Message from the CEO...

Dear Friends,

Let me begin by thanking this wonderful community for the warm Laredo welcome that I have received over the last few weeks. It is evident that the

people of this great city are absolutely committed to making Laredo an outstanding place to call home. I am delighted to be here and feel very fortunate to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Laredo Medical Center. It is a privilege to work alongside our extraordinary employees, volunteers, skilled physicians, and dedicated Board members.

I am a native of Brownsville, Texas, and received my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University in Austin and a master’s in Health Care Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio. Most recently, I come to Laredo from El Paso after serving as Chief Operating Officer of Sierra Medical Center. My wife and I are the proud parents of a 10 month old son, and we are pleased to have recently purchased a home in Laredo.

Thank you, once again, for the warm embrace as I begin my work at LMC. We are here to serve the community during those moments that matter the most and are committed to being your hospital of choice.

If I or a member of my Administrative Team can be of any service to you, feel free to contact me at 796-3159.

Sincerely,

Enrique Gallegos, FACHE

Laredo Medical Center welcomes Medical Laredo Medical Center welcomes Medical Laredo Medical Center welcomes Medical Oncologist to CommunityOncologist to CommunityOncologist to Community

L aredo Medical Center is

proud to welcome Mohsen G. Mahani, M.D., Medical Oncologist, to Laredo and to its Medical

Staff. Dr. Mahani specializes in the diagnosis,

treatment and/or prevention of blood diseases and cancers.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, Dr. Mahani’s interests include all types of cancers, including gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancers, lung cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and cancers of the blood. Dr. Mahani also provides cancer genetic counseling and testing in his office.

“I intend on being a source of information and support for my patients,” said Dr. Mahani. “Following the same standard of care as bigger cancer institutions, while providing compassionate and quality healthcare for cancer patients is what I am proud to offer. There is no reason patients in Laredo and those living in surrounding areas should bear the hardship and expense of travelling out of town, I am here to serve this community.”

Before relocating to Laredo, Dr. Mahani was an Assistant Professor at the

University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, (UTMB) division of Medical Oncology and Hematology. He graduated summa cum laude with his medical degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo, DR in 2007. Dr. Mahani then completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the Methodist Hospital in Houston and completed his fellowship in Medical Oncology at UTMB.

Dr. Mahani is fluent in both English and Spanish, and is a member of American College of Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is now accepting new patients, and appointments can be made by calling (956) 796-3580. His office is located at Laredo Medical Center, Tower A, 1st floor.

To learn more about Cancer services offered at Laredo Medical Center, call (956) 796-3223, or visit www.laredomedical.com.

“Always Committed to Excellence”“Always Committed to Excellence”“Always Committed to Excellence” SSSEPTEMBEREPTEMBEREPTEMBER 201420142014

Mohsen G. Mahani, M.D. Medical Oncologist

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Community Connections “Always Committed to Excellence” Page 2 Laredo Medical Center

Laredo Medical Center announces Dalia Martinez and Priya Vaswani as newest members of its Board of Trustees

L aredo Medical Center (LMC) is pleased to announce new appointments to its Board of Trustees. Dalia Martinez and Priya Vaswani were recently approved to

fulfill unexpired terms of resigning board members. The volunteer group of men and women, who make up the group of trustees, play a significant role in the progress of the hospital as they make decisions that bring better healthcare services, equipment and technology to Laredo and the South Texas area. LMC is fortunate to attract some of the most experienced and respected community members, business leaders and physicians to serve on its board.

“We are excited to announce these new appointments to Laredo Medical Center’s Board of Trustees,” said Enrique Gallegos, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer at LMC. “Both share a common goal of supporting LMC in providing the best health care to the residents of Laredo and its surrounding communities, and we are grateful for their insights, leadership and support.”

A long-standing member of IBC Bank’s senior management team, Executive Vice President Dalia F. Martinez provides customers with 35 years of banking expertise in both personal and commercial finance with 35 years experience in the industry. With more than 20 years dedicated to border banking, Martinez understands the business needs and expectations of the region and dedicates both her professional and personal time to assist those needs and those of the underserved communities in which the bank operates.

