NEWS RELEASES
Texas Children’s Hospital Partners with Mexican Consulate to Open Houston’s First Medical Information Center Targeted to Mexican Community

HOUSTON (Nov. 13, 2006) – In an effort to meet the growing health care needs of the Mexican community in Houston, Texas Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with St. Luke’s Health Systems and with philanthropic support from Bank of America, has partnered with the Consulate General of Mexico – Houston to create the city’s first bilingual health care information resource center.  Located within the Mexican Consulate, the Medical Information Center is expected to assist more than 5,000 people each year, many of whom will be Mexican citizens living or traveling in Southeast Texas, as well as persons of dual citizenship and Americans seeking to do business or travel in Mexico.

“This collaboration is a great example of how several organizations can work together to harness the power of information,” said Mark A. Wallace, president and CEO, Texas Children’s Hospital.  “By establishing a center where people can easily access health care resources in their own language, we are providing these members of our community as well as visitors with the necessary tools to live a healthy life.”

The idea for the Medical Information Center resulted from a discussion between the Mexican Consul General, Carlos Ignacio González Magallón, and Texas Children’s Hospital officials.  He cited that many of the 95,000 visitors that come to the consulate each year have questions regarding health care. Though highly equipped to assist visitors with most of their needs, the Mexican Consulate lacks the resources to handle the health care questions and concerns of local Mexican citizens and visitors.

Officials at Texas Children’s Hospital saw this as a unique opportunity to reach out and help another segment of the community.  They enlisted the participation of St. Luke’s Health Systems to provide resources regarding health care services and information for adults and Bank of America was approached to provide funding.

“In the past, we have had many visitors to the consulate ask medically-related questions and we haven’t had the resources to give them comprehensive answers,” said González Magallón.  “I am delighted to now provide a center of excellence where our visitors can access world-class health care information.”

The center will contain a library and online database of health-related information, including vaccinations, nutrition, the prevention and management of diabetes, qualifying health providers in the region, and how to enroll in public and private health insurance plans. Bilingual and specially-trained volunteers will manage the center and work with visitors to ensure that they receive the proper information.  Texas Children’s Hospital will coordinate the operation and management of the center.

The Medical Information Center is located in the Mexican Consulate at 4506 Caroline.  The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  To contact the center directly, call 713.778.6105.