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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than 40 years, Shriners Hospitals for |
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Children--Galveston has provided exceptional care to countless |
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children from across the Lone Star State and beyond; and |
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WHEREAS, The Shriners Hospitals system conducts innovative |
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research and provides specialized, family-centered care to |
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children at no cost at 22 facilities located throughout the United |
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States and in Canada and Mexico; the facility in Galveston dates |
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back to the mid-1960s, when the Shriners of North America announced |
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the creation of three burn institutes; Dr. Truman Blocker, chief |
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administrative officer of The University of Texas Medical Branch, |
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met with representatives from Shriners Hospitals to encourage them |
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to build one of these facilities in Galveston, where hospital staff |
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could work closely with the team at UTMB and join in their efforts |
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to improve treatment methods for burn victims; and |
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WHEREAS, Since it opened in 1966, the Shriners Hospitals for |
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Children--Galveston has garnered widespread acclaim for its |
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comprehensive acute care and reconstructive and rehabilitative |
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services; in addition to treating burn injuries and related |
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scarring, this 30-bed pediatric hospital has provided both physical |
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and emotional rehabilitation and became a pioneering research and |
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teaching center; recognizing the vital role a family plays in a |
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child's ability to overcome an injury, the staff of Shriners |
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Hospitals for Children has implemented a family-centered approach |
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in which children's loved ones are involved throughout treatment |
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and recovery; and |
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WHEREAS, The additional services that the Galveston facility |
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has offered include caregiver training classes, transition |
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assistance, emotional support and counseling, on-site tutoring, |
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scar prevention, pain management, music therapy, and special |
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playroom activities; the hospital has also sponsored at least 12 |
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outreach clinics annually for the purpose of treating children with |
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burn injuries in such locations as New Orleans and Mexico; |
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moreover, the Shriners Hospitals for Children--Galveston has |
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maintained its longstanding partnership with UTMB, and with shared |
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facility space, equipment, and clinical and research staff, this |
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unique collaboration has led to many significant medical |
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developments; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the Shriners of North America first made the |
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commitment to advance the treatment of burns, a child's chance of |
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surviving these injuries has more than doubled, and their |
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facilities have become leaders in this type of care and research; |
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the Galveston hospital has played a major role in these notable |
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achievements, yet the facility has halted its renovation and |
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remains closed after sustaining significant damage during |
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Hurricane Ike in September 2008; although its operations are |
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currently suspended, the Shriners Hospitals for |
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Children--Galveston is worthy of special recognition for its |
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exemplary contributions to the field of medicine and to the health |
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and well-being of many children in need; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Shriners Hospitals for |
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Children--Galveston for its outstanding service throughout the |
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past four decades and extend to all those associated with the |
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facility sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Shriners Hospitals for Children--Galveston as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |