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.

Landmark Surgical Case Performed at Memorial Hospital

It is being called a breakthrough approach to hysterectomies. Advanced technology that is being used at Memorial Health System of East Texas is setting a new standard in this type of gynecological procedure. Utilizing the da Vinci High Definition Robot, surgeons now are performing hysterectomies with fewer complications and a quicker recovery time for the patient.

Lufkin Gynecologist and Obstetrical Surgeon, Dr. Jerry Johnson, is the first in his field locally to offer a hysterectomy using the robotic system. On Wednesday, Dr. Johnson successfully performed two hysterectomies at Memorial Health System of East Texas.

“I am extremely pleased and excited about using the Robotic System for hysterectomies,” said Dr. Jerry Johnson. “The procedure is significantly easier for the patient. The two women who elected to use the Robotic System for their hysterectomies on Wednesday experienced a very minimal hospital stay, considerably less pain and very little pain medication. Additionally, they should be able to return to performing many normal activities within a week.”

Surgeons perform 600,000 hysterectomies each year in the United States alone. 65% of those performed are total abdominal hysterectomies, 10% are laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomies (LAVH) and 25% are vaginal hysterectomies. Despite general preference for minimally invasive procedures, the majority of these surgeries are still performed using large incisions. Read more about it.

Certificate of Excellence Awarded to Memorial Wound Care Center

The Wound Care Center at Memorial Health System of East Texas is joining the fight against cancer. According to the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine, out of the 1.2 million Americans diagnosed with cancer, half will receive radiation therapy and about 5% of these individuals will develop problems related to their radiation months to years later. The Wound Care Center at Memorial Health System of East Texas has been recognized for its work in defining the benefits of this type of therapy for the management of radiation therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, often referred to as HBO, is a medical treatment for specific conditions that allow patients to breathe pure oxygen inside a pressurized chamber enhancing the body’s natural healing process. One of the conditions treated by HBO is radionecrosis. Radionecrosis is tissue destruction due to excessive exposure to radiation (www.thefreedictionary.com). Radiation can cause damage to tissues that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help treat by aiding in the growth of new blood vessels.  Read more about it.

Memorial Health System of East Texas Announces New $30 Million Cardiovascular and Stroke Center

Memorial Health System of East Texas has broken ground break on a new 30 million dollar expansion project. Construction began in the spring of 2008 on the Cardiovascular and Stroke Center of East Texas. The new four-story facility will be located next to the hospital’s emergency room. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2009.   Click here for more construction information!

Memorial Health System of East Texas Unveils Cardiac Specialty

In the United States, more than 325,000 deaths per year are attributed to sudden cardiac arrest. Memorial Health System of East Texas is unveiling the Heart Rhythm Center of East Texas to lower heart rhythm disorder incidence that causes sudden cardiac arrest. Read more about it.

Lufkin Students Take Part in State Diabetes Pilot Project

Does a community based lifestyle education program improve health care status in a group of children at increased risk for diabetes? That is the question the Children’s Lifestyle Intervention Program (CLIP) attempts to answer.

The CLIP study kicked off today at the Lufkin Middle School with all 6th graders participating in a presentation by local medical experts and governmental leaders. State Representative Jim McReynolds, Dr. Jeffrey Glass, Dr. Lance Sloan, and Tim Scallon, Director of Clinical Nutrition at Memorial Health System of East Texas presented information to the students on how physical activity and sound nutrition can lead to a healthy lifestyle. All 6th graders were given arm bands with the words “Power of Choice” imprinted on them as a reminder that they have the power to choose a healthy lifestyle. Read more about it.

Memorial Health System of East Texas Web Site Named Best in Texas

Memorial Health System of East Texas is being recognized by the Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA) as having one of the best web sites in Texas. The site, www.memorialhealth.org, was recently awarded first place honors in the 2008 “Best of Texas” competition. The award was presented during the organization’s statewide convention in San Antonio on March 1.

The Memorial Health System of East Texas web site was designed and written by local Web Master, Bill Cameron and Yana Ogletree, Marketing Director of Memorial Health System of East Texas. This is the second time the pair has been awarded this prestigious honor. In 2005, Cameron and Ms. Ogletree created another health care related site and were awarded “Best Web Site in Texas” by the Texas Public Relations Association.  Read the press release.