Newsroom Archive

For Fort Worth resident Bryan Ayala, COVID-19 struck quickly and hit hard.

At the beginning of May, he was more concerned about the fact that he’d been laid off from his job than he was about catching the virus that was sweeping the globe. In those days, it was thought that COVID was something only people over 60 or with pre-existing health conditions had to worry about and Bryan, 21, had none.

One day, without warning, he noticed he couldn’t take a deep breath.

Thousands of JPS Health Network team members have rolled up their sleeves to get COVID-19 vaccinations.  

Now they’re urging Tarrant County residents to do the same.   

“There were definitely times when I wasn’t sure we would both make it out of the hospital to be together again,” said Sean Freeman.  

He and his brother, Carlos, found themselves at JPS at the same time over the summer of 2020, fighting extended battles with COVID-19. Sean’s case was serious, but Carlos spent a month near death on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit. “I’ll never forget, after all Carlos went through, when they called to say he was off the ventilator and breathing on his own again. It seemed like a miracle.” 

More Than 200 Inpatients, Hundreds More Getting Care

With the number of infected patients surging, JPS Health Network continues to implement its emergency response plan for COVID-19, converting additional space throughout the main hospital to house infected patients. Here’s the latest information about how JPS is responding to the pandemic.

What’s happening with COVID-19 patients?

She had no doubts about the skill of her caregivers. But, when Etta Hammie arrived at JPS Health Network in November suffering severe COVID-19 symptoms, she didn’t think she had the strength to go on.

“I’ve been a nurse for many years, and I told them when I got here that I didn’t want any part of a ventilator,” Hammie said. “But it was only a short time before things started to get worse and the doctor came to me to say that she was concerned I was getting too weak to survive without help.”

Official Press Release

JPS Health Network and Cook Children’s Health Care System have leveraged their ongoing collaboration to improve health services for people of all ages across Tarrant County. 

It’s no secret that 2020 was an extremely tough year to be a medical professional.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has demanded an incredible amount of resilience, dedication and skill from physicians and advanced practice professionals. Expert care is more appreciated than ever. Even though there is little time to celebrate, it’s important to recognize the providers who are always ready to respond to the needs of the community.

JPS Health Network isn’t just a great place to get a broken bone fixed.

Recognized as one of the best hospitals in the country at helping prevent fractures before they happen, it is one of 71 hospitals nationwide to be designated an “Own the Bone Star Performer” in 2020 by the American Orthopedic Association. 

When Jennifer Hernandez started to have a throbbing headache in July, she didn’t think much of it.  

She was only mildly concerned when she also started to feel weak and suddenly didn’t have the energy to get out of bed. 

COVID-19 doesn’t only effect the lungs and hearts of the people it touches, the virus also deeply effects their minds and emotions. 

Dr. Alan Podawiltz, Chairman of Behavioral Health at JPS, said the demand for mental health care has increased dramatically over the past nine months as COVID-19 has spread in our community and around the world.