Tylerites Speak Out on Health Care at Public Forum
from The Tyler Morning Telegraph, Aug. 21, 2009
Dozens of citizens voiced their opinions and concerns about health care reform during a "house call" forum as representatives from the Texas Medical Association, the Smith County Medical Society and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert listened. More

State Extends Vaccine Deadline
from The Tyler Morning-Telegraph, Aug. 26, 2009
The Texas Department of State Health Services Monday executed an emergency rule to extend time for parents to get children in compliance with vaccination requirements by Oct. 1 due to overwhelmed clinic offices across the state and some shortages of vaccines. However, it is up to individual school districts to extend the date. More

Doctors, Patients Debate Health Insurance Overhaul
from The San Antonio Express News, Aug. 25, 2009
There were at least two dozen physicians at a packed town hall meeting Tuesday night that brought together members of the medical community and their patients in the latest spirited debate on how to overhaul the health care system. Called "Me & My Doctor," the event at the Norris Conference Center at Crossroads Mall was sponsored by the Texas Medical Association, which has held similar public meetings across the state for the last several weeks. More

Health Care Forum Focuses on Opinion
from KFDM News, Aug. 25, 2009
It was a chance for Southeast Texans to have their voices heard on one of the country's most hotly debated issues. And more than 500 people took advantage of that chance tonight during a health care reform meeting at the Montagne Center in Beaumont. While other local meetings on health care reform were more about learning, this forum focused on listening. More

Is Health Care Bill Good for Houston?
from KRIV-TV Houston, Aug. 18, 2009
One out of three, when it comes to medical care in Harris County, is a significant and recurring fraction. That is because one out of every three residents there is without private health coverage. The consequence? One out of three tax dollars funds the indigent health care safety net, known as the Harris County Hospital System, a $1 billion dollar a year operation delivering free or heavily discounted services. More

Commentary: Why the Doctor Won't See You Now
from CNN, Aug. 20, 2009
When President Obama recently cited the number of Americans without health insurance, he declared that, "We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46 million uninsured men, women, and children." But expanding coverage cannot succeed as long as there remains a shortage of primary care clinicians. After all, what good is having health insurance if you can't find a doctor to see you? More

Obama Opposes Mandatory Reporting of Medical Errors
from The Houston Chronicle, Aug. 24, 2009
Although the White House acknowledges that hospital medical errors are "a big and serious problem," a senior administration official says President Barack Obama does not favor a mandatory reporting system for all medical mistakes, just for infections. More

Swine Flu Vaccine Plans are Up in the Air
from The Houston Chronicle, Aug. 23, 2009
Even though school resumes across Texas this week, plans to dole out the H1N1 vaccine to guard against inevitable back-to-school swine flu outbreaks continue to be hammered out. The vaccine, still under development, is expected to be available by mid-October, federal health officials said during a recent media briefing. More

WHO Predicts 'Explosion' of Swine Flu Cases
from The Associated Press via KPRC-TV Houston, Aug. 21, 2009
The global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in coming months and governments must boost preparations for a swift response, the World Health Organization said. There will soon be a period of further global spread of the virus, and most countries may see swine flu cases double every three to four days for several months until peak transmission is reached. More

Hospitals Cautious About Space, Employee Health
from The Brownsville Herald, Aug. 23, 2009
The unknowns of what healthcare workers were dealing with in a new strain of the flu outweighed any bright spots they could find last spring. But in hindsight, the first round of the H1N1 strain of the flu may not have come at a better time, said Dr. Fausto Meza, an administrator at Doctor's Hospital at Renaissance. More

Smoke-Free Waco Coalition Ask for Comprehensive Smoking Ban
from The Waco Tribune-Herald, Aug. 26, 2009
If the Smoke-Free Waco coalition had its way, the city would ban smoking in all indoor public and work places, including all restaurants and bars. Members of the coalition met in front of City Hall on Tuesday and said Waco should join 29 Texas cities that have adopted comprehensive no-smoking policies for public places. They argued that such ordinances do not hurt business, as some opponents claim. More

Diabetes, Childhood Obesity Programs to Air
from The Caller-Times, Aug. 26, 2009
Diabetes and childhood obesity are the subjects of three KEDT TV and FM radio programs Thursday to promote better health for kids and adults. Health experts say diabetes is near epidemic proportions in South Texas and the prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing, said Don Dunlap, president and general manager of South Texas Public Broadcasting System, Inc. More