El Paso, Texas – September 11, 2008 – Sierra Providence Health Network (SPHN) announced today that its agreement with CIGNA HealthCare of Texas will be expanded to allow CIGNA HealthCare PPO and managed care members to access healthcare services at in-network rates at any SPHN facility. The agreement was effective May 1, 2008 for all CIGNA HealthCare members except for Socorro Independent School District members, who will have an effective date of October 1, 2008.   The Sierra Providence Health Network includes the following facilities:

Sierra Medical Center

Providence Memorial Hospital

Sierra Providence East Medical Center

Children’s Hospital at Providence

Sierra Providence Physical Rehabilitation Hospital

Total Care, East

Total Care, West

”We continue to strive for opportunities that make the experience with Sierra Providence Health Network a seamless one for our patients and their families,” said John Harris, president, Sierra Providence Health Network.  “We welcome all CIGNA members to our facilities where we are committed to providing quality care to our patients in the El Paso and surrounding communities.”

“CIGNA is committed to providing consumers with an expansive network of quality health care professionals”, added David Toomey, president of CIGNA HealthCare of Texas.  “We are pleased to expand choice in this market with the addition of Sierra Providence Health Network.”              

 ABOUT SIERRA PROVIDENCE HEALTH NETWORK  

Sierra Providence Health Network, part of Tenet Texas, consists of five hospitals located in El Paso: 351-bed Sierra Medical Center, located at 1625 Medical Center Drive; 508-bed Providence Memorial Hospital, which also houses the 144-bed Children’s Hospital at Providence, located at 2001 N. Oregon; a 42-bed physical rehabilitation hospital, Sierra Providence Physical Rehabilitation Hospital, located at 1740 Curie and Sierra Providence East Medical Center a 110-bed acute care facility that opened in May 2008.  

Sierra Medical Center, Providence Memorial Hospital and the Children’s Hospital at Providence are acute care hospitals that offer a broad spectrum of medical and surgical services for adults and children, including cardiac care and rehabilitation, cancer care and support services, women’s services and emergency care.  Other network clinical specialties include a dedicated children’s emergency room, kidney transplant, gamma knife radiosurgery, a hospice, a bariatrics center and health care services for chronically ill children.  Sierra Providence Physical Rehabilitation Hospital provides a broad spectrum of rehabilitation services and is equipped to handle brain injuries and other serious disorders and is accredited by both the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  Sierra Medical Center and Providence Memorial Hospital are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.  To learn more about Sierra Providence Health Network, visit www.sphn.com

That's why Sierra Providence Health Network is looking for individuals to lend a helping hand to our patients and staff.

"The entire health network relies on our corps of volunteers for everything from patient information desks to gift shops," says Lynne Futrell, Sierra's volunteer director. "They play an extremely important role in hospital services."

"We are looking for people who are willing to give a little time," says Lorena La Puma, director of volunteer services for Providence Memorial Hospital. "Hospital volunteers do so much for our patient's comfort."

"Whatever your needs are, we can find a place for you. We are looking for people who are caring and are willing to give a little bit of themselves to help others," says Futrell.

Both Sierra and Providence also have volunteer auxiliaries that raise funds for various hospital projects including scholarships for students pursuing health careers, health education materials, complimentary reading materials for patients and other little "extras" that help make a hospital stay easier.

"A volunteer auxiliary provides a vital link between a hospital and the community it serves," says La Puma. "Most volunteers find the auxiliary an extremely fulfilling experience."

People of all ages can volunteer. From teens and health occupation students to seniors and working professionals, there is a place for everybody. And we hope that Sierra or Providence is the place for you if you want to volunteer.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at the following numbers:

Providence Memorial Hospital (915) 577-6654

Sierra Medical Center (915) 747-2712

Sukie Armendariz, representing the rehabilitation specialists at Rio Vista Physical Rehabilitation Hospital, received the national award at the NSCIA annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

The local chapter and support group, housed at Rio Vista, provides peer counseling, information and resources to brain and spinal cord injury patients and their families.

The staff and volunteers are being recognized for their significant work in addressing the needs of Hispanics and Native Americans with spinal cord or brain injuries. The NSCIA also is acknowledging the Rio Grande Chapter's educational outreach in violence prevention. The chapter works with area schools in an effort to reduce violently acquired head and spinal cord injuries, including those from gunshot wounds.

"National recognition by their peers illustrates our staff's dedication and the quality of comprehensive care these trained professionals provide through Rio Vista's brain and spinal cord injury program," says Theresa Urquhart, chief operating officer of Rio Vista.

These programs are designed to help individuals who have suffered traumatic brain or spinal cord injury to increase their level of independence and enhance their abilities to perform the activities of daily living.

