Best Practices Second Quarter 2015

Medical Community News and Information

Second Quarter 2015 www.BestPracticesMD.com

DEFEATING ARTHRITIS A look at causes, treatment and medication

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How Sugar Influences Your Eating Decisions Upcoming Golf Tournaments Bay Area Hospital News

CONTENTS

Second Quarter 2015

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13 PUBLISHER/CHAIRMAN Rick Clapp

EDITORIAL Editor Mary Alys Cherry Medical Director Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D.

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Contributing Writers Mary Alys Cherry Kelly Groce Dr. Sonya Khan Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D.

ART Creative Director Brandon A. Rowan Graphic Designer Kelly Groce Photography/Editing Mary Alys Cherry Patty Kane Brian Stewart

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Letter From the Medical Director 7 Know Thyself Features 8 Bayshore Medical Center earns Texas Ten Step designation 9 UTMB changes name of League City facility 10 Sugar Spike: How consuming sweets increases desire for sugar 12 Arthritis doesn’t play favorites; it strikes both young and old 14 Houston Methodist St. John celebrates anniversary 16 Clear Lake Regional Medical Center offers trauma II 17 Cyberonics, Sorin to merge 18 Bay Area Regional Medical Center announces leadership 22 Upcoming area golf tournaments 6 |www.BestPracticesMD.com |Second Quarter 2015

Director of Advertising Patty Kane Account Executives Shannon Alexander Debbie Salisbury Logan Timmins

PHONE: 281.474.5875 FAX: 281.474.1443 www.BestPracticesMD.com Best Practices Quarterly is trademarked and produced by Medical Best Practices Group, LLC. Best Practices Quarterly is not responsible for facts as presented by authors and advertisers. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced in part or whole by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher. Advertising rates are available upon request.

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By Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D. | imeddrs.vm@gmail.com

T

he temple of Apollo, an imposing

structure precariously nestled on the southern slopes of Mount Parnassus in Greece, housed the Oracle of Delphi.

Since the seventh century BCE, it was customary for kings to travel vast distances to consult the Resident Priestess, when making crucial decisions, e.g., on whether to wage war.

Socrates, (469-399 BCE), the reputed father of Western Philosophy, curious, climbed the rocky, eerie mountain path to the temple. He failed to consult the Oracle, because he was taken aback by two words (γνῶθι σεαυτόν) that were inscribed on the pronaos (forecourt).

He felt the wisdom of these two words, consistent with his dialectic method of thinking, was the real reason for the prophetic reputation that had been traditionally ascribed to the Oracle in antiquity.

One year later, the Oracle of Delphi declared: “Of all men, Socrates is the wisest!”

The wisest of all men, the venerable Socrates, thereafter, frequently referred to these two words as the world’s wisest admonition, a maxim repeatedly associated with him in Plato’s Dialogues:

“KNOW THYSELF” Today, nowhere, no time, is this maxim ‘know thyself’ more critically important than when one consults a physician because of illness, injury or infirmity.

Modern medicine is capable of incredible feats of health promotion and human preservation.

In principle, modern medicine is fundamentally an informed decision-making process.

In practice, however, despite the sophistication of modern investigative technology, most of the clinical information required to make proper medical decisions remains the information locked in patient memory.

At any level of expertise, from appointment secretary to specialist, all medical decisions, from triage to treatment, are only as good as the comprehensiveness of information obtained from patient memory by relevant checklist questioning. Doctors are taught to do this in medical schools worldwide.

This preliminary information determines the nature of physical examination, the extent of investigations and needed consultations, as well as triage and treatment.

Inadequate information results in unnecessary examinations and investigations, delayed or wrong diagnoses and treatment, progression of disease, onset of complications, and prolongation of suffering, as well as poor professional image, depletion of healthcare resources, and fiscal waste.

Clinical questioning is typically time-consuming and requires language that is mutually comprehensible, both

From the Medical Director

of which are compromised by today’s busy practices, as well as the linguistic diversity of contemporary cosmopolitan communities.

