bakdc / Shutterstock.com

Texas Hospitals Strain Under Weight of Emergencies

COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine distribution, massive winter snowstorm and statewide power outage combine to wreak havoc


Healthcare facilities regularly update and practice their emergency preparedness plans in anticipation of a catastrophic event that threatens regular operations. Hospitals in Texas, however, are in the midst of dealing with several substantial emergencies simultaneously — the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine distribution, a massive winter snowstorm and a statewide power outage. The results for some facilities have been chaos.

State health officials scrambled Monday to administer more than 5,000 Covid-19 vaccines after a deadly winter storm pummeling the state caused a power outage in a facility storing the doses, according to NBC News. A backup generator at the Harris County Health Department failed, thawing freezers that kept a total of 8,430 doses of the Moderna vaccine, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

In Waco, hundreds of businesses closed due to snowstorms bringing single-digit temperatures to Central Texas, but hospitals don’t have that option, according to KWTX.

“Our campus has been impacted by the weather,” said Dr. Tameka Jones with Baylor Scott & White (BSW) Medical Center-Hillcrest. BSW officials say their teams practice emergency scenarios throughout the year, and over the last week, they’ve been focused on preparing for extraordinary weather. Hospital leaders have been making arrangements for team members to remain on-site at the hospital and at nearby hotels.



February 18, 2021


Topic Area: Facility Operations


Recent Posts

Cleanliness Is a Measurable Outcome

By restoring the distinction between cleaning and cleanliness, managers and staffs can better protect patients from environmental pathogens.


Workplace Safety and the Role of Access Control

Workplace violence and other issues threaten patients, staff and operations, so managers need to rethink security measures and technology.


Henry Ford Hospital Celebrates Construction Milestone for Expansion Project

Crews from BTD, a joint venture created by Barton Malow, Turner Construction and Dixon Construction, are on track to complete the hospital in 2029.


How EVS Leaders Can Support Staff for Better Cleaning

Environmental services is one of the most important departments in healthcare facilities, but it can be a difficult one to manage.


Addressing Infection Prevention Staffing Gaps in Ambulatory and Procedural Care

Traditional models that are based on inpatient bed counts fail to account for the unique demands of ambulatory and procedural settings.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.