Alamo Wholesale Medical Supply Hub – Serving Rio Grande Valley Healthcare Network
Alamo, Texas—a border city of 20,000+ residents in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley—serves as a strategic healthcare logistics hub for Hidalgo County, positioned 7 miles north of the Mexico border and 15 miles northwest of McAllen (Hidalgo County’s largest city with 143,000+ residents and Rio Grande Regional Hospital, a 320-bed acute care facility). Our LAC Health counter inside Walmart #5165 at 1421 Frontage Road provides Hidalgo County’s rapidly growing healthcare network with same-day access to wholesale medical supplies, compliant returns processing, and emergency logistics coordination without the congested traffic to McAllen or the 60-minute drive to Corpus Christi.
South Texas Health System Alamo (Alamo’s primary healthcare provider), Alamo Family Health Center, and clinics throughout the Rio Grande Valley rely on this waypoint for surgical instrument trays, respiratory equipment, home health DME, and emergency medical supplies. Alamo’s location along U.S. Route 281 (the primary north-south highway connecting San Antonio to Mexico) and Business Route 83 (connecting Rio Grande Valley cities) means regional healthcare providers serve both permanent residents and cross-border patients, requiring reliable medical supply logistics that accommodate the unique demands of border healthcare and South Texas’s subtropical climate.
Since Alamo’s founding in 1909 as an agricultural community in the fertile Rio Grande delta, the city has transformed into a healthcare and retail hub for northern Hidalgo County. Today Hidalgo County’s population exceeds 870,000, making it Texas’s eighth-most populous county. The region’s demographics—89% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% over age 65, and 34% lacking health insurance—create complex healthcare needs including bilingual services, diabetes management (affecting 16.8% of adults versus Texas’s 10.2% average), and charity care programs. This Alamo hub keeps the Rio Grande Valley supplied with STAT deliveries routed through +1 (703) 810-3898 rather than waiting for McAllen-based couriers or cross-border shipments.
Location & Access Information
LAC Health Alamo Hub – Inside Retail Center #5165
1421 Frontage Road
Alamo, Texas 78516
ZIP Code: 78516 (serves Alamo, San Juan, Pharr, and surrounding Hidalgo County communities)
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Parking: Free parking with 400+ spaces. Medical supply delivery vehicles may use the west-side loading dock for pallet-sized shipments and temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals.
Highway Access: Located along Business Route 83 (Frontage Road), parallel to U.S. Route 281. Total drive time from South Texas Health System Alamo: 2 minutes; from San Juan: 5 minutes; from Pharr: 8 minutes; from Rio Grande Regional Hospital (McAllen): 20 minutes; from Mexico border (Nuevo Progreso): 10 minutes.
Nearby Landmarks: This location sits in Alamo’s commercial district, adjacent to U.S. Route 281 (0.1 miles east), South Texas Health System Alamo (0.3 miles west), and the historic Alamo downtown district (0.5 miles north).
Medical Supply Services Available
Wholesale Medical Supply Pickup Services
- Surgical instrument trays for procedures commonly performed at South Texas Health System facilities across the Rio Grande Valley
- Diabetes management supplies: glucose monitoring systems, insulin delivery devices, diabetic wound care supplies for the region’s 16.8% diabetes prevalence (highest in Texas)
- Cross-border healthcare supplies: documentation systems for medical tourists, bilingual patient education materials, equipment compatible with Mexican healthcare standards
- Respiratory therapy equipment: ventilator circuits, CPAP/BiPAP masks for South Texas’s high rates of respiratory disease linked to agricultural dust and air quality
- Maternal and infant health supplies: prenatal care equipment, birthing supplies, neonatal care items for the Valley’s young demographic (median age 29.5 years)
- Home health DME: hospital beds, oxygen concentrators, mobility aids for agencies serving Hidalgo County’s rapidly growing elderly Hispanic population
- Community clinic supplies: vaccine storage systems, preventive care equipment for federally qualified health centers serving uninsured populations
Medical Returns & Reverse Logistics
- Unused surgical supplies from canceled procedures at South Texas Health System facilities and specialty clinics throughout the Rio Grande Valley
- Expired pharmaceuticals requiring bilingual documentation and compliant destruction per Texas State Board of Pharmacy regulations, with special protocols for cross-border returns
- Recalled medical devices with FDA tracking for products distributed across both U.S. and Mexico healthcare facilities
- Temperature-damaged supplies from South Texas’s extreme heat (100°F+ summers) requiring specialized disposal documentation
- Controlled substance returns with DEA 222 witness verification, including medications from border-area pain management clinics and hospice programs
Your Alamo LAC Health Team
This location is staffed by bilingual Rio Grande Valley healthcare logistics professionals who understand the unique challenges of border healthcare delivery, including cross-border patient flows, predominantly Spanish-speaking populations, and the complexities of serving both insured and uninsured patients. Each team member is trained in Texas State Board of Pharmacy regulations, Joint Commission standards, and the specific requirements of border healthcare logistics, including customs documentation and binational healthcare agreements.
