VSAS Orthopaedics, an orthopedic practice, has joined Lehigh Valley Physician Group, a subsidiary of Lehigh Valley Health Network.
VSAS Orthopaedics has locations at 1250 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown, and 2649 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem. It also has satellite offices in Moselem Springs and Hamburg. The practice employs 110 people, including 12 physicians and 12 advanced practice clinicians.
“We are proud to take our relationship with Lehigh Valley Health Network to the next level,” said Dr. Prodromos Ververeli, president, in a statement. “We’ve had a very successful relationship that has resulted in Lehigh Valley Hospital being named among the nation’s best hospitals for orthopedics as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.”
VSAS Orthopaedics’ patients won’t see much of a change to the practice, he said.
“Our patients will continue to receive the same high-quality orthopedic care they’ve become accustomed to at VSAS,” said Ververeli. “But now we’ll be able to offer our patients the benefits that go along with being part of one of the nation’s leading health networks.”
Some of those added benefits include access to advanced imaging and to rehabilitation professionals at all LVHN rehab facilities, as well as access to LVPG’s full complement of practices in various specialties. Locations and contact phone numbers will remain the same.
LVHN cares for more orthopedics patients in the hospital than any other provider in the Lehigh Valley; more than 38 percent of all inpatients, according to 2012 data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Lehigh Valley Hospital has been listed among U.S. News & World Report’s best hospitals for orthopedics six times, including in the most recent report, released in July. It is the only hospital in the Lehigh Valley ever to be recognized nationally by U.S. News for orthopedics.
“We couldn’t be happier to bring such a great practice to our physician group,” said Dr. Michael Rossi, president of LVPG. “This strengthened relationship with VSAS Orthopaedics means we’ll be able to care for more patients in our community and provide a greater continuum of care for all of their needs.”
LVHN President and CEO Brian Nester said, “We’ve worked with VSAS Orthopaedics for the last 20 years, and we felt that this was a natural evolution of our partnership. I am excited that our community and our patients will see a greater benefit in the services we can provide to them.”
Lehigh Valley Health Network includes four hospital facilities: two in Allentown, one in Bethlehem and one in Hazleton, Luzerne County; 12 health centers caring for communities in five counties; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices throughout the region; pharmacy, imaging, home health services and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.
