out for meals but I bet the joke is on us.
Oh, and the doctors are great.

The hospital has helped with various medical problems that family and friends have had. I am very grateful to them for saving the lives of family members as well. I feel very confident in the doctors and staff. Located just off Route I-​78 which provides easy access.