Children’s hospitals are unique resources that benefit all children through clinical care, research, pediatric medical education and advocacy. As a vital safety net for children, children’s hospitals provide expert care for the most severe and complex medical problems.

The Children’s Hospital Association of Texas (CHAT) is a non-profit association whose mission is to ensure that Texas children have access to effective, high quality, comprehensive and appropriately funded health care.

To read more about the critical role of children’s hospitals in Texas, we invite you to download our report: “Children’s Hospitals in Texas: Medicaid Matters.” This pdf file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Developed by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), All Children Need Children’s Hospitals highlights the challenges facing children’s hospitals and provides a snapshot of how children’s hospitals achieve their four fold mission of clinical care, education, research and advocacy.

Flu Season is Here
DSHS Encourages Annual Flu Shots
Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) officials are encouraging everyone 6 months and older to receive a flu shot as soon as the vaccine is available in their communities. A record 132 million doses of vaccine are expected to be available in the United States this flu season.

“Flu is more than just a bad cold that makes people feel uncomfortable,” said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS Commissioner. “This viral infection can lead to a serious, sometimes deadly illness. An annual flu shot is one of the best ways to protect people from flu and its complications and to reduce the spread of the virus.”

Lakey encouraged those at increased risk of severe flu complications to get their flu shot as early as possible. These groups include children ages 6 months through 4 years, people with chronic medical conditions, residents of long-term care facilities and pregnant women. Early immunizations also are encouraged for those 50 and older, for people who live with or care for those at increased risk of flu complications and for those who come in close contact with children younger than 6 months.
Flu season typically runs October through March, usually reaching its peak in Texas in January and February. People can get a flu shot anytime throughout the fall and winter. The shot takes about two weeks to become effective.

Child’s Flu Shot Helps Whole Family

Flu Shot Cuts Kids’ Infection Risk in Half

Pediatric Disaster Preparedness in Texas
CHAT has released “A Makeshift Shelter from the Storm: An Evaluation of Pediatric Disaster Preparedness in Texas”. The report provides an overview of the unique issues and challenges facing pediatric disaster response in the state.

Download report

Other reports developed for CHAT under the Lloyd Bentsen Child Health Policy Research Project

2007 CHAT Pediatric Nursing Conference
The 2007 conference is being hosted by Cook Children’s Medical Center and will be held October 26th and 27th at the Hilton Fort Worth.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Amy Tonkovich at 682-885-4170.

Registration Form

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