HEALTH CARE Harris Health pitches $2.5B bond for new hospital, service boosts in underserved areas
HEALTH CARE North Houston-area hospitals earn, seek stroke center certi cations
BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
INVESTING IN HARRIS COUNTY’S HEALTH A total of $2.9 billion worth of projects have been proposed for the Harris Health System, $2.5 billion of which may be covered by an upcoming bond. HHS ocials noted the $400 million not covered by the bond would be raised either through internal operational savings, cost savings or philanthropy. Proposed projects include:
expand, making the new LBJ Hospital critical as demand for health care services continues to rise. The system has been “chronically underfunded,” Porsa said, and the hospitals are nearing their end of useful life if improvements aren’t made. The details: If passed, work on the new LBJ Hospital would begin rst, located adjacent to the existing one. It would open in 2028. After that, work would begin on refurbishing the existing LBJ Hospital to provide other services, such as inpatient psychiatric care. During this timeframe, HHS would also invest $500 million in community clinics, including opening clinics in east, northwest and southwest Harris County. Quote of note: “Harris County is home to the largest number and highest rate of uninsured in the country. The need for our services is only going to grow,” Porsa said. “Do we address that in a timely, thoughtful fashion, or do we
Ocials with the Harris Health System pitched a $2.5 billion bond proposal to Harris County commissioners at a June 6 meeting. The background: HHS owns and operates Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital and Ben Taub Hospital; it also operates 17 community-based clinics, a dental center, a chronic dialysis center and three outpatient specialty clinics countywide. The big picture: HHS President and CEO Dr. Esmaeil Porsa said under the proposed bond, a new 390-bed LBJ Hospital would open with the capacity to expand to 450 beds as needed. Porsa said plans also include earning a Level I trauma center designation for the new LBJ Hospital, which would bolster heart and stroke capabilities, and feature a helipad. The need: Porsa said HHS’s existing hospitals don’t have any capacity to
BY HANNAH BROL
loss of brain function or even death,” Silvera said. “By having the highest level of stroke care in their backyard, patients do not lose valuable time being transported to another facility.” Silvera noted the stroke certications are awarded by accrediting organization Det Norske Veritas and typically take two to three years to obtain. To earn the certication, an organization must also rst earn a primary stroke center certication through DNV or The Joint Commission. Neighboring medical provider HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest earned its stroke certication in November following a “rigorous on-site review” Sept. 16, according to a Nov. 9 news release. “This comprehensive stroke center service will be a tremendous benet to the community we serve in providing high-quality care to patients with strokes and other neurological
Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is seeking to earn its comprehensive stroke center certication by the end of this year—a designation only one other area hospital has earned, hospital ocials said. Melissa Silvera, the neuroscience service line director at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, said earning this certication means an organization is equipped to evaluate, stabilize and provide emergency care and interventional therapies to all patients with acute stroke symptoms, and that it has the ability to admit patients to dedicated stroke units. Silvera said Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has been operating at the required level since January 2022. “During a stroke, every second that passes means more brain tissue dies, potentially leading to irreparable
$1.6 billion toward the creation of the new LBJ Hospital $500 million toward improvements at existing community clinics and the opening of three new community clinics in underserved parts of the county $400 million toward improvements at the existing LBJ Hospital $400 million toward improvements at Ben Taub Hospital
As part of the comprehensive stroke center certication process, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital opened a new interventional radiology suite in November.
COURTESY HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL
SOURCE: HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEMCOMMUNITY IMPACT
conditions,” said Scott Davis, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, in a statement. As part of Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital’s eorts to earn its stroke certication, Silvera said the hospital opened a new interventional radiology suite in November, which is primarily used to perform thrombectomies—a minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots from arteries and veins that cause a stroke. The hospital also now has a dedicated
neuro intensive care unit that is staed by teams who specialize in stroke and neurosurgery cases. As of press time, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital’s DNV application had been formally surveyors determine the hospital meets all the criteria for the stroke certication, an ocial certication will be awarded roughly six to eight weeks after the site visit. accepted, and its site visit is scheduled for Sept. 28-29. If
wait for the bottom to fall out?”
Over that time, the owner of a $300,000 house in Harris County would see their property taxes increase by less than $6 per month. Next steps: HHS ocials said if the commissioners court approve the bond to be placed on the ballot in August, Harris County voters will get a chance to either support or reject the referendum in November.
The takeaway: The total cost of the projects is estimated at $2.9 billion. The $400 million not covered by the bond would be raised either through internal operational savings, cost savings or philanthropy, Porsa said. If approved, the tax rate for the HHS would increase by an estimated 2 cents over the course of the bond.
SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239
NORTH LOUETTA 1614 Louetta (281) 350-1198 KUYKENDAHL 13313 Kuykendahl (281) 873-5220
LOUETTA 7314 Louetta (281) 370-1986
WILLOWBROOK 6927 FM 1960 W (281) 580-1734
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