In response, physician questioning is increasingly being assisted by preconsultation questionnaires, on-line, in the waiting room, or by office assistants. These, however, are often too long, irrelevant and tedious, or too short and incomplete.

Moreover, they tend to be unilingual, single, and not situation-specific.

What is needed is a variety of self-administered checklists in the patients’ own languages, specifically developed for different medical situations, from emergency assessment, office assessment and hospital admission to preventive screening and chronic disease monitoring.

Personal checklists enable preliminary assessment by patients from the comfort, convenience and confidentiality of their personal home or in the waiting room.

These serve to focus the physician interview and avoid unproductive diversions, thereby utilizing often limited physician time more productively in more appropriate examination, treatment and discussion.

Intuitive medical intelligence, incorporated in advanced, self-administered medical checklists, integrated with emerging tele-computing technology, can effortlessly empower patients to take and present their own case history, even make triage, self-treatment and referral decisions.

In its broadest application, an interactive checklist system applied globally can be netdeveloped to empower any patient, anywhere, anytime, speaking any language to selfassess and have professional reports instantly created and transmitted to any physician, speaking any language, by tele-voice, fax, e-mail, or videoconferencing instantly, anywhere, worldwide.

In addition, personal

LETTER

medical checklists in the patient’s language, are being skillfully designed to create answers and reports in English, French or Spanish medical terminology for use by physicians internationally.

This is particularly important for international travelers, for care by doctors in medically under-serviced disaster areas worldwide, and for mass screening during natural, pandemic, industrial or military disasters, where foreign doctors converge to lend assistance.

At the very least it is imperative that you utilize my F A C T S Biographic checklist at each and every consultation with every healthcare provider every-time, every medical situation:

Familial hereditary conditions.

Allergies to medication, creams etc.

Chronic illnesses, disabilities and current medication.

Terminated events, medical and

surgical.

Social habits including alcohol, tobacco, alternate therapy and personal preferences.

This easily-memorized mnemonic ‘FACTS Bioscreen,’ along with net-accessible medical record summaries and clinical data, will avoid duplication of expensive investigations, improve the speed and quality of clinical decision making and enhance continuity of care in today’s multidisciplinary medical expertise in diaspora.

A variety of situation-specific, self-assessment multilingual checklist publications, programs and applications being developed will empower you to know thyself, enable you to think and talk like a doctor, forge intelligent partnership with your physicians and pharmacists and thus ensure best practices at home and abroad.

Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D., is an international physician, who has spent the past 40 years integrating trans-lingual, cross-cultural healthcare delivery with emerging information-management technologies, with input from physician executives of national academies of medicine in over 30 countries. He has been a media spokesman and key-note speaker in several countries, including the Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research (SIETAR). email: imeddrs.vm@gmail. com © Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D. 2015 All rights reserved.

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Bayshore Medical Center earns Texas Ten Step designation

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ayshore Medical Center

in Pasadena has taken a giant step towards improving the health of newborns and infants in Pasadena and the surrounding communities by earning the Texas Ten Step Program facility designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The Texas Ten Step Program encourages breastfeeding as the preferred method of feeding for newborns and infants. Bayshore

Medical Center joins a growing number of Texas birth facilities that are supporting new mothers and their decision to breastfeed.

“We have worked very hard to earn the Texas Ten Step Program designation and we are proud to join the other select Texas hospitals in promoting breastfeeding to our new mothers,” said Carrie Capps, Chief Nursing Officer at Bayshore Medical Center, “Bayshore is constantly striving to give exceptional care to our new mothers, babies and families in our community.”

Based on the World Health Organization/UNICEF’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, the program aims to assist birth facilitys’ support of breastfeeding mothers before, during, and after delivery; encourages them

M E D I C A L

to identify breastfeeding resources for the mother after she is discharged; and assists facilities in improving on national performance measures such as the Centers for Disease Control’s Breastfeeding Report Card. The goal of the Texas Ten Step Program is to increase breastfeeding initiation rates to 82 percent.

Texas Ten Step facilities are asked to address 85 percent of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, be designated as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite, evaluate their breastfeeding policies, maternity care practices and educate all healthcare staff routinely with evidence-based courses.

