Media Coverage for January 2021

^{El Diario - Jan. 23, 2021}

Los expertos médicos de El Paso están comenzando a ver un aumento en los casos de Covid-19 tras las reuniones de las fiestas decembrinas y tendrán que monitorear si el aumento es inusualmente alto, una señal que podría significar que una variante ha llegado al área, dijo el doctor Armando Meza, jefe de enfermedades infecciosas en Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso. Las infecciones por Covid-19 en El Paso han aumentado desde las vacaciones de Navidad y Año Nuevo, pero se mantienen por debajo del aumento de otoño, según un análisis de El Paso Matters de los datos del Departamento de Salud Pública de El Paso.

^{Facebook - Jan. 22, 2021}

Covid hospitalizations in El Paso have been rising after a post-holiday virus surge. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso's chair of Emergency Medicine says schools should consider sticking with remote learning until trends level out.

^{KTSM - Jan. 22, 2021}

“Zoom dysmorphia” is a new mental health disorder emerging from excessive video calls, causing one to be insecure about their appearance. Dr. Sarah Martin, psychiatrist from Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, said teachers and school counselors have been reaching out for assistance with the rising number of teens having thoughts of self-harm.

^{El Paso Matters - Jan. 21, 2021}

The more contagious variant of COVID-19 will likely reach El Paso — which could send the city toward another deadly surge in cases and hospitalizations, medical experts say. More contagious COVID-19 variants, while not proven to cause more severe illness, could increase cases of the deadly virus and further strain the health-care system. El Paso medical experts are beginning to see a rise in COVID-19 cases from holiday gatherings and will have to monitor whether the spike is unusually high — a sign that could mean a variant has reached the area, said Dr. Armando Meza, chief of infectious diseases at Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso.

^{KVIA - Jan. 21, 2021}

Every week, anchor Mauricio Casillas will speak to Dr. Edward Michelson. Dr. Michelson is the chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

^{YouTube - Jan. 20, 2021}

A partnership between Workforce Solutions Borderplex, TTUHSC El Paso and UMC used government grant funding to employ health care students and unemployment claimants COVID-19 vaccine program that's saving lives. Partnerships like these are a win-win for the health care industry and the community in the battle against the pandemic.

^{El Paso Herald-Post - Jan. 19, 2021}

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is one of six research centers tasked by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how COVID-19 may have long-term effects on the stomach and other regions of the GI tract. The goal is to determine if COVID-19 affects the stomach of patients who already have impaired stomach functions, specifically by a condition called gastroparesis. As a result, patients who report gastrointestinal symptoms, including stomach issues, will be screened for any COVID-19 history. Overall, the NIH has awarded $352,133 to this timely project, with $26,262 for TTUHSC El Paso.

^{KVIA - Jan. 17, 2021}

As medical centers remain in need of backup all across the country, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso has a brand new class of students officially entering their first semester of nursing school and getting one step closer to helping in the fight against Covid-19. “We have welcomed them to the profession today by giving them their white coats so they will have the symbol of being a trusted professional," said Stephanie Woods, Dean of the Hunt School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso.

^{Univision 26 - Jan. 14, 2021}

No sabemos qué tanto por ejemplo virus con la mutación existe aquí en el Paso, pero se pueda salir de control, aseguró el doctor Armando Meza, director de Enfermedades Infecciosas de la Universidad de Salud y Ciencias de Texas Tech El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso).

^{Univision 26 - Jan. 13, 2021}

El primer caso detectado en Estados Unidos ocurrió el 29 de diciembre del 2020 en el estado de Colorado y este miércoles a través de un comunicado de prensa, autoridades de salud de Nuevo México confirmaron que un hombre de alrededor de 60 años que recientemente viajó al Reino Unido se convirtió en el primer caso de la variante B117 a nivel estatal. “Normalmente cuando hacemos la prueba de PCR no se hace la secuencia del gen completo. Es decir solo se hace una especie de muestreo de un material genético que nos dice que tiene el paciente el virus, pero no sabemos qué tanto por ejemplo virus con la mutación existe aquí en el Paso, pero eso aumenta el riesgo que esto en un momento dado se pueda salir de control”, aseguró el doctor Armando Meza, director de Enfermedades Infecciosas de la Universidad de Salud y Ciencias de Texas Tech (TTUHSC).