Carlos Mendoza, Regional Operations Manager
Rio Grande Valley Territory Lead
Carlos coordinates wholesale medical supply logistics across Alamo, San Juan, Pharr, and the northern Rio Grande Valley. Born and raised in the Valley, Carlos brings 15 years of healthcare supply chain experience, including 8 years as materials management director at South Texas Health System where he managed cross-border supply logistics. He holds APICS CSCP certification and specialized training in international healthcare logistics. Carlos’s fluency in English, Spanish, and healthcare terminology specific to both U.S. and Mexican medical systems makes him invaluable for coordinating supplies between Valley hospitals, community clinics, and cross-border healthcare programs. His deep understanding of the Valley’s unique healthcare ecosystem—including relationships with maquiladora health clinics, medical tourism facilitators, and federally qualified health centers—ensures efficient supply chain operations for this binational healthcare market.
Email: [email protected]
Maria Elena Gonzalez, Field Logistics Coordinator
On-Site Transfer Specialist
Maria Elena handles physical custody transfers at this Alamo hub, ensuring secure chain-of-custody for temperature-sensitive medications in South Texas heat. A former emergency medical technician with Hidalgo County EMS, she responded to calls ranging from agricultural accidents to cross-border medical emergencies. Maria Elena’s experience includes working as a pharmacy technician at South Texas Health System, where she became expert in both U.S. and Mexican pharmaceutical standards. Her bilingual skills and cultural competency are essential for serving the Valley’s 89% Hispanic population. She maintains real-time communication with our dispatch center, understanding that in the Valley, medical emergencies don’t recognize borders or business hours.
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Roberto Silva, Quality Assurance Analyst
Compliance & Documentation Specialist
Roberto ensures every transaction meets both U.S. and international standards, crucial for the Valley’s cross-border healthcare ecosystem. He previously served as pharmacy director at a major Valley hospital, managing medication distribution for both U.S. residents and Mexican nationals seeking care. Roberto holds a Doctor of Pharmacy from UT Austin and maintains licenses in both Texas and Mexico. His expertise spans Texas State Board of Pharmacy regulations, FDA requirements, Mexican COFEPRIS standards, and the complex documentation required for cross-border pharmaceutical movements. Roberto’s bilingual documentation skills and understanding of binational healthcare regulations ensure that medical suppliers near me searches from Alamo result in fully compliant transactions that satisfy both U.S. and Mexican authorities.
Email: [email protected]
How to Use This Drop-Off & Pickup Location
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Arrive during posted guest services hours
This retail location operates 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily, accommodating both U.S. and Mexican healthcare provider schedules. For after-hours emergency pickups (critical supplies for border emergencies, disaster response equipment), call our 24/7 dispatch line at +1 (703) 810-3898 to arrange secure access. Our bilingual dispatch team understands Valley healthcare urgencies.
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Identify yourself to guest services
Inform the service desk that you’re completing a LAC Health wholesale medical supply transaction. Provide your facility name in English or Spanish (e.g., “South Texas Health System Alamo,” “Clinica Familiar del Valle,” “Pharr Medical Center”), purchase order number, or RMA authorization. Our bilingual associates verify credentials against our database of authorized Rio Grande Valley healthcare providers, including U.S. hospitals, Mexican clinics with cross-border agreements, and community health centers.
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Present documentation and complete chain-of-custody
Our field coordinator verifies credentials, photographs shipments with special attention to bilingual labeling and international compliance markers, and scans barcodes using our mobile system. Temperature verification is critical in South Texas heat—all medications receive infrared scanning and documentation showing maintenance of cold chain despite 100°F+ ambient temperatures. Cross-border shipments require additional documentation including customs declarations and COFEPRIS compliance certificates.
