Posts Tagged ‘Tucson Hospitals’

Tucson Medical Scene…Southern Arizona VA Health Care System

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

   Yes, Tucson has a VA Hospital.  It is called the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System.

   This is the answer to the question posed by many people thinking about relocating to Tucson.  With 283 beds, the VA Hospital is a teaching hospital which provides both primary care and specialty care in surgery, medicine, neurology, and mental health.

    The Southern Arizona VA facility began as many Tucson hospital did, as a hospital to treat respiratory disorders and tuberculosis.  The facility, located on South 6th Avenue, opened in 1928 after moving from Pastime Park.

     One of 21 facilities in the country, the Tucson hospital provides polytrauma treatment (see resources) accomodating veterans with amputations, brain trauma, burns, and visual impairment. The center has a blind rehabilitation center.

    A Women Veterans Health Care Program for female veterans provides all types of women’s medical services.  The program is staffed by an all female medical team.

     Community based outpatient clinics are located in Northwest Tucson and Southeast Tucson, as well as Green Valley.  They are also located in other areas of the state:  Casa Grande, Safford, Sierra Vista, and Yuma.

    Information about eligibility requirements for VA medical benefits are available on line at the primary Southern Arizona VA Health Care System website.  This site also provides information on prescription renewals.  

Resources:

Website of Southern Arizona VA

http://www.tucson.va.gov/

Polytrauma:

http://www.polytrauma.va.gov/index.asp

Map of Southern Arizona VA Facility

http://www.tucson.va.gov/about/Facility_Map.asp

Outpatient Clinics and Locations:

http://www.tucson.va.gov/index.asp

Services:

http://www.tucson.va.gov/services/index.asp

Tucson Medical Scene…University Physicians Healthcare at Kino

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

    University Physicians Healthcare at Kino is a 167 bed hospital specializing in general surgery, urology, orthopeadics, and emergency care.  Located at 2800 East Ajo Way, UPH Kino is a non profit hospital serving southern Arizona.

    Totally renovated from the old Kino Hospital, , UPH Kino operates serveral outpatient clinics throughout Tucson.  It is a full service and outpatient treatment facility with more than 600 physicians anticipated in the near future.  The facility draws from the pool of medical personnel from the University of Arizona.

     Research, teaching, and clinical facilities supplement those at the University of Arizona Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacology.  UPH Kino is able to draw upon these pools of talent and offer state of the art treatment to patients.  It is also a Base Hospital for EMS and Fire Departments as well as the National Guard units.

    Integrative Medicine which combines both eastern and western medicine is supported at UPH Kino. The hospital has physicians who provide services for patients diagnosed by another physician.  Alternative medical options are offered including yoga, massage, Chinese medicine, and nutrition.  A calendar of events of conferences and seminars is available online (see resources).  Additionally, the hospital serves as a research facility for integrative medicine.

    According to the website, the mission of UPH Kino is:

    To support the educational and research missions of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center.  

    To achieve excellence in quality and cost effectiveness in providing care for each patient.

  • To treat each patient with dignity, respect, courtesy and honor the confidentiality of patient information.
  • To support innovative health related research.
  • To foster an environment in which physicians and staff are valued, recognized and rewarded for their contributions.
  • To provide services to the Southern Arizona communities and the State through educational, clinical and outreach activities.
  • To encourage teamwork, communication, cooperation and mutual respect among all health care providers, staff, administration and students at the Hospital and within the Arizona Health Sciences Center.
  •  Resources:

    UPH KIno Website:

    http://www.uph.org/

    Outpatient clinics:

    http://www.uph.org/Specialties/Nephrology/tabid/188/Clinics.aspx

    Integrative Medicine Calendar:

    http://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/conf/

    Employment Opportunities:

    http://www.uph.org/AboutUPH/MissionVisionandValues/tabid/547/Employment.aspx

    Tucson Medical Scene…The Arizona Cancer Center

    Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

        “We exist to prevent and cure cancer,” is the mission of the Arizona Cancer Center, a designated comprehensive care center at the Unversity of Arizona Health Sciences Center.  The National Cancer Insitute has awarded this designation and people come from throughout the world for treatment.

