HCA-affiliated Clear Lake Regional Medical Center gets a new name

March 4th, 2019

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center was rebranded as HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake on Jan. 31.

By Mary Alys Cherry

HCA-affiliated Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster has a new name – HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake.

Officials said the name was changed to better reflect the hospital’s affiliation with one of Houston’s most comprehensive healthcare systems. They gathered at the hospital with League City Mayor Pat Hallisey and officials representing Webster Mayor Donna Rogers to officially launch its new identity.

“Taking the HCA name signals our commitment to be held to the highest standards in the industry,” said Todd Caliva, chief executive officer of HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake, who also announced upcoming improvements to the hospital, including new VIP labor and delivery suites, a facelift to the women’s services department, major construction to the Emergency Department entrance, two new operating rooms, a major cath lab expansion, and a significant bed expansion.

THIRD CHANGE
Actually, it is the third name change for the medical facility. It started out life as Clear Lake Hospital, but later became known as Humana Hospital-Clear Lake and then as Clear Lake Regional Medical Center.

Fay Dudney, wife of the late Dr. Ned Dudney of League City, who helped turn a dream into a reality, remembered how it all happened when she talked with us back in 2012 as the hospital was celebrating its 40th anniversary.

“Dr. Larry Chapman (who died Dec. 2, 2018) came over from Seabrook to see us, and when he walked in, he said, ‘Ned, I want you to help me build a hospital here in our area.’”
Dudney, who had to put patients in hospitals long distances from their homes, immediately liked the idea, and “soon we sought out physicians all over the area,” Dr. Chapman said as he thought back to those heady days.

Joined by the late Dr. Joe Symon of Friendswood, “the three of us pursued things pretty hard, and before long some 18 to 20 doctors practicing at Bayshore Hospital in Pasadena gave us their blessings. And, their financial backing,” Dr. Chapman recalled.

The group bought a 70-acre tract bounded by State Highway 3 and Texas Avenue in Webster, and on George Washington’s birthday, Feb. 22, 1970, a crowd of 500 gathered for the groundbreaking of the $4.2 million hospital, which opened with 150 beds, but designed to hold 600 beds.

OPENING DAY
A crowd of 3,000 was on hand Sunday, March 12, 1972 for the dedication and opening of Clear Lake Hospital, as it was originally named. But over the years it has grown so much it is barely recognizable in early photographs. A new emergency room was added in 2003, and its $55 million Heart & Vascular Hospital was built across the street in 2007, then expanded in 2010 with a $17 million, 72-room addition that included a pharmacy and dialysis unit.

The hospital grew even larger in 2012 with a $92 million expansion that included a 154,000- square-foot Patient Tower with a 30-bed Intensive Care Unit and a wide range of innovations.

Every year, HCA Houston Healthcare provides care for more than one million hospital patients, more than 450,000 emergency room patients and delivers one in four births in Houston. It currently has more than 16,000 employees, including 6,900 nurses. And, now a new name.

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Hospital celebrates opening of new Level II Trauma Center

April 1st, 2017

Hospital officials prepare to cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the new Clear Lake Regional Level II Trauma Center as Clear Lake Area Chamber and League City Regional Chamber presidents and their members join the celebration.

By Mary Alys Cherry

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster celebrated the opening of its Level II Trauma Center with both a ribbon cutting and the landing of a PHI Air Medical helicopter, which will play a key role in saving the lives of trauma patients.

With Clear Lake Area Chamber President Cindy DeWease and League City Regional Chamber President Steve Paterson and dozens of hospital employees and chamber members looking on, Trauma Center Medical Director Dr. Hoang Pham and Trauma Director Melanie Martin cut the ribbon, as Clear Lake Regional CEO Todd Caliva gave the signal.