For more information on women’s and OB/GYN care at Bayshore Medical Center, visit www.BayshoreMedical. com

T R I V I A

1. How many pounds of skin does the average human shed in their lifetime?

A. 20 lbs.

B. 40 lbs.

C. 80 lbs.

D. None of the above

2. Every __ seconds, red bloods cells do a circuit of the human body.

A. 15 B. 30 C. 60 D. 90

3. The human face consists of how many bones?

A. 10 B. 21 C. 14 D. 6

4. What is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States?

A. Seizure B. Stroke C. Heart attack D. None of the above

5. The average person has _____ dreams a year.

A. 1,460 B. 1,100 C. 800 D. None of the above

6. What is the largest organ of the body?

A. Skin B. Liver C. Stomach D. None of the above ANSWERS: 1=B, 2=C, 3=C, 4=B, 5=A, 6=A

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DOCTORAL

DIGITS UTMB changes name of League City facility Name change reflects new hospital, emergency department and expanded services

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he University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is changing the name of its biggest Mainland facility to UTMB Health League City Campus.

The facility, which is being expanded to add a hospital, emergency department and a wider range of inpatient and outpatient services, had previously been the Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes.

“This renaming reflects both the changes at the facility and also acknowledges the rapid growth of League City,” said Donna S. Sollenberger, executive vice president and CEO of UTMB’s Health System.

“The name change also brings uniformity to naming that aligns with the UTMB AngletonDanbury campus.” In addition, she noted that the use of “campus” better reflects the broader scope of services that will be available.

The League City location opened to patients in May 2010, representing a major expansion of services for patients in Galveston County and southern Harris County. The original 110,000 square-foot, twostory building included advanced imaging, outpatient surgery, breast health, orthopedics and

rehabilitation, pelvic health and vascular lab. The new space brought many services together under one roof using the latest technology.

With the expansion, the complex will have a hospital with 11 Labor Delivery Recovery Postpartum rooms and 10 medical/surgery rooms with plans to grow to 37 rooms. The LDRP rooms will have oversized windows, Wi-Fi, sofa beds and will offer couplet care for mother and infant in the same room and a neonatologist.

The Emergency Department will include 24-hour care and a child-friendly waiting room; eight treatment rooms, a full diagnostics lab and CT/MRI capabilities.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to support the health care needs of the League City community,” said Dr. Danny O. Jacobs, executive vice president, provost and dean of the School of Medicine.

Construction of the center’s expansion is expected to be completed in August and the name change will occur over the next few months as signage is updated to reflect the new hospital and emergency department, which will be adjacent.

“What will not change is the high level of service that has characterized the center since it opened,” said Dr. David L. Callender, president of UTMB. “UTMB’s ongoing growth is possible because we have built a reputation for providing quality, patient-focused care.”

1,000,000 Each one of your kidneys has 1 million filters that clean about 1.3 liters of blood every minute.

500,000 Feet have 500,000 sweat glands and can produce a pint of sweat a day.

25,000 The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in their lifetime. That is enough to fill two swimming pools.

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Sugar Spike How consuming sweet food and drink increases the desire for more sugar

By Dr. Sonya Khan

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oo much sugar

is definitely not good for you; in fact, eating sugary drinks and treats will make your body crave more of them!

So before you reach for the breakfast cereal, juice, or dessert, think about this -- eating sugary foods kicks off a chemical reaction in the brain that makes us want more sugar.

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This can affect our decision on what food to eat. Learning about the science of sugar can help you make better food choices. Sugar is not just in obvious places like candy and juices; it is now in most refined foods like pasta sauce and even yogurt and crackers.

Sugar is made up primarily of glucose

and fructose. Glucose is the body’s main form of energy; it is used up immediately or stored as fuel for later. Fructose can only be processed by the liver.

If the body does not use the fructose for immediate energy, it gets stored as fat.

The brain also has a unique way of reacting to sugar. The increased levels of sugar cause the brain to produce an important chemical your body associates with feeling good called dopamine. This chemical plays a large role in reward-motivated behavior.

Thus begins the never ending cycle of wanting more and more sugary goodness. The more sugar food we consume, the more our bodies crave it.

