News and Events

News Archive

September 2005

Health Care for Katrina Evacuees
Houston area community health clinics are offering medical services in a neighborhood near you. (more)

Responding to Katrina's Aftermath
HCHD played a significant role in help
The Hospital District began a major role in the care of evacuees from the devastated areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. (more)

July 2005

Extra Patient Parking Opens at Ben Taub
Finding parking at Ben Taub Hospital is now easier for patients thanks to a new off-site parking lot for employees. The parking changes for employees and patients began June 1. (more)

Nurse Honored by Houston Chronicle
Despite complaints about parking at Ben Taub Hospital, Alice Porter-Taplin says it’s the on-site parking garage that brought her to the Hospital District 15 years ago. Today she’s recognized as one of Houston’s top nurses for 2005. (more)

Giving Their Locks for Children
Bethany Myers considered donating her hair to Locks of Love for long time. As a Social Worker in Ben Taub General Hospital’s Pediatric Clinic, and with a husband who works with young cancer patients, she felt compelled to help children in need. (more)

Miracle Caseworker
Everything was ready. The ornaments were out of storage, the lights unstrung from their packages and a bare Christmas tree stood poised for decorating. It was a Fulton holiday tradition. (more)

June 2005

Masi Named Permanent COO
David S. Lopez, President and CEO, has named George V. Masi permanent HCHD Chief Operating Officer (COO). The official announcement was made on June 8, nearly two months after Masi was named Interim COO. (more)

Art Cars Make Pit Stop at Ben Taub
With a little imagination and a collection of 1,180 hippopotamuses, it seemed fitting that Sue Shefman would turn her only car, a Toyota Rav 4, into “Harmony the Hippo-auto-mus.” (more)

April 2005

Board Names Lopez Permanent CEO
David S. Lopez was named permanent President and CEO of the Hospital District by the HCHD Board of Managers during a special meeting. The announcement concludes more than a year for HCHD without a permanent leader. (more)

Heart Patients Get Top Care at Ben Taub, LBJ
Heart attack patients at Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals get some of the best treatment in the nation, according to Hospital Compare, a new Web site created by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (more)

March 2005

Certified Bilingual Speaker List Growing
Since its start in September 2004, more than 650 employees have become certified bilingual speakers through HCHD’s bilingual differential program. This number exceeds the 500 certifications that officials expected for the program’s first whole year. (more)

Collaborative Effort Brings Cervical Cancer Awareness
Cervical cancer – one of the most common causes of death for American women – can be a silent killer if not caught.
Education is key. So in recognition of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the Houston Chapter of Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) and the Fort Bend County Black Nurses Association hosted a program at LBJ Hospital on Jan. 26 to increase awareness. (more)

Bringing Hope to the Elderly
For many, growing old means retirement and enjoying what you’ve worked for your whole life. But for some elderly people, that dream is far from reality. Theirs is a darker truth–one filled with abuse, not at the hands of others, but by their own self-neglect.
Sometimes seniors neglect their own care by refusing or failing to provide themselves with sufficient food, water, shelter or medication -- which can lead to serious illness or injury. (more)

Former Teacher Enjoys New Role as Patient Advocate
She retired 11 years ago after 23 years of teaching so she could take it easy. Now volunteer Fadine Roquemore says she’s been doing more than when she worked.
These days she’s a constant presence at Martin Luther King Health Center. (more)

Kids Learn ABCs of Healthy Lifestyles
Back in the "good old days," kids played on swing sets, enjoyed a game of kick-ball, tag or even engaged in a round of red rover. But now, these cardio-intensive activities have been traded in for sedentary indoor diversions like video games, television and instant messaging. (more)

February 2005

HCHD Town Hall Meetings - FY 2006 Budget
David S. Lopez, Interim President and CEO of the Harris County Hospital District, presented the organization's FY06 (March 1, 2005 - February 28, 2006) operating budget to the community at four public town hall meetings in February. (more)

January 2005

Flu Shots Now Available
Flu Shots are now available at several Harris County Hospital District facilities. The best way to protect yourself against the flu is to get a flu shot. (more)

December 2004

Thomas Street Hosts World AIDS Day
More than 200 staff and community supporters gathered Dec. 1 at Thomas Street Health Center to commemorate World AIDS Day. The annual event focused local attention on the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS. (more)

Neighborhood Centers Get More Hours and Doctors
The Harris County Hospital District’s neighborhood health centers are expanding their hours to better serve you. On September 1, six centers began staying open later and on Saturdays. (more)

