STHS and Prominence Health Plan to Tackle How to Address The Valley’s Diabetes Epidemic

Taking place on Diabetes Alert Day, the special discussion will feature a panel of local healthcare experts and community leaders and tackle tactics to prevent, treat and beat diabetes in the Valley

Diabetes doesn’t just affect a single individual; it affects entire communities. According to the American Diabetes Association, the estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes in 2017 amounted to $327 billion, including direct medical costs and reduced productivity. Furthermore, those with a family history of diabetes are more prone to developing the disease.

A community problem requires a community solution. To address the epidemic of diabetes in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas Health System is partnering with Prominence Health Plan and South Texas College to host a panel discussion on how to address the diabetes epidemic in the Valley as a community, from healthcare to government and education.

Local healthcare experts and community leaders, including Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, will gather on Diabetes Alert Day — Wednesday, March 23 — for a conversation with South Texas Health System’s Tom Castañeda on how to improve the health and wellness of the people of the Valley by reducing the diabetes incidence in the region.

The panel discussion will serve as the official kickoff to South Texas Health System and Prominence Health Plan’s inaugural Prevent, Beat & Treat Diabetes Symposium, a conference for the entire community featuring health screening, educational seminars, cooking and exercise demonstrations and more. Both events are free and open to the entire community.

Who:	South Texas Health System, Prominence Health Plan & South Texas College
What:	Diabetes Alert Day: “Addressing Diabetes as a Community” Panel Discussion
When:	Wednesday, March 23 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Note: Event will adhere to social distancing and mask protocols, to keep everyone safe.
Where:	South Texas College — Student Union (Bldg. U) 3201 Pecan Blvd. McAllen, TX 78501

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 II Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only 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 six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.

About Prominence Health Plan

Prominence Health Plan began in 1993 as a health maintenance organization (HMO) and became of a subsidiary of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) in 2014. Prominence Heath Plan provides coverage to more than 60,000 fully insured, self-funded and Medicare Advantage members throughout Nevada and parts of Texas. Prominence operates seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in California, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Washington D.C., which are managed care systems that benefit communities by providing coordinated, high-quality care to Medicare patients. For more information about Prominence Health Plan, visit ProminenceHealthPlan.com or ProminenceMedicare.com.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

###