Latest news with #TexasHealth
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Measles outbreak in Texas is over, say health officials
Texas health officials announced on Monday the official end of a devastating measles outbreak that sickened 762 people and claimed the lives of two young children. The declaration follows more than 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case in the affected counties, meeting the public health threshold for declaring an outbreak over. The last reported case in Texas was on 1 July, according to state data. Beyond the tragic fatalities, the highly contagious virus led to 100 hospitalisations. Cases were linked to outbreaks in Canada and Mexico, subsequently spreading to other US states. Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford noted the outbreak's unusual nature, stating that before its onset, "most doctors in the state hadn't even seen a case of measles because of how uncommon it has become." She attributed the successful containment to "testing, vaccination, monitoring and education." Ms Shuford further commended the efforts of healthcare professionals, stating: "I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses." Measles, a highly contagious virus, causes rash and respiratory symptoms, potentially leading to severe complications or death. It is prevented by the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, recommended for young children before school. State officials will continue monitoring for new cases. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The CX Revolution: How Data And AI Are Reshaping Customer Experience
Mohan Mannava, Business Intelligence & Data Analytics Leader at Texas Health. In today's competitive landscape, customer experience (CX) stands as the key differentiator for businesses globally. The stakes are undeniably high, with a staggering $3.8 trillion in sales at risk globally due to poor CX. We've all been there—a frustrating interaction, a convoluted process or a generic response that leaves us feeling unheard. It's no surprise that 53% of customers will walk away after a single bad experience. The good news? We are on the cusp of a revolution, driven by the powerful combination of data and AI. This isn't just about incremental improvements; it's about fundamentally transforming how organizations understand, engage with and serve their customers. The Problem With Current CX Strategies Many organizations still grapple with common pitfalls that hinder effective CX: • Data Fragmentation: Scattered customer data prevents a unified view, leading to incomplete insights and fragmented experiences. • Poor Personalization: Generic interactions fail to meet customer demands for relevant, personalized experiences. • Reactive Response: Addressing issues only after they arise increases costs and frustrates customers. • Slow Technology Adoption: Hesitancy to embrace new CX technologies creates a competitive disadvantage. These challenges highlight the fact that traditional CX approaches are no longer sufficient. However, massive amounts of customer data remain untapped in most organizations, and AI and machine learning (ML) have reached practical implementation readiness, presenting a significant opportunity. The Data-Driven CX Strategy Framework: A Three-Pillar Approach Revolutionizing CX requires a structured approach built on three interconnected pillars: The first and most critical step is to consolidate data from all touchpoints, fostering a holistic "360-degree view" that is accessible to all relevant teams, breaking down the silos that lead to fragmented insights. This integration encompasses a wide array of data sources, each offering unique insights: • Transactional Data: Purchase history, orders and transactions. • Behavioral Data: Website clicks, app usage and feature adoption. • Sentiment Data: Reviews, support interactions and social mentions. • Contextual Data: Location, device and time of interaction. • Profile Data: Demographics, preferences and customer segment information. By bringing all this data together, organizations can finally move beyond guesswork and base their CX strategies on a solid foundation of comprehensive customer understanding. Once the data is integrated, the next step is to transform raw information into actionable insights. This pillar involves a systematic process: • Data Refinement: Cleaning and structuring integrated data for accuracy and consistency. • Pattern Recognition: Applying analytics to identify behavioral trends. • Insight Generation: Transforming patterns into business-relevant customer insights and explaining why things happen. • Action Planning: Converting insights into specific, measurable CX enhancement strategies. This pillar is about understanding the customer journey, extracting meaningful insights and translating them into tangible improvements. The ultimate goal of this framework is to leverage AI to deliver a truly revolutionary customer experience. AI transformation manifests in three key areas: • Hyper-Personalization: AI analyzes data to create tailored experiences, delivering relevant content, offers and support at scale. • Predictive Customer Experience: AI analyzes historical data and real-time signals to anticipate and prevent customer problems, proactively addressing needs. • Intelligent Automation: AI automates repetitive service tasks and routine inquiries, freeing human agents for complex issues and empathetic support. These AI capabilities enable personalized experiences, predictive engagement and efficient issue resolution. Measuring The Impact: The IMPACT Framework For CX Transformation For any significant business transformation, demonstrating a clear return on investment (ROI) is crucial. If you're planning on implementing solutions to this end, the IMPACT framework can help you determine where your new solution is working and where you might need to make some tweaks: • Immediate Response Metrics: Look for reduced response times and first contact resolution. • Monetary Outcomes: Identify revenue impact, cost reduction and repeat purchases. • Predictive Accuracy: Look for ways to augment churn prediction and issue prevention. • Agent Productivity: Find solutions that reduce case volume and increase agent satisfaction. • Customer Loyalty Indicators: Track Net Promoter Score (NPS), customer satisfaction (CSAT) and customer lifetime value (CLTV). • Tech Performance: Assess system reliability. By meticulously tracking these metrics, organizations can clearly articulate the value of their CX transformation efforts. Navigating The CX Transformation Journey While the benefits of transforming customer experience with data and AI are clear, the path isn't without its challenges. True CX transformation requires careful planning and a strategic approach. In my own experience leading these kinds of projects, I've always found that taking care of the following challenges ahead of time is the key to success: • Culture Shift: One of the biggest challenges is fostering a customer-centric, data-driven mindset across the organization. People are naturally resistant to change, and moving from siloed operations to data-driven decision making requires a fundamental shift in how teams operate. Leadership buy-in and active participation are crucial in demonstrating commitment to this new way of working. • Team Development: New technology demands new skills. Upskilling existing employees to work effectively with AI tools and interpret data insights is essential. I've found investing heavily in continuous learning programs, driving internal training on data literacy and tool usage to be critical. • Defining Success Metrics: Without clear, agreed-upon metrics, it's difficult to measure transformation impact and demonstrate ROI. Ambiguous goals can lead to misallocated resources and a lack of accountability. I consistently use the IMPACT framework, as discussed earlier, to define precise, measurable KPIs before implementation. This allows us to track progress effectively and iterate quickly when needed. In my experience, navigating these challenges requires a blend of strategic foresight, operational rigor and a deep commitment to people. It's about building a robust foundation of data, empowering your teams and relentlessly focusing on the customer. Ultimately, the future of business belongs to those who can master the art and science of customer experience. By embracing data and AI, organizations can move from insights to impactful transformations, creating not just satisfied customers but lifelong advocates and driving significant growth. The time to act is now. