As we approach the end of the year, we’re looking back at some of the high points of 2023. Despite the inevitable uphill battles during a session year, we are proud of what we’ve accomplished for our members, stakeholders and staff. We look forward to the interim year ahead and can’t wait to share our work with you.
Member Highlights
We proudly advocated on behalf of the 482 member hospitals in Texas that depended on us for representation at the state and federal levels. Congratulations to these member hospitals that attained significant member milestones in 2023.
A special congratulations to the following member hospitals that reached an impressive 75-year tenure award.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Taylor
Moore County Hospital District
Parmer Medical Center, Friona
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, Cleburne
Advocacy
Going into January’s kickoff of this session, the hospital industry faced a tough 140 days ahead. THA’s advocacy team entered the 2023 Texas legislative session with an ambitious list of priorities and managed to guide many of them to the legislative finish line.
Taking Stock: The 2023 Regular Session
THA staff looks back at wins and challenges in member call days before last Monday’s adjournment.
During the 2023 legislative session, THA tracked 1,642 bills that impacted Texas hospitals. Our lobby team ensured our member hospitals were well-represented at the Texas Capitol, testifying 30 times throughout session. Our members played a significant role during session, too. Together, our members sent over 2,700 messages to lawmakers expressing their support for or opposition to legislation that impacted Texas hospitals.
Education
THA held its first full-capacity Annual Conference in February and more than doubled the in-person 2022 attendance numbers with over 300 members convening in Austin. To complement the in-person attendance, the conference continued to bring in a robust online audience, with 200 registrants joining the programming virtually.
THA continues to offer a multitude of complimentary and at-cost online education offerings, including 15 webinars in 2023.
There was a record number of 20 member executives who took their education to the next level in THA’s 2023 Leadership Fellows cohort. Learn more about these exemplary executives here.
THA Kicks Off Its 2023 Leadership Fellows Program
The 2023 class of THA’s Leadership Fellows Program convened in Austin to kick off this year’s iteration of the program which will focus on key policy priorities facing Texas hospitals.
Member Support Services
THA remains a strong, stable force for Texas hospitals and is poised to continue offering premium support to its membership base via its services and program offerings. Through our Endorsed and Industry Partnerships, THA has created opportunities for members to partner with vendors that have been thoroughly vetted by THA.
The THA Compass program continued to grow in 2023 with nearly 360 participating members. Compass enables hospitals to manage and access the most complete data possible. Based on member feedback, a new outpatient analytics module was launched in 2023. The new outpatient module is based on professional claims and provides Compass participants with the ability to analyze outpatient volumes and referral patterns within their MSA.
The Peer Review Network (PRN), developed in response to needs identified by THA members, was developed to provide a high-quality and cost-effective solution for medical peer review. The PRN went live in January of 2022 and during the first year of the program member facilities conducted 75 external reviews for each other. During 2023, there were 110 external reviews completed within the network.
The Scope
Launched in January 2023, The Scope blog replaced the bi-monthly Texas Hospitals magazine as THA’s online news hub. Content on The Scope was quickly embraced by our members and stakeholders, with a few articles that stood out from the rest.
Closing a Chapter of Texas Hospitals
As we prepare to close the chapter of THA’s longest-standing print publication, take look back at the history of THA, Texas health care and the world around it through the lens of this magazine.
Below are the most-read articles on The Scope this year:
23 Women to Know in Texas Hospitals, Health Care and Public Policy
Women’s History Month is celebrated each year in March to honor and recognize the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. This year, THA is celebrating by highlighting 23 women and the immense impact they have made…
Surviving the Summer: Extreme Heat Safety in Texas
As the summer sun intensifies, Texas residents face the challenge of coping with extreme heat. The Lone Star State is notorious for its soaring temperatures, making it crucial to prioritize heat safety during the summer months. Heat-related illnesses such as…
Erin Asprec: Building Something New
Ninety-two black and white portraits dating back to 1930 line the hallways at THA’s Austin headquarters, prominently displaying world-class hospital leaders who have spoken for the hospital industry as the organization’s board chairs. In January, THA will hang its 93rd…
We are excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead and are confident that, together, we will continue to make a significant impact in Texas health care.
Related articles from The Scope
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Congratulations to THA’s March Newsmakers
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Hospitals Commemorate Texas’ Inaugural COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day
Texas hospitals celebrated COVID-19 Heroes Day and Memorial Day on March 4, marking the first annual observance of this day of reflection and recognition. The establishment of COVID-19 Heroes and…