Texas Medical Center increases parking fees. How families in need can find help
On Jan. 1, 2023, The Texas Medical Center, which serves 10 million patients a year and has over 100,000 medical workers, suddenly raised its parking fee from $15 to $19 for people parking 10 hours or more a day. This is a huge expensive for many families in our area. We also have solutions if you need help paying for parking.
Honoring May Heroes
Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. on KPRC 2, we are live from the Texas Medical Center for a special edition of Houston Life. We are honoring heroes in the medical community. The medical center is so unique, there is nothing like it in the world. Weโll take a closer look at the people, the talent and the access to some of the best treatment in the world.
Mayor Turner joins Texas Medical Center to celebrate collaborative buildingโs construction milestone
Mayor Sylvester Turner will join the Texas Medical Center, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Tuesday as they celebrate a construction milestone for the TMC3 Collaborative Building.
Cases are low, life returns to normal. Hereโs why itโs safe
There is good news in the fight against coronavirus. As predicted, without enforcing any restrictions, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ran for three straight weeks without signs of surging COVID cases. Low transmission rates and high level of immunity are why the event (and all large scale events) are determined to be safer now.
Game plan for Spring Break traffic
Spring Break is just around the corner and folks should expect a lot of traffic and major demand for parking spaces especially within a five-mile radius of the Texas Medical Center. So to help traffic flow smoothly, hereโs your game plan for a successful Spring Break.
โNobodyโs coming to get themโ: Health officials say vaccines are going to waste as COVID hospitalizations continue to rise
Itโs been two weeks since July 4, and typically with COVID, two to three weeks after people gather for celebrations marks the time that the virus increases, and itโs proving to be true again.
Houston area COVID-19 numbers are down, but health officials warn not to relax just yet
More than 12 million Texans have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Positivity and hospitalization rates are all trending down, yet doctors in the Texas Medical Center are still asking people not to celebrate just yet.
Houston hospital CEO predicts herd immunity by mid-summer
HOUSTON โ Herd immunity in the nine-county Greater Houston region will be reached by mid-summer, the president and CEO of the Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Paul Klotman, predicted Wednesday. โThe amount to reach herd immunity is a calculated amountโ based on virus contagion, Klotman said. That herd immunity for the original COVID-19 strain is 60% to 65%, Klotman said. Klotman emphasized that contrary to popular belief, refusing to follow CDC guidelines would not delay herd immunity, but speed it up -- at an unacceptable cost. AdโWe are in a much larger base of disease than we ever had back in June and July,โ McKeon added.
Beyoncรฉ, Trae tha Truth pay tribute to 13-year-old girl that fought brain cancer optimistically
Lyric โYhungโ Chanel stole the hearts of thousands of people for her strength and resilience during her years-long battle with brain cancer and anaplastic ependymoma. HOUSTON โ Lyric โYhungโ Chanel stole the hearts of thousands of people for her strength and resilience during her years-long battle with brain cancer and anaplastic ependymoma. After Lyric died on Friday, Houstonโs own Beyoncรฉ and Trae tha Truth shared emotional tributes to the 13-year-old Instagram sensation, who reached over 240,000 followers. Beyoncรฉ released a cappella medley of her hit songs โBrown Skin Girl,โ โHaloโ and โLove on Top,โ along with an emotional video montage in celebration of Lyricโs life. Lyric also developed a close relationship with Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth, who became a significant figure in her life.
Doctors cautiously optimistic about downward coronavirus trend in Houston area
HOUSTON โ New data illustrates a downward trend in COVID-19 positivity rates in Harris County and Houston. โThis is great news to see that those numbers are coming down,โ said Dr. David Persse, the chief medical officer for Houston. โI think we need to keep in mind that we are starting from a really high level.โCHART: Track coronavirus cases in Houston areaPersse believes thereโs a decline because the holiday season is over. Although, he starts college this summer and is hopeful if the downward trend remains in effect, his classes wonโt be virtual. CONTINUING COVERAGE: Follow coronavirus news in our special sectionโBecause people donโt want to come in because of COVID,โ said server Brianna Razo.
Child shot in head during possible road-rage incident in west Harris County
KATY, Texas โ A child was shot in the head Friday during what investigators believe was a road-rage incident. The shooting was reported about 4:30 p.m. in the 19900 block of Masters Manor Lane in west Harris County. According to Harris County deputies, the incident is believed to have started near the intersection of Greenhouse Road and Park Row. โAnother vehicle pulled up close to them, and someone began firing shots from inside the vehicle at that familyโs vehicle,โ Spencer said. Spencer said the man then jumped back in his vehicle and drove to a nearby hospital where it was found that a 9-year-old girl inside the vehicle had been shot in the head.
