Austin health brief: new CT technology, algae caution, and City Hall focus on uninsured mental health care

Austin-area health news this week ranged from hospital imaging upgrades to a renewed warning about potentially toxic algae in local waterways.

Hospital care: sharper CT imaging for heart and lung patients

Heart Hospital of Austin announced Feb. 24 that it has added a photon-counting CT scanner, which the hospital said is the first of its kind in Central Texas. The technology is designed to capture fine-detail images more clearly than conventional CT by converting X-ray photons directly into electrical signals, helping physicians make clinical decisions with more consistent imaging results.

In its announcement, the hospital said the scanner can support cardiology and pulmonary imaging, including for patients with more complex needs who may have been difficult to scan with older approaches. The hospital also noted the technology can be used for its HeartSaver CT scans, which look for plaque or calcium buildup in coronary arteries.

Public health: blue-green algae mats spotted in winter

The City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department issued a Feb. 24 reminder to use caution around lakes and creeks after staff observed blue-green algae mats in local waterways this winter. The city said some blue-green algae can produce toxins and that mats can look like dark blobs floating on the surface, sometimes mixed with other algae.

The city’s guidance emphasizes avoiding water that shows scum, surface film, or visible algae, and being especially cautious after recent rain. For people and pets who do enter the water, the city recommends rinsing skin or fur thoroughly afterward and not letting dogs lick their fur before rinsing. Anyone who becomes suddenly ill after water exposure should contact a medical provider or veterinarian.

Coverage and access: City Hall briefing on care for low-income and uninsured residents

On March 4, Austin City Council’s Public Health Committee is scheduled to receive an update from Central Health, CommUnityCare Health Centers, and Integral Care on the mental health system of care for low-income and uninsured people in Travis County, according to the posted agenda. The same meeting also includes a briefing from Austin Public Health on the 2025 Austin-Travis County Community Health Assessment.

Committee briefings can shape what city leaders track in the months ahead, including how services connect across providers and what gaps show up in community health data.

Sources

https://www.stdavids.com/about-us/newsroom/heart-hospital-of-austin-to-offer-new-photon-counting-ct-scanner
https://www.austintexas.gov/news/public-should-practice-caution-near-local-waterways-due-algae
https://www.austintexas.gov/department/city-council/2026/20260304-phc.htm
https://www.centralhealth.net/event/a-quorum-of-the-central-health-board-of-managers-city-of-austin-public-health-committee-central-health-communitycare-integral-care-briefing/

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