Brownsville Hospital Gets New Name As Integration With Valley Baptist Proceeds

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS - Sept. 13, 2004 –   Brownsville’s first hospital is getting a new name as its integration into the Valley Baptist Health System proceeds.

Under the name change, Brownsville Medical Center will now be known as Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville, with the new name reflecting its acquisition by Valley Baptist Health System on June 30 of this year. Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen will now be known as Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.

Both hospitals date back to the mid-1920’s and have shared a common goal of caring for their communities. Now they share a name.

“The public will be see the name change reflected on signs and other printed materials in the upcoming weeks,” said James G. Springfield, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley Baptist Health System.

The new name and logo for Valley Baptist-Brownsville was unveiled by James G. Springfield, Valley Baptist Health System President and Chief Executive Officer; Bob Dunkin, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Valley Baptist Health System; and Greg Harb, Chief Executive Officer for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville during a special event at the Alonzo Building in Brownsville Sept. 13, 2004.

Valley Baptist expanded its services in the Brownsville area by purchasing the 243-bed hospital, which has provided a broad range of quality medical and health care services in Brownsville for more than 80 years. In 1923, the Sisters of Mercy opened Brownsville’s first hospital near the intersection of Central Blvd. and E. Jefferson.

“Valley Baptist intends to provide the very best medical care possible, and continue to re-invest any proceeds directly back into the communities we serve,” Mr. Springfield said. “We anticipate making major capital investments into the Brownsville facility, with the need to upgrade operating rooms being a top priority.”

Mr. Springfield added that over the next several months, “we will be working to integrate Brownsville Medical Center into the operations of Valley Baptist. We will successfully accomplish this by working diligently with the physicians and employees in Brownsville.”

In addition to upgrades in facilities, Valley Baptist is working to make patient satisfaction a top goal at the Brownsville hospital by introducing a process improvement program called Six Sigma. Valley Baptist is one of the first health care facilities in Texas to use the Six Sigma method, which utilizes a data-based approach to improve quality and patient satisfaction. Valley Baptist-Harlingen recently received a national award for its Six Sigma initiative after the process helped dramatically improve turn-around time in the Emergency Dept.