Local hospital put newborn babies at risk; two died

Immediate danger. That was the determination the Pa. Department of Health made for Lehigh Valley Hospital in Hazleton. That came when they inspected the facility following the recent deaths of two newborns. In both cases, there was a delay in response from pediatricians on call at the facility. In the two separate cases, newborns died shortly after birth from complications related to collapsed lungs. In another case, the pediatrician couldn't be reached and didn't call back until an hour later. The Department of Health also found other deficiencies in staffing. Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton could have lost federal funding but has avoided that due to corrective actions they are said to have taken.