News Releases -

New Medical Office Building Opens on Texas Health Arlington Memorial Campus

Developed, owned and operated by Cambridge Healthcare Properties, the new medical office building is located on the campus of Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital.

ARLINGTON, Texas — A new medical office building is helping meet the health care needs of individuals in Arlington and surrounding communities. The Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital Medical Office Building will house medical providers that offer cardiac services, cancer treatment, orthopedic services and a senior care clinic.

“This uniquely designed medical community is a key component to meeting the healthcare demands of the North Texas area we serve,” said Kirk King, Texas Health Arlington Memorial president. “It was a collaborative effort with physicians on the medical staff to creatively design a patient-centric facility that truly offers ease of access and wayfinding for those we serve.”

Developed, owned and operated by Cambridge Healthcare Properties, the new medical office building is located on the campus of Texas Health Arlington Memorial. To address the needs of the community, the old “900” office building remained open while Cambridge executed the construction project in phases. Last March, construction for the new 56,000-square-foot building began.

“This beautiful new facility reflects our commitment to excellence, and it will allow us to continue to grow orthopedic services and foster geriatric-centered care. An added bonus is the curb-side appeal the building contributes to our campus’ north façade along Randol Mill Road,” King said.

The building will house medical providers that offer cardiac services, cancer treatment, orthopedic services and a senior care clinic.

Along with previous services offered at the old facility, the addition of orthopedic and senior care services is helping address the health care needs of North Texas residents. The new facility will house Orthopedic Medicine Specialists, led by Dr. Joseph Borrelli, orthopedic department chair at Texas Health Arlington Memorial; and Arlington Internal Medicine Group, led by medical director Dr. David Lee, an internal medicine physician on the medical staff at Texas Health Arlington Memorial.

Both organizations are affiliated with Texas Health Physicians Group — Texas Health Resources’ 501(a) not-for-profit health corporation that encompasses more than 800 physicians and varied clinicians dedicated to providing safe, quality care for North Texas patients.

Borrelli and his staff offer several orthopedic services that include joint replacement; arthritis and osteoporosis treatment; bone reconstruction; hand surgery; and post-trauma bone reconstruction.

Lee’s office serves the primary care needs of individuals 18 years of age and older by specializing in preventive care; promoting health and wellness; and by providing chronic illness management. By the end of June, Orthopedic Medicine Specialists will be the final office to move into the new two-story building. Other offices include Texas Oncology, HeartPlace and Quest Diagnostics.

About Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital
Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital is a 369-bed acute-care, full-service medical center serving Arlington and the surrounding communities since 1958. The hospital’s services include comprehensive cardiac care, women’s services, orthopedics, an advanced imaging center and emergency services. Texas Health Arlington Memorial is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Arlington.

About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education. For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

About Texas Health Physicians Group
Texas Health Physicians Group (THPG) is Texas Health Resources’ 501(a) not-for-profit health corporation. THPG includes more than 800 physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and medical professionals dedicated to providing safe, quality care for our patients. In addition to our primary and specialty practices, the THPG network includes sleep lab services, infusion services, diagnostic imaging and chiropractic services in more than 200 locations in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Johnson, Parker and Tarrant counties.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Resources on List of Best Places to Work in IT

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources has been selected by IDG’s Computerworld magazine as one of the top 100 workplaces for information technology (IT) professionals. Texas Health ranked No. 31 in the national survey.

The honor is part of the weekly IT publication’s annual “Best Places to Work in IT” survey, which was published in the June 17 issue of Computerworld and online.

Since 1994, Computerworld’s annual “Best Places to Work in IT” feature has ranked the top 100 work environments for technology professionals, based on a comprehensive questionnaire regarding company offerings in categories such as benefits, diversity, career development, training and retention.

“Our skilled information technology professionals are helping us transform the delivery of health care in North Texas,” said Jonathan Scholl, Texas Health chief strategy officer and executive vice president. “Finding and taking care of our dedicated workers is a top priority at Texas Health.”

Texas Health information technology professionals, like all system employees, are encouraged to take care of themselves to be more productive for work, family and personal responsibilities. Programs at Texas Health that help employees with this include:

Tuition reimbursement is available for full-time employees for up to $5,250 annually for clinical degrees and $4,000 for non-clinical programs. Part-time employees are also eligible for tuition reimbursement up to $2,625 annually for clinical degrees and $2,000 for non-clinical programs.
The Employee Assistance Program provides free or low cost tools and resources that assist employees with managing life’s challenges.
Employees are eligible to receive up to one work day of paid time off annually for performing community service.
Based on years of service, employees can earn up to $1.25 for every $1.00 contributed up to 6 percent of pay in the 401(k) retirement plan.

Texas Health was recently named one of the “2013 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” by the National Business Group on Health. The system again earned the Gold distinction for its commitment to promoting a healthy workplace and encouraging employees and their families to maintain healthy lifestyles through its “Be Healthy” employee wellness program. Texas Health is also the No. 1 healthiest large employer in North Texas, according to the Dallas Business Journal in 2013.

In addition to benefits enjoyed by all Texas Health employees, IT professionals benefit from programs such as Connections, in which they spend at least a half day with a clinician annually. The program reinforces the impact that staffers’ jobs have on patient care. Additionally, many project teams work from home, taking advantage of social networking to build productivity. Employee development is pervasive and includes mentoring programs.

“At Texas Health we believe in working hard, working smart and celebrating together. Knowing that we care for our co-workers and they want the best for us helps build the spirit of compassion that is essential in the health care profession,” said Edward Marx, Texas Health chief information officer.

About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, Huguley Memorial Medical Center, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Cancer Services at Texas Health Fort Worth Receives National Award

FORT WORTH, Texas — Cancer care at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth ranks among 79 outstanding programs nationwide, according to the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.

Based on on-site surveys performed in 2012, the commission honored Texas Health Fort Worth with an Outstanding Achievement Award for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. The program was evaluated on 29 standards within cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services and quality improvement, along with eight rigorous commendation standards.

“What makes our patient care exceptional is that we personalize it to meet our patients’ individual needs and treat the whole person — mind, body and spirit,” said Sue Shields, M.B.A., R.N., NE-BC, director of cancer services at Texas Health Fort Worth. “Patients can expect to receive high quality, evidence-based care in line with standards set by the commission.”

The Texas Health Fort Worth cancer care program includes:

Cancer detection and treatment through a multidisciplinary, team approach;
Nurse navigators who help with care coordination and patient advocacy;
A cancer health kiosk that uses a touch screen to guide patients through information about cancer diagnosis, medication, and treatment options;
A Cancer Boutique and Resource Center with tools and information that assist cancer survivors with their specific needs;
Advanced technology, including 3D mammography to better detect breast tumors and abnormalities; and
The Wellness for Life mobile medical unit that offers the community easy accessibility to many types of screening and early detection services.

For more information on cancer care at Texas Health Fort Worth, visit TexasHealth.org/fortworthcancer. For a list of cancer programs nationwide honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2012, visit facs.org.

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth is 726-bed, Magnet-designated regional referral center that has served the residents of Tarrant County since 1930. The hospital’s services include cardiovascular services, high-risk and routine obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics and sports medicine, neonatal intensive care, and trauma/emergency medicine. Texas Health Fort Worth is also home to the 100-bed Texas Health Harris Methodist Heart Center. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Fort Worth has more than 4,000 employees, 200 volunteers and nearly 1,000 physicians practicing on the medical staff. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/FortWorth.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Azle Attorney Thankful to be Breathing Easier

AZLE, Texas —Azle resident Gracie Galindo knew something was wrong. She had been experiencing dizzy spells for weeks. At first, the busy attorney and mother of two attributed it to stress and resolved to rest more. Then the shoulder pains began.

Galindo thought she’d pulled a muscle, but the pain kept getting worse until she began having trouble breathing.

“I kept thinking, I am not having a heart attack,” she said. “Something about the pain just didn’t seem to fit with a heart attack.”

She began to pay more attention to her symptoms and researched them online. When she was woken by sharp chest pain in the middle of the night, she knew it was time to do something. She immediately went to the Emergency Room at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle.

Doctors first administered an electrocardiogram (EKG) to test for a heart attack. When it came back negative, they ran a computed tomography (CT) imaging test to determine what else could be causing her symptoms. What they found surprised them.

Galindo was suffering from pulmonary embolism — a highly lethal type of blood clot that travels to the lungs and often requires emergency medical attention to treat. She was lucky to be alive.

“It is important to know the signs of pulmonary embolus,” said Dr. Richard Niles, a hospitalist on the medical staff at Texas Health Azle. “Rapid response is crucial in preventing serious complications because sometimes the symptoms can progress very quickly.”

Common factors that can increase the risk of developing pulmonary embolism include: prolonged periods of inactivity; recent surgery on hips, legs or knees; smoking; and extreme obesity. Many patients with pulmonary embolism experience chest pain. Other symptoms can include:

Coughing
Rapid breathing
Rapid heart rate and/or shortness of breath
Clammy skin and dizziness
Anxiety

Galindo is thankful that she arrived at the hospital in time and thankful for the physician who worked past her shift to make a diagnosis. Today, she is working to get back to her normal workout routine and is more watchful of her health and well-being.

“As women, we are always so busy taking care of others that a lot of us ignore our own health issues,” she said. “I was in shock when I received my diagnosis because I never get sick. If I’d waited any longer, it could have been deadly. This was an eye opener for me and I hope my story can inspire others.”

For more information on how to increase your well-being, visit TexasHealth.org/Well-Being.

Texas Health Southwest Volunteer Receives Regional Award

FORT WORTH, Texas — Al Wexler, a volunteer at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, was recently named Volunteer of the Year by the Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council Foundation. The presentation was made during the organization’s annual luncheon to recognize excellence in health care.

Wexler, 94, has dedicated the last 18 years of his life to serving his community, including the last 10 as a volunteer at Texas Health Southwest.

“Al is an invaluable member of the volunteer team here at Texas Health Southwest,” said Cyndi Martin, gift shop manager and volunteer coordinator. “He is always here to help and does anything that anyone asks. He is more dependable than the postal carrier!”

After retiring from a 51-year career at Lockheed Martin, the avid walker began looking for volunteer opportunities close to his home. He found his niche volunteering at neighborhood schools, museums, the zoo and Texas Health Southwest. For 18 years, his volunteer service has gone uninterrupted.

“Volunteering gives me a great sense of accomplishment,” said Wexler. “It’s very rewarding to be able to help someone, and I like feeling like I still have something to contribute.”

The DFWHC Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) (3) public charity with a mission to continually improve the community’s health by promoting safe, high quality, cost effective, accessible and equitable healthcare and by strengthening the workforce through education, research and collaboration.

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth is a 230-bed acute care, full-service facility that has provided quality and compassionate care to the residents of southwest Tarrant County for more than two decades. The hospital’s services include surgical and imaging services, a 24-hour emergency department, orthopedics and sports therapy, adult critical care, and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth has 992 employees, 120 volunteers, and 578 members on the medical staff. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Southwest.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Resources University Opens Doors to North Texas Community

DALLAS — As the health care needs of North Texans increase, Texas Health Resources University (THRU), located on the campus of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, is standing ready to meet those challenges by training prospective medical professionals.

With her son by her side, Christina Battle receives the first Certified Nursing Assistant program scholarship at the Texas Health Resources University open house. The award was presented by Texas Health Dallas President Britt Berrett, Ph.D.
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Dallas resident and mom Christina Battle had always felt a calling to help others, and now she’ll be part of the first group of students attending THRU’s Certified Nursing Assistant program beginning this month.

“When I heard about the course being offered I knew this was an opportunity for me to explore possible career opportunities for the future,” the 28-year-old Battle said. “The training I’ll receive will expand my knowledge in my current job and provide me with a better understanding of clinical care.”

This is the first entry level education course to be offered at THRU through a recent collaboration with the Dallas County Community College District. The program will consist of three weeks of classroom training and one week in a clinical rotation.

“Health care continues to change, and we embrace our responsibility to work collaboratively with an outstanding group of colleges to educate future healthcare professionals,” said Sarah Moody, manager of THRU. “Today, it is a group of exceptional nursing assistants — imagine what we’ll be providing into the future as we consider the growing demand for more health care professionals.”

THRU opened in the fall of 2012 and began providing continuing education courses such as advanced and basic life support to Texas Health employees and community health care professionals as well as hosting local support groups for various health conditions.

“Our purpose for being is to improve the health in the communities we serve,” said Britt Berrett, Ph.D., president of Texas Health Dallas. “For that reason, the creation of a Certified Nursing Assistant Program is a tremendous blessing to the community and aligned with our mission.”

For more information or to learn about upcoming courses, visit TexasHealth.org/THRU or contact Moody at 214-345-4280 or SarahMoody@texashealth.org.

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is an 898-bed acute care hospital and recognized clinical program leader, having provided compassionate care to the residents of Dallas and surrounding communities since 1966. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Texas Health Dallas among the nation’s best hospitals in digestive disorders, orthopedics, and neurology and neurosurgery. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Dallas has approximately 4,000 employees and an active medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Dallas.

Texas Health Fort Worth Celebrates Construction Milestone, Naming of Emergency Care Center

Texas Health Resources Foundation Board Chairman Philip Moroneso speaks at the topping out ceremony.
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Texas Health Fort Worth announced plans to name the 75,000 square-foot facility the Marion Emergency Care Center.
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Texas Health Fort Worth President Lillie Biggins signs a beam that will be placed in the Marion Emergency Care Center.
Click photo to download hi-res image

FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth administrators celebrated a milestone in the construction of the new $57.7 million emergency care center today with a tree topping out ceremony.

One of building construction’s oldest customs, a tree topping out ceremony is celebrated when the last beam of the building’s framework is put into place. A tree is placed at the top of the building to represent growth and good luck for the future.

The three-story, 75,000-square-foot emergency care center, planned for completion in January 2014, will nearly triple the square footage of the existing department and increase patient capacity from 63 to 90 beds.

“Our new emergency care center is the culmination of years of soliciting input from multiple city- and county-wide organizations in order to best create a facility that responds to the needs of our community,” said Dr. John Geesbreght, the hospital’s medical director of emergency services. “I believe Texas Health Fort Worth has done just that.”

In addition to the celebration of construction progress, the Texas Health Resources Foundation announced and recognized lead donors to the project during the ceremony. Community gifts and pledges have already exceeded $13 million in support of the center’s $57 million budget.

“Philanthropy has been important to the development of this incredible campus over the past 80-plus years,” said Texas Health Resources Foundation Board Chairman Philip Moroneso. “Support for this project has been particularly outstanding, which reflects that there is broad understanding of how important a new Emergency Department will be to the community.”

Texas Health Resources Foundation President Jay McAuley said $20 million or more will be secured toward the project before its scheduled opening in January 2014.

Special recognition was offered to The Burnett Foundation of Fort Worth for committing the lead gift to the project. To recognize the gift, Texas Health Fort Worth announced plans to name the 75,000 square-foot facility the Marion Emergency Care Center. The naming honors Burnett Foundation President and Trustee Anne Marion.

In addition to recognition of The Burnett Foundation, thanks were expressed to other lead donors whose support has been critical to funding progress. Those included: Texas Medicine Resources, LLP; the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Auxiliary; the Amon G. Carter Foundation; the Preston M. Geren family; and Crystelle Waggoner Trust, Bank of America.

For more information on the Marion Emergency Care Center, visit TexasHealth.org/FWTrauma.

About Texas Health Resources Foundation
Texas Health Resources Foundation strives to enhance the delivery of quality patient care by joining with committed donors to sustain the long-term fiscal viability of Texas Health Resources. The Foundation raises funds that support clinical, educational and research programs across the Texas Health system. Together with generous supporters, the Foundation fulfills a critical role in continuing the mission of Texas Health to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve. For more information about Texas Health Resources Foundation, visit TexasHealth.org/Giving.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health HEB to offer Safe Sitter® Program

BEDFORD, Texas — While a comprehensive training manual has yet to be invented for parents, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is offering a practical class for teenagers who are interested in babysitting to earn extra money.

Texas Health HEB is offering three sessions of the two-day Safe Sitter® classes this summer to teach adolescent babysitters how to handle a crisis, keep their charges secure, perform CPR and care for a choking child, prevent and manage problem behavior, and other child care essentials.

“Babysitting is a huge responsibility,” said Carol Speed, certified Safe Sitter instructor and community health educator at Texas Health HEB. “This course helps the babysitters understand what is involved and how to handle most situations, and parents can feel confident that their babysitter has received proper training.”

Participants ages 11 to 14 will be taught by a certified Safe Sitter instructor on June 13-14, July 1-2 and July 18-19. Classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m each day. Classes will be taught at the Siratt Women’s Center classroom at Texas Health HEB, located at 1600 Hospital Parkway in Bedford. There is a $75 cost to cover the materials and classes are limited to 12 students.

To register, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355). Registration is also online at TexasHealth.org/HEB (click on Classes and Events Calendar).

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is a 284-bed, acute-care facility serving Northeast Tarrant County since 1973. The hospital’s services include outpatient surgery, women’s services, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a dedicated oncology care unit, cardiac rehabilitation and psychiatric and addiction treatment. Texas Health HEB is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/HEB.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Physician Helps Patients Eliminate Chronic Pain at Press of a Button

ARLINGTON, Texas — After suffering from chronic pain for more than 10 years, Wes Woodworth never imagined he’d be able to one day eliminate his excruciating back and leg pain at the press of a button.

Dr. Vivek Metha (left), with Wes and Debi Woodworth

The Precision Spectra spinal cord stimulator uses 32 lead wire contacts to expand the level of coverage.

“Now I can walk and jog a couple of miles each day or even mow the grass,” said 37-year-old Woodworth. “My quality of life has increased tremendously. Instead of constant pain, I feel a relaxing, tingling sensation along my back and in my legs. I never thought it would be possible, but I’m back to doing things I could only do years ago.”

Last month, Dr. Vivek Mehta, medical director of pain management at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and physician on the medical staff, became the first physician in Arlington to use new technology. It allows physicians to pinpoint and customize pain transmitters from 150,000 possible points along the spinal cord, and help patients manage chronic pain.

The Precision Spectra spinal cord stimulator uses 32 lead wire contacts to expand the level of coverage across the spinal cord. Other devices typically use 16 lead wires.

“Spinal cord stimulation has been around since the 1970s, but this non-invasive procedure allows the physician and the patient to collaborate and address the areas of chronic pain throughout the body,” Mehta said. “Using a hand-held remote, similar to a cell phone, the patient pushes a button that sends electrical impulses to nerve fibers along the spinal cord, which in turn, masks the pain messages delivered to the brain.”

During a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure, the physician places 32 wires directly under the skin, attaching them to the spine. A pulse generator is also implanted near the patient’s left or right hip. The wireless, hand-held remote control allows the patient to adjust the levels of the electrical impulses, depending on his or her degree of pain.

According to a report by the Institute of Medicine, 100 million Americans live with chronic pain. Without relief, many individuals find it hard to sleep, work and function on a daily basis. That equates to a cost close to $600 billion a year in medical care and lost productivity. Woodworth’s chronic pain cost him his job in the military.

A Navy veteran, Woodworth served five years while dealing with chronic back and leg pain. “I was scuttling up and down ladders carrying heavy oxygen tanks, and that extra weight only added to the pain and my injuries.”

Along with the chronic back pain, Woodworth was suffering from myositis in his right leg and inguinal nerve damage. In 2005, Woodworth was honorably discharged, but still battling excruciating pain.

“To help with my pain management, I used to take high doses of all kinds of pain medication,” Woodworth said. “But last year, Dr. Mehta became my physician and helped give me my life back; he’s a godsend in my eyes. I don’t know where I’d be without him or this implant.”

Mehta’s goal is to eventually wean Woodworth off of his medication completely. Before the procedure, he took high doses of several prescribed pain medications. According to Woodworth, his dosage is extremely low, thanks to the spinal cord stimulator. “I used to walk around like a zombie — not anymore.”

Spinal cord stimulation may be appropriate for patients with chronic pain in the back or lower limbs, those suffering from neuropathy, or patients suffering from back pain after one or more spinal surgeries.

To learn more about Texas Health Arlington Memorial’s back and spine care services, visit TexasHealth.org/Arlington-Neuro.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Resources Receives National Award for Promoting Employee Well-Being

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources has been named one of the “2013 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” by the National Business Group on Health.

This marks the fourth year Texas Health Resources has received the award. For 2013, Texas Health again earned the Gold distinction for its commitment to promoting a healthy workplace and encouraging employees and their families to maintain healthy lifestyles through its “Be Healthy” employee wellness program.

“This year, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of our Be Healthy wellness program,” said Carla Dawson, Texas Health’s senior director of Total Health and Total Rewards. “We are exceedingly proud of the depth and success of this program. Receiving this award as recognition for supporting the healthy lifestyles of our employees is yet another reason to celebrate.”

Texas Health is among 65 U.S. employers to receive the award, which is sponsored by the National Business Group on Health’s Institute on Innovation in Workforce Well-being. Gold award winners were honored for making cultural and environmental changes and developing comprehensive programs that support employees’ healthy lifestyle goals. The underlying goal of the award program is to encourage all employers to take action.

Through Be Healthy, part of Texas Health’s comprehensive benefits package, employees can earn up to $225 annually by completing elements of the program. Texas Health also offers many innovative ways to help employees better understand and manage their health: complex and chronic patient management; tobacco-cessation programs; on-site fitness centers; health fairs; fitness challenges; maternity support; lifestyle coaching; diabetes education; medical nutrition therapy; and on-site hospital case management. Employees also can take advantage of employee assistance and Weight Watchers at Work programs.

The National Business Group on Health is the nation’s only nonprofit membership organization of large employers that is devoted exclusively to finding solutions to employee health care and related benefits issues.

“We are pleased to honor Texas Health Resources for its ongoing commitment to providing lifestyle improvement programs that encourage healthy lifestyles for their employees,” said Helen Darling, president and CEO of the National Business Group on Health. “Texas Health Resources is among an elite group of organizations that are leading the way to promoting healthy workplaces and lifestyles. Texas Health and its management team should be proud of their commitment to their program and we congratulate them on receiving this award.”

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Dallas Honors 'Magnetic' Nurses

DALLAS — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas recently held its 22nd annual Nursing Awards ceremony recognizing the hospital’s finest nurses and caregivers. Texas Health Dallas honored eight winners who provide “magnetic” care to patients, family and the community.

The annual ceremony is sponsored by the Texas Health Resources Foundation from endowed gifts from grateful donors.

“I am extremely proud to practice beside these inspiring and talented nursing professionals,” said Cole Edmonson, D.N.P., R.N., FACHE, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Dallas. “These individuals exude excellence in their field and role model professionals living the mission to improve the lives of the people in the communities we serve. They exemplify the art and science of nursing in practices of clinical, leadership, education, and research.”

