Welcome

Welcome to Memorial Health System of East Texas. As the largest health care system in the deep East Texas area, Memorial Health System of East Texas provides care to almost a quarter of a million patients each year. Since its inception in 1949, Memorial Health System has paved the way for quality, innovative health care in East Texas. In fact, our hospitals consistently rank among the nation’s best for exceptional health care and patient satisfaction.

Pride in Food Services Week

Memorial Health System of East Texas is shining the spotlight on Café Memorial during national “Pride Food Services Week.” Café Memorial has many exciting plans in the works for 2010 including a newly renovated cafeteria and an updated menu.

“Café Memorial,” which is managed by Sodexo Marriott, will adopt the new Sodexo standard that includes new menu items that have a more flavorful approach,” said Manuel Marini, Café Memorial Executive Chef.

Additionally, Café Memorial celebrates different themes each month. For the month of February, Black History month is recognized in the Café with a favorite Southern dish every Wednesday until the end of the month. Some other special dates that will be celebrated during the month of February include the Chinese New Year on February 12 and Fat Tuesday February 16.  Read the press release.

Cardiovascular Professionals Dedicate
Themselves to Treating Heart Disease
 

Chances are you might know someone with heart disease. After all it is estimated that one out of three Americans have heart disease, which is equivalent to 61 million Americans. This disease includes a variety of problems, including high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, chest pain, heart attacks, and strokes.

During “Heart Month” and “Cardiovascular Professionals Week,” Memorial Health System of East Texas is recognizing the talented team of professionals who dedicate their lives each day to saving the lives of those who suffer from cardiovascular disease. From routine and specialized catheterizations to valve repair utilizing the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System and open heart surgery, Memorial’s cardiac team challenges themselves to learn new procedure techniques and adapt to the most advanced technology on the market. Recognized by the American Heart Association, these highly skilled individuals provide East Texans with exceptional care right here at home. Front row: Erica Proctor, Surgical Tech; Brenda King, RN; Mark Bryan, RTR/RCIS; Janis Parcon, RN, BSN, CNOR; Jairo Monroy, Scrub Tech; Middle row: Mary Beier, Scrub Tech; Amy King, RN; Tim Morgan, Surgical Tech; John Brink, RN, Nurse Manager; Rebecca Wells, Clinical Assistant; Tom Carrington, RN; Melissa Taylor, RT(R); Brenda Greer, RN, CNOR; Stephanie Dilday, LVN Scrub Nurse; Ann Dupree, RN; Back row: Bobby Sims, RT(R); Jarrad Grumbles, RN, BSN, Cath Lab Nurse.
 

Dr. Bill Shelton’s Totally Awesome Fishing Adventure Set for May 1

Start practicing your cast, it’s time for the 17th Annual Dr. Bill Shelton’s Totally Awesome Fishing Adventure on Lake Sam Rayburn. This year’s tournament will be held Saturday, May 1 at Cassels-Boykin Park. All tournament proceeds benefit indigent cancer patients at the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center.

Fishermen and women can start looking for registration forms in March. Registration forms will be available online at www.memorialhealth.org as well as at Memorial Health System of East Texas, the Arthur Temple Sr. Regional Cancer Center or by calling Lindsey Mott at 936-639-7613. Fishermen also can register at Cassels-Boykin from Noon to 8 p.m., Friday, April 30, and 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. the morning of the tournament. The entry fee is $200 per team, one or two-person teams. There is a three-fish limit with culling allowed. Weigh in for all fishermen will start at Noon and end promptly at 3 p.m. at Cassels-Boykin Park, Saturday,

May 1.  Read the press release.

Memorial Volunteers Provide Technology to Help

 Newborn Babies with Jaundice

Jaundice is one of the most common problems with newborn babies. The Volunteer Auxiliary at Memorial Health System of East Texas is helping the Nursery to better care and treat newborns that experience jaundice. The Volunteers recently donated three neoBLUE LED Phototherapy lights to the Memorial Nursery. These Blue LED lights emit most of their light in the range that corresponds to the peak absorption at which bilirubin, the chemical that builds up in the blood causing jaundice, is broken down. Phototherapy has been the standard of care for the treatment of neonatal jaundice for several decades. Pictured with the neoBLUE LED Phototherapy lights are Yvette Compean, Director of Women's & Children's Services; Heather Warner, LVN; Sandy Williams, RN; Misti Lowe, RNC; Dr. Jeffrey Glass, Pediatrician; Don Newland, President of Memorial Health System of East Texas Volunteer Auxiliary and Robyn Devore, RN. 

In addition to purchasing equipment and supplies for the hospital, the money volunteers raise throughout the year helps fund academic scholarships for students pursuing health care careers. For more information on becoming a volunteer, visit www.memorialhealth.org or call 936-639-7237.  Watch the KTRE Video.

Memorial Medical Center – Livingston

 Receives Exemplary Performance Recognition

Memorial Medical Center – Livingston has been recognized for Exemplary Performance by the Texas Department of State Health Services for contributing to the health of Texas children through outstanding implementation of the newborn consent process for ImmTrac, the Texas Immunization Registry.

ImmTrac is the Texas immunization registry. It is a secure, confidential registry that stores children’s immunization information electronically, in one centralized system. Authorized professionals such as doctors, nurses and public health providers can access vaccination history at anytime which aids in avoiding unnecessary vaccinations as well as making sure children receive vaccines needed. Parents are also able to get their child’s immunization information at any time. Read the press release.