But there is a way to break the cycle -limit or reduce the level of sugar intake.

Too much sugar can also lead to serious health problems. Most children should consume about 4 teaspoons (16 grams) of sugar daily. Men shouldn’t have more than 9 teaspoons daily, while women

MAXIMUM DAILY SUGAR CONSUMPTION WOMEN

MEN

CHILDREN

16g

25g

37.5g

OR in the form of one can of regular cola (39 grams of sugar)

shouldn’t have more than 6 teaspoons daily. This amounts to a max of 37.5 grams of sugar or 150 calories from sugar for men, and 25 grams of sugar or 100 calories from sugar for women.

To put that into perspective if you had a bowl of Fruit Loops and a glass of orange juice that’s about 11 teaspoons (44 grams) of sugar in just your breakfast! This is one of the reasons that childhood obesity is on the rise. And, as the incidence for obesity rises, so does the risk for diabetes.

The best way to stay sugar conscious is to learn how to read the product

labels. Ingredients that end in “ose” are sugars. So are the ones that have the word “syrup” in the name. Standard food labels now require the amount of sugar per serving to be listed on the product.

Make sure to take note of the amount of servings you are consuming and multiply that by the sugar listed on the product to get the full amount of sugars you are consuming.

In the end, it’s all about moderation.

It’s fine to eat sweets occasionally, but just because you have them doesn’t mean you must eat them. It’s also important

The best way to stay sugar conscious is to learn how to read the product labels. Ingredients that end in ‘ose’ are sugars. So are the ones that have the word ‘syrup’ in the name.

to teach your kids about reading labels and making good health decisions when they’re younger. Like any other addiction your body will not crave sugar if it’s not being constantly bombarded by it.

Changing the way your household eats makes it easier for you to stick with a healthier diet.

Dr. Sonya Khan is an Endocrinologist in the Clear Lake Area and specializes in diabetes and other endocrine disorders such as thyroid disease, polycystic ovarian disease, metabolic disorder, and osteoporosis.

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so it tends to run in families. We know that obesity is a factor for worsening the arthritis, particularly in the lower extremities. We know that if you injure the joint, such as torn cartilage or a fracture to the joint, that can predispose arthritis,” said Dr. Melvyn Harrington, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Common symptoms, which may develop gradually, include:  Sore or stiff joints – particularly the knees, hips and lower back – after inactivity or overuse.  Stiffness after resting that goes away after movement.  Pain that is worse after activity or near the end of the day.

While it’s not a reversible condition, it is manageable with medications.

Arthritis doesn’t play favorites; it strikes both young and old

By Mary Alys Cherry

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rthritis. Most everyone gets

it at one time or another in one form or another. It’s not choosy. It isn’t just an old folks’ malady; it attacks both young and old.

And there is no cure. Just discomfort that generally can be managed with the right medicine.

It may come as a surprise to some, but there is more than one kind of arthritis.

And, an estimated 27 million Americans have the most common form of the disease.

Actually, arthritis primarily comes in three main forms.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which there is inflammation in the joints that destroys the joints. About 75 percent of the victims are women.

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 Juvenile arthritis affects children and is typically an autoimmune, inflammatory arthritis.  The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects about 80 percent of people over the age of 50.

Still another form of the disease is gout.

Whatever form it takes, it sometimes comes with pain and stiffness that can be so severe it makes it difficult to walk, sleep, climb stairs or perform many daily tasks. Common risk factors include advancing age, previous joint injury, obesity, overuse of a joint, weak thigh muscles and genetics.

OSTEOARTHRITIS

Although the exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known, there are several factors that are known to put someone at risk of getting it.

“We know that genetics plays a role,

For osteoarthritis, treatment generally begins with over-the-counter antiinflammatory medications, physical therapy and protecting the joints. Dr. Harrington feels weight loss is the most important thing in treating arthritis.

