Departments
What we have to offer:
Moving ahead with new programs and new initiatives, the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is focused on improving the health of the region and its unique challenges. As the only medical school located on the international border with Mexico, issues such as diabetes prevention, environmental health, Hispanic health, infectious and re-emergent diseases, geriatric medicine, and telemedicine are the overriding interests.
The approximately 140 faculty of Texas Tech El Paso comprise the city's only multi-specialty group practice. Clinical departments include:
Department of Anesthesiology
The Department of Anesthesiology provides:
- Assessment of, consultation for, and preparation of patients for anesthesia
- Relief and prevention of pain during and following surgical, obstetric, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures
- Monitoring and maintenance of normal physiology during the perioperative period
- Management of critically ill patients
- Diagnosis and treatment of acute pain
- Clinical management and teaching of cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation
- Evaluation of respiratory function and application of respiratory therapy
- Conducting of clinical research
- Supervision, teaching, and evaluation of performance of personnel, both medical and paramedical, involved in perioperative care
Department of Emergency Medicine
This department cares for over 80 percent of all major trauma cases in far west Texas and southern New Mexico at Thomason's Level I Trauma Unit. The Division of EMS provides medical training for EMTs and paramedics for the City of El Paso under contract through grants.
Physicians see emergency and urgent care patients at Thomason Hospital's ER 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The first accredited, civilian Emergency Medicine residency training program in Texas was developed here.
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Comprehensive family-oriented health care from infancy to elderly. Includes:
- women's health such as pap smears, prenatal care
- general pediatrics
- general medical care such as diabetes, high blood pressure, nutrition, chronic diseases, immunizations, cancer screenings
- family planning
- geriatric care
- office orthopaedics
- occupational health such as employment physicals
- sports medicine
- minor surgery such as cryosurgery, removal of warts, moles, skin lesions, laceration repair
Department of Internal Medicine
The Internal Medicine Clinic is perhaps Texas Tech's busiest clinic.
In the general medicine area, physicians address issues from primary care to general medicine consultations for surgery, psychiatry, orthopaedics, and obstetrics and gynecology. This division is active in clinical research including clinical pharmacology studies involving new drugs for the treatment of ulcers, diabetes, hypertension and others.
Specialty clinics include:
- cardiology
- gastroenterology
- hematology/oncology
- infectious diseases
- pulmonology
- rheumatology
- nephrology
Department of Neuropsychiatry
The department conducts a monthly epilepsy support group meeting, and travels to yearly to outreach clinics in Van Horn, Marfa and Alpine.
Neurology
Neurology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, including:
- multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- cerebral tumors
- headache clinic
- ALS
- stroke
- epilepsy
- electrodiagnostic clinic
Psychiatry
Provides medical services at the El Paso Psychiatric Center. Mental health services include:
- affective mood disorders
- sleep disorder
- pyschotherapy
- medication management
- couples and family therapy
- treatment of pediatric attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology
Complete prenatal care, as well as treatment in the areas of gynecology and well woman care. Their Certified Nurse-Midwives also see and treat uncomplicated pregnancies and gynecology.
OB Clinic:
- infertility
- high risk obstetrics
- ultrasonography
- genetic amniocentesis
- antenatal fetal surveillance
- genetics counseling
- OB diabetes clinic
Gynecology Clinic:
- treatment for endometriosis
- gynecological oncology
- endocrinology and infertility
- colposcopy
- cryosurgery
- hormone replacement for menopause
- laparoscopic surgery
- urogynecology
- family planning
- hysteroscopy
Department of Ophthalmology
Scope of treatment:
- treatment of cataracts
- minor surgery such as removal of cysts
- diabetes consultations
- pediatric consultations
- followup of patients on medications that may affect eyesight
- treatment of trauma patients awaiting surgery
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
The orthopaedic clinic's scope of care includes:
- adult reconstructive surgery
- case management of pediatric congenital deformities
- pediatric and adult fractures and trauma care
- hand surgery
- spine evaluation and surgery
- orthopaedic surgery
The clinic case management staff helps patients qualify for medical financial aid and other social programs, including assistive technology. Outreach clinics go to area schools, the El Paso State Center, and West Texas towns such as Alpine, Presidio, Fort Stockton, Pecos, Ft. Davis, and Marfa to provide orthopaedic services where none is offered.
Department of Pediatrics
The Pediatric Department is perhaps the largest of the Texas Tech clinics with a clinic not only on the main campus, but in almost every part of town.
General pediatrics sees babies from three days old up to 17 years old. The majority of the care is for acute illnesses and immunizations.
Pediatric specialty clinics:
- endocrinology
- pulmonology
- genetics
- cardiology
- hematology
- dermatology
- neonatology
- neurology
- allergy
- oncology
- infectious diseases
- adolescent medicine clinic
Department of Radiology
Performs accepted methods of imaging and radiology including CT scanning, ultra sound, nuclear medicine, magnetic resonance imaging, and diagnostic radiology.
Department of Surgery
Board certified and board eligible physicians in the department of surgery do procedures at Thomason Hospital. Minor surgery procedures are done at the Tech surgery clinic. Diagnosis and scheduling of various types of outpatient and post-operative follow-up and wound care checks. A new telemedicine follow-up burn treatment clinic is held once a month.
Includes:
- audiology
- thoracic
- special urology
- ear, nose and throat
University Breast Care Center
The University Breast Care Center was established in 1994 with a multi-disciplinary approach to breast disease that includes diagnosis through treatment. This approach includes surgeons, plastic surgeons, pathologists, radiologists and oncologists.
Other services:
- screening mammography
- diagnostic mammography
- fine needle aspirations
- a mobile mammography van
The UBCC operates a mobile mammography van that goes out into the El Paso community daily with the mission of screening and educating women on breast care.