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Receive instant digital confirmation
Within 90 seconds, your facility receives bilingual confirmation including GPS coordinates, temperature data, compliance documentation, and estimated transit times. For cross-border shipments, we provide both FDA and COFEPRIS tracking numbers. Local delivery times: South Texas Health System Alamo (2 minutes), San Juan clinics (5 minutes), Pharr medical facilities (8 minutes), McAllen hospitals (20 minutes). International documentation available for Mexican healthcare facilities.
Serving Alamo’s Healthcare Community & The Rio Grande Valley
This LAC Health hub serves the unique binational healthcare ecosystem of the Rio Grande Valley, supporting providers on both sides of the border:
- South Texas Health System Alamo: Part of the Valley’s largest healthcare network, this facility provides emergency care, outpatient services, and specialty clinics to northern Hidalgo County. The system serves both U.S. residents and Mexican nationals, with bilingual staff and cross-border payment systems.
- Alamo Family Health Center: A federally qualified health center serving 12,000+ patients annually, primarily uninsured or underinsured Hispanic families. Services include diabetes management, prenatal care, pediatrics, and chronic disease treatment, with sliding-scale fees based on income.
- Cross-Border Medical Programs: Serving Mexican nationals who cross daily for healthcare, including dialysis patients from Nuevo Progreso, cancer patients seeking treatment unavailable in Mexico, and emergency cases. These programs require specialized supply chains accommodating both healthcare systems.
- Migrant Health Centers: Seasonal clinics serving agricultural workers during harvest seasons, requiring mobile medical supplies, vaccination programs, and occupational health equipment for field injuries and pesticide exposure treatment.
- Community Clinics Network: Including Su Clinica (serving 45,000+ Valley residents), Hope Clinic (free care for uninsured), and numerous small practices providing culturally appropriate care in colonias—unincorporated settlements often lacking basic infrastructure.
- Home Health Agencies: Serving the Valley’s elderly Hispanic population, including Amigo Home Health (300+ clients), Valley Baptist Home Health (250+ clients), and smaller agencies specializing in Spanish-language services and culturally appropriate end-of-life care.
The Rio Grande Valley’s healthcare landscape reflects its unique position as America’s southernmost metropolitan area. With 1.3 million residents, 89% Hispanic, median household income of $41,000 (among Texas’s lowest), and 34% uninsured (triple the state average), the Valley faces healthcare challenges unmatched elsewhere. Cross-border healthcare adds complexity—thousands of Mexican nationals cross daily for treatments, while Valley residents often seek affordable medications and dental care in Mexico. This binational flow requires supply chains that understand both systems, maintain dual compliance standards, and provide bilingual documentation. LAC Health’s Alamo hub addresses these unique needs, ensuring healthcare providers can focus on patient care rather than navigating complex cross-border logistics.
Alamo’s Evolution & The Rio Grande Valley’s Transformation
Alamo was founded in 1909 when the San Antonio Land and Irrigation Company began selling farmland in the fertile Rio Grande delta. Named after the Alamo Mission to attract Anglo settlers, the town paradoxically became predominantly Mexican-American as agricultural workers settled permanently. The construction of highways and irrigation systems in the 1920s transformed Alamo from isolated farmland to a thriving agricultural center. The bracero program (1942-1964) brought thousands of Mexican workers, many of whom stayed, establishing the Valley’s bicultural identity.
Healthcare in early Alamo consisted of curanderos (traditional healers), midwives, and the occasional visiting doctor. The first clinic opened in 1948, primarily serving agricultural workers. Modern healthcare arrived with the establishment of Valley Baptist Medical System in the 1960s, though Alamo residents still traveled to McAllen for hospital care. The 1990s brought significant change—NAFTA increased cross-border movement, maquiladoras created jobs with health benefits, and federal programs expanded healthcare access. South Texas Health System’s expansion into Alamo in the 2000s finally brought comprehensive healthcare to northern Hidalgo County.
