HOUSTON – Ben Taub Hospital's status as a Level 1 trauma center could be in jeopardy. The Verification Review Committee, part of the American College of Surgeons, issued a letter to Harris Health, which runs Ben Taub, last week.
The letter says that after a visit in November, the committee has significant concerns about Ben Taub's operating room availability and trauma surgeon staffing that's having an impact on the care of some patients.
When Ben Taub was built in the 1990s, it had 14 operating rooms; three of them have been eliminated for not meeting health care building codes. Hospital officials said they have plans to remedy the operating room availability.
The committee typically visits trauma centers every three years, but to ensure Ben Taub is on course to make the changes, they're coming more frequently.
The notice reads, "To successfully address the identified deficiencies, weaknesses and noted concerns above, and extend the verification period an additional two years, the hospital will need to undergo an onsite focused review prior to November 6, 2015."
Right now, Houston has two Level 1 trauma centers for adults and two for children.
George Masi, president and CEO of the Harris Health System, said they intend to keep it that way.
"We are confident we can adequately address the committee's noted concerns and continue providing the exceptional trauma care for which Ben Taub is known," Masi said.
Hospital officials said they are working with their medical school partners to recruit surgical staff. They said at the time of the review three surgeons had just left.