Martinez began her career with IBC Bank in January 1990, and since then has been actively involved with all mergers and acquisitions for the bank. She began her career at IBC as Assistant Vice President of Training, in which she served as the bank’s first official trainer. Currently, Martinez serves as the bank’s Executive Vice President of Operations, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Bank Secrecy Act Officer. Additionally, she proudly serves on various internal bank boards including leadership roles with the mortgage board of directors, Service Center board of directors, and both the Laredo executive committee and IT executive committee.

Just as the bank stands firmly by their motto “We Do More,” so

does Martinez full heartedly serve her community by actively participating on various boards of both local and regional non-profit organizations. Currently, Martinez serves as an advisory board member for the Webb County Children’s Advocacy Center, and serves on two committees of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) of Texas, as well as on a national USTA committee. Further, Martinez is developing a team to support the American Heart Association’s ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign, the first heart disease awareness program of its kind in South Texas.

Martinez’s commitment to community service in Laredo and across South Texas is nothing new. In fact, she was recently elected to the Laredo Women’s Hall of Fame to honor more than 20 years of serve to the Laredo community. In previous years she has proudly served as the president of United Way Laredo, president of the Salvation Army Laredo, and president of the Webb County Children’s Advocacy Center.

Priya Vaswani, a Laredoan of 23 years, has invested her life into her community, family and faith. Born in 1967 in Pune, India, Priya moved to Dallas, Texas, at the age of four. Her family relocated to Brownsville, Texas, in 1971, and she and her husband, Shashi, made Laredo their home four years after their marriage in 1987. They have two children, Mrinali and Rishi.

Priya and Shashi operate their video game business About Time, Inc., along with several South Texas hotels and the Laredo Heat Soccer Club and Academy. Priya serves as the primary accountant, personnel and facilities manager for About Time, Inc., as well as the Vaswani’s interests in the Motel 6 Laredo, La Quinta Inn and Suites Laredo Airport and various real estate properties. She manages and oversees the families businesses’ marketing strategies as well.

Priya is a passionate advocate with Make-A-Wish of Laredo and is on the board with Casa de Misericordia and Vantage Bank. She and her family illustrate their self-driven investment into their community though their various work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, South Texas Academic Rising Scholars, Bethany House of Laredo, the South Texas Food Bank and many others.

Martinez and Vaswani join 10 Board of Trustees serving LMC, including Mateo Reyes, M.D., Dagoberto Gonzalez, M.D., Joseph Camero, M.D., Enrique Garcia, M.D., Carlos Hornedo, M.D., Nancy De Anda, Miguel Conchas, Russell Deutsch, Enrique Gallegos and Jorge Gonzalez, who serves as Chairman of the Board.

“I am very excited that Dalia and Priya have accepted to join the Laredo Medical Center’s Board of Trustees,” said Gonzalez, Chairman. They are both very involved in our community and understand business. They will bring strength and commitment to our Board as we serve our community’s health care needs.”

For more information, call Laredo Medical Center at (956) 796-3223, or visit www.laredomedical.com.

Dalia Martinez Priya Viswani

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Local prostate cancer survivor says early detection saved his life

E very three minutes a man in the United

States is diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although the cause of prostate cancer is still unclear, regular testing can detect the disease, making it easier to treat. Lifelong Laredoan, Tomas Mejia, Jr., says he was lucky to have caught the disease early.

“I have diabetes, so I go in for regular checkups,” said Mejia. “I remember my Urologist, Dr. Eduardo Fernandez,

telling me he found a small tumor and I needed to undergo a biopsy to check if it was malignant.”

The tumor was malignant, but had not yet spread outside of the prostate, making Mr. Mejia’s prognosis for survivorship a good one.

“Early detection, as in Mr. Mejia’s case, is critical,” said Mohsen G. Mahani, M.D., Medical Oncologist. “If the cancer has not spread past the prostate, we can treat the cancer here locally and the chances of survival are excellent.

