In addition to serving Valley residents with the best in health care service and technology, the South Texas medical establishment also attracts patients from the north and the south who recognize the high quality of its facilities and the expertise of its physicians and staff. Medical office complexes and comprehensive clinics are springing up near the hospitals to add to the availability of health care.

Mobile health care services in the Valley changed dramatically in 1995 when Valley Air Care, an emergency helicopter service, began operation. Since then, more than 1600 critical patients have been flown to medical centers in the airborne ambulance at a speed of 150 miles per hour.

Upper Valley

McAllen Medical Center has 480 beds and 300 doctors in all major specialties and incorporates the South Texas Heart Institute. Also operating under its umbrella are specialized services for cancer, rehabilitation, reproduction, neo-natal intensive care, out-patients, a day treatment center, an advanced imaging center, and a wellness center to encourage preventive care.

South Texas Cancer Center - McAllen features individualized chemotherapy treatment, state-of-the-art radiation technology, research studies, laboratory and pharmacy service and extensive patient services. Also located in McAllen is the Vannie E. Cook Cancer Foundation, offering cancer education and screenings.

McAllen Heart Hospital is the first free-standing cardiology and cardiovascular hospital in the United States dedicated solely to heart-related medical needs. It opened in 1995 and has 60 beds, three operating rooms and comprehensive emergency heart care.

Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen offers comprehensive health services including: orthopedics, heart surgery and cardiac rehabilitation, non-invasive kidney-stone therapy, labor and delivery, general medical and surgical services and a range of outpatient services. Other Rio Grande Regional Hospital facilities include: the Diabetes and Wound Management Center, McAllen Regional Imaging Center, Rio Grande Surgery Center, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Senior Friends Center, two Senior Health Centers and four Women's OB Clinics. With nearly 400 physicians in 35 specialties associated with the hospital, Rio Grande Regional Hospital is able to provide the service you need and the quality of care you deserve.

Edinburg Regional Medical Center, a $40 million hospital at the intersection of Trenton and Sugar Road, replaces the former Edinburg Hospital. A sister facility to the McAllen Medical Center, Edinburg Regional Medical Center includes a 120-bed acute care center. The 40-acre Cornerstone Medical Center at Edinburg, termed a "one-stop shopping center of medical services," includes another specialty facility, the Cornerstone Orthopedic Hospital.

Mission Hospital is a community not-for-profit acute care facility. Although it has been in existence since 1954, restructuring and growth led to the present 138-bed facility. Conveniently connected by an enclosed walkway is the Mission Doctors Plaza, which houses the high-tech Physical Therapy Unit, Imaging Center (MRI), Medical Equipment Supply Store and a drive-through pharmacy. Mission Hospital is supported by a staff of more than 131 community physicians.

Mid-Valley

Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco added a $31 million patient tower in 1995, expanding its available beds to 215, all private rooms, and added state-of-the-art imaging equipment. Its 10-bed emergency department is one of the busiest in the Valley, working on a triage system where patients who are the sickest are seen first. Valley Air Care, the helicopter ambulance, provides service to and from the facility.

Harlingen and San Benito

Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen has a long and distinguished history of service to the entire region. It is the centerpiece of a growing medical complex that includes three hospitals, 19 clinics, 180 doctors and 28 dentists. A four-story wing, known as the East Tower, expands the hospital's number of beds to 564 and quadruples the size of its emergency room. The East Tower also houses a gift shop, education areas, food areas, day surgery rooms, a women's care facility, and one entire floor shelled in for future expansion. The top of the tower also serves as a heliport. VBMC's staff covers all major specialties and most subspecialties and has an MRI facility, two CT scanners, nuclear medicine and a radiation therapy center. The hospital's newest addition is an 18-bed in-patient rehabilitation unit to supplement its out-patient program. Active health education classes include the medical center's programs and those from affiliated colleges and universities.

In nearby San Benito, Dolly Vinsant Memorial Hospital, established in 1949, was named for a flight nurse from San Benito who was killed in World War II. It is served by over 150 physicians representing most specialties available in the area. Major expansions and renovations have modernized its departments and services, and patients enjoy its small, warm and family-like atmosphere.

Lower Valley

The oldest health care facility in the lower Valley is Brownsville Medical Center, a 214-bed, acute-care facility with medical office buildings adjacent to it. It began as Mercy Hospital in 1923, and several additions have brought it to its present capacity. It offers a complete range of the latest diagnostic, medical and surgical services.

Valley Regional Medical Center recently moved into its new $58 million replacement hospital and medical complex located by Expressway 77/83 as you enter Brownsville. Its many features include complete diagnostic imaging, out-patient services, a hyperbaric and wound care center and home health services. In addition to its "Senior Friends" program, it has a "Little Friends" plan to teach children health, safety, nutrition and exercise in a way that makes learning fun. Valley Regional also operates the Valley Regional Island Clinic on South Padre Island.

In addition to the area's excellent hospitals, there are many specialized clinics and home health agencies. The wide range of medical personnel, facilities and services conveniently located over the area insure the availability of adequate health care for those who visit the Rio Grande Valley or move to the area to work or retire.