Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston has received a resignation letter from Dr. Jessica King, family medicine physician. King, an employee of TCMH since 2020, said she is leaving TCMH for personal reasons, officials report. She will work at TCMH until April 23.
Bill Bridges, interim CEO at TCMH, expressed his disappointment, stating that TCMH is saddened to see a physician leave a rural area, especially someone like Dr. King, who has found her niche at TCMH and in the Houston community. It is challenging for both the hospital and the community to lose her.
Bridges explained that the board of trustees and administration fully support King's decision, considering what was best for her and her family.
“Dr. King has been an integral part of this organization,” Bridges said. “We extend our sincere gratitude for her tireless efforts and unwavering support, which have played a vital role in the success of our healthcare system.”
In addition, Bridges and King have agreed to keep the door open for her should she wish to return to TCMH.
“Recruiting and retaining physicians in rural areas can be challenging,” Bridges said. There’s a lot of competition for good physicians and a significant shortage of qualified practitioners, which makes it difficult to attract and keep them in underserved areas.”
Drs. Tricia Benoist, a family medicine and obstetrics physician, and John Carr, an internal medicine physician, are currently accepting new patients at the Medical Office Complex in Houston. Additionally, two family medicine physicians, William Errico and Amit Shah, have started practicing at TCMH, said officials Errico began his practice in August 2023, while Shah started practicing in fall 2022. Both are accepting new patients.
