HEALTH CARE
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HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball pursuing bariatrics accreditation HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball saw a 66% increase in the volume of bariatric surgeries performed from 2020 to 2021 and is expecting to double its volume of surgeries in 2022, said Lynne Burrows, bariatric coordinator at HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball, in a statement. As such, the hospital is pursuing accreditation with the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, which holds accredited facilities to the highest bariatric surgical standards, according to Burrows. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 35.8% of residents in Texas age 18 or older had obesity in 2020, up every year since 2011. Burrows said bariatric surgery is an e ective and durable treatment for obesity. “The residents of Tomball and the surrounding areas should have the convenience of a hospital close to home to provide a high-quality surgical treatment with wraparound resources to build a better and healthier community,” Burrows said in a statement. The Tomball hospital o ers the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures, which are minimally invasive, robotic- assisted surgeries for weight loss, according to Burrows. With the addition of Burrows as the bariatric coordinator, Burrows said the hospital provides a complete bariatric program from initial evaluation to post-surgery support, including patient support groups. HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball saw a increase in the volume of bariatric surgeries from 2020 to 2021. 66% SOURCE: HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER ANOTHER STORY TO FOLLOW IN 2022
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TOMAGWA applying for federal designation
BY ANNA LOTZ
previously reported. Simmons said TOMAGWA is on track to formally send the application this spring and then prepare for a site visit from the state. TOMAGWA began preparing for the federal designation in 2020, which will allow the organization to be more nancially sus- tainable, accept Medicare and Medicaid payments, and broaden its services, Community Impact
Newspaper reported. “The pandemic of course makes things slow down because you have availabil- ity of sta , our processes are a lot slower with people working remote, and with these type of applications, there’s a lot of back and forth,” Simmons said. In preparing to apply, Simmons said TOMAGWA has begun accepting traditional Medicaid and Medicare and partnered
with Northwest Commu- nity Health to provide patients free transportation to appointments. “Just going through the process and rolling out the programs necessary to qualify has allowed us to bring many services to the community,” Simmons said. “The FQHC applica- tion process requires you to have [a] transportation solution for a patient. ... Without access to public transportation in our com- munity and lack of event ride share programs, that’s always been a challenge.” Simmons said TOMAGWA also has plans to build out mental health o erings and launch a residency program.
Nonpro t TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries is nalizing its application to seek designation as a feder- ally quali ed health center “look-alike,” CEO Timika Simmons said. The look- alike designation means the clinic would operate with the same standards as an FQHC without yet receiving a federal grant denoting the center as an FQHC, Com- munity Impact Newspaper
AT A GLANCE TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries serves residents in 18 ZIP codes throughout the Greater Tomball, Magnolia and Waller areas. 273 new patients 2,469 27,521 total patients 333 women’s wellness exams 131 mammograms In 2021, TOMAGWA recorded: total patient encounters
1,621 pharmacy visits 17,123 dental services
SOURCE: TOMAGWA HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Counties face COVID 19 testing shortage
the Montgomery County O ce of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, reported a shortage Jan. 11 of tests and monoclonal antibody treatments. A change in the federal government’s allocation for- mula resulted in counties receiving fewer doses of antibody treatments to combat COVID-19 symptoms. “In some cases, even if doctors prescribe treatments, we’re unable to ll them because we don’t have supplies, and we can’t order them,” he said.
BY EMILY LINCKE & JISHNU NAIR
purchase of 55,000 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests for about $605,000. “At this point, we’re prioritizing schools as well as federally quali ed health centers and clinics that serve vulnerable, underserved populations to make sure that they have access to these rapid tests,” said Barbie Rob- inson, Harris County Public Health executive director. Jason Millsaps, the director of
O cials emphasized a need for COVID-19 tests and sta in January. Lori Upton, the vice president of the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, said Jan. 4 that Texas o cials would send 356 nurses to help Harris County institutions, a move that leaves hospitals still looking for almost 900 more nurses. Commissioners also approved the
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TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION • JANUARY 2022
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