“For every pound you see on the scale, your knee carries three or four times that weight. Every little bit of weight loss helps, especially for arthritis in the lower extremities,” he points out, adding that new research has shown that excess body fat can produce chemicals that can cause more pain and joint damage.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis usually begins between ages 25 and 50 when the immune system attacks parts of the body – primarily joint linings which are supposed to protect and lubricate joints. When it attacks these membranes, they become inflamed, causing joints to become painful and swollen or stiff.

“For every pound you see on the scale, your knee carries three or four times that weight.”

Over time, the joint may be destroyed.

The disease may come on suddenly or over time, often starting with the small joints in the wrist, hands or feet, causing a general feeling of fatigue and aching muscles.

arthritis can cause serious complications, such as growth problems and eye inflammation. Treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis focuses on controlling pain, improving function and preventing joint damage.

TREATMENT

JUVENILE ARTHRITIS

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis in children under the age of 17. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis causes persistent joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Some children may experience symptoms for only a few months, while others have symptoms for the rest of their lives.

Some types of juvenile rheumatoid

While doctors can successfully transplant hearts, separate Siamese twins and restore hearing to the deaf, they have no cure for osteoarthritis.

They do, however, have medications to help relieve pain, when needed.

Physical therapy may be recommended for improvement of strength and function. “Exercise can improve range of motion and also strengthen the muscles surrounding joints,” the Mayo Clinic points out in a special report, adding that “in some cases, splints or braces may be warranted.”

Surgery may even be considered if the pain is severe and daily activities and mobility become difficult. Doctors may suggest that a damaged joint, such as the hips or knees, be replaced with an artificial one. In sum, one may need

to try several different treatments or combinations of treatments, the Mayo Clinic doctors suggest.

MEDICATIONS

A variety of medications are generally used by physicians to treat arthritis, depending on the type of arthritis. A list prepared by the Mayo Clinic includes: Analgesics. These are commonly used to help reduce pain but have no effect on the inflammation and include acetaminophen (Tylenol), tramadol (Ultram), plus narcotics such as oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs reduce both pain and inflammation. Over-the-counter drugs in this class include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).

Others are only available by prescription.

Some may cause stomach irritation and some may increase one’s risk for stroke or heart attack. NSAIDs also come in creams or gels, which can be rubbed on joints.

Counterirritants. There are ointments that contain menthol or capsaicin, the ingredient found in hot peppers. Rubbing these on an aching joint may interfere with pain signals from the joint.

Antirheumatic drugs. Often used for rheumatoid arthritis, Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs or DMARDs, slow or stop one’s immune system from attacking the joints, the Mayo Clinic explains.

Corticosteroids. This includes both prednisone and cortisone, which reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.

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Houston Methodist St. John celebrates first anniversary 14 |www.BestPracticesMD.com |Second Quarter 2015

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o better serve Bay Area residents, Houston Methodist St. John Hospital continues to add new physicians, staff and programs to care for patients as it celebrates its first anniversary as a part of the Houston Methodist System.

These, plus other significant milestones, are part of the leadership team’s foundation for growth that began one year ago when Houston Methodist acquired majority ownership from Christus Health. “We are extremely proud to be a part of Houston Methodist, which is consistently recognized as one of

the finest healthcare institutions in the country,” said Dan Newman, CEO of Houston Methodist St. John. “As part of Houston Methodist, our goal is to ensure that we are providing the highest quality care and best service to the communities of the greater Bay Area. To achieve this, we are following in the path of the other Houston Methodist hospitals by enhancing services, adding skilled, experienced physicians to our medical staff and growing our capabilities to bring the most sophisticated procedures and treatments here, close to home.”

As the team at St. John celebrates the milestone as a Houston Methodist hospital, they recount a number of goals already accomplished:  The Houston Methodist St. John Houston Methodist St. John Chief Executive Officer Dan Newman, from left, joins Father Rueben Nwankwor, director of spiritual care and values integration; Sherry Tumbleson, vice president and chief nursing officer; and Susan Garcia, vice Hospital Board of president, operations at a prayer service and celebration for St. John employees and guests on Feb. 2 as they observe Directors approved their one-year anniversary as a Houston Methodist hospital. implementation of a master facility plan.

