{"id":8828,"date":"2018-07-20T17:32:37","date_gmt":"2018-07-20T17:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=8828"},"modified":"2018-07-20T17:32:37","modified_gmt":"2018-07-20T17:32:37","slug":"utrgv-school-of-medicine-treats-patients-unveils-uthealth-rgv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losfresnosnews.net\/?p=8828","title":{"rendered":"UTRGV School of Medicine Treats Patients, Unveils UTHealth RGV"},"content":{"rendered":"

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by Jennifer L. Berghom<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine is launching\u00a0UTHealth RGV<\/a>, its much-anticipated clinical practice, which will provide patients throughout the Valley additional access to primary and specialty care.<\/p>\n

\u201cUTHealth RGV further fulfills the School of Medicine\u2019s promise to expand healthcare access across the Rio Grande Valley,\u201d said Dr. John H. Krouse, executive vice president for Health Affairs at UTRGV and dean of the School of Medicine.<\/p>\n

For years, families have had to travel to outside of the Valley to seek treatment \u2013 some as far as Houston, Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Krouse said.\u00a0 Additional healthcare access in the Valley was confirmed in a 2014 assessment of the area\u2019s healthcare needs.<\/p>\n

The assessment indicated that the number of physicians per population in the Valley is almost half of the physician-per-patient ratio for the United States, which is 240 doctors per 100,000 people. The Valley only has 124 doctors per 100,000 people.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn important responsibility of our medical school is to provide patient care,\u201d Krouse said. \u201cThe goal of this clinical practice \u2013 UTHealth RGV \u2013 is to lessen the need for patients to travel outside of the Valley to receive care from board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians and other healthcare providers.\u00a0This is an exciting time for healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley and I am pleased that UTHealth RGV is joining the medical community in advancing health equity throughout the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

Medical schools throughout the country usually have affiliated practices operated by faculty members who are licensed physicians, as well as other healthcare professionals and medical staff.\u00a0\u00a0Having a school of medicine-affiliated physician provides patients with access to individuals who are training the next generation of healthcare providers, many of whom are involved in research related to diseases that affect the health of Valley families.<\/p>\n

UTHealth RGV has several offices open that provide primary and specialty care, including pediatric genetics and neurology care, women\u2019s health specialists, general and endocrine surgery, rheumatology and other services. More locations will be open in the coming months, including employee health centers at UTRGV\u2019s campuses in Brownsville, Edinburg and Harlingen.<\/p>\n

Patients can call 1-833-UTRGVMD (887-4863) or visit the recently launched website for UT Health RGV,\u00a0uthealthrgv.org<\/a>, to:<\/p>\n