Texas Childrenโs Hospital begins vaccinating teens with chronic, underlying health conditions
HOUSTON โ A major effort is underway by Texas Childrenโs Hospital to vaccinate young teens and adolescents with chronic and underlying health conditions. It may require advanced critical care,โ said Dr. Jim Versalovic, the Interim Pediatrician in Chief at Texas Childrenโs Hospital. Hospital leaders with Texas Childrenโs said they have already identified more than 85,000 patients who would be eligible through their equitable allocation framework and under the Stateโs 1B plan which includes those 16 and older with chronic and underlying health conditions. AdAs the countryโs largest pediatric health care system, leaders with Texas Childrenโs said it is more important than ever to get the message out. So far, more than 5,500 patients who were eligible have already been vaccinated at Texas Childrenโs Hospital.
โI wish I could hug him one more timeโ: Father of 7 dies after weekslong battle with COVID-19
I wasnโt by his side when he needed me the most,โ said Dannyโs wife Sabrina Lopez. Danny Lopez was an engineer and served as a Galena Park police sergeant for 15 years before retiring. He contracted COVID-19 on Dec. 18 and was admitted to the ICU at Memorial Hermann Cypress almost immediately. Danny Lopez leaves behind a wife, seven children ranging in age from 28 to seven, and five grandchildren. Family friends have set up a GoFundme to help the Lopez family with any unexpected expenses.
Concerns about COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas Medical Center
HOUSTON โ COVID-19 hospitalization daily averages for the Texas Medical Center are three to four times higher than averages from the beginning of October. Local hospital leaders explained how a surge would be handled and how the public can help bring COVID-19 numbers down. One look at daily averages of COVID-19 hospitalizations and it may resemble a rollercoaster with valleys in the fall and a gradual increase heading into the beginning of January. The most recent numbers from last week, according to the Texas Medical Center, show an average of 307 hospitalizations per day. While the numbers are down from weeks prior, daily averages from January are much higher than they were in the fall.
โIt was special to me.โ HPD officer who was shot reveals Pres. Biden visited him in the hospital
HOUSTON โ Newly released photographs show now-President Joe Biden quietly visited an injured Houston police officer in the hospital a little more than a year ago. Officer Taylor Roccaforte was shot three times while pursuing a robbery suspect shortly after the Democratic debate in Houston in 2019. โIt was very unexpected and it was special to me,โ Taylor Roccaforte told KPRC 2 on Wednesday. Samuel Roccaforte, Taylorโs father and a fellow HPD officer, said Biden didnโt want any press at the hospital. โIt was really a nice time for us to see him there and was very calming for my son,โ Samuel Roccaforte said.
5 things for Houstonians to know for Thursday, Dec. 24
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (left) and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (right) speak during a news conference at Houston Transtar on Dec. 23, 2020. Hidalgo said the county has faced a number of challenges over the past year during the coronavirus pandemic. She said ICU numbers have not stopped creeping up and the Texas Medical Center is routinely crossing its base compacity. Rockets star James Harden fined $50K for violating NBAโs COVID-19 protocolJames Harden was fined $50,000 Wednesday night for violating a COVID-19 protocol, according to the National Basketball Association. KPRC 2 Investigates has viewed documentation that shows Christmas Eve will start with 152 fewer firefighters than the national minimal staffing standards.
Ask 2: How will I be notified that I can get the coronavirus vaccine?
FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy's Hospital in London. U.K. Ugur Sahin, CEO of Biontech says the German pharmaceutical company is confident that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine works against the UK variant of the virus, but further studies are need to be completely sure. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: How will I be notified that I can get the coronavirus vaccine? Texas Medical Center leaders said in a press conference Tuesday that most people will be notified by their physician or patients can call their doctors to find out whether they can receive the vaccine.
Judge Hidalgo, Mayor Turner ask residents to cancel holiday gatherings as hospitalizations, positivity rate climbs
HOUSTON โ Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged residents Wednesday to cancel holiday gatherings as hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the Houston area. The judge urged residents to stay home and put plans on hold as Christmas and the end of the year approaches. โMayor Turner and I wanted to join forces today to convey the seriousness of how important it is for everybody to cancel gatherings. The positivity rate is increasing.โAs of Wednesday, the Houston Health Department reports 634 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths. โIt may triple by January, and thatโs why itโs extremely important for us to avoid any type of gatherings this holiday season,โ Persse said.
Texas Medical Center provides update on COVID-19 vaccination rollout
HOUSTON โ The Texas Medical Center is hosting a briefing Tuesday that will provide an update on the vaccine rollout across the Texas Medical Center. Health experts said theyโre concerned about the increasing cases in the area. Health experts said they saw the impact from Thanksgiving and believe the number of cases can continue to grow as families gather for the holidays. Families are encouraged to practice social distancing and take a COVID-19 test if planning to spend it with a โsafe bubbleโ of people. Health experts have recommended patients talk to their doctor before taking the vaccine.
Texas Medical Center officials discuss coronavirus vaccine distributions in Houston area
HOUSTON โ Texas Medical Center officials held a news conference Monday to discuss COVID-19 vaccine distribution preparedness, storage and distribution strategies, coordination with city, county and state officials, and the continued importance of non-vaccine prevention methods for slowing the spread of COVID-19. A video of the news conference will be added to this story as soon as it is processed.
Houston-area hospitals prep to receive nearly 60,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in coming days
HOUSTON โ Houston-area hospitals are making preparations to receive the first allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 60,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to be distributed to hospitals in the coming days. The decision on the number of doses was based on a survey of the number of COVID-19 patients treated, hospitalized and the number of employees treating patients with COVID-19, according to Memorial Hermann President Dr. David Callender. Twenty-one hospitals in Harris County, four in Montgomery County, one in Galveston County and one in Fort Bend County were selected to receive the vaccine. The Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center was among those to be selected, including just one of the 37 VA hospitals picked.
Local healthcare workers decide whether or not to get COVID-19 vaccine
HOUSTON โ As the country anxiously awaited approval for the COVID-19 vaccine, healthcare workers on the frontlines at the Texas Medical Center were making plans. I directly take care of COVID-19 patients. Considering she works directly with COVID-19 patients, she believes the vaccine is important to get. Hatfield said, for now, she plans to wait on getting vaccinated citing concerns about the speed at which the vaccine was produced along with any possible risks. Iโm tired FaceTiming families who canโt come in even people who donโt have COVID-19 canโt have visitors,โ Rao said.
Thousands of Texas healthcare providers enrolled to distribute COVID-19 vaccine
HOUSTON โ State health officials said more than 5,000 healthcare providers have enrolled with the Texas Department of State Health Services to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. Texasโ Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel is working on who will be among the next to receive the vaccine. Only documented healthcare providers whoโve enrolled with the state can receive the vaccine. Healthcare providers also had to prove they could store the Pfizer vaccine at sub-zero temperatures. Texasโ first-week allotment schedule shows the nearly 225,000 doses will be sent to 109 healthcare providers in 34 counties.
Experiencing physician burnout? Here is how to get help
HOUSTON โ The Harris County Medical Society is concerned the coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on the well-being of doctors causing physician burnout. โWe have to deal with it because they also help people and they need to be in the best shape possible to help people who are sick,โ said Dr. Ronald Walters, the medical societyโs president. โThe uncertainty, the increased hours, loss of financial stability and personal risks we are experiencing this year have increased burnout,โ Walters wrote. While the issue of physician burnout is not new, Walters said another wave of COVID-19 cases could make it worse. If the stress of the job becomes too much, his message is simple: โIf you think you might need help, please call.โThe physician wellness program is available at 713-524-4267.
5 things for Houstonians to know for Thursday, Nov. 19
Texas Medical Center doctors warn of alarming increase in COVID-19 casesTop doctors with the Texas Medical Center said thereโs an alarming increase of COVID-19 cases in the Houston-area in the last few weeks. โWeโre seeing significant growth of this virus, significant number of more cases, and sadly hospitalizations of our sickest of patients,โ said Bill McKeon, President and CEO of the Texas Medical Center. McKeon said the medical center had 155 new hospitalizations for COVID-19 on Wednesday morning, which was a 43-percent increase from a month ago. Texas Medical Center top health leaders warn not to get lax with the COVID-19 during holidaysTop health leaders with the Texas Medical Center warn with the holidays approaching that itโs critical for people not to get lax with the Coronavirus. This year, amid the pandemic, the shop will implement several COVID-19 safety measures to ensure the safety of its patrons and staff.
