New Device Means More Patients Are Now Candidates for a Leadless Pacing Option
EL PASO, TX – June 15, 2020 – The Hospitals of Providence Sierra Campus announced today that it is the first hospital in El Paso to offer Micra™ AV, the world’s smallest pacemaker with atrioventricular (AV) synchrony. This new device, indicated for the treatment of patients with AV block, extends the most advanced pacing technology – at one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker – to more patients than ever before.
“Because of how small Micra AV is, the size of a large vitamin, it allows us to minimally invasively implant the pacemaker inside the heart and without requiring leads or a surgical pocket under the skin, which significantly reduces the potential for complications,” said Dr. Steven Hamilton, electrophysiologist, who performed the first procedure on Friday. “This advancement offers our patients a new option to treat AV block. It can remarkably improve quality of life and also help some patients live longer.”
AV block is a type of heart block in which the electrical signals between the chambers of the heart (the atria and the ventricles) are impaired. Pacemakers, the most common way to treat AV block, help restore the heart’s normal rhythm and relieve symptoms by coordinating the electrical activity of the atria and the ventricles.
Historically, patients with AV block have been treated with traditional dual-chamber pacemakers which are implanted in the upper chest, under the skin below the collar bone, and connected to the heart using thin wires called “leads.” Micra AV has several additional internal atrial sensing algorithms which detect cardiac movement, allowing the device to adjust pacing in the ventricle to coordinate with the atrium, providing “AV synchronous” pacing therapy to patients with AV block.
“We are excited to be again advancing cardiac care and services here in the El Paso community and offering our patients the latest in technology,” said Rob J. Anderson, chief executive officer for The Hospitals of Providence Sierra Campus. “We’re committed to ensuring our patients are able to seek the cardiac care they need close to home.”
Micra AV was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January 2020.
ABOUT THE HOSPITALS OF PROVIDENCE
The Hospitals of Providence covers the El Paso Region to include West Texas and Southern New Mexico. The system includes acute-care hospital locations: Memorial Campus, Providence Children’s Hospital, Sierra Campus, East Campus, Transmountain Campus, Specialty Campus, Horizon City Campus and the Northeast Campus; Diagnostic Imaging Centers to include a dedicated pediatric location; the Emergency Room Montwood and Emergency Room Edgemere; Paso del Norte and El Paso Day Surgery Centers and the El Paso Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; Teen Health Resource Centers; The Center for Wound Healing; Vein Center: Inpatient Rehabilitation Program; Outpatient Therapy Centers; MedPost and MedPost Kids Urgent Care Centers; and ‘A New Me’ Surgical Weight Loss Program. The Hospitals of Providence is dedicated to continuing the over 100-year commitment to the El Paso community. For more information please visit TheHospitalsOfProvidence.com.
El Paso, Texas This Sunday, June 14, El Paso Animal Services and its community partners will be offering free vaccinations and microchips to hundreds of pets at the department’s second-ever Drive-Thru Vaccination/Microchip Clinic sponsored by PetSmart Charities.
This unique large-scale clinic aims at making it easy for owners to keep their pets healthy and safe. The clinic will be held at the Socorro Activities Complex, in the parking lot. The only entrance to the clinic will be located south of the SAC, through Southview Drive. All attendees are required to wear a mask or face covering.
This is a first-come, first-served event and services are limited to the first 500 pets. Owners will need to keep their pets in the vehicle, all dogs must be on a leash and cats must be placed in a secure carrier while visiting the drive-thru clinic. Dogs will receive a parvo/distemper vaccination, while cats will receive a feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccination, both will also be given a microchip and a gallon-bag of food per pet. No other vaccinations will be available at this drive-thru event.
Temperatures are expected to rise later in the day, so attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of water for their pets and themselves to stay cool.
WHAT: Drive-Thru Vaccination/Microchip Clinic
El Paso Animal Services, El Paso Parks and Recreation, and the El Paso County Animal Welfare Department team up to host El Paso’s second-ever, large-scale, drive-thru vaccination/microchip clinic, providing free parvo/distemper and FVRCP vaccines, free microchips, and free pet food to the first 500 pets.
Services available on a first-come, first-served basis. All attendees must wear a mask or face covering.
WHEN: 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, June 14, 2020
WHERE: Socorro Activities Complex (1300 Joe Battle Blvd.)
Cars must enter off Southview Dr. and Paseo Del Este Blvd.
