tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7556544265502273326..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: How will UTMB layoffs affect prison healthcare?Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-81351485512396024982008-10-24T14:44:00.000-05:002008-10-24T14:44:00.000-05:00Take at look at the "Tx Faculty Association, UTMB ...Take at look at the "Tx Faculty Association, UTMB - Galveston blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-53961620639063446372008-10-13T08:42:00.000-05:002008-10-13T08:42:00.000-05:00Just a word on UTMB and correctional health care -...Just a word on UTMB and correctional health care -- All 86 medical units of the state prison system are fully operational, including a Texas City clinic damaged by Hurricane Ike, according to officials at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston who manage the state’s correctional health services.<BR/><BR/>Hospital Galveston, which provides inpatient care and specialty services for critically ill offenders, received some flood damage in the storm but will reopen 32 beds in November, said John Allen, interim vice president and chief operating officer for UTMB correctional care.<BR/><BR/>The prison hospital is located on the flood-damaged UTMB campus in Galveston.<BR/><BR/>“We are recreating our health care delivery system using more free-world partners and services,” said Dr. Owen Murray, interim vice president and chief physician executive for UTMB’s correctional medical system.<BR/><BR/>“During this difficult time, UT Tyler and Hermann Memorial Hospital in Huntsville have stepped up to help us care for patients who needed cancer treatments and other kinds of emergency care,” Allen said.<BR/><BR/>UTMB medical specialists are providing most clinical services.<BR/><BR/>Of the 11 Texas Youth Commission health clinics managed by UTMB, only the TYC facility in Beaumont had service interrupted due to the storm. The unit, which has resumed normal operations, was closed for approximately two weeks before and after IKE.<BR/><BR/>The University of Texas Medical Branch provides medical care for about 120,000 offenders in the state prison system and provides medical care for all Texas Youth Commission facilities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-82407405191468453242008-10-10T06:07:00.000-05:002008-10-10T06:07:00.000-05:00Even though I worked there for many years, I now k...Even though I worked there for many years, I now know nothing about the health care for the prisoners.<BR/><BR/>What I am primarily concerned about are the thousands upon thousands of poor Texans who traveled there from all over the state each year for their free or very reduced cost medical care. Very very sick people now with no medical care and no "contract" that covers their care.<BR/><BR/>Many of the medical students are serving in the medical facility in Temple (A & M facility I think).<BR/><BR/>Reporting about Galveston and the hurricane damage and aftermath seems to be a total big vacuum. There has not been near enough quality reporting by journalists on the situation there. I would characterize it is very very odd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-62706337847895622962008-10-09T12:55:00.000-05:002008-10-09T12:55:00.000-05:00There has also been concerns about the healthcare ...There has also been concerns about the healthcare of the youth committed to TYC with the closure of the UTMB branch in Galveston. At this time it seems that the impact will not be as great for them because the younger population tends to be healthier; however for surgical needs, there are concerns now at TYC about how these will be handled. The telemedicine for TYC did not operate out of Galveston prior to 09/01 (and it is unclear if it did after that point) but there are still concerns about how psychiatric services will be handled for those youth in West Texas. Hopefully the use of contract care beds will alleviate much of the need for UTMB's healthcare services. TYC has a few sick kids, but there has been no announcement or plan that has been put forth at least publicly about where these kids will go now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com