Texas Hospitals Convene New COVID-19 Taskforce

(AUSTIN, Texas – March 12, 2020)  – The Texas Hospital Association today will convene its new COVID-19 Taskforce, comprised of select Texas hospital leaders, to address the most pressing concerns for hospitals preparing for and responding to the 2019 novel disease. Among other things, the taskforce will:

• Provide guidance and expertise on resources Texas hospitals need to respond to the outbreak.
• Address nuances in hospital operations and streamline hospital care procedures for COVID-19.
• Identify issues for THA to focus its communication and advocacy efforts.

“THA is committed to ensuring that Texas hospitals have the resources they need. Our hospitals must be strong partners and work together during challenges to protect patients. COVID-19 is certainly a major challenge and we must remain diligent, informed and collaborative,” said Ted Shaw, THA president/CEO. “When and where an infectious disease may emerge is unpredictable, so preparedness and communication is key.”

The taskforce is made up of select hospital leaders, including physician and nurse executives, operations and finance experts, health care leaders from institutions of higher education and a representative from the Texas Department of State Health Services. They include:

Allen Harrison 
President/CEO 
Methodist Healthcare System 
San Antonio 
Chair, THA COVID-19 Taskforce

Craig Rhyne, M.D. 
Regional Chief Medical Officer 
Covenant Health System 
Lubbock

Sam Bagchi, M.D. 
EVP/Chief Clinical Officer 
CHRISTUS Health 
Irving

Ken Mitchell, M.D. 
SVP/Chief Medical Officer 
St. David’s HealthCare 
Austin

Angela Shippy, M.D. 
Senior Vice President/Chief Medical & Quality Officer 
Memorial Hermann Health System 
Houston

Georgia Thomas, RN, FACHE 
Associate VP of Regional Clinical Effectiveness 
Memorial Hermann Health System 
Houston

Jim Morrison, M.D. 
Chief Medical Officer/EVP 
Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center 
Waco

Doug Lawson, Ph.D. 
CEO 
CHI St. Luke’s Health 
Houston

Russell Meyers 
President/CEO 
Midland Memorial Hospital

Cindy Ann Stout, DNP, RN CEO 
El Paso Children’s Hospital

David Lakey, M.D. 
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs & Chief Medical Officer 
The University of Texas System 
Austin

Fred Cerise, M.D. 
CEO 
Parkland Health & Hospital System 
Dallas

Michael Lee, RN 
Chief Nursing Officer 
Matagorda Regional Medical Center

Jayne Pope, RN, FACHE 
CEO 
Hill Country Memorial Hospital 
Fredericksburg

Pam Bradshaw, DNP, RN 
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Nursing Officer 
Shannon Medical Center 
San Angelo

Mary Robinson, Ph.D., RN 
Chief Nursing Officer of Reliable Health 
Texas Health Resources 
Arlington

Brian Becker, M.D. 
Chief Medical Officer 
Ascension Providence 
Waco

Kristi Jordan 
Associate Commissioner for Health Care Regulation 
Texas Health and Human Services Commission 
Austin

Gary Floyd, M.D. 
Pediatrician 
Vice Chair, Texas Medical Association Board of Trustees 
Keller

Imelda Garcia 
Associate Commissioner for Laboratory & Infectious Diseases 
Texas Department of State Health Services

Robert Hendler, M.D. 
Chief Medical Officer 
Texas Hospital Association 
Austin

About THA
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 85% of the state’s acute-care hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 400,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/texashospitals.