^{YouTube - Jan. 13, 2021}

TTUHSC El Paso – EP HEAT - Health Education and Awareness Team - COVID-19 Information

^{KVIA - Jan. 13, 2021}

The treatment works to help a patient's immune system better fight the virus. It involves an IV infusion and takes a few hours start to finish. The Chief of Emergency Medicine at University Medical Center said that could be why some communities struggle to use their supply. "'I think there's logistics issues with any treatment, particularly infusions," said Dr. Edward Michelson, who is also Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. "I mean look at some of the difficulties we've had getting the vaccine pushed out as quickly as its available. A vaccination takes only a matter of about 30 seconds. Patients get observed for 15 minutes. The infusion involves starting an IV, it's a one hour treatment, so it's a lot more complicated than for instance just setting up to get a vaccine."

^{KRWG - Jan. 8, 2021}

Dr. Edward Michelson, Chair of the Emergency Department at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and member of El Paso's COVID task force, discusses the city's Fall surge, treatments, vaccines and new strains of the virus.

^{El Heraldo de Juarez - Jan. 8, 2021}

Aproximadamente 100 miembros de los programas de prueba proactiva y vacunación contra el coronavirus de la Universidad de Texas en El Paso recibieron la vacuna Moderna Covid-19, favorecido a la asociación continua de la Universidad con el Centro de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Texas Tech El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) .

^{The Arc of Texas - Jan. 7, 2021}

A donation from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso means more Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have an opportunity to get #COVID19 vaccine.

^{Facebook - Jan. 7, 2021}

TTUHSC El Paso receives emergency grant to help COVID-19 Front-Line Health Care Professionals

^{El Paso Herald-Post - Jan. 7, 2021}

TTUHSC El Paso receives emergency grant to help COVID-19 Front-Line Health Care Professionals

^{El Paso Herald-Post - Jan. 7, 2021}

Beginning Thursday, officials with Emergence Health Network (EHN), together with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, will administer COVID-19 vaccines to several EHN clients who might not otherwise have access to the vaccine. According to officials, adults with disabilities are more likely to have underlying medical conditions that could put them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. “We are excited about this partnership because in the end, it’s our EHN clients with intellectual/developmental disabilities who will benefit. Access to health care is often a challenge for this population, but the donation will ensure they are protected as well,” said Kristi Daugherty, Emergence Health Network CEO.

^{KFOX - Jan. 6, 2021}

Doctors and nurses at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center of El Paso are beginning to receive their second doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week. El Paso remains one of the top Texas counties when it comes to vaccinating a high number of health care workers. Dr. Ed Michelson said the faster the state distributes doses to El Paso facilities, the faster hospitals and clinics can vaccinate the public. He explained the state is expected to organize another approximately 13,000 doses to be distributed in the coming week or two.

^{KTSM - Jan. 6, 2021}

COVID-19 vaccines will soon be administered to individuals with intellectual and development disabilities thanks to a donation from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. Emergence Health Network (EHN), together with TTUHSC El Paso, will administer the COVID-19 vaccines to several EHN clients who might not otherwise have access to the vaccine. “We are excited about this partnership, because in the end, it’s our EHN clients with intellectual/developmental disabilities who will benefit,” said Emergence Health Network CEO Kristi Daugherty. “Access to health care is often a challenge for this population, but the donation will ensure they are protected as well.”

^{El Paso Herald-Post - Jan. 6, 2021}

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso has received a $210,000 emergency grant from The Meadows Foundation to provide timely community outreach and resources to front-line health care professionals and community members leading the battle against the COVID-19 surge in El Paso.