Texas Medical Center top health leaders warn not to get lax with the COVID-19 during holidays
HOUSTON โ Top health leaders with the Texas Medical Center warn with the holidays approaching that itโs critical for people not to get lax with the Coronavirus. Five TMC leaders had a discussion Wednesday over Zoom focused on alarming trends they said theyโve observed concerning COVID-19 positivity rates and hospitalizations. Boom, the health leaders with Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center, said thereโs been a significant growth of the virus. The TMC health leaders said testing is up at their hospitals and thatโs encouraging. The health experts also said theyโre looking forward to at least two vaccines in 2021, along with at-home COVID-19 tests.
Texas Medical Center doctors warn of alarming increase in COVID-19 cases
HOUSTON โ Top doctors with the Texas Medical Center said thereโs an alarming increase of COVID-19 cases in the Houston-area in the last few weeks. โWeโre seeing significant growth of this virus, significant number of more cases, and sadly hospitalizations of our sickest of patients,โ said Bill McKeon, President and CEO of the Texas Medical Center. McKeon said the medical center had 155 new hospitalizations for COVID-19 on Wednesday morning, which was a 43-percent increase from a month ago. They were treating 300 COVID-19 patients at Houston Methodist Hospital locations alone, which was an increase from 200 eight days ago. But with the news of two possible COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, doctors said thereโs hope in the future.
Affordable patient housing in the Texas Medical Center may fall victim to pandemic
HOUSTON โ The Texas Medical Center offers some of the best advancements in medicine. โIf your treatment is for two months, three months, four months, six months, that just adds to the financial stress of being sick,โ said Yannick Thomas, founder of Patient Housing Assistance (PHA). Ronald McDonald House - HoustonHope Lodge is for cancer patientsHope Cancer Retreat is located in Splendora for cancer patients. Noraโs Home is located in the Texas Medical Center for transplant patients and their families. In Spirit Patient Housing provides affordable apartments to people traveling to the Texas Medical Center for medical treatment and their friends or families.
Family seeks prayers as long-time paramedic battles COVID-19
HOUSTON โ Gordon Baker, 62, has devoted his life to caring for others and now he finds himself in the fight of his life. Baker has spent 28 years of his life as a paramedic, most recently with Harris County ESD 48 in Katy. Three weeks ago, Baker contracted the coronavirus and was admitted to Houston Methodist West Houston. He remained there for about two weeks until he was transported to Houston Methodist in the Texas Medical Center on Sunday night. Family, friends and loved ones held a prayer vigil for Baker on Sunday.
Houston FBI warns of economic espionage after shutdown of Chinese consulate
HOUSTON โ There is still no timetable as to when the United States may again allow China to resume operations at its now-shuttered consulate in the Montrose area. โI would have to say the amount of information that we got out of that consulate is extraordinary,โ said GOP Congressman Michael McCaul. โThey are targeting, I would say the Houston area particularly,โ said McCaul. โOf the nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases currently underway across the country, almost half are related to China,โ FBI Director Christopher Wray said during a speech in July. While the US government stated the closure of the Chinese consulate in Houston was necessary to protect Americaโs interests, it could have an impact on trade according to U-H Downtown professor and US/China relations expert Dr. Peter Li.
Appeals court rules in favor of Baby Nickโs family to keep him on life support longer
HOUSTON โ An appeals court ruled Monday in favor of Baby Nick Torres' family, allowing the family to keep him on life support for longer. Baby Nick was rushed to the hospital on September 24 after he was found unresponsive in a bathtub. A judge gave Nickโs parents and lawyer, Kevin Acevedo, until 6 p.m. Monday for the court of appeals to review the case and the motion. At 3 p.m. Monday, Acevedo held a press conference and said after they filed emergency appeals, they had not yet heard from the appeals court. Watch his full press conference below:WATCH LIVE: Attorney speaks after Baby Nick's family files an emergency appeal Monday to keep him alive.
Houston doctor explains steroid therapy President Trump has been prescribed
HOUSTON โ President Donald Trump is said to be improving according to the medical staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center but questions about his health remain. During his battle with the coronavirus, the president has been given an antibody cocktail, a second dose of Remdesivir and a steroid therapy, which is used in more severe COVID cases. El Sahly said the steroid therapy is known as Dexamethasone and has been used in less severe cases as of lately. โI see clinicians in milder cases, although the data is not as solid there,โ El Sahly said. Dexamethasone works by reducing inflammation in and around the lungs but like with many steroid therapies there are risks involved.
