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MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

2019, the southern US border is-
sues were in the headlines of
every national and local news
service. Besides reporting on the large
crowds of immigrants from primarily Cen-
tral America and Mexico, the issues of
health and safety were examined in the pub-
lic press not only for the immigrants them-
selves but for the residents of the United
States. Texas was at the center of all of this
fury with reports of immigrant camps, vis-
iting politicians, and yes, the healthcare com-
munity trying to get access to and relieve
suffering. This is part of living in a border
state. The impacts of that reality as it affects
healthcare are the subjects of this article.
Physician leaders along the border from
El Paso to Corpus Christi as well as San An-
tonio united in 2001 to establish the Border
Health Caucus (BHC). Their mission: to
ensure lawmakers in Austin and Washing-
ton, D.C., understand the unique health
challenges facing the border region and im- come in Texas or in the entire United Public Health
prove access to care for its more than three States. Unemployment for this area ranges The health of the general population is
million residents. The Border Health Cau- from 12-17%, several times the US Na- as important as the individual care received
cus works closely with the Texas Medical tional average for Hispanic residents. by an individual patient. Research is being
Association, advising on health issues, pol- Homes for many of these residents along done across the border to better understand
icy and working to improve the delivery of the border are in “colonias”, which are in- the general population problems, which we
healthcare in border areas. formal settlements with mostly substan- know are going to travel with immigrants.
dard housing and poor infrastructure. Dr. Joseph McCormick, Regional Dean,
Perspective – Those who live in this area and are be- University of Texas HSC Houston School
The Demographics tween the ages of 18 and 64, have less than of Public Health-Brownsville and Dr. Maria
The Texas-Mexico border stretches a 50% chance of having health insurance. Jose Reyes Fentanes, Infectious Disease
1,254 miles and borders four Mexican The numbers of physicians and health Specialist, Centro Medico ABC in Quere-
states and two tribal nations (the Kickapoo care providers are proportionately lower taro, Mexico, discussed some of the re-
Traditional Tribe of Texas near Eagle Pass in Texas than they are nationally, a situa- search and issues that they are investigating.
and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in El Paso). The tion that is magnified in border areas. The This research includes not only obesity and
population along the border totals 3 mil- vast majority of the border region is des- diabetes, but also the disproportionally high
lion people, 88.4 % of which are Hispanic, ignated as both a Health Professional rates of non-alcohol-related cirrhosis and
29.3% are below the poverty level, 31.7% Shortage Area and a Medically Under- hepatic carcinomas, STD’s, cervical cancer
do not speak English well and much of served Area. With recent changes at the and other chronic physical and behavioral
the population over 25 years of age Federal level, many rural hospitals have health issues.
(32.8%) do not have even a high school been closed (over half of these hospital
diploma. Median family incomes there closings have been in Texas), some of Cross Border Health Care
range from $27,000-$34,500, which is which were on the border and were pri- Ten years ago, the people that were cross-
about 50% of the comparable median in- mary access points for patients. ing the border were mostly men from Mex-

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