Laredo is a bustling border town in Texas, just across the Rio Grande from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is the county seat of, and largest city in, Webb County, which itself covers a full 3,376 square miles. The city is an old one as well as a busy one, having been founded back in 1755. Today, Laredo has a population of 259,512, over 95% of whom are 95.6% Hispanic and Latino.
The city is home to the largest inland port in the US, and Laredo’s economy is based primarily around international trade with Mexico. In fact, 47% of trade from the US to Mexico, and 36% of trade from Mexico to the US, passes through the city of Laredo. As a result, there are many major transportation companies that have facilities located in Laredo, and the city is linked to a railway bridge and four international bridges, as well as Laredo International Airport.
Some of the most notable healthcare facts about the area include:
- 70.9% of Laredo residents are enrolled in health insurance, with 31.3% on employer-provided plans, 5.2% on Medicare, 25.7% on Medicaid, 7.9% on non-group plans, and 0.88% on VA or military plans.
- There is one primary care doctor per 1,670 patients in the state of Texas 1.7% of workers in Laredo work in health diagnosis and treatment, 1.2% work as healthcare technicians, and 4.6% work in healthcare support roles.
- The average healthcare consumer in Laredo spent $6,998 as of 2014, which included charges picked up by insurance providers.
- Health conditions related to obesity are a primary concern in this area, where 64 % of men and 62% of women are obese
- Laredo Medical Center is the sixth-largest employer in the city, just after the government of Webb County, employing an estimated 1,300 residents.
- The average household income for the city is only $32,019, but this is offset by the lower cost of living in Laredo, which is a full 32.3% below the national average. On healthcare, however, the average cost is just 2.1% below the national average.
This overview of Health Care Professionals in Laredo covers the most popular medical professionals and healthcare settings in the city’s metro area, so you can better understand the local options for services and providers.
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- Hospitals in Laredo
- Pediatricians in Laredo
- Family Practice Doctors in Laredo
- Internal Medicine Doctors in Laredo
- Specialist Doctors in Laredo
- The Most Popular Doctors in Laredo
- Telemedicine in Laredo
Hospitals in Laredo
Laredo is the site of six major medical centers. These include:
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Laredo branch
- Laredo Medical Center
- Doctor’s Hospital
- Gateway Community Health Center
- Providence Surgical & Medical Center
- Laredo Specialty Hospital
As a teaching hospital, the University of Texas Health Science Center’s Laredo branch is especially notable for being well-resourced and highly hated. Teaching hospitals are, associated with higher quality of care and patient outcomes, thanks to the large numbers of residents and interns overseen by experienced physicians.
Laredo Medical Center is the area’s largest hospital, and has been recognized by national bodies such as the Joint Commission for excellence in such areas as Stroke Care, Chest Pain, Bariatrics, and Neonatal Intensive Care. It has the largest emergency center in the area, which has been designated as an Advanced Level III Trauma Center.
Doctors Hospital of Laredo is the second-largest medical center in the city, with a total area campus area of over 58 acres and 250,000 square feet of facilities, which houses 180 licensed beds. The facility is affiliated with Universal Health Services. In addition to standard hospital services (such as emergency care), Doctor’s Hospital offers Bariatric Weight Loss Services, Heart Care, Joint Replacement, Maternity Care, Occupational Health Services, Sleep Medicine, and Wound Care. Doctors Hospital is especially notable for its well-regarded and comprehensive Cancer Care, offered through the The Doctors Regional Cancer Treatment Center.
The Laredo Specialty Hospital is a private hospital which was founded in 2006. This large hospital has a total of 40 licensed beds and offers services such as Hemodialysis, Outpatient and Inpatient Surgery, Urology, and Pulmonology.
The Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital, which is a proprietary institution affiliated with Ernest Health, is located in the Base neighborhood of Laredo. This medical center is focused on inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care, serving primarily patients recovering from surgery, injuries, stroke, and other major medical events. The Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital has a total of 20licensed inpatient beds. This medical center has been ranked among the nation’s top 10% in rehabilitative care by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) for four years in a row, and is particularly recognized for its care of stroke survivors.
