Maximum Security High Alert At Thomason Hospital - El Paso

July 14, 2008

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Thomason hospital was under maximum security Saturday as another wounded Mexican police officer crossed the border into the U.S. for treatment.

Hospital officials said they were on high alert.

“We placed the campus on maximum security alert, which is the red level, after conferring with other law enforcement agencies,” said James Vilenti, Thomason hospital’s president and CEO.

He also said Thomason will start using the Homeland Security scale to asses the threat level at the hospital. For visitors, that meant entering and leaving from the emergency entrance. All other doors were locked.

Valenti also emphasized Saturday that Thomason has no say in accepting foreign patients and must treat them under federal law.

“We have not accepted these patients. They are brought here. We are mandated by law, federal law to provide care, a medical assessment and treatment,” he said.

Valenti also drew attention to the fact the Mexican government is reimbursing the hospital for most of the patients they send to the U.S.

He also pointed out El Paso is the only border town where patients are transported from Mexico into the U.S. and called on the government for change.

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