Skip to main content
Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Sign In
Breadcrumb Links
Skip Navigation LinksHarris Health About Us Who We Are Harris Health History

Harris Health History

Harris Health System's historical highlights

2021
Harris Health is featured on the television show, The Recruit.

El Franco Lee Health Center opens up mega COVID-19 vaccine site.

2020
Harris Health vaccinates its first staff members against COVID-19.

Harris Health starts offering virtual services to patients.

Harris Health’s COVID-19 research contributes to worldwide advances.

Harris Health System’s Board of Managers approved the naming of Ben Taub Hospital’s second floor surgical suite after Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox.

Food Farmacy opens at Acres Home Health Center.

Dr. Esmaeil Porsa becomes Chief Executive Officer.

2019
Ben Taub Hospital unveils new surgical environment, completing a$70 million project to expand operative capacity.

2018
Ben Taub Hospital Opens new blood bank.

LBJ Hospital offers robotic da vinci surgeries, allowing surgeons to use robotics to assist them in performing minimally invasive surgeries that may reduce recovery time and improve safety.

LBJ Hospital creates Community Farm to help combat food insecurity, teach patients and community members about healthy produce and give them the skills to grow their own food.

Harris Health expands end-of-life services by offering hospice care.

2017
Harris Health opens Ben Taub Tower, which houses 20 specialty clinics on three floors and can accommodate nearly 80,000 patient visits a year.

2016
Harris Health opens C.E. Odom Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center on June 13.

2015
Ben Taub Hospital Earns Coveted International Baby-Friendly Designation.

Harris Health System opens Long Branch Health Center on February 16, later closed in 2017.

Harris Health System opens Sunset Heights Clinic on February 2.

Harris Health System opens Danny Jackson Health Center on January 20.

Harris Health System opens Ben Taub Clinic on January 5.

2014
Harris Health opens Monroe Clinic on December 15.

Harris Health opens Robindell Clinic on November 24.

Harris Health System opens Margo Hilliard Alford Clinic on September 26.

The Ambulatory Surgical Center opens on July 29.

Harris Health System opens Sareen Clinic, the first same day clinic, on January 24.

Harris Health System opens Bayland Geriatric Health Center on January 15.

2013
Harris Health opens Outpatient Center on October 21.

Harris Health honors Dr. Carlos Vallbona with naming of Vallbona Health Center (formerly People's). Dr. Carlos Vallbona helped found the system's community health program in 1967.

Harris Health receives its third consecutive Most Wired Award from HH&N magazine, a publication of the American Hospital Association.

2012
Harris Health opens the new Smith Clinic in September.

Harris County Hospital District officially transitions to new business name Harris Health System.

Harris Health receives its second consecutive Most Wired Hospitals Award from HH&N magazine, a publication of the American Hospital Association.

Harris Health opens the new Cypress Health Center in July.

Harris Health opens the new Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center - Bear Creek in April.

2011
Harris Health receives the 2011 Most Wired Hospitals Award from HH&N magazine, a publication of the American Hospital Association.

Harris Health opens the Pediatric and Adolescent Health Center in Pasadena, Texas on June 27.

Lester and Sue Smith Foundation donate $15 million for new Cancer Treatment Clinic, Harris Health's single largest private gift.

Harris Health dedicates the new Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital Emergency Center.

2010
June 18, Harris Health opens state-of-the-art outpatient rehabilitation center at Quentin Mease Hospital.

Harris Health opens Southeast Eligibility Center.

Harris Health opens Goose Creek Health Clinic, its ninth school-based clinic.

Harris Health opens the new Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center in south Houston on May 14, replacing the temporary facility located inside Quentin Mease Hospital.

2009
Harris Health opens the El Franco Lee Health Center in far west Houston on May 15. It is the Harris Health's 13th health center.

Harris Health opens Lois J. Moore Eligibility Center.

2008
Harris Health dedicates the new Riverside Dialysis Center.

2006
Harris Health announces plans to add two new community health centers, a dialysis center, a radiation therapy center, and new outpatient diagnostic clinics to better meet the community’s growing needs.

The Ginni and Richard Mithoff Trauma Center is dedicated at Ben Taub Hospital.

Harris Health opens Sheldon Health Clinic and Robert Carrasco Health Clinic.

