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SLUHN among best in the nation at serving its patients and community, according to independent think tank.
St. Luke’s University Health Network has been recognized by the Lown Institute as one of the most socially responsible hospitals in America, receiving ‘A’ grades in Equity, Value and Outcomes on the 2024-25 Lown Institute Hospitals Index. Out of more than 3,500 hospitals measured by Lown, only 5% achieved honor roll status, with St. Luke’s ranking among this select group of high performers.
Of 311 health care systems throughout the country, Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke’s ranked #3 on the social responsibility metric. In Pennsylvania, it was the top-ranked of 27 systems.
“This report’s findings reflect St. Luke’s dedication to expand access to our Network’s world-class, outcomes-driven quality care,” said St. Luke’s Vice President of Community Health Rajika Reed, PhD., MPH, MEd. “As the Lehigh Valley’s only locally based, independent health care network, proudly caring for those in need for over 150 years, we are fully committed to and invested in advancing the wellbeing of our community.”
Additionally, nine individual St. Luke’s hospitals earned Honor Roll status this year, with “A” grades across all of the top four categories, Social Responsibility, Equity, Value of Care, and Patient Outcomes:
- St. Luke’s University Hospital (Bethlehem, Allentown and Sacred Heart campuses)
- St. Luke’s Anderson Campus
- St. Luke’s Easton Campus
- St. Luke’s Miners Campus
- St. Luke’s Monroe Campus
- St. Luke’s Upper Bucks Campus
- Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital
“Great care is only great if everyone can access it,” said Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute. “We need hospitals that are not only leaders in clinical care, but also strong community partners—and the hospitals at the top of our list are showing the way.”
The 2024-25 Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to combine metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes, for more than 3,500 hospitals nationwide—offering a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. Lown’s fifth annual Index evaluates hospitals on over 50 measures, including novel metrics such as community benefit, racial inclusivity, and avoidance of overuse. Data sources include Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage claims, CMS patient safety data and hospital cost reports, and IRS 990 forms, among others. Full methodology can be found on the Lown Index website.
The Lown Institute is an independent think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health. Learn more at www.LownHospitalsIndex.org.
About St. Luke’s
Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue of $3.4 billion, the Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.
Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley’s first and only four-year medical school campus. It also operates the nation’s oldest School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 52 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with more than 500 residents and fellows. In 2022, St. Luke’s, a member of the Children’s Hospital Association, opened the Lehigh Valley’s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.
SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. The Network’s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Fortune/PINC AI 10 years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. In 2021, St. Luke’s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN’s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information. The Network is also recognized as one of the state’s lowest-cost providers.
Information provided to TVL by:
Sam Kennedy
https://www.slhn.org/
