A Franklin Township woman has the distinction of being the first patient in the area’s newest hospital, St. Luke’s Carbon Campus.

Sandra Shaw-Ploucher was the first of 23 patients transported Saturday morning from the former Gnaden Huetten Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital in Lehighton to the modern, spacious facility located along Harrity Road. Her first visitor was John Nespoli, president of the Lehighton and Carbon Campuses.

Coincidentally, Shaw-Ploucher and Nespoli had a lot to talk about besides the new facility with both of them having previously resided in the same area in Philadelphia. It was the first time, though, that they met.

Shaw-Ploucher was thrilled with the new room, which includes a large-screen TV for not only viewing but for remote consultation between her health care team and other medical experts as well as long-distance consultation between the doctor and the patient’s family, if necessary.

Also in the room is a sofa that doubles as a pullout bed in case a family member needs to stay overnight.

“It’s beautiful,” Shaw-Ploucher said of the room (all the rooms in the facility are private rooms), “The color is beautiful. It’s great on your eyes. It’s very calming, very soothing.

“The seating, the sofa, is so comfortable. Whoever came up with that idea, I think it’s a great thing,” she said.

Shaw-Ploucher, a native of Tamaqua, said she was born in the former Coaldale State Hospital, which is now St. Luke’s Miners Campus.

Nespoli said the patients’ rooms have another special feature that’s unseen. It has what is called a “Lifeaire” air purification system to kill pathogens, including the COVID-19 virus. “This is the first hospital in the country to have it,” he said.

Jarad Yeastedt, a manager and patient coordinator for Lehighton Ambulance, said, “The move went great. We had no trouble.”

He said nine ambulances and one para transport unit were utilized. The first patient was moved at 7 a.m. The entire operation to move the patients from Lehighton to the Franklin facility took about 2½ hours.

Because the Gnaden Huetten campus is closed to medical treatments, including the emergency room, Yeastedt said the ambulance association kept a crew on scene at the hospital for the weekend in case anyone came there for emergency care.

Cafeteria, gym open to public

Bret Buchman, project manager and construction manager for St. Luke’s Carbon Campus, said the facility has “easy access and plenty of parking.”

He said finishes on the hospital were done with the local area involved. For example, a large mural in the cafeteria is of Blue Mountain Ski Area with a pair of skis donated by its ski museum as a decorative item.

Artwork on the walls was done by local photographers, two of which are hospital employees.

There’s more to the hospital than 21st century medical technology.

Inside the facility are a cafeteria and a gym that are open to the public.

The cafeteria, Rick’s Cafe, is open 24/7 and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chef Tim Hartlieb said meals for seniors, which include an entree, side, salad, dessert and beverage, are available from 4-5:30 p.m. daily.

Ordering in the restaurant is done by a kiosk.

Besides main plate, also offered are pizza, sushi once a week, grilled items and salads.

The fitness center will be available free to the public through March 1. It is open Thanksgiving Day.

For more information, phone 484-464-4731.

Erica Line, director of marketing and public relations, said there will be walking trails put around the property which also will be available to the public.