by Sarah Warburton

“Accidents happen in the blink of an eye,” says Dr. Shannon Orsak of St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms. “April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, as well as National Alcohol Awareness Month. At St. Michael’s we want you to remember to put the safety of yourself and your family first.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2012, there were 90,378 traffic crashes in Texas that involved distracted driving. These crashes resulted in 18,468 serious injuries and 453 deaths. In fact, nearly one in four crashes in Texas involves driver distraction. Dr. Orsak says, “Consider putting your cell phone where you can’t get to it, or having a passenger serve as your designated texter. Remember, even if you just take your eyes off the road for a few seconds, your car keeps moving quickly. Whether you’re changing your music, turning around to fuss at the kids, or something else, no distraction is worth a life. Be safe and drive smart!”

“As emergency room physicians,” says Dr. Orsak, “we see the tragic effects of alcohol all too often. The last thing we want is for a happy time like graduation, a wedding, or a get-together with friends and family to end in tragedy. At St. Michael’s we’re committed to the health and safety of our whole community, so please make sure you and your loved ones always have a safe and sober ride.”

Co-founded by Dr. Shannon Orsak and his brother Brian, St. Michael’s offers a luxurious waiting room, designated pediatric waiting rooms, an on-site radiology department and lab, board-certified physicians and dedicated nurses. St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms is the first and only free-standing ER in Fort Bend and the surrounding Houston area. St. Michael’s ER is in-network with AETNA and also accepts more than 200 insurance plans, including Cigna, Blue Cross, United, and Humana. You’ll pay the same ER price for concierge service at St. Michael’s as you would pay at a standard ER…and often even less! St. Michael’s offers everything you need from an ER––physicians trained in emergency medicine, X-ray, Ultrasound and CT, and an on-site diagnostic lab––without the wait!

“We designed St. Michael’s to deliver the superior care we’d want for our own families,” says Dr. Orsak. “We sponsor schools, sports teams, and charity events throughout our community..because we believe in being a good neighbor. Be safe and remember that St. Michael’s is always here for you!”

Currently not participating with Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare at this time.

St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms
16062 SW Freeway (at Hwy 6)
Sugar Land, TX 77479
281-980-HELP