Olivia Aldridge
Health Care ReporterWhat I cover
I report on issues related to health in Travis County and the surrounding region. My work centers on local health care systems and resources — how they fit together and how they function. I’m also interested in following trends in the health care workforce and state-level decisions that affect local access to medical care.
Plus, I’m game for the occasional fun tangent, like my obsessive search for a lost time capsule.
My background
I’m from a tiny, rural town in Georgia called Monticello. Growing up, I rarely saw places like my home reflected in the media I consumed, and I wanted to hear the voices and challenges of my neighbors amplified more often. That background is at the core of why I’m passionate about local news.
I started my career as a reporter and producer for NPR member station South Carolina Public Radio. There, I focused on South Carolina’s recovery from a series of devastating floods and hurricanes. I also delved into some fun local oddities, like a small town’s belief in a giant cryptid lizard creature.
My entry into health reporting came at Community Impact, where I reported on communities in Central and Southwest Austin. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I led coverage of the pandemic in Austin, reporting on everything from the development and rollout of vaccines to hiring challenges in the nursing workforce.
I also spent a year launching, hosting and producing three local news podcasts for Community Impact covering the Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas.
Journalistic ethics
Radio may be an auditory medium, but I strive to be more of a listener than a talker. My best days at work are the ones where I get to sit down and listen to someone tell me their story without being rushed by a pressing deadline. I care about representing people honestly and with respect. I also care about being precise with the language I choose — every word carries weight.
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The diversion program offers an alternative place to go: a 24/7 psychiatric emergency services center. And a place to stay: a residential facility that provides care and case management.
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Siete Foods se fundó en 2014 y es conocida por los cambios a alimentos básicos de despensa mexicano-americanos a los que preparan sin granos.
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Siete Foods was founded in 2014 and is known for grain-free twists on Mexican-American pantry staples.
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Texas' largest nonprofit health system and its largest health insurer first announced in June that they were at odds over reimbursement rates for health care costs.
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Travis County passes Central Health budget, but emphasizes continued scrutiny of financial practicesDespite passing the budget unanimously, county commissioners had lingering concerns about the $35 million Central Health pays annually to Dell Medical School.
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The local public hospital district must receive final approval from Travis County before Oct. 1.
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Los análisis de sangre BetterWay forman parte de un creciente campo de empresas que luchan por hacerse un hueco en la industria de los análisis de sangre.
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The Black Men's Health Clinic has partnered with local barbers to be health ambassadors, working to connect clients with primary care services.
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El equipo de investigación responsable del descubrimiento ha presentado una patente para el uso del anticuerpo para fabricar tratamientos contra el COVID-19.
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The research team behind the discovery has filed a patent in anticipation of using the antibody to manufacture COVID-19 treatments.