Today’s Rio Grande Valley represents America’s frontier of demographic change. The population has doubled since 1990, driven by high birth rates (the Valley has Texas’s youngest median age), immigration, and winter Texans—retirees who spend winters in the Valley’s subtropical climate. This growth strains healthcare infrastructure designed for a smaller, rural population. The Valley’s unique challenges—poverty, limited insurance coverage, diabetes epidemic, cross-border disease transmission—require innovative healthcare delivery models. LAC Health’s Alamo hub supports these innovations by ensuring reliable medical supply logistics for providers serving America’s most distinctive healthcare market. Whether supplying a cutting-edge diabetes management program or supporting a mobile clinic in a colonia, we understand that in the Valley, healthcare transcends borders, languages, and traditional delivery models.
Alamo & Rio Grande Valley Demographics
Alamo’s population of 20,000+ exemplifies the Rio Grande Valley’s unique demographics: 89% Hispanic or Latino (primarily of Mexican origin), 19.2% over age 65 (higher than Texas’s 12.9% average), median age 29.5 years (reflecting large families and young population), and average household size of 3.8 persons. The city’s median household income of $38,000 falls well below Texas’s $64,000 median, with 32% living below poverty line. Educational attainment remains low—only 12% hold bachelor’s degrees, though this is improving as younger generations pursue higher education. Language demographics show 78% speak Spanish at home, with 45% reporting limited English proficiency, making bilingual healthcare services essential. Health statistics paint a challenging picture: 16.8% diabetes prevalence (highest in Texas), 34% uninsured, 42% obese, and limited access to specialists. These demographics drive demand for community-based care, diabetes management programs, and affordable healthcare options that LAC Health supports through efficient medical supply logistics.
Regulatory Compliance & Certifications
All LAC Health operations in Alamo comply with U.S. regulations plus cross-border healthcare requirements:
- FDA 21 CFR Part 11 with bilingual documentation for cross-border traceability
- DEA controlled substance regulations with special protocols for border-area pain management clinics
- Texas State Board of Pharmacy licensing with endorsements for international pharmaceutical logistics
- HIPAA compliance adapted for cross-border patient information protection
- DOT hazmat regulations for transport in extreme South Texas heat conditions
- Joint Commission standards with cultural competency requirements for Hispanic populations
- COFEPRIS (Mexican FDA) recognition for cross-border medical device movements
- CBP (Customs and Border Protection) medical supply import/export protocols
- USMCA healthcare provisions for duty-free medical supply movement
- Bilingual labeling requirements for patient safety in predominantly Spanish-speaking areas
What Rio Grande Valley Healthcare Leaders Say
Average rating 4.9 out of 5 from Valley hospitals, community clinics, and cross-border healthcare programs who rely on the Alamo logistics desk for bilingual, culturally competent medical supply operations.
LAC Health understands the Valley’s unique needs. When we had a surge of uninsured diabetes patients, they expedited glucose monitoring supplies with bilingual packaging. Their cross-border documentation expertise saves hours on international transfers. The local Alamo team speaks our language—literally and figuratively.
✓ Verified
Managing supplies for 12,000 mostly uninsured patients requires creativity and reliability. LAC’s Alamo hub handles our sliding-scale payment documentation and ensures we never run out of essential diabetes supplies. The bilingual team makes communication seamless for our Spanish-speaking staff.
✓ Verified
Our program serves Mexican nationals seeking specialized care unavailable across the border. LAC Health’s expertise in cross-border medical logistics is unmatched. They handle COFEPRIS compliance, customs documentation, and ensure temperature integrity despite 100°F Valley heat. Essential for binational healthcare.
✓ Verified
With 16.8% diabetes prevalence in the Valley, reliable supply logistics are life-saving. LAC’s Alamo location ensures our community programs never lack glucose monitors, test strips, or insulin storage equipment. Their understanding of our population’s needs—from language to affordability—makes them an invaluable partner.
✓ Verified
Serving migrant farmworkers requires mobile clinics with reliable supply chains. LAC Health coordinates deliveries to our changing locations throughout harvest season. They understand occupational health needs—from pesticide exposure treatments to field injury supplies. Their bilingual documentation helps our workers understand their care.
✓ Verified
Our free clinic serves the Valley’s most vulnerable—undocumented families afraid to seek care elsewhere. LAC Health respects our mission, handles donations with proper documentation, and ensures we maintain compliance while serving those society often forgets. They’re more than vendors—they’re partners in healing.
✓ Verified
