ups and downs

It is SO NICE to have most of the residents back to Galveston, as of today! It's been such a great day having the residents trickle by my office one by one and welcome them home.

Some ongoing challenges... I'm sure many have read by now that UTMB plans to downsize the campus workforce by 3800 FTE sometime this week. There will be impacts to the FM department both in faculty and staff, but to a much lesser extent than many other departments across campus. This is in large part thanks to Dr. Thompson's leadership and the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff and residents to get back to business as usual, as quickly as possible.

Also, the opening of the hospital has been delayed, probably until the first week or so of December, although no proposed dates have been released as of yet. The last rumor I heard the end of last week was that a medical floor might reopen first, in advance of surgical capability, as the latest delay was caused by poor results on mold/fungal cultures in the ORs.

UTMB has been in the news quite a lot since the announcement of the proposed layoffs. Below are links to some of the recent stories.

Word on the Street
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 17, 2008
Numerous Letters to the Editor concerning UTMB and its recovery were published calling for restoration of its Level 1 trauma center, establishment of a hospital district and urging state and local officials to support the university. http://galvestondailynews.com/letters.lasso

Docshop says so long, Mary Ann
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 17, 2008
In her Scenes column, Frances Powell wrote: “Many ’grats to Divafave Mary Ann Ross, who’s retiring from UTMB. Her swansong party at Salsa’s was organized by Pat Reazin and Anna Perez.” http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=92729a3d5b72b60e

Hankins again named a national top doctor
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 17, 2008
Dr. Gary Hankins, chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at UTMB, was named one of the nation’s best doctors for women for the fourth straight year. The ranking was published in the November issue of Women’s Health. (Link unavailable.)

Galveston biodefense lab was fortress during Ike
Dallas Morning News, Nov. 16, 2008
This article surveys the safety and security measures of the Galveston National Laboratory at UTMB. Reporter Emily Ramshaw wrote, “The nation’s newest mammoth biodefense lab towers like a fortress over this hurricane-battered ghost town, a rare unscathed sight among uprooted palm trees, shattered shop windows and beach homes teetering perilously on warped stilts.”
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-ikeside_16tex.ART.State.Edition1.4a63bc5.html

For health’s sake, take action now
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 16, 2008
In this editorial, publisher Dolph Tillotson urges Galveston officials to create a countywide health care taxing district to help the county’s health care providers, including UTMB. http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=3184d927c43952e8

Smaller UTMB causes worries
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 16, 2008
State health care leaders said a plan to downsize UTMB poses vexing questions about the future of Galveston County’s poorest and most traumatically injured patients. David Lopez, CEO of the Harris County Hospital District, said the plan will cause a ripple effect across the Texas health care system, a patchwork of overburdened providers that treat the 30 percent of Texans without insurance.
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e5d65e052f4890e6c8545f57966c90b3

UTMB hires Atlanta firm to assist in downsizing
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 16, 2008
UTMB has hired Kurt Salmon Associates of Atlanta to advise about reshaping UTMB as it cuts as many as 3,800 jobs and downsizes its 550-bed hospital to a 200-bed operation. The company will conduct market, facility and financial analyses of the medical branch.
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e6a15dd01f373482

Hospitals jammed since UTMB’s down
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 15, 2008
Admissions are up 40 percent, emergency room visits have increased by a third and operating rooms are running around the clock at Mainland Medical Center. Since Hurricane Ike ravaged UTMB’s John Sealy Hospital on Sept. 13, admissions at Mainland Medical have jumped, as has demand for other medical services it provides. Likewise, Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster reported a 30 percent increase in hospital admissions while emergency room visits doubled. http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=cfdd17e4506f95c5c8545f57966c90b3

Waco representative fights for isle
Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 15, 2008
During a tour of Galveston Island, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards said he would encourage FEMA to expedite funding for projects throughout the city to help officials prepare for next year’s tourist season. He also is pushing the agency to fast-track damage reimbursements for UTMB.
http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=cc9665b3336d78ee

UTMB woes back on county agenda
Port Arthur News, Nov. 15, 2008
BEAUMONT – Damage to UTMB continues to reverberate throughout Southeast Texas as counties reconsider medical treatment for uninsured residents. “This is something that is affecting not only Jefferson County, but much of the state in a critical way,” Bo Alfred, Precinct 4 County Commissioner, said. http://www.panews.com/local/local_story_320165336.html

Hospital flooded in storm to cut its staff by a third
New York Times, Nov. 14, 2008
This article summarizes the effect of Hurricane Ike on UTMB and includes comments from a number of UTMB employees, including Karen Sexton, executive vice president and CEO of the UTMB Health System. “We can’t make any promises,” she said, “because we don’t know what’s going to happen. We are committed to getting back into the health care business. We know we have to be a lot smaller right now.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/us/15hospital.html?scp=1&sq=%22medical+branch%22&st=nyt

UTMB layoffs may have major ripple effect in Houston hospitals
KTRK-TV (Ch. 13) Houston, Nov. 14, 2008
This report focuses on the effect that UTMB’s layoffs are having on hospitals in the Houston area.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=6506299