UTHealth doctor provides a closer look at President Trumpโs treatment
โHeโs getting the Cadillac of treatment at this point, very early and very aggressive,โ said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, an infectious disease specialist at UTHealth. Ostrosky said the president is being treated with Remdesivir and an antibody cocktail made by Regeneron. Heโs also getting Remdesivir, which is the antiviral that we know has some effect against the virus at this point," he said. Trump posted a video on Twitter Saturday from Walter Reed Medical Center addressing his health and the treatments heโs received. According to experts and doctors, the next 48 to 72 hours are crucial to the presidentโs recovery.
Houston doctors discuss experimental treatment used on President Trump
HOUSTON โ A doctor with Baylor College of Medicine said itโs too early to know how things will play out now that President Trump is being treated for COVID-19. So we need to be very careful with the president of the United States' health,โ said Dr. Thomas Giordano, the chief of infectious disease at Baylor. The president gave the thumbs up as he approached Marine One to head to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday. Trumpโs doctor said the president received an experimental antibody cocktail from Regeneron. Giordano said it can take days for people with COVID-19 to get very sick, so the president isnโt in the clear just yet.
Texas Medical Center debuts real-time data in tracking COVID-19 in Houston area
HOUSTON โ Building on seven months of extensive data gathering, analysis and publication, the Texas Medical Center is updating its public dashboards to provide user-friendly information in tracking COVID-19 in greater Houston. The dashboard highlights the reproduction rate (rate at which COVID-19 is being spread), testing trends, number of overall positive cases, and ICU bed capacity, among other topics. KPRC 2 uses this information to keep news reports up-to-date for the nine counties the TMC serves. โThere is no delay in the TMC data so when you look at testing data, positivity rate, people being hospitalized, youโre getting real-time data,โ said Dr. Mark Boom, with Houston Methodist Hospital. President and CEO of TMC, Bill McKeon, said the real-time data shows proof when social distancing has worked.
Top federal health officials visit Baylor College of Medicine for an update on COVID-19 vaccine trial
Two of the countryโs top health officials, Eric Hargan, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and U.S. Four vaccines are now in Phase 3 human trials, including one at Baylor College of Medicine. Health officials said they wonโt support a vaccineโs approval unless the trial includes a large and diverse group of volunteers. Getting a safe and effective vaccine across the finish line, from a research point of view, is only step one of the process. They discovered delivering substantial quantities of a vaccine, which health officials said could happen by the end of the year, will logistically be the hardest vaccine distribution in history.
Texas family drives 2 hours, supports from parking lot while 16-year-old battles COVID-19 at Texas Childrenโs Hospital
HOUSTON โ One Texas family is not giving up on seeing their loved one at Texas Childrenโs Hospital in Houston. This health battle has been tough for the Swearingen family. One Texas family is not giving up on seeing their loved one at Texas Childrenโs Hospital in Houston. At Texas Childrenโs our highest priority is the health and safety of those we serve. We need our families' assistance and support in protecting our patients, families and caregivers by following our visitation restrictions.
Texas teens create online tutoring and mentorship program for children of frontline workers
HOUSTON โ One Houston teen and his friend found a creative way to help frontline workers keep their children mentally active and engaged during this pandemic. Amruth Nandis created a Telementors, a virtual mentorship and tutoring program for the children of those working the frontlines. The idea originated from a conversation with his mother and uncle, who are both frontline workers. And soon enough, he created Telementors, which aims to provide educational and emotional support for children of frontline workers. They now operate for healthcare workers at Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann and also help healthcare workers in Texas, California and even Idaho.
Houston hospitals bracing for the storm in the midst of pandemic
While at least seven local hospital campuses are now closed, at least three emergency rooms remain open. They do not anticipate the closed hospital campuses, which include outpatient, wellness centers and orthopedic hospitals, to reopen until at least Friday. Flood gates securedOfficials at the Texas Medical Center in Houston closed the flood gates Wednesday afternoon. Per emergency recommendations, the metal doors close eight hours before any storm makes nearby landfall. Research and our teaching activities within this building were completely halted for many weeks,โ said Scott Patlovich, UT Health Assistant VP Environmental Health and Safety.
Doctors discuss blood plasma treatment for COVD-19 as FDA puts authorization on hold
Houston Methodist Hospital is one such site conducting clinical trials and doctors there say recent results have shown promise. If you look at 28 days post-transfusion of the plasma, there is a significant reduction in mortality and death in those patients who received the plasma, Musser said. Despite the optimistic results from trials across the country, the Emergency Use Authorization of blood plasma as a treatment by the FDA is on hold, according to a New York Times article. It just means at this point the FDA wants additional information, said Dr. Musser. Although the Emergency Use Authorization is on hold for now, that is not to say things couldnt change after more data is collected.
