Laredo Medical Center Has Broad Impact on Laredo-Webb County Region

4/1/2022

Over the course of a year, the impact of Laredo Medical Center adds up as the skilled and compassionate hands of physicians, nurses and other team members deliver safe, quality care around the clock every day. Beyond clinical care, Laredo Medical Center is a major employer and regularly invests resources to expand and enhance the services available locally. The overall community benefit each year is significant and totaled more than $373.7 million in 2021.

Last year, the hospital and clinics delivered care at more than 169,000 patient visits as the pandemic heightened the need for medical care. The hospital has supported more than 2,700 COVID inpatients since March 2020 while sustaining all of its other medical services. To help protect the community from the COVID-19 virus, 2,200 vaccine doses were provided to employees, medical staff and other healthcare professionals, and more than 600 outpatients were treated with monoclonal antibodies, helping them avoid serious symptoms and hospitalization.

“We provided quality care for patients with COVID and also for other members of our community who had a broad range of medical needs,” said Jorge E. Leal, FACHE, chief executive officer for Laredo Medical Center. “Our community is truly fortunate to have this resilient and committed team of clinicians and caregivers here in the Laredo-Webb County region who make a difference for so many patients each day. We helped people get well and live healthier, and that was evident in so many ways - patients left with less pain following a joint replacement, a heart beating stronger after undergoing an advanced life saving cardiac procedure or a smile of relief when their screening mammogram or colonoscopy was clear.”

Employees and medical staff brought their skills and compassion to support more than 39,400 emergency department visits, more than 12,800 inpatients and perform more than 11,500 surgeries. Over 169,000 patients received care across outpatient clinics including Laredo Physician Associates, LMC North, LMC South and Laredo CareClinics. The hospital also delivered joy to local families as more than 2,500 babies were born.

Laredo Medical Center continues to grow and evolve as resources are directed toward increased medical services, facilities and technologies that are important to patients. This includes bringing the latest robotic-assisted surgical system that supports complex operations. The hospital celebrated the opening of a larger Infusion Center for cancer care and other infusion therapy treatments, and invested on a major upgrade to MRI technology and a brand new radiology room.

Additionally, access has been enhanced with the opening of the Primary Care Associates of Laredo clinic in north Laredo and recruitment of three family medicine physicians. Many LMC physicians offer telemedicine visits, making it easy to see a doctor from the comfort of home.

The hospital is developing healthcare providers of the future through primary care residency programs which graduated their first 16 resident physicians in 2021 and enrolled 48 resident physicians between family medicine and internal medicine. Seven third-year medical students from the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine are performing their clinical rotations for one year at Laredo Medical Center with the potential to later join as residents themselves.

As Laredo Medical Center works to continuously meet patients’ needs, it also gives back to the broader Laredo-Webb County region. Laredo Medical Center provided over $232.8 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community’s most vulnerable. And the $12.9 million paid in property, sales and gross receipts taxes helps support civic resources and services.

Laredo Medical Center also works with local charitable and community organizations such as:

• United Way of Laredo - strengthening our community by offering financial support to 22 local agencies;
• South Texas Food Bank - whose mission is to alleviate hunger in South Texas;
• Casa Misericordia - a shelter for victims of domestic violence, which offers survivors a chance to reclaim their lives through comprehensive, holistic services and consistent long-term support; and
• Mercy Ministries of Laredo - provides primary healthcare services to the neediest residents of Webb County who are looking for healthcare.

The hospital’s payroll of more than $102.7 million ripples across the local economy as employees buy goods and services. The hospital also made capital improvements totaling more than $5.8 million.

Leal continued, “We are part of this community and we are committed to doing all we can to provide excellent healthcare services and to making the Laredo-Webb County region a healthier, better community for all.”

To help the community live healthier, Laredo Medical Center last year launched a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox. Sign up at https://bit.ly/3uaQazE.

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