The 2013 Excellence in Nursing Award recipients are:

Andreana Baker, B.S.N., RNC-NICU, nurse supervisor in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Health Dallas, was recognized for Excellence in Nursing Leadership — Transformational Leadership. She led at the bedside and collaborated with nursing staff and physicians on the hospital’s medical staff to improve patient care. She served as a champion for the Peek-a-Boo web cam program in the NICU and extended the service to the hospital’s special care nursery unit to help parents stay connected to their babies when they can’t be at the bedside.
Christine Brooks, M.S.N., RNC-NICU, nurse manager for the level III NICU at Texas Health Dallas, was recognized for Excellence in Nursing Research, Evidence Based Practice and Innovation. With dual certifications in clinical care and nursing leadership, Brooks’ work has significantly improved patient outcomes through advocating for patients’ rights, conducting research studies and implementing evidence-based practices in the unit.
Susan Cooper, B.S.N., R.N., CPAN, nurse manager for the post anesthesia care unit at Texas Health Dallas, was named winner of the Excellence in Nursing Leadership - Exemplary Professional Practice award. She facilitated two evidence-based practice research studies, which appeared in the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, and has been accepted to present her findings internationally in Dublin Ireland later this year.
Nell Hines, B.S.N., R.N., clinical educator in the psychiatry unit at Texas Health Dallas, was recognized for Excellence in Nursing Education - Structural Empowerment. With 19 years of nursing experience, Nell served as a content expert for mental health issues and often shared her knowledge with others. She is a champion for evidence-based practice and national specialty standards in psychiatry and medical-surgery. Earlier this month, Nell was named to this year’s DFW Great 100 Nurses list.
Dana Polk, B.S.N., RNC-NICU, clinical nurse for the level III neonatal intensive care unit at Texas Health Dallas, was honored for Excellence in Clinical Nursing - Transformational Leadership. With 21 years of nursing experience, Polk led the daily TeamSTEPPS briefings and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and promote teamwork and communication. She also led ostomy care in the unit, developed a new weaning policy, and co-chaired a palliative care committee. For her work, Polk was named winner of the 2012 Nursing Excellence Award by D Magazine.
Mercy Thomas, R.N., a certified nurse in the rehabilitation unit at Texas Health Dallas, received the Excellence in Clinical Nursing - Exemplary Professional Practice award. She served as a mentor to her peers and led patient education teaching, which significantly improved satisfaction scores in the hospital’s rehabilitation unit.

In addition, the Texas Health Dallas’ Nursing Excellence Award program honored Krystal Reed as this year’s Clinical Technician of the Year and named Christina Saldivar Unit Secretary of the Year. Reed has served as a patient care technician for the newborn nursery unit at Texas Health Dallas for nine years.

“She anticipates the needs of the patients and uses her skills to care for them, often going above and beyond her assigned responsibilities,” said Unit Nurse Manager Kendra Henderson, B.S.N., RNC-LRN. Reed is actively involved with the Newborn Nursery Outreach Committee where she participates in community outreach projects like the Ronald McDonald House, March of Dimes, and a local nursing home. For her work, Reed was named the Newborn Nursery’s Employee of the Year in 2012.

Saldivar provides administrative support for the hospital’s orthopedics unit. She uses her bilingual skills to help Spanish-speaking patients during their stay at the hospital. She is among two dozen Spanish-speaking employees to become qualified bilingual interpreters through the Qualified Bilingual Interpreter program at Texas Health Dallas.

“We are so proud of our partners in care, Krystal and Christina, without whom we could not provide the excellent care that we are known for,” Edmonson said.

The annual ceremony is sponsored by the Texas Health Resources Foundation from endowed gifts from grateful donors for excellent nursing care.

Three Texas Health Plano Nurses Honored

PLANO, Texas — Nurses frequently go above and beyond their job descriptions to care for their patients. This quarter, three nurses at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano clearly stood out for those efforts.

Gale Ordonez (left), Judy Common (center), and Eva Fernandez-Start

Nurses that were recognized are: Judy Common, R.N., C.E.N., CPEN, CA/CP SANE-A-P, Eva Fernandez-Start, B.S.N., and Gale Ordonez, M.S.N., RNC-OB, C-EFM. Each received the DAISY Award, created by the DAISY Foundation to recognize nurses for their clinical skills, caring and compassion.

“We feel it’s imperative to recognize our nurses for the compassionate care and clinical expertise they provide our patients,” said Ray Kelly, R.N., M.S.N., chief nursing officer at Texas Health Plano.

Common works in the emergency department at Texas Health Plano, and has been a certified sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) nurse for 10 years. “Although she is a very busy woman, Judy still manages to practice the ‘art’ of nursing,” said Jeri Rachal, B.S.N., R.N., CPEN, nursing supervisor in the emergency room at Texas Health Plano. “She takes time to connect with our emergency patient population in a way that provides comfort and care in times of vulnerability and distress.”

Fernandez-Start works in the cardiac telemetry unit, and was recently nominated for the DAISY Award by two patients.

“Beyond the daily routines of using computers and completing numerous tasks daily, Eva has continued to provide competence, commitment, comportment and compassionate care to her patients without fail,” said Angie Marshall, MMHA, R.N., B.S.N., CCRN, clinical care manager in the telemetry unit at Texas Health Plano.

Ordonez, who works in the labor and delivery unit, was nominated for her dedication to working with nursing students. When her teaching team realized that students were having difficulty with a certain subject, Ordonez took it upon herself to develop a pre-test to help them study.

“Gale is a great asset to our department,” said Sherrie Martin, B.S.N., labor and delivery manager at Texas Health Plano. “She speaks kindness to all and education is her passion.”

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano is a 368-bed acute care hospital and recognized clinical program leader, providing technologically advanced care to Plano and surrounding areas since 1991. The hospital’s services include orthopedics, cardiovascular services, oncology, pediatrics and women’s services. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Plano has more than 1,600 employees and 1,200 physicians on the medical staff. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit TexasHealth.org/Plano.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Surgeon at Texas Health Denton to Operate Before 2,000 Peers

DENTON, Texas — On May 31, Dr. David Provost, a surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, will be part of a first for the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons.

Dr. David Provost

Provost will perform a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery at Texas Health Denton, which will broadcast to 2,000 of his colleagues at the ASMBS conference in New Orleans.

In 1999, Provost was the first surgeon in Texas to perform a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. At that time the procedure lasted 9.5 hours. Today the surgery takes less than an hour to complete.

“I am honored that my fellow surgeons selected me to perform the procedure,” Provost said. “Bariatric surgery offers morbidly obese patients the opportunity to improve their health and reduce the risk of developing obesity-related diseases such as diabetes.”

Laparoscopic surgeries involve smaller incisions that help patients recover faster and reduce the risk of post-op infections and complications.

“Dr. Provost has been an integral part of the development of the weight loss surgery program at Texas Health Denton,” said Stan Morton, hospital president. “For patients who qualify, weight loss surgery can be a key component to helping them improve their well-being.”

In 2010, Texas Health Denton announced that it had been named an American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®. The ASMBS center of excellence designation recognizes surgical programs with a demonstrated track record of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery.

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton is a 255-bed acute-care, full-service hospital that has served North Texas and southern Oklahoma since 1987. The hospital’s services include: heart and vascular; a Level III neonatal intensive care unit; orthopedics and sports medicine; neck, spine and pain management; emergency medicine; an accredited sleep center; women’s services; and a weight loss surgery program that has been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. As one of the largest employers in Denton County, Texas Health Denton has more than 900 employees and more than 300 physicians on the medical staff practicing in more than 45 specialties. Texas Health Denton is an accredited chest pain center, and is certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and designated by the State of Texas as a Primary Stroke Facility. Texas Health Denton is an affiliate of Texas Health Resources, one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health care delivery systems in the United States.

For more information on the hospital, visit TexasHealth.org/Denton.

Dance Class at Texas Health Dallas Benefits Movement Disorders Patients

Jim Rosenbloom warms up during dance class.
Click photo to download hi-res image

DALLAS — Jim Rosenbloom’s battle with Parkinson’s disease had taken a toll on his shoulder, affecting his range of motion and leaving him with the possibility of rotator cuff surgery.

As an alternative to the procedure, his physician suggested he try daily exercise. His search for just the right program led him to a class specializing in movement disorders such as Parkinson’s at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Now all he needed was a new pair of dance shoes.

“I tried physical therapy and a few other exercise programs, but those didn’t really work for me. So a friend suggested that I sign-up for this dance class,” the Dallas native said. “I never imagined exercise could be so much fun and help my condition.”

Dance instructor Misty Owens introduced the Dance for Movement Disorders class to Texas Health Dallas two years ago. She is a founding teacher of the Dance for PD program at the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn, New York.

“When I moved back to Dallas in 2010, I brought the program with me but modified it for a broader group with movement disorders,” Owens said. “The choreography is designed to increase their flexibility and fluidity in body movements.”

Participants begin the class seated and work on combinations of dance movements from modern, tap, ballet and jazz techniques. For a more unique movement experience Owens will throw in other forms of dance such as flamenco, body percussions and vocalizations.

The music alone has such a profound effect on some class members that they don’t even think about the dance movements but are captivated by a particular song.

“I feel 19 again,” Doris Soznowski said with a smile after hearing a song by The Flamingos.

From their chairs, the class progresses to the ballet barre to work on ballet and tap dance combinations. Then Owens leads the group across the floor in different rhythmic combinations and finishes with different styles of choreography such as tap dance, musical theater or world dance styles such as the polka, cha-cha or a Turkish folk dance.

Each movement is choreographed to increase flexibility and fluidity of the body.
Click photo to download hi-res image

“I always liked to dance so this doesn’t feel like work to me,” Rosenbloom said. “After three months in the class I went back to my surgeon, and he couldn’t believe the progress I’d made. He decided there was no need for surgery.”

Not only had Rosenbloom gained full use of his shoulder again, he noticed an improvement in his flexibility and, most notably, his handwriting.

“While these particular results may not happen for everyone, dancing provides a way to practice multi-tasking, which can be difficult for these patients,” said Dr. Aanchal Taneja, movement disorder specialist on the medical staff at Texas Health Dallas. “Listening to the music and performing each dance step reinforces their strategies for movement.”

Peggy Martin also found that the dance class helped in her day-to-day activities. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago, she now no longer requires one of her medications used for treatment and finds that she has more energy.

“My doctor told me that whatever I’ve been doing, to keep doing it,” Martin said. “Sometimes I’ll think, ‘I’m too tired to go to class.’ But once I’m here Misty makes the class so enjoyable that I leave here energized enough to get out and go grocery shopping.”

“These participants came together as strangers and now provide a sense of community for each other through shared experiences,” said Rachelle DuBose Caruthers, coordinator of the movement disorders education and resource center at Texas Health Dallas. “You’ll find them having lunch together, encouraging each other or showing concern if someone misses a class.”

Texas Health Dallas partners with the Dallas Area Parkinsonism Society (DAPS) to provide this free community resource. For more information about the Dance for Movement Disorders class, call 214-345-4224 or email dallasmovementdisorders@texashealth.org.

Texas Health HEB Earns Top Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

BEDFORD, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless Bedford earned an “A” grade for patient safety, according to the latest Hospital Safety Scores from The Leapfrog Group. The organization, a national watchdog on the quality and safety of hospital care, used publicly available quality and safety measures, as well as leadership commitment to creating a safe environment for patients, to come up with the letter grade.

Nationally, about a third of the 2,514 hospitals scored were ranked “A,” with the greatest number of hospitals earning a “C” grade.

“We are pleased that all of our caregivers’ efforts to continually improve the quality and safety of care we provide have been recognized by The Leapfrog Group,” said Deborah Paganelli, FACHE, president of Texas Health HEB.

“Texas Health’s mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “This means becoming more transparent and willing to share with residents of North Texas and throughout the country how we’re doing on various measures of the quality of the care we provide at our hospitals. The Leapfrog rankings demonstrate our commitment to quality and safety on behalf of our patients.”

Other Texas Health hospitals that received “A” grades are located in Arlington, Azle, Cleburne, Denton, Fort Worth, Plano, Southwest Fort Worth and Stephenville. Texas Health hospitals in Allen, Dallas and Kaufman were graded a “B,” still well above most hospitals in the country.

“Maintaining a high level of quality and safety is absolutely critical to Texas Health as we continue our work to transform the delivery of health care in North Texas,” said Dr. Daniel Varga, chief clinical officer and senior executive vice president for Texas Health. “We encourage accountability for the care we provide and welcome public report cards such as the Leapfrog rankings.”

Calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s eight-member Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 26 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from infections, injuries, and medical and medication errors.

Individual hospital scores can be viewed at hospitalsafetyscore.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Family-centered C-sections Encourage Bonding in Operating Room

New trend in caesarean births offers mom and baby benefits of immediate skin-to-skin contact

ARLINGTON, Texas — When Tabatha Murphy left the operating room after her caesarean section at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, she already felt bonded to newborn son Sean.

“He came out and he was right there against my face getting skin-to-skin contact,” she said. “If a C-section had to happen, that’s how I wanted it.”

Gentle C-section is now available to moms delivering at Texas Health Fort Worth and Texas Health Cleburne.

The 26-year-old experienced a new birth option for moms and babies without complications called “gentle C-section.” The procedure, which promotes the kind of mom-and-baby bonding normally reserved for traditional births, is offered during caesarean sections at both Texas Health Fort Worth and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne. The method involves immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth and, if mom wishes, lowering the drape so she can watch the delivery.

“We’re trying to involve the parents more during C-sections and slow things down so they can feel more connected to what’s happening,” said Gina Smith, nurse manager of labor and deliver at Texas Health Fort Worth. “We make the environment quiet or allow the parents to have music. It’s still their birth experience even though it’s in the operating room.”

Clinicians clean off the baby and check vitals while he or she is resting on mom’s chest instead of lying in a warmer across the room. Making skin-to-skin contact a priority for moms and babies after birth is a best practice in line with standards for the Baby Friendly designation, which Texas Health Fort Worth and Texas Health Cleburne both hold. The World Health Organization/UNICEF designation recognizes facilities that take a comprehensive approach to breastfeeding support.

According to UNICEF, benefits of skin-to-skin contact after birth include:

Calms and relaxes both mother and baby
Regulates baby’s heart rate and breathing
Stabilizes baby’s blood sugar
Regulates baby’s temperature
Promotes breastfeeding and bonding

“It’s called ‘gentle’ C-section because that’s exactly how the baby perceives it,” said Dr. Laura Bradford, OB/GYN on the medical staff at Texas Health Fort Worth. “There is something about that relationship between mom and baby — it can be recorded in outcomes that babies do better when they spend time with mom from the beginning. It improves their well-being.”

Cleburne resident Tacoya Roberts had an emergency C-section with the birth of her first child, so she craved an instant bonding experience for the birth of her second. Her daughter, Lily, was born through gentle C-section at Texas Health Cleburne weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces.

“It was amazing — an instant connection, along with warmth and comfort for both of us,” Roberts said. “I would recommend it to every woman having a C-section. It feels more natural and you get to know your baby immediately.”

Texas Health HEB Unveils Emergency Department Improvements

BEDFORD, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford today unveiled the first phase of a major renovation of its emergency department (ED). The changes in the first phase include separate ambulance and walk-in entrances as well as new facilities to improve patient safety and confidentiality. The $5 million renovation project is scheduled to be completed by mid-fall.

Along with the separate entrances for ambulance and walk-in traffic, patients and family members will immediately notice changes upon entering the ED. The flow is more patient-centered, with admissions at the entrance. A triage flow coordinator at the admissions desk helps meet the ED’s goal of patients seeing a clinician within 10 minutes of check-in. The triage flow coordinator can observe the waiting room, allowing patients to be more closely monitored.

Upon check-in, patients are examined in one of three triage rooms. Two minor-care stations help take care of non-urgent care situations and can serve as examination rooms for urgent-care patients if ED beds are not immediately available.

In addition to clinical improvements, the waiting room has been renovated and enlarged to help meet needs of family members and friends.

“We listened to patient and family concerns and have responded with improvements that truly put the patient first,” said Deborah Paganelli, FACHE, hospital president. “Along with providing high-quality and safe care, we are always concerned that our patients and their families have the best possible experience in all areas of our hospital.”

Texas Health HEB’s emergency department cares for more than 60,000 patients annually.

“We are committed to delivering efficient, high-quality care for every patient arriving for emergency treatment,” said Lynn Kelley, R.N., director of emergency services. “The ED renovation helps us deliver enhanced care with greater satisfaction.”

Improvements to be implemented through the remainder of 2013 include a new ambulance entrance, a 6-bed fast track area for express care and a second trauma room.

The patient-friendly ED improvements reflect the advanced level of care provided at Texas Health HEB. The system was recently designated a Level III Trauma Facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The hospital is the first in Northeast Tarrant County to attain the designation, which demonstrates its ability to meet a high level of 24-hour trauma emergency, operative and critical care services.

“The emergency department enhancements allow us to work more efficiently as a team,” said Melissa Johnson, M.D., medical director of emergency services. “Patients will experience and benefit from the improvements from the time they enter through the new doors all the way through their stay in the ED.”

Patients and families will continue to access the Texas Health HEB emergency department from Tibbets Drive in Bedford. Patients can be dropped off at the new walk-in entrance and cars parked in convenient ED patient parking. For more information and a map, visit TexasHealth.org/RenovationNews.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Dallas Hyperbaric Medicine Unit Achieves National Accreditation

DALLAS — The Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM), home to the largest Hyperbaric Medicine Unit in Dallas, was again deemed accredited with distinction from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). This signifies that the facility has achieved high performance measures in both patient care and safety.

The chamber, one of the largest in Texas, is designed to treat multiple patients simultaneously for chronic non-healing wounds, diabetic foot wounds, bone infections, radiation soft-tissue injuries and failing skin grafts or muscle flaps. The multiplace unit is also used to train military and civilian pilots on how to cope with low oxygen levels at high altitudes.

According to UHMS, only 13 percent of all hospital-based hyperbaric units in the country are nationally accredited. In addition, the IEEM unit is one of six in the country to offer an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) fellowship in hyperbaric medicine, in partnership with UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

“This designation emphasizes our commitment to provide a unique type of care to our patients at the highest level,” said Dr. Jeff Stone, medical and fellowship director of the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit at the IEEM, a joint program of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and UT Southwestern. “We are honored to be the only facility in North Texas to receive this distinction in the accreditation process.”

Stone was also recognized as a Fellow of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine by the UHMS Board of Directors. His selection was based on his expertise, practice and contribution to the field of hyperbaric medicine.

“I am pleased to have a leader, such as Dr. Stone, to continue the advancement our hyperbaric program,” said Dr. Benjamin Levine, director of the IEEM and a professor of medicine and cardiology at UT Southwestern. “His dedication to patient care and scientific research is a great benefit to our community.”

About the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine
The Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine (IEEM) was founded as a joint program between Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Its mission is to promote basic and clinical research, education, and clinical practice in defining the limits to human functional capacity in health and disease, with the objective of improving the quality of life for human beings of all ages. The IEEM includes ten major laboratories tightly integrated and organized intellectually along the “oxygen cascade” — the path that oxygen must follow through the body from the external environment through the lungs, heart, and skeletal muscle to perform cognitive function and physical activity. The IEEM is among the only research centers in the world that fosters the fusion of basic science and clinical medicine in a program designed specifically to study human physiology.

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Infection Prevention Director earns Distinguished Service Award

ARLINGTON, Texas — Sue Sebazco, R.N., M.B.A., C.I.C., infection prevention director for Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, has been recognized as one of the top professionals in her field.

Sue Sebazco

Sebazco recently earned the prestigious Distinguished Service Award, which is given by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Presented annually to an APIC member, the award recognizes outstanding professional contributions in a volunteer capacity at the national level.

“Sue serves as a key patient safety advocate by addressing infection prevention inside and outside the hospital walls,” said Kirk King, president of Texas Health Arlington Memorial. “Her unselfishness and willingness to promote patient safety locally and nationally is evident in the numerous roles she’s expertly served in. Her dedication should be applauded, and this award gives her the national recognition she deserves.”

Sebazco has served as the hospital’s infection prevention director since 1983. In addition, she served as APIC’s president in 2005, one of many positions Sebazco has held as a member of the international organization focused on promoting wellness and infection prevention. Over the years, Sebazco’s volunteer efforts and committee involvement within APIC have included:

Governmental Affairs Committee chair (1999, 2000 and 2001)
Public Policy Committee chair (2007)
Program Committee Chair (1997)

Sebazco, who is regarded as a subject matter expert in the field of infection prevention, was appointed last year to serve on the Health care Associated Infections/Preventable Adverse Events Advisory Panel for the state of Texas.

“My involvement at the local and national level has resulted in numerous opportunities to grow personally and professionally in a health care specialty that I’m so passionate about,” Sebazco said. “I’m extremely humbled just to be considered, but being awarded for doing something I love makes this recognition all the more special.”

APIC’s selection is based upon a member’s ability to inspire commitment from others, along with his or her contributions to the advancement of patient safety and the science of infection prevention. Sebazco will be recognized in June during the organization’s annual conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Moms Group Donates Gifts to Texas Health Plano NICU, Antepartum Patients

PLANO, Texas — Being on bedrest in the hospital or knowing your baby is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is tough. That’s why this Mother’s Day, instead of getting pampered, Dallas Preemie Parents organized a mom-to-mom gift exchange at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano — for Moms facing those medical challenges this holiday, from Moms who have previously been in their place.

“The donations provided a nice reminder to our NICU moms and moms-to-be that others have walked in their shoes before and encouragement along this journey,” said Michelle Kelly, R.N., NICU manager who organized the project with Dallas Preemie Parents.

A total of 16 Moms donated 37 gifts for Moms spending part or all of Mother’s Day in the hospital.

“We want to support all of our moms and allowing former NICU moms to give back is one way we are supporting them,” said Jacqueline Fox, who founded the local group and organized this first Adopt-A-Mom event.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Denton earns Top Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

DENTON, Texas — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton earned an “A” grade for patient safety, according to the latest Hospital Safety Scores from The Leapfrog Group. The organization, a national watchdog on the quality and safety of hospital care, used publicly available quality and safety measures, as well as leadership commitment to creating a safe environment for patients, to come up with the letter grade.

“At Texas Health Denton all members of our team are encouraged to contribute ideas to better care for our patients,” said Stan Morton, hospital president. “We appreciate the feedback that public report cards provide on how we care for individuals in our community each day.”

Nationally, about a third of the 2,514 hospitals scored were ranked “A,” with the greatest number of hospitals earning a “C” grade.

Other Texas Health hospitals that received “A” grades are located in Arlington, Azle, Cleburne, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Plano Southwest Fort Worth and Stephenville. Texas Health hospitals in Allen, Dallas and Kaufman were graded a “B,” still well above most hospitals in the country.

Individual hospital scores can be viewed at hospitalsafetyscore.org.

Texas Health Plano earns Top Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

PLANO, Texas — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano earned an “A” grade for patient safety, according to the latest Hospital Safety Scores from The Leapfrog Group. The organization, a national watchdog on the quality and safety of hospital care, used publicly available quality and safety measures, as well as leadership commitment to creating a safe environment for patients, to come up with the letter grade.

“We focus on each patient and have created a culture where any member of the Texas Health Plano team is encouraged to contribute ideas to better care for our patients,” said Mike Evans, R.N., M.S., Texas Health Plano president. “Public report cards and industry certifications such as Magnet Designation earned by our hospital are one way we share our efforts with patients and their families.” Nationally, about a third of the 2,514 hospitals scored were ranked “A,” with the greatest number of hospitals earning a “C” grade.

Other Texas Health hospitals that received “A” grades are located in Arlington, Azle, Cleburne, Denton, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Southwest Fort Worth and Stephenville. Texas Health hospitals in Allen, Dallas and Kaufman were graded a “B,” still well above most hospitals in the country.

Individual hospital scores can be viewed at hospitalsafetyscore.org.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Allen Launches Better Breathers Club

ALLEN, Texas — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen is launching a Better Breathers Club to assist citizens in the Texas Health Allen community with lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. The club is designed to be a support group for people with lung disorders and their families to learn more about how to manage the condition.

“We are thrilled to start a Better Breathers Club to help our patients and their families,” said Dawn Thompson, an organizer of the club and a respiratory therapist at Texas Health Allen. “Living with lung disease can be difficult and we see this club as a way for individuals to learn from each other and share tips for how to live better.”

An estimated more than 35 million adults in the United States live with a lung disorder, according to the American Lung Association. The association charters Better Breathing Clubs across the country, including the one at Texas Health Allen.

The first meeting of the club will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 17 at Texas Health Allen. Lunch will be served. The club meets on the third Friday of the month at lunchtime. There is no cost to attend.

