COVID-19 Positive cases: 118,207
COVID-19 related deaths: 972
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 85,710*
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Saturday, December 12, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
by Tilden Childs, MD – TCMS President
This piece was originally published in the November/December issue of the Tarrant County Physician. You can read find the full magazine here.
This is my last article as president, and as I think upon the past year, my mind drifts to reflections upon my life, my family, my friends, my associates, my teachers, and my profession—especially to the many patients for whom I have worked and strived for excellence in care over the last four decades. The seasons of life pass before our eyes in slow motion, but when the fall of our life arrives, we wonder how it all went so fast. I am thankful for the time that I have had on this earth and for the exposure to the many various facets of our world, both directly and vicariously, and particularly in what I consider to be the most intense and rewarding profession, the practice of Medicine. It is a privilege, indeed a calling, to be part of this greatest of professions. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your TCMS president this year.
One of the interesting and entertaining friends who appeared ever so briefly in my life is Dr. Charles D. Williams. Charlie is a radiologist in Tallahassee, Florida. I met him through my participation at the American College of Radiology on the AMA Delegation. Charlie was awarded the ACR Gold Medal a couple of years ago. He wrote two books called Simpler Times (1993) and More Simpler Times (2008), where he reflected on his life growing up in Moultrie, Georgia, as the son of a Colquitt County sharecropper during the 1940s, “during the time when life was less complicated—the time when people had to make over, make do, or do without.” Believing that laughter is the best medicine, Dr. Williams’ books are collections of stories written through the eyes and innocence of a young boy nicknamed Pedro at birth by his grandmother. The short stories reflect on the wisdom and humor of his grandma and her three boys—Millard, Dillard, and Willard. As he states in the introduction to his second book, “we need to understand and appreciate where we came from so that we can recognize where we are.” Or as his grandma used to say, “The main thang is to keep the main thang the main thang.” Charlie is a dear friend!
“The seasons of life pass before our eyes in slow motion, but when the fall of our life arrives, we wonder how it all went so fast.”
In my own life, when summer comes to an end and the fall begins, I always reflect on my time at the former boys’ camp in Hays County known as Friday Mountain Boys Camp. I first went there in the early 1960s when I was eleven years old after failed strenuous resistance to my parents unwavering determination to deliver me to the hands of unknown strangers in a foreign land. But what a magical place it was! I went there for four summers as a camper, two summers as kitchen help, and a total of six summers as a counselor during college and medical school. The daily routines and weekend programs offered at the camp seem remarkable now. In one place, a kid could learn about nature (I tried hard to learn to like snakes), horseback riding, swimming, scuba diving, and handicrafts. They had various opportunities to learn and participate in sports in a relatively non-competitive and friendly environment, as well as learn how to safely handle and shoot a rifle and throw horseshoes. Hiking over the several hundred acres of the camp, and particularly up and down Friday Mountain, gave everyone a wonderful exposure to nature and an appreciation of the land. There was even an educational day trip into town to see parts of Austin (it was my one and only time to go to the top of the UT Tower), and a three-day overnight trip to Lake Travis with swimming, water skiing, and sailing. As a counselor, I had the opportunity to learn and then teach sailing on Lake Travis. Yes, I got paid to go swimming and sailing on Lake Travis! And many kids and a few of us young adults learned some of life’s lessons as well as a number of Baptist hymns. Sunday morning services on the wooded, shaded banks of Bear Creek were special.
But as is true of life in general, times have changed, and the former camp is now the oldest Hindu Temple in Texas and the largest in North America, Radha Madhav Dham (formerly called Barsana Dham). For an interesting and insightful reflection on the history of the camp and its subsequent transformation, I refer you to the article by David Gaines in The Wall Street Journal issue dated September 12, 2020, entitled “I Climbed Up Friday Mountain and Down Barsana Hill.” Some of us former campers and counselors still remember the way it was and are sad that it is no longer, but in some small way, this article helps to provide me with at least a measure of closure. To quote the final sentence of the article, “Land uses change, but the land abides. And the characters just keep rolling through.”
How true, how true! And that is one of the things I have come to realize about life in general—“the characters just keep rolling through.”
And finally, whatever your belief, I hope that you can appreciate what my friend Dr. Doug Cecil has shared, as gleaned from an old benediction from a circa 1850 Anglican Prayer Book:
Now go into the world in peace,
Have courage,
Hold on to what is good.
Honor all men,
Strengthen the fainthearted,
Support the weak,
Help the suffering,
And share the Gospel.
Love and serve the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit.
COVID-19 Positive cases: 114,261
COVID-19 related deaths: 913
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 81,507*
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
COVID-19 Positive cases: 112,725
COVID-19 related deaths: 898
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 79,977*
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Tuesday, December 8, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
COVID-19 Positive cases: 105,675
COVID-19 related deaths: 864
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 74,266*
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Thursday, December 3, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
For those without health insurance, Tarrant County is making it as easy as possible to get a flu vaccination.
