Hospitals With Heart
citizens medical center, detar healthcare system, health care, victoria,
There’s no question Victoria has a long list of assets, and perhaps one of the most valuable is access to high-quality health care. The Victoria area is served by two major health-care systems – Citizens Medical Center and the DeTar Healthcare System – both of which are known for excellent cardiac care.
“Our heart program is incredible. We have a 64-slice CT scanner and four cardiologists on staff to take care of our patients,” says Shannon Spree, marketing coordinator for Citizens Medical Center. “And our cath labs have the latest technology with superb pictures. We did the first open-heart surgery in the region in 1971, and we’ve always prided ourselves in having a great cardiac program.”
Citizens Medical Center is a 344-bed regional hospital that serves seven counties. In 2009, the hospital plans to expand by adding 80 more beds and 328,000 square feet.
“We’re going to expand our ER and improve our day surgery unit,” Spree says. “It’s going to be huge. We have a lot of expansion plans, including adding an educational auditorium for continuing education classes for our staff as well as community education courses.”
In addition to cardiology, Citizens is highly skilled in cancer, chest pain and women’s health.
“We have the only accredited cancer program and chest pain center in the area,” Spree says. “And our women’s diagnostic center offers the only breast MR1 procedure in the area. We’re very in touch with women’s needs, and we’re always looking for new technology to fight breast cancer.”
Arthritis sufferers find relief at Citizens HealthPlex, an award-winning rehabilitation and wellness facility with a warm therapy pool, indoor track and exercise equipment.
The DeTar Healthcare System began as a 10-bed hospital in 1925 and has grown into a two-hospital system serving more than 22,000 patients per month.
DeTar Hospital North is home to the Women & Children’s Center, which delivers more than 125 babies each month and features a Level 2 neonatal intensive care unit. The same facility also has a Level 4 trauma center and a breast center that includes digital mammography, scintimammography and stereotactic breast biopsy.
Across town at DeTar Hospital Navarro, Victoria’s first Lead-Level 3 trauma center offers a full-service cardiac care program as well as the area’s only certified stroke center. DeTar Hospital Navarro is an acute care hospital that also provides orthopedic surgery and a colon cancer screening center.
“In addition to providing quality care to our community, we also offer incredible economic benefits to the area, including employment and tax revenue,” says William R. Blanchard, chief executive of the DeTar Healthcare System. “Last year alone, DeTar Healthcare System provided $2.4 million in total economic benefit to our community. DeTar is a great community asset – a place that lets people get the care they need right here at home.”
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Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by J. Kyle Keener