Laredo is also home to several health centers. Unlike hospitals, these institutions do not offer emergency care, but have healthcare providers and clinics offering a range of centralized medical services. The largest of these, the Gateway Community Health Center is a nonprofit health center supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Gateway has three branches in the greater Laredo area: the El Cenizo Community Center, the South Clinic, and the Quad City Community Center. Its main building is an impressive 4,000 square feet in size. Gateway provides services that include Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Oral Health, and Behavioral Health.
Pediatricians in Laredo
Just as adults have primary care physicians in charge of their general medical care, children depend on pediatricians. Pediatricians are the general medical providers for newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. They have training to diagnose and treat developmental age-specific issues, such as problems related to teething or puberty. They also treat children for general medical issues, from flus to rashes. Children tend to get sick more often than adultsz, and also require more developmental checkups and routine vaccinations. This means that finding a pediatrician who is reliable and available is especially important.
Most people who work in pediatrics are general pediatricians, but there are also pediatric specialists who treat specific conditions among children, such as:
- Pediatric Cardiologists
- Pediatric Dermatologists
- Pediatric Neurologists
- Pediatric Surgeons
- Pediatric Allergists
There are 36 pediatric doctors practicing in Laredo, including both general pediatricians and specialists, such as pediatric allergists and pediatric psychiatrists. There are also several group pediatrics practices located in Laredo, including Laredo Pediatrics-Neonatology, Children’s Clinic, Recto Pediatrics, and Safari Pediatrics. Of these, Laredo Pediatrics-Neonatology has garnered the highest number of positive google reviews, with patients praising the responsiveness of their physician.
Family Practice Doctors in Laredo, Texas
Family practice doctors see patients across the lifespan, from babies to older adults. They perform routine checkups, diagnose and treat diseases, and serve as primary care physicians. In fact, most primary care doctors are family practice physicians.
It can make sense to see a family practice doctor as your primary care physician if you anticipate that you will need mostly routine care, and if you’d like to have family members of different ages seen by the same physician. Its worth noting that you don’t need to have a family in order to see a family physician.
There are 63 doctors of family medicine located in Laredo. One of the highest-rated by patients is Dr. Isaias Garza Jr, who has a full 37 years’ experience in the field. Another is Dr. Maurice A Click Jr, with 30 years’ in practice. Some of the most experienced family medicine doctors in the area are Dr. Oscar Benavides, with 39 years’ experience, and Dr. Luis M Benavides, with no less than 44 years’ experience. Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna are the most widely accepted forms of insurance among family medicine practitioners in Laredo.
Internal Medicine Doctors in Laredo, Texas
Internal Medicine Doctors (also called “Internists”), are another type of primary care physician. Unlike family medicine doctors, doctors of internal medicine focus exclusively on treating adults. They provide services such as routine care, annual checkups, illnesses, and vaccinations. They are also trained in diagnosing and managing conditions that commonly affect adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, menopause, and gout. Internists make referrals to specialists and serve as the hub of a medical treatment team. A doctor f internal medicine is a good choice in general practitioners if you have an ongoing medical condition (such as IBS, epilepsy, or asthma) that is likely to require more than just routine care.
There are a full 68 doctors of internal medicine based in Laredo. The majority of these are in independent practice, though many more work within hospitals and group practices. Some of the more notable doctors of internal medicine in Laredo include:
- Dr. Arturo A Martinez, who has worked in the field for 41 years and speaks both English and Spanish. He has admitting privileges at Doctors Hospital Of Laredo, and is a member of the Laredo Internal Medicine Associates group practice.
- Dr. Rana Beg, who has affiliations with Good Samaritan Medical Center and Laredo Medical Center, has 5 star ratings on Vitals and on Google. She has 8 years experience in the field.
- Dr. Zakaria I Hamdan is an internist with 17 years’ experience and multiple five star patient ratings. Dr. Hamdam is affiliated with University Hospital.
