Houston Hospital News
Spring 2010
UTMB reverses its fortunes. May 24, 2010
Although other campuses in the University of Texas system are forecasting deficits, the University of Texas Medical Branch is in the black after years of red ink and a disastrous period following Hurricane Ike.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7018970.html
Memorial Hermann unveils new seniors’ hospital units. May 21, 2010
Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital has set up what it says is the first senior-focused emergency center in the state. In addition, the hospital has a new Senior Medicine Unit to admit patients age 55 or over, and a Senior Behavioral Car
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/05/24/story9.html
New nurses at Methodist will need bachelor’s degrees. May 21, 2010
The Methodist Hospital has joined the movement toward requiring their registered nurses to have bachelor’s degrees. Methodist employs nearly 2,000 registered nurses. More than two-thirds of them have at least a four-year degree, including 6 percent - more than 100 - who have graduate degrees.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7017108.html
St. Joseph Medical Center adds 24 ’smart’ beds to ICU. May 18, 2010
The new Hill-Rom TotalCare Connect beds are designed to improve the mobility of patients’ comfort and caregiver safety by using computer technology to capture comfort and safety data that helps with turning patients and getting patients out of bed safely.
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/05/17/daily16.html
Harris County Hospital District expands MLK Jr. Health Center. May 12, 2010
The Harris County Hospital District is opening the new Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center on May 14. The new 64,000-square-foot building replaces the previous 15,000-square-foot center located within HCHD’s Quentin Mease Community Hospital. As a primary care facility for residents in southern Harris County, the old center provided 55,000 patient visits a year. In the new location, the health center can accommodate 100,000 patients a year.
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/05/10/daily27.html
Texas Medical Center brand makes first outside migration. April 23, 2010
The Texas Medical Center brand is set to extend beyond its historic boundaries for the first time in its 65-year history. Methodist West Houston Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus will each have its own branding and signage, however monument signs around their combined 143 acres will proclaim the area as Texas Medical Center West Campus.
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/04/26/story11.html
Spring Branch med center lays off 720. March 22, 2010
Spring Branch Medical Center Inc. is laying off a total of 720 employees as part of the hospital’s decision to cease inpatient services.
http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/03/22/daily4.html