On June 26, 2024, two lives were in the hands of a St. Luke\u2019s care team.<\/p>\n
Kiya Cook, pregnant with her first child, was experiencing flu-like symptoms. In fear of her worsening condition, she checked into the emergency room at St. Lukes Upper Bucks Campus.<\/p>\n
After a blood draw, the root of the issue was quickly diagnosed: anemia caused by HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count). This is a rare and severe pregnancy complication.<\/p>\n
Remarkably, a blood transfusion, necessary to save the lives of both Kiya and her unborn baby, was able to be administered within a mere 30 minutes of detecting this complication. The care team\u2019s quick response was possible thanks to Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC), which provided the lifesaving resources for this urgent situation.<\/p>\n
St. Luke\u2019s, a founding member of Miller-Keystone over 50 years ago, continues its unwavering commitment as the only local health care network that identifies MKBC as its primary blood supplier. Without St. Lukes steadfast support for MKBC, the Lehigh Valley could run out of the blood necessary to provide lifesaving care for patients, particularly during a regional or national blood shortage or other crisis.<\/p>\n
MKBC has locations in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Reading, the Poconos, Pittston and Ewing, NJ, and holds blood drives at area businesses and other locations.<\/p>\n
After another blood transfusion and c-section, a beautiful baby boy was brought into this world. This joyous relief for Kiya and her family was followed with the news that both she and her son have Upshaw-Schulman Syndrome, a genetic issue that may require long term transfusions. Though they have a long journey ahead of them, Kiya can be confident \u2013 thanks to Miller-Keystone Blood Center \u2013 that she and her son will always have access to the blood they need.<\/p>\n
Kiya, grateful for the safe delivery of her son, wants to emphasize that whether you know it or not, \u201cwhen you donate blood, you save lives.\u201d The Miller-Keystone Blood Center serves the Valley to fulfil this altruistic goal, and by donating blood, you can too.<\/p>\n
About St. Luke\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded in 1872,\u00a0St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites.\u00a0 With annual net revenue of $3.4 billion, the Network\u2019s 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\u2019s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke\u2019s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania.\u00a0 In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only four-year medical school campus.\u00a0 It also operates the nation\u2019s 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\u2019s, a member of the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, opened the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.<\/p>\n SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare\u2019s\u00a0five-star<\/em>\u00a0ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction.\u00a0 It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades\u00a0Top Hospital<\/em>\u00a0and a Newsweek World\u2019s\u00a0Best Hospital<\/em>.\u00a0 The Network\u2019s flagship University Hospital has earned the\u00a0100 Top Major Teaching Hospital<\/em>\u00a0designation from Fortune\/PINC AI 10 years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY.\u00a0 In 2021, St. Luke\u2019s was identified as one of the\u00a015 Top Health Systems<\/em>\u00a0nationally.\u00a0 Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the\u00a0Most Wired<\/em>\u00a0award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN\u2019s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information. \u00a0The Network is also recognized as one of the state\u2019s lowest-cost providers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: On June 26, 2024, two lives were in the hands of a St. Luke\u2019s care team. Kiya Cook, pregnant with her first child, was experiencing flu-like symptoms. In fear of … Continue reading Timely Infusion of Miller-Keystone Blood Saves 2 Lives<\/span>
\nSam Kennedy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"