Newsroom

Lufkin, TX – Woodland Heights Medical Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Mario Matos-Cruz to Lufkin. He will be taking over at Woodland Heights Cardiothoracic Associates, as current surgeon Dr. David Sees is retiring. “I am excited to be in Lufkin and part of the medical staff at Woodland Heights Medical Center,” states Dr. Matos-Cruz. “I am looking forward to becoming part of the community and continuing the tradition of quality cardiac care at Woodland Heights.” Dr. Matos-Cruz is a board certified cardi... ... Read More

Lufkin, TX (October 21, 2024) – Woodland Heights Medical Center will host the 3rd Annual Super Safety Saturday (a FREE safety fair event) on Saturday, November 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Woodland Heights parking lot (loop side of the hospital). “The start of school and the beginning of the hectic holiday season is a good time to remind the community of ways to stay safe,” said Stephen Bennett, Woodland Heights Medical Center’s emergency services director. “We wanted a way to reach kids and families t... ... Read More

Lufkin, TX – Woodland Heights Medical Center is the first facility in Lufkin to utilize a new leadless pacemaker used to treat patients with bradycardia. The device is implanted directly into the heart using a minimally invasive approach that does not require the use of leads. This redefines the patient experience by reducing activity restrictions post-implant. It also eliminates the chest scar or bump that comes with transvenous pacemakers. VIvek Mangla, M.D., electrophysiologist/cardiologist was the f... ... Read More

Lufkin, TX – Woodland Heights Medical Center is the first facility in Lufkin to utilize a new access system that aids in the implantation of left atrial appendage closure devices. LAA closure devices are utilized as an alternative to long-term medication for patients with atrial fibrillation, which reduce their risk of stroke. Not all hearts are the same and can be difficult to navigate. The new system offers intuitive handle design and device positioning so the cardiologist has better contol. It is des... ... Read More

Lufkin Texas – Woodland Heights Medical Center has received two American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® and Mission: Lifeline® achievement awards for demonstrating commitment to following up-to-date, research-based guidelines for the treatment of stroke, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer readmissions to the hospital. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death i... ... Read More

Lufkin, Texas – (August 16, 2024) – The midpoint of the year is a good time to review health insurance policies to ensure you will get the most out of plan benefits, especially if you have already met the annual deductible. Many insurance plans will cover most, if not all, costs for eligible medical procedures and treatments once an individual meets the deductible and out of pocket maximum, making the second half of the year an opportune time to schedule any necessary or elective medical procedures that... ... Read More

Lufkin Texas (July 10, 2024) – Woodland Heights Medical Center continues to make progress on the emergency department construction project.. Beginning Wednesday, July 10, several of the newly constructed exam rooms as well as a new nurses’ station will be utilized as construction begins to move even more into the current emergency department. “Patients needing emergency care will continue to use the temporary ER entrance (across from the Medical Office Building),”states Woodland Heights Medical Center E... ... Read More

Lufkin, Texas – As Independence Day approaches, Woodland Heights Medical Center emphasizes the importance of fireworks safety to prevent injuries and avoid a trip to the emergency department. While fireworks have been an integral part of Fourth of July festivities since 1777, it has not been without risk and should be handled only by experienced pyrotechnicians. “Leave the fireworks to the professionals,” said Philip Ralidis, D.O., emergency medicine physician director at Woodland Heights. “By attending... ... Read More

Lufkin, Texas (June 20, 2024) – Woodland Heights Medical Center announced recently that it has earned a Level 3 (bronze) accreditation as a Geriatric Emergency Department by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). Working with other departments like pharmacy and food and nutrition services, Woodland Heights emergency nurses Madeline Carswell and Nora Phillips spearheaded this effort for the hospital. “Madeline and I have worked together in achieving this certification, knowing that followin... ... Read More

Lufkin, Texas – Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and its related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care at a nationally accredited program that meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality in the deep east Texas area. Woodland Heights Medical Center announced today that its bariatric weight loss surgery center has been accredited as a Low Acuity Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP®), a joint Q... ... Read More