In the United States, one in ten people have diabetes, a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy, according to CDC. In the Rio Grande Valley, medical experts believe the prevalence of the autoimmune disease is even greater, with many community members unaware that they have the disease.
If left untreated, diabetes complications like poor circulation and nerve damage can lead to the development of wounds that could become infected and not heal properly. In many cases, that leads to life-altering issues. Diabetes is the No. 1 cause of lower-limb amputations, according to the CDC.
“It’s extremely important that the community, especially those suffering from diabetes, know that they have a high risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers if they don’t take proper care of themselves,” warns Dr. Jose Ricardo Sobrevilla, MD, medical director of the South Texas Health System Wound Healing Center. “Those debilitating open sores, which can develop anywhere on your foot or toes, do have a high risk of amputation, and it’s our mission to prevent that from happening through advanced wound care.”
Rio Grande Valley residents, including diabetes sufferers, now have even more resources at the South Texas Health System Wound Healing Center for their hard-to-heal lesions and sores.
On Thursday, April 22, South Texas Health System held a small, socially distanced ribbon-cutting event in partnership with the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the expansion of the specialty clinic, which first opened its doors in 2016. The South Texas Health System Wound Healing Center is now more than double its original size. The state of the art facility, which offers advanced treatment options, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, bioengineered skin substitutes and specialized wound dressings, has grown from four treatment rooms to 10. In addition, the center has increased its number of hyperbaric oxygen chambers from two to four.
“The expansion of the South Texas Health System Wound Healing Center validates our pledge to help our patients heal faster with our evidence-based approach to the treatment of chronic wounds, as well as our commitment to providing quality and compassionate care,” asserts Lily Ricketts, Associate Administrator, South Texas Health System Edinburg, who oversees the wound care center. “We collaborate with our patients’ primary physicians to propose the best treatment options for them and their hard-to-heal wounds.”
The South Texas Health System Wound Healing Center, located at 4302 S. Sugar Rd., Suite 101, Edinburg, TX 78539, is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 956-388-2700 or visit Wound Care | South Texas Health System Edinburg.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-hospital health care system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four hospital campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral Health campus location. 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 pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, a 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 on the system, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
