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In Touch
Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation
September 2009
Welcome to Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation's monthly e-newsletter established to keep our friends up to date and in touch with the latest news on the Foundation and the Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals we support.
In this Issue
17th annual Black & White Gala Raises $226,000 for Texas Health Cleburne Programs
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Howard and Sherry Dudley
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More than 700 guests attended the 17th annual Black & White Gala on August 8 at the new Omni Fort Worth Hotel and their generosity was apparent in the more than $226,000 raised.
Their giving spirit provides support to vital hospital programs and services at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne, including Shots for Tots, Mammograms are a Must, Know Your PSA, and Ladders in Nursing Careers.
During the evening of dinner and dancing, attendees raised funds by bidding on live, big board and silent auction items.
Key auction items included an acoustic concert by local country music star Steve Helms with a catered barbecue dinner at a private home, which sold twice for a total of $9,000 raised, and a trip to the Rocky Mountains courtesy of AirTran Airways with a five to seven day stay in a three bedroom condo in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colo., which sold for $6,000.
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Planned Giving
Each month, we feature on our Web site new articles and interactive features that cover topics such as estate planning and charitable giving. We hope it will be a useful resource for you.
Time is Running Out
If you're 70 1/2 or older, you can make tax-free gifts up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to qualified charities like ours. But don't wait long — this opportunity expires Dec. 31, 2009.
Three Small Moves that Can Pay Off at Year-End
The end of the year is an opportune time to be tax-savvy with your finances. To protect your money and cash in on valuable tax deductions, the time to start planning is now. Making a few smart moves now may just keep more dollars in your pocket when tax time rolls around.
Avoid Capital Gains Tax on Your Appreciated Property
Before you sell your stock, mutal fund shares or other property that has increased in value since you bought it, find out how to avoid the tax bill you will likely owe on the capital gain.
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TexasHealth.org Now Easily Accessible on Mobile Devices
Users of various wireless handhelds and smart phones can now conveniently access a new interface for TexasHealth.org that is optimized for mobile devices.
This new feature distills the award-winning content on TexasHealth.org into five principal categories most likely to be needed by busy people on the go.
Visitors can also find convenient links to the official Texas Health pages on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Texas Health is the only health care system in North Texas to offer a mobile interface for its consumer Web site.
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Healthy Bites
By Amy Goodson, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., L.D.
Executive Health Program Registered Dietitian
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
What is Healthy Fat?
You might hear about "healthy" or "good" fat in the media. But what is it and what does it do for you? Unsaturated, or "good" fat, helps blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels improve. Fat is good in the diet in adequate amounts. It provides insulation, transports and stores fat-soluble vitamins, and helps cushion organs. But we want to try to consume more of the "good" fats that don't stick to your arteries.
- Good or unsaturated fats: Nuts/seeds, peanut butter, almond butter, olive oil, avocado, flaxseed and flaxseed products, omega 3 in fish, like salmon
- Bad or saturated fats: Fried foods, pastries/baked goods, heavily processed desserts, white and thick creamy sauces and dressings, fat from meat, whole-fat dairy
For more information or to set up a nutrition appointment, please call the Executive Health Program at 817-250-3933.
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Legacy of Quality Patient Care Continues at Texas Health Fort Worth
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Texas Health Fort Worth employees
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On Aug. 25, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth was re-designated as a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the nation's largest and leading nursing credentialing organization within the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Because of continued efforts to provide quality patient care, Texas Health Fort Worth is among the ranks of only 6 percent of hospitals nationwide that have achieved the coveted Magnet status, the most prestigious designation honoring nursing quality.
In 2005, Texas Health Fort Worth became the 142nd in the country and the first in Tarrant County to become Magnet designated. And this year, the hospital became the first in Tarrant County to be re-designated.
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Texas Health HEB Named Primary Stroke Center
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford has been designated as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization whose accreditation and certification is recongized as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to meeting certain performance standards.
"Every member of our team has worked diligently to receive this prestigious designation," said hospital president Deborah Paganelli, FACHE. "Morning or evening, weekdays or weekends, patients with signs of a stroke can expect to receive the same leading-edge stroke intervention and care for which we are being recognized by The Joint Commission."
Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke. According to the American Heart Association stroke is the third largest cause of death, ranking behind heart disease and all forms of cancer.
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Texas Health Hospitals to Receive Financial Awards
A total of 12 Texas Health entities participated in the Premier-Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) health care alliance Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) pay-for-performance project; they will receive 56 financial performance awards totaling $363,801. Each of the hospitals attained or exceeded quality benchmarks in one or more areas of care measured in the national project.
Areas of care included heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and hip and knee surgical services. The HQID project is the first national project of its kind, designed to determine if economic incentives to hospitals are effective at improving the quality of inpatient care.
Texas Health Southwest, Texas Health Cleburne, Texas Health Azle and Texas Health Plano all achieved Top Performer awards; Texas Health Dallas and Texas Health Fort Worth achieved attainment awards in every clinical area measured; and Texas Health Stephenville was recognized for its efforts in treating patients with heart failure, hip and knee surgical services, and pneumonia.
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Save the Date
Mark your calendar and don't miss these exciting fundraising events!
October 19, 2009: 18th annual Golf Tournament
Presented by Balfour Beatty Construction; come play 18 holes to celebrate 18 years of this important fundraising event supporting the Bernard C. Alger Cancer Fund. Held at Timarron Country Club in Southlake, event proceeds benefit cancer education, support programs and screenings at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. For more information and to get involved, call Tammy Sims at 817-317-5244.
December 4, 2009: Texas Health HEB Gala
Formerly held in the spring, this revitalized gala features a new format focused on dinner, dancing and fun at the Marriott Las Colinas. All proceeds raised will go directly to support the Bluebonnet Retreat, an adult cancer camp. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Cathy R. Sheffield at 817-317-5252.
Dec. 12, 2009: Breakfast with St. NICUlas
Held at the Fort Worth Club, children and families are in a Winter Wonderland complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live entertainment and a full breakfast. This second annual event supports nursing priorities at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth while also making the NICU staff feel appreciated for their extraordinary work and commitment to the tiny babies and their families. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Tasa Anderson at 817-317-5243.
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