For more information on the club or other respiratory services provided by Texas Health Allen, please call 972-747-6341 or email collincountybbc@texashealth.org.

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen is a 73-bed acute-care hospital serving the northern Collin County area since 2000. The hospital’s services include women’s services, a Level II neonatal intensive care unit, orthopedics, pediatrics, wound care and sleep medicine. Texas Health Allen, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, has more than 500 physicians on its medical staff practicing in more than 25 specialties. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit TexasHealth.org/Allen.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Springwood Opens Behavioral Health Center in Uptown Dallas

BEDFORD, Texas — The Uptown neighborhood of Dallas is known for its shopping and entertainment opportunities within easy walking distance. Neighborhood residents now have convenient access to comprehensive behavioral health care services through Texas Health Springwood Center Uptown Dallas.

The center is operated by Texas Health Springwood Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford, a premier provider of behavioral health care operated by Texas Health Resources. The Uptown Dallas center offers counseling services that include complimentary private consultations, as well as programs specializing in specific populations such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender; young adults (ages 18-25); adults; adolescents; and working professionals.

“Our facility is the only behavioral health center of its kind in the Uptown neighborhood,” said Ramona Osburn, FACHE, vice president of behavioral health for Texas Health. “We developed services for specific needs faced by Uptown residents.”

Texas Health Springwood Center Uptown Dallas offers services for people challenged with behavioral health issues such as depression, addictions, anxiety, chronic pain, bullying, bipolar conditions, workplace and academic stress, and family conflict. The center features 10 counselors, including psychologists and social workers.

Patients at the Uptown center are offered a comprehensive private consultation to assess the level of treatment needed. If appropriate, intensive group counseling or individualized therapy is offered. All treatment provided is on an outpatient basis and is designed to help participants balance their treatment requirements with work, education and home-life schedules.

“It’s often highly beneficial to get people to talk about issues in a peer group and learn how others are dealing with similar issues,” Osburn said.

The center provides referrals for psychiatrists when necessary for the medication management piece of patients’ therapy.

Texas Health Springwood Center Uptown Dallas is one of five outpatient centers operated by Texas Health Springwood. The Uptown Dallas center is the first Springwood facility to offer individualized therapy.

“We partner with physicians and other mental health providers to meet the health needs of the communities we serve,” Osburn said. “People like to be treated in their own communities, and we’re privileged to be able to serve Uptown residents.”

The Uptown center is located at 2929 Carlisle Street, Suite 300, at Carlisle and Turtle Creek Boulevard near the Katy Trail. To make an appointment, call 214-345-2942.

About Texas Health Springwood Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Texas Health Springwood Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is a fully licensed psychiatric and addiction facility on the campus of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford. Texas Health Springwood offers a full continuum of inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization services for adolescents age 13 to 17 and adults 18 and older. Texas Health Springwood is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, certified by Medicare, and licensed by the Texas Department of Health. It operates outpatient centers in Arlington, Azle, Southlake, Southwest Fort Worth and Uptown Dallas. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Springwood.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Resources Receives National Award for Sustainable Financial Performance

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources has been selected to receive the MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Texas Health is one of only four health care organizations nationwide to receive the award at the system level for 2013.

The prestigious national award recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate innovative and effective practices that deliver sustained financial performance, including patient satisfaction scores.

“This award recognizes a systemwide effort to improve revenue cycle performance,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “Providing outstanding care to our patients is directly linked with the long-term financial success of Texas Health Resources.”

The national recognition from HFMA closely follows Texas Health’s selection by Quality Texas Foundation to receive the Texas Award for Performance Excellence (TAPE). Texas Health was one of only two organizations to receive the award for 2013. The award recognizes high-performing organizations using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria for Performance Excellence.

Texas Health’s recognition with the MAP Award at the system level is remarkable in that it demonstrates excellence across all the key indicators of revenue cycle performance across a multi-hospital, complex health care system, said Ronald R. Long, chief financial officer and executive vice president for resource development and deployment at Texas Health.

“This recognition confirms that our revenue cycle processes and metrics across Texas Health are the best in the industry,” Long said. “Excellent processes ultimately pay off in increased patient satisfaction.”

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano received the MAP award at the hospital level in 2011.

Texas Health will receive the award at HFMA’s 2013 National Institute, June 16-19, in Orlando, Fla.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Nine Texas Health Resources Hospitals Earn Top Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group

ARLINGTON, Texas — Nine Texas Health Resources hospitals made “A” grades for patient safety, according to the latest Hospital Safety Scores from The Leapfrog Group. The organization, a national watchdog on the quality and safety of hospital care, used publicly available quality and safety measures, as well as leadership commitment to creating a safe environment for patients, to come up with the letter grades.

Nationally, about a third of the 2,514 hospitals scored were ranked “A,” with the greatest number of hospitals earning a “C” grade. All Texas Health hospitals ranked “A” or “B.”

Texas Health hospitals that received “A” grades were:

These hospitals received “B” grades:

Individual hospital scores can be viewed at the Hospital Safety Score website, hospitalsafetyscore.org.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Cardio Treatment at Texas Health Plano Helped Patient Regain Energy

PLANO, Texas — For three years, Johnnie White fought the feeling that she couldn’t breathe, until one day she felt a new symptom — a tightness across her chest.

Johnnie White and Dr. Vijay Ramanath
Click photo to download hi-res image

Scared, she asked her daughter to drive her to the fire department, where they immediately put her in the ambulance and hooked her up to a heart monitor. The monitor showed there wasn’t enough oxygen in her blood, so they rushed her to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano’s emergency room, where she met Dr. Vijay Ramanath, an interventional cardiologist on the hospital’s medical staff.

“Dr. Ramanath is truly a blessing,” said White, who is 70 years old and maintains a busy schedule as a local real estate agent. “For the last three years I had been told that my fatigue was normal for my age, which was very depressing and discouraging. All my life I have enjoyed an abundance of energy. He was the only one who listened to me, and I am so thankful, because I feel better than ever.”

After running tests, Ramanath determined that White needed a stent placed into two arteries, both of which had greater than 90 percent blockages.

“Johnnie doesn’t fit the stereotypical profile of what many people think of when they think heart disease,” Ramanath said. “She is a great example that everyone needs to listen to their bodies and if something changes or just doesn’t feel right to visit a physician until they have answers.”

White was surprised that she had heart disease at all.

“I eat very healthy and am dedicated to taking care of myself,” said White, a breast cancer survivor who was more concerned with preventing a cancer reoccurrence than heart disease. “For three years I had been feeling tired and having trouble getting a good deep breath. I never knew that could be a symptom of heart disease.”

Like White, many women, are unaware that heart disease kills one in three women, more than all cancers combined, according to the American Heart Association. The symptoms of heart disease in women also are different than in men. Rather than a sudden pain in the chest or arm, many women experience fatigue, shortness of breath and anxiety. Texas Health Resources offers information and a free online risk assessment of your heart age at TexasHealth.org/Heart.

Luckily for White, her heart disease was caught in time. The procedures to insert the stents went smoothly. “I remember lying in my bed that first night and realizing that I could finally take a deep breath.”

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Allen Wound Care Center earns Center of Distinction Award

ALLEN, Texas — The Wound Care Center at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen has earned a Center of Distinction Award. The award recognizes centers that achieve high quality outcomes for 12 consecutive months.

The Wound Care Center team at Texas Health Allen celebrates earning the Center of Distinction Award.

More than 400 patients were treated at the Texas Health Allen Wound Care Center in 2012. The center had a patient satisfaction score of more than 96 percent. Patients at the center saw their wounds heal within 30 days in 97 percent of cases.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for the care we provide each patient,” said Dawnett Willis, program director. “It is very rewarding to help patients who have often been suffering from painful, chronic wounds for a long time to get back to the activities they love doing.”

An estimated 26 million people have diabetes, According to the American Diabetes Association. Of that population, an estimated 15 percent will develop chronic wounds. In Allen, an estimated 40 percent of wound care patients have diabetes.

The center treats a wide range of wounds such as diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, arterial ulcers, venous insufficiency, traumatic wounds and burns.

“This is a highly specialized service that we can provide our patients close to home,” said Jeff Reecer, hospital president.

Healogics Inc. recognized the Texas Health Allen Wound Care Center with the award.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Allen Nurse Recognized by Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council

ALLEN, Texas — Laura Sullivan, R.N., changed to nursing from a business career more than 20 years ago. In that move, she found her calling.

Jeff Reecer, hospital president; Laura Sullivan, R.N.; and Kathy Bounds, unit manager.

“I thank God every day for leading me toward this noble profession and for giving me opportunities to touch hearts through healing, teaching and inspiration,” Sullivan said. “The truth is what one gives, one receives and therefore my life is rich.”

Sullivan has spent the last seven years caring for patients admitted to the medical/surgical unit at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.

“Laura possesses the gift of efficiency and technical competency coupled with compassionate care,” her nominator said. “She demonstrates in thought, word, and action her dedication to patient care. Her focus is on providing our patients with the best possible experience and to serve as a true advocate for them as well as their family.”

That combination led to the Special Recognition Award for Sullivan at the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council Employee of the Year luncheon.

“Laura embodies our mission to care for each patient — body, mind and spirit,” said Jeff Reecer, hospital president. “She sets the bar high for herself and for others on her unit. Laura also takes time to mentor students, imparting the skills and caring attitude to each of them.”

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Speech Therapist’s Rare Disease Sheds New Light on Work with Stroke Patients

FORT WORTH, Texas — It was terrifying: the right-side facial droop, slurred speech, and tongue deviation were textbook stroke symptoms Heather Storie knew like the back of her hand.

Many patients and families new to speech therapy ask for Heather Storie by name.

After all, the 26-year-old speech therapist devoted her days to helping stroke patients overcome the same lingering symptoms at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. So she knew something was very wrong that June day.

“I thought to myself, ‘I’m having a stroke. I’m too young to have a stroke,’” she said.

Storie would eventually be diagnosed with a rare condition called moyamoya, which occurs in less than 1 percent of the population.

Now, two years after her first mini-stroke, Storie has recovered with her speech intact and an even greater commitment to her mission to help stroke patients. Her dedication to patients has earned her the 2013 Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council Employee of the Year award. Storie was one of four winners chosen from a pool of applicants from more than 50 North Texas hospitals. The award pays tribute to nurses, physicians, volunteers and other health care professionals in North Texas.

Storie has continued to work with stroke patients at Texas Health Fort Worth even as she continues to be treated for moyamoya.

“Moyamoya is a progressive disease in which the blood vessels that provide blood to the brain close down,” said Dr. Anthony Lee, neurosurgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Fort Worth. “The brain compensates by creating collaterals, or alternate pathways, but sometimes it doesn’t work and that’s why these patients have multiple incidents of strokes.”

Treatment involves angioplasty and insertion of a stent to keep the blood vessel open, Lee said. If the stents are unsuccessful, a high-risk brain bypass surgery is needed. Similar to a heart bypass, brain bypass involves re-routing blood flow through another vessel to work around the blockage.

In the past two years, Storie has undergone two angioplasties and one stent placement.

“My advice to patients comes from a different place,” Storie said. “I was the person who wanted to get out of the hospital bed, get back to work, get back to driving. I know what it’s like to feel really scared.”

Scott Shelton, manager of rehabilitation services at Texas Health Fort Worth, said Storie displays a tireless work ethic and a selflessness that inspires others to improve.

“She has been hospitalized numerous times and has had multiple brain surgeries to alleviate her symptoms, but she continues to come back to work after treatments to make a huge impact on our patients and other caregivers,” he said.

Her accomplishments include taking the lead on stroke education courses for nursing staff and helping ensure swallowing treatments and assessments used are consistent with the most current research. She’s spent countless hours programming augmentative communication devices for patients who struggled with configuring and navigating them. Her patient care reputation precedes her; patients and families new to therapy ask for Storie by name.

“I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else,” she said.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

2013 Greer Garson Gala Raises $115,000, Hosts Special Guest

DALLAS — Hundreds of community leaders attended the 2013 Greer Garson Gala in support of critical needs at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas — and one of those guests cause quite a stir.

2013 Greer Garson Gala Co-Chairs Chris and Jennifer LeLash

Greer Garson herself addressed the crowd gathered at the Omni Dallas Hotel on April 20, thanks to a 3-D video that was made using an old black, and white video clip shot several decades ago. In the video, Garson asked the gala crowd to give generously for a great cause — and the crowd listened. A little more than $115,000 net was raised at this year’s Greer Garson Gala.

All proceeds support critical needs of Women and Infant Services at Texas Health Dallas. This year’s gala theme was “An Evening in Cannes” complete with charitable casino and French décor.

In the early 1990s, Garson, an Academy Award-winning actress and long-time supporter of Texas Health Dallas, lent her name to this signature event to help draw community support for the hospital. This year, gala Co-Chairs Chris and Jennifer LeLash thought it would be fitting for Garson to make an appearance via video.

“The appearance of our special guest, Greer Garson herself, has generated many comments,” Jennifer LeLash said. “Our older generation was heartened by the nostalgia of sharing the presence of Ms. Garson while many in our younger generations were introduced to Greer Garson for the first time and was able to appreciate the magnitude of her commitment to Presby; she continues to give to this day.”

More than 100,000 babies have come into the world at the Margot Perot Center for Women and Infants since its opening in 1983. The Margot Perot Center houses a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a 44-bed Special Care Nursery to serve the hospital's tiniest patients. Another integral part of Women and Infant Services is The Peggy A. Bell Women's Diagnostic and Breast Center, which offers the latest medical technology for detecting breast cancer in a comfortable and warm environment.

Jennifer LeLash said she is the fourth generation female in her family who has chosen Texas Health Dallas as her hospital of choice — and for good reason.

“After my 34-year-old friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated successfully at Texas Heath Dallas, I knew the tides had shifted,” she said. “Technology and self-awareness does not know the age of its patient, nor should we target just one group or age range. It's all about the whole women at all stages of her life. Our goal this year was to bring an awareness to a new generation and demographic of women.”

About Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation
Through philanthropy, Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation provides support to five Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals in Allen, Dallas, Denton, Kaufman and Plano. Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation plays a critical role in continuing the mission of the Texas Health Presbyterian hospitals to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve. The Foundation strives to enhance the delivery of quality patient care by joining with committed donors to sustain the long-term fiscal viability of the hospital that are a part of Texas Health Presbyterian. Through the efforts of the Foundation, the strong tradition of community support through philanthropy enables the Texas Health Presbyterian hospitals to forge ahead in medical research and education, technology and the provision of quality patient care. For more information, visit TexasHealth.org/PresbyFoundation.

Texas Health HEB Receives Level III Trauma Facility Designation

BEDFORD, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford has been designated a Level III Trauma Facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The hospital is the first in Northeast Tarrant County to attain the designation, which demonstrates the hospital’s ability to meet a high level of 24-hour trauma emergency, operative and critical care services.

In emergency trauma situations, time matters. With a Level III-designated trauma center in close proximity, emergency responders do not have to fight their way through traffic and road construction to deliver Mid-Cities trauma victims to hospitals in Dallas or Fort Worth for high-quality care. Local ambulances can also resume responding to emergency calls more quickly, a time-saving benefit for the community.

“Achieving the Level III Trauma designation has been a dedicated team effort at Texas Health HEB for the past two years,” said Deborah Paganelli, FACHE, hospital president. “Our employees, volunteers and physicians on the medical staff have worked together to enhance our trauma care capabilities to better serve Mid-Cities patients.”

The Level III Trauma Facility designation builds on prior certifications attained by Texas Health HEB, including recent recognition as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center and full Heart Failure accreditation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care and designation as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission.

“Our trauma center designation complements our other certifications in demonstrating that Texas Health HEB can deliver an advanced level of care to critically injured patients,” said Paganelli.

The Level III designation is awarded to hospitals that meet a high level of 24-hour trauma emergency, operative and critical care services. The designation assures the community that Texas Health HEB is equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering from life-threatening injuries or arrange for transfer to a higher-level trauma-designated facility if needed.

It also means the hospital has a dedicated multi-disciplinary trauma team including board-certified, fellowship-trained trauma and orthopedic trauma surgeons on the medical staff offering highly specialized care, according to James Poettcker, M.D., general surgeon and hospital trauma medical director.

“The Level III designation recognizes our longtime focus on providing care for the critically injured,” Poettcker said. “Our programs and services for trauma patients are a vital part of our service to the community.”

Poettcker noted that to achieve the designation, Texas Health HEB had to demonstrate the following capabilities:

Provide prompt assessment, resuscitation, emergency surgery and stabilization
Must have transfer agreements with a higher-level facility when necessary (Level I or II)
Maintain continuous general surgery coverage
Standardized treatment protocols to plan for care of injured trauma patients

In addition, the hospital demonstrated established injury prevention and control programs, outreach activities to the local community, and education programs for nurses, physicians, and allied health care workers involved with trauma care. Community programs include Matter of Balance, for fall prevention; Safe Sitter, for babysitter training; and car seat safety checks.

Leading up to the designation, Texas Health HEB had already implemented crucial trauma-related components to treat falls, motor vehicle accidents and assaults, including placing trauma and orthopedic surgeons on call 24/7; having specially trained emergency medicine physicians on the medical staff; and hiring a trauma coordinator.

Texas Health HEB’s trauma program is a critical component of the hospital’s emergency services. The hospital’s emergency department cares for more than 60,000 patients annually.

“Texas Health HEB’s designation as a trauma facility demonstrates our commitment to quality, enhanced patient satisfaction and continuous improvement of the level of care that we provide to patients at a time of great stress for them and their families,” said Melissa Johnson, M.D., medical director of emergency services.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Annual Fashion Show Raises $245,000 for Cancer Research, Cardiac Awareness

FORT WORTH, Texas — In its 20th year, the Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation’s annual Puttin’ on the Pink Fashion Luncheon raised net proceeds of $245,000 to provide vital cancer and cardiac screenings for underserved women in Fort Worth and surrounding communities.

On April 4, more than 900 guests attended the 2013 Puttin’ on the Pink event, which was sponsored by Neiman Marcus and held at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The event was hosted by the Kupferle Health Board of the Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation.

“It is so important for women to be proactive with their health care and, unfortunately, there are many women in our community who do not have access to regular screenings without the great support provided through Puttin’ on the Pink funds,” said Paige Pate, co-chair of the 2013 event. “What an honor it has been to support this endeavor, especially knowing that the funds we raised will support lifesaving services for women in our community.”

Pate co-chaired this year’s event with Suzanne Sanders. Rosie Moncrief served as its honorary chair. In its 20 years, Puttin’ on the Pink has raised more than $3.5 million and evolved from providing screening mammograms to providing a full range of cancer and cardiac screenings for area underserved women.

Every year, the Kupferle Health Board honors a deserving individual or community organization at Puttin’ on the Pink with the Altruism Award for unselfishly reaching out to women in the fight against breast disease and other women’s health issues. The 2013 winner of this award was community leader Anne Paup, who was the first Kupferle Health Board Chair (then called the Doris Kupferle Advisory Board), which started in 1990.

“I have received wonderful feedback on this year’s event and how special it was to revisit the rich history of Puttin’ on the Pink with inspirational comments from both Honorary Chair Rosie Moncrief and Altruism Award Winner Anne Paup,” Pate said. “How remarkable to consider how it all began 20 years ago while also pausing to reflect upon how much Puttin’ on the Pink has grown, now providing not only breast cancer screenings but also all types of cancer and cardiac screenings for underserved women in Fort Worth and surrounding communities.”

Thanks to the generous contributions of Puttin’ on the Pink sponsors and donors, the following services were administered at no cost to women in need on the Wellness for Life mobile health units and the Kupferle Comprehensive Breast Center at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth:

2,222 digital screening mammograms
397 breast diagnostic procedures
939 cervical cancer screenings
130 colon cancer screenings
166 bone density screenings
631 cardiovascular risk assessments

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation
Through philanthropy, Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation provides support to seven Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals in Alliance, Azle, Cleburne, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Southwest Fort Worth and Stephenville as well as Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. Established in 1991, Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation plays a critical role in continuing the mission of the Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve. The Foundation strives to enhance the delivery of quality patient care by joining with committed donors to sustain the long-term fiscal viability of the hospital that are a part of Texas Health Harris Methodist. Through the efforts of the Foundation, the strong tradition of community support through philanthropy enables the Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals and Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital to forge ahead in medical research and education, technology and the provision of quality patient care. For more information, visit TexasHealth.org/HarrisFoundation.

Emergency Medical Director at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Named Physician of the Year

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dr. Hoyt Frenzel, emergency medicine physician and medical director of Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital’s emergency department (ED), recently earned the prestigious Physician of the Year award during the 17th annual Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council luncheon.

Dr. Hoyt Frenzel

“Dr. Frenzel has played an integral role in Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital’s numerous achievements to advance and promote quality health care and patient satisfaction,” said Kirk King, president of Texas Health Arlington Memorial. “His actions speak volumes and demonstrate his commitment to helping those in need, whether they are patients in our hospital or the underprivileged living in our communities.”

Since 2001, Frenzel has served on the medical staff at Texas Health Arlington Memorial, and in 2007, he became the hospital’s ED medical director. Under his direction, the hospital became one of the first in the world to be designated as an Acute Heart Failure Center by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) in 2009. Frenzel recently aided Texas Health Arlington Memorial with its most recent recognition – full Cycle IV Chest Pain Accreditation from the SCPC. As of last year, fewer than 100 hospitals across the country held the prestigious title.

During 2006, Frenzel served as a key champion in Texas Health Arlington Memorial’s largest fundraising effort to expand the ED; as a result, the hospital raised $2.6 million. Opening in 2010, the expansion nearly doubled the size of the ED and allowed for a new fast-track area, a larger waiting area and a new triage area.

“These seeds of quality and service will continue to grow as long as the hospital is here,” Frenzel said. “My efforts are just a way to give back to a community that has educated and given so much to me.”

Growing up in Arlington, Frenzel graduated from Lamar High School before earning his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from the University of North Texas in Denton. He later received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Along with addressing the health care needs of patients, Frenzel is passionate about helping the underprivileged. He volunteers at Mission Arlington’s Medical Clinic, and through his “Frenzel Sisters Toy Drive” he serves children in the Arlington, Colleyville and Grapevine areas. Twice each year, Frenzel and his three young daughters host the toy drive and distribute the donations through GRACE Outreach and Santa Claus projects.

“Winning this award validates the reason I went into medicine,” Frenzel said. “It reminds me of how fortunate I am to have a skill set that I can use to help others in need.”

From a pool of more than 50 area hospitals, the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council recognized a total of 13 individuals this year. Along with Frenzel, four employees from Texas Health Resources were honored during the luncheon.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Fort Worth Joins Bike Sharing Program

Three hundred volunteers helped dock bicycles at 27 stations, including one at Texas Health Fort Worth.

Randy Smith and Darla Gossett, nurses in the cardiac catheterization lab and cycling enthusiasts, try out the new bicycles.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Unlike most North Texans, Randy Smith’s daily work commute isn’t a battle through bumper-to-bumper traffic. Instead, it’s a 10-mile bicycle ride that meanders through neighborhoods and hugs parts of Fort Worth’s scenic Trinity Trail.

Smith, a nurse in the cardiac catheterization lab at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and an avid cyclist, said he loves seeing the city embrace bicycling as an alternative method of public transportation with the launch of North Texas’ first bike sharing program.

During the Earth Day launch, 300 volunteers cycled around Fort Worth on shiny red touring bicycles to help dock them at 27 stations around the city, including one at Texas Health Fort Worth outside the Klabzuba Cancer Center. Other docking stations are peppered throughout downtown, the near south side, the Cultural District and Texas Christian University.

“I think cycling is an easy mode of transportation that can get you places faster than walking,” Smith said. “If you’re a family member of a patient in our ICU and you’re tired of sitting in the waiting room, you can hop on a bike and go downtown or look around the water gardens. You’re there in five minutes.”