Certified Nurse Anesthetists Recognized at
Memorial Health System of East Texas

Approximately 32 million is the number of anesthetics administered to patients each year in the United States by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), according to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). Nurse Anesthetists provide anesthesia and related care before and after surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures. Memorial Health System of East Texas is recognizing and thanking the Certified Nurse Anesthetists at Memorial during National CRNA Week, January 24-30. Pictured are the Nurse Anesthetists at Memorial Health System of East Texas (front, l to r) Tina McDonald, CRNA; Tanya McDonald, CRNA and Jason Steele, RRNA (back, l to r) Jason Nix, CRNA; Jacob Sapp, CRNA; David Irvin, RRNA and Chris Axelson, CRNA.
 

Latest Technique in Hip Replacement Leads to Faster Recovery
At Memorial Health System of East Texas
 

All through life, Patricia Bush experienced occasional problems with her left hip. She never thought much about it until the arthritis pain progressively became worse. Then her hip began slipping out of the socket. When she stood up, she would have to work it around until it popped back into place. That’s when she decided to visit Dr. Roy Guse at Texas Specialist Center and schedule a hip replacement procedure at Memorial Health System of East Texas.

Dr. Guse immediately recognized Bush’s condition. Her left hip socket never totally developed, thus causing problems her entire life. Along with the undeveloped socket, she had no cartilage in the joint, cysts were formed around it and the joint had re-fused. Dr. Guse informed Bush that she was a candidate for the new anterior approach hip replacement procedure using the HANA™ Hip Arthroplasty Table at Memorial Health System of East Texas. Without a doubt, Bush agreed to the anterior approach hip replacement.

The Anterior Approach surgical procedure at Memorial Health System of East Texas allows physicians to replace the hip joint through a small incision on the front of the hip. Unlike traditional hip replacement methods, the anterior approach keeps all muscle tissue attached to the pelvis and femur. Undisturbed muscles result in no surgical trauma and do not need a healing time to recover from surgery. Anterior approach hip replacement patients require a shorter hospital stay and benefit from a faster recovery time.  Read the press release.

Aquatic Therapy Makes a Big Splash in East Texas

Wilson McKewen Rehabilitation Center Offers Area’s Only

 Aquatic Therapy Program

Throughout the year and especially in the summer months, backyard swimming pools and public pool facilities are not only used for fun but for various exercise methods from maintaining and improving physical health to building cardiovascular endurance. The use of a swimming pool for these type activities can preserve participants’ joints from the wear and tear that gravity imposes during traditional dry land exercise. A different type of water workout or prescribed therapy program for a specific group of people can be found at Lufkin’s Wilson McKewen Rehabilitation Center’s indoor pool, the only indoor aquatic therapy program in the area.

Wilson McKewen Rehabilitation Center’s aquatic therapy program serves people who have muscle weakness or muscle control problems as a result of illness or injury.   Read the press release.

Memorial Health System of East Texas receives

 American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines

Silver Performance Achievement Award

Memorial Health System of East Texas recently received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Memorial Health System of East Texas’ commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of cardiac care that effectively improves treatment of patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease.

Under Get With The Guidelines–CAD, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in the hospital and receive smoking cessation/ weight management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before they are discharged. Hospitals that receive the Get With The Guidelines-CAD Silver Performance Achievement Award have demonstrated for at least one year that 85 percent of its coronary patients (without contraindications) are discharged following the American Heart Association’s recommended treatment guidelines.  Read the press release.

 

Memorial holds ribbon cutting for new Cardiovascular & Stroke Center; facility creates 60 new jobs

Memorial Health System of East Texas introduced its new facility to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday night.

The Cardiovascular & Stroke Center, 18 months in the making, could not have been completed without community support, hospital employee dedication and the generosity of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, Memorial President and CEO Bryant Krenek said. The facility will work in conjunction with the Methodist Health System of Houston to provide state-of-the-art care to East Texans.

"We have come so far and can go further still," Memorial Chief of Staff Dr. Abraham F. Cheriyan said.

"What East Texans can dream East Texans can do," added state Rep. Jim McReynolds (D-Lufkin), who spoke during the dedication.

• Read the entire story in the Lufkin Daily News.

• Watch the video.

• Watch our slide show!

Memorial Offers Life-Saving Tips for this Flu Season

It is estimated between one and five million people will get the flu this winter. Even more startling is more than 226,000 people will be hospitalized with nearly 36,000 people dying from flu complications. Memorial Health System of East Texas is making an effort to lower the risk factors in East Texas by visiting area businesses and schools and spreading the message on how to stay healthy this flu season.

Local employer, Oncor Services, is one of the many businesses holding educational flu seminars for their employees. Memorial Infection Control Nurse, Barbara Raines, R.N., recently presented a community presentation, “Flu Season 2009: What You Need to Know” to Oncor employees. The group was educated on flu strains, how to recognize signs and symptoms of flu, treatments and prevention. “As a health care professional, I feel it is my responsibility to educate the public on what to expect this flu season and how to stay healthy,” said Ms. Raines. “It is important that the public recognize the risk factors and how to maintain good health this flu season.”  Read more about it!