By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture by Robinson

07-09-25

The Uvalde City Council approved a resolution authorizing a grant application to Texas Parks and Wildlife
for a trail from Uvalde Memorial Hospital to Memorial Park.

According to the resolution’s background information it states the following:

‘The trail is proposed to be on property entirely owned by the hospital until it gets to Memorial Park and links up with the existing park trail on the Leona River. The hospital will provide the matching share for the grant in the form of money and property.”

A citizen, Roy Mata, spoke during the discussion portion of the item asking if the City would be responsible for maintaining the new path which according to UMH Chief Executive Officer Adam Apolinar. half of the one-mile trail would be concrete, and the other half would be gravel. Mata also brought up potential liability and if the city would be responsible for any accidents or injuries on the trail. Mata went on to say the hospital should compensate the city in some way and that the money the City would spend to maintain the path would be better used in paving a portion of a particular street on the north side of town.

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

01-16-25

   The Uvalde Memorial Hospital released a detailed breakdown of the numbers for November and December 2024. on those tested for the flu in November and December 2024. 

 The data (below) is categorized by the type of flu tested and the corresponding results (positive or negative).

   The majority of those being tested,, most tested negative during the final two months of 2024.  However, December did see a significant rise in positive cases of Influenza A. 

 November 2024 – (Total Tests: 689)

• 500.0805 Influenza A (Rapid)
  • Positive: 28
  • Negative: 643
• 500.0810 Influenza B (Rapid)
  • Positive: 15
  • Negative: 656
    • Total Tests: 671
• 300.6055 Influenza A GX 4PLEX
  • Positive: 3
  • Negative: 15
• 300.6060 Influenza B GX 4PLEX
  • Positive: 1
  • Negative: 17
    • Total Tests: 18

December 2024 (Total Tests: 928)

• 500.0805 Influenza A (Rapid)
  • Positive: 190
  • Negative: 713
• 500.0810 Influenza B (Rapid)
  • Positive: 20
  • Negative: 883
    • Total Tests: 903

• 300.6055 Influenza A GX 4PLEX
  • Positive: 3
  • Negative: 22
• 300.6060 Influenza B GX 4PLEX
  • Positive: 0
  • Negative: 25
    • Total Tests: 25

10-31-24

Starting this Friday, November 1st, an Executive Order signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on August 8th, 2024 will require hospitals to ask patients about their respective citizenship status.

Uvalde Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Adam Apolinar made the announcement to the Rotary Club of Uvalde during its Thursday, October 31st Noon meeting.

Apolinar said, as always, UMH will not turn any patient away from getting treatment regardless of his/her immigration status. He continued stating that a patient can choose not to provide an answer to the question.

“According to state officials, the reason for the new law is data gathering.

In August, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order requiring healthcare workers at inpatient or emergency care to ask patients if they are U.S. citizens. The law doesn’t specify if patients have to legally answer the question.

Abbott said he wants to collect data on the costs of caring for undocumented patients.  He claims Texas absorbs a large percentage of the costs associated with medical care for those who are not lawfully in the United States,” a news report from NBCDFW.com said.

According to the new law, Texas Hospitals are required to report the data they collect back by March 2025.

“We’re a compassionate country that takes care of everyone because that’s part of Christian principles the nation was founded upon. This new law is racist. They (the Texas Governor and those 

behind this new law) have ulterior motives, ” Henry Rodriguez of LULAC Concilo Zapatista 4380 said.

by Jennifer Gilliland |Uvalde Hesperian Contributor

10/09/24

Press Release from Community Health Development, Inc. (CHDI) and Equality Health Foundation

10-05-24

 Community Health Development, Inc. (CHDI) and Equality Health Foundation are teaming up to host the event again this year, which is free and open to the public. I believe this is an important event for a community that has made a lot of progress over the past few years.

