West Valley caregivers deploy to Texas for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts
Four members of the West Valley Medical Center staff will deploy to Texas in the coming days to contribute to the recovery efforts following the historic flooding wrought by Hurricane Harvey. HCA Healthcare, West Valley's parent company, employs approximately 14,000 people at health care facilities throughout the Houston and Corpus Christi area. The deployed West Valley team will relieve HCA's Gulf Coast Division staff who have been on the front lines of this disaster for many days.
"Our colleagues at HCA facilities in this hard-hit area have not only had to evacuate their hospitals and care for countless patients in need, but also have to worry about their own homes and families in harm's way," West Valley CEO Betsy Hunsicker said. "We are humbled by this opportunity to serve and will continue to send our thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by this catastrophic event."
The local team - consisting of two registered nurses, a behavioral health technician, and a social worker - will serve a two-week assignment, at which time HCA will evaluate the need for additional volunteers in the Houston area. About 90 West Valley employees have volunteered to deploy over the next few weeks or months as needed.
In addition to sending staff, HCA announced Wednesday a donation of $1 million to the American Red Cross and up to $1 million in matching funds for employee donations to the HCA Hope Fund. The HCA Hope Fund is an employee-run, 501(c)(3) charity that provides financial aid and resources to employees after extended illness, injury, disaster or other special situations. In 2016, West Valley staff donated more than $29,000 to support their coworkers in times of crisis. Local staff members also have the option to donate their vacation time to colleagues coping with the devastation this record-breaking flooding has had on their personal lives.
HCA employs about 55,000 people in its Texas facilities. It operates approximately 50 hospitals and 27 surgery centers in the state, including 15 hospitals, six freestanding emergency centers, five surgery centers and one freestanding cancer center in Houston and a hospital with five campus locations and a freestanding emergency center in Corpus Christi.