With shortage of medical professionals in Houston area, officials warn patient care may suffer
More than 850 COVID-19 patients are in ICU beds, which is 45% of the ICU availability. He said the shortage has resulted in long wait times at his hospital for sometimes desperately ill patients who need beds. I have patients waiting a long time to get into the emergency room. Ive had patients waiting in her cars to get into the emergency room because the emergency room is packed, he said. On Tuesday, 273 patients were waiting for beds while 41 of them were waiting for ICU beds, according to SETRAC.
Houston researchers monitor virus mutations to fight COVID-19 pandemic
HOUSTON โ Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are going far beyond the search for a vaccine. At the beginning of the pandemic, the BCM transformed an academic research lab studying Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in children into one that has direct access to COVID-19 patient samples. Piedra said tracking changes in the virus is key to developing a vaccine that can cover multiple strains of the virus. Researchers are also studying exactly how the virus attacks the body. โYou have to follow a person.โDr. Laura Angelo said studying antibodies also helps researchers understand how the virus is stopped.
New study warns of possible link of pregnant women spreading COVID-19 to newborns
HOUSTON A new study suggests expecting moms can possibly pass the coronavirus to their unborn babies. The study looked at 31 women in Italy that had COVID-19 and later gave birth. Out of these 31 different women, there were three instances that were suspicious for having transmitted SARS-COV-2 from mom to baby, said Dr. Kjersti Aagaard. Some sort of transmission at very low levels, so rare instances, might be occurring but it wasnt conclusive, she said. We and other people have published that there is a risk of stillbirth that occurs with moms, who are sick with COVID-19 disease.
Harris Health System requests traveling nurses to help fight COVID-19 surge
HOUSTON The Harris Health System, which oversees both Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson hospitals, is bringing nurses to Houston to help fight the surge in coronavirus cases. As of July 4, twenty-three traveling nurses have been contracted, according to the Chief Nursing Executive at Harris Health Maureen Padilla. Harris Health is looking to bring in an additional 133 nurses but admits finding help has not been easy. In fact, the majority of the 23 traveling nurses are returning to Texas after being deployed to New York City during their COVID-19 outbreak. St. Lukes Health System said theyve brought in over 125 traveling nurses to their hospitals in the Houston and East Texas area.
These mask-wearing, bear-shaped topiaries are making people smile near the Texas Medical Center
HOUSTON โ When Susan Farb Morris was driving home from an appointment Tuesday afternoon at the Texas Medical Center, she spotted a house with something special that brought her a big smile. Taking a U-Turn at the corner of Greenbriar and Main, she stopped at a house with three dancing bear-shaped topiaries wearing face masks, showing appreciation for all the medical workers fighting through the coronavirus pandemic. โLook for the bare necessities The simple bare necessities Forget about your worries and your... Posted by Susan Farb Morris on Wednesday, July 8, 2020โTheyโve been there for years and often have different themes, depending on holidays,โ said Morris. Other friends said they do remember seeing these bear-shaped topiaries while passing by. โWhen my kids were little they always asked me to drive by them to see what they were wearing.โ
Rapid Response Team at Baylor St. Lukes serves as lifeline amid COVID-19 pandemic
HOUSTON You can tell which nurses are members of the elite Rapid Response Team at Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center because they wear red scrubs instead of the regular blue. One doctor called them the nursing ninjas.The 12-person team can monitor every patient in the hospital remotely from the Rapid Response Team room. KPRC 2 followed the Rapid Response Team and made sure not to touch anything. Chris Howard, a mobile ICU doctor who works with the Rapid Response Team, discussed the worst-case scenarios. But medically speaking, its a disease we have literally never seen before.The rapid response nurses are a lifeline at Baylor St. Lukes.
Houston officials scrap Texas GOPs in-person convention at GRB due to virus
HOUSTON Houston officials on Wednesday canceled the Texas Republican Partys in-person convention, saying the spread of the coronavirus made it impossible to hold the event as scheduled. Greg Abbott, the states top Republican, had publicly deferred to state party leaders who last week voted by a 2-to-1 margin to go forward with an in-person event. But even Patrick, who is chairman of Trumps reelection campaign in Texas, expressed misgivings about his party pressing forward with the convention. The Texas Medical Center, a consortium of Houston hospitals, has moved into surge capacity for its intensive-care beds. Texas Democrats held an online convention in June, and national Democrats plan to hold an almost entirely virtual convention in August.