• What: 3^rd Annual Healthy Fall Festival & Ham Giveaway
• Activities: Ham and produce giveaway, COVID-19 and flu vaccines, and health screenings.
• Date: Saturday, October 12
• Time: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Location: Uvalde County Fairplex (215 Veterans Lane, Uvalde, 78801
• Visuals: Photo opportunities for Uvalde residents, family-friendly activities for all ages, health screenings, and immunizations

In all, many local organizations will be in attendance, including Hill Country MHDD, Uvalde Memorial Hospital, Superior HealthPlan, and many more. Please see the attached for more details and let me know if you have any questions.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

  The Uvalde County Hospital Authority Board  (UCHA) met on Tuesday, June 25th of last week and part of their discussion was preliminary plans for constructing a new 3-story medical office building that will house specialized medical practices including orthopedic and sports medicine, general surgery, cardiology, and urology  internal medicine, primary care and obstetrics  and lease suites for visiting specialists, and offices for clinic administrative personnel.  The project involves both new construction and remodeling of the existing medical office building. 

  Craig Flanagan and Scott Walker are the Owner’s Representatives with Realty Trust Group (RTG) along with Chad Cooley, the Project Manager with O’Connell Robertson (OCR), the architect firm contracted by UMH attended last Tuesday’s board meeting. 

  According to information provided by Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, Annabell Verdusco, the existing Medical Office Building or MOB currently houses orthopaedics, general surgery, internal medicine and family medicine providers.

  “These providers will be moved into the new MOB upon completion, prior to remodeling taking place. This building will then be renovated for the Rehabilitation department (including physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy), which has outgrown its current space in the hospital,” Verdusco said. 

   Along with the planned new construction project which is projected to begin in 2025, the UCHA discussed adding a nature trail along with a paved wheelchair accessible path in a natural area east of the Hospital. In addition to the trails, the board discussed constructing four baseball/softball practice fields and two soccer/football practice field. 

   “The exact placement of the practice fields and trails is still being determined. The hospital is working closely with the City of Uvalde to help ensure the trails and fields provide as much community benefit as possible,” Verdusco said.

  “The trails are still being planned out. UMH plans to host a community event to present the upcoming projects once more details are determined,”Verdusco said.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

 “We have what it takes to be the best critical care facility in the country: it’s unprecedented,” Uvalde Memorial Hospital (UMH) CEO Adam Apolinar said at Tuesday Night’s Uvalde Hospital Authority Board Meeting Tuesday night, April 23rd. 

  Several positive news reports were presented by department heads at the meeting. 

 According to Cancer Center Director Klarissa Ruiz, The Cancer Center is getting additional referrals from Eagle Pass. She stated that Eagle Pass no longer has an oncologist. “We are getting 7-10 referrals a day from Eagle Pass.

  The Center is in the process of purchasing a new linear accelerator and also looking to replace the CT scanner to meet the needs of the new physician.

 The Center welcomed Dr. Pearson to Oncology earlier this year in January. Director of Clinics Andrew Wells stated referrals have gone up citing 289 referrals for the month of March with 341 outgoing. 

Appolinar said UMH is experiencing a huge staffing crisis right now. “We just can’t find the right person.” He went on to say that registration is a very hard position to get fully trained and that personnel hired to do registration move up to billing and coding once new skills are acquired.

Apolinar also said that unlike hospitals in larger cities, UMH has an advantage in that local physicians work with the local hospital rather than competing with it. Local clinics and doctor’s offices often send their patients to UMH for blood draws, lab tests and x-rays.

Apolinar also said that due to the growth the hospital is experiencing, it could eventually grow out of the critical access care designation. 

UMH one of the top three employers in Uvalde

 In her report to the board, Human Resources Officer Charla Garcia UMH has a total of 680 employees out of which 618 are employed full time. 

UMH one of the top 5% of top hospitals in the U.S.

According to UHA board Member William “Bill” Kessler. UMH has earned the designation as one of the top 5% of all hospitals in the United States. As a 5 star rated hospital, the nearest 5 star hospital to UMH is located in North Texas. 

Shorter emergency room wait times compared to San Antonio hospitals

In a report by Chief Nursing Officer Carlos Gregorio. UMH emergency room has an average 119 minute wait time from the time of a patient walking in until the patient gets his/her prescription compared to the 3-4 hour wait times at hospitals in San Antonio.