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 https://doi.org/10.47488/dhrp.v1i2.11 

  

 
http://dhrproceedings.org 6 © DHR Health Institute for Research and Development 
 

 

TRAUMA BULLETIN 

DHR Health Trauma Services: 

Providing the Critical Care the Rio 

Grande Valley Deserves 
Jennifer (Arriaga) Volcy1 

1 Trauma Program Manager Interim Director, DHR Trauma Services,  DHR Health, Edinburg, TX, USA 

 

E-mail: j.volcy@dhr-rgv.com 

 

Received 03/03/2021 

Accepted for publication 03/04/2021 

Published 03/05//2021 

Keywords:  Nursing; Trauma; Injury; Emergency; Community: Military

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) lies in Texas's 

southernmost tip, bordering Mexico, with a population of 

1,377,8611. It is an area of flat land with a subtropical climate 

and a very reasonable cost of living. I call this the hidden gem 

of the United States of America.  Having grown up in the Rio 

Grande Valley (RGV), I am aware that it has been known to 

lack the development of other established cities across the 

Nation. This also entails advancement in the health care 

industry. Living in one of the most impoverished communities 

in the entire Nation has made it difficult for valley locals to 

receive the proper health care they need. With the median 

household income being $36,0001 many people do not seek 

health care in this area. Instead, they cross the border into 

Mexico to treat their medical needs at an affordable price. 

 Joining the military shortly after high school and 

working as an Aerospace Medical Technician allowed me to 

experience health care inside the U.S. Military. While 

stationed in San Antonio, TX, and working at a major military 

hospital, I was able to see and treat multiple patients with 

minor to severe injuries. One case I remember clearly was a 

patient involved in a severe motor vehicle accident. I 

happened to have attended high school with the patient's 

family member. Knowing the individual was from the 

"Valley," I continued to make conversation and informed 

them that their family was on their way to San Antonio to see 

them. At that time, I knew they were getting the best trauma 

care they could receive as the military offered many physician 

specialties that were not available in the RGV. 

 After completing my military tour and later 

becoming a registered nurse, my first job was to work in the 

Nation's first trauma center. Having the honor of working at 

The University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma 

Center was an eye-opening experience. It was a prestigious 

trauma center, and those living in the area were aware of its 

reputation. If you were involved in an accident and were flown 

to "Shock Trauma," your chances of survival were much 

greater. It had a state-of-the-art trauma tower with dedicated 

trauma resuscitation units, trauma operating rooms, specialty 

trauma intensive care units, step-down units, and an acute care 

unit. Shock trauma was always ready for any injury that 

arrived through the door anytime – day or night. The hospital 

is located in the inner city of Baltimore, Maryland, where the 

crime rate is high; there were many instances where we 

received patients injured from gun violence. Two of the most 

common mechanisms encountered were injuries sustained 

from car accidents and falls, both of which are also the leading 

mechanisms of injury in the RGV. Motor vehicle accidents 

can lead to different types of injuries depending on where the 

blunt trauma to the body has occurred. Injuries from a fall 

usually led to either a hip fracture for the elderly or a spinal 

cord injury where the patient either lost sensation or 

movement to a portion of their body. We treated many people 

with paraplegia and quadriplegics who needed special care, 

which increased their length of stay. Traumatic brain injuries 

also resulted from either of those two mechanisms. Traumatic 

brain injuries were treated in the Neurointensive or 

intermediate unit depending on the severity of the injury.  

Those with severe brain injuries needed close monitoring and 

were often intubated with monitors attached and drains 

draining extra fluid to relieve cranial pressure. Other types of 

treated patients also included patients who may have sustained 



Critical Care in the RGV    2020, Vol. 1 (2) 6-7 

  

 
http://dhrproceedings.org 7 © DHR Health Institute for Research and Development 

    
 

carbon monoxide poisoning and needed to be treated using the 

hyperbaric chamber to allow for increased oxygen delivery. 

Patients with existing comorbidities such as cardiovascular 

disease, diabetes, amongst others, made the trauma patient all 

the more complex to treat. 

 Why the Rio Grande Valley? "Why not," I ask 

myself. Gaining the knowledge and experience in trauma care 

from the military to working in the Doctor's Hospital Trauma 

Services Department has increased that desire to serve my 

community and help this region achieve what it deserves. 

When our patients need to be transferred north of the RGV for 

appropriate trauma care, most of these families cannot 

accompany them. Many are fearful of crossing the checkpoint. 

In addition, they deal with a hefty medical bill for the transfer. 

All of this is simply because the region does not have adequate 

resources to care for their loved ones. I believe this is 

unacceptable. This hidden gem in the United States of 

America should not lack in trauma care to its natives. Having 

a Level 1 Trauma Center will increase medical resources for 

several professions, for example: a helicopter/prehospital 

team, a trauma tower with multi-trauma units, state of the art 

equipment, specialty rehabilitative services, injury prevention 

and education for the community, a trauma survivors' network 

to help survivors and their families cope with life post-trauma. 

Along with trauma resources, other specialties and services 

will be gained. One great example relates to the COVID 

pandemic that we are currently living in. The absolute sickest 

patients need to be transferred north to receive a treatment 

called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The 

RGV will not be the only region to benefit from the added 

resources of a Level 1 Trauma Center. Mexico's northeastern 

region, which may include a family member or a working 

member of our community, will also benefit from these 

services.  

Diclosures 

JV clinical qualifications: MS, RN, TCRN.  She declares no 

conflicts of interest.  

References 

1. United States Census,   Quick facts. 

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/willacycountyt

exas,starrcountytexas,cameroncountytexas,hidalgocountytex

as/PST045219.  Accessed on 03/02/2021. 

  

 

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/willacycountytexas,starrcountytexas,cameroncountytexas,hidalgocountytexas/PST045219
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/willacycountytexas,starrcountytexas,cameroncountytexas,hidalgocountytexas/PST045219
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/willacycountytexas,starrcountytexas,cameroncountytexas,hidalgocountytexas/PST045219

