MDNews - San Antonio

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++ + +++ PhySiCiAN PERSPECTivES + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Destination: Southwest General Hospital By Steven Ramos, MD My InTErEST In mEDICInE began at an early age. When I was 5 years old, I fractured my wrist in a bike accident. The physician who cared for me not only tended my wounds, he made the whole experience a fascinating, educational adventure. From then on, when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was, "I want to be a doctor." Growing up in an Air Force family, I've lived all over the world — Washington, D.C., France, Germany, the Philippines. I speak three languages and make yearly medical mission trips to the remote mountains of Guatemala. Exposure to diverse cultures has enabled me to find common ground with almost everybody. Throughout my career, I continued to have practices in the Northside, Downtown and the Southside areas of San Antonio. Yet I feel most at home in my Southside practice. The people at Southwest General Hospital remind me of my family in west Texas, and I am proud of the top-notch level of care I can offer here. Sout hwest Genera l Hospit a l 's enhanced endoscopic facilities empower my practice to stay abreast of advances in gastroenterology. By offering anesthesia assistance, I can utilize total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) to make exams safe and comfortable for the patient. This, combined with recent strides in the area of pancreato-biliary disease, enables me to routinely perform a technique less than half of gastroenterologists are trained to perform: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, using digital fluoroscopy and allowing General is a 327-bed facility staffed by unlimited therapeutic modalities. experienced healthcare professionals. The I have worked in every part of hospital is committed to providing highSan Antonio, and I believe the level of care quality health services and an excellent in gastroenterology at Southwest General patient experience. Southwest General is Hospital is unsurpassed. Highly trained "A" rated in Patient Safety by The Leap Frog physicians work here, and quality service Group, Spring 2013. The hospital has also can be expected here. With state-of-the-art earned numerous distinctions for quality, equipment and medicine, technical experincluding a HealthGrades five-star rating tise and a compassionate staff, Southwest for maternity care seven years in a row, General Hospital allows me to provide five-star rating for treatment of heart failure quality care for my patients, to treat them 2012, five-star rating for treatment of COPD like family. 2012, five-star rated for pneumonia three years That's all I've ever wanted to do. in a row (2010–12), five-star rated for treatDr. Steven Ramos is a board-certified gastroment of sepsis three years in a row (2010–12). enterologist who has practiced at San Antonio Southwest General has also earned the Chest Gastroenterology Associates PA since 1986. He Pain Center accreditation from the Society of received a doctorate from Baylor College of Chest Pain Centers and Stroke Certified with Medicine, where he finished his residency and DNV. Southwest General Hospital is directly served as a faculty member before completor indirectly owned by an entity that proudly ing his training at Northwestern University. includes physician owners, including certain San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates is members of the hospital's medical staff. ■ located at 520 East Euclid Ave. For more information, SOUTHWEST GEnEral HOSPITal offers a range of gastroenterologic services, including: call 210-271-0606 or visit www. + EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) sagastro.com. - dilatation of esophageal strictures Southwest + colonoscopy with polypectomy General Hospital + endoscopic therapy for bleeding: h a s pro v i d e d - variceal banding high-quality health - cautery, clipping or injection of vessels care for residents + percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement of southwest San + stenting of the esophagus, duodenum or colon to Antonio for over 30 relieve obstruction years and contin+ ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) ues to be the only - sphincterotomy healthcare facility - gall stone extraction in this section of - biliary and pancreatic stent placement the city. Southwest mDnEWS.COm ■ MD News San Antonio | 13

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