The Health Facility Program has the overall goal to monitor health care delivery by regulated health care facilities to assure high quality care to the people of Texas.

The FDA has launched an effort on the safe reprocessing of reusable medical devices (not to be confused with reprocessing of single use devices)
New posting on Reusables: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/ReprocessingofReusableMedicalDevices/ucm252941.htm

Prior info on Single Use devices (SUDs): http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/ReprocessingofSingle-UseDevices/default.htm

ESRD Additional Staffing Guidelines Chart    _{(pdf 53KB)}

Nationwide Public Health Alert Issued Concerning Life-Threatening Risk Posed by Cocaine Laced with Veterinary Anti-Parasite Drug   _{(PDF 86K)}

Posted September 21, 2009

CDC Releases Guidance on Shortage of Erythromycin Ointment

CDC has recently received reports of a shortage of erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment. Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 81.091 requires that all infants in Texas at childbirth be given a prophylaxis, as specified in DSHS rules, to prevent opthalmia neonatorum. DSHS rules at 25 TAC Sec. 97.136 require one of the following ointments be used:

• Erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment
• Tetracycline ophthalmic ointment (1%)
• Silver nitrate (1%)

Tetracycline ophthalmic ointment (1%) and Silver nitrate (1%) are no longer available in the US. CDC released a Dear Colleague letter _{(PDF, 34KB)} to provide guidance for obtaining supplies of erythromycin (0.5%) ophthalmic ointment during this shortage.

For treatment questions during the shortage contact:

Dr. Nick Curry 512-533-3001
Dr. Robert Kaspar 512-458-7111 ext. 3200

DSHS will monitor the situation, and provide updates as developments warrant.

Posted September 3, 2009

Our Mission

To protect, promote, and enhance the health, well-being, and productivity of all Texans through:

• The gathering of data and development of information regarding the quality and effectiveness of health care services provided through providers and suppliers licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS);
• The conducting of fair, impartial, and objective surveys and investigations of health care providers and suppliers;
• The promotion of quality improvement in the provision and supply of health care;
• The provision of accurate and timely information regarding the state of health care within the State to policy-makers, stake-holders, and other interested parties;
• The documentation of evidence for enforcement actions to protect the health and safety of Texans;
• The collaboration, coordination, and integration of efforts between the myriad State and Federal agencies and organizations involved in the licensure, certification, accreditation, and oversight of health care providers and suppliers to ensure the most efficient and effective use of resources possible; and
• The open, ethical, responsive, and accountable conduct of business to promote trust in government throughout the State and Federal governments.

The term "health care facility" applies to all health care provider organizations regulated by the Facility Licensing Group within the Texas Department of State Health Services.

This site provides links directing you to outside sources of information. These links will take you away from the Health Facility Program Web site and are provided as a service. These links do not necessarily imply any official endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data, or products presented at locations provided through the links on the Health Facility Program Web site. Health Facility cannot guarantee the validity of the information provided at links to other sites.