For the residents of Pharr, there is an exciting advancement in health care. South Texas Health System (STHS) has opened its seventh freestanding emergency department. STHS is committed to providing the best care possible to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley. In rural areas, residents often have to travel long distances in case of an emergency, which can be expensive and challenging in critical situations.
“It is important for residents to have easy access to emergency care. If you have to travel, there can be traffic, and in emergency medicine, seconds matter,” said Daniel Garcia, Director of STHS ER Pharr, the only emergency room in the Pharr city limits.
The 14.3-million-dollar freestanding emergency department boasts 10,500 square feet of space to serve the healthcare needs of the residents of Pharr and surrounding communities.
“Our ER is a nine-bed facility with six private rooms and three semi-private rooms. We offer a fully dedicated resuscitation/trauma room and the first-of-its-kind human decontamination room at our local freestanding ERs. Our goal was for residents to not have to jump on the expressway to get the health care they need,” Garcia said.
STHS ER Pharr will provide treatment services for adult and pediatric patients dealing with emergency medical conditions, including:
- Chest pain
- Stroke
- Broken bones
- Minor lacerations
- Flu and other ailments
Additionally, the facility will provide stabilizing treatment to adult and pediatric patients experiencing:
- Trauma
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Respiratory distress
- Head injury
- Abdominal pain
- Orthopedic injuries
STHS is dedicated to providing excellent health care to patients, with the facility offering unique services to residents of Pharr and the surrounding areas to optimize patient outcomes. Some of these services include Synexis air purification units throughout the facility to help fight viruses, bacteria, mold, & odors in occupied spaces, in-house laboratory services, and full-body imaging, including X-ray, CT, ultrasound, and digital radiography.
Brenda Ivory, Chief Executive Officer of South Texas Health System Heart, who oversees South Texas Health System’s freestanding emergency departments, is ecstatic to bring uncompromised health care to rural community residents.
“Having an emergency room in a rural community is extremely important, especially when dealing with a medical emergency like a traumatic accident, heart attack, or stroke,” said Ivory. “It’s about how quickly emergency medicine personnel can provide lifesaving or life-stabilizing measures. Every second matters. The design enhancement at STHS ER Pharr will allow us to provide emergency care more efficiently and effectively.”
Pharr EMS teams are pleased to provide residents with easy access to premium healthcare services. The ER offers faster response times and direct access to necessary care for patients requiring EMS services.
“The new freestanding ER is a big win for the city – something that we have needed for a very long time,” said Cris Cisneros, EMS Operations Captain, City of Pharr EMS. “The fact that residents have access to health care 24/7 is a big deal for the city of Pharr. This freestanding ER is quicker access to what we want. Shorter response times and quicker drop-off times. Time is of the essence in these kinds of emergencies. Patients can get definitive care right away.”
The new freestanding ER in Pharr is a positive development for the residents of Pharr and the surrounding communities. It eliminates the need for patients to travel long distances to receive emergency health care. STHS hopes the ER will offer residents peace of mind, knowing that quality, compassionate emergency health care is now available close to home.
The ER officially opened on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. STHS ER Pharr is located at 435 W. Ridge Rd. in Pharr. To contact the facility, call (956) 403-5550. For more information on the system’s seventh freestanding emergency department, visit sthserpharr.com.