Dr. Theodore Takata, cardiologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Fort Worth who cycles about 60 to 90 miles per week, agrees the new program gives residents and visitors a chance to explore the beauty of Fort Worth while keeping the heart healthy.

“Research has long shown that aerobic exercise is beneficial in keeping the heart strong,” he said. “Plus, bicycling burns calories which can be spent on enjoying, guilt-free, the wonderful restaurants and eateries around town.”

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Kaufman Earns National Respiratory Care Recognition

KAUFMAN, Texas — For the fifth consecutive year, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman has received national recognition for respiratory care.

The Quality Respiratory Care Recognition was presented by the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC).

To qualify for the honor, the hospital met a series of quality standards and guidelines for delivering high-level care. Approximately 700 hospitals nationwide have applied for and received this award.

“Our respiratory therapists are committed to providing safe, quality care to our patients on a daily basis,” said Trisha Scarborough, R.R.T., director of respiratory and physical therapy at Texas Health Kaufman. “Achieving this recognition was truly a team effort.”

In 2003, the AARC began this national program to assist patients and families in making informed decisions about services available in hospitals.

“This designation exemplifies our mission to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve,” said Patsy Youngs, R.N., FACHE, hospital president. “I am sincerely thankful for the hard work and dedication of our therapy staff.”

The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 50,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman is a 91-bed acute-care, full-service medical center serving Kaufman and Henderson counties and the southern part of Dallas County since 1979. The hospital's services include women’s services, wound care, diagnostic imaging, cardiac rehabilitation and pain management services. Texas Health Kaufman, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, was recently recognized with the Pathway to Excellence hospital designation for distinction in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a Level IV Trauma Center. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Kaufman.

Texas Health Plano Welcomes NICU Graduates at Reunion Celebration

PLANO, Texas — At 4 years old, Alex and Marinnia Harbin’s twin girls, Alexandria and Madison, are already graduates.

They “graduated” from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) six months after they were born. The girls arrived at just 24 weeks and five days, and weighed 1 pound, 6.9 ounces each. Because they were so small they were considered micro preemies and their parents were not sure if they would ever get to take their girls home. Returning now for the yearly reunion of graduates of the Texas Health Plano NICU and their caregivers celebration is very special to them.

“During the six months that we were in the NICU, I would get sad when I saw other parents take their babies home, thinking that would never be us,” said Marinnia Harbin, who now has two healthy, rambunctious girls to take care of. “I am thankful for the support and encouragement that the NICU and hospital staff provided me during that time — they truly become part of your family and we love seeing them at the reunion.”

The reunion will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 28, in the Seay Child Care Center located at 6100 W. Parker Road in Plano. Light refreshments will be served. The theme this year will be ‘Cirque de NICU’ and will feature face painters, a balloon artist, a bounce house and more.

“Every day, the NICU cares for the tiniest and most precious patients, and it is such a reward to get to see them as they grow up and celebrate life and family with them.” said Christine Moses, NICU unit secretary at Texas Health Plano.

Texas Health Plano has a Level III neonatal intensive care unit with board-certified neonatologists on the medical staff and specially trained nurses to care for infants in the unit. With 45 beds, the NICU has the largest bed capacity of any NICU in Collin County. Texas Health Plano also is proud to be a March of Dimes Level I parent support center.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Resources Merges Foundations to Advance Regional Philanthropy and Stewardship

Jay McAuley Appointed as President to Lead New Foundation,
Volunteer Community Board Selected

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources announces the creation of a new philanthropic foundation that merges Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation and Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation into a single organization that will have a region-wide focus. Texas Health Resources Foundation will be led by Jay McAuley, who has been appointed president of the new organization, and an 18-member board of volunteer community leaders selected from the members of the boards of the merged foundations. McAuley formerly served as president of Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation.

“Texas Health has been abundantly blessed by the leadership, wisdom and creativity of the dedicated people who have served our two foundations for many years,” said Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “We are deeply grateful for the philanthropic support of the communities we serve. We pledge that Texas Health Resources Foundation will continue to advance caring for the people of our communities in body, mind and spirit.”

“Philanthropic giving is the life-blood of any community-based, not-for-profit organization,” said David Tesmer, senior vice president of Community Engagement & Advocacy for Texas Health Resources. “Over many years, Texas Health Harris Methodist Foundation and Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation have established solid reputations in the communities they serve. Through friend-building philanthropic efforts, the foundations have raised funds that support clinical, educational and research programs across the Texas Health system.”

The merger of the two foundations is part of Texas Health’s 10-year strategy to transform from a hospital-centric organization to an integrated, regional health system. In planning this transition, Texas Health leaders studied best practices of other nationally-recognized health systems and not-for-profit organizations.

Together, the merged foundations hold assets of more than $210 million. No staff reductions are anticipated as a result of the merger.

Texas Health leaders sought outside expertise and benchmarked the structure and governance model of the new foundation against nationally-recognized philanthropic organizations. Board members of Texas Health Resources Foundation were selected with recommendations from a committee that included representatives from the boards of both foundations.

The members of Texas Health Foundation Board of Trustees are:

Phillip Moroneso, Chair
Brock Compton, Vice Chair
Carrol M. Bennett Jr.
Barry Epstein
S. Finley Ewing III
Martha Fikes
Pat Hawkins
Bill Lamkin
Richard E. LeBlanc
Thomas A. Leiser
Chesleigh Lloyd
Phillip Norwood
Mary Poss
Matthew Reynolds
Brenda Ritz
Michael J. Romo
Lynny Sankary
William C. Slicker

About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute-care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, Huguley Memorial Medical Center, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education. For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Three Texas Health Hospitals Offer $99 Advanced 3D Mammography

ARLINGTON, Texas — Patients visiting Texas Health Resources hospitals in Plano, Dallas, or Fort Worth can now add an advanced breast imaging technology — 3D mammography — to a traditional digital mammogram for $99.

New 3D mammography is improving the way doctors screen for potential breast cancers. Women screened with 3D mammography, called breast tomosynthesis, have shown a 47 percent increase in cancer detection compared to 2D mammography alone, according to a recent study presented at the Radiological Society of North America conference.

“A few years ago, digital mammography was the latest and greatest,” said Dr. Robin Skrine, medical director of the breast health program at Texas Health Fort Worth. “We thought those images were really clear and gave us a lot of information. The images we get from 3D mammography go far beyond that.”

Standard mammography is a two-dimensional X-ray of the breast, relying on the contrast of tumors and adjacent normal breast tissue. In women with dense breast tissue, deadly tumors can hide in the shadows of overlapping tissue. The 3D technology takes pictures of the breast in layers, generating 15 discrete images of the breast from different angles. The computer system uses these images to create a tomogram, showing the tissue as three-dimensional layers.

According to Skrine, benefits of 3D mammography include:

Clearer view through dense breast tissue in order to locate cancers deep inside the breast;
Better accuracy in determining size, shape and location of abnormalities;
Improved ability to distinguish harmless abnormalities from real tumors, leading to fewer callbacks and less anxiety for women; and
Earlier detection, since thin layers of tissue are shown separately and suspicious lesions from traditional flat images can be ruled out as benign.

“We are proud to offer the three-dimensional technology to women across North Texas and believe it is a tool that will help us improve outcomes for women,” said Shannon Gutierrez, manager of the Sue A. de Mille Women’s Diagnostic Center at Texas Health Plano. “Mammograms have been proven to save lives and this advanced technology increases the odds that we’ll find cancer earlier in women with dense breast tissue.”

A written order from a doctor is not required for traditional digital or 3D screening mammograms. The $99 fee for a 3D mammogram is in addition to any fees or co-pays associated with a traditional digital mammogram. Both mammograms may be covered by insurance. Patients should check with their insurance provider for exact insurance coverage.

Learn more at TexasHealth.org/Breast.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health HEB Receives Dual Accreditation in Cardiovascular Care

BEDFORD, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford has been named a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center — the highest accreditation possible for treatment of chest pain — and a full Heart Failure Accreditation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.

To patients, the designation means that Texas Health HEB has met stringent national standards for rapid recognition and collaborative treatment of a heart attack. Nationally, accreditation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care is linked to better patient outcomes and more lives saved, according to an Emory University School of Medicine study published in the American Journal of Cardiology in July 2008.

“Every second counts when treating a heart attack. To help prevent heart muscle damage, care givers need to be capable of recognizing symptoms and delivering care more quickly within the critical treatment window,” said Dr. Michael Duran, medical director of cardiology at Texas Health HEB. “These accreditations signify the commitment we’ve made to continue in our efforts to improve cardiovascular care for our patients.”

Starting with the first call for help to 911, health care professionals across multiple disciplines begin to act immediately: Paramedics arrive and administer life-saving therapies and physicians and nurses in the emergency room and cardiac catheterization laboratory begin preparing for the patient before he or she reaches the hospital.

“In achieving Cycle IV Chest Pain Center and Heart Failure Accreditation, Texas Health HEB has demonstrated dedication to continuously improving the quality of care delivered to patients,” said Deborah Paganelli, president of Texas Health HEB. “It signifies our ability to assess, diagnose and care for patients quickly and effectively.”

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Tarrant County and across the United States. One person dies every minute nationwide from a coronary event, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart failure patients account for more than 12 million physician office visits each year and more 6.5 million hospital days.

The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care is a non-profit international society dedicated to improving the quality and timeliness of care for patients with heart disease and heart failure. For more information about the society, visit scpcp.org.

About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute-care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education. For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Dallas SANE Nurses Assist with Suspect Identification

DALLAS — Today, nurses from the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas were commended for their work collecting DNA evidence in three sexual assault cases that led to the apprehension of a suspected serial offender.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown presented a letter of commendation to SANE nurses at Texas Health Dallas.

“This team has played a critical role in the investigation which resulted in an arrest, making the community a safer place,” said Dallas Police Chief David Brown. “Dallas is fortunate to have a SANE program where victims of sexual assault can feel safe and cared for after these traumatic events.”

Forensic evidence collected by the SANE nurses in all three cases was compared with a DNA profile obtained by the police and confirmed the identification of the serial offender.

Since the implementation of SANE programs, a Department of Justice study found a 95 percent increase in successful prosecution of cases where evidence was collected by a SANE certified nurse.

“As part of our training, we’re required to complete a number of classroom and clinical hours to learn to conduct exams, collect court-admissible forensic evidence and provide effective courtroom testimony,” said Renee Donald, R.N., SANE supervisor at Texas Health Dallas. “But my primary responsibility is the medical care of my patient. I am here to help the healing process begin by treating each victim with compassion, respect and sensitivity.”

SANE certified nurses also specialize in providing comprehensive treatment of sexual assault victims and can do so in a safe, comforting atmosphere day or night.

The W.W. Caruth, Jr. Center for SAFE Healing, which community members had an opportunity to tour today, is the only center of its kind in Dallas County and provides an environment of healing for sexual assault victims. The 3,000-square-foot, multi-room suite is comprised of medical exam rooms equipped with forensic equipment, law enforcement and social service advocacy rooms, private bathrooms with showers, secure access to evidence collection and a private family waiting area.

Until 2010, Dallas was the largest city in the nation without a certified sexual assault program. With a generous $2 million grant from the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation at Communities Foundation of Texas, Texas Health Dallas opened the SAFE center and developed a training program to certify nurses in forensic evidence collection and other aspects of treating sexual assault victims.

“Ensuring that victims receive compassionate care in a time of crisis is critical. That’s also true for the effective collection of forensic evidence,” said Brent Christopher, president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas. “The Caruth Center for SAFE Healing at Texas Health Dallas and the SANE program address a top priority of Will Caruth to strengthen individual security as our city continues to grow. The SANE program and Texas Health Dallas are making major strides for improving public safety.”

Since opening in 2010, the center has treated a total of 376 sexual assault victims and played a significant role in the identification and conviction of a number of sexual assault offenders.

“Department of Justice statistics show that a typical sexual predator will attack nine victims before being caught and I’m proud that we were able to play a role in getting this offender off the street before he could hurt another person,” said Mary Rowe, R.N., manager of the SANE program and the emergency department at Texas Health Dallas.

2013 Medical Staff Officers Named at Texas Health Plano

PLANO, Texas — Emergency room medical director and physician Dr. Lawrence Hum has been named president of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano medical staff. More than 1,200 physicians serve on the Plano hospital’s medical staff.

Pictured (from left) are Dr. David Park, Dr. Dean Cione, Dr. Gwen Webster and Dr. Lawrence Hum.
Click photo to download hi-res image

“It’s a pleasure to serve among my dedicated colleagues to focus on providing quality care to each patient at Texas Health Plano,” Hum said. “I look forward to initiatives that will enable physicians to work closely with hospital employees to improve outcomes for our patients.”

In addition to Hum, Dr. Gwen Webster has been named president elect. Dr. David Park is secretary and treasurer. Dr. Dean Cione is immediate past president.

In addition to the officers a number of physicians on the hospital’s medical staff serve in leadership roles through their positions on the medical board:

Dr. Gary Tigges, credentials committee
Dr. Michael Gross, past president
Dr. Ed Wells, past president
Dr. Charisse Barta, member at large
Dr. Mark Peterman, member at large
Dr. Alexander Tran, member at large

Serving as department chairman for 2013 are:

Dr. David Holder, anesthesiology
Dr. Michael Lew, emergency medicine
Dr. William Calley, family medicine
Dr. Taylor Long, medicine
Dr. Richard Kaye, OB/GYN
Dr. Isador Lieberman, orthopedics
Dr. Michael Deck, pathology
Dr. Angela Mix, pediatrics
Dr. Nancy Donachie, psychiatry
Dr. John Kim, radiology
Dr. Jeremy Carrasco, surgery

“We appreciate the physicians’ willingness to serve in leadership roles at Texas Health Plano,” said Mike Evans, B.S.N., M.S., hospital president. “We are blessed at Texas Health Plano to work with physicians who are dedicated to our mission of improving the health of the people in the communities we serve.”

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth Achieves National Recognition for Quality Respiratory Care

FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth has earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) from the American Association for Respiratory Care.

To achieve this honor, the hospital delivered respiratory care consistent with national standards as defined by QRCR requirements. 15 percent of hospitals nationwide have applied for and achieved this honor. This is Texas Health Southwest’s fourth year in a row to earn the award.

“This achievement signifies our commitment to delivering quality care to our patients,” said Fraser Hay, professional services officer at Texas Health Southwest. “Maintaining an environment of excellence is a top priority in every aspect of care we provide.”

QRCR, started by the American Association of Respiratory Care in 2003, is a national program geared toward helping patients and their families make informed decisions regarding the quality of respiratory care they receive. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by adhering to AARC guidelines on respiratory care and, as a result, provide care consistent with national standards and guidelines.

The AARC is a membership organization representing more than 50,000 health professionals involved in respiratory care nationwide.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Free Community Shredding Event at Texas Health Plano

PLANO, Texas — Have your papers to be shredded piled up over the last year? Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano will host a free “Earth Day ShredFest” event from 9 a.m. to noon April 20.

The Shred-it truck will be stationed in the parking lot at the corner of Parker Road and Communications Drive. Local residents can bring up to five average-size file boxes of paper to be securely shredded on-site and then recycled. Last year’s shredding event at Texas Health Plano resulted in 5.3 tons of materials being recycled.

“We are pleased to provide this service free to our community,” said Mike Evans, B.S.N., M.S.N, hospital president.

In 2012, Texas Health Resources shredded and recycled more than 693,000 reams of paper – enough to save almost 30,000 trees and more than 5,000 cubic yards of landfill, almost doubling the system’s totals from 2011.

Shredding and recycling paper is one of many ways that Texas Health, which has been nationally recognized for its environmental programs, is committed to sustainability. Other initiatives within the Texas Health system include going paperless with paychecks, benefits handbooks and other personnel items; recycling cell phones and athletic shoes; implementing energy-reduction measures; participating in prescription drug take-back events; and safely recycling various chemicals used in lab tests.

“We’re pursuing a number of green programs throughout our health system, and all are designed to lessen the impact our facilities have on the environment,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “We’re happy to take a sustainability leadership role in the communities we serve and to extend an invitation to participate in our Earth Day ShredFest. Ultimately, the environment is the responsibility of all of us.”

According to security experts, shredding documents that contain personal information is an important step in preventing identify theft.

At the Earth Day ShredFest, most paper items – including confidential documents, notebooks, binders and brochures – can be shredded and recycled. Paper clips and staples do not need to be removed. Cardboard and other heavy paper materials cannot be accepted, along with plastic, glass and aluminum.

Additionally, items such as CDs, DVDs, USB drives, hard drives and video/audio tape can only be accepted at the Corporate Office Tower in Arlington.

For more information, visit www.TexasHealth.org/Plano.

About Texas Health Plano

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano is a 368-bed acute care hospital and recognized clinical program leader, providing technologically advanced care to Plano and surrounding areas since 1991. The hospital’s services include orthopedics, cardiovascular services, oncology, pediatrics and women’s services. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Plano has more than 1,600 employees and 1,200 physicians on the medical staff. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit TexasHealth.org/Plano.

About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education. For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.texashealth.org.

Free Community Shredding Event at Texas Health Denton

DENTON, Texas — Have your papers to be shredded piled up over the last year? Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton will host a free “Earth Day ShredFest” event from 9 a.m.-noon April 20.

The Shred-it truck will be stationed in the parking lot by the pond. Local residents can bring up to five average-size file boxes of paper to be securely shredded on-site and then recycled.

“We are pleased to provide this service free to our community,” said Stan Morton, hospital president.

According to security experts, shredding documents that contain personal information is an important step in preventing identify theft.

Additionally, items such as CDs, DVDs, USB drives, hard drives and video/audio tape can only be accepted at the Corporate Office Tower in Arlington.

For more information on the hospital, visit www.TexasHealth.org/Denton.

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton is a 255-bed acute-care, full-service hospital that has served North Texas and southern Oklahoma since 1987. The hospital’s services include: heart and vascular; a Level III neonatal intensive care unit; orthopedics and sports medicine; neck, spine and pain management; emergency medicine; an accredited sleep center; women’s services; and a weight loss surgery program that has been designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. As one of the largest employers in Denton County, Texas Health Denton has more than 900 employees and more than 300 physicians on the medical staff practicing in more than 45 specialties. Texas Health Denton is an accredited chest pain center, and is certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and designated by the State of Texas as a Primary Stroke Facility. Texas Health Denton is an affiliate of Texas Health Resources, one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health care delivery systems in the United States.

About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, Huguley Memorial Medical Center, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education. For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Free Community Shredding Event at Texas Health Allen

ALLEN, Texas — Have your papers to be shredded piled up over the last year? Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen will host a free “Earth Day ShredFest” event from 9 a.m.-noon April 20.

The Shred-it truck will be stationed near the front entrance of the hospital. Local residents can bring up to five average-size file boxes of paper to be securely shredded on-site and then recycled.

“We are pleased to provide this service free to our community,” said Jeff Reecer, hospital president.

According to security experts, shredding documents that contain personal information is an important step in preventing identify theft.

Additionally, items such as CDs, DVDs, USB drives, hard drives and video/audio tape can only be accepted at the Corporate Office Tower in Arlington.

For more information, visit TexasHealth.org/Allen.

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen is a 73-bed acute-care hospital serving the northern Collin County area since 2000. The hospital’s services include women’s services, a Level II neonatal intensive care unit, orthopedics, pediatrics, wound care and sleep medicine. Texas Health Allen, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, has more than 500 physicians on its medical staff practicing in more than 25 specialties. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL or visit www.TexasHealth.org/Allen.

About Texas Health Resources

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Cleburne Employee Named Humanitarian of the Year

CLEBURNE, Texas — Linda Boysen, a licensed clinical social worker at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne, was recently named Social Worker Humanitarian of the Year during the 19th annual Social Worker Appreciation Luncheon on March 27 in Fort Worth.

Linda Boysen

Boysen, who said social work was her calling, has been with Texas Health Cleburne for more than 15 years. “I have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life every day,” she said. “When you are given a calling, you honor God by knowing and doing all you can to be worthy of what he has given you.”

As Texas Health Cleburne’s social services coordinator, Boysen works with the hospital’s medical management team. Her post-patient care responsibilities include assisting patients with acute care and rehab options, along with helping families assess end-of-life decisions for their loved ones.

Boysen has volunteered at the HOPE Clinic in Cleburne and served on the Hood County Steering Committee for Habitat for Humanity. Boysen has also served as a mentor for both the Christian Women’s Job Corps and Acton Elementary School in Granbury.

A fifth-generation Texan, Boysen said her family came to the area when it was still part of Mexico. “I feel our cultures are so intertwined, I felt obligated to learn more about my heritage.”

So Boysen began taking Spanish courses. “For more than five years now, I’ve been learning and speaking the language so I can better serve our Hispanic population inside and outside the hospital walls.”

Prior to joining Texas Health Cleburne, Boysen worked for various health care organizations providing psychosocial assessments of home-health patients in Johnson County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Texas Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington.

To be considered for the Humanitarian of the Year award, recipients must possess at least 15 years of service as a social worker, display professional achievement and community leadership, and support the economic advancement of business and professional women.

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne is a 137-bed acute-care, full-service hospital that has served Cleburne and the Johnson County area since 1986. The hospital’s services include surgery, women’s services, urology, orthopedics and ear, nose and throat care. Texas Health Cleburne, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, has been recognized with the 2007 Premier/Carescience Select Practice National Quality Award. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Cleburne.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Free Community Shredding Event at Texas Health Kaufman to Mark Earth Day

KAUFMAN, Texas — In 2012, Texas Health Resources shredded and recycled more than 693,000 reams of paper — enough to save almost 30,000 trees and more than 5,000 cubic yards of landfill, almost doubling the system’s totals from 2011. Texas Health is now inviting all members of the Dallas-Fort Worth community to join in by shredding and recycling their own paper at the free “Earth Day ShredFest” event from 9 a.m. to noon April 20 at 13 Texas Health Resources facilities across the Metroplex.

A representative and truck from Shred-it will be outside each of the 13 facilities. Local residents can bring up to five average-size file boxes of paper to be securely shredded on-site and then recycled.

One of those locations will be at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman, where Shred-it will be stationed in the parking lot at the front entrance of the hospital.

“Through our sustainability efforts we are providing a healthier environment for those entrusted to our care,” said Patsy Youngs, R.N., M.B.A., FACHE, president of Texas Health Kaufman. “Everyone can make a difference and I encourage our residents to join in this effort.”

According to security experts, shredding documents that contain personal information is an important step in preventing identify theft.

At the Earth Day ShredFest, most paper items — including confidential documents, notebooks, binders and brochures — can be shredded and recycled. Paper clips and staples do not need to be removed. Cardboard and other heavy paper materials cannot be accepted, along with plastic, glass and aluminum.

Additionally, items such as CDs, DVDs, USB drives, hard drives and video/audio tape can only be accepted at the corporate office tower in Arlington.

Free Community Shredding Event at Texas Health Dallas to Mark Earth Day

DALLAS — In 2012, Texas Health Resources shredded and recycled more than 693,000 reams of paper — enough to save almost 30,000 trees and more than 5,000 cubic yards of landfill, almost doubling the system’s totals from 2011. Texas Health is now inviting all members of the Dallas-Fort Worth community to join in by shredding and recycling their own paper at the free “Earth Day ShredFest” event from 9 a.m. to noon April 20 at 13 Texas Health Resources facilities across the Metroplex.

One of those locations will be at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, where Shred-it will be stationed on the west side of the support services building, near the emergency room entrance.

“We all have an important role to play in sustaining the quality of our environment and I look forward to seeing the residents of our community make a difference,” said Britt Berrett, Ph.D., president of Texas Health Dallas. Shredding and recycling paper is one of many ways that Texas Health, which has been nationally recognized for its environmental programs, is committed to sustainability. Other initiatives within the Texas Health system include going paperless with paychecks, benefits handbooks and other personnel items; recycling cell phones and athletic shoes; implementing energy-reduction measures; participating in prescription drug take-back events; and safely recycling various chemicals used in lab tests.

