- July 2, 2024
Dr. Padmini Bhadriraju Named a “Chief Medical Officer to Know”
Dr. Padmini Bhadriraju; Chief Medical Officer for Mission Regional Medical Center, Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, and Harlingen Medical Center; has been named a “Chief Medical Officer to Know” by a national publication, Becker’s Hospital Review.
Longtime Valley physician Dr. Padmini Bhadriraju has been named a “Chief Medical Officer to Know” by a national publication, Becker’s Hospital Review.
Dr. Bhadriraju, an internal medicine physician and hospitalist, serves as Chief Medical Officer for Prime Healthcare hospitals in the Valley, including Mission Regional Medical Center, Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, and Harlingen Medical Center.
“The physician leaders highlighted by this list champion patient safety, uphold rigorous quality standards, act as liaisons between leadership teams and medical staff, manage risk, and much more,” Becker’s Healthcare stated in publishing the list of chief medical officers to know. “These CMOs are drivers of continuous improvement, and their efforts have helped garner numerous quality and safety accolades for their respective organizations.”
The publication noted that Dr. Bhadriraju helps save lives in Valley hospitals — both in her role of providing administrative oversight as chief medical officer — and as a hospitalist and primary care physician providing direct patient care.
“Maintaining the highest national standards for patient safety and quality of care is something that Dr. Bhadriraju strives for — and this is reflected in the fact that the three hospitals that Dr. Bhadriraju oversees are the only three hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley to earn an “A” for patient safety in the national Leapfrog ratings,” the publication added.
In fact, of the hospitals that Dr. Bhadriraju oversees, Mission Regional Medical Center has won the national award for patient safety eight times in a row, Harlingen Medical Center has won the award six times in a row, and Knapp Medical Center has won the award four times in a row.
In addition, Knapp Medical Center is the only hospital in the Valley to receive a 5- star rating in hospital ratings reports from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The 5-star rating is the highest possible rating — and reflects exceptional quality care being provided to patients by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals at Knapp Medical Center – again reflecting the leadership provided by Dr. Bhadriraju.
In addition to overseeing three hospitals, Dr. Bhadriraju also serves as director of the Catalyst Medical Group, which offers primary care in two clinics in the Valley.
Dr. Bhadriraju has received many honors, and also recently received an “Outstanding Leader Award” from the India Association of the Rio Grande Valley.
Dr. Bhadriraju is board-certified in internal medicine and is experienced in management of chronic diseases for adult and senior patients. She completed an internship and medical school at Andhra Medical College and King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam, India, prior to completing a Residency in Internal Medicine at McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint, Michigan.
Dr. Bhadriraju has also served as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
In addition, Dr. Bhadriraju served those in need as a relieving physician at a United Nations Development Program Clinic in Ghana, West Africa … and as a volunteer physician at the Genesee County Free Clinic in Flint, Michigan.
For more information on award-winning care in the Rio Grande Valley, please visit www.missionrmc.org, www.KnappMed.org, and www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com.
About Mission Regional Medical Center
Mission Regional Medical Center is a leading healthcare provider in the Mission area, committed to delivering comprehensive medical services and compassionate care to the community. With a team of highly skilled healthcare professionals and state-of-the-art facilities, the hospital is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of patients.
About Knapp Medical Center
Knapp Medical Center is an award-winning, not-for-profit hospital in Weslaco, Texas. With 227 beds, the community hospital specializes in orthopedics, rehabilitation, emergency care, obstetrics and gynecology, wound care, surgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, critical care, and interventional radiology. Knapp serves as the only acute care hospital in the Mid-Valley area, as well as Weslaco’s only Level IV Trauma Center, Advanced Primary Stroke Center, Level II Newborn Nursery, and Level II Maternal Care facility. Knapp Medical Center is also the only hospital in the Rio Grande Valley to receive a 5-star rating in the 2023 hospital ratings report from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
About Harlingen Medical Center
Harlingen Medical Center is a nationally recognized and award-winning general acute care hospital. The Level IV Trauma Designated hospital specializes in imaging, bariatrics, cardiovascular, orthopedics, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, and wound healing care. Our concept of “Patient Focused Care” puts you, the patient, first! The design, management, staffing, and operation of our hospital are focused on your needs and overall comfort. For more information, please call (956) 365-1000 or visit www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com.