“For so many years people had to leave the area for care,” said John Nespoli, president of the Lehighton and Carbon Campuses of St. Luke’s University Health Network. “Now they have a hospital that has the highest level of health care.”

He said, “This is possibly the highest tech hospital in the country.”

The new St. Luke’s Carbon Campus, located along Harrity Road in Franklin Township, officially opened to patients on Saturday morning.

Nespoli pointed out that the intensive care system in the hospital is available 24/7 “for the first time in Carbon County.”

Doctors qualifying for intensive care treatment require eight years of training beyond regular medical training.

The hospital executive pointed to five scientific advances that are incorporated into the new hospital.

They are:

• Lifeaire: An air purification system in patient care areas to kill air pathogens, including COVID-19.

• Massimo: A wireless device on the patient and the patient’s nurse monitors many things on the patients and is equipped with artificial intelligence. It comprehends all the data and detects when health problems are about to occur, before they happen, and alerts the nurse.

• Amwell Telehealth: This is a 55-inch smart TV for any doctor to either consult with other medical professionals live or consult with a patient’s family anywhere in the country.

• Medisign: An electronic white board that has the patient’s plan of care, including the amount of pain a patient may have had. It is accessible by any member of the medical team or event can be accessed by permitted family members.

• A device that alerts a caregiver on hand-washing. It reminds caregivers to wash their hands and even reports them if they fail to do so. “We want 100 percent hand-washing,” Nespoli said.

Pat Buchman, project manager and construction manager, said the new facility has three floors above ground and a sub-floor.

The first floor has radiology, operating rooms, and Rick’s Cafe cafeteria.

The second has all patient rooms, several of them which are intensive care rooms.

The third floor is shell space for which 30 additional patient rooms could be added.

The lower level has human resources, administration, support staff and the fitness center.

David Gibson RN, executive administrator for patient care services, said the hospital has 28 medical-surgical rooms, 12 ICU rooms and 17 emergency room beds. In the emergency room, every room is private.

He said, “The ultimate goal, and our slogan, is keep care close to home.”

This is the first time critical care services are offered 24/7 in Carbon County, he said.