Hackerman-Patz House Helps Keep Patients' Families Close

When families need to visit a sick loved one who's been hospitalized far from home, travel time and hotel costs can be overwhelming or impossible to meet. 

But in Salisbury Township has come up with a solution to help families of admitted patients meet these challenges with a new, $35-a-night hotel on its campus, the Hackerman-Patz House, which opened its doors on Monday, July 18.

The 20-room Hackerman-Patz House is for:

• families of admitted patients who live 30 miles or more from the hospital's service area.
• Outpatients who travel 30 miles or more for ongoing appointments at any Lehigh Valley Health Network facility can also stay there if they have a caregiver with them, a hospital spokesperson said.
• Local families with a loved one in emergency, critical or intensive care.

"We’re now able to offer these families a convenient, inexpensive place to stay so they can focus on healing and supporting their loves ones," Dr. Ronald W. Swinfard, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Health Network, said during a media tour at the new facility Thursday.

"The added burden of transportation back and forth from a distant home can be stressful, disruptive and costly," Swinfard added.

Located in a quiet, wooded area off Fish Hatchery Road on the hospital's campus, Hackerman-Patz House was built with a $2 million gift from Willard Hackerman and his wife, Lillian Patz-Hackerman of Baltimore.

Willard Hackerman is president and CEO of Whiting-Turner Contracting, which has managed some of Lehigh Valley Hosptial's construction projects. The Hackermans have built several similar lodgings in the Baltimore area.

"We know the families who stay at the house will get all the support they need because this is the warmest, most welcoming hospital I have ever seen," Hackerman said. "It truly is unique."

Each of the 20 guest rooms at Hackerman-Patz House has a private bathroom, TV, refrigerator and coffeemaker. The eight rooms on the first floor are handicap accessible. Rooms have a double bed or two twin beds. Guests will have the use of a common area equipped with a TV and WiFi, kitchenette, playroom, library, laundry facilities and outdoor patio.

Hackerman-Patz House is a member of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses, a network of more than 200 nonprofit family lodging facilities.

It will complement services provided by Jenn’s House in Upper Milford Township and Fountain Hill, lodgings used by families of patients staying at Lehigh Valley Hospital and other medical facilities.