According to security experts, shredding documents that contain personal information is an important step in preventing identify theft.

Additionally, items such as CDs, DVDs, USB drives, hard drives and video/audio tape can only be accepted at the corporate office tower in Arlington.

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is an 898-bed acute care hospital and recognized clinical program leader, having provided compassionate care to the residents of Dallas and surrounding communities since 1966. US News and World Report has ranked Texas Health Dallas among the nation’s best hospitals in digestive disorders, orthopedics, and neurology and neurosurgery. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Dallas has approximately 4,000 employees and an active medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Dallas.

Free Community Shredding Event at Texas Health Stephenville to Mark Earth Day

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — In 2012, Texas Health Resources shredded and recycled more than 693,000 reams of paper — enough to save almost 30,000 trees and more than 5,000 cubic yards of landfill, almost doubling the system’s totals from 2011.

Texas Health is now inviting all members of the DFW community to join in by shredding and recycling their own paper at the free “Earth Day ShredFest” event from 9 a.m. to noon April 20 at 13 Texas Health Resources facilities across the Metroplex, including Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville.

A representative and truck from Shred-it will be in the parking lot on the north side of Texas Health Stephenville, located at 411 North Belknap in Stephenville. Local residents can bring up to five average-size file boxes of paper to be securely shredded on-site and then recycled.

“At Texas Health Stephenville we are committed to being a partner with the community,” said Christopher Leu, hospital president. “Having screenings and health seminars and events like this are just some of the ways we want to help improve the health and daily living for the citizens of our community.”

“We’re pursuing a number of green programs throughout our health system, and all are designed to lessen the impact our facilities have on the environment,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health. “We’re happy to take a sustainability leadership role in the communities we serve and to extend an invitation to participate in our Earth Day ShredFest. Ultimately, the environment is the responsibility of all of us.”

According to security experts, shredding documents that contain personal information is an important step in preventing identify theft.

Additionally, items such as CDs, DVDs, USB drives, hard drives and video/audio tape can only be accepted at Texas Health's corporate office tower in Arlington.

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville is a full-service acute care facility serving Erath and surrounding counties since 1926. The hospital offers surgical services, women’s and infants’ services, advanced diagnostic imaging, sleep lab and wound care services. Texas Health Stephenville, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, has received national accreditation as a Level IV Trauma Center, Cycle III Chest Pain Center and Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. The hospital was named a Baby-Friendly Hospital by the World Health Organization and received Pathway to Excellence® designation for a work environment that supports nurses.

For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Stephenville.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Coach Credits Texas Health Allen for Emergency Surgery Save

ALLEN, Texas — Krista Gerlich had a lot on her mind as her Lady Buffs team faced off in the Lone Star Conference Championships, but having emergency surgery wasn’t even on the list.

Krista Gerlich

“I was in quite a bit of pain but with all the things going on I attributed it to stress and nerves,” she said. “I felt like I don’t have time for this.”

After the West Texas A&M University women’s basketball team’s win on Thursday, and at the urging of her parents, head coach Gerlich decided the stomach pains that had been lingering for a few days needed to be checked out.

At the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen emergency room, Gerlich was surprised to hear that she needed an emergency appendectomy.

“The hospital was incredible,” she said. “I had a game the next day at noon so I was like ‘how quickly can this happen.’ They really understood my urgency.”

Gerlich’s somewhat vague stomach pains, particularly on the right side of the abdomen, are pretty typical when it comes to signs of problems with the appendix, said Dr. James Smith, a general surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Allen who operated on Gerlich. “There’s very few things in medicine where there’s really only one treatment for it and appendicitis is one of those things,” he said. “The reason there is only one is it works.”

Gerlich said the caregivers and physicians on the medical staff worked together and because she was able to have her appendix removed laprascopically she was able to be released from hospital at 10 a.m. the next day. Sometimes patients whose appendixes are removed laprascopically may also be released the same day, depending on the time of surgery, Smith said. “She was young and healthy and took care of herself and that definitely helped her rebound.”

Gerlich wasted no time getting to the bench to coach her team at noon.

“Stories like Gerlich’s are a great example of how our caregivers treat each patient like a family member and work with them to meet each individual’s needs,” said Jeff Reecer, hospital president. “We are so pleased to have been able to help Coach Gerlich get back to her team.”

While Gerlich wished the weekend could have ended differently, both avoiding surgery and the heartbreaker of a loss by two points on Saturday, she said that the team at Texas Health Allen made the experience the best it could be. Even a quick visit back to the emergency room on Sunday for dehydration went smoothly.

“It was just a great experience,” Gerlich said. “Every nurse and doctor I came in contact with was awesome and very empathetic. They were just all really, really helpful.”

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Free Community Shredding Event to Mark Earth Day

ARLINGTON, Texas — In 2012, Texas Health Resources shredded and recycled more than 693,000 reams of paper – enough to save almost 30,000 trees and more than 5,000 cubic yards of landfill, almost doubling the system’s totals from 2011. Texas Health is now inviting all members of the DFW community to join in by shredding and recycling their own paper at the free “Earth Day ShredFest” event from 9 a.m.-noon April 20 at 13 Texas Health Resources facilities across the Metroplex.

“We’re pursuing a number of green programs throughout our health system, and all are designed to lessen the impact our facilities have on the environment,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health. “We’re happy to take a sustainability leadership role in the communities we serve and to extend an invitation to participate in our Earth Day ShredFest. Ultimately, the environment is the responsibility of all of us.”

According to security experts, shredding documents that contain personal information is an important step in preventing identify theft.

Additionally, items such as CDs, DVDs, USB drives, hard drives and video/audio tape can only be accepted at the Corporate Office Tower in Arlington.

The 13 participating Texas Health locations are:

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital (800 W. Randol Mill Road, 76012)
Shred-it truck: Parking lot off Cooper Street by the south garage Map
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle (108 Denver Trail, 76020)
Shred-it truck: Front-entrance parking lot Map
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne (201 Walls Drive, 76033)
Shred-it truck: In the Professional Office Building parking lot, on the southwest corner of the campus Map
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth (1301 Pennsylvania Ave., 76104)
Shred-it truck: Parking lot at the northwest corner of 5th Avenue and West Rosedale Street Map
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital H-E-B (1600 Hospital Parkway, 76021)
Shred-it truck: West side of campus, off Hospital Parkway by the Women’s Center entrance Map
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth (6100 Harris Parkway, 76132)
Shred-it truck: Near the front entrance of employee parking, upper level Map
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville (411 N. Belknap St., 76401)
Shred-it truck: Parking lot on hospital’s southeast side Map
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen (1105 Central Expressway North, 75013)
Shred-it truck: Near the hospital’s front entrance Map
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas (8200 Walnut Lane, 75231)
Shred-it truck: West side of the Support Services Building, near the emergency room entrance Map
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton (3000 North I-35, 76201)
Shred-it truck: Parking lot by the pond Map
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman (850 Highway 243 West, 75142)
Shred-it truck: Parking lot at hospital’s front entrance Map
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano (6200 Parker Road, 75093)
Shred-it truck: Northeast parking lot at the corner of Parker Road and Communications Drive Map
Texas Health Resources Arlington corporate headquarters (612 E. Lamar Blvd., 76011)
Shred-it truck: Near the building’s south entrance Map

Single-Incision Robotic Surgery Offered at Texas Health Denton

DENTON, Texas — Performing surgery through a two centimeter incision in the belly button? It may sound like the stuff of movies, but the technology is available right here at home at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton.

Dr. Victor Cobos

Dr. Victor Cobos is the first surgeon in Denton using the daVinci SI Surgical Robot to remove a patient’s gallbladder through a 2 1/2 centimeter incision through the navel. Cobos, who is on the medical staff at Texas Health Denton, focuses on improving the patient experience as technology evolves.

“I continually strive to find faster, less painful and more efficient ways of caring for patients, which is why I am committed to minimally invasive surgery techniques,” Cobos said. “While robotic surgery and single incision surgery are not new, combining the two to remove the gallbladder allows for this paradigm shift.”

Each year, an estimated one million Americans are diagnosed with gallstone disease, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.

Not only can patients stay close to home with this procedure, but they often can return home within hours of the procedure.

“Combining robotic technology with the skill of physicians on our medical staff is just one way we show our commitment to the community,” said Stan Morton, hospital president. “Texas Health Denton utilizes new techniques that advance safe, quality patient care, but at the root of that technology adoption is the goal to care for patients near their homes.”

To share more about this procedure and other robotic surgery options, Texas Health Denton is hosting a free lunch seminar from noon to 1 p.m. on April 10. Dr. Cobos will be joined by Dr. Christina Dooley to talk about robotic surgery options during the presentation, Advances in Medicine: Gallbladder and Gynecological Diseases. The event is free but registration is required by calling 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355).

For more information on the hospital, visit TexasHealth.org/Denton.

Texas Health Cleburne Recognized for Quality Care

CLEBURNE, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne is among the best in the nation at providing safe, reliable and efficient care, according to the country’s largest health care performance improvement alliance.

Texas Health Cleburne is one of only 48 out of 333 hospitals nationwide to achieve top performance in at least four of six areas of care in the Premier health care alliance’s QUEST: High Performing Hospitals collaborative.

“This is a great tribute to the employees and physicians of Texas Health Cleburne,” said Blake Kretz, FACHE, hospital president. “They are committed to applying lessons learned from hospitals around the country to improving care for the people in the community we’re privileged to serve.”

Specifically, Texas Health Cleburne is being recognized for:

Reducing mortality by at least 31 percent;
Improving the hospital experience so that patients favorably rate their stay and would recommend the facility to others at least 73 percent of the time;
Reducing preventable harm events; and
Reducing readmissions by at least 12 percent.

“We are encouraged by the way our collaborative effort with other high-performing hospitals has helped us reach higher levels of performance in key areas,” said Cindy Stepp-Gann, quality director for Texas Health Cleburne.

Participating hospitals set aggressive goals for rapid and sustained improvement; achieving excellence on a number of transparent measures; benchmarking performance against one another; and sharing knowledge to customize strategies that improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of care.

Since 2008, QUEST participant hospitals have used transparent and publicly available measures that show they have avoided 92,000 deaths and saved $9.1 billion in costs. Scaled to a national level, hospitals across the U.S. could save 950,000 lives and approximately $93 billion over five years by replicating these practices, according to Premier.

“Through working with other QUEST participants to help each other improve in areas such as quality, safety, patient satisfaction and cost of care, Texas Health Cleburne is enhancing health care not just in our community, but across the country,” Stepp-Gann said.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Plano Opens Newly Renovated Women’s Unit

PLANO, Texas — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano is proud to open a newly renovated Women’s Unit.

The Women’s Unit will care for women recovering from gynecologic, urologic, plastic and breast surgeries, as well as other female health issues. The new unit is located on the fourth floor in building A and is the first unit of its kind in Collin County.

“In the past, women recovering from gynecologic or other women’s specific surgeries had no designated unit to recover in,” said Dawn Nichols, R.N., M.S.N., NEA-BC, clinical nurse manager for Post-Partum and Women's Services at Texas Health Plano. “Having a dedicated unit for women will make patients feel much more comfortable in their recovery, and we’ll be able to provide them with more specialized nursing care.

For more information, visit TexasHealth.org/PlanoWomen.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Denton Donates $1,000 to Nursing School on Doctors Day

DENTON, Texas — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton donated $1,000 to North Central Texas College on behalf of the physicians on the medical staff. The hospital made the donation as part of the festivities of Doctors Day to recognize the care the physicians on the medical staff provide to the hospital’s patients.

Pictured are (from left) Deborah Bostic, R.N., M.S.N, vice president/chief nursing officer for Texas Health Denton, Kimberly Rodgers, M.S.N., E.D.U, lead clinical coordinator for the Associates Degree of Nursing program at NCTC, Dr. Victor Cobos, a general surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Denton, and Stan Morton, FACHE, hospital president.

“We enjoy giving this annual donation to the nursing school as a way of both honoring our existing caregivers and helping the next generation of caregivers reach their goals,” Bostic said. “We appreciate the way the physicians on the medical staff and our nurses work together to improve the health of the people in our community each day.”

Texas Health Stephenville Recognized for Quality Care

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville is among the best in the nation at providing safe, reliable and efficient care, according to the country’s largest health care performance improvement alliance.

Texas Health Stephenville is one of only 48 out of 333 hospitals nationwide to achieve top performance in at least four of six areas of care in the Premier health care alliance’s QUEST: High Performing Hospitals collaborative.

“This is a great tribute to the employees and physicians of Texas Health Stephenville,” said Christopher Leu, hospital president. “They are committed to applying lessons learned from hospitals around the country to improving care for the people in the community we’re privileged to serve.”

Specifically, Texas Health Stephenville is being recognized for:

Reducing the average cost of care to less than $5,690 per discharge;
Improving the hospital experience so that patients favorably rate their stay and would recommend the facility to others at least 73 percent of the time;
Reducing preventable harm events; and
Reducing readmissions by at least 12 percent.

“We are encouraged by the way our collaborative effort with other high-performing hospitals has helped us reach higher levels of performance in key areas,” said Jerry Heflin, M.D., chief medical officer for Texas Health Stephenville.

“Through working with other QUEST participants to help each other improve in areas such as quality, safety, patient satisfaction and cost of care, Texas Health Stephenville is enhancing health care not just in our community, but across the country,” said Suzanne Pilette, quality director at Texas Health Stephenville.

For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Stephenville.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Kaufman Recognized for Quality Care

KAUFMAN, Texas – Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman is among the best in the nation at providing safe, reliable and efficient care, according to the country’s largest health care performance improvement alliance.

Texas Health Kaufman is one of only 18 out of 333 hospitals nationwide to achieve top performance in at least five of six areas of care in the Premier health care alliance’s QUEST: High Performing Hospitals collaborative.

“This is a great tribute to the employees and physicians of Texas Health Kaufman,” said Patsy Youngs, R.N., FACHE, hospital president. “They are committed to applying lessons learned from hospitals around the country to improving care for the people in the community we’re privileged to serve.”

Specifically, Texas Health Kaufman is being recognized for:

Reducing the average cost of care to less than $5,690 per discharge;
Reliably delivering all evidence-based care measures to patients in the areas of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care at least 95 percent of the time;
Improving the hospital experience so that patients favorably rate their stay and would recommend the facility toothers at least 73 percent of the time;
Reducing preventable harm events; and
Reducing readmissions by at least 12 percent.

“We are encouraged by the way our collaborative effort with other high-performing hospitals has helped us reach higher levels of performance in key areas,” said Mark Sij, D.O., chief medical officer for Texas Health Kaufman.

“Through working with other QUEST participants to help each other improve in areas such as quality, safety, patient satisfaction and cost of care, Texas Health Kaufman is enhancing health care not just in our community, but across the country,” Sij said.

Texas Health Plano Emergency Department Team Leader a 'Great 100 Nurse'

PLANO, Texas — Jody Bauer, B.S.N., RN, has had a lot of time to perfect her craft in nursing.

Bauer is currently pursing graduate degrees in nursing and business administration.
Click photo to download hi-res image

“As a child, I was known for dressing up as Florence Nightingale on several occasions, as I learned about her from my great-grandmother who was a nurse,” said Bauer, an emergency department team leader at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. “In order to be like grandma, I came up with a game called ‘accident, accident’ with my younger brother, which was to teach him about safety with his big wheel. Nursing chose me!”

Bauer was recently named a 2013 Great 100 Nurse by The DFW Great 100 Nurses Inc. The annual award recognizes the best of the nursing profession in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. To-date, 28 Texas Health Plano nurses, including Bauer, have been named Great 100 Nurses.

“I am humbled and honored to be nominated as one of the DFW Great 100 Nurses,” she said. “Being nominated by my peer for such a prestigious honor is even more meaningful. Nursing is a career that has fulfilled my desire to help others. Nursing is what I love, and I am privileged to get to do it every day.”

The Great 100 Nurses award is unique in that honorees do not have to belong to a particular professional organization or practice in a particular clinical specialty to be recognized. Nurses are nominated by peers. Ultimately, Great 100 Nurses are selected by a 30-nurse committee that reviews the blinded nominations.

“Her astute abilities to look at the ‘big picture’ and demonstrate situational awareness allow her to better meet the needs of her department and staff,” Bauer’s nominator wrote. “As a compassionate caregiver, she shines best as being a patient advocate. Going the extra mile is not unusual for this nurse and she is always there to listen.”

Aside from taking care of patients, Bauer is currently pursing graduate degrees in nursing and business administration.

“The Great 100 Nurses are the best of the best, and we’re honored to have one of these superstars at Texas Health Plano,” said Mike Evans, B.S.N., M.S.N., hospital president. “Our nurses set a high standard for each other, an example of excellence that is made up of hard work and dedication for every patient, every day.”

The DFW Great 100 Nurses Inc. annually sponsors the “DFW Great 100 Nurses” to honor registered nurses in the area who exemplify excellence in the art and science of nursing. Nurses are nominated by their peers, and may only be named to the list once in their career.

“Every day our patients benefit from the compassion, skills and plain hard work of Texas Health nurses,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health. “It’s touching to see their dedication and caring spirit recognized with such a prestigious award from their peers.”

Bauer will be honored at a special gala, along with 22 other Texas Health nurses, on May 8 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.

Bauer serves as the membership chair for the Texas Emergency Nurses Association. Outside of work, Bauer enjoys spending time with her friends and family and recently adopted Yorkie pup, Winston.

“I am proud that Jody’s work was recognized among the best in our region,” said Ray Kelly, R.N., M.S.N., chief nursing officer for Texas Health Plano. “As a Magnet-recognized facility our nurses are the best of the best and Jody epitomizes that standard.”

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Resources Announces Executive Advancements

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources today announced the following executive advancements:

Brett McClung, FACHE
Click image to download hi-res file

Joseph DeLeon

Ramona Osburn, FACHE

Brett McClung, FACHE, will become executive vice president/North Zone operations leader, effective May 1. In his new role, McClung will work with Elizabeth Ransom, M.D., executive vice president/North Zone clinical leader, to direct Texas Health’s operational and clinical initiatives in their geographic area. McClung is currently president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth.

Joseph DeLeon will assume the role of president, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, effective May 1. DeLeon currently serves as vice president of professional and support services, cardiovascular services and business development at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

Ramona Osburn, FACHE, has been promoted to vice president of behavioral health for Texas Health Resources, effective April 1. She will be responsible for alignment, integration and standardization of behavioral health services across the Texas Health system. Osburn currently is senior director of Texas Health Springwood Hospital HEB and Texas Health Seay Behavioral Health Center in Plano.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Four Texas Health Resources Hospitals Recognized for Quality Care

ARLINGTON, Texas — Four Texas Health Resources hospitals are among the best in the nation at providing safe, reliable and efficient care, according to the country’s largest health care performance improvement alliance. The hospitals achieved top performance in quality in the Premier health care alliance’s QUEST: High Performing Hospitals collaborative.

The Top Performing Hospitals for 2013 include Texas Health hospitals in Azle, Cleburne, Kaufman and Stephenville. To be recognized as Top Performers, a hospital had to meet standards of top performance in at least four of six critical domains of care. Texas Health Azle was one of only four hospitals among 333 facilities nationwide to attain top performance in all six domains.

In addition, Texas Health hospitals in Allen, Dallas, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Plano and Southwest Fort Worth were recognized for achievements in the QUEST collaborative during 2012.

“As a health care system that is dedicated to continuous quality improvement, we are encouraged by the way our collaborative effort with other high-performing hospitals has helped us reach higher levels of performance in key areas,” said Daniel Varga, M.D., chief clinical officer and senior executive vice president at Texas Health.

“Through working with other QUEST participants to help each other improve in areas such as quality, safety, patient satisfaction and cost of care, Texas Health is enhancing health care not just in North Texas, but across the country,” said Linda Gerbig, vice president of performance improvement at Texas Health.

An active member of the Premier alliance, Texas Health Resources in January received the 2013 Richard A. Norling Premier Alliance Excellence Award. The award honors the member system that has advanced the alliance’s work the most during the past year through leadership and collaboration with other health systems.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Dallas Nurse Midwife Featured in Nationwide Project

DALLAS, Texas — Debra DuBois, APRN, C.N.M., a nurse midwife for the Women’s Health Center at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, is one of three Texas nurses and the first in Dallas to be nationally recognized as part of The American Nurse Project, a not-for-profit initiative capturing the personal stories of American nurses through photography and film.

Debra DuBois

“Along with higher education nurses bring their personal experiences and skill sets to their work. I am very fortunate to have full support from Texas Health Resources to provide quality care in a manner that best fits their needs” DuBois said. “It’s such an honor to be selected among so many great nursing professionals. I hope my story inspires current and future nurses to continue to share theirs.”

The American Nurse Project was inspired by Fort Worth native Rhonda Collins, M.S.N., R.N., and vice president of Fresenius Kabi USA, the sole sponsor of the project. Renowned photographer Carolyn Jones created a unique vision for the project and brought it to life by journeying across the country to capture the heroic experiences of nurses at work. The photographs and stories were recorded in the book The American Nurse, with proceeds benefiting both a scholarship fund designed to support nursing education and efforts to further the mission and vision of The American Nurse Project.

Following the success of the book, The American Nurse Project expanded its scope into additional states, including Texas. In doing so, the project continues to illuminate the selfless and rewarding world of caregiving by honoring new nurses, including DuBois. “Being able to share rich, unique stories like Debra’s is the reason The American Nurse Project continues to grow,” said Jones. “We are honored to have her as part of this journey and celebration of nursing.”

Through The American Nurse Project, DuBois was able to share her views about the challenges and rewards of assimilating refugees into the health care system. As a nurse midwife at the Women’s Health Center at Texas Health Dallas, her significant work includes providing culturally-sensitive care in a compassionate environment to refugees from Burma. The initiative started when Burmese refugees became the second largest population of non-English speaking patients to receive care in the center.

“In 2009, the majority of encounters with the local Burmese population involved pregnancy, so our initial goal centered on Burmese patients’ experience with perinatal and postpartum care,” DuBois said. “These women having fled from their homeland in Southeast Asia did not speak English, and many of the pregnant women were simply scared, unfamiliar with modern medicine and leery of what would happen when they came to the hospital for delivery.”

Called the Burmese Care Coordination Project, the nurse-led initiative helps refugees become more familiar with hospital services and, on a broader scale, Western medicine. DuBois, who was part of an inter-professional diversity project team led and sponsored by nursing, helped address language barriers and cultural differences concerning food-and-nutrition, medical care and navigating the health care system. The Care Coordination Project established improved care for these patients in an environment that was more welcoming and comforting to mothers and their families.

“The program completed its first full year of work in 2010. Today, Burmese women are experiencing pregnancy related care with a Burmese interpreter on location. All staff are culturally competent to care for these patients. Tours of the hospital’s labor and delivery unit are organized to help the moms adjust to the environment where they’ll give birth,” DuBois said. “Nurses talk to them about what will happen during labor and what role nurses and doctors will play in the care process. The orientation walkthroughs also include a visit to the pharmacy to ensure they’re comfortable with getting and taking medications.”

In addition to overcoming language-barriers and cultural issues during pregnancy, DuBois is working with the hospital’s pediatric center to establish educational groups for parents. The focus being routine baby care and making healthy choices for their children. Her work helped expand the Burmese interpreter into the pediatric center at Texas Health Dallas.

“Debra's advanced education and practice and her leadership coupled with her passion for serving vulnerable populations are an inspiration to all of us in nursing,” said Cole Edmonson, D.N.P., R.N., FACHE, NEA, chief nursing officer of Texas Health Dallas. “I am extremely proud of Debra and all nurses who are embracing, living and bringing to fruition the Future of Nursing Reports recommendations. Debra's work in nurse-led care is a great example of how we are improving the health of the communities we serve.”