November 2004

Program Eases EC Crowding, Offers Speedier, Specialized Care
Thomas Street Urgent Care Center diverts thousands from hospitals
When an AIDS patient needed emergency care, she went to Thomas Street Health Center first. Unsure of the quality of care she would receive, she was pleasantly surprised to find specialized care delivered timely, knowledgeably and efficiently. (more)

Women Benefit from Breast Self-Exams
As a nurse, Gaye Mikonlon knew the importance of breast self-exams, but didn’t do them. Now, she’s an advocate for them and performs the exam on a regular basis. (more)

October 2004

Patients Urged to Protect Themselves from the Flu
Shortage of vaccines forces HCHD to prioritize distribution
Because of the shortage of influenza vaccines (flu shots), the Harris County Hospital District is urging patients to take extra precautions this flu season. (more)

September 2004

2004 Regional HIV/AIDS Update Workshop September 17 - 18, 2004
To help frontline HIV providers stay up-to-date, the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) and the TX/OK AETC have teamed up to present the Recent Learning Objectives of the AAHIVM 2004 Core Curriculum in a concise one-day format. The Recent Learning Objectives covered in this workshop series address the most important new clinically relevant HIV information presented and published in the past 18 months. (more)

August 2004

HCHD Is First in TMC to Offer Bilingual Pay
Improved communications with Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese speakers
The Harris County Hospital District Board of Managers approved the hire of Berlitz Languages, Inc. to oversee the testing of employees for bilingual differential pay. The pay is offered to current and future employees to help HCHD improve communication with patients. (more)

Preventing Cancer
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Many people survive cancer and many others live with it. Changing your diet or exercising can lower your risk of getting the disease. (more)

July 2004

Keeping Tabs on Babies
New infant-abduction prevention system offers security to parents
Helping to keep babies secure is a new system to prevent infant abductions when babies are taken from “safe zone” perimeters. The system sounds an alarm and locks stairwells and elevators. (more)

HCHD School of Medical Radiography Graduates 13 Students
When Abigail Sandoval’s husband graduated from HCHD’s School of Medical Radiography in 1999, she found his work so fascinating that she later enrolled in the same program. Sandoval, along with 12 other classmates, graduated May 15, 2004 from the School of Medical Radiography. (more)

U.S. Drug Czar Praises ‘First Light’ in Visit
New name for HCHD’s drug-intervention program reflects its goal
The U.S. drug czar praised HCHD’s drug intervention and treatment program in a recent visit to Ben Taub, calling it essential in the nation’s war on drugs. The new program began March 29 under a new easier name – First Light. It formerly was known as SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention Referral and Treatment). (more)

April 2004

David Lopez Named Interim CEO
Chief Operating Officer David S. Lopez has been named interim head of the Hospital District following the resignation of President and CEO John A. Guest. (more)

March 2004

John A. Guest Resigns as CEO
President and CEO John A. Guest on March 8 submitted his letter of resignation as head of the Harris County Hospital District.
The HCHD Board of Managers received the news following the 9 a.m. special meeting where the Board adopted the HCHD budget and discussed land deals for LBJ Hospital’s future expansion. (more)

January 2004

HCHD’s Blueprint For the Future Gets Approval
Harris County Commissioners on Jan. 13 approved phase I of the Hospital District’s 2015 Strategic Plan.

“The court’s approval gives us the go-ahead to put our plans into action,” said John A. Guest, President and CEO. “Now we can start adding specifics and make the blueprint come alive.”
(more)

Ben Taub Opens New EC Space
About 4,200 square feet of new space has opened at Ben Taub Hospital, increasing the size of its Emergency Center to 14,500 square feet.
(more)

December 2003

JCAHO Survey
JCAHO's surveyors examined the three hospitals, thirteen specialty and health centers as well as homeless and school-based programs on Dec. 8-12. JCAHO reviewed policy and procedures in a number of areas, including patient rights, treatment and infection control. (more)

October 2003

Employees exceed United Way goal
HCHD's campaign donations surpassed our goal of $88,000. As of Sept. 10, contributions had already reached $112,000. The campaign’s success reflects the generosity and willingness of staff to support our community and children like those in the DePelchin Children’s Center. (more)

BOOKS Celebrates 5 Years
What started as a simple way to comfort a weeping child in Ben Taub Hospital’s pediatric emergency center in 1998 has grown to BOOKS, HCHD’s successful children’s book give-away and literacy program now located at seven health centers, Quentin Mease Hospital and most recently at LBJ Hospital. (more)