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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas provides vital health care services to its |
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residents through more than 590 hospitals, which together house |
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some 82,000 licensed beds; and |
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WHEREAS, These diverse institutions range from general |
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acute-care and pediatric hospitals to psychiatric, rehabilitation, |
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long-term acute-care, and other specialty facilities; about 27 |
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percent are located in rural areas of the state, while more than 73 |
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percent are in urban areas; and |
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WHEREAS, During 2009, Texas hospitals provided care for an |
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estimated 2.7 million inpatients, 37 million outpatients, and 9.5 |
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million emergency patients, and they were the site of 808,000 |
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inpatient surgeries and 395,000 births; and |
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WHEREAS, Over 260 of the state's hospitals are designated |
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trauma facilities and staffed by specially trained physicians and |
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nurses, as well as supported by EMS personnel who provide urgent |
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prehospital care through ground and air transportation; this trauma |
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system is critical to the health and economic well-being of Texas; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Hospitals rank as the number two source of private |
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sector jobs in rural areas of the state and are among the top 20 |
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employers in major metropolitan areas, with approximately 366,000 |
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full-time and part-time employees statewide, including some |
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120,000 registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses; and |
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WHEREAS, Jobs in Texas hospitals generate approximately $137 |
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billion in economic activity annually, and one in nine U.S. jobs are |
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supported either directly or indirectly by hospitals; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents in |
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the nation, and hospitals are required by state and federal law to |
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assess and stabilize all who come to the emergency room, without |
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regard to their ability to pay; and |
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WHEREAS, Hospitals stand ready to serve 24 hours a day, 7 days |
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a week, 365 days a year, and it is indeed fitting to acknowledge the |
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contributions of these vital institutions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby join in observing May 8-14, 2011, as National |
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Hospital Week and in recognizing all those who serve in hospitals |
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across the Lone Star State. |