The prostate is about the shape of a walnut and only found in men. It is located in front of the rectum, and physicians are able to feel it during a rectal examination. Its purpose is to create fluid that is part of the formation of semen. Prostate cancer has no symptoms

in the early stages, but when symptoms arise they can include:

• Dull pain in the lower pelvic area;

• Problems with urination, including frequent urination, weakened urine flow, blood in the urine or semen;

• Painful ejaculation;

• Pain in the bones, lower torso and upper thighs; and loss

of appetite and weight.

“After age 50, the likelihood of a man being diagnosed with prostate cancer greatly increases,” said Dr. Mahani. “In fact, more than 70 percent of the prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over age 65.”

Family history may also play a role in the risk of prostate cancer. A man’s chance of being diagnosed doubles if his father or brother had the disease. If several family members have been diagnosed, the risk is even greater.

“I offer genetic testing in my office and can counsel patients on their risk for being diagnosed with the disease,” said Dr. Mahani. “I highly recommend this to anyone who feels they may be at risk.”

Race is another factor linked to prostate cancer diagnoses. Though it is not known why, African Americans are diagnosed 70 percent more often than white Americans, and diagnosis of African Americans usually occurs when the cancer is in a more advanced stage.

Typically, men should begin testing for prostate cancer at age 50. However, those who are at a higher risk should begin being tested as early as ages 40 to 45. Two tests are performed to check for prostate cancer, and men should have these tests done yearly. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test will show the levels of PSA in a man’s blood. PSA is made by the prostate gland, and high levels may suggest prostate cancer. Sometimes though, men with normal PSA levels are diagnosed with the disease, and similarly, those with high levels of PSA may not have the disease. Therefore Dr. Mahani suggests talking to your doctor about your risk factors.

“Your physician is key in letting you know what the right screening method is best for you depending on your risk factors,” explained Dr. Mahani. “It may be that a digital rectal examination (DRE) is more appropriate to check if the prostate is abnormal in size or hardness. If so, a biopsy may be required as a follow-up procedure.”

If a slow-growing tumor is found, sometimes a patient will have the option to forego surgery. In Mejia’s case, his physicians opted to radiate the tumor using the latest TrueBeam Radiation Treatment technology found at Laredo Medical Center.

“My radiation treatments take just a few minutes and it’s relaxing,” says Mr. Mejia. “I feel very comfortable and I know I’m progressing each time the treatment is done. I feel I’ll be cancer free in no time.”

Prostate cancer affects more than 230,000 men each year, but regular testing and healthy eating habits are important tools to fight the disease. If you have questions or concerns about prostate cancer, contact your physician or call Dr. Mahani at (956) 796-3580. You can also visit www.laredomedical.com and click on the Health Library.

Tomas Mejia, Jr. Prostate Cancer Survivor

Mohsen G. Mahani, M.D. Medical Oncologist

Community Connections “Always Committed to Excellence” Page 3 Laredo Medical Center

A Portal for

Proactive Health

W ith My Health Home Patient Portal, you have a valuable tool to help you manage your health, or that of a loved one, after a hospital stay. A convenient

health record you can access online, My Health Home Patient Portal brings together the information about your hospital visit in one easily accessible location.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND

My Health Home Patient Portal makes it easier for you to closely follow your guidelines for recovery once you are home. After you set up a Portal account, you can see information about your hospital stay, including your discharge instructions, lab results, medication list and physician reports. Your Portal account is always available online, and it is secure and private. You can give representatives access to your account, but only you and people you authorize will be able to access you records.

Not only does My Health Home Patient Portal help you track what happened while you were in the hospital and your discharge plan, but it also provides a convenient way to download reports and share information with your outpatient providers.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is there any cost associated with the patient portal?

A: No. The service is free to help you become a more informed, engaged patient.

Q: How soon will information from my hospital stay be available?

A: Typically, information about an inpatient stay will be available one to three days following discharge.

Q: How will I know something has been added to my account?

A: You will receive a verification email each time information is added.

GET STARTED

With our new My Health Home Patient Portal, you can now have secure, online access to information about your overnight hospital stays. Setting up a personal account is free — and easy. Start the process the next time you are at the hospital, or as you register for your next hospital visit.

INSTRUCTIONS ON SIGNING UP...

