Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains one of the most quietly devastating conditions in American medicine. What often begins as leg fatigue or mild claudication can, without timely intervention, escalate into chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), non-healing ulcers, infection and eventual amputation. Nowhere are these risks more pronounced than in underserved regions, where specialist shortages, delayed referrals and fragmented care pathways are common. In South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, those challenges have historically defined the landscape.
That reality is precisely why the opening of PADS Edinburg on April 17, 2019, marked a turning point for regional vascular care. As part of the broader PAD Specialists network shaped by Dr. Andrew Gomes, the Edinburg facility embodies a model built around access, speed and multidisciplinary precision. Since opening its doors, PADS Edinburg has completed 7,739 consults and 3,057 procedures, a testament not only to volume, but to pent-up community need finally being met.
For Dr. Andrew Gomes, whose career has centered on building outpatient PAD infrastructure that closes care gaps, Edinburg represents more than a new location. It reflects how thoughtful system design can reshape outcomes in regions long defined by disparity.
From Fragmentation to Integration: A New Standard for PAD Care
Historically, PAD treatment in the Rio Grande Valley depended heavily on hospital-based systems with limited vascular bandwidth. Patients were often referred late, shuffled between specialties or forced to travel long distances for evaluation. Research consistently links such fragmentation to higher amputation rates, particularly in diabetic and elderly populations.
The evolution toward multidisciplinary limb-salvage centers has changed that equation. By uniting vascular surgery, interventional specialists, diagnostic imaging and wound-care coordination under a single outpatient framework, modern centers reduce delays and improve continuity.
This philosophy sits at the core of Dr. Andrew Gomes’ work. Across PAD Specialists programs, he has emphasized integrated diagnostics, rapid procedural access and operational efficiency — principles fully realized at PADS Edinburg.
As one of four PADS locations serving the Rio Grande Valley, the Edinburg center is further supported by a satellite clinic in Rio Grande City, extending reach into Starr County, one of the region’s most underserved communities. This hub-and-spoke design ensures that geography is no longer a barrier to limb preservation.
Why Edinburg Matters: Meeting the Needs of an Underserved Region
The Rio Grande Valley faces a perfect storm of PAD risk factors: high diabetes prevalence, limited specialty density and socioeconomic barriers that delay care. In this context, PADS Edinburg fills a critical void.
Several factors distinguish the facility’s regional impact:
- Local Expertise with Regional Reach
PADS Edinburg is anchored by Dr. Alejandro Garza, one of only three vascular surgeons serving the entire Rio Grande Valley. A local native, Dr. Garza brings not only clinical expertise but deep community commitment. His hospital privileges across Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, Edinburg Regional Medical Center and South Texas Health System facilities ensure seamless inpatient-to-outpatient continuity for patients who require escalation of care. - Speed as a Clinical Advantage
Time is tissue in PAD. PADS Edinburg prioritizes rapid appointment availability and procedure scheduling throughout the week. When appropriate, patients benefit from one-stop visits, supported by flexible scheduling models that minimize delays.
Daily consultations include a comprehensive seven-point vascular evaluation, with same-day diagnostic results whenever possible. This accelerates treatment planning and allows revascularization strategies to be coordinated without weeks of uncertainty — a core tenet of Dr. Andrew Gomes’ outpatient strategy.
- A Multidisciplinary Network Beyond the Clinic Walls
The Edinburg facility does not operate in isolation. Strong partnerships with nursing facilities, wound-care teams and regional hospitals create a referral ecosystem designed to identify PAD earlier and intervene sooner.
Methodology in Motion: How Limb Salvage Works at PADS Edinburg
While each patient’s vascular disease is unique, the operational framework at PADS Edinburg follows a disciplined, evidence-based pathway.
Advanced Diagnostics at the Front Door
Patients undergo thorough noninvasive testing, including ABI/TBI, duplex ultrasound and physiologic assessments that clarify perfusion deficits. Early vascular diagnostics are essential in differentiating neuropathic wounds from ischemic disease — a distinction that often determines limb fate.
Outpatient Revascularization with Precision
Most interventions are performed using minimally invasive endovascular techniques such as balloon angioplasty, atherectomy and stent placement. These procedures, typically done under local anesthesia, allow for rapid recovery and reduced complication risk — a critical advantage for elderly or medically complex patients.
Coordinated Wound and Limb Preservation
By aligning revascularization timing with wound-care management, PADS Edinburg helps prevent the cascade from minor ulceration to infection and amputation. This coordination reflects the systems-based thinking championed by Dr. Andrew Gomes: outcomes improve when workflows are aligned, not siloed.
Follow-Up Focused on Function
Rehabilitation and surveillance complete the limb-salvage continuum. Preserving a limb is only meaningful if patients regain mobility and independence — outcomes the Edinburg team tracks closely.
Community Engagement as Preventive Medicine
What truly sets PADS Edinburg apart from local competitors is its deep investment in community education and outreach. The facility is the principal sponsor of the RGV Diabetes Association and works closely with the Amputation Support Group, hosting monthly educational seminars that address prevention, wound awareness and vascular health.
Additional partnerships with Texas A&M Health bring regular educational sessions and community screenings, while collaboration with the UTRGV School of Podiatry and its residency program strengthens both clinical education and patient care.
Each year, the clinic hosts its annual 5K community health event, combining screenings, vendors and physician speakers — a proactive approach that reframes PAD care as prevention, not just intervention. These initiatives mirror Dr. Andrew Gomes’ belief that limb salvage begins long before a procedure is scheduled.
The People Behind the Process
High-performing systems depend on exceptional teams. At PADS Edinburg, that culture is exemplified by Josue Duran, RVT, the facility’s Employee of the Year.
A member of the Edinburg team since opening day, Josue is known for his reliability, technical skill and consistently positive attitude. Trained across multiple vascular diagnostic roles, he is often the steady presence during high-volume or high-stress days, keeping both patients and colleagues at ease. Originally from the region, Josue enjoys staying active and brings humor and optimism into the workplace — qualities that strengthen team resilience and patient experience alike.
Championed by team leaders Annail and Luis, his recognition reflects the broader culture Dr. Andrew Gomes has helped cultivate: excellence grounded in collaboration.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Access, Preserving Limbs
As PAD prevalence continues to rise nationwide, particularly in aging and diabetic populations, the need for scalable outpatient limb-salvage models has never been greater. PADS Edinburg demonstrates how regional centers, when thoughtfully designed, can deliver high-volume, high-quality vascular care without sacrificing personalization.
For Dr. Andrew Gomes, the Edinburg facility represents a blueprint for the future — one where multidisciplinary expertise, operational efficiency and community engagement converge to change outcomes. In the Rio Grande Valley, that future is already taking shape.
With expanded access, rapid diagnostics and a team deeply rooted in the community it serves, PADS Edinburg stands as proof that limb loss due to lack of access is not inevitable. Under the continued leadership and vision of Dr. Andrew Gomes, outpatient PAD care is not only evolving — it is reaching the patients who need it most.
