Muhlenberg College to Partner with LVHN for Campus Health and Counseling Services
Beginning Aug. 1, Muhlenberg College’s Health and Counseling Center will become an on-campus family practice to be named Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) Family Medicine–Muhlenberg College.Tuesday, April 23, 2024 09:28 AM
In the first partnership of its kind in the Lehigh Valley, the College is contracting with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) to provide all campus health and counseling services to Muhlenberg students beginning this fall. The partnership forged between Muhlenberg and LVHN leadership brings together expertise from both organizations to further prioritize college student health and well-being and provide students with greater continuity of care and access to referral services and community resources.
Located in the College’s Life Sports Center, LVPG Family Medicine–Muhlenberg College will provide student-centered primary and behavioral health care, as well as treatment for illness and injury, colds and infectious diseases, and reproductive health and public health concerns. Muhlenberg's Counseling Center will become part of the LVPG practice and will continue to utilize the unique individualized care model that has allowed the College to maintain extremely low wait times and high quality and multiculturally competent care that students have come to expect.
The Directors of Health and Counseling Services will be dually employed by both organizations. All current nurses, counselors and support staff of Muhlenberg College's Health & Counseling Center will remain at the College’s health and counseling centers while becoming part of LVHN's clinical team. In addition, LVHN will continue to provide health center physicians and sports medicine services at the College. This shared structure will ensure that Muhlenberg’s specialized approach to college students' physical and mental health is preserved while bolstering support for student well-being through LVHN’s comprehensive system of care.
The LVHN health and counseling center will be open to Muhlenberg students during regular business hours. After hours, students will continue to be supported by LVHN’s on-call nurse triage services for physical health emergencies. The College’s current counselor on-call system will remain unchanged for mental health emergencies.
Partnerships between student health services and major health networks are an accelerating national trend, as colleges and universities work to prioritize growing student health needs while improving services and managing costs. LVHN is well-positioned to provide Muhlenberg students with access to a world-class system of preventive, acute and specialty care and to help them develop a solid foundation for lifelong health. LVHN also will work with College leadership to anticipate and meet the changing needs of students while enhancing quality over time and providing robust training and development opportunities to the College’s health care professionals.
“Muhlenberg’s health and counseling services have been providing best-in-class services for years,” says Kathleen Harring, Muhlenberg’s president. “This enhanced partnership will allow us to leverage and deepen our resources, providing an even fuller range of services to our students. We know that health and wellness is directly connected to student success at Muhlenberg."
Extensive college and university health experience
While LVHN already provides student health and wellness services at several colleges in the Lehigh Valley, this partnership with Muhlenberg College offers a comprehensive model that represents what is possible for the future of college student healthcare across the region and beyond.
“This partnership is the latest way LVHN is furthering our mission to heal, comfort and care as our community’s hometown health network,” says Lisa Liddington, vice president, LVH–17th Street, and program director of school-based health services. “Elevating health care on campus is a key factor in student success, which is why we are pleased Muhlenberg College leadership has recognized the value of partnering with LVHN. We look forward to providing comprehensive health and counseling services to Muhlenberg students.”
Planning for future student needs
As part of the partnership, LVHN and Muhlenberg College will:
- Collaborate and set goals and priorities to improve the health of the student community
- Continually assess the ongoing physical and behavioral health needs of Muhlenberg students, reducing barriers of access and increasing engagement, particularly with underserved populations
- Identify opportunities for health promotion programming to address ongoing and emerging health issues such as substance use disorders, chronic diseases and behavioral health
About Muhlenberg College
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, private liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. With an enrollment of nearly 2,000 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences; selected preprofessional programs, including accounting, business, education and public health; and progressive workforce-focused post-baccalaureate certificates and master’s degrees. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 90 miles west of New York City, Muhlenberg is a member of the Centennial Conference, competing in 23 varsity sports. Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