The CDC has stated that a flu vaccine is more important than ever during the 2020-2021 flu season. To protect Tarrant County citizens, as well as to help reduce the burden on our healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tarrant County has partnered with Kroger and Albertsons/ Tom Thumb pharmacies to administer free flu vaccinations to uninsured residents of Tarrant County from December 1 through December 30, 2020. Tarrant County will be billed $25 per vaccination under the program.
“With COVID-19 surging across North Texas, it is important we do everything possible to keep the flu season under control and maintain hospital capacity,” said Tarrant Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “This public-private partnership provides broader access to free flu vaccine, making it easier for anyone in Tarrant County to get a flu shot this season.”
“The pandemic has made it even more critical this year to get a flu shot, not only to protect ourselves, but to protect those we love, our communities, and our resources,” said Julie Spier, R.Ph., director of Pharmacy Operations for Albertsons and Tom Thumb. “Tom Thumb and Albertsons are proud to partner with Tarrant County to care for and to help in protecting our community from the flu.”
“The health and safety of our patients and our communities is always top priority for Kroger Health and we are honored to partner with Tarrant County to protect residents and reduce their risk of flu illness and flu-associated complications,” said Jeff Loesch, director of pharmacy for Kroger Health Dallas Division. “Throughout the last several months, Tarrant County and our Kroger Health teams have worked closely together to deploy COVID-19 testing in addition to flu vaccinations. Though the flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, we are confident this effort will reduce hospitalizations and deaths, thereby conserving vital healthcare resources.”
Here is a list of participating stores in Tarrant County:
Albertsons 4000 Glade Road, Colleyville, Tx. 76034 (817) 654-0505, (682)261-1297
Albertsons 1155 N Main St., Euless, Tx. 76039, (217) 354-9195, (682)261-1304
Albertsons 3563 Alton Road, Fort Worth, Tx. 76109 (817) 548-1415, (214)471-6160
Albertsons 1300 Airport Freeway, Bedford, Tx. 76022 (817) 354-0622, (682)218-7143
Tom Thumb 1000 Keller Parkway, Keller, Tx. 76248 (817) 337-8030, (817)716-9246
Tom Thumb 980 Hwy North 287 , Mansfield, Tx. 76063 (817) 453-6770, (817)863-6481
Tom Thumb 3100 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth, Tx, 76109 (817)570-2950, (817)716-9960
Tom Thumb 100 W. Southlake Blvd., Southlake, Tx. 76092 (817) 416-5464, (817)716-1815
Tom Thumb 612 Grapevine Highway, Hurst Tx. 76054 Phone: (817)428-0383, (817)901-7756
Albertsons 6220 U.S. Hwy 287, Arlington, Tx. 76017 (817) 478-8901, (682)218-6786
Tom Thumb 2400 W 7th St., Fort Worth Tx., 76107 (817) 302-1400, (682)347-8936
Tom Thumb 2611 West Park Row, Arlington, Tx. 76013 (817) 462-0151, (817)240-7545
Tom Thumb 6377 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, Tx. 76116 (817) 377-5980, (817)716-2190
Tom Thumb 302 South Park Blvd., Grapevine Tx. 76051 (817)481-5669, (817)716-2184
Tom Thumb 2755 N. Collins St., Arlington, Tx 76006 (817)276-5360, (817)716-5480
Tom Thumb 4000 William D. Tate, Grapevine, Tx. 76051 (817)785-1004, (682)540-1117
Albertsons 1201 N. Saginaw Blvd. Saginaw, Tx. 76179 (817)232-2777, (682)216-6566
Albertsons 7400 Oakmont Blvd., Fort Worth, Tx. 76132 (817)423-9556, (214)425-1283
Albertsons 6308 Lake Worth Blvd., Lake Worth Tx. 76135 (817)237-8124, (682)216-6149
Albertsons 301 SW Plaza Shopping Center, Arlington, Tx., 76016 (817) 478-4291, (682)216-5045
Albertsons 4400 Western Center Blvd., Fort Worth, Tx. 76137, (817)232-2180, (214)471-8153
Albertsons 5950 S. Cooper St., Arlington Tx. 76017 (817)557-0185, (682)216-5107
Albertsons 9300 Clifford St. Fort Worth, Tx. 76108 (817)246-3366, (214)471-8869
Albertsons 6249 Rufe Snow Dr., Watauga, Tx. 76148 (817)428-0541, (682)218-6026
Albertsons 850 E. Loop 820 Fort Worth, Tx. 76112 (817)451-0306, (214)471-8873
Albertsons 3525 Sycamore School Road, Fort Worth, Tx. 76133 (817) 346-6497, (214)471-0730
Albertsons 833 NE Alsbury Blvd., Burleson, Tx. 76028 (817)447-9106, (682)216-5266
Albertsons 6700 West Freeway Fort Worth, Tx. 76116 (817)377-8074, (214)471-4560
Albertsons 480 Northwest Parkway Azle,Tx., 76020 (817)270-1116, (682)216-5229