Specialist Doctors in Laredo, Texas
When your primary care physician identifies a medical issue that falls outside the scope of routine care, they will make a referral to a specialist. Specialist doctors undergo advanced training to work with a specific part of the body (such as the skin, kidneys, or heart) or with a specific condition (such as cancer). Unless your insurance requires it, you don’t need a referral from your primary care doctor to see a specialist. If, for instance, you develop foot pain that concerns you, you can go ahead and book an appointment with a podiatrist (foot specialist) to get it checked out. Patients also see specialists for routine screenings such as annual pap smears, prostate exams, and skin cancer checks. A few of the most common medical specialty doctors include:
Many of Laredo’s specialists work in the area’s hospitals and medical centers, where they have access to in-house medical teams and advanced equipment, and larger facilities. For instance, the Laredo Specialty Hospital focuses on providing long-term acute care to patients who are recovering from serious injuries or illnesses, so they have specialists on staff in areas such as:
Doctor’s hospital of Laredo, fo instance, has multiple specialists working in each of their service areas, which include:
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Gastroenterology
- Gynecology
- Hyperbaric Medicine
The Laredo Medical Center has specialists in a high number of fields as well, which include:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Orthopedics
- Obstetrics
- Occupational Health Services
- Emergency Medicine
- Rehabilitation Services
- Sleep Medicine
- Wound Care
The Most Popular Doctors in Laredo, Texas
As noted above, Doctor’s Hospital of Laredo is highly regarded for its cancer care and emergency medicine. In addition to their many specialist doctors and nurse practitioners, they also have 33 family medicine doctors and 10 doctors of internal medicine on staff. Many people opt to see a doctor affiliated with a large hospital such as this because it allows them to easily access referrals within the same medical setting.
Laredo Physicians Group is affiliated with Doctor’s Hospital of Laredo, and serves patients of all ages. Laredo Physicians Group provides medical care through both primary care and specialist doctors. Their staff of five physicians has:
- a family medicine doctor
- a hospitalist
- a cardiovascular surgeon
- a sports medicine doctor
Laredo Physicians Group has a convenient and secure online patient portal where patients can not only view their medical records, make appointments, and pay bills, but also view lab results and communicate with their doctor.
The Laredo Care Clinic is an urgent care facility affiliated with Laredo Medical Center, the city’s largest medical facility. The Laredo Care clinic is staffed by nurse practitioners, and stands out for offering highly accessible care, treating patients from toddlers to seniors with all sorts of health conditions and needs. Some of the services offered at Laredo Care Clinic include:
- acute and routine illnesses and injuries
- Heart disease/blood pressure management
- Asthma management
- Diabetes management
- On-site lab and x-ray imaging
The Laredo Care Clinic has two locations in the city: Laredo Care Clinic North (on McPherson Rd.) and Laredo Care Clinic South (on Highway 83). The clinic also offers community-based health and wellness events.
Telemedicine in Laredo, Texas
Nowadays, we book travel, shop, and even date remotely. So when it comes to getting medical care for routine ailments, a trip to a brick-and-mortar clinic or medical center can seem downright archaic. Thanks to telemedicine, you can use technology to save time and hassle by seeing a provider via video conference. Telemedicine is a great choice for addressing run-of-the-mill injuries and ailments such as a sinus infection, pinkeye, or the common cold. Some of the services offered through telemedicine include:
- Medical evaluations
- Refills of prescriptions
- Nutritional consultations
- Second opinions
- Counseling and mental health
Most telemedicine services also offer 24/7 coverage, so you can speak to a telemedicine doctor whenever you need to. Particularly when you’re not feeling well, being able to speak to a doctor or nurse practitioner over video chat from the comfort of your own home (or even your own sick bed!) is a game-changer.
The following telemedicine providers are available throughout the state of Texas:
- University of Texas System
- Plushcare
- Oscar
- Ascension Online Care
- UnitedHealthCare
- BCBS Texas
- Ambetter
- My Remedy
- Alon Family Health
- My AmeriGroup
Oscar stands out as a uniquely patient-centered health insurance company, and offers subscribers a number of valuable perks, along with a strong focus on health technology. Their telemedicine Doctor on Call service is free, unlimited, and is available 24/7. Their responsive concierge team answers questions and helps patients connect with the right doctor. In fact, this company has a higher rate of mobile engagement than any other health insurer. A full 63% of their subscribers’ interactions with their health care providers are virtual.
Ambetter is also a health insurance company, but unlike Oscar, serves members only in the state of Texas. Ambetter is provided by Superior HealthPlan for the Health Insurance Marketplace. All providers in the Ambetter network provide telemedicine via mobile app or online video, so there’s no need to seek out a telemedicine-specific doctor. No prior authorization is required, and the deductible, co-payments, and co-insurance for a a telemedicine consultation are exactly the same as they would be for an office visit. In fact, in-network providers can be seen via telemedicine for a $0 copay cost through Ambetter.