2005
Harris Health establishes Astrodome Health Center to serve the medical needs of nearly 25,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

Harris Health wins prestigious TMF Health Quality Institute’s Award of Excellence

April 20, Harris Health introduces ServiceFIRST initiative to improve customer and patient satisfaction.

2004
Harris Health's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program achieves CARF accreditation, certifying it among the nation’s elite rehabilitation programs.

Harris Health opens the Dental Center, Southside Clinic and Squatty Lyons Health Center.

2003
Harris Health opens East Mount Houston Eligibility Center.

2001
July, NASA astronauts came to LBJ Hospital to learn about proper airway management and endotracheal intubation as part of their medical training for the journey into space.

June 9, Ben Taub and LBJ Hospitals accept dozens of patients from other community hospitals flooded during Tropical Storm Allison.

2000

Gulfgate Health Center opens at its new location.

1998
Harris Health opens Almatha Clark Taylor Health Clinic.

1997
Harris Health launches mobile health program with HCHD Foundation’s donation of TroubleShooters immunization van.

Harris Health opens Strawberry Health Center and Aldine Health Center.

1996
Lyndon B. Johnson becomes first hospital in Texas to receive Level III trauma designation.

1995
Harris Health is again named to “Top 100 Hospitals” list by Modern Healthcare Magazine.

Harris Health opens Vallbona Health Center (under the name of People's Health Center).

1994
Harris Health is named one of the nation’s “Top 100 Hospitals” by Modern Healthcare Magazine.

Harris Health opens first school-based clinic at Jackson Middle School.

1990
LBJ Emergency Center and operating suites open July 1, receiving the first medical emergency at 7:01 a.m.

The new Ben Taub Hospital opens next to the original facility in the heart of the Texas Medical Center on Jan. 12.

1989
June 2, LBJ Hospital opens; June 3, Jefferson Davis Hospital closes.

Thomas Street Health Center opens May 22 as nation’s first freestanding HIV/AIDS treatment facility.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School affiliates with Harris Health to provide medical staff to LBJ Hospital and some of its community health centers.

1987
The Board of Managers increases to nine members, improving its diversity.

1986
Harris Health establishes Healthcare for the Homeless Program.

1984
Ben Taub Anesthesiology Service installs advanced, computerized system for anesthetic and respiratory analysis.

1983
Quentin Mease Hospital, named for long-time board chairman, opens on N. MacGregor Drive, offering geriatric and long-term rehabilitation services.

1982
April 28, Squatty Lyons Health Center opens in Humble.

Jefferson Davis becomes the first public hospital in the nation to have nurse midwives provide obstetrical care to women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

1980
Harris Health Dental Center opens Feb. 12.

1979
Ben Taub becomes the first hospital to obtain a CT scanner for the evaluation of head injuries.

The Winifred Wallace Maternity Center at Jefferson Davis Hospital is completed, accommodating more than 14,000 births annually.

1977
Oct. 31, Strawberry Health Center opens in Pasadena.

1975
Ben Taub Emergency Center institutes a new method of recovering and returning a patient’s blood.

Ben Taub Hospital institutes cutting-edge automation for the storage and retrieval of laboratory data.

1974
Nov. 5, West End Health Center opens (later becomes Northwest Health Center).

1973
Harris Health opens Ripley Health Center, which became Gulfgate Health Center.

Dr. Carlos Vallbona enlists district’s Community Health Centers to instruct new physicians in providing health care outside of hospital settings.

Jan. 2, Ripley Health Center opens.

1972
April 28, Martin Luther King Jr. Health Center opens.

1971
May 17, Acres Home Health Center opens.

1970
Aug. 21, Casa De Amigos Health Center opens in near North Houston.

1969
Ben Taub’s Dr. George L. Jordan first uses the “Jordan Maneuver” to repair injuries to the duodenum, allowing wounds to heal faster and with fewer complications.

1967
Feb. 14, Baytown Health Center opens in East Harris County.

Jan. 28, Settegast Health Center opens in Northeast Houston to launch the Community Health Program, an innovative neighborhood-based primary care initiative.

1966
Jan. 1, 1966, the Harris County Hospital District formally came into being as a political subdivision with taxing authority and assumes ownership of city-county hospitals Jefferson Davis and Ben Taub.

1965
The Harris County Hospital District was created by voter referendum in November 1965.

Annual Report 2014
Harris Health 2011 - 2015 Strategic Plan
Annual Report 2009
Annual Report 2008
Annual Report 2007
Annual Report 2006