News Releases

New Medical Plaza Brings Latest Outpatient Services to Memorial Hermann Southwest

Houston, Texas, August 30, 2006 – The new Medical Plaza 4 on the campus of Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital brings state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and outpatient services to the community. This conveniently located facility is designed to maximize patient comfort and minimize stress by delivering outstanding service in a soothing environment.

"By combining the latest healthcare advances, the very best customer service and a calming atmosphere, we hope to provide a different kind of experience for our patients," said Sonja Hagel, interim CEO of Memorial Hermann Southwest.

The 135,000-sq.-ft. Medical Plaza at 7789 Southwest Freeway includes outpatient imaging and surgical facilities.

The Memorial Hermann Imaging Center offers a full range of imaging technologies including a state-of-the-art, 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner that breaks new ground in screening and diagnosing a wide variety of medical conditions.

"This new technology is particularly helpful in screening for vascular disease in patients with borderline stress test results,” explained cardiologist Kesavan Shan, M.D., who practices at the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Southwest. “We are able to confidently exclude coronary artery disease without cardiac catheterization in many cases.” (See accompanying fact sheet for more details.)

Laboratory services also are available in the new Medical Plaza along with MRI, X-ray, fluoroscopy and ultrasound imaging. The Memorial Hermann Imaging Center also features PET/CT imaging which combines positron emission tomography (PET) with CT scanning to identify and pinpoint abnormal metabolic activity in the body. This tool helps diagnose both cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

"This new imaging center offers convenience for both patients and physicians," said James Polfreman head of imaging services for the Memorial Hermann system. “Patients benefit from the availability of advanced diagnostic services near where they live and work, and physicians receive reports and images within 10 hours after the exam. We also contract with most health insurance companies in the area. This new facility is part of our plan to open full-service imaging centers in locations throughout Houston."

An outpatient surgery center located on the Medical Plaza’s second floor offers a broad array of outpatient procedures for patients that don’t require an overnight stay. It includes six operating rooms and three suites specially equipped for minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. The surgical center is a joint venture between Memorial Hermann, physicians and United Surgical Partners International, which manages the facility.

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