Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research.[1] Located in the Southeast Houston district of Houston, the center contains 49 medicine-related institutions, including 13 hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and other health-related practices. All 49 institutions are not-for-profit. The entire area is bigger than Downtown Dallas, however some member institutions, such as the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, are located outside of the city of Houston.[2][3] The center is where one of the first and largest air ambulance services was created and where a successful inter-institutional transplant program was developed. According to the Texas Medical Center, more heart surgeries are performed here than anywhere else in the world.[4]
The Texas Medical Center receives over five million annual patient visits, including over ten thousand international patients. In 2006, the center employed over 75,000 people, including 4,000 physicians and 11,000 registered nurses.[5]
Adjacent to the center are Rice University, Hermann Park, Reliant Park and the Museum District.
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History
Founding and early years
The Texas Medical Center was established in 1945 in part with funds endowed to the M.D. Anderson Foundation by businessman Monroe Dunaway Anderson, who began the foundation two years prior to his death in 1939 to help keep his business partnership, Anderson, Clayton & Co, from dissolving due to estate taxes in the event of his death.[6] Anderson funded the foundation with $300,000, and left an additional $19 million in his estate, making the M.D. Anderson Foundation the largest charitable fund ever created in Texas. The fund's first gift was a check of $1,000 to the Junior League Eye Fund for eyeglasses. In 1941, the Texas State Legislature granted funds to the University of Texas for the purpose of starting a cancer research hospital. On the conditions that the hospital be established in Houston and be named after its founder, the M.D. Anderson Foundation matched the state's gift to the university by supplying funds and land.
President Roosevelt approved the purchase of 118 acres (0.48 km2) from the Hermann Estate in 1944 for the construction of a 1,000-bed naval hospital in Houston. The hospital, later renamed the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, opened in 1946 and became a teaching facility for the Baylor College of Medicine. Also in 1946, several projects were approved for inclusion in the Texas Medical Center including: Hermann Hospital, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, The Methodist Hospital, The Shriners Crippled Children's' Hospital (now known as Shriners Hospitals for Children), and the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library. The M.D. Anderson Hospital for Cancer Research of the University of Texas began construction in 1953. Texas Children's Hospital admitted its first patient in 1954.
During the late 1950s, the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research opened. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston added the Gimbel Research Wing. Texas Woman's University Nursing Program began instruction.
In 1962, the Texas Heart Institute was chartered and became affiliated with St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital. The Ben Taub General Hospital of the Harris County Hospital District opened in 1963.
Recent history and developments
In 1993, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center began a $248.6-million expansion project which constructed an inpatient pavilion with 512 beds, two research buildings, an outpatient clinic building, a faculty office building and a patient-family hotel. From 2005 to present, the George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, the Ambulatory Clinical Building, the Cancer Prevention Center and a new research building on the South Campus opened. The for profit Proton Therapy Center, the largest facility in the United States where proton therapy is used to treat cancer, opened in July 2006.[7]
The Memorial Hermann Healthcare System is constructing the six-floor, 165,000-square-foot (15,300 m2) Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute. Also recently completed is the 30-story Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza, which is now the largest medical office building in the Texas Medical Center. At night, it is recognizable by its unique rainbow lantern.[8] The new construction is part of the system's city-wide "Century Project" initiative.
Baylor College of Medicine opened The Baylor Clinic on June 29, 2005 and started construction on its inpatient hospital.
Texas Children's Hospital announced the largest investment and program expansion ever by a single pediatric organization. The $1.5 billion four-year initiative is targeted for completion in 2010 and focuses on research and accessibility. Major projects include the development of the neurological research institute ($215,000,000), the formation of a maternity center ($575,000,000), and the expansion of existing research facilities ($120,000,000). Texas Children's is embarking on the development of one of the largest pediatric hospitals in a suburban setting ($220,000,000). The remainder of the expenditures is earmarked for new equipment and information systems.[9]
In 2010, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, including the John Sealy Hospital, became the 49th member of the Texas Medical Center and the first member-institution located outside of the City of Houston.[10][2][3]
Texas Medical Center institutions
Employment base
11% of the Texas Medical Center employees live in specific areas in northern Brazoria County and southwestern Harris County. 42% of TMC employees live in specific areas in Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris counties.[11]
Cityscape
In a 2006 update to its 50 year master plan, the Texas Medical Center group states "TMC Faces Issues Similar to Large Cities" and compared its urban cityscape to that of the Chicago Loop in Chicago and Lower Manhattan in New York City.[12]
Housing
The Texas Medical Center[13] operates the Laurence H. Favrot Tower Apartments; only medical professionals, students, and other staff members of the Texas Medical Center and their dependents may live in the apartments.
