[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 63 (Friday, May 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE 25TH BIRTHDAY OF SOUTHWEST GENERAL HOSPITAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2004

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the celebration 
of the 25th birthday of Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio, 
Texas.
   In 1979 medical professionals and businessmen came together and 
realized the need for a hospital to serve one of the city's neediest 
sectors. The result was Southwest General on San Antonio's southwest 
side. To this day, Southwest General is the only hospital located in 
this growing and changing quadrant of San Antonio.
   A 319-bed facility, Southwest General Hospital offers all major 
hospital services including Perinatal/Women's Services, Psychiatric 
Services, Diabetic Education, and a Diabetes Wound Care Center. A 
recently completed Emergency Waiting Room expands upon those basic 
services and will allow the hospital to better serve its emergency room 
patients and their loved ones.
   In addition to providing general medical care, Southwest General 
Hospital serves as an invaluable resource to the community. I have 
worked with the hospital, the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation, the San 
Antonio Metropolitan Health District, and the Texas Department of 
Health to bring Breast Cancer Awareness Day to the Southside. It is 
through events like this that Southwest General Hospital makes an 
impact on the health of the people it serves.
   I would like to specially recognize Richard Gonzalez, CEO of 
Southwest General. Richard has worked tirelessly to ensure that each 
patient receives care with the dignity and respect they deserve when 
visiting Southwest General. He has assembled a great team that carries 
this message into every thing they do.
   Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing this irreplaceable health 
care institution and wishing Southwest General Hospital a very happy 
birthday.

                          ____________________