Opening of the center came a little over two months after the hospital received notice it had been designated a Level II Trauma Center.
Currently there are 32 trauma centers in Texas with six in the Houston area. Of the six, only four are Level I Trauma Centers– Memorial Hermann, Ben Taub and Texas Children’s in Houston and UTMB in Galveston. Joining Clear Lake Regional at Level II is Conroe Regional Medical Center.
Both Level I and Level II Trauma Centers are similar. The main difference, the hospital explained, are research and physician residency programs. “Clear Lake Regional…offers the same high level of trauma care as a Level I facility in the majority of areas, excluding burned, pediatric (under the age of 18) and pregnant trauma patients,” the hospital noted.

With the new center halfway between Houston and Galveston, hospital CEO Todd Caliva felt many lives will probably be saved in the years to come as trauma patients can be treated much quicker, whereas before they were having to be transported about 30 miles for help. “Time is often vital to saving lives,” he pointed out.

Clear Lake Regional’s trauma program is staffed 24 hours a day by in-house trauma surgeons and specially trained trauma nurses. Physician specialists are also available around the clock to treat the same type of traumatic injuries that could be treated at a Level I Trauma Center.
And, when needed PHI Air Medical, a leading air ambulance provider across the country will be available to bring in patients and save precious minutes.

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News Nuggets

March 1st, 2017

Public comment gets council OK
League City’s boards and commissions meetings will now include a public comment section on agendas after a recent ordinance change by a unanimous City Council vote.

“I think good government is accessible to the people and if a citizen comes in and wants to speak at any one of our meetings and functions they should have the ability to do so,” said Councilman Hank Dugie.

“Some of our boards and commissions have already implemented something like this and have seen success in having a comments section for citizens – similar to City Council meetings – on their agendas.”

“This change will provide us with another avenue for us to connect with and receive direct feedback from the public,” City Manager John Baumgartner said.  “We look forward to working with our citizens, boards and commissions to implement this immediately.”

Woman burned in League City fire
A woman was hospitalized with burns when the home at 205 W. Saunders St. in League City caught fire early Friday morning, Jan. 27.

League City Volunteer Fire Department crews responded shortly before 7 a.m., arriving on-scene to find the house engulfed in flames. The fire was under control within 30 minutes; however, the house was a total loss.

“Firefighters were on-scene within a matter of moments and their actions helped minimize the impact to surrounding houses,” League City Fire Marshal Tommy Cones said.

The victim, who reportedly was burned while trying to save her dogs, was transported to UTMB – Galveston for treatment of injuries sustained in the fire. Three of her dogs survived.

Hospital is designated Level II Trauma Center
Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster has been designated a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons.
It is one of two hospitals in the Houston area to be given the designation. The other is the Conroe Regional Medical Center.

To attain the Level II designation, hospital emergency rooms must be staffed 24 hours a day by in-house trauma surgeons and especially trained trauma nurses.

Surgeons must participate in major therapeutic decisions, be present at operative procedures and be actively involved in the critical care of all seriously injured patients.

League city recognizes its recreation specialist
The City of League City recognized Katrina Beecher for receiving the 2017 Recreation Professional of the Year for the Texas Recreation & Park Society East Region Award during City Council meeting on Jan. 26.

The award was originally presented to Beecher, who is a recreation specialist for the city, during the East Region TRAP’s annual conference Jan. 12.

“Katrina is a model public servant who tirelessly serves our community,” said Interim City Manager John Baumgartner.  “Our goal is to provide outstanding customer service while enhancing the lives of our residents and its programs and initiatives like this that enables us to meet those goals.  We are very fortunate to have Katrina on our team and appreciate everything she does for our community.”

CCISD spelling bee champion crowned
Clear Creek ISD has a named the 2017 District Spelling Bee champion. Fourth grader Amelia Young of Goforth Elementary won the first place trophy on Feb. 4 during the District Spelling Bee at Mossman Elementary School with participants representing all 36 elementary and intermediate schools in CCISD in attendance.

She was crowned in the 15th round of the competition. The runner-up, fourth grader Fadhil Mohammed of Weber Elementary, was then named in the 16th and final round.

The next competition is the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, which will be televised live on April 1. The Houston event is the second largest in the country, with more than 1,000 schools from 42 Texas counties competing to be one of the top two spellers to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, and win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C.

