Patients of St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network now have another option available for transportation between the hospital's facilities.

A new shuttle service, dubbed The Miners Loop, can transport patients from the St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale to other locations within the St. Luke's Network.The Miners Loop provides easy access to St. Luke's specialists, diagnostic testing such as PET Scans and radiation treatments for patients in the Coaldale region."Patients will continue to receive the same great care at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital," said Ralph Richards, St. Luke's Miners Administrator, in a press release."The Miners Loop will now provide them with an easy means of transportation to other specialty appointments. They can take advantage of the services provided within our Network but not provided in Coaldale."Currently, The Miners Loop will provide transportation to St. Luke's Cancer Center, Allentown and St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem Campus, stopping at additional destinations on the shuttle's route as needed."We're excited to see how our patients and community members respond to the Loop and how we may be able to expand the service in the future," added Richards.Sharon Oravec, RN, St. Luke's Miners Nurse Manager, Oncology Services, said in a press release. "We provide patients with chemotherapy and hematology services in our Oncology Department here at St. Luke's Miners, but when they require radiation treatments, the Miners Loop will be able to take them to their appointment at St. Luke's Cancer Center in Allentown or at our Bethlehem Campus."This service will make it easier for our patients and their family members to access consistent, quality services through the St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network."The Loop departs from St. Luke's Miners daily at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and returns to Coaldale at 12 noon and 5:30 p.m.Patients can access The Miners Loop in front of the main lobby at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, 360 W. Ruddle Street. Patients must schedule trips with The Miners Loop by calling (570) 645-8111..