        The Peter and Paul Fasseas Cancer Center, which opened in 2007, provides clinical trials, research, and treatment for cancer patients.  The state of the art facility is a part of University Medical Center and operates in conjunction with the National Cancer Institute.  The center also runs the Native American Cancer Research Partnership with Northern Arizona University.

        Patients can find clinical trials at the website listed below.  Information about various types of cancer is also available on the website: 

     http://www.azcc.arizona.edu/cpc/index.html

        Appointments can be made at the Cancer Center for either oncology or radiology.  Appointment days are scheduled dependent upon the type of cancer: a breast cancer patient and a patient with prostate cancer or lymphoma may be given different appointment days. 

        The Cancer Center, a remodel of the old Tuccson General Hospital, was designed by CO Architects of Los Angeles, CA and won a citation of merit award for the design of the ambulatory cancer facility.  Photographs of the facility:

    http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/Media/DocumentLibrary/001.pdf

    Resources:

    Arizona Cancer Center:

    http://www.umcarizona.org/body.cfm?id=14

    http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/azcc.html

    http://uanews.org/node/21482

    http://uanews.org/node/19808

    Native American Cancer Research Program:

    http://nacrp.web.arizona.edu/education/index.htm

    Mission- Arizona Cancer Center

    http://www.azcc.arizona.edu/atc/mission.htm

    Tucson Medical Scene…Tucson Heart Hospital

    Friday, September 19th, 2008

        Tucson Heart Hospital, located at 4888 North Stone Avenue, near the intersection of Stone and River Road, is also a part of the Carondelet Network of Hospitals.  Tucson Heart is a specialized facility,  concentrating on disease management, prevention and information about heart and vascular disease.  Public outreach programs are given in nutrition, exercise and stress management.

       The 58 bed facility has private rooms which are specifically designed for every stage of “heart” care.  The staff is cross trained and a team follows the patient throughtout the stay.  The hospital performs both   diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the state of the art catheterization laboratory including:    

    Diagnostic:
    Aortagram
    Cardiac Output
    Carotid Angiogram
    Coronary Angiogram
    Electrophysiological Studies
    Left Heart Catheterization
    Myocardial Biopsy
    Oximetry Recordings
    Peripheral Angiogram
    Pulmonary Angiogram
    Renal Angiogram
    Right Heart Catheterization

    Therapeutic/Coronary:
    Atherectomy (Rotational)
    Balloon Angioplasty (Arterial/Venous)
    Balloon Angioplasty-Peripheral
    Stents
    Thrombolysis

    Therapeutic/Other:
    Ablation (Atria/Ventricular)
    Cardioversion
    ICD Insertion
    IntroAortic Balloon Pump
    Percutaneous Vena Cava Filter
    Pericardiocentesis
    Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
    Temporary Pacemaker Insertion

    according to the website.

        Tucson Heart Hospital also offers the Heartsaver CT to the general public which is a non-invasive, easy procedure that can be done within an hour at the hospital for a cost of $99.00.  This procedure images calcium buildup around the heart which can be a precursor to severe heart disease.  People often have the procedure as a preventative measure as a “heart healthy” measure.

        The hospital employs about 365 full time staff.  Employment information can be found at the Carondelet career page listed below.   The hospital serves all of Southern Arizona and is dedicated to heart patients.

    Resources: 
    Tucson Heart Hospital Web Page:   http://www.tucsonhearthospital.com/

    Career Information:

    http://www.tucsonhearthospital.com/

    Other Resources:

    http://www.hospital-data.com/hospitals/TUCSON-HEART-HOSPITAL-TUCSON.html

    http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/hospital/Arizona/Tucson_Heart_Hospital.html