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Alhambra Hospital Medical Center Announces Opening Of Advanced Endoscopy Center


Growth of population and aging Baby Boomers increases need for Advanced Endoscopy Services in San Gabriel Valley


The recent opening of the new Advanced Endoscopy Center at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center marks the first community hospital in the San Gabriel Valley to offer a full array of advanced endoscopic procedures dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases. This is the commitment of the shared vision and mission between Alhambra Hospital Medical Center and Allied Pacific IPA for a joint effort to provide high tertiary quality and yet personalized care within our community.

Through our Advanced Endoscopy Center, Alhambra Hospital Medical Center is at medicine's forefront in offering the most progressive endoscopic procedures for digestive health:

ERCP and ERCP SPYGLASS DS-specialized endoscopy that involves the combination of endoscopy and X-rays to study the bile ducts and pancreas, even in those hard to reach areas.

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to accurately evaluate and diagnosis upper and lower digestive trait diseases;

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)-the removal of precancerous and early-stage cancers from the esophagus or colon wall; and

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)-the removal of deep tumors from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Not many centers in the United States perform these advanced services, especially ESD, as these procedures require an extraordinary degree of expertise and an extensive investment of state-of-the-art equipment.

"Only a handful of physicians in the country are trained in these techniques," said Dr. Dennis Chan, Chief of Staff at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center and the Medical Director of the hospital's Advanced Endoscopy Center. "After months of search and recruitment efforts, we are proud to have engaged Dr. Mainor Antillon, a skilled physician and medical school professor highly accomplished in the treatment of esophageal, pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal conditions. Dr. Antillon has helped many patients recover faster, often with less pain, than with open or laparoscopic surgical procedures."

After joining the Advanced Endoscopy Center at Alhambra Hospital, Dr. Antillon recently used the advanced endoscopic procedures to remove a tumor from a patient, wife of an area physician, successfully without going through the traditional surgery of total gastrectomy. "I was so depressed just by the thought of compromising my eating habits," said patient Lai, "that would turned my world black and white, and robbed it of all color." After a minimal stay at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center following the procedure, the patient now is able to live the life she deserves with her family and friends.

"New technologies, such as Endoscopic Ultrasound at our Advanced Endoscopy Center, allow us to better diagnose and stage diseases such as pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, duodenal cancer, and colon cancer. New incisionless techniques such as EMR and ESD now allow us to cure premalignant lesions and early cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, avoiding traditional surgery and keeping our patients' bodies intact. Furthermore, these technologies improve the patient's quality of life, as they are able to go back to their normal activities the next day," stated Dr. Mainor Antillon.

"The Advanced Endoscopic Center is one of the commitments of Alhambra Hospital Medical Center and its affiliated AHMC Health Systems in providing advanced quality patient care to our community," stated Wen Ta Chiu, MD, Co-CEO, AHMC Health. "The huge investment in this state-of-the-art equipment is well worth it because it is an investment in continuing to provide excellent patient care now and in the future."
At Allied Pacific IPA, we share the same vision with Alhambra Hospital Medical Center to bring the best and highest quality physicians to our local hospitals such as Dr. Antillon, who is a world class professor of Gastroenterology specializes in minimal invasive techniques for the treatment of digestive diseases," said Kenneth Sim, MD, President / Chairman, Allied Pacific IPA. "It is our commitment at APIPA that we will always work hand in hand with our local hospitals to recruit the best doctors to our community."

"We are proud to partner with Allied Pacific IPA to provide this very important service to the community," stated Linda Marsh, Senior Executive VP, AHMC Health.

"As our county grows, and the population's needs change, we are dedicated to growing with them to meet their needs and healthcare demands," said Iris Lai, Chief Executive Officer at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center. "Our board-certified surgeons, gastroenterologists, and highly trained nurses and support staff are committed to our patients to deliver quality and compassionate care every day."

About Alhambra Hospital Medical Center

Alhambra Hospital Medical Center, a 144-bed, fully accredited general acute care hospital with 24 hour emergency care, is dedicated to providing the highest quality, personalized and safe medical care to the community.

About Allied Pacific IPA

Allied Pacific IPA was founded in 1992 to deliver quality and patient-centered healthcare to the growing population in Southern California. It is one of the largest networks of doctors and medical professionals in the San Gabriel Valley.

About Mainor Antillon, MD

Dr. Mainor Antillon specializes in advanced therapeutic endoscopy in the field of Gastroenterology and has over 40 years of experience in the field of medicine. He has held professorship positions in several universities and he has been former chief of gastroenterology and hepatology in large organizations such as Ochsner Health System and Spectrum Health.

For more information, please call 626-4HEALTH.