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In our effort to bridge the gap between El Paso’s military families, organizations and businesses, we have chosen to invite the El Paso community to share with our readers, how they support our troops and families all while providing a synopsis on their business product and/or service. Our first featured El Paso community military supporter is Sierra Providence Health Network (SPHN). —
Written by Rick Glancey
Sierra Providence Health Network (SPHN)
In October 2008 a small whisper from within the gates of Ft. Bliss echoed through the halls of Sierra Providence Health Network (SPHN). The whisper was simple. The El Paso/Fort Bliss Armed Services YMCA Food Locker needs some help. The messenger was an impassioned board member by the name of Claudia Davenport. Claudia and her husband, CSM David Davenport, had become acquaintances with our organization through our partnership with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Chapter and local leader Gus Rodriguez.
At the invite of Claudia and Executive Director Jose Melendez, leaders from Sierra Providence Health Network saw firsthand a food locker with near empty shelves and Army families in need of some help. It didn’t take long for the infectious spirit to help the ASYMCA emerge into a major food drive campaign. Our newest hospital Sierra Providence East Medical Center at Loop 375 and Edgemere offered to help take the charge in hosting a major food drive for the food locker.
Sierra Providence Health Network enlisted several local partners to help us with this project known community wide as “Operation Open Arms.” Organizations that immediately committed to help us collect canned goods included: The Las Tierras Neighborhood Association, Cielo Vista Church, El Paso Chile Company and Rick Falvo and his students from El Paso Community College. All of our hospitals and employees joined in the collection efforts challenging one another from units, floors and hospitals to out collect one another. At SPHN we called upon KDBC-TV, KFOX-TV and KLAQ Radio to help us spread the word and bring some much needed attention to the drive. On top of this effort, the management of the Wal-Mart store at 1850 North Zaragosa Rd. also agreed to help us in our efforts to purchase specially priced turkeys for the ASYMCA’s annual Thanksgiving food drive.
The end result was amazing. Colonel Randall Lane, Brigade Commander, 5th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division and his team of proud soldiers helped us load a trailer with more than 10,300 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable items. The trailer was loaned to us by Stagecoach Cartage & Distribution, LP of El Paso, Texas. More importantly, the initial whispers from Claudia Davenport were heard loud and clear by the community of El Paso.
This infectious and wonderful partnership has turned into a very important friendship. As our collaborative efforts have grown, Sierra Providence Health Network was honored to formally participate in the Bradley Strong Adopt a Unit Ceremony on January 13, 2009. On this date Sierra Providence Health Network was designated as the Bradley Strong Guardian of the 5th Brigade Combat team, 1st Armored Division (Army Evaluation Task Force). This formal adoption is an opportunity for us as a team to develop a strong, long-lasting partnership. Both organizations will work together to ensure the well-being of Soldiers and families while honoring their commitments, sacrifices, self-less service and courage under the mission, vision, and values of the Association of the United States Army. They will also strive to improve the El Paso community by assisting its citizens.
As one team we have collaborated in collecting more donations for the ASYMCA with the addition of 2,000 pounds of more non-perishable items and canned goods in May 2009. Our adoption also includes assisting the 5-1 with the 1st Annual Frontrunner Golf Classic and helping sponsor the 5th BCT, 1st AD (AETF) Ball. In turn the BSB 5th BCT (AETF), 1 AD sponsored an Armed Forces Day at the Children’s Hospital at Providence. On May 2, 2009, LTC Kathy A. Shear brought so many smiles to so many children who never get a chance to leave a hospital bed to enjoy a day in our community or much less venture to Ft. Bliss to be surrounded by some of America’s heroes. On that Saturday, those children got a chance to “Thank a soldier and Touch a Tank.”
Sierra Providence Health Network is committed to being the best community partner to Fort Bliss and El Paso. We have designated special displays “Ft. Bliss Proud” in each hospital highlighting our proud relationship with the men and women who serve our great nation. We have most recently assisted the 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment with the “Losing 2 Win” Health and Fitness Fair in April. Our commitment to ASYMCA is now a year-long project that has included significant monetary donations locally and is part of our corporate effort with funding through the Tenet Healthcare Foundation’s “Feed the Need Drive.” We have also been a proud sponsor of the “Wounded Warrior Walk” in 2008 and remain committed to help this cause in 2009.
It is our mission at Sierra Providence Health Network to deliver safe, cost-effective care to the community and patients we serve. We always strive to provide the best, and safest, medical care possible. Four years in a row, the El Paso community has recognized Sierra Providence with the National Consumer Choice Award from the National Research Corporation. This award recognizes consumer preference in the areas of best image and best overall quality.
Sierra Providence Health Network, consists of four hospitals located in El Paso: 351-bed Sierra Medical Center, located at 1625 Medical Center Drive; 508-bed Providence Memorial Hospital, which also houses the 144-bed Children’s Hospital at Providence, located at 2001 N. Oregon and Sierra Providence East Medical Center opened in May 2008 to serve the needs of east El Paso's growing community. Located at Edgemere and Loop 375, the 110-bed hospital has 12 Intensive Care Unit beds, six Neonatal Intensive Care beds, and a 20-bed Emergency Department.
Sierra Medical Center, Providence Memorial Hospital, the Children’s Hospital at Providence and Sierra Providence East Medical Center are acute care hospitals that offer a broad spectrum of medical and surgical services for adults and children, including cardiac care and rehabilitation, cancer care and support services, women’s services and emergency care. Other network clinical specialties include a dedicated children’s emergency room, gamma knife radio surgery, a hospice, a bariatrics center and health care services for chronically ill children. Sierra Medical Center, Providence Memorial Hospital and Sierra Providence East Medical Center are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.
Sierra Providence Health Network, the largest healthcare network in the region, is also the most award winning healthcare network in the region…and by a wide margin. Whenever and wherever you need us, we’ll be there. To learn more about Sierra Providence Health Network, visit www.sphn.com.
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