Houston Methodist has engaged the The hospital’s first year of growth and “Joining Houston Methodist provides the consulting firm Kurt Salmon and the development sets the stage for future opportunity to work closely with other global design firm HKS Architects orthopedic and sports medicine specialists expansion and improvement of numerous to assess the hospital’s existing across Houston. I’ll have the ability to service lines including women’s services, infrastructure, utilities and associated collaborate on the innovative technology neurology and cardiology; as well as the market needs that will be necessary to and new surgical techniques being continued enhancement of orthopedics, support future growth. primary care, general surgery and other developed at Houston Methodist and use programs. those to the benefit of patients here in the  Five new physicians were “We’ve achieved a great deal in a short Bay Area.” recruited to join the medical staff: Last July, St. John achieved Cycle IV time, but we are really just beginning,” Drs. Niloufar Ghadiri; Carmen Chest Pain Center status granted by Newman adds. “With the support of Hernandez Zhang; Jeffrey Jaglowski; Houston Methodist, we will continue to the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Kyle Stephens and Melissa Hu. Three work toward further integration with our Care. This accreditation recognizes longstanding St. John physicians sister hospitals, growing our facilities and hospitals for rapid diagnosis and joined the Houston Methodist services and adding to our excellent staff treatment of heart attack patients, Physician Group: Drs. Kenneth including effective integration of EMS, of physicians, nurses and other health R. First; Larry Watson and R. Sam care professionals.”

Emergency department and community Lingamfelter. outreach efforts. More recently, St. For more information on Houston Methodist St. John Hospital, call 281-523John received designation as a Stroke When asked why he left private practice Ready hospital by DNV Healthcare, the 2000 or visit www.houstonmethodist. to join the Houston Methodist Specialty nationally recognized provider of hospital org/st-john-clear-lake. To find a HMSTJ Physician Group, Dr. First replied, physician, call 713-790-3333. accreditation.

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Clear Lake Regional Medical Center Offers Level II Trauma Capabilities Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster is now officially operating as Bay Area Houston’s only Level II trauma capable facility.

A

trauma victim’s chance of survival is greatest if care is received in the “Golden Hour” from the time of severe injury.

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center’s Level II Trauma Capabilities help trauma patients receive critical care immediately;

preventing them from having to be transported to the medical center.

“Our world-class physicians and staff are prepared to provide the community with high-quality, affordable Level II trauma care – including $177,000 in renovations to the emergency department to prepare for Level II trauma patients,” said CEO Stephen K. Jones.

The Trauma Services department provides immediate care for trauma patients 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and cares for a total spectrum of patients and of all ages. CLRMC has two dedicated trauma rooms and a helipad adjacent to the emergency department, as well as a dedicated operating room suite with a surgical team available at the hospital at

“Our world-class physicians and staff are prepared to provide the community with highquality, affordable Level II trauma care.”

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all times.

The Trauma Services are composed of physicians in the specialties of General Surgery, Anesthesia, Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Plastics/Hand, Otolaryngology, Urology Ophthalmology and Cardiovascular Surgery. The general surgeons are trauma trained.

All critical care and emergency nurses have special training in trauma nursing and advanced cardiac and pediatric life support.

Clear Lake Regional is a full-service hospital offering inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty services.

The campus includes The Heart & Vascular Hospital, Breast Diagnostic Center, Wound Care Center, a level III Neonatal ICU, the area’s only Pediatric Emergency Department and Pediatric ICU, and a comprehensive range of services for patients of all ages. With a medical staff of more than 1,000, the medical center employs more than 2,500 medical professionals and has served the community for more than 40 years.

Cyberonics, Sorin To Merge, Creating Global Medical Technology Company Cyberonics Inc., a medical device company with offices in Clear Lake and with core expertise in neuromodulation, and the global medical device company Sorin have announced plans to merger.

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he Sorin Group is based in Italy, with significant operations in France, the United States and Japan, specializing in cardiac devices. It is a leader in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases while Cyberonics markets a device for the treatment of refractory epilepsy and treatmentresistant depression.

Their combined equity value is placed at approximately $2.7 billion, based on the closing price of the firms’ shares Feb. 26.

