Elective surgeries resume

COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it in many ways, but our commitment to caring for our community is just as strong, just as fierce, as it was when CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances opened its doors in 1937. Then and now, our ministry continues to be a safe place for all to receive quality care.

CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System will resume elective procedures and surgeries Wednesday, April 22, consistent with the provisions of the Governor Greg Abbott’s original executive order. Many of you have waited long enough for your procedure, so we are expanding our scheduling to include evening and weekend availability for your convenience.

Our facilities have secured the personal protective equipment (PPE) and excess capacity necessary to safely care for the full spectrum of medical conditions and patient needs that we have worked so hard to address in our communities for more than 80 years.

We understand the need for social distancing and taking steps to limit risk of exposure to COVID-19. However, it is still important to put your health first and seek the care you need, especially in the case of an emergency. Call your doctor when you are sick, keep your annual screening appointments and most importantly, don’t ignore signs of a serious condition, like a heart attack or stroke. We are here and we are ready to care for you no matter what.

Safety first

The safety of our patients, Associates and physicians is our top priority. That’s why we successfully practice infection prevention every day. To keep all who enter our facilities safe during COVID-19 we have added the following precautions:

Limiting Visitors

Screening everyone who comes through our doors

Isolating COVID-19 patients to one area of the facility

Temperature checks for Associates

Requiring everyone on our campuses to wear mask

Using telemedicine to treat active COVID-19 patients, so their caregivers and support staff limit the number of times they enter their rooms.

We’re in this together

This may be an unprecedented time, but we have experienced many of these since CHRISTUS was founded 154 years ago. In fact, the first three Sisters who started our ministry in Galveston faced an epidemic of Yellow Fever within the first six months of opening the very first hospital.Our very own legacy at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances began with the New London School tragedy – when we opened our hospital a day earlier than planned in order to treat hundreds of teachers and students after the explosion destroyed the school 25 miles away from Tyler.

Epidemics and tragedies have been part of our history, and so too has the resolve, after each of those challenges, to move on in love and service to those in need. We stand today in a rich history that gives us confidence that, with God’s help, we can do the same.

We are answering the call to help our community – today and tomorrow. In all that we do, we are devoted to keeping you, your families, our caregivers and our Associates safe. And we are here when you need care. We are ready.