"To advance the Far West Texas / Southern New Mexico trauma and emergency healthcare system through prevention, education, preparedness, and response."
In 1992 the Texas Board of Health divided the state into 22 regions called “trauma service areas.” A regional advisory council (“RAC”) was formed in each region to develop and implement an inclusive emergency health system. In the southwest region, the “Border” RAC is based out of El Paso, Texas. BorderRAC encompasses the Texas counties of El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson plus the New Mexico counties of Catron, Dona Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra and Otero. Within the region are urban, rural and frontier areas representing over 40,000 square miles with a population over two million.
BorderRAC is relied upon to unite regional medical providers and serve as a strategic partner for the Texas legislature, state and local agencies, and most importantly for the health and welfare of our region. BorderRAC is integral to helping hospitals and other healthcare organizations in emergency preparedness to respond to a wide-scale natural disaster or terrorism attack.
BorderRAC is a healthcare coalition with a comprehensive interprofessional membership of hospitals, EMS, and other healthcare agencies and has expanded its role. BorderRAC committees work to reduce injury, illness and preventable deaths in the areas of trauma, stroke, heart disease, pediatrics, and neonates.
BorderRAC is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping residents of our region in the education and prevention of injury and disease and healthcare emergencies and disaster preparedness.
Executive Board (Revised October. 2019)
Todd Haugen - Chair
BBA, LP
Memorial Medical Center
Carlos Alarcon - Secretary
NR-Paramedic
The Hospitals of Providence
Carla Escobar - Treasurer
BSN, RN
University Medical Center of El Paso
Sandra Gonzalez - Chair Elect
MSN, RN
University Medical Center of El Paso
Alex Ramos - Ex-Officio
MSN, RN, CCRN
The Hospitals of Providence
Leadership
Wanda Helgesen - Executive Director
MSN, RN
BorderRAC
Acute Care Services Committee Chair
Valeria Blair
MSN, RN
Del Sol Medical Center
Subcommittees:
- Cardiac - Chair
- Alexa Timbrook, RN, BSN, CCPC - University Medical Center of El Paso
- Hospital Trauma - Chair
- Valeria Blair, RN, BSN - Del Sol Medical Center
- Regional Registry - Chair
- Karla Parra - The Hospitals of Providence
- Pediatric - Chair
- Elen Gutierrez-Rodriguez, RN, BSN - The Hospitals of Providence - Memorial Campus
- Stroke - Chair
- Cristina Ramirez, RN, BSN, MA - The Hosptials of Providence - Sierra Campus
EMS Committee Chair
Gus Tavarez
NR-Paramedic
El Paso Fire Department
Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee Chair
Imelda Cazarez
CHSP
Hospitals of Providence
Perinatal Committee Co-Chairs
Camile Gerdes - Maternal Chair
MSN, RN
El Paso Children's Hospital
Sandra Olivas - Neonatal Chair
MSN, RN
The Hospitals of Providence
Prevention Committee Chair
Julia Perez
RN, MSN
Hospitals of Providence - East Campus
Regional System PI Committee
Alan Tyroch
MD, FACS
Texas Tech University
Subcommittees
- Professional Education - Chair
- Stephen Flaherty, MD, FACS - Del Sol Medical Center
Community At-Large Representatives
David Palafox
MD, DABFP, FAAFP
Community-At-Large
El Paso First Healthplans, Inc.
Teresa Souza
Community-At-Large
APR
Craig R. Roberts, J.D.
Community-At-Large
New York Life Insurance Company
New Mexico Rural-At-Large Representative
Kenneth Lujan
LP
AMR Medical Transportation
Las Cruces
Physician At-Large Representative
Mark Lawson
MD
Fabens Clinic
Texas Rural At-Large Representative
VACANT