South Texas Health System

Conquering Chronic Pain: Known to diminish a person’s quality of life, chronic pain is one of the common reasons people seek medical help. Nearly 21% of U.S. adults—51.6 million Americans—are dealing with chronic pain, which is defined as pain lasting more than three months, per the CDC. Untreated chronic pain can greatly impact a person’s physical and mental health, potentially leading to decreased mobility, impaired immunity, hormonal imbalances and an increased risk of depression and anxiety. So, what are the common types of chronic pain and how is it treated? Find out by watching the latest episode of South Texas Healthy Living, brought to you by South Texas Health System and South Texas Health System Clinics, this Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 25 at 11 a.m. on KGBT 4.1. Along with a discussion on understanding chronic pain with STHS Clinics pain medicine specialist Dr. Justin Faye, you'll meet a local retired school librarian who has been dealing with chronic pain for 20 years to hear her advice on managing the condition. Plus, we'll teach you some simple exercises you can do at home and an anti-inflammatory recipe to help with chronic pain! Don't miss our latest episode of South Texas Healthy Living, this Saturday, September 21, and Sunday, September 22 at 11 a.m. on KGBT 4.1.

Celebrating A Payroll All-Star: The role of a payroll supervisor is a tedious job, but it's one Zelda Martinez does with passion. Zelda and her team work with tight deadlines each day to ensure that South Texas Health System's 3,500+ employees get paid accurately and on time. Additionally, the payroll department works closely with staff members to guarantee all concerns regarding payroll are addressed in a timely manner. "It's a good feeling to work with good people that are helping our community," says Zelda. "It takes a special person to care for someone else’s health and getting to be a backbone for our healthcare system and work in unison with my team to support those individuals is why we're here.” Today marks Zelda's one-year anniversary with STHS, and she's proud to be part of what she calls "a thoughtful, considerate and supportive culture." “I have the honor of working with a lot of good people that strive to do better and be better," she says. "Everyone is kind, and we are all focused on doing the best we can and moving forward – that is the culture STHS offers.” Congratulations on your first year with STHS, Zelda! And thank you and your team for your diligence in supporting STHS’ staff members!

A First in the Rio Grande Valley to Help Prevent Amputations: Globally, the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is increasing. The condition, which reduces blood flow to the arms and legs, may lead to amputation, which has a high mortality rate. But there’s new hope for Rio Grande Valley residents living with PAD. South Texas Health System Edinburg is proud to be the first in the Rio Grande Valley to offer a groundbreaking treatment for patients suffering from severe, complex PAD. Last month, Dr. Ofsman Quintana, a cardiologist with South Texas Health System Clinics specializing in PAD, completed the first Percutaneous Transmural Arterial Bypass Therapy with the DETOUR System. The minimally invasive procedure enables physicians to bypass lesions in the superficial femoral artery by using conduits through the femoral vein via a transmural passage, to restore blood flow to the lower extremities. The procedure was performed on a 70-year-old patient experiencing severe pain in his legs as a result of peripheral artery disease. “This procedure is a notable example of our dedication to helping restore limb function, save lives and improve the overall quality of life for our patients through advanced treatment options,” says Dr. Quintana. The procedure was performed in STHS Edinburg’s advanced cardiac cath lab, which opened in 2023 to provide diagnostic services to identify cardiovascular conditions, as well as specialized treatments to prevent limb loss. Congratulations to Dr. Quintana and his team for a successful life-changing procedure!

Committed to the Safety of All Patients: It's World Patient Safety Day, a time to raise global awareness about patient safety and call for solidarity and united action between patients, healthcare workers, policymakers and healthcare leaders to reduce patient harm. Established in 2019 by the World Health Organization, World Patient Safety Day aims to ensure that all people always experience the safest, highest quality, best value healthcare across all settings around the world. At South Texas Health System, the overall safety and well-being of each of our patients across the system's 11 facilities is our top priority. On this important day, we reaffirm our commitment to safe, equitable, high-quality care for all. Thank you to the patients, their families and the Rio Grande Valley community that have entrusted us with providing quality, compassionate care.

