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The St. Luke’s Lehighton Infusion Center recently added chairs for a variety of patient treatments, increasing access to convenient, top-level care for area residents. 

The expansion doubles the number of chairs to 10. The center also has one quick-check chair for injections and port flushes.

“This expansion gives the St. Luke’s Lehighton Infusion Center the capability to provide excellent service and care to up to 30 patients from our area daily,” says Cindy Fatzinger BSN RN OCN, St. Luke’s Regional Clinical Infusion Manager – West Region. “We also want to be able to serve and accommodate any future increase in patient population in our geographical area, so they can get the highest level of care closer to home.”

The St. Luke’s Lehighton Infusion Center opened in 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital – Lehighton Campus, located at 211 North 12th Street in Lehighton. 

The center, where nearly half of patients receive outpatient chemotherapy, also offers a variety of other treatments. Approximately 60% of the infusions it performs are related to autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and vasculitis.

“We also do hydration before and after CAT scans and/or for hyperemesis with pregnancy and also to supplement our cancer patients,” Fatzinger says. “We do a great deal of supplemental iron products for those with anemia, as well.”

Injections range from B-12 to hormonal injections and occasionally vaccines.

“Many patients present with internal ports and need blood work or preventive maintenance every six to eight weeks,” Fatzinger says. “As new medications come out for other diagnoses, like eye disorders and Lupus, we expand our drug list and make every attempt to accommodate patients in our community.”