Kroger 3510 Alta Mesa Fort Worth, TX 76133 (817)292-3777
Kroger 2580 E. Arkansas Lane Arlington, TX 76014 (817)861-2779
Kroger 2475 Ascension Blvd. Arlington, TX 76011 (817)275-2901
Kroger 9114 Camp Bowie West Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817)560-4233
Kroger 5330 S. Cooper Arlington , TX 76017 (817)472-9576
Kroger 1060 N. Main Street Euless, TX 76039 (817)283-1152
Kroger 2110 E Southlake Blvd Southlake, TX 76092 (817)421-7487
Kroger 976 Keller Parkway Keller, TX 76248 (817)431-5178
Kroger 3120 South University Fort Worth, TX 76109 (817)566-7861
Kroger 2109 Harwood Road Bedford, TX 76021 (817)685-9628
Kroger 1653 Basswood Boulevard Fort Worth, TX 76131 (682)316-6387
Kroger 5241 North Tarrant Parkway Fort Worth, TX 76244 (817)380-6181
Kroger 9150 N. Tarrant Parkway N. Richland Hills, TX 76182 (817)918-3387
Kroger 6650 N. Beach Fort Worth, TX 76137 (817)788-1757
Kroger 2061 Rufe Snow Drive Keller, TX 76248 (817)605-8728
Kroger 2350 Southeast Green Oaks Arlington, TX 76018 (817)419-0312
Kroger 3300 Texas Sage Trail Fort Worth, TX 76177 (817)750-2041
Kroger 945 W. Lamar Blvd. Arlington, TX 76012 (817)277-2144
Kroger 12600 North Beach Street Fort Worth, TX 76244 (817)562-3901
Kroger 4750 W. Bailey Boswell Road Fort Worth, TX 76179 (682)316-7508
Kroger 9135 Boulevard 26 N. Richland Hills, TX 76180 (817)605-3937
Kroger 3001 Matlock Mansfield, TX 76063 (817)473-0081
Kroger 1004 S. Crowley Road Crowley, TX 76036 (817)297-0006
Kroger 1631 SW Wilshire Blvd. Burleson, TX 76028 (817)258-5952
Kroger 5101 W. Sublett Rd Arlington, TX 76017 (817)516-3763
Kroger 3300 E. Broad Street Mansfield, TX 76063 (817)435-5418
Kroger 301 S. Bowen Arlington, TX 76013 (817)277-0072
Kroger 5701 W. Pleasant Ridge Road Arlington, TX 76016 (817)483-0354
Kroger 7201 Boulevard 26 N. Richland Hills, TX 76180 (817)281-8310
Kroger 708 E. Pipeline Hurst, TX 76053 (817)285-8851
Kroger 2210 S Fielder Arlington, TX 76013 (817)277-3533
COVID-19 Positive cases: 102,051
COVID-19 related deaths: 849
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 72,017*
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Tuesday, December 1, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
Join TMA on Saturday, December 5, for their 2020 advocacy retreat, which will be held virtually.
The retreat meetings will take place between 9am and noon, and will cover TMA’s legislative priorities and strategies for protecting medicine and the doctor-patient relationship.
This is a free event, but please register in advance as there will be a limited number of participants. To register or find out additional information, contact David Wilhelm at david.wilhelm@texmed.org.
Agenda:
Introductions
Diana L. Fite, MD, President, Texas Medical Association
Public Issue Polling Results
Bryan Eppstein, Founder and CEO, The Eppstein Group
TMA’s Legislative Priorities
Debra Patt, MD, Chair, TMA Council on Legislation
Specialty Society Legislative Priorities Update
Specialty Society Leaders
Moderated by Debra Patt, MD
COVID-19 Positive cases: 95,989
COVID-19 related deaths: 838
Recovered COVID-19 cases: 67,595*
Data from Tarrant County Public Heath’s (TCPH) report of COVID-19 activity in Tarrant County, updated Wednesday, November 25, 2020. Find more COVID-19 information from TCPH here.
*These data are provisional and are subject to change at any time.
Deaths and recovered cases are included in total COVID-19 positive cases.
On Thursday, December 3, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time, the AMA will present the fourth webinar in its series, “COVID-19: What physicians need to know.”
AMA President Susan R. Bailey, MD, will host the webinar, and she will be joined by guest Peter Marks, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Marks will discuss the latest developments on the road to effective COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Marks will do a deep dive into the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) process, specifically explaining how the timeline has been shortened from a matter of years to a matter of months. Physicians will learn the similarities and differences between routine vaccine development and the EUA process and understand how accelerated approval is being arrived at safely.
Registration is limited to physicians, residents, medical students and Federation staff.
Tarrant County Physician Online 