1. At registration, share your photo ID and an email address to begin your account setup.

2. We will send you an email with a link to the Portal so you can complete your account setup.

3. Your username will be the same as the email address you provided. You will enter your name and date of birth and set a password. You also will choose a question to answer each time you log on for an extra layer of security.

4. Visit your Portal account to view information about your hospital stay, download records and share information with your outpatient doctors.

To learn more about the My Health Home Patient Portal, or for an easy way to link to your account, visit www.laredomedical.com or call the Marketing Department at (956) 796-3223.

Community Connections “Always Committed to Excellence” Page 4 Laredo Medical Center

Have you signed up for Patient Portal Today?Have you signed up for Patient Portal Today?Have you signed up for Patient Portal Today? Call 796Call 796Call 796---3223 to learn how and if you qualify! 3223 to learn how and if you qualify! 3223 to learn how and if you qualify!

Community Connections is a publication of the Laredo Medical Center Marketing Department. Questions or comments may be directed to Priscilla Salinas, Marketing Director at (956) 796-3223.

www.laredomedical.com

LMC Medical Update Catch them weekly on KGNS-TV!

LMC Minuto de Salud Noticias Univision, Miercoles edicion 5pm

• Monday, September 1—Happy Labor Day!

• Tuesday, September 2—Alzheimer’s Support Group, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 7:00pm. Those taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease are invited to attend this free support group. For more information, call 796-3223. (FREE TO PUBLIC)

• Wednesday, September 3—Surgical Weight Loss Seminar, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 6:30pm. Learn more about bariatric surgery at this free seminar, hosted by Dr. Michael Morris. For more information, call 796-3223. (FREE TO PUBLIC)

• Monday, September 8—Laredo Stroke Support Group, San Martin de Porres Church, Family Life Center, 7:00pm. All stroke survivors, family and caregivers are welcome to attend. Share your story, encourage others and hear informative speakers. For more information, call 286-0641, 763-6132 or email: knowstroke956@gmail.com. (FREE TO PUBLIC)

• Wednesday, September 17—Webb County Domestic Violence Coalition, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 12noon. Members of the community will meet for their monthly luncheon at LMC Tower B, Community Center, 12noon. Those individuals wanting more information on resources available may attend. For more information, call Sister Rosemary Welsh at 718-6810.

• Wednesday, September 17—Surgical Weight Loss Seminar, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 6:30pm. Learn more about bariatric surgery at this free seminar, hosted by Dr. Michael Morris. For more information, call 796-3223. (FREE TO PUBLIC)

• Thursday, September 18—Healthy Lifestyle Luncheon for Senior Circle members, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 12:00noon. Presenting will be Laredo Medical Center’s newest medical oncologist, Dr. Mohsen Ghadimi-Mahani. To RSVP or for more information on Senior Circle, call 796-2222 or log on to www.laredomedical.com. (FREE WITH $15 PER YEAR SENIOR CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP)

• Tuesday, September 23—Healthy Woman Luncheon, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 12:00pm. Presenting will be Laredo Medical Center’s newest medical oncologist, Dr. Mohsen Ghadimi-Mahani. To RSVP or for more information on Healthy Woman, call 796-2222 or log on to www.laredomedical.com. (FREE TO MEMBERS/MEMBERSHIP INTO HEALTHY WOMAN IS FREE)

• Tuesday, September 23—Tiny Toes Prenatal Class, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 6:00pm. The Tiny Toes Program is a free service and includes a variety of exclusive amenities and special access to baby experts. For more information, call 796-3223. (FREE TO PUBLIC)

• Thursday, September 25—Tiny Toes Prenatal Class, LMC Tower B, Community Center, 6:00pm. The Tiny Toes Program is a free service and includes a variety of exclusive amenities and special access to baby experts. For more information, call 796-3223. (FREE TO PUBLIC)

Cheer for your team and for good health! Attend any of these events in September!

September 2014 Calendar of Events!

• Monday, September 29—Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, LMC Tower B, Community Room, 6:30pm. Those taking care of a loved one with Parkinson’s Disease are invited to attend this free support group. For more information, call 796-3223, 724-5619 or 645-8649. (FREE TO PUBLIC)

Community Connections “Always Committed to Excellence” Page 5 Laredo Medical Center