Lafayette, Louisiana. Julio Naudin, an El Paso native and notoriously bad speller, is pleased to present Headlines, a new series of mixed media artwork based on original vintage newspaper front-pages. Naudin, who worked for The El Paso Timesand El Paso Herald-Postfor more than 20 years, was in the newspaper business for more than three decades — not including the six years he spent as a newspaper boy in central El Paso.
A graduate of Austin High School, Naudin started his studies at the University of Texas El Paso as an art major but eventually graduated with a degree in mass communications/broadcasting. He sold a number of paintings while in college at UTEP.
Through the years, Naudin has continued to paint when time availed. He has gained a loyal following in Louisiana, where he now lives. His paintings hang in many Louisiana homes. When he retired in 2019, he took up painting full-time.
When he lived in El Paso in the 1990s, he purchased a bound edition of 1929 El Paso Herald newspapers at a flea market along Doniphan Road. After retiring, he rediscovered the old volume of newspapers and was amazed at the headlines and stories he found.
“I remember as a 12-year-old kid, sitting on the sidewalk of Alabama Street, reading the headlines every day after throwing a paper route. On good days, I was drinking a Coke and eating peanuts,” Naudin said. “I remember thinking, ‘If you only read the headlines, what image of the story would you have?’”
His interest in headlines and their power to tell a story stayed with him.
“While I didn’t spend any of my newspaper career in a newsroom, I did spend it in advertising and marketing — which is also about writing headlines,” he said. “During my career in an industry that has changed so much recently, I learned a lot about the history of newspapers, especially in El Paso.”
Naudin said that in 1929, the time of the El Paso newspapers he’s working with, there were at least three daily newspapers.
“Every day it was a competition of who had the best headlines to sell papers,” he said. “The headlines were the 1920s version of clickbait.”
Many of the stories found in the 1929 newspapers are about familiar themes.
“With some of the headlines and images that I work with in the old newspapers, making a social statement by pointing out the misogyny and racism that was common then, and to some degree now, is there for the viewer to see and draw his or her own conclusions,” Naudin said. “And other front pages are just for fun — like the cattle rustlers.”
With a growing Louisiana following, Naudin has also collected a number of vintage Louisiana-based front pages and has sold several Huey P. Long-inspired paintings from the Headline collection.
For more information, go to www.julionaudin.com.
“The Bandit Queen immediately caught our eye. We love the mixed media approach and the fact that the painting was done on a real front page from an El Paso newspaper. It’s a work that gets more interesting the more you look at it and the more time you spend with it. The story of Rita Delores pulled us in, since it is her image that Julio painted, but we found so many tidbits of history from 1929 that we just marveled at the work. She now hangs above our mantle, defiant and beautiful, forever in her historical moment but fully in the present through Julio’s delightful rendering.”
— Monica Wright, owner of The Bandit Queen
Think About the Difference You’ll Make…
COVID-19 has disrupted life for everyone in our community. None have been hit harder than the thousands of people who depend on us for food – and that number is growing.
But we have great news: With a new match, you can make a powerful difference.
Thanks to the Foster and Hunt Families and MountainStar Sports Group Foundation, every gift you make now will be doubled — up to $1,000,000!
If you missed the triple match on #GivingTuesdayNow, don’t worry – a powerful difference is still a few clicks away. This May, every $1 turns into 14 meals for people facing hunger in the El Paso area.
So imagine the difference you can make with $10 or $20. When doubled, your $10 provides 140 meals – enough meals to feed an El Pasoan for over a month.
Join us with a gift now, and show our fellow El Pasoans how much they, their families, and this community mean to us.
Make your online donation https://elpasoansfightinghunger.org/donate
You can also donate by texting FeedingElPaso to 243725
THANK YOU!!!!
El Paso, Texas May 12, 2020- Since its founding over 50 years, El Paso Community College (EPCC) has supported the needs of the community by making the training of healthcare workers a top priority.
Each year, more than 125 students graduate from EPCC in a variety of healthcare fields, including the Nursing Program and the Respiratory Care Technology Program, which are the types of fields directly involved in the care of patients with various forms of acute or chronic respiratory illnesses, such as the Coronavirus. EPCC also trains other heroes who have key roles assisting in this pandemic such as Medical Assistants, Surgical Technologists, Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) students, and Medical Imaging Technology-Radiographers.
