METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES

Methodist Healthcare Ministries and the Texas A&M University School of Public Health announced last week that they are conducting a two-year study to determine the levels of arsenic and other toxic contaminants in drinking water in Valley colonias. A second study of how public knowledge affects resident activism and elected officials’ response to water safety and security, particularly in eastern HidalgoCounty. The fate of colonias and their residents won’t go away if it’s ignored — the problems likely will get worse if they’re not addressed. Many colonias’ proximity, and their population, makes safe drinking water and other conditions matters that can affect public health well beyond the boundaries of those developments. It is in the public’s general interest, therefore, to determine how many colonia residents live with poor water quality and other health conditions.

HCA Healthcare is planning to expand its number of hospitals in Texas.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries on Wednesday received its Level 1 Trauma Informed Care Certification.

The Childrens Shelter and the San Antonio Food Bank are among four local organizations receiving a portion of the $1.1 million MHM allocated for emergency grant funding for COVID-19 relief efforts throughout the 74 counties the organization serves across South Texas. Emergency grant funding was provided to 46 nonprofit, health, and social service agencies within the service area. The more than $1.1 million is in addition to $32 million already provided by MHM to funded partners in 2020. This is why of the more than $1.1 million, more funding went to rural areas throughout the state, where there are less philanthropic initiatives. Within the 74-county region served by MHM, six food banks, including the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas Food Bank, Food Bank of Golden Crescent, Central Texas Food Bank, and Concho Valley Regional Food Bank received priority along with the San Antonio Food Bank, which received $200,000, Wesolowski said.

In 2019, Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) spent over $104 million helping low-income people living in some of the most underserved counties throughout South Texas get access to health care. The exponential increase in funding available is a result of a successful 25-year partnership between MHM, Methodist Healthcare System, and HCA Healthcare, a Nashville-based for-profit operator of health care facilities, said MHM President and CEO Jaime Wesolowski. We consider [Methodist Healthcare Ministries] our most significant partner, Gmez said, noting CentroMed was one of the first organizations to receive grant funding from MHM. It began when MHM formed after Methodist Hospital and HCA Healthcare agreed to share ownership in what is now Methodist Healthcare System. But the partnership between the health care system and MHM is more than just a financial transaction, Harrison said.

But Dorsetts role in improving health care in San Antonio and beyond was far from at an end. She joined the new organization that was formed after Methodist Hospital and HCA Healthcare Inc. agreed to share ownership in what is now Methodist Healthcare, becoming its first employee. We built that from the ground up.Today, the nonprofit Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) helps provide health care for uninsured people in 74 counties across South Texas by creating partnerships with providers and providing grants that enhance access to health care for the states most vulnerable populations. The facilities provide revenue to MHM for programs that provide free health care, including the Wesley Nurse Program based out of more than 80 regional churches, and two school-based locations in Guadalupe County. Disclosure: Methodist Healthcare Ministries is a Rivard Report business member.