UT Health East Texas EMS uniforms donated to Green Acres Baptist Church for missions groups around the world

Published 5:45 pm Monday, June 4, 2018

The University of Texas Health East Texas EMS delivered several hundred outdated uniforms to a Tyler church with plans to send the clothing to missions groups in developing countries.

The East Texas Medical Center was acquired by the UT Health System and Ardent Health Services in March and the hospital and other medical services are in the process of rebranding, including the EMS ambulances and uniforms. The outdated uniforms have gone to Green Acres Baptist Church, which will decide where the clothing will be sent.

John Smith, CEO of EMS operations for UT Health East Texas, said the health system is donating the uniforms internationally to avoid confusion.

“Everyone’s used to seeing that teal color, that teal brand walk in and associating that with ETMC,” Smith said. “As we transition to UT, you’ll still have the same staff coming in, but they’ll be coming in a gray and white uniform. The very reason we didn’t want to donate these pants locally is they’re so recognizable.”

The shirts will be sent to Green Acres after the ETMC logos are removed from the sleeves.

Missions Executive Assistant at Green Acres Casie Cook said the church is still deciding where the donated clothing will go. The church partners with 16 missions organizations across the world operating in developing countries.

“It’s wonderful to be able to send these out with our missions teams,” Cook said. “We’ll know how they’re going to be used when we find out where they’re going, but they’ll be put to good use.

Other organizations also were offered the uniforms, and Green Acres responded first, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Smith said the EMS teams are glad the uniforms will continue being used to assist people.

“It speaks volumes to our crews that these pants are going somewhere,” Smith said. “The EMS pants cost about $16 a piece, so to be able to be used elsewhere is good. We would hate for them to not be used for another good cause.”

Rebecca Berkley, director of public relations for UT Health East Texas Tyler, said it will take a while to complete the branding transition from East Texas Medical Center to UT Health. Six of the 50 ambulances have been repainted to match the new brand; some hospital scrubs have been changed to the new colors and helicopters are expected to be rebranded by July.

Twitter: @ByJamesHartley