ST. LUKE’S THE WOODLANDS HOSPITAL (SLTWH) TO CELEBRATE DEDICATION AND PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE

(The Woodlands, TX) – St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital (SLTWH) is inviting the public to attend an Open House on Saturday, March 22, from noon until 3 p.m. St. Luke’s officials will host a dedication ceremony earlier in the day, and the hospital will open for patients on Monday, March 31.

SLTWH is an 84-bed, faith-based, not-for-profit hospital. It is the only hospital in the Greater Houston Area to involve, on one campus, multiple healthcare organizations ranked in the top 10 of their specialties by U.S. News & World Report. As another component of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, the SLTWH is working with Texas Heart® Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital and TIRR Rehabilitation Centers to bring highly-regarded healthcare to the community.

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and St. Luke’s have also reached agreement on the development of an M.D. Anderson satellite facility to provide state-of-the-art radiation oncology services, complementing the St. Luke’s cancer program on the SLTWH campus, by mid-2004 pending final approval from The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents.

“The SLTWH is an extraordinary collaboration among some of the best-known and respected brands in the Texas Medical Center,” said Michael Jhin, president and chief executive officer, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System. “We are pleased to be bringing that quality and unprecedented collaboration to this community.”

Throughout its near 50-year history, St. Luke’s has been known for quality patient care throughout Houston and the world. In fact, its Texas Medical Center flagship–St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital–is the first hospital in Texas to receive prestigious recognition as a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

“Now St. Luke’s brand of care–plus the latest technology and our health service partners–will be geographically convenient to a growing, thriving community,” said David Helfer, senior vice president, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, and executive director, St. Luke’s Community Health Services.

Services at St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital include a birthing center, newborn and Level II nurseries, a surgery center, chest pain services, a women’s center, a sleep disorder center, nuclear medicine, infusion services and pulmonary function studies. Board-certified emergency physicians will provide 24-hour emergency care to adults and children. To enhance pediatric services, an on-site child-life specialist works with patients to help them deal with emotional and psychological issues related to hospitalization.

“Texas Loving Care (TLC) is a unique blend of quality and compassion that was developed at St. Luke’s in the Texas Medical Center. Now the SLTWH will incorporate that concept into our care for this community,” said Teresa Danna, vice president, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, and chief executive officer, SLTWH.

All diagnostic services–radiology, ultrasound, mammography, MRI and CT scans–are digital, allowing for shorter exam time, faster results and better visibility and image flexibility for physicians. A high-speed CT scanner is especially helpful for pediatric and geriatric patients. Image processing on a digital Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) will make it possible for physicians to interpret results 24 hours a day.

Located on a 40-acre site at the intersection of I-45 and Highway 242, the hospital incorporates the area’s natural beauty into its facility. St. Luke’s Lifebranch^SM, the regional center for healthcare information, also offers a specialized retail resource for health-related and stress-reducing items. Conference rooms and catering services will be available for community groups, as will St. Luke’s mobile mammography and blood donor coaches. The SLTWH has a blood donor center, and much of the blood collected there will remain in the community for use by SLTWH patients.

The adjacent six-story Medical Arts Center houses a number of the hospital’s multi-specialty medical staff, as well as Texas Children’s Health Center–The Woodlands and TIRR Rehabilitation Centers–The Woodlands.

For physician referral, community members are invited to call (832) 355-6000 or (800) 872-9355. To learn more about the SLTWH, visit www.stlukeswoodlands.com.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System is a comprehensive health system that serves the primary and tertiary healthcare needs of the community. Established by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, the System includes the flagship St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, St. Luke’s Community Health Services, KS Management Services, LLP, and St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital. St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital is home to the world-renowned Texas Heart Institute, founded in 1962. The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke’s is consistently ranked in the top 10 cardiovascular centers in the United States by U.S.News & World Report.

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