Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City will reopen its doors to patients on , restoring critical healthcare services to the Scranton region just nine days after a fire disrupted operations. The reopening includes the hospital’s Emergency Department and operating rooms, following a thorough inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and close coordination with local borough officials.
The swift restoration of services underscores the dedication of over 400 Jefferson Health colleagues, partners, and contractors who worked tirelessly to ensure a safe return to care, according to hospital officials. The focus throughout the recovery process has been on patient safety, clinical excellence, and maintaining the community’s trust.
“This milestone speaks to the unwavering dedication and teamwork of our Jefferson colleagues, and the strong partnership we’ve had with local and state partners throughout this recovery,” said Joseph G. Cacchione, MD, CEO of Jefferson. “We’re grateful to safely restore these essential services, and we remain fully committed to supporting the health and well-being of the Dickson City community.”
While the Emergency Department, surgical services, and limited inpatient care are resuming, Jefferson Health continues to work on fully restoring all services at the Dickson City campus. The hospital is prioritizing patient and staff safety as it assesses, repairs, and prepares remaining areas.
The impact of the fire extended beyond immediate hospital services, disrupting care for patients with scheduled procedures and appointments. Hospital leaders recognized the community’s reliance on timely access to emergency and surgical care and approached the recovery with urgency and compassion, according to Baligh R. Yehia, MD, MPP, MSc, President of Jefferson Health. “From day one, our teams approached this work with urgency, compassion and a genuine commitment to ensuring people can get the care they need, close to home. As we move forward, we will continue to be thoughtful and deliberate in expanding access and supporting the community we proudly serve.”
To expedite access to care, surgeries are scheduled to take place over the weekend, allowing patients whose procedures were previously postponed to be seen as quickly as possible. Physicians’ offices are proactively contacting patients to reschedule appointments. A mobile kitchen has also been established on-site to provide essential food services to patients during the reopening phase.
Bob Begliomini, PharmD, MBA, FASHP, President, Jefferson Health–Lehigh Valley Region, emphasized the importance of a deliberate and patient-centered approach to the reopening. “Our goal is to ensure that when patients walk through our doors again, they feel the same confidence and trust they always have,” he said. “That means being deliberate, thorough and patient‑centered at every step of reopening.”
The response to the fire involved a remarkable display of collaboration and heroism from numerous emergency crews. Joseph Pinto, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Jefferson Health, highlighted the selfless actions of first responders and healthcare workers. “Since the fire, we heard countless stories of people stepping in without hesitation. Doctors who ended their shift and drove immediately to Dickson City, clinicians who took the jackets off their backs to help warm cold patients during the evacuation, and volunteer firefighters, EMS, police and state troopers who helped usher our patients and staff to safety,” Pinto said. “Those acts of quiet heroism made a profound difference.”
Recognizing the disruption to patients of the medical office building attached to the hospital, staff proactively contacted hundreds of individuals to reschedule appointments, offering both virtual and alternative in-person options. For patients needing orthopedic or podiatry care, rheumatology services, or rehabilitation, dedicated phone lines have been established: 570-307-1767 for the former three, and 570-614-2025 for rehabilitation. MRI scheduling remains available at 610-402-5846 or 888-402-5846. Patients with prescription-related questions can contact Lehigh Valley Pharmacy Services–Muhlenberg at 484-884-7004.
To accommodate orthopedic patients during the temporary disruption, Lehigh Valley Physician Group opened additional locations by appointment starting on . These include:
- LVPG Orthopedics & Sports Medicine–Steamtown, 300 Lackawanna Ave., Suite 200, Scranton
- LVPG Orthopedics & Sports Medicine–Carbondale, 267 Brooklyn St., Carbondale
- LVPG Orthopedics & Sports Medicine–Pittston, 1120 Oak St.
Jefferson Health has created a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page to address common concerns and provide guidance to patients: https://www.lvhn.org/lehigh-valley-hospital-dickson-city-fire-frequently-asked-questions. Further updates regarding services and operations will be shared as they become available.
