MAY 15, 2017 • Vol. 28 • No. 20 • $2 SERVING BERKS, LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON & SURROUNDING COUNTIES www.LVB.com Do mergers HOPE BY THE RIVER of hospitals boost costs, inefficiency? By WENDY SOLOMON
[email protected] The national and regional trend for hospital mergers continues unabated, but at least one expert who studies health care man- agement says larger hospital systems are inefficient and lead to higher costs and lower quality. Lawton Burns, professor of health ‘In each care management hospital that at the Wharton PHOTO/CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND School, University Developer Jerry McAward broke ground last month on a new outdoor recreation center at 123 Lehigh Drive along Sgt. Stanley Hoffman has joined Boulevard in Lehighton. of Pennsylvania, our network, told a gathering at Commerce could flow when massive outdoor center opens in Lehighton the Lehigh Valley we have Business Coalition been able to By CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND Drive, will replace biking excursions, river rafting, a kayak on Healthcare’s
[email protected] the developer’s exist- school and eventually cross country ski recent annual con- significantly A new era in outdoor recreation is ing business in Jim rentals. Plus, for the first time, he will ference there is no reduce the about to begin in Lehighton, an era that Thorpe, at the same add a retail shop. academic evidence some say will draw thousands of people time dramatically “The addition of the outdoor center that hospital con- operating per week, trigger more commerce for expanding opera- will make the town an outdoor activity solidation improves expenses.’ other borough businesses and jump- tions and offerings magnet – in addition to Jim Thorpe and cost, efficiency or — Bob Martin, St.