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
North Texas police officer celebrates Father's Day with a new lease on life after heart emergency
This Father's Day holds special meaning for David Harney, a 45-year-old Highland Village police officer who survived a rare and often fatal heart condition known as an aortic dissection. Harney, a veteran officer of more than 20 years, said he initially dismissed his symptoms as fatigue from the start of the school year. David Harney, a 45-year-old Highland Village police officer David Harney "I attributed it to just being the beginning of the school year, being tired, having to be out directing traffic, things like that," Harney said. But one morning in August, he woke up with intense pain in his shoulder. "And it continued to radiate up my neck and then into my head," he said. "And every time my heart beat, after that, I felt like a gunshot was going off in my head." Emergency surgery and a second chance David Harney, a 45-year-old Highland Village police officer David Harney Harney was airlifted to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, where doctors discovered a tear in his aorta—the main artery carrying blood from the heart. "It's a life-threatening condition," said Dr. Andres Leal, Harney's cardiothoracic surgeon and a member of Texas Health Physicians Group's Texas Health Heart & Lung Surgical Specialists. "Unfortunately, when individuals don't seek medical treatment, most patients die within 24 to 72 hours after the onset of symptoms." Harney underwent emergency open-heart surgery and survived. He now reflects on how close he came to a different outcome. "It makes me appreciate things a lot more," he said. "I feel like I got a second chance." Back to work and family life Now back on the job, Harney is focusing on spending more time with his wife of 26 years and their two children. He's also using his experience to raise awareness about heart health, especially among law enforcement officers. Raising awareness for officers David Harney, a 45-year-old Highland Village police officer David Harney "Law enforcement officers face an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases," Harney said. "We take care of everybody else so much that we just don't take care of ourselves." Studies show officers are more likely to die from a heart attack than from violence in the line of duty. A message for other dads As he celebrates Father's Day, Harney has a message for other fathers: "Number one, take care of yourself. Listen to your body. Get your heart checked." According to Texas Health Dallas, aortic dissection causes approximately 13,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Symptoms can include sudden and severe chest or back pain, shortness of breath, leg pain, and even temporary paralysis.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Collin County reports third measles case. Here's where the person was and when.
A third measles case has been reported in Collin County, health officials announced on Tuesday. The person who tested positive spent time around McKinney from May 19-22, officials said. Collin County Health Care Services didn't say how old the patient is or where they live. Possible measles exposure locations and dates: 24 Hour Fitness, 1601 North Hardin Blvd., McKinney, Texas on May 19 between 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. and on May 21 between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Moviehouse & Eatery, 8450 SH 121, McKinney, Texas on May 19 between 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Cubana Grille, 4051 South Custer Rd., Suite 1160, McKinney, Texas on May 20 between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Market Street, 6100 Eldorado Pkwy., McKinney, Texas on May 22 between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. CCHCS said if anyone was at the locations on the specified times and dates, they should monitor themselves for measles symptoms through June 12 and talk to their healthcare provider. As of May 27, 729 measles cases have been confirmed in Texas since the outbreak was first reported in January, according to Texas Health and Human Services. Of those patients, 94 have been hospitalized over the course of the outbreak. The first reported measles case in Collin County was in April. Symptoms of measles While most people's symptoms improve, about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people who get measles will be hospitalized. About 1 out of every 1,000 children with measles will develop brain swelling that can lead to brain damage, and up to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected will die, the CDC says. Symptoms of measles include: High fever, up to 105°F Cough Runny nose Red, watery eyes Sore throat Rash: typically appears 3-5 days after initial symptoms, starting on the face and spreading downward
CBS News
11-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
How to get free mobile health screenings and services throughout North Texas
Affording healthcare services or screenings because of cost is something some people in North Texas know all too well. An event at a local church on Saturday provided the community with health services and free wellness items. From CPR training to vision and dental care, as well as mammograms, wellness exams, and cancer screenings, people got their healthcare needs met at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth for the second annual Wellness for Life Community Resource Day. CBS News Texas About 35 vendors gave out free food, diapers, and hygiene products, all while educating the community. Nina Burgos, director of Texas Health's Wellness for Life Mobile Health, said the event is crucial to make sure people get the care they need. "We know that access to preventative care can be challenging for individuals, so it's very important for us to be able to offer services out in this community so that community members can take advantage of these services and access to not only the health screenings but the education and resources that we have to offer," Burgos said. A walk-through colon, "Marge the Colon," showed the importance of early screenings to catch any issues. It demonstrated what Crohn's disease, polyps, and advanced cancer look like. Texas Health has mobile units traveling throughout the area if you missed the event. The program is ongoing in 14 North Texas counties. Click here for more information.