Portraits of DuBois and the other two Texas nurses featured in The American Nurse Project, Jane Champion of Uvalde and Manny Munoz of El Paso, during a ceremony at Texas Health Dallas.

“The work of these amazing Texas nurses is both brave and fascinating,” said Collins. “Their dedication to their profession and devotion to their communities is inspirational. The American Nurse Project celebrates them as everyday heroes and Texas treasures, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share their stories.”

Texas Health Tapped as Region's Healthiest Employer

Texas Health Resources has been named No. 1 on the Dallas Business Journal's 2013 Healthiest Employers list. Awards were announced today during a luncheon in Dallas.

Among 20 large employers, Texas Health came out on top, with Baylor taking the No. 2 ranking, and Methodist Health System named as No. 5.

Bonnie Bell, executive vice president of People & Culture, accepted the award on behalf of Texas Health Resources.

"Our mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities we serve, and that includes our employees — the faces and voices that represent our organization, day-in and day-out," she said. "I could not be more proud of this honor, and of the tireless efforts of our human resources employees who lead and champion our BeHealthy programs. It has been such a pleasure to see Texas Health employees embrace the BeHealthy program."

Jessica Oliver, operations manager for Texas Health HEB's laboratory, was featured in a video that was shown during the awards presentation. Oliver lost more than 100 pounds through Weight Watchers @ Work, one of many offerings available through Texas Health's BeHealthy program.

At the time she joined, Oliver weighed 265 pounds and committed to a starting weight loss goal of five pounds. Her weight loss was dramatic the first year as she made healthy eating choices and started an exercise regime. She credits the structure and accountability of the Weight Watchers program for helping keep her on-track.

Oliver attended the event along with a handful of Texas Health employees and accompanied Bell to the stage to accept the award.

The Healthiest Employer awards program recognizes organizations committed to creating a healthy workplace. The award uses an online assessment tool and measures wellness programming in six key categories:

Culture and leadership commitment
Foundational components
Strategic planning
Communication and marketing
Programming and interventions
Reporting and analysis

The program is conducted by Healthiest Employer, LLC, an Indiana limited liability company in association with the American City Business Journals, Inc. Employers are ranked by size and compete in categories for large, medium and small employer organizations. The online assessment automatically scores and ranks the applicant pool based on the weighted value of the completed answers.

Texas Health Stephenville Earns Center of Excellence Designation for Breast Imaging

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Texas Health Stephenville is the fourth hospital within the Texas Health Resources system to earn the prestigious designation.

A team effort helped secure Texas Health Stephenville’s designation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. Left to right are mammographers Sarah Mangrum and Clair Cole, radiologist Nanette Evans, M.D., and Suzanne Atwood Perez, director of radiology.

The designation means the hospital has earned accreditation from the ACR in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy). The ACR is a national organization focused on the practice of medical imaging and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

“Designation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence means Texas Health Stephenville has achieved high practice standards in caring for our patients,” said Nanette Evans, M.D., radiologist on the medical staff of Texas Health Stephenville. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment for a hospital of our size to be recognized for excellence in areas of imaging that are so essential to women’s health.”

The hospital underwent several peer-review evaluations during the accreditation process. Board-certified physicians and medical physicists from the ACR evaluated every aspect of care and diagnostic services provided at the hospital. Texas Health Stephenville achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs, according to the ACR.

“Achieving this prestigious designation was a team effort by a dedicated staff devoted to serving the patients of Erath County and surrounding communities,” said Suzanne Atwood Perez, director of radiology at Texas Health Stephenville. “The BICOE designation, which is rare among hospitals nationwide, shows Texas Health Stephenville’s commitment to excellence and high level of performance as appraised by ACR examiners.”

Accreditation gives Texas Health Stephenville access to the National Mammography Database, enabling the hospital to compare itself to other hospitals nationwide in important areas such as cancer detection rate.

“Our staff provides a high quality of service to women seeking breast care diagnostics and treatment,” said Christopher Leu, president of Texas Health Stephenville. “We appreciate the care they provide to each patient in what can be a stressful time for women.”

For more information on the hospital’s imaging and women’s services, visit TexasHealth.org/Stephenville.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

New Well-Being Report Shows D-FW Lags Behind U.S., Much of Texas in Healthy Behaviors

ARLINGTON, Texas — As students across Texas get back into the swing of school after spring break, the report card is already in for well-being in North Texas — and the Metroplex has lots of room for improvement, experts at Texas Health Resources say.

While 27th overall, Texas ranked 10th in life evaluation and 18th in work environment.

The 2012 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index report ranks the Dallas-Arlington-Fort Worth area 61st in overall well-being out of 189 major metropolitan areas across the country. Texas ranked 27th out of 50 states in overall well-being, ahead of neighbors Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma but behind states such as New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas.

Among nine major metropolitan areas in Texas, Dallas-Arlington-Fort Worth ranked third in overall well-being, behind Austin and El Paso and ahead of Houston and San Antonio, according to the report.

“What’s important is to look at these numbers and begin the dialogue about how we become healthier, not just in terms of lack of disease, but in improving our physical, mental and social well-being,” said Dr. Daniel Varga, chief clinical officer of Texas Health Resources. “We believe that people with higher well-being aren't simply healthier. They contribute more to their communities, and they’re more productive at work. They also have lower health care costs.”

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index report is based on data compiled from more than 350,000 phone surveys annually. A thousand daily calls were made seven days a week throughout the year to adults around the country.

Based on how people responded, communities were given an overall well-being composite score and a score for each of the six pillars of well-being: life evaluation (how people feel about their current situation and what they expect life to look like in five years); emotional health; physical health; healthy behaviors; work environment; and basic access (to essentials like clean water, money for food, access to a physician and adequate health insurance).

While 27th overall, Texas ranked 10th in life evaluation and 18th in work environment. But the Lone Star State got far-from-top grades in the other three pillars of well-being, ranking 29th in emotional health, 33rd in healthy behaviors and 45th for basic access.

Among the nine major Texas metropolitan areas analyzed by the report, the Dallas-Arlington-Fort Worth area was tops in emotional health and work environment.

But in life evaluation, Dallas-Arlington-Fort Worth ranked 43rd nationally and fourth in Texas, behind El Paso, Austin and Houston. The Metroplex also scored poorly in healthy behaviors (lifestyle habits such as eating well, exercising and stress management), ranking 143rd nationally and sixth in Texas, behind Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, the McAllen area and Houston.

Dr. Janna Massar

“These elements of well-being are important because they impact all aspects of our lives,” said Dr. Janna Massar, an internist on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. “They impact how we interact with our families and friends, how we perform at work and how healthy we are physically.”

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index found that the higher a state scored on overall well-being score, the lower its obesity rate. Residents of states with high overall well-being grades also tended to smoke less and exercise more. Those people also had lower blood pressure and were less likely to have diabetes or suffer heart attacks.

Texas Health has partnered with Healthways in a ten-year commitment to provide the tools necessary for doctors, hospitals and residents of North Texas to measurably improve their health and well-being.

For more information, visit TexasHealth.org/Well-Being.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Date Set for 2013 Texas Health Kaufman Black Tie Ball

KAUFMAN, Texas — Mark your calendars for the 2013 Black Tie Ball, benefitting Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman.

The annual fundraiser, which helps support the hospital’s non-profit work to provide prenatal care to low-income, uninsured women in the Kaufman area, will be held from Nov. 9 at the Belo Mansion in Dallas.

The gala includes a seated dinner, dancing, live auction and, back by popular demand, the opportunity to purchase Shimmering Treasure boxes.

“Texas Health Kaufman has set our community apart for more than 30 years, providing excellent health care to our residents,” said Norma Fortner, chair of the 2013 gala. “We strive to make each gala more spectacular than the last, and we hope that you will join us in supporting this great cause.”

Other planning committee members include Pat Jackson, Andrea Pickens, Pylar Pinkston, Ann Raymond, Terri Shatter, Carl Stapp, Jo Ann Talbot, Wendy Thomas, Tanya Sij, Carolyn Whitehurst and Patsy Youngs.

Last year’s Black Tie Ball netted $55,000, bringing the gala’s five-year net fundraising total to more than $222,000 for women’s and children’s service in the Kaufman area.

To inquire about tickets, contact Pat Jackson at 972-932-7394.

2013 'DFW Great 100' Includes Six Nurses from Texas Health Dallas


Lisa Ayala	Nell Hines

Victoria Jiles	Alex Klacman

Lauren Montgomery	Christi Nguyen

DALLAS — The annual list of the Dallas-Fort Worth area's best nurses is out, and six employees from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas are 2013 "Great 100 Nurses."

Honorees from Texas Health Dallas are:

Lisa Ayala, B.S.N., RNC-NIC
Nell Hines, B.S.N., R.N.
Victoria Jiles, B.S., R.N., OCN
Alex Klacman, B.S.N., R.N.-C, CCRN
Lauren Montgomery, B.S.N., R.N.C.-OB
Christi Nguyen, M.S.N., M.H.A., R.N., CWON, NE-BC, FACHE

“The Great 100 Nurses are the best of the best, and we’re honored to have six of these superstars at Texas Health Dallas,” said Britt Berrett, Ph.D., FACHE, hospital president. “Our nurses set a high standard for each other, an example of excellence that is made up of hard work and dedication for every patient, every day. I am proud that their work was recognized among the best in our region.”

“These nurses truly represent the future of nursing, demonstrating excellence in care, compassion, competency, leadership, and courage that it takes to create professional nurse," said Cole Edmonson, D.N.P., R.N., FACHE, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Dallas. "I am honored to practice beside these stellar examples of greatness, who bless the lives of the patients and families who entrust us with their care at Texas Health Dallas.

"Great 100 recognition means a lot to our nurses because it is coming from other nurses."

Texas Health nurses claimed 23 of the 100 spots on the coveted list.

The “Great 100 Nurses” will be honored at the 23rd annual gala on May 8 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.

For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Dallas.

Texas Health Resources Receives Texas Award for Performance Excellence

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources has been selected to receive the Texas Award for Performance Excellence (TAPE) from Quality Texas Foundation. The health system is one of two organizations to receive the award for 2013, and the only health care organization selected. Texas Health is also the largest health system to be recognized in the award’s 20-year history.

The prestigious honor recognizes high-performing organizations using the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria for Performance Excellence and other organizational improvement methods and tools.

“This is wonderful news for the hardworking employees and physicians of Texas Health Resources, but even more so for the patients of North Texas,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “The award confirms we’re on the right path in our strategy to transform the delivery of health care and become the provider of choice in North Texas.”

As part of the process, state examiners from the TAPE Baldrige-based program visited Texas Health hospitals in January to evaluate how well employees demonstrate and standardize excellence across the system.

“A crucial part of our transformation strategy is creating a framework that helps provide excellence in our care for all those we are privileged to serve. We recognize we’re on a journey and look forward to continuing to learn and improve through this process,” said Hawthorne.

“The TAPE award recognizes role model organizations, and our employees have worked hard as a team to demonstrate our commitment to quality, learning and improvement on behalf of our patients,” said Cynthia St. John, Ph.D., director of the Journey to Excellence at Texas Health Resources.

2013 Recipient

Texas Health will next get a detailed report from Quality Texas Foundation on the health system’s strengths and opportunities for improvement, said St. John. “We’ll use the report to prepare for the national Baldrige process. It’s all part of our continuing pursuit of excellence.”

Since it was founded in 1994, the award has been received by fewer than than 50 organizations, including Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano in 2008.

“We’re honored to receive this select and prestigious award,” said St. John. “But what’s most important is that we’re making solid progress on our journey to deliver the best care with the highest patient satisfaction to North Texans. We’ll stay the course to our destination.”

Texas Health will receive the award at the Texas Quest for Excellence Conference on June 24 in Addison, Texas.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Seven Texas Health Dallas Nurses Honored with Excellence in Nursing Awards


Thao Nguyen	Julie Balluck

Lian Chow	Shasion Carter

Irva Rubin	Susan Cooper

Barbara Baggett

DALLAS — Seven nurses at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas have been recognized with D Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Awards. The awards recognize nurses for exceptional contributions to their patients, communities and profession.

The nurses were selected from 339 nominations and 81 finalists in 21 categories. Two nurses were winners in their fields of nursing, with five others named finalists.

The honorees are:

Thao Nguyen, R.N., B.S.N., R.N.C-NIC, CCR.N., neonatal intensive care direct care nurse, winner in Neonatal;
Julie Balluck, M.S.N., R.N., CPAN, NEA-BC, director of surgical services, winner in Surgery;
Lian Chow, B.S.N., R.N., CPAN, direct care nurse for post anesthesia care, finalist in Surgery;
Shasion Carter, B.S.N., R.N., direct care nurse for post anesthesia care, finalist in Surgery;
Irva Rubin, R.N., staff nurse for gynecology, finalist in Women’s Health;
Susan Cooper, B.S.N., R.N., CPAN, nurse manager for post anesthesia care, finalist in Surgery; and
Barbara Baggett, R.N., direct-care nurse for orthopedics, finalist in Orthopedics.

“It is an honor to practice with these excellent examples of professional nurses and to have them recognized for their compassionate patient care, their courageous spirits and expertise in their specialty. Congratulations to these exceptional professionals,” said Cole Edmonson, D.N..P, R.N., FACHE, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Dallas.

An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Dallas has approximately 4,000 employees and an active medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Dallas.

Texas Health Azle Named to List of Top 100 Hospitals

AZLE, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle has been named a Top 100 Hospital in the nation, and among only nine in Texas, for delivering high-quality care while improving efficiency.

This honor, given by Truven Health Analytics, annually recognizes hospitals across the nation on overall organization performance, which includes patient care, operational efficiency and financial stability. Honorees demonstrate high-quality patient outcomes and are chosen based on objective research and independent public data.

How closely the organizations follow the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence is also taken into consideration.

"This achievement demonstrates our deep commitment to delivering high-quality health care to the communities we serve," said Bob Ellzey, FACHE, president of Texas Health Azle. "It reflects the high level of teamwork and focus put forth by every employee to continually provide excellence in care."

Top 100 Hospitals are chosen based on high performance in the following areas:

Risk-adjusted mortality
Risk-adjusted complications
Risk-adjusted patient safety
Core measures score
30-day mortality rate
30-day risk-adjusted readmission rate
Severity-adjusted average length of stay
Case mix- and wage-adjusted inpatient expense per adjusted discharge
Profitability (operating profit margin)
HCAHPS score (patient rating of overall hospital performance)

Ellzey credits Texas Health employees and leaders for consistently challenging themselves to find improvements, even in areas of strong performance. In addition to this achievement, the hospital received the Quest Award for High Value Healthcare, the Texas Medical Foundation Silver Award for Quality and was a Joint Commission Top Performer, in the last year alone.

"Maintaining a high level of quality and safety, efficiency and financial performance is vital to Texas Health as we move forward in the changing health care environment," said Dr. Daniel Varga, chief clinical officer for Texas Health. "We are honored to have Texas Health Azle recognized for their efforts to continuously reach for excellence in the care they provide."

'DFW Great 100' List Includes 23 Nurses from Texas Health Resources System Hospitals

ARLINGTON, Texas — Nurses at Texas Health Resources system hospitals account for 23 of the 2013 “DFW Great 100 Nurses,” an annual award recognizing the best of the nursing profession in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Among the Texas Health nurses named to the prestigious list is Lauren Montgomery, B.S.N., R.N.C.-OB, a nursing supervisor at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.

“I chose nursing because I wanted to collaborate with other health care professionals in providing compassionate, individualized care to patients. Nursing has allowed me to be an advocate and develop meaningful relationships with patients and their families to help ensure their specific needs are met,” said Montgomery.

“It is an honor and privilege to receive this recognition. I am blessed for the opportunity to be named a Great 100 Nurse,” added Montgomery, who has served as a nurse for 13 years.

The DFW Great 100 Nurses Inc. annually sponsors the “DFW Great 100 Nurses” to recognize registered nurses in the area who exemplify excellence in the art and science of nursing. The award is unique in that honorees do not have to belong to a particular professional organization or practice in a particular clinical specialty to be recognized. Any registered nurse whose place of employment is within the DFW Metroplex or surrounding counties may be nominated by peers. DFW Great 100 Nurses are ultimately selected by a 30-nurse peer committee, who review the blinded nominations.

“Great 100 recognition means a lot to our nurses because it is coming from other nurses,” said Joan S. Clark, D.N.P., R.N., senior vice president and chief nursing executive of Texas Health Resources. “Fellow nurses who have stood in your shoes and worked your shifts have said you are one of the best.”

The “Great 100 Nurses” will be honored at the 23rd annual gala on May 8 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.

Here is a list of the honorees:

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital

Nancy O’Steen, R.N., B.S., CMSRN

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth

Kristy Anderson, B.S.N., R.N., ONC
Mary De La Garza, B.S.N., CMSRN
Jennifer Harland, B.S.N., R.N.
Michelle Johnson, B.S.N., R.N., PCCN
Sara Kardash, B.S.N., R.N., CCRN
Elaine Nelson, M.S.N., R.N., CCRN, NEA-BC
Kae Sutton, R.N., CCRN, CCAP
Kristin Templin, B.S.N., R.N.

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford

Kerry Miller, B.S.N., R.N., CEN

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth

Susan Christenson, B.S.N., R.N., CEN
Kathy Terryah, R.N., CMSRN

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas

Lisa Ayala, B.S.N., RNC-NIC
Nell Hines, B.S.N., R.N.
Victoria Jiles, B.S., R.N., OCN
Alex Klacman, B.S.N., R.N.-C, CCRN
Lauren Montgomery, B.S.N., R.N.C.-OB
Christi Nguyen, M.S.N., M.H.A., R.N., CWON, NE-BC, FACHE

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton

Jamie Watson, R.N.

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano

Jody Bauer, B.S.N., R.N.

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall

Julia Hilton, B.S.N., R.N.
Lisa Perkins, B.S.N., R.N., CEN

Texas Health Springwood Hospital

Reina Rhodes, R.N.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

National Health IT Society Honors Texas Health Resources Physician Leaders

ARLINGTON, Texas — Two physician leaders with Texas Health Resources have been recognized by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the nation’s major health information technology association, with the society’s annual Book of the Year Award for 2012.

Ferdinand Velasco, M.D.
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Luis Saldaña, M.D.
Click photo to download hi-res image

Ferdinand Velasco, M.D., Texas Health’s chief health information officer, and Luis Saldaña, M.D., the system’s associate chief medical information officer, served on a team of eight clinicians nationwide that completely rewrote “Improving Outcomes with Clinical Decision Support,” a guide to clinical decision support (CDS) implementation.

CDS is a process for enhancing health-related decisions and actions with pertinent, organized clinical knowledge and patient information to improve health and health care delivery, according to HIMSS. CDS technology tools support electronic health records’ (EHR) capability to improve care at the point of delivery.

“Drs. Velasco and Saldaña are helping health systems nationwide optimize their use of technology to improve care delivery and outcomes,” said Jonathan W. Scholl, chief strategy officer and executive vice president of Texas Health Resources. “They draw from the authority of their experience in leading Texas Health’s EHR initiative that is helping transform health care in North Texas.”

All 14 wholly owned Texas Health Resources hospitals are linked through the system’s EHR and have the capability to securely share information across the health system. Since 2006 Texas Health has invested more than $200 million in its EHR, which contains more than 5.7 million patient records.

Velasco leads the system’s CDS, medical and nursing informatics, business intelligence and data analytics functions across the continuum of care, including systemwide optimization of the EHR. Before joining Texas Health as the system’s first chief medical information officer in 2002, he served as an assistant professor at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He simultaneously practiced as a cardiothoracic surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. He received his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine.

Saldaña is a practicing emergency physician at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and the medical director for CDS for Texas Health’s systemwide EHR. He coordinates the strategy and integration for implementing decision support tools for clinicians within Texas Health’s EHR. He received his medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical School, M.B.A. from the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business and B.S. in biochemistry from Texas A&M University.

The HIMSS Book of the Year Award honors a book that offers outstanding practical guidance and strategic insight for health care information and management system professionals, according to HIMSS. The winning team will be recognized at the HIMSS annual conference in New Orleans on March 5.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Plano Financial Officer Named to Fellow Status in American College of Health Care Executives

PLANO, Texas — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano Financial Officer Brian Craft has been named to Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), a professional society of more than 35,000 health care executives.

Brian Craft, FACHE

“We are proud of Brian for achieving this milestone in his career,” said Ron Long, chief financial officer and executive vice president for Texas Health Resources, Texas Health Plano’s parent organization. “Earning Fellow status shows his commitment to the profession and the community.”

According to the organization, to obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing an examination, completing at least 40 hours of continuing education, serving at least five years in health care management, and being active in the local civic and health care communities. Fellows must be recertified every three years.

Craft serves as group financial officer, overseeing Texas Health Plano and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen. He joined Texas Health as vice president of finance in June 2011.

He holds a master's degree in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio and a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Texas in Denton. Craft also served as treasurer of the Texas Chapter of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management from 2004-07. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is also a certified project management professional.

He lives in Midlothian with his wife and two sons.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Joint Commission Recognizes Texas Health Fort Worth for Excellence in Palliative Care

FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth is the second hospital in Texas to receive The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification for Palliative Care. The disease-specific certification is among three others earned by Texas Health Fort Worth – including hip replacement, knee replacement, and treatment of hip fractures.

The Advanced Certification for Palliative Care, launched by The Joint Commission in September 2011, recognizes hospital inpatient programs that demonstrate exceptional patient and family-centered care to enhance the quality of life for seriously ill patients. Certification involves an on-site evaluation, review of quality metrics and evidence of effective, timely palliative care using a multidisciplinary approach.

Palliative care is an often-misunderstood specialty that focuses on patients facing chronic or debilitating diseases and their families, said Ashley Hodo, nurse manager of the palliative care unit. It can include pain and symptom control, end-of-life care, coordination of treatment across disciplines, or long-term care planning for patients with serious illness. Some patients receiving palliative care have non-life-threatening conditions that can improve and allow them to lead normal lives. A care team comprised of chaplains, social workers, physicians, nurses, and others work with patients and their families on treatment and counseling through tough medical decisions.

“We’re proud to be among the 32 facilities nationwide recognized by The Joint Commission for paving the way in palliative care,” Hodo said. “This recognition reaffirms our care team’s dedication to providing quality care for our patients and their loved ones.”

Texas Health Fort Worth opened North Texas’ first dedicated 16-bed inpatient palliative care unit in 2009 to meet the needs of the growing elderly population. In 2011, palliative care for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that need extra-special care was developed. Fifteen to 20 percent of NICU patients need more advanced care planning through the Neonatal weeCare Palliative Care program, said Lindsey Canon, manager of the NICU. This includes babies born with chromosomal anomalies, babies that have been on a ventilator for more than two months, and babies with complex conditions, such as spina bifida.

“Our weeCare team starts working with pregnant moms early on in the process and follows them through the continuum of care to offer support, help coordinate with specialists and attend appointments,” Canon said. “Forming relationships with the patients and family members is one of the most important aspects of palliative care.”

To learn more about palliative care at Texas Health Fort Worth, visit www.TexasHealth.org/FortWorth.

Young Dallas Woman Battles Breast Cancer, Hopes to Raise Awareness

DALLAS, Texas — Life as she knew it changed for Deanna Stearn when she was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer a year ago — at age 28.

Deanna Stearn, pictured with her children, said regular check-ups are important for women of all ages.

Today, the 29-year-old is cancer free and sharing a message of awareness for young women to continue breast self-exams, listen to their bodies and see a doctor if they find anything out of the ordinary.

“I want people to hear my story and understand that this disease can strike a woman at any age,” she said.