Education
Residents of the apartments are zoned to Houston ISD schools:
- Roberts Elementary School
- Ryan Middle School
- Lamar High School
Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions, a public magnet school, is located east of the Texas Medical Center.
Infrastructure
The Texas Medical Center system is headquartered at the John P. McGovern Campus.[14]
The area is served by Metro bus service and the "Red Line" of the METRORail light rail system. Three METRORail stations are located near the center: (TMC Transit Center, Dryden/TMC Station, and Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo Station).
Emergency services
Fire services
The Houston Fire Department Station 33 Medical Center, a part of Fire District 21,[15] is near the Texas Medical Center at 7100 Fannin at South Braeswood. The original Firehouse 33 was one of the last stations to be housed in an original volunteer fire station. The original Station 33 was the city hall/fire station of Braeswood. The City of Houston annexed the area in 1950. The current Fire Station 33 opened one block from the original station in August 2004. The city relinquished its ownership of the original fire station.[16]
Police services
The Texas Medical Center is within the Houston Police Department's South Central Patrol Division.[17]
Postal services
The United States Postal Service Medical Center Station is located at 7205 Almeda Road.[18]
Gallery
 Medical Center Station Post Office |
 METRO stop in the Texas Medical Center area |
See also
- Medical centers in the United States
References
- ↑ Industry Guide: Health Care | Greater Houston Partnership
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kappes, Hayley. "UTMB partners with Texas Medical Center". Galveston Daily News. http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=d4a70cfc31550865. Retrieved 05/13/2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "UTMB Joins Texas Medical Center: UTMB Is About 50 Miles Away From Texas Medical Center". KPRC Click2Houston. http://www.click2houston.com/health/22726562/detail.html. Retrieved 05/13/2010.
- ↑ "Texas Medical Center - About the Texas Medical Center". http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/AboutTMC/About+the+TMC.htm. Retrieved 14 FEB 2009.
- ↑ "Texas Medical Center - Facts and Figures". http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/FactsandFigures/Facts+and+Figures.htm. Retrieved 14 FEB 2009.
- ↑ MDAnderson.org Biography of M.D. Anderson
- ↑ Juan A. Lozano (16 JUL 2006). "M.D. Anderson opens new proton therapy center". Associated Press. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8IT3QCG1.html. Retrieved 14 FEB 2009.
- ↑ http://www.memorialhermannmedicalplaza.com/common/pdf/04BAR004_insert_bldgspec_HR.pdf
- ↑ Texas Children's Hospital Vision 2010. Retrieved 2009-04-03
- ↑ Wollam, Allison. "UTMB becomes TMC member institution." Houston Business Journal. Tuesday March 2, 2010. Retrieved on March 12, 2010.
- ↑ "A 50 Year Master Plan 2006 Update." Texas Medical Center. 2006. 3 (6/34). Retrieved on January 17, 2010.
- ↑ "A 50 Year Master Plan 2006 Update." Texas Medical Center. 2006. 2 (5/34). Retrieved on January 17, 2010.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ "About the Texas Medical Center." Texas Medical Center. Retrieved on June 20, 2009.
- ↑ "Fire Stations." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.
- ↑ "Fire Station 33." City of Houston. Retrieved on May 8, 2010.
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ "Post Office Location - MEDICAL CENTER." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on June 20, 2009.
External links
- Texas Medical Center Homepage
- Texas Medical Center Maps and Driving Directions
- Texas Medical Center from the Handbook of Texas Online
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