The E.C.H.O. Foundation's Fourth Annual Fashion Show has been changed due to Hurricane Ike to November 6 at the Silverado 19 IMAX Theater on FM 249. Experience the latest fashion trends by popular area boutiques and stores.

Funds from the fashion show will be designated toward the building of a new Cardiac Cath Lab in the Robert F. Schaper Heart Center at Tomball Regional Medical Center.

Community models include City Councilman Mary Harvey, David Quinn, the Tomball Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Hillegeist, hospital physicians, employees and many more.

This year's theme is "Picture Perfect" and will showcase fashion styles from Cache, Coldwater Creek Harold Powell, Jos A. Bank, Orvis, Tommy Bahama, Talbots and Dahlia's. Sienna Salon will provide trendy hairstyles and makeup for all models in the show.

The event begins 10:00 a.m. and a pasta buffet lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m. Community models will strut trendy clothing styles on the catwalk at 1:00 p.m. Vendors will also be on hand until 3:00 p.m. to display and sell fabulous items just in time for the holidays.

 "The fashion show is one of three major events per year the foundation holds to raise funds for the hospital," said Marilyn Kinyo, Director of the E.C.H.O. Foundation. "We hope to raise $12,000 from this year's fashion show."

"Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States," said Dennis Semmler, Executive Vice-President at TRMC. "Raising money to expand the resources in the Robert F. Schaper Heart Center is one more way we can provide superior care to the community."

The Robert F. Schaper Heart Center is poised to utilize specialized resources to treat heart disease-from prevention programs to diagnostics, treatment and a rehabilitation program that prepares heart patients for their journey to better health.

 For tickets and pricing, please call (281) 401-7928.

 East Houston Regional Medical Center (EHRMC), a campus of Bayshore Medical Center continues to be temporarily closed due to water damage caused by Hurricane Ike. All hospital departments, including the Emergency Room will be closed for several additional weeks while remediation crews diligently work on restoring the facility. All support groups and social meetings have been cancelled until further notice.

Patients should contact their physician's office for information about rescheduling any tests or procedures that were scheduled at EHRMC. Patients seeking outpatient services are encouraged to call our main campus, Bayshore Medical Center to schedule appointments at 713-359-1366. Bayshore Medical Center is located at 4000 Spencer Highway in Pasadena. For more information about Bayshore services call 713-359-2000 or visit their website at www.bayshoremedical.com.

Employees of East Houston Regional Medical Center should stay in contact with their department directors and call the Employee Information Line at 713-393-2999, for furtherinformation about work schedules and pay information while the facility is closed.

The staff and physicians of East Houston Regional Medical Center are eager to re-open the facility and continue their commitment to providing compassionate, quality healthcare to the residents of the North Channel Area and surrounding communities.

With electrical power restored to its main health care facility in Houston, the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) is attempting to resume normal operations.

Staff should report to duty as scheduled. If you cannot, contact your supervisor or the VA Employee Hotline by calling 1-866-233-0152. You are required to check in with your status, location, and contact information.  Operators are available 24 hours, seven days a week until further notice. All staff must wear their VA identification and have their VA vehicle parking tag to pass through police checkpoints.

The following clinics are closed Monday, September 15, 2008: Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic; Conroe VA Outpatient Clinic; Galveston VA Outpatient Clinic; Texas City VA Outpatient Clinic; Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic, Lufkin.

Primary care and specialty care appointments are cancelled at the main VA hospital in Houston on Monday, September 15, 2008.

Veterans who need medical advice should call the VA Network Telecare Center Hotline at (713) 794-8985 or toll-free 1-800-639-5137. Registered nurses, pharmacists, and administrative clerks at the VA Network Telecare Center are ready to answer veteran health care questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The VA Network Telecare Center is not for life-threatening emergencies. Veterans with life-threatening emergencies should immediately call 911.

Evacuated veterans with urgent care needs may contact any VA facility across the country by dialing 1-800-507-4571.  This telephone number may also be used by families and friends requiring information about patients from those VA facilities affected the hurricane. Veterans may call with questions such as where to access health care, how to receive their prescription drugs, or any other concerns they may have about their care.  

Visit www.houston.va.gov  for updates, emergency preparedness tips, useful Web sites and telephone numbers, safety suggestions for power outages, and more.   

 Bayshore Medical Center and East Houston Regional Medical Center has been finalized meaning that both hospitals will operate under one hospital license; resulting in one employee group, one blended medical staff and one Board of Trustees. 

The merger of both hospitals was executed to offer the facilities the greatest possible flexibility in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Although the communities of Pasadena and East Houston will not notice many changes with the merger, the hospitals will experience improved efficiencies, reduce overhead and increase referrals between the two campuses.

The most obvious change for both facilities is that they now share two top level Administrative Team members: Jeff Holland, as Chief Executive Officer, and John Armour, as Chief Financial Officer. "Most functions remain the same for both campuses such as our commitment to our respective communities, involvement in community outreach activities including h2u and volunteer services, educational programs, and medical services provided at each site", said Jeff Holland, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer for both facilities. 

Dozens of officials at Bayshore Medical Center and East Houston Regional Medical Center have spent the past several months executing the detailed plan to merge two large hospitals that collectively have a total of 500 beds, over 2,000 employees, and over 186,000 patient encounters each year. The process has involved reviewing financial records, legal contracts, merging bylaws, and developing relationships between the two hospitals. Also, Physician Transition Teams at both hospitals have been deployed and tasked with smooth melding of two medical staffs to further enhance the services of both hospitals. 

"The administrative, medical and management teams at both hospitals are committed to work together to make this as smooth a transition as possible," said Holland. "Merging Bayshore Medical Center with East Houston Regional Medical Center is not only the best way for both hospitals to be more efficient but also to ensure our long-run survival in this dynamic healthcare environment. We are excited to offer our communities with the best healthcare available so close to home on both sides of the Houston Ship Channel", Mr. Holland added.