In addition to these healthcare workers, EPCC plays a major role in training first responders such as Firefighters and Emergency Medical Techs (EMT) and Paramedics. The Emergency Medical Services Professionals program trains Emergency Medical Techs and Paramedics, graduating almost 150 first responders each year in a variety of settings. Antonio Ayub, EPCC Emergency Medical Services Instructor, explains: “At EPCC the Emergency Medical Services Professions program, not only trains traditional EPCC students, but trains soldiers from Fort Bliss and students from area high schools through the college’s Dual Credit program.”
“El Paso Community College has a long history of training our community’s workforce,” EPCC President Dr. William Serrata said. “EPCC has prepared many of our region’s first responders and health care workers with a high-quality education so they can help you and your family. We are proud of our graduates working in many fields throughout our community.” Dr. William Serrata, EPCC President said.
Now, more than ever, the community recognizes the essential role of healthcare workers and first responders. EPCC is proud to be providing the training and support that these workers need to be qualified to work and serve in our community.
EPCC serves more than 28,500 students and offers 145 degree and certificate programs. Throughout its 50-year history, the college has remained focused on engaging students, growing community partnerships and fostering excellence. By creating a college-going culture and implementing innovative student success initiatives, EPCC is transforming the pathway to higher education and developing a better-prepared workforce for our region.
EL PASO, Texas — May 6, 2020 – The Hospitals of Providence proudly honors their nurses during National Nurses Week (May 6-12), an annual celebration that recognizes the value of nursing. In recent weeks, and as always, our nurses have demonstrated dedication, compassion and resiliency during one of the most trying times in our nation’s history.
“During these extraordinary times, we are deeply thankful for all of our nurses and the hard work they put in each and every day,” said Nicholas Tejeda, Group Chief Executive Officer for The Hospitals of Providence. “This celebratory week is about paying tribute to them and the daily impact they have on our patients’ lives.”
National Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The year 2020, Florence’s 200th birthday, has been declared the Year of the Nurse. Like Florence Nightingale, hundreds of thousands of nurses stand on the front lines ready to care for our family, friends and loved ones. Today, as Florence Nightingale did in her time, our nurses’ represent a profession of advocacy and strength and are respected for their compassion and commitment to patient care.
Nursing has been described as an art and a science that embraces dedicated people with varied interests and strengths. Our nurses have many roles – from staff nurse to nursing leader and educator to nurse practitioner – and they serve these roles with a passion for the profession and a strong commitment to patient safety.
During National Nurses Week, hospitals and other healthcare organizations across the country are encouraged to educate the public about the role nurses play in caring for our community.
“This week The Hospitals of Providence will celebrate our nurses to thank them for their contributions,” said Tejeda. “Now more than ever, we are truly proud to recognize the difference our nurses make in the lives of our community through their tireless effort, expertise, care and compassion,”
About The Hospitals of Providence
The Hospitals of Providence covers the El Paso Region to include West Texas and Southern New Mexico. The system includes acute-care hospital locations: Memorial Campus, Providence Children’s Hospital, Sierra Campus, East Campus, Transmountain Campus, Specialty Campus, Horizon City Campus and the Northeast Campus; Diagnostic Imaging Centers to include a dedicated pediatric location; the Emergency Room Montwood and Emergency Room Edgemere; Paso del Norte and El Paso Day Surgery Centers and the El Paso Center for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; Teen Health Resource Centers; The Center for Wound Healing; Vein Center: Inpatient Rehabilitation Program; Outpatient Therapy Centers; MedPost and MedPost Kids Urgent Care Centers; and ‘A New Me’ Surgical Weight Loss Program. The Hospitals of Providence is dedicated to continuing the over 100-year commitment to the El Paso community. For more information please visit TheHospitalsOfProvidence.com.
The City of El Paso Public Health Department is reporting two (2) additional COVID- 19 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 14. The female patient in her 70s and the male patient in his 50s both had underlying health conditions.
El Paso is also reporting 28 new COVID-19 cases bringing the county’s total number to 857. Positive cases in El Paso County include 454 females and 403 males. There are now 32 patients who are hospitalized, and 19 of those hospitalized are currently in ICU.
“We once again are saddened to report two new deaths due to COVID-19, and our hearts go out to the families of these two individuals,” said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, City/County Health Authority. “The public must understand that each person must take responsibility and take care of each other by staying home if possible, practice social distancing, washing their hands and wearing a face covering.”
City and County officials are in the process of amending the current Local Emergency Directive in response to Governor Abbott’s Executive Orders issued on April 27 calling to re-open the Texas economy. The amended directive will go into effect on Friday, May 1 at 12:01 a.m. and will incrementally start to re-open the economy.
