Unified Health Care Leaders Launch “Texas Strong” Campaign to Fight COVID-19

December 2, 2020

 PSA Seeks to Unify Texans Against Coronavirus

   

AUSTIN (12/2/2020) – A new campaign starting today aims to tap into Texas pride to encourage everyone to protect one another from COVID-19. A unified team of several health care groups released a new public service announcement titled “Texas Strong,” developed by Austin-based agency GSD&M. The PSA encourages Texans to come together to fight COVID-19 by wearing masks to protect one another. It features two Texans – Grammy award-winning musician Lyle Lovett and singer-songwriter Lisa Morales – who lend their voices to narrate the English and Spanish versions.

The TV spot highlights the strength of Texans coming together for the common goal to stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities. “What makes us strong is us,” the spot says. By wearing a mask, Texans are protecting themselves, their loved ones, and our health care heroes.  

The PSA and social media campaign launch at a time when coronavirus infections are spiking across Texas and the country. Positive cases and hospitalizations are continuing to surge in the Lone Star State. To counteract this rising trend, particularly as the holiday season is upon us, the five organizations – the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, Texas Medical Association, Texas Hospital Association, Texas Nurses Association, and Teaching Hospitals of Texas – urge Texans to continue to strictly follow the science-based precautions of wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently. The organizations are some of the members of the Texas Health Care Industry Strike Force on COVID-19, a large group comprising state health departments, health care associations, and academic institutions.

“The members of the Texas Health Care Industry Strike Force on COVID-19 have dedicated their careers and, in some cases, their very lives to protecting and improving the health of all Texans. In the here and now that means mask up, wash up, and physically distance," said David Fleeger, MD, Texas Medical Association immediate past president and chair of the strike force.

“Texans' dedication to maintaining COVID-19 precautions play a critical role in our fight to stop this deadly disease. Our hospitals and health care workers are working day and night to care for the ill and save lives. We need every Texan to do their part by wearing a mask, washing their hands, and staying six feet apart,” said Ted Shaw, president and CEO of the Texas Hospital Association.

“Nurses were one of the first groups to implement standard sanitation practices, which started during war,” said Tammy Eades, DNP, MSN, RN, president of the Texas Nurses Association. “Now we are in another war against COVID-19. And we will not succeed unless everyone can follow the best practices of handwashing, physical distancing, and above all, wearing masks in public.”

Airing in both English and Spanish, the PSA is supported by a broadcast media buy.

View the English version here. Spanish version here.

ABOUT THE TEXAS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 53,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 110 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

ABOUT THE TEXAS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association (THA) is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents 452 of the state’s non-federal general and specialty hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 400,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at https://twitter.com/texashospitals.

 ABOUT THE TEXAS NURSES ASSOCIATION 
The Texas Nurses Association (TNA) is a statewide membership-based professional association of licensed nurses. Founded in 1907, TNA is the oldest and largest nursing association in Texas.  

 ABOUT TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS 
The Texas Association of Community Health Centers is a private, non-profit membership association that represents safety-net health care providers in the state of Texas.

ABOUT TEACHING HOSPITALS OF TEXAS
Formed in 1986, Teaching Hospitals of Texas is the principal voice and advocate for health systems that teach the next generation of health professionals and who are united in their commitment to support policies and funding that will ensure healthcare access to all Texans.

ABOUT GSD&M
GSD&M has been building iconic brands for almost 50 years. Headquartered in the music-loving, tech-driven, creative hub that is Austin, Texas, we exist to create ideas that make a difference by cultivating First & Only ideas - ideas that are the first of their kind for the only brands that can pull them off. Our culture is restless, our people are curious, and our ideas are currency. For more information, visit GSDM.com.

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Media Inquiries:

GSD&M
John Link  Director of Brand ; (281) 381-0885

TMA
Brent Annear; (512) 656-7320
Marcus Cooper; (512) 650-5336

THA 
Carrie Williams;  (512) 971-1221

TNA 
Kanaka Sathasivan; (512) 452-0645 ext. 130

TACHC 
Brom Hogan; (512) 329-5959

THOT
 Jessica Schleifer; (512) 552-2110

Last Updated On

December 02, 2020

Originally Published On

December 02, 2020