Recycle event slated March 25
Houston Councilman Dave Martin and the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department are holding their spring Batteries, Oil, Paint (latex only) and Antifreeze (B.O.P.A.) recycling collection event Saturday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, at the Ellington Airport Neighborhood Recycling Center, Highway 3 at Brantly Avenue for City of Houston residents. A valid Texas driver’s license or other proof of residency, such as a water bill, will be required.

Residents may drop off scrap metal and large appliances –  stoves, refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.

Items not accepted include: Alkaline batteries, electronic waste, oil-based paint, paint without labels, household hazardous waste/chemicals, business waste, medical waste, radioactive waste, PCB’s, Dioxins, ammunition, explosives, compressed gas cylinders, smoke detectors, household trash or tires.

Empty latex paint cans or those that have hardened can be discarded with household garbage.

Kemah OKs plans for new development
Kemah’s City Council took steps in recent days that will bring in a new retail development that is expected to revitalize its downtown.

More than a year of work and preparation led to the substantial decisions made by the City Council at its Feb. 15 meeting, when members voted to acquire more than one mile of right of way for future road development while also agreeing to terms with Nashville-based GBT Realty for the construction of a new retail center to be located just west of the Kemah Walmart on FM 518.

The council also took action to move forward with construction projects to enhance the downtown area and open it up for greater access and development.

Estimated value of the donated Right of Way, which spans three different commercially valuable private properties and connects FM 518 to SH 96, can be estimated at approximately $2.5 million in land value, Mayor Carl Joiner said.

“If we had to go out and purchase that, it would have taken years,” he explained. “It is fantastic for our city. It opens our city up and allows growth to happen. Our TEAM Kemah approach has been instrumental in making good things happen for our citizens and community.”

One of the properties involved in this project is under contract to GBT Realty for the construction of a new retail center, he said. Construction on this approximately 80,000 square foot facility is slated to begin in May and be open for business sometime in early 2018. Negotiations for other projects on the adjacent properties are on-going and progress on those is expected to be announced in the coming months.

Council also approved a design contract with Houston-based SWA Design Group to remodel the city’s existing downtown parking lot at the Visitor Center creating a new park area, pedestrian promenade and flex space for parking. Another is a pedestrian walkway and 6th Street plaza/event area. The completed plan for all phases of the project will be presented in a community meeting at a future date.

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Todd Caliva named Clear Lake Regional Medical Center CEO

October 1st, 2016

11-1xtoddxcalivaTodd Caliva has been named chief executive officer of HCA-affiliated Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, effective Oct. 24.

In making the announcement, HCA Gulf Coast Division President Troy Villarreal said Caliva will assume responsibility of the 531-bed, full-service, acute-care hospital, which is recognized as one of the top hospitals in Texas.

Caliva is regarded in the industry as a consummate healthcare professional and has more than 24 years of experience, including a decade at the multi-facility level, Villarreal said, adding that Caliva has been with HCA in Houston since 1997.

Since 2006, Caliva has served as chief executive officer of HCA-affiliates West Houston Medical Center, East Houston Regional Medical Center and The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, and as administrator of Sugar Land Medical Center Surgical and Diagnostic Center.

“With solid roots in the Clear Lake area and our division, Todd’s knowledge of the community’s healthcare needs will advance the strong foundation that has already been laid over 40 years,” Villarreal said. “His enthusiasm and passion for working with physicians and staff will have a positive impact in the overall delivery of care and patient experience, making him the ideal CEO for Clear Lake Regional Medical Center.”

“I am excited to join Clear Lake Regional Medical Center at a crucial time in its growth, and have the opportunity to work with such an exceptional group of physicians and employees that are truly committed to making the lives of our patients better,” said Caliva.

Caliva’s robust community involvement includes co-chairing the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council Cardiac Care Committee, an organization that is committed to improve the overall care for heart attack patients across the region; serving as the president/chairman of the Educational Foundation of the Southeast Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives, as well as currently serving as the interim regent of the Southeast Texas Chapter; and serving on the board of the Houston West Chamber of Commerce.

Caliva earned a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s of science in marketing from the University of Houston.

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