HCA North Texas, a division of Nashville based HCA (NYSE: HCA), reports
that its hospitals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area have received patients
from Houston and other communities in the path of Hurricane Rita. The
hospitals are prepared to receive additional patients from the storm and
its aftermath on a transfer or emergency basis.
The total number of patients receiving medical care has fluctuated since
a number of the patients admitted have been from nursing homes and,
based on physical condition, they are being transferred to facilities
with appropriate levels of care.
The facilities prepared to receive patients include Denton Regional, Las
Colinas Medical Center, Medical Center of Arlington, Medical Center of
Lewisville, Medical Center of McKinney, Medical Center of Plano, Medical
City Dallas Hospital, North Hills Hospital, and Plaza Medical Center.
Green Oaks Psychiatric Hospital will be ready for counseling services as
needed in the aftermath of the storm. If evacuees are transported as far
away as El Paso, Del Sol and Las Palmas Medical Centers are on stand by
if medical services are required.
Four HCA hospitals in the Houston area including Mainland Medical Center
in Texas City, East Houston Regional Medical Center in Houston, Clear
Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster and Bayshore Medical Center in
Pasadena were evacuated. Corpus Christi Medical Center in Corpus Christi
evacuated critically ill babies.
Although the majority of patients evacuated from these hospitals were
transferred to other HCA hospitals in Houston, some were moved to HCA
hospitals in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Supplies to reinforce the
Houston hospitals taking these patients have been moved from the
hospitals that were closed. In addition the HCA North Texas supply chain
has moved supplies to hospitals in the impacted area.
HCA hospitals in Dallas/Fort Worth have also received patients from
other healthcare facilities. State and Federal agencies are involved in
coordinating these medical transfers. In addition HCA North Texas is
working closely with the Texas Hospital Association and all governmental
and relief agencies to respond to staffing needs as well as medical
treatment of evacuees.
About HCA North Texas Division
The North Texas Division of HCA includes hospitals committed to the care
and improvement of human life and to providing high quality,
cost-effective healthcare in the communities they serve. Among the
Division's hospitals are: Denton Regional Medical Center; Green Oaks
Psychiatric Hospital; Las Colinas Medical Center; Medical Center of
Arlington; Medical Center of Lewisville; Medical Center of McKinney;
Medical Center of Plano; Medical City; Medical City Children's; North
Hills Hospital; Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth; Del Sol Medical
Center (El Paso); and Las Palmas (El Paso).
CO: HCA North Texas; HCA; Denton Regional; Las Colinas Medical Center;
Medical Center of Arlington; Medical Center of Lewisville; Medical
Center of McKinney; Medical Center of Plano; Medical City Dallas
Hospital; North Hills Hospital; Plaza Medical Center; Green Oaks
Psychiatric Hospital; Del Sol Medical Center; Las Palmas Medical Center;
Mainland Medical Center; East Houston Regional Medical Center; Clear
Lake Regional Medical Center; Bayshore Medical Center; Corpus Christi
Medical Center
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding HCA's business
which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal
year.
Nancy Horvat of Denton Regional, +1-940-384-3252;
or Robin Carter of Las Colinas Medical Center, +1-972-969-2089;
or Theresa Davis of Medical Center of Arlington, +1-817-472-4762;
or Kriste Klepper of Medical Center of Lewisville, +1-972-353-1742;
or Sandee Fulce of Medical Center of McKinney, +1-972-569-8002;
or Mary Jo Dean of Medical Center of Plano, +1-972-519-1116;
or Susan McBee of Medical City Dallas Hospital, +1-972-566-7032;
or Bethe Spurlock of North Hills Hospital, +1-817-255-1893;
or Christine Fredric of Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth, +1-817-347-5857;
or in El Paso, Linda East of Del Sol Medical Center, +1-915-621-6599;
or Terri Wyatt of Las Palmas Medical Center, +1-915-521-1776;
or Gary Conwell of HCA North Texas, +1-972-401-8720,
or gary.conwell@hcahealthcare.com ;
or John Floeter, +1-972-771-5484,
or john@victorymc.com , for HCA North Texas