Physicians, nurses, and occupational, physical and speech therapists offer treatment programs designed to meet each patient's individual needs. Outpatient services, support groups and other resources help the entire family deal with traumatic illness or injury.

Rio Vista Physical Rehabilitation Hospital has been providing comprehensive rehabilitative services to the greater West Texas, New Mexico and Northern Mexico region for more than ten years. For more information, call (915) 577-6000.

Like other chronic diseases, diabetes poses a wide range of problems for the sufferer of the disease as well as their family members and friends.

These problems can include pain, hospitalization, changes in lifestyle and numerous physical disabilities. What's more, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death (sixth leading cause of death by disease) in the United States. There are two major types of diabetes:

Type 1:
An autoimmune disease most often occurring in children and young adults in which the body does not produce any insulin. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. Type 1 accounts for 5 - 10 percent of diabetics. Warning signs include frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue and irritability. (Keep in mind that these symptoms may also be indicative of other conditions.)

Type 2:
A metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to make enough, or properly use insulin. It is the most common form of the disease and accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetics. People with Type 2 often have no symptoms. However, warning signs include any of the Type 1 symptoms, plus frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts or bruises that are slow to heal, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet and recurring skin, gum or bladder infections. (Keep in mind that these symptoms may also be indicative of other conditions.)

Who's at risk for Type 1?
Siblings of people with Type 1 diabetes or children of parents with Type 1 diabetes.

Who's at risk for Type 2?

• People over age 45
• People with a family history of diabetes
• People who are overweight
• People who do not exercise regularly
• People with low HDL or high triglycerides
• Certain racial and ethnic groups
• Women who had gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes occurring in two to five percent of all pregnancies, or who have had a baby weighing nine pounds or more at birth.

Type 2 diabetes, the most common, can be controlled through weight loss, improved nutrition, exercise and possibly oral medications and/or insulin as prescribed by your doctor.

If you have a family history or are experiencing any of the warning signs listed above, be sure to see your doctor immediately for a test and evaluation. Early and proper treatment can increase your chances of living a normal lifestyle.

Whichever sport your child prefers, it is important to remember that a key element of a successful sports season is a complete physical exam.

A thorough medical exam may highlight your child's strengths and weaknesses, which may help in choosing the right sport for a child's unique picture of health, knowledge, physical maturity and growth. It is also a chance for parents to receive valuable counseling on injury prevention, dietary needs and sports safety.

Children often seem to have perfect health and an endless supply of energy. That's one reason many parents fail to have their children screened for cardiovascular or blood pressure abnormalities. In particular, undetected heart abnormalities can lead to serious injury or even death to a young athlete at play. Athletes, young and old, should get regular health screenings to help identify any potential risks.

In addition to regular screenings, young athletes should go see a doctor if they have symptoms that could indicate a heart problem, including:

• Fainting frequently during exercise
  
• Heart palpitations
  
• Dizziness
  
• Weakness
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Chest pain

In addition to regular health screenings, parents should be aware of the potential for physical injury to children To promote safe playing, keep the following tips in mind:

• Pay attention and listen when your child complains of soreness or pain – have a doctor check out the injury right away.

• Encourage local baseball organizations to use helmets with face guards and softer-than-standard balls.

• Help prevent eye injuries by having your child wear safety goggles when appropriate.

• Make sure all equipment, including cleats, gloves and safety goggles, fit your child properly.

• Pay attention to the safety equipment on your child's team and volunteer to help find the supplies and resources the team needs to be safe.

Instead of giving your child chips, candy bars and cookies, try these nutritious alternatives:

- Bagels toasted and topped with low-fat cheese

- Roll a tortilla around some low-fat cheese, salsa and lettuce

- Smear graham crackers with peanut butter and serve with a glass of juice

- Carrot and celery sticks dipped in low fat dressing

- Fruits and vegetables such as apples, grapes and bananas

For more information, call 915-577-6000.

Guided by infrared optics and three-dimensional imaging, the Stealth Station System provides a virtual tour of a patient's head or spine.

"Health care providers are using the StealthStation System to view the exact surgical area from a variety of perspectives on a video screen. Through this technology, the surgeon may be able to more accurately guide treatment or pinpoint a problem," says Alexandra Briceño, assistant director of neurosurgery at Sierra Medical Center.

The StealthStation allows physicians to use intropic navigation–a process that shows their real-time position and path during surgery. The system uses specialized surgical probes placed in or on the patient's head or spine. These optical probes transmit infrared light to a camera, creating a three-dimensional "map" of the patient's head or spine, which can help guide the surgeon along the planned surgical course.This allows the surgeon to create a "map" of the patient's anatomy by tracking the position of these probes during surgery.

For more information on stealth technology at Sierra Medical Center and Providence Memorial Hospital, call the consumer information line at (915) 577-6000.