Who We Are
Network 14 encompasses the state of Texas, which is the second largest state in land area behind Alaska with 267 thousand square miles of land. Texas is also the second most populous state in the nation behind California with an estimated population of 23.5 million residents in 2006. The state population increased 12.7 percent from April 2000 to July 2006 compared to the US increase of 6.4 percent. In 2006, nearly 8.0 percent of the nation’s population resided in Texas. The metropolitan areas (Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas) show fast population growth whereas most of the non metropolitan counties continued to record either a slow growth or population decline. In 2005, three cities in Texas were among the largest ten cities in the US: Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. San Antonio was the third fastest growing city in the US, with Houston and Fort Worth in fifth and sixth place respectively.
Minority groups will make up increasing percentages of the Texas population in the next three decades. Since 2004, Texas has been a "majority-minority" state with minority being defined as all people except single-race, non-Hispanic whites. According to 2006 state and county population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, Texas had a minority population of 12.5 million, comprising 51.4 percent of the population with 48.6 percent being Anglo. In 2005, nearly one in five Hispanics in the US called Texas home, with 19 percent (8.2 million) of the total US Hispanic population residing in Texas, the third highest state for percent Hispanic population behind California and New Mexico. The state Hispanic growth is fueled in nearly equal measure by immigration and natural increase. The immigration increase is of concern in the ESRD arena due to predictable problems for immigrants in obtaining health care, particularly in a population that is predisposed to diabetes, and thus ESRD. Additionally, Texas ranks near the highest among States for uninsured population.
African Americans, at 11.3 percent in 2006, are expected to make up 9 percent of the Texas population by the year 2010, decreasing from 12 percent in 1998. Other ethnic groups are projected to comprise 8 percent of the state’s population in 2010. The age of the general population is also expected to change. In 2005, 9.9 percent of the Texas population was over the age of 65 compared to 12.4 percent in the US. By the year 2030, it is estimated that 17 percent of Texas residents will be over 65 years of age.
Network Structure
The Network organizational structure is capable of supporting all activities of the Network, especially the comprehensive Quality Management Program. In addition to Network staff, there are three primary committees: the Network Council, Board of Directors (Executive Committee), and the Medical Review Board.