“We will continue to address the public health needs of our community, while abiding by the Governor’s latest Executive Order to re-open Texas,” said Mayor Dee Margo. “This is an imperfect balancing act between our health and our economy. To re-open completely we must abide by social distancing, and stay home as much as possible.”
The amended directive will include:
Stay Home, Work Safe Order Lifted May 1
Consistent with state and national recommendations, El Pasoans are strongly urged to stay at home if they can, and continue to exercise social distancing, proper hygiene and use face coverings.
People over the age of 65 or considered part of a vulnerable population are strongly encouraged to continue to remain at home and limit contact as much as possible with persons from outside their immediate household.
Essential businesses which have been operating will be allowed to continue to operate with the safety protocols already in place.
Retail-to-Go businesses which have been operating will be allowed to continue to operate with the safety protocols already in place.
Additional businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, malls and movie theaters, will be allowed to open with certain restrictions: Operate at 25% total listed occupancy only.
Operate with the same safety protocols in place for essential businesses and Retail-to-Go businesses. Face coverings are required for all employees while working at essential businesses, Retail-to-Go operations or the newly reopened businesses allowed to operate at 25% capacity.
Golf courses and private tennis courts will be open and fishing will be allowed with safety protocols in place. Tennis courts at private facilities may be utilized following the Local Health Authority’s Order or guidance. City of El Paso parks will remain closed except for walking on designated walking paths. Public park playgrounds, tennis courts and basketball courts will remain closed. Playgrounds will remain closed. City of El Paso museums and libraries will remain closed. The updated Directive once completed will be made available at www.epstrong.org under “Health Orders.”
Residents are encouraged to report non-compliance by calling 3-1-1.
The 21-COVID hotline is operational from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For referral to services, contact 2-1-1 and select option six (6).
For updates and more information, visit www.epstrong.org.
The City of El Paso Public Health Department is reporting one (1) additional COVID-19 death, for a total number of ten (10) deaths. The patient was a male in his 70s with underlying medical conditions.
The City is also reporting 58 new COVID-19 cases bringing the county’s total number to 645. Positive cases in El Paso County include 332 females and 313 males; see accompanying graphics and map. There are 35 patients who are hospitalized, and 18 of those hospitalized are currently in ICU.
“It is critically important that we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are still seeing double digit in the number of positive cases and we have not reached our peak, which is why we keep insisting that people need to stay home and avoid leaving your home unless absolutely necessary,” said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, City/County Health Authority. “If you must leave your home for essential activities, then wear a cloth face covering. It is imperative to remember, cloth face coverings and gloves are not a replacement for proper social distancing, frequent handwashing and self-isolation when sick.”
Public health officials continue to remind residents that the Stay Home order remains in effect and urges the community to use face coverings when out performing essential duties or tasks. Face coverings should be washed daily. Individuals are reminded to be cautious to not touch their eyes, nose and mouth when removing their face covering and wash their hands immediately after removing the covering. If you wear gloves, make sure they are properly disposed of and worn appropriately. (See: What is Cross-Contamination)
The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. If these symptoms appear and do not improve, the person should contact their healthcare provider or seek medical attention.
The 21-COVID hotline is operational from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For referral to services contact 2-1-1 and select option six (6). For more information visit www.epstrong.org
photo credit: City of El Paso
El Paso, Texas April 14, 2020 – El Paso Community College (EPCC) students, faculty and staff have stepped up to assist the community during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Annually during April’s National Community College Month, EPCC highlights its high standards in educating the area’s workforce. This April, EPCC’s place in the community is even more important.
EPCC Math Instructor Fan Chen, with other community members, is making medical masks using a 3D printer supplied by EPCC. The group, El Paso Aid, has already received hundreds of local orders, as well as, orders from New York City and other U. S. locations.
Another group at EPCC answering the call is the student Philosophy Club. After being recognized by the Mayor of El Paso for their community work in November, the club continues their work by raising over $1,000 to purchase masks for frontline workers and those who are homeless.
Now the Philosophy Club has gone to the sewing machine. Under the guidance of the local medical community, the 15-member group is making their own masks to give to those in need. “We decided to practice what we preach and use practical philosophy to help others,” Daniel Avitia, EPCC Philosophy President said. “This is a cultivating experience motivating the need for social solidarity.”
As EPCC continues to educate and assist students through distance technology, awareness of the El Paso community is foremost in the workings of the college.
