Doctors Hospital at Renaissance is pleased to announce its 2nd annual Community Health Fair dedicated to the health and wellness of the Rio Grande Valley. The DHR Community Health Fair will provide awareness education, new medical advancements and free health screenings to help our community identify if they are at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke or other common health problems. The DHR Community Health Fair will take place at the McAllen Convention Center Sunday, February 24, 2008 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM and is open to the public.
“I encourage everyone to start the New Year with a clean bill of health and participate in the health fair. We are so excited that we can help the community by providing free health screenings,” said Marissa Castañeda, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Chief Operations Officer.
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance will provide free health screenings including blood pressure, diabetes, podiatry (foot screenings), hearing and vision tests. Other health care providers and hospital departments will have tables with health care and nutritional information. There is no admission fee and all participants are eligible for door prizes.
The McAllen Convention Center is located off Expressway 83 between 29th Street and Ware Road. All services and screenings will be provided to the public at no cost.
For more information, please contact the DHR Marketing Team in the Marketing Department at (956) 661-7555.
Endoscopic Ultrasounds (EUS)
EUS (Endoscopic Ultrasound) combines endoscopy of either the upper or lower intestinal tract and ultrasound to examine the lining and walls of the gastrointestinal tract and nearby organs such as the pancreas, liver and gallbladder. In using EUS the skilled Gastroenterologist may obtain tissue samplings by passing a special needle into large lymph nodes or suspicious tumors. The tissue or cells obtained by the needle are then examined by a pathologist. This allows for evaluation of masses or staging of cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and rectum. Early staging and detection allows for better prognosis. EUS may also be used in studying the pancreas for chronic pancreatitis, masses or cysts, studying bile duct abnormalities and studying the muscles of the lower rectum and anal canal for evaluating reasons for fecal incontinence.
Dr. Murthy Badiga, Gastroenterologist states, “Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a technique that uses a special scope that has an ultrasound probe at the tip. This state-of-the-art combination of endoscopy and ultrasound allows the doctor to more closely examine tissue not only within the digestive tract, but also surrounding it.”
Dr. Luis Mejia, Gastroenterologists adds, “EUS provides a detailed picture of the tissue, which can help your doctor determine its nature and decide upon the best treatment.” Dr. Mejia continues, “Before, patients had to travel out of Hidalgo County to have this procedure performed.”
Marissa Castañeda, DHR Chief Operations Officer states, “Doctors Hospital at Renaissance is responding to the community’s needs and providing more access to health care services and the most advanced procedures available.”
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance continues to be the premier healthcare provider in South Texas. For more information, please call Doctors Hospital at Renaissance at (956) 661-7555.
daVinci Robot at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease, and the No. 1 case of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. It occurs when coronary arteries – the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart – become blocked. This reduces or stops the flow of blood to the heart, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen.
For patients with severe blockage, coronary artery bypass surgery is a proven treatment option. In bypass surgery, surgeons remove or redirect a blood vessel from one part of the body and place it around the obstructed part of the coronary artery to bypass it and restores blood flow to the heart muscle. This vessel is called a graft, hence the other common name for this procedure – coronary artery bypass graft or CABG.
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance surgeons have helped pioneer the latest minimally invasive approaches for coronary artery bypass surgery, and are one of the first programs in the country and the first and only in South Texas to use the daVinci robot for bypass surgery. This advances benefits patients in many ways, including smaller incisions and scars, fewer side effects and complications, less pain and risk of infection and faster recovery. Dr. Jorge De La Garza, Cardiologist, says that , “With the addition of utilization of the daVinci robot will lead to less scarring, less bleeding and need for blood transfusion,” he adds, “It will also lower risk of infection and other complications like stroke, lead to a shorter hospital stay, provide a quicker recovery and return to normal activities.”
The heart remains beating throughout the robotic, procedure, which is safer and poses fewer side effects than having a patient on a heart-lug machine to maintain circulation. Patients with or two blocked arteries are candidates for this procedure. Robot-assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery eliminates the need for a large (6-10 inch) incision made down the sternum (breast bone) to access the heart, which reduces a patient’s surgical trauma. Other potential patient’s benefits include: Less pain (and need for pain medication).
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance continues to be the premier healthcare provider in South Texas. For more information, please call Doctors Hospital at Renaissance at (956) 661-7555.
DHR Wears Red for the American Heart Association
In support of Heart Awareness month, employees at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance held an awareness event on Friday, February 1, 2008 to observe National Wear Red Day. DHR employees paid for the privilege to wear jeans and wear red to work and together and raised over $700.00.
“Doctors Hospital at Renaissance strives to increase awareness about the importance of the major health issue of heart disease in women,” says Marissa Castañeda, DHR Chief Operations Officer. “National Wear Red day was developed to inspire women to consider their own heart health and to take action to reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease.”
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance continues to be the premier healthcare provider in South Texas. For more information, please call Doctors Hospital at Renaissance at (956) 661-7555.
The Women’s Hospital at Renaissance Now Offering Free Child Birth Education Classes
As soon as a woman discovers she is pregnant, she should establish a schedule of prenatal care with her physician for the entire duration of the pregnancy. The goal of prenatal care is not only to provide the best care for the pregnant woman and the unborn child, but also to prepare the mother-to-be for the delivery of a healthy baby.
During prenatal visits, tests are performed on both the mother and the baby to assess any potential risks, to treat any maternal or fetal complications, and to monitor the growth and development of the fetus. In addition, counseling and guidance are provided regarding various aspects of pregnancy, including weight gain, exercise, nutrition, and overall health.
The Women’s Hospital at Renaissance Childbirth Education services will provide comprehensive and informative classes to better prepare you and your family for childbirth. In addition basic childbirth education, the classes will teach what to expect during labor, labor support, healthy lifestyle, relaxation and breathing techniques. The program also includes information on diet and nutrition, and complications of pregnancy. One class of the program includes sibling education to involve everyone in the welcoming of a new family member and one class will focus on breastfeeding education. All participants will receive a tour of the facility.
There will be no fee for the classes. Classes will be held in Spanish on Wednesday evenings from 5PM-8PM starting on February 13th. Classes will be 2 sessions long.
Classes will be held in English every Saturday from 1PM-6PM starting Saturday February 16th. Classes are one day classes. Patients interested in participating in the classes must call to register as space is limited. Please call 688-4689 for information and registration. All classes will be held at The Women’s Hospital at Renaissance in the Outpatient Conference Room.
Marissa Castañeda, DHR Chief Operations Office states, “We are inviting the community and mothers-to-be to come in for a tour of our state-of-the art facility specifically focused on women’s health care and well-being.”
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance continues to be the premier healthcare provider in South Texas period. For more information, please call Doctors Hospital at Renaissance at (956) 661-7555.
