From medical crises like heart attacks and strokes to life-threatening injuries related to motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds and falls, emergencies occur frequently, with more than 150 million emergency rooms visits annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the Rio Grande Valley, the South Texas Health System (STHS) Trauma & Critical Care Institute – the largest integrated network of trauma and critical care in South Texas, comprised of the healthcare system’s 11 emergency departments – reports approximately 250,000 emergency room (ER) visits annually.
In those high-stakes, time-sensitive situations, STHS’ ER personnel, including its board-certified physicians, nurses and technicians, are critical for providing immediate, life-saving care and stabilizing patients.
“Whether they’re in STHS McAllen’s Level 1 Trauma Center, STHS Heart’s dedicated heart emergency room, STHS Children’s dedicated pediatric ER or one of STHS’ seven freestanding emergency departments, our ER staff, working under intense pressure, utilize their specialized emergency medicine training for rapid assessment and treatment of critically ill and injured patients with one goal in mind: to improve outcomes and recovery rates,” says Tony De Luna, Emergency Room Director & Interim Trauma Director, STHS McAllen. “Skilled at operating in fast-paced environments to ensure that critical care is delivered, our staff works collaboratively 24/7 to ensure patient comfort and efficient care.”
In appreciation of the life-saving care and injury prevention education STHS’ frontline healthcare workers provide, Payne Weslaco Chevrolet recently presented the STHS Trauma & Critical Care Institute with a $1,000 check on behalf of Chevy Cares to support the healthcare system’s community outreach programs, including injury prevention and STOP THE BLEED education provided throughout the four-county region, as well as its Trauma Survivors Network support group.
“Supporting our community and the heroes who protect it is something we truly believe in,” says Payne Weslaco Chevrolet. “This is what it means to be part of a team that cares—on and off the lot.”
The Chevy Cares program is a Chevrolet initiative focused on supporting community-based causes, including first responder appreciation efforts in communities throughout the U.S. It’s the second consecutive year that the local Chevrolet dealership has made a $1,000 donation to STHS’ frontline healthcare heroes.
“Payne Weslaco Chevrolet’s generous donation will help in STHS’ mission to provide important injury prevention education to residents across the Rio Grande Valley,” says De Luna. "Their support will help us empower our community to make informed choices that will go a long way in reducing their risk of injuries by giving them a better understanding of potential hazards, highlighting the importance of practicing safe behaviors and encouraging them to adopt proper techniques. Through that essential education, they’ll be able to lead to a healthier life while reducing their risk of severe injury.”
To learn more about the STHS Trauma & Critical Care Institute’s injury prevention and community outreach programs, visit www.southtexashealthsystemmcallen.com.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