City, State Parks Closed During Easter Weekend — Family, Friends Urged to Show their Love and Stay Apart
The City of El Paso reminds the public that gathering and picnicking at City or State parks during Easter weekend is not allowed in order to protect family and friends from the highly contagious COVID-19 virus.
The Stay Home, Work Safe order remains in place at parks, including City-owned hike and bike trails, playgrounds, basketball courts, dog parks, and skate parks until further notice.
Easter weekend is one of the busiest days of the year for parks, but to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect families, residents are not allowed to gather at parks. In addition, at-home gatherings, parties and other group activities that encourage some form of gathering are not permitted.
Environmental Services Department Update – COVID-19 Not Transmitted by Mosquitoes
As the ongoing effort to prevent spreading COVID-19 in our community continues, the City of El Paso’s Environmental Services Department (ESD) advises residents that presently there is no scientific evidence to suggest mosquitoes spread COVID-19.
“While there is no data suggesting that mosquitoes are carriers of the coronavirus, we want our residents to take precautions this spring to protect themselves from other mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile and the Zika virus,” ESD Director Ellen Smyth said.
The department’s Vector Control Program sets traps and fogs areas throughout the community all year long to prevent mosquito breeding.
Residents can reduce their risk of getting mosquito bites by following these tips:
DEET:-Use insect repellents that contain DEET when outdoors
DRESS: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors
DUSK and DAWN: Although mosquitoes associated with the Zika virus can be active throughout the day, residents should take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours (from dusk to dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
DRAIN: Drain standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, and birdbaths.
“We cannot solve the economic crisis until we solve the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus, but we can take steps to ease the financial pain for our nation’s employers and their employees. And that is what Congress did last week,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) writes for Fox Business.
The $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program “will immediately get cash in the hands of small and midsize businesses to keep Americans tied to their jobs.” As long as employers use the loan “for payroll costs like salaries and cash tips, as well as debt obligations like mortgage, rent, utilities, and insurance premiums, it would be forgiven in full.”
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If the Communist Party of China had reported the true size of China’s outbreak, “public-health experts would’ve been sounding much louder alarms at the start — and the rest of the world would have begun making much greater preparations, sooner . . . A University of Southampton study estimates 95 percent of infections would have been avoided if China had acted just three weeks earlier,” the New York Post editorial board writes.
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“Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised President Donald Trump for the way he has handled the coronavirus pandemic, especially in his state. ‘Let me just be candid with you. I’d be lying to you to say that (Trump) hasn’t been responsive to our needs. He has,’” Newsom told CNN. Read more from Henry Rodgers in The Daily Caller.
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A few media outlets have discussed ending live coverage of White House Coronavirus briefings, preferring Americans not hear from their President directly. “Cutting off the president’s microphone hardly restores confidence in a collective institution that seems hopelessly partisan and one-sided,” Jarrett Stepman writes in The Daily Signal.
In an ongoing effort to suppress the spread of COVID-19, the City and the County of El Paso have issued a “Stay Home, Work Safe” Order for the area that will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, and be in effect until further notice.
El Paso City Mayor Dee Margo, El Paso County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego and Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza announced Tuesday morning the details of the new joint City-County order.
The order, the most stringent measures local officials have taken so far to address the worldwide public health crisis, is directing the public to remain at their residence except to obtain essential services or engage in essential activities and work for essential business and government services.
“We must protect the health and safety of this community. We cannot wait until it is too late, so we must continue working to stay ahead of the wave of cases and help flatten the curve by suppression of this virus,” said El Paso Mayor Dee Margo. “It is very important that residents and businesses cooperate to make this effort as successful as possible to keep our community healthy.”
“We are committed to keeping this community safe and healthy. While the effort is aggressive, there is no question that it will be effective in limiting COVID-19 exposure to the public,” said County Judge Ricardo A. Samaniego. “We all must realize that our actions and inactions could have a lasting effect on the entire the community, this order will help ensure positive outcomes for the health of El Paso.”
The order applies to everyone in El Paso County to work safe and stay home with the exceptions of essential businesses and activities; to include but not limited to emergency personnel, healthcare personnel, groceries, financial, critical trades, postal services, food delivery or pick-up, home-based care, childcare, and those performing essential government functions.
The order will continue until further notice and those who are found violating it could face a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or be jailed for up to 180 days. To report non-compliance, please email COVIDCompliance@elpasotexas.gov.
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