By Diane Smith-Pinckney

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and the Texas Health Resources Foundation donated 15 AEDs to the Parker County Hospital District (PCHD) Emergency Medical Services — a gift that will help patients with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

“Every minute matters,” said Jared Shelton, FACHE, president of Texas Health Fort Worth.  “By donating these AEDs, we are providing our community with the tools it needs to save lives in the moments it matters most.”

Donation dollars from Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Willow Park also helped support this gift.

PCHD EMS is leading an effort to become a 4 Minute Community. The national program is designed to dramatically increase the survival rate from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest.

“We are deeply grateful to Texas Health Resources for their generous donation of AEDs to the Parker County Hospital District,” said Randy Bacus, CEO of the hospital district. “This partnership brings us one step closer to building a true 4 Minute Community in Parker County, where no one must wait more than four minutes for lifesaving CPR and defibrillation in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.”

This donation was made possible by gifts provided to the Texas Health Resources Foundation specifically for Texas Health Fort Worth’s 365 Fund. The Foundation supports vital programs, education, technology, and other needs across the Texas Health system.

This donation is part of Texas Health’s continued work supporting emergency services and providing resources in North Texas to meet the evolving needs of growing communities.

Texas Health Fort Worth, a designated Level I Trauma Center, serves a growing number of patients from North Texas and beyond. Last year, 6,800 trauma patients were treated at Texas Health Fort Worth.

Texas Health Willow Park, part of Texas Health Fort Worth, provides 24/7 emergency care, serves as a vital access point for lifesaving interventions in Parker County. In 2024, there were 17,266 visitors to the Texas Health Willow Park Emergency Department. 

“Providing these AEDs complements Willow Park’s role in the community, helping bridge the gap between early intervention and hospital-based care,” said Emily Delgado, M.H.A., administrator at Texas Health Willow Park.