South Texas Well being System celebrates enormous milestone

MCALLEN, Texas – After a sterling 12 months, South Texas Well being System closed 2022 with an enormous milestone: receiving a Degree I trauma designation from the Texas Division of State Well being Companies for STHS McAllen.

To have fun the momentous event, a ceremony was held on the hospital with medical doctors, nurses, first responders and dignitaries in attendance.

Todd Mann, CEO for STHS McAllen, thanked everybody at STHS and their companions for his or her exhausting work and dedication to acquire the notable distinction.

“I’m extremely grateful for the workers that present up right here day-after-day, that present superb care to our group,” mentioned Mann. “That’s what it’s about, guys. It’s concerning the care we offer. The plaque seems nice on the wall, nevertheless it actually, actually is about our mission of offering wonderful care to our group, and our workers does that each single day.”

Mann additionally particularly acknowledged the STHS McAllen trauma division itself, together with Trauma Medical Director Dr. John W. Hovorka; Affiliate Trauma Medical Director Dr. J. Jesus Rendon; Director of Analysis Dr. Carlos H. Palacio; and trauma surgeon Dr. LeRone Simpson. Collectively, they overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges and offered efficient and unorthodox options to be able to safe this highest accolade.

“They’re the spine of this program,” mentioned Mann. “They’re those who drive this. In the end, they’re those taking good care of the sufferers within the ICU, the ER and doubtlessly in surgical procedure. So, I couldn’t say sufficient about them, their dedication. With out them, none of this might be potential.”

In February 2019, STHS McAllen grew to become the primary hospital within the Hidalgo County to realize a Degree II trauma designation after approval from the American Faculty of Surgeons. Now, it’s one in every of solely 21 hospitals within the state to working as a Degree I trauma facility. STHS McAllen can also be a part of the STHS Trauma and Essential Care Institute, which consists of 10 emergency room departments from throughout the Valley – the most important built-in emergency community south of San Antonio.

“We’re proud to cowl whole communities throughout the Rio Grande Valley, and this is only one extra milestone of us attaining greatness,” mentioned Mann.

To spotlight their nice work, Enrique “Quique” Rodriguez, a former trauma affected person at STHS McAllen was invited to inform his story. Whereas driving residence in September 2021, the 20-year-old was struck by a automobile concerned in a police chase. He was severely injured and his mom was informed his probabilities of survival had been slim to none. After present process mind and lung surgical procedures, he was put in an induced coma and stayed within the ICU for 2 weeks. He was ultimately moved to STHS McAllen’s outpatient heart the place he needed to relearn primary expertise like strolling and speaking. In Might 2022, he was discharged after 7 months of rehabilitation. Absolutely recovered, Rodriguez, now a nursing scholar at South Texas Faculty, needs to pay it ahead to others like him.

“I need to have the ability to care for individuals the way in which I used to be taken care of,” mentioned Rodriguez. “I need to give again. What was given to me, I need to repay that.”

Rodriguez added, “I’m actually grateful … for this second probability at life that I used to be given.”

With tales like Rodriguez’s, McAllen Metropolis Commissioner Pepe Cabeza de Vaca, who spoke on the ceremony, says that he and his household in addition to native residents ought to really feel a lot safer now that they’ve a high trauma facility of their yard.

“You don’t should be transported out of the area or go elsewhere,” mentioned Cabeza de Vaca. “We now have that care proper right here.”

In a pre-recorded video message to attendees, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos congratulated STHS McAllen and repeated the sentiment, saying that “the standard of life and high quality well being care is of the utmost significance” within the metropolis.

Hidalgo County Choose Richard Cortez took a second to emphasise the significance of well being take care of our underinsured inhabitants and thanked STHS for his or her continued funding locally.

“What you all have achieved right here and demonstrated is that we’re a superb space to spend money on,” mentioned Cortez. “… So, we’re very, very grateful on your continued help, your continued funding. The providers that you simply present are wonderful … This can be a massive deal.”

Regardless of the current recognition, Mann pointed to STHS McAllen’s unwavering “dedication to offer high quality, compassionate care to the communities we serve.”

“When there was (sic) no trauma degree designations, we had been all the time right here for our group it doesn’t matter what,” mentioned Mann.

Since its days as “the white hospital,” and now in 2023 and past, its dedication to the individuals of South Texas strongly stays.

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