Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks Accredited as Primary Stroke Center
LVH–Hecktown Oaks meets The Joint Commission’s strict standard for stroke care.
Lehigh Valley, Pa. (May 12, 2025) – Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Hecktown Oaks has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® as a Primary Stroke Center.
“This accreditation shows our community LVH–Hecktown Oaks is prepared to take all necessary steps to quickly assess and treat strokes,” says Yevgeniy Isayev, MD, Medical Director of Stroke Centers at LVH–Cedar Crest and LVH–Muhlenberg. “A stroke can happen at any time, so getting fast, high-quality care in the critical moments following a stroke makes a significant difference in treatment and recovery.”
To achieve this designation, LVH–Hecktown Oaks underwent a comprehensive on-site evaluation by Joint Commission reviewers. The review team assessed compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements. This includes program management, delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.
“Earning a Primary Stroke Center designation is a testament to the stroke team’s expertise and unwavering commitment to the community,” says Katey Cheponis, MD, Stroke Medical Director, LVH–Hecktown Oaks. “The colleagues who helped earn this designation understand every second counts when responding to a stroke and every patient matters, and I am so proud of what we have achieved together.”
LVH–Hecktown Oaks has a dedicated emergency department physician who specializes in stroke care and a stroke neurologist who is also capable of recognizing and treating stroke symptoms. The stroke team can provide fast stroke assessment with imaging and is trained to administer clot-busting medication when necessary. Patients who require advanced stroke care will be transferred to the Comprehensive Stroke Center at LVH–Cedar Crest.
“I am so proud of the stroke team at LVH–Hecktown Oaks for achieving this incredible milestone,” says Lisa Liddington, Chief Operating Officer, LVH–Hecktown Oaks. “Earning a Primary Stroke Center designation is a reflection of our team’s dedication to providing trusted, lifesaving care to our community.”
About Jefferson
Lehigh Valley Health Network is now proudly part of Jefferson Health. Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the Greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow’s professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.
Information provided to TVL by:
Priscilla Turbitt