While Stearn is cancer free today, she is part of what some doctors are calling a troubling trend. According to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of young women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer like Stearn has been steadily increasing over the last three decades.

Beginning in 1976, the rate of diagnosis in 25- to 39-year-old women rose from 1.53 per 100,000 to 2.90 per 100,000 in 2009.

“The risk of breast cancer in women under 40 is small, but we have seen an increase in younger women diagnosed with distant disease, meaning the cancer has already spread to other organs,” said Dr. Archana Ganaraj, breast cancer surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and Stearn’s physician. “Younger women tend to have a more aggressive form of breast cancer and therefore lower survival rates.”

If the disease is caught early, younger women have an 80 percent survival rate, according to the JAMA paper. Survival rate drops to 31 percent if the disease has spread.

“One month after finding a lump in my breast, I decided to see my doctor and it had already doubled in size,” Stearn said. “I’m blessed that I have an amazing support system of friends and loved ones who encouraged me to seek treatment because had I waited I know the outcome would have been much different.”

Dr. Archana Ganaraj, breast cancer surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Dallas, was Stearn’s physician.
Click photo to download hi-res image

“Unfortunately, we don’t know why younger women have a more advanced form of this disease,” Ganaraj said. “Since women under the age of 40 are not routinely screened for breast cancer, it’s important to listen to your body, get regular check-ups and bring any concerns to your physician.”

The research was led by scientists at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington in Seattle. The researchers examined breast cancer incidence, incidence trends, and survival rates as a function of age and extent of disease at diagnosis. The data was gathered from three U.S. National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries. These registries provide data spanning 1973-2009, 1992-2009, and 2000-2009.

Texas Health Resources Chief Nurse Executive Receives National Award

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources’ top nurse executive has received a national award for her leadership in advancing a new nursing role designed to improve patient care. Joan Shinkus Clark, D.N.P., R.N., NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, FAAN, senior vice president and chief nurse executive at Texas Health Resources, was presented the 2013 CNL Visionary Leader Award from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She received the award, one of only two presented, at the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Summit held Jan. 17-19 in New Orleans.

Joan Clark

Under Clark’s leadership, Texas Health has been a pioneer in the development and implementation of the CNL nursing model, a fast-emerging R.N. role developed by the AACN to improve the quality of patient care and better prepare nurses to thrive in today’s health care system. These master’s-prepared clinicians put evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery.

“Introducing a new nursing role into the health care delivery system takes vision, courage and leadership,” said AACN President Jane Kirschling, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN. “And Joan has even gone above and beyond that.”

Clark helped establish a Nursing Excellence Fund to support advancing nursing excellence at Texas Health, including covering the cost for Texas Health nurses to become clinical nurse leaders. Today, Texas Health has 30 CNLs and patient care facilitators (nurses studying to become CNLs) serving hospitals throughout its system.

“A number of forces — from more complex, high-risk patients to the need for improved continuity — created the need for CNLs,” Clark said. “The CNL brings a dedicated leader with clinical knowledge, depth and expertise as a regular presence back to the bedside.”

In practice, clinical nurse leaders oversee the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provide direct patient care in complex situations. The nurse leaders evaluate patient outcomes, assess risks and have the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. They also serve as a focal point for the patient, family and health care team in coordinating the patient’s plan of care.

Cory Franks, M.S.N., R.N., C.N.L., Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, was one of the system’s first CNLs.

“As a clinical nurse leader, you are in a position to accurately assess what is needed at the bedside, you have the time and expertise to come up with an evidence-based solution, and you are empowered to implement changes,” he said. “Plus, I’m a consistent presence on the floor for staff, other members of the health care team, and most importantly, for my patients and their loved ones.”

According to Emily Jestes, M.S.N., R.N., C.N.L., Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, a CNL’s most important responsibility is to look at the whole patient.

“We round on patients five days a week, as well as follow their progress 24/7 as needed; help manage the patient’s expectations throughout their hospital stay; and promote a team-based approach to care by keeping an open line of communication between the care team and the patient,” she said.

Clark has served on the AACN CNL Implementation Task Force and the CNL Steering Committee. Her leadership as a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives has been key to promoting a national dialogue and awareness of the clinical nurse leader, according to the AACN.

“AACN commends the ground-breaking work led by Dr. Clark to introduce the CNL into her health system as a mechanism for enhancing care coordination, strengthening outcome-based practice and enhancing patient safety,” Kirschling said.

Texas Health Dallas, Local School Nurses Working to Provide Advanced Care Training

DALLAS — With more children who require advanced medical care being mainstreamed into schools, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas has partnered with the Richardson and Frisco independent school districts to provide advanced care training to 140 school nurses.

Mark Rose, B.S., R.R.T., a critical care respiratory therapist at Texas Health Dallas, leads one of the demonstrations.

A full-day session, conducted earlier this month, brought together direct care nurses from Texas Health Dallas and local school nurses. Training for the more complex level of care some students may need, including ventilators, tracheostomy tubes, feeding tubes and diabetic pumps, was given.

“Though they may not use all the skills on a daily basis, this training is helpful in the event they come across complex care needs in the future,” said Sara Moody, M.S.N., R.N., NEA-BC, manager for Texas Health Resources University, a career school located on the campus of Texas Health Dallas. “This partnership is an example of how we optimize our resources to improve the health of people in the communities we serve.”

Nurses from the Richardson and Frisco districts spent the day in groups rotating through 10 different stations and networking with more than two dozen Texas Health Dallas clinical experts to help refresh what they already know and learn new skills.

“It was a very productive day for all the nurses who take care of medically fragile students who require all types of medical care,” said Gloria Canham, M.S.N., R.N., director of health services for the Richardson Independent School District. “It’s wonderful for us to be able to have this facility and their clinical expertise to provide this kind of staff development for us. We really appreciated the staff for the great opportunity.”

The event brought together direct care nurses from Texas Health Dallas and local school nurses.

One element of the training included helping school nurses better understand the mechanics and operation of the different types of insulin pumps that deliver insulin to students with diabetes.

In Texas, Type I diabetes is the most prevalent chronic disease affecting school-aged children, next to asthma.

For more information about Texas Health Resources University, please call 214-345-6700.

Spring Into Action at Annual Texas Health Kaufman 5K Fun Run

KAUFMAN, Texas — Put on your running shoes and join the staff of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman for the 5K Fun Run and Walk on Saturday, March 23. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a short warm up and 9 a.m. start.

All proceeds benefit Texas Health Kaufman’s Child Automobile Safety initiative, which provides car seat safety checks for Kaufman County families in addition to travel safety tips for parents. Free car seats are given to parents whose seats do not meet national safety guidelines.

“We invite the community to come out and enjoy a fun-filled morning with family and friends while supporting an important program,” said Patsy Youngs, president of Texas Health Kaufman.

The fun run begins and ends at Texas Health Kaufman, 850 Ed Hall Drive, and is open to all ages with awards presented in each age category.

For more information, please call 972-932-7394 or to register, visit TexasHealth.org/Kaufman5K.

GiRL Power Event for Moms and Preteen Daughters Tackles Tough Issues

FORT WORTH, Texas — The tumultuous “tween” years can be especially tricky for girls and their moms. A new program in North Texas is helping families tackle tough issues commonly faced by 9-to-12 year-olds — like bullying, internet safety, poor nutrition and low self-esteem.

Texas Health Resources and the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health present GiRL Power (Girls in Real Life) from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on March 3, at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The event aims to strengthen the bond between preteen girls and their moms (or other important women in their lives) in order to build their confidence and improve their health and well-being.

Attendees will hear from two keynote speakers: Miss Texas 2012 DaNae Couch and Olympic Gold Medalist Carly Patterson. The event also includes small group discussions, goodie bags, photo booths, door prizes and refreshments. Tickets are $15 per adult/child couple and $20 for adults bringing more than one child.

“The pre-teen age for young girls is a time of change,” said Jennifer Gavia, registered dietitian at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, who will speak on nutrition. “Their bodies are changing, they’re developing a sense of self, and they’re creating healthy habits. This is a critical time when eating behaviors are established that often influence behaviors during adulthood. We want our girls to have a positive relationship with food and healthful nutrition, which is why it’s important to start helping her form those habits now.”

For more information about the GiRL Power event or to register, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355) or visit TexasHealth.org/GiRLPower.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

About the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health
Established in 2007, the LWBIWH builds and offers research, education and community outreach programs to improve the lives of women and their families by applying the resources and expertise from its affiliation with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Angelo State University. The institute supports scientific discoveries unique to women’s health and gender differences; advances the knowledge of health care professionals through evidence-based resources; and connects with communities for healthier lives. For more information about the LWBIWH, call 806-356-4617 or visit laurabushinstitute.org.

Texas Health Alliance President Earns Award From US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce

FORT WORTH, Texas — Winjie Tang Miao, president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, has been honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce-Southwest Region. The award was presented to Miao at the chamber’s 12th annual Lunar New Year Good Fortune Celebration Honoring Top Ten Asian American businesses.

Miao (far right) has also been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of its 2012 “25 Healthcare Leaders Under Age 40.”

“The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Winjie to recognize her professional success and contributions. She is a positive role model for young women in the community, especially Asian-American women,” said Grace McDermott, president of the chamber.

Miao was instrumental in the planning, development and opening of Texas Health Alliance, Texas Health Resources' newest full-service hospital. Texas Health Alliance began serving patients in September 2012.

Prior to her role with Texas Health Alliance, she served as the president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle. Under her leadership, the hospital expanded services and received national recognition for its quality and community health efforts.

Miao began her career in health care administration in 2000 as an administrative resident at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. While serving as administrative director, Miao led planning and implementation of the hospital’s acute care expansion, a $207 million renovation project. In addition, she optimized eight ambulatory clinics and developed breast health and other cancer-related programs.

Miao received a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., and a master's degree in healthcare administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Miao has also been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of its 2012 “25 Healthcare Leaders Under Age 40.” In 2008, she was honored as one of Modern Healthcare's “Up and Comers.”

“I’m honored that the US Pan Asian American Chamber wanted to honor my achievements,” Miao said. “The success of Texas Health Alliance can be credited to our talented, hard-working team members who bring their best to work every day.”

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance is a 50-bed, multi-service hospital offering acute care and wellness programs to communities in North Fort Worth, Keller, North Richland Hills, Haslet, and the surrounding areas. The hospital’s services include emergency medicine, women and infant services, neonatal intensive care, imaging, physical therapy, surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, occupational health, and wellness programs. Texas Health Alliance is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Alliance.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Resources Named to National Top 150 Workplaces

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources has been named one of America’s Top 150 Workplaces by WorkplaceDynamics. Texas Health ranked No. 38 nationwide among 872 organizations with more than 1,000 employees that participated in regional top workplaces programs.

The National Top Workplaces list was determined by feedback gathered through an objective employee survey. The survey was conducted by WorkplaceDynamics, a national employee survey provider, in conjunction with 30 leading regional newspapers. In November, Texas Health ranked No. 9 among large companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on The Dallas Morning News’ list of the Top 100 Places to Work.

“We’re honored that this prestigious national ranking is based on the input of our employees,” said Bonnie Bell, Texas Health’s executive vice president of people and culture. “Texas Health is a great place to work and this award recognizes that the work we are doing to transform the future of health care is meaningful to our employees.”

The survey uses a proprietary set of 22 questions to rank companies. The survey data showed that employees most want to work at companies with high levels of what WorkplaceDynamics calls “organizational health.” Companies that set a clear direction for the future, execute well and bring real meaning to work are the healthiest.

Other recent workforce recognitions for Texas Health include being named one of the “2012 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” by the National Business Group on Health and selection for the fourth consecutive year by Computerworld magazine as one of the top 100 workplaces for information technology (IT) professionals.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

DAISY Award Honors Extraordinary Nurses at Texas Health Stephenville

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Have you or someone you know received exemplary care from a nurse at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville? You will soon have the opportunity to recognize compassionate care by Texas Health Stephenville nurses through nominating them for the prestigious DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

The clinical expertise and compassionate care displayed every day by Texas Health Stephenville’s nurses is exemplified by Ilda Martinez, R.N., director of medical-surgical nursing.

Texas Health Stephenville launched its participation in the DAISY Award program on Jan. 24. The program rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses. About 1,000 health care organizations worldwide are collaborating with the DAISY Foundation to honor nurses through the prestigious program. Texas Health Stephenville will recognize one of its nurses with this special honor twice a year.

“Our nurses consistently demonstrate extraordinary clinical expertise and compassionate care,” said Cindy McCarthy, D.N.P., chief nursing officer at Texas Health Stephenville. “This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize exemplary role models in the nursing community.”

Patients, visitors, nurses, physicians and employees may nominate a deserving nurse by submitting a nomination form. Forms and collection boxes are located in the admission lobby and atrium lobby at Texas Health Stephenville. Nurses can also be nominated at TexasHealth.org/DAISY.

Nurses should be recognized as outstanding role models, fulfilling the following criteria:

Serves as a role model for the nursing profession through loyalty and commitment.
Strives to go above expectations in their role at Texas Health Stephenville.
Develops key relationships and demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills with patients, families and peers.
Models empathy and demonstrates a caring attitude in all situations.
Generates enthusiasm and energy toward meeting the challenges of professional nursing.

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of an auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for “diseases attacking the immune system.”) Barnes’ family was awed by the care and compassion his nurses provided, not only to their patient but also to his family. Through the foundation the family aims to recognize extraordinary nurses who make a difference in the lives of so many people through their everyday work.

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville is a full-service acute care facility serving Erath and surrounding counties since 1926. The hospital offers surgical services, women’s and infants’ services, advanced diagnostic imaging, sleep lab and wound care services. Texas Health Stephenville, an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, has received national accreditation as a Level IV Trauma Center and Cycle III Chest Pain Center as well as for its stereotactic breast biopsy program. The hospital was named a Baby-Friendly Hospital by the World Health Organization and received Pathway to Excellence® designation for a work environment that supports nurses.

For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or visit TexasHealth.org/Stephenville.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Women’s Diagnostic Center at Texas Health Plano Earns Center of Excellence Designation

PLANO, Texas — Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano’s Sue A. deMille Women's Diagnostic Center has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by The American College of Radiology (ACR).

"We are very proud to have earned this honor, which is only bestowed upon breast centers that have achieved the highest practice standards in caring for patients," said Dr. Patricia Krakos, a radiologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Plano and medical director of the Women's Diagnostic Center. "These standards include excellence in imaging quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control and quality assurance programs."

To earn the center of excellence designation, breast centers must be accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy).

"We are also accredited to perform dedicated breast MRI and MRI-guided biopsy," Krakos added. "Patients can be confident that they are receiving the highest level of quality, comprehensive care in a compassionate environment."

The Women's Diagnostic Center underwent several peer-review evaluations during the accreditation process. Board-certified physicians and medical physicists from the ACR evaluated every aspect of care and diagnostic procedures offered at the center.

“The employees in our Sue A. deMille Women’s Diagnostic Center provide a high quality of service to women seeking breast care diagnostics and treatment,” said Mike Evans, B.S.N., M.S.N., hospital president. “We appreciate the care they provide to each patient in what can be a stressful time for women.”

The center offers annual screening mammograms, diagnostic mammography, 3-D breast imaging, computerized breast evaluation, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and interventional breast procedures.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Partners Wins Distinctive Workplace Award®

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Partners, a company owned by Texas Health Resources, has been selected as a recipient of the 2012 Distinctive Workplace Award® from Press Ganey Associates, Inc., a national health care performance improvement organization.

Texas Health Partners is one of only 10 Press Ganey clients in the nation to receive the prestigious honor in 2012. The award recognizes client organizations that have reached and sustained the 95th percentile in employee satisfaction scores for two consecutive reporting periods.

“This is a great honor that recognizes our employees for their commitment to working together to support our caregivers in providing quality health care,” said Krystal Mims, senior vice president of care continuum and collaborations for Texas Health Resources. “Our employees’ high satisfaction and loyalty help Texas Health fulfill our mission of improving the health of the people in the communities we serve.”

Texas Health Partners was recognized for employee initiatives including pay-for-performance, in which base compensation, incentives and bonus programs are tied to the organization’s strategic goals. Texas Health Partners also encourages individualized employee recognition on a variety of levels and hosts events throughout the year designed to recognize special achievements.

Mims said that employee feedback indicates a strong sense of loyalty, which is reflected in recruitment and retention. Not only do employees choose to stay with Texas Health Partners (with a retention rate exceeding 90 percent), they refer friends and family to open positions. Currently 54 percent of Texas Health Partners new hires come from employee referrals.

“Being the best means having the best,” said Mims. “Texas Health Partners takes pride in fostering a workplace where employees are mentored, recognized and feel that the work they do is meaningful and appreciated.”

Texas Health Partners is a company owned by Texas Health Resources, one of the nation’s largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems. It serves administrative needs of Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery Plano, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southlake, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall, and Texas Health Surgery Center Denton, which are for-profit, joint-ventured facilities affiliated with Texas Health Resources.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or visit TexasHealth.org.

Breast Care Center at Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth Earns Center of Excellence Designation

FORT WORTH, Texas — The American College of Radiology (ACR) has awarded the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence (BICOE) designation to the Virginia Clay Dorman Breast Care Center, located in Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth.

Texas Health Southwest is the first Texas Health hospital in Tarrant County to have earned this designation. As noted by the ACR, BICOE designation affirms that the breast care center “has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.”

The process to earn the designation is extensive. Not only must a facility fulfill the ACR’s mandatory mammography accreditation program, it also must earn accreditation in modules for stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsy, all of which are voluntary accreditations.

Brett McClung, president of Texas Health Southwest, said the designation was a credit to the breast care center and the hospital. “We recently completed a major renovation and expansion of the breast care center,” he said. “Once that project was completed, we made the commitment to add new service lines and become a more comprehensive breast care center. We all are very proud of this achievement.”

Earning the accreditation was a team effort, Director of Radiology Kevin Spears said. “We have an outstanding group of individuals in the breast care center, including the medical director, Dr. Harpreet Talwar, the manager, Tricia Trammell, and all the employees. This designation affirms that when patients come to the Virginia Clay Dorman Breast Care Center, they can expect quality care and top-notch facilities from a knowledgeable and caring staff.”

The BICOE designation is the latest achievement for Texas Health Southwest. Last year, the hospital was designated a UnitedHealth Premium Surgical Spine Specialty Center and earned Pathway to Excellence Designation® from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Texas Health Southwest also is an accredited chest pain center and an accredited heart failure center.

About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth is a 222-bed acute care, full-service facility that has provided quality and compassionate care to the residents of southwest Tarrant County for more than two decades. The hospital’s services include surgical and imaging services, a 24-hour emergency department, orthopedics and sports therapy, adult critical care, and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Southwest Forth Worth has 992 employees, 120 volunteers, and 578 members on the medical staff. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or visit TexasHealth.org/Southwest.

Free Child Car Seat Inspections Offered at Texas Health Dallas

DALLAS — Car accidents are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years old. Even when child restraints are used, studies show three out of four car seats are used incorrectly.

That’s why Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is hosting free child car seat inspections at the hospital on the first Saturday of each month. Parents can call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355) to reserve a 30 minute one-on-one session with a certified child passenger safety technician to learn how they can keep their children safe while traveling.

“There are basic guidelines about car seat safety every parent should know,” said Holly Roberts, R.N., a certified car safety passenger technician and a nurse in the newborn nursery at Texas Health Dallas.

During the free event, certified technicians will also assist parents with car seat fitting and installation, as well as provide education about child restraints and how to properly use their purchased rear facing car seats, forward facing car seats and booster seats.

“When used properly, car seats can help save lives,” Roberts said.

The program, called Child Automobile Safety Initiative, is part of Texas Health Dallas’ mission to improve the health of the people in the local community. Parents must bring their purchased car seat, the car seat manufacturer manual and their child to the event. The program also offers safety tips for parents traveling with children.

Basic recommendations for children include:

Birth to 12 months
Children under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
1 to 3 years
Children should remain in rear-facing car seats until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the seat’s manufacture. Once the child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing seat with a harness.
4 to 7 years
Children should stay in a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the seat’s manufacturer. Once children outgrow the forward-facing car seat, it’s time to travel in a booster seat.
8 to 12 years
Children should remain in a booster seat until they’re big enough (usually 4-foot-9) to fit in the car’s seat with a properly-fitting seatbelt. For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.
Children should still ride in the back seat until age 13 because it’s safer there.

For more information about the Child Automobile Safety Initiative at Texas Health Dallas, or to sign up for one of the monthly safety classes, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355).

Texas Health Hospitals in Fort Worth, Plano Named 'Best Place to Have a Baby'

ARLINGTON, Texas — When it comes to having babies, readers of Fort Worth Child and Dallas Child magazines turn to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, respectively, for care.

The hospitals were voted “Best Place to Have a Baby” in the magazines’ annual “Best for Moms and Babies” readers’ surveys. Both hospitals deliver more than 3,000 babies each year.

“We are very pleased that so many mothers choose to have their babies with us,” said Michele Charless, R.N., director of women’s and children’s services at Texas Health Plano. “Caregivers on the units and physicians on the medical staff are honored to play such a special role in a mother’s life. That our patients voted us to win this honor makes it even more special.”

Texas Health Fort Worth and Texas Health Plano offer everything from assisted reproductive technologies to help women get pregnant to care for high-risk pregnancies and neonatal intensive care. The hospitals offer a wide array of classes to help prepare parents for the birth and support groups to help new moms after they’ve delivered.

“Whether patients desire an epidural and delivery by an obstetrician on the hospital's medical staff or a natural water birth with a nurse-midwife, we’re dedicated to trying to honor the choices of moms in the Fort Worth area,” said Amy Hailey, director of women and infant services at Texas Health Fort Worth, the regional referral center for high-risk deliveries in Tarrant and surrounding counties. “We’re so pleased that mothers have chosen us for this honor for 18 years, to the credit of our nurses, employees, midwives, and doctors on the medical staff who are committed to providing quality care.”

Both Texas Health hospitals are among seven in Texas designated “Baby Friendly” by the World Health Organization, an honor that recognizes a comprehensive approach to breastfeeding support. The hospitals offers breastfeeding classes, a breastfeeding support group run by a lactation consultant, and stores that sells breastfeeding and other newborn supplies.

In addition to in-person services and classes, Texas Health has created a community of moms online with a daily blog, Facebook group and Twitter account. For more information on Texas Health offerings for moms, visit TexasHealth.org/Moms.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health CEO Offers Perspective on State of the Union Address

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources CEO Doug Hawthorne offered the following comments following President Obama's State of the Union address on Feb. 12, 2013:

The strength of our economy continues to be top of mind, as it has been for the last four years. The healthcare industry has a significant impact on the economy of North Texas both in the number of jobs tied to healthcare and in the impact health issues can have on the productivity of the work force in general.

Texas Health Resources and other health systems in Dallas-Fort Worth are major economic drivers providing more than 237,000 jobs in the D-FW area and generating more than $12 billion in economic impact. Health providers have endured significant cuts in reimbursement yet we must continue to provide care for everyone in the community because that is our mission. In addition to the direct economic impact of jobs, healthcare affects all other industries.

Research indicates that employers in the DFW area lose as much as $17 billion each year in worker productivity lost due to employee health issues. Texas Health Resources is working with employers, physicians and insurance companies on innovative ways to improve overall well-being because people with higher well-being are more productive and their health benefits cost less.

Improving the health and well-being of the people in our communities can have a measurable positive impact on the vitality of our economy. One of the things we must do to improve health is transition from a fee-for-services model to a value-based accountable care model directed by physicians. We will make that transition, and we will bend the cost curve of healthcare away from its upward trend.

Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth Director Named Associate Chief Nursing Officer

FORT WORTH, Texas — Gretchen Hunt, M.S.N., R.N., ACNS-BC, has been promoted to associate chief nursing officer at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth. In her new role, Hunt will assist with the management of nursing services, including overseeing processes which ensure that patients’ care needs are being met. She also will assist with strategic planning for nursing and organization-wide initiatives.

Gretchen Hunt, M.S.N., R.N., ACNS-BC

Hunt has served as the nursing director for critical care/progressive care/medical surgical services at Texas Health Southwest for the five years. She previously worked as a nurse, clinical education specialist, nurse manager and as a director of clinical education.

She currently serves on the PCF/CNL Advisory Board, NCAP committee and Nursing Editorial Board of Texas Health Resources, and successfully completed the Texas Health Leadership Academy Nurse Executive Residency.

Previously, Hunt served as an adjunct clinical instructor at the University of Texas at Arlington and was a member of the Texas Christian University Evidenced-based Practice Collaborative.

North Texas Media Personality Praises Margot Perot Center’s Care for Mothers, Babies

DALLAS — For Alexa Conomos, returning to the Margot Perot Center at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas to have her second and third children was like “coming home.”

Alexa Conomos (left) and Laura Whisenant Dobraski, R.N.

Alexa with her husband, Bradley, sons Alexandros Luka and Alexei Britton and daughter Athanasia Annick.

Having delivered sons Alexandros Luka and Alexei Britton and daughter Athanasia Annick at Texas Health Dallas over the course of five years, Alexa has been grateful to find the very same nurses caring for her each time.

“I went through different challenges throughout my pregnancies, but it was the care by the nurses that really helped make the difference,” said Alexa, who is best known to the Dallas-Fort Worth community as a media personality on WFAA-TV (Ch. 8). “They truly are the heart and soul of the hospital. The level of care with each visit surpassed my highest expectations.”

Laura Whisenant Dobraski, a registered nurse in the labor and delivery unit at Texas Health Dallas, met Alexa and her husband, Bradley, for the first time in 2007 when Alexa was rushed to the hospital after her water broke 33 weeks into her pregnancy with son Luka. Laura monitored Alexa’s contractions and the baby’s heartbeat during the delivery.

At 33 weeks and 6 days, preemie baby Luka spent six days in the Level III NICU at Texas Health Dallas before being transferred to the hospital’s special care nursery for additional observation.

“The fact that I could live in the hospital with my son until we were released was invaluable,” Alexa said. “We felt so well taken care of by the nursing staff. They spent so much time checking in on us, teaching us how to care for our tiny infant, and providing assurance and comfort when we felt discouraged or blue.”

Whisenant Dobraski said it’s important to help patients understand the facts about premature births and be available when new parents have questions.

“There are so many emotions involved when you’re caught in this type of situation,” she said. When Alexa and Bradley came back to deliver Britton and later Annick, they felt comforted to see so many “old friends” at the Margot Perot Center.

“It felt like being home again,” she said.

When Annick was born, Alexa specifically asked for nurse Laura, who had taken great care of her during her labor with Luka. Whiseant Dobraski is just one of more than a dozen nurses Alexa recognized by name in a recent letter to Texas Health Dallas Chief Nursing Officer Cole Edmonson, D.N.P., R.N., FACHE, NEA-BC.

“It’s confirmation that we are fulfilling our mission, vision and living our values every day at Texas Health Dallas and truly delivering on our Promise to care for patients as an individual with excellence,” Edmonson said. “There are no words to describe the feeling of comfort and safety this kind of stability brings to an expectant parent to see a familiar face — someone you trust to take excellent care of you – during the birth of your child.”

During labor with Annick, Alexa developed a painful rash and was in agony because she could not take medication for it. Carlotta Cole, R.N., one of the many nurses she recognized in her letter, took the time to comfort her and try to relieve her pain.

“Carlotta came in with a wash cloth and gently rubbed all over my legs,” she said. “The fact that she went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable was so touching.”

Alexa also recognized how important the lactation consultants are at Texas Health Dallas.

“They worked so hard with me to establish nursing and to help me bond with my babies,” she said. “They are my heroes.”

Edmonson said the dedication, competency and compassion of the nurses Alexa recognized were examples of the entire nursing staff at Texas Health Dallas and they’re part of the reason the hospital is a Magnet Redesignated facility.

“We are truly blessed by the longevity of our professional nursing staff, and to know that blessings are transferred to our patients who choose to receive care here is priceless,” Edmonson said.

Today, Luka is a healthy five-year-old who enjoys the company of his younger siblings Britton, 3 and Annick, 5 months.

“There’s a reason everyone says (Texas Health Dallas) “Dallas Presby” is the best place to have a baby,” Alexa said. “Now, I’m just one more voice in that chorus.”

About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is an 898-bed acute care hospital and recognized clinical program leader, having provided compassionate care to the residents of Dallas and surrounding communities since 1966. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Texas Health Dallas among the nation’s best hospitals in digestive disorders, orthopedics, and neurology and neurosurgery. An affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system, Texas Health Dallas has approximately 4,000 employees and an active medical staff of more than 1,000 physicians. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/Dallas.

Texas Health Resources Receives National Award for Leadership, Innovation in Care Delivery

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Health Resources has received the 2013 Richard A. Norling Premier Alliance Excellence Award for its leadership in accelerating care quality and cost improvements among the nation’s largest collaborative network of health systems.

Texas Health received the Norling Award during Premier’s annual Governance Education Conference.

Texas Health is the sole winner among more than 2,700 of the nation’s leading hospitals that are members of the Premier health care alliance. The award honors the system that has advanced the alliance’s work the most during the past year through leadership and collaboration with other health systems.

“We value this honor and our collaboration with Premier,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “As Texas Health strives to transform the delivery of health care in North Texas, we treasure the ability to share our knowledge and experiences with nationally benchmarked health systems through our participation in the Premier alliance.”

Examples of Texas Health achievements as a member of the Premier alliance include:

Nine system hospitals are top performers in QUEST®: High Performing Hospitals, a national performance improvement collaborative with more than 350 participants. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle was the only hospital to receive the 2012 QUEST Award for High-value Healthcare.
Top performance in the Premier Perinatal Safety Initiative, one of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated perinatal improvement initiatives reducing harm to babies and mothers, and lowering associated liability claims and pay-outs.
Texas Health hospitals have consistently been honored by Premier for superior supply chain performance and innovation. And they helped to develop Premier’s clinical, labor, supply chain and safety applications.
Texas Health is a founding member of American Excess Insurance Exchange, RRG, an alliance of systems that own and manage their excess professional and general liability insurance program that is managed by Premier Insurance Management Services.
System representatives serve on Premier committees that help lead alliance members in efforts to transform and improve healthcare.

“Texas Health has been a true partner since joining the alliance 15 years ago, setting care delivery standards and then sharing best practices and lessons learned to the benefit of communities nationwide,” said Premier President and CEO Susan DeVore. “They spearhead our efforts to leverage the power of collaboration to achieve higher quality, more cost-effective health care — a goal that could not be more appropriate or necessary at this time in our nation’s history.”

Owned by health systems, including Texas Health, Premier comprises nearly half of the country’s acute care hospitals and 90,000 non-acute care sites that work together to lead the movement to better, more affordable care. Premier’s purchasing network delivers more than $4 billion in annual savings each year. The alliance also aggregates and uses clinical, operational and financial information and technologies to drive evidence-based decisions that improve patient care and reduce costs.

Texas Health received the Norling Award on Jan. 29, 2013, during Premier’s annual Governance Education Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Allen Employees Wear Red for Heart Disease Awareness

ALLEN, Texas — Employees at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen wore red on Friday, Feb. 1 as part of a national initiative to raise awareness of heart disease in women. Texas Health Allen is an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

Texas Health Resources, the parent organization of the hospital, is proud to be North Texas Goes Red sponsor for Go Red for Women. Through our partnership with the American Heart Association - Dallas, we are educating women about the risks of heart disease and most importantly prevention.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Texas Health Resources, Healthways Advance Physician-Directed Population Health Initiatives Supporting Commercial ACO Design and Deployment

ARLINGTON, Texas and NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Texas Health Resources (Texas Health) and Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) today announced the launch of two initiatives in their ongoing strategic alignment to deploy an integrated physician-directed population health solution to drive health outcomes and cost savings.

The first initiative is implementation of a consistent system-wide approach to optimize the care of inpatients with diabetes and improve coordination of care after the patient is discharged. Texas Health launched the diabetes care coordination initiative in January at five Texas Health hospitals in Dallas, Plano, Arlington, Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Fort Worth.

The second initiative identifies inpatients who are most at-risk for readmissions, and aligns inpatient and post-hospital care teams around the patient’s needs. Effective coordination of care after the patient is discharged can improve quality and patient safety, lower cost, improve patient outcomes and help prevent costly readmissions. Coordination of care across the continuum of services is part of Texas Health’s overall strategy to integrate health services and help patients navigate through the complex environment of care.

Both approaches involve the patient’s primary care provider to facilitate monitoring and timely interventions. These initiatives are critical elements supporting the construct of the accountable care agreement announcement made by Texas Health last week and the ACO agreement announced in mid-January between Texas Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources, said, "Texas Health is collaborating with physicians, commercial insurers and employers to develop an accountable care model that not only cares for people when they are ill, but also focuses on keeping people healthy and out of the hospital unless they are acutely sick or injured. Beginning with the physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants of Texas Health Physicians Group, we are leading the way in transforming from the fee-for-service model to a value-based model. We are creating a physician-directed care-team approach that we believe will foster more accountability across the continuum of care, from the individual patient to the physician to every other provider on the team. Our ultimate goal is to help physicians manage the health of their patient populations and improve their health and well-being.”

“Texas Health is one of the nation’s leaders in developing an integrated physician-directed population health solution,” said Jon Scholl, chief strategy officer and executive vice president of Texas Health Resources. “Working with our strategic partner, Healthways, we are building an integrated approach that includes comprehensive services, systems and tools to give physicians an enhanced ability to identify trends in their patient populations. This will facilitate data analysis and predictive modeling based on patient population data to help them identify individual patients who have health risks and could benefit from early interventions. Working with Healthways as we jointly pursue the aims of all of our current and future ACO agreements, the focus will include a new payment model that will reward physicians for meeting quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction measures. These include increasing the number of recommended preventive care and screenings, better management of patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, reductions in avoidable hospital readmissions and reductions in Emergency Room visits by improving primary care access hours.”

Healthways President and Chief Executive Officer Ben R. Leedle Jr. said, “Our alignment with Texas Health continues to allow expanded opportunities to work together to improve population health and well-being in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Healthways has led the way in establishing proven tools and the advanced science to deliver a model that improves well-being, which results in significant reduction of health-related costs. We are now delivering to the market examples of how infusing our experience and proven capabilities to improve well-being into Texas Health’s broad array of healthcare professionals, facilities and services, which includes Texas Health Physicians Group, can support the critical aims of a commercial ACO model. We are grateful for the opportunity to be working with such an outstanding partner.”

Texas Health and Healthways expect to collaborate in designing and implementing additional commercial ACO models with other insurers in the North Texas market in the future.

About Healthways
Healthways is the largest independent global provider of well-being improvement solutions. Dedicated to creating a healthier world one person at a time, the Company uses the science of behavior change to produce and measure positive change in well-being for our customers, which include employers, integrated health systems, hospitals, physicians, health plans, communities, and government entities. We provide highly specific and personalized support for each individual and their team of experts to optimize each participant’s health and productivity and to reduce health-related costs. Results are achieved by addressing longitudinal health risks and care needs of everyone in a given population. The Company has scaled its proprietary technology infrastructure and delivery capabilities developed over 30 years and now serves approximately 40 million people on four continents. Learn more at healthways.com.

About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial, and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, Huguley Memorial Medical Center, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

Texas Health Resources, Cooper Aerobics at Craig Ranch Launch Integrative Wellness Center

BEDFORD, Texas — Texas Health Resources and Cooper Aerobics Center at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, launched integrative wellness services in January. Texas Health will offer behavioral health care services at the Cooper Craig Ranch location, which will be provided by employees from Texas Health Springwood Hospital and the Seay Behavioral Health Center at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.

The behavioral services include health consultations, counseling, and group therapy sessions that are designed to merge physical and emotional well-being. Seminars and weekend retreats will be offered to teach and reinforce practices and skills, such as mindfulness, that can lead to healthier choices, and a more joyful quality of life.

“At Texas Health Springwood and the Texas Health Seay Center we’ve long been incorporating changes into an individual’s lifestyle to help ease pain, stress and improve emotional well-being,” said Ramona Osburn, Senior Director of Texas Health Springwood and the Texas Health Seay Center. “We are excited to work with Cooper Craig Ranch on this new concept of mind, body spirit integration for North Texas.”

The new integrative wellness services will start January 28 and are available to all members of the community. The nine group therapies offered will have components for different age groups from adolescents to adults; with specialty programs to address the emotional aspects of chronic pain, disease and anxiety.

“At Cooper Aerobics Center at Craig Ranch we offer tools to improve your physical health through exercise, nutrition and stress relief. Now we are thrilled to work with Texas Health to add behavioral health opportunities for total well-being,” said Roger Sargent, General Manager of the Cooper Craig Ranch fitness center and day spa.

At Texas Health, well-being isn’t limited to individual improvements, but rather on improving the health of the communities — mind, body and spirit. In addition to working with Cooper Craig Ranch, Texas Health offers tools to improve well-being, including simple steps you can take each day at TexasHealth.org/well-being.

In addition to Texas Health behavioral health care services, the Cooper Craig Ranch integrative wellness offerings also include yoga and Pilates classes, healing massage therapy, nutritional coaching for adults and youth, and Airrosti injury recovery.

For more information, call 214-383-1000 or visit coopercraigranch.com.

About Cooper Aerobics Center at Craig Ranch
Cooper Aerobics Center at Craig Ranch, located in McKinney, Texas, opened in 2006, and includes the only other Cooper Fitness Center and Cooper Spa location apart from the headquarters in North Dallas. Cooper Fitness Center at Craig Ranch is a healthy-living community helping members achieve their wellness goals through adult and youth programs and expert personal trainers. Cooper Spa at Craig Ranch is open to the public and offers restorative, therapeutic and rejuvenating treatments provided by professionally trained, licensed technicians. For more information, call Cooper Fitness Center at 214-383-1000 or Cooper Spa at 214-383-1010 or visit coopercraigranch.com.

Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

Groovy Race to Raise Funds for Texas Health Dallas

DALLAS — Do you have the beat? We sure do!

Texas Health Presbyterian Foundation will host the 21st annual HeartBeat 5K fun run, walk and family fun event on March 23. This year, the race will include a music theme.

The 2013 HeartBeat 5K will begin on the campus of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and feature a theme of “We’ve Got the Beat,” with 106.1 Kiss FM’s Michael Blake serving as emcee. The fundraising event will include a 5K run and a 1K family fun run with a host of post-race activities for the whole family.

Funds raised at this year’s race will go toward the hospital’s Heart and Vascular Service Clinician and Community Outreach Education.

“We are so excited about this year’s race and we hope to see a good showing of support from Texas Health employees since it will benefit our own Texas Health Dallas Heart and Vascular Service line,” said Vanida Vongdara, HeartBeat 5K event coordinator. “And the music theme should be fun for people of all ages.”

This is a great way to “Be Healthy” and be physically active. Register for the run today at TexasHealth.org/HB5K. For event sign-up questions, call Vanida Vongdara at 682-236-5236 or email VanidaVongdara@texashealth.org.

Event details:

WHEN
Saturday, March 23, 2013
7:30 a.m. to noon
WHERE
Front lawn of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas
8200 Walnut Hill Lane
Free parking available on hospital campus
ENTRY FEES*
$10 - Kids 12 and under (anytime)
All others:
$20 before March 13, 2013
$25 after March 13, 2013
$30 Race Day
* Entry fees include a T-shirt and goodie bag.

Texas Health Resources Board of Trustees Elects Bass as Chair, Ferguson as Vice Chair

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Health Resources Board of Trustees has named Anne T. Bass and John R. Ferguson III to serve two-year leadership terms and to help establish the strategic direction for the largest faith-based health care system in North Texas in terms of patients served.

Anne T. Bass

John R. Ferguson III

Bass, a community leader and president of the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Foundation, was elected as the board’s chair. As board vice chair, she was elected in September to serve as chair upon the death of board chair Kerney Laday. Her new two-year term became effective Jan. 1.

Ferguson, retired managing director and a board member of TDIndustries, Inc., was selected as vice chair. His term also became effective Jan. 1.

Bass has served on the Texas Health board since 2002 and brings experience from a number of its subcommittees. Prior to joining the board and several of its committees, Ferguson previously served as chair of the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas board.

“Texas Health Resources is blessed to have talented leaders who are dedicated to our mission of improving the health of our patients and individuals in the communities we serve — a spirit that marked Kerney Laday,” said Douglas D. Hawthorne, FACHE, CEO of Texas Health. “I deeply appreciate Anne Bass’ willingness to lead the board on Kerney’s passing, and am pleased that the board has selected Anne and Bob Ferguson to serve as chair and vice chair. I look forward to working with them as Texas Health continues its work to transform health care in North Texas.”

Bass was the board’s vice chair from January 2012 and served as chair of its Quality & Performance Committee from 2010-2012, having previously served as chair of the Strategic Planning & Deployment Committee. She has been an active supporter of numerous other organizations and presently serves on the boards of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, Duke University, Brite Divinity School and Middlesex School.

Ferguson has served on the board’s Quality & Performance Committee since 2002 and is its chair in 2013. A 45-year veteran of TDIndustries, he serves on the boards of the Dallas County Community College District, Goodwill Industries, Circle Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Salesmanship Club.

Bass, as the new chair, named the following Texas Health trustees to head key board committees:

Bohn D. Allen, M.D., Southwest Zone Sub-Committee of the Strategic Planning & Deployment Committee
Anne T. Bass, Governance
John R. Ferguson III, Quality & Performance
Denny R. Holman, Facilities Development & Real Estate Sub-Committee of the Finance Committee
Thomas W. Kindred, Southeast Zone Sub-Committee of the Strategic Planning & Deployment Committee
Joseph R. Nixon Jr., Investment Sub-Committee of the Finance Committee
Jimmy C. Payton Sr., North Zone Sub-Committee of the Strategic Planning & Deployment Committee
Leonard H. Roberts, Finance
W. Dennis Stripling, M.D., Audit & Compliance
J. Andy Thompson, Executive Compensation & Benefits Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee
Wesley R. Turner, Strategic Planning & Deployment
Richard M. Vigness, M.D., People & Culture

The board also welcomed new members Richard Vigness, M.D., John Wilder and James Y. Wynne. Vigness is a physician and surgeon. Wilder is executive chairman of Bluescape Resources. Wynne is a partner in the American Liberty Oil Company. He previously served as chair of the boards of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman and Presbyterian Healthcare Resources.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or visit TexasHealth.org.

Women’s Imaging Center Opens at Texas Health Alliance

FORT WORTH, Texas — Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance opened a new imaging center to give women in North Fort Worth and surrounding areas more resources for maintaining and improving breast health.

At the new Women’s Imaging Center, located in the hospital’s professional building, physicians on the medical staff and certified clinical professionals provide mammography, stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound and bone density exams.

“Women lead busy lives with packed schedules, so having a convenient and reliable option for mammography and other health services close to home is important,” said Dr. Robin Skrine, a breast oncology surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Alliance. “Detecting and treating breast tumors in early stages of development help improve a woman’s chance for survival.”

One in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. An annual screening mammogram, recommended for women age 40 and older, can help detect breast cancer at its earlier stages.

Most screening mammogram appointments do not require a physician referral. To schedule an appointment, call 682-212-2050.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or visit TexasHealth.org.

Aetna and Texas Health Resources Form Accountable Care Collaboration

DALLAS and ARLINGTON, Texas — Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Texas Health Resources today announced a new accountable care agreement in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. The collaboration is designed to improve the quality of care for Aetna members and lower overall health care costs. The agreement, effective immediately, will include Aetna members in Dallas, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Grayson, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant counties.

“Texas Health is collaborating with Aetna, physicians and employers to develop an accountable care model that not only cares for people when they are ill, but also focuses on keeping people healthy and out of the hospital unless they are acutely sick or injured,” said Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources. “Together, we are leading the way in transforming from the fee-for-service model to a value-based model. We are creating a physician-directed care-team approach that we believe will foster more accountability across the continuum of care, from the individual patient to the physician to every other provider on the team. Our ultimate goal is to help physicians manage the health of their patient populations and improve their health and well-being.”

Ralph Holmes, president of Aetna’s Texas operations, said, “We are excited to be working with Texas Health Resources to bring a new level of health care to our members. Texas Health Physicians Group physicians will lead the team in a care environment that focuses on improving quality, reducing cost and delivering more value to the patient, no matter what their health care needs may be. We believe our members will receive more coordinated care that will lead to better health outcomes.”

Texas Health Physicians Group is Texas Health Resources' 501(a) not-for-profit health corporation for member physicians. It includes more than 750 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and medical professionals.

Accountable care models drive focus on more coordinated care
An accountable care collaboration is a group of health care providers who assume responsibility for the quality and cost of care for a group of patients. Aetna members will receive an enhanced level of coordinated care in addition to the member benefits of their current Aetna plan.

Dr. Michael Stoltz, president of Texas Health Physicians Group, said, “One of our goals is to provide physicians with better predictors of health risk earlier in a patient’s life. By implementing behavior interventions early, we can improve health and outcomes in the long term. We will also provide tools to help physicians better manage patients with multiple chronic conditions who need immediate interventions. Such resources and tools can help physicians more efficiently manage a growing patient population, keep the healthy patient well and focus on patients needing their guidance most.”

New payment agreements reward improvements in quality and costs of care
The agreement with Texas Health Resources features a new payment model that will reward physicians for meeting quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction measures, including:

The percentage of Aetna members who get recommended preventive care and screenings;
Better management of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes;
Reductions in avoidable hospital readmissions; and
Reductions in Emergency Room visits by improving primary care access hours.

Texas Health uses electronic health records in all of its wholly-owned facilities and is building an integrated physician-directed population health solution. This information infrastructure will help physicians identify trends in their patient populations. It will also help them identify individual patients who have health risks and could benefit from early interventions.

Aetna is working with health care organizations across the country to develop products and services that support value-driven, patient-centered care. Aetna’s solutions help all types of patients, regardless of payer. Information about Accountable Care Solutions from Aetna is available at aetnaacs.com.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL (1-877-847-9355), or visit TexasHealth.org.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.3 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services and health information technology services. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit aetna.com.

Cancer Program at Texas Health Fort Worth Earns Commission on Cancer Accreditation

FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth area residents have access to high quality, comprehensive cancer detection and treatment services at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, according to the American College of Surgeons. The hospital’s cancer care program has once again earned accreditation with commendation from the college’s Commission on Cancer, a national, physician-led organization that evaluates all aspects of a hospital’s cancer program.

The recognition means Texas Health Fort Worth has met the highest quality of care standards set by the Commission on Cancer determined through a rigorous on-site evaluation, and that the community has access to the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and support patients with cancer and their families. This is the third time Texas Health Fort Worth has received this three-year accreditation.

The Texas Health Fort Worth cancer care program includes:

Cancer detection and treatment through a multidisciplinary, team approach;
Nurse navigators who help with care coordination and patient advocacy;
A cancer health kiosk that uses a touch screen to guide patients through information about cancer diagnosis, medication, and treatment options;
A Cancer Boutique and Resource Center with tools and information that that assist cancer survivors with their specific needs;
Advanced technology, including the only 3D mammography unit in Tarrant County to better detect breast tumors and abnormalities; and
The Wellness for Life mobile medical unit that offers the community easy accessibility to many types of screening and early detection services.

For more information on cancer care at Texas Health Fort Worth, visit TexasHealth.org/fortworthcancer.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.