Regaining Independence Through Rehabilitation: Whether it be due to an illness, injury or a health condition, physical rehabilitation is a vital part of treatment when it comes to improving mobility and physical function, as well as improving overall strength and ability. At any point in life, rehabilitation may be needed, so, to help Rio Grande Valley residents struggling to move, South Texas Health System will dedicate its latest Let’s Talk Your Health webinar to physical rehabilitation. Streaming live this Tuesday, September 17, via South Texas Health System’s Facebook page from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the online seminar will highlight the various forms of rehabilitation and the difference it can make in acute and chronic health conditions. For more information, visit the STHS Facebook Events page. https://lnkd.in/e5R2ikMU

You Are Not Alone: Spreading the message of suicide prevention is important and it takes efforts from several communities to let those know struggling they are not alone! That's why we're grateful to Doctors Hospital of Laredo, our sister facility in Webb County, for their support of our Chalk the Walk initiative this Suicide Prevention Awareness Month! Earlier this month, DHL staff chalked up the sidewalks around their hospital with messages of optimism and encouragement for those struggling with their mental health and suicidal ideation. The goal of STHS Behavioral's monthlong initiative is to create community connectedness and offer help and support to those struggling by encouraging community members to learn the warning signs of suicide and know the places where help is available. STHS Behavioral invites everyone to continue showing their support by writing uplifting chalk messages of hope and inspiration across their own walkways, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, etc. Share your messages on social media and tag #STHSChalkTheWalk, so that we can share your art on our own social media accounts this month. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health challenges or suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7 at #STHSBehavioral. For a confidential assessment call 956-388-1300. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Coffee for a Cause: Throughout the years, South Texas Health System Children’s has counted on the support of community organizations and businesses to help children cope more effectively with hospitalization. One of those local businesses, Dutch Bros., will once again host its annual Buck for Kids Day this coming Friday, September 20, which will benefit the patients at STHS Children's. The community is invited to stop by any one of the 13 Dutch Bros. locations across the Rio Grande Valley and buy their favorite drink. $1 from every drink purchased will be donated to the hospital’s Child Life Program through the Auxiliary to STHS. “Every dollar can help change the experience for our most delicate patients and turn a stressful situation into a more positive one,” says Kimberly Davis, Pediatric Administrator at STHS Children's. Buck for Kids Day is Dutch Bros. way of giving back to kids in communities across the nation. Thank you, Dutch Bros., for your generous support of STHS Children's!

Calling All Emergency Care All-Stars! South Texas Health System is now hiring exceptional healthcare professionals for its newest freestanding emergency department, STHS ER Pharr, which will open in less than a month! If you’re passionate about providing quality, compassionate care in an emergency setting, here’s your chance to elevate your career with STHS. Open positions include: ?? Registered Nurses ?? Admissions Representatives ?? CT Techs ?? Housekeepers ?? HVAC Tech ?? Security Guard STHS offers competitive salaries, a great benefits package and sign-on bonuses for qualified applicants. For a complete list of open positions, visit https://spklr.io/6045t7Gl.

Your Now Is Not Forever: Social support and connection are key protective factors in the prevention of suicide. So, this Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, South Texas Health System Behavioral encouraged the Rio Grande Valley to help spread love and light to help those struggling know they are not alone as part of their Chalk the Walk initiative. The staff at Texas Regional Bank were among those who answered that call to action! Earlier this month, they chalked up the sidewalks around their branches throughout the region and beyond with messages of optimism and encouragement for those struggling with their mental health and suicidal ideation. Suicide is a serious but preventable public health problem. Supporting those who are struggling, learning the warning signs of suicide and knowing the places where help is available are ways everyone can help save lives. STHS Behavioral invites you to continue showing your support by writing uplifting chalk messages of hope and inspiration across your own walkways, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, etc. Share your messages on social media and tag #STHSChalkTheWalk, so that we can share your art on our social media accounts throughout the remainder of the month. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health challenges or suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7 at #STHSBehavioral. For a confidential assessment call 956-388-1300. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Be Careful Skipping a Beat: Atrial Fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat; it occurs when the chambers of the heart beat abnormally and rapidly. Known simply as AFib, the condition can cause the heart to beat so fast that it's hard to distinguish between individual beats, making it seem like the heart is fluttering or pounding. By 2030, an estimated 12.1 million people will have AFib, according to the American Heart Association, which can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Some people with Afib are unaware they have the condition and don’t show immediate symptoms. Others may experience one or more of the following: ?? Irregular Heartbeat ?? Heart Palpitations ?? Lightheadedness ?? Extreme Fatigue ?? Shortness of Breath ?? Chest Pain For more information on Atrial Fibrillation, check out our latest South Texas Health Minute on ValleyCentral.com. bit.ly/47s4G9g