The proposed transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Under

investments that are complementary in different forms of sleep apnea. Sorin, in addition, has opportunities that address mitral valve regurgitation.

Sorin CEO Andre-Michel Ballester, will serve as CEO of NewCo and Cyberonics CEO Dan Moore will become chairman.

Cyberonics, co-founded by its retired president and CEO Reese Terry of Clear Lake, employs about 650 people, with about half of them working at Cyberonics’ offices off Space Center Boulevard in Clear Lake. It makes a device that reduces seizures in epilepsy patients.

Commenting on the announcement, Andre-Michel Ballester said, “As one company, we will be able to leverage our combined strengths, capture new opportunities and create new solutions to benefit patients and healthcare professionals alike. This is particularly exciting for our employees, who will be able to share technical expertise and innovate faster, ensuring that we serve our customers by remaining at the forefront of new product development which continues to be the foundation of our success.”

“As one company, we will be able to leverage our combined strengths, capture new opportunities and create new solutions to benefit patients and healthcare professionals alike.” the terms of the transaction, Sorin and Cyberonics will combine under a newly formed holding company, “NewCo,” which the parties will name prior to closing. Each Cyberonics stockholder will receive one ordinary share of NewCo for every share of Cyberonics owned.

Each Sorin shareholder will receive a fixed ratio of 0.0472 ordinary shares of NewCo for every Sorin share owned.

Following successful completion of the transaction, Sorin shareholders will own approximately 46 percent of NewCo, and Cyberonics shareholders will own approximately 54 percent.

Both companies bring minority equity

“This transformational transaction,” Dan Moore said “maximizes both companies’ strengths and leadership positions for the benefit of patients and our shareholders. Sorin is an ideal partner, given its heart failure programs and the ability to combine Vagus Nerve Stimulation with cardiac rhythm management technology. Sorin’s wellestablished international operations are expected to accelerate our epilepsy growth strategy by enabling us to reach a larger number of potential new patients in the underpenetrated markets outside the U.S. while integrating Sorin’s technology expertise into future neuromodulation products.”

Memorial Hermann Expansion In Pearland Lifts Expectations

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he Memorial Hermann Pearland campus expansion is moving on and up, literally!

Recently, the walls of the $80 million Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital were raised using a method known as tilt-wall (also known as tilt-slab or tilt-up) construction.

This is a type of building process where the concrete elements (walls, columns, structural supports, etc.) are formed horizontally on a concrete slab. After the concrete has cured, the elements are “tilted” to the vertical position with a crane and braced until the remaining components (roofs, intermediate floors and walls) are secured. Memorial Hermann Health System is considered the leader in tiltwall construction of healthcare facilities.

Set to open in the winter of 2015, the 64-bed hospital and medical campus is an expansion of the recently opened Memorial Hermann Convenient Care Center in Pearland, which now offers one-stop, highly coordinated access to adult and pediatric primary care and a 24-hour emergency center with 17 beds.

Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital will offer an intensive care unit, operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, medical and surgical units, specialty physicians, women’s services, comprehensive radiology and laboratory services, wellness and prevention care, sports medicine and rehabilitation.

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Bay Area Regional Medical Center announces promotions in leadership and implementation of new service lines.

Dr. Michael Lyons, former Bay Area Regional CEO, has also been promoted to a new role as the hospital’s chairman of the board and chief medical officer. Dr. Lyons will continue to provide strategic support for the hospital by presiding over the activities of the governing boards and serving as the leader of medical staff services.

is committed to providing the best quality care as we continue to expand services in our community.”

The announcement comes just days after the hospital announced its plans for a four-story expansion, that will more than double the hospital’s emergency department capacity and state-of-the-art imaging.

Bay Area Regional Medical Center is currently configured as a five-story, 232,000-square-foot, full-service,

“It’s an exciting time in healthcare right now, especially for the Webster and Bay Area Houston community.”

Bay Area Regional Medical Center has promoted Tim Schmidt to the position of CEO for the hospital.

S

chmidt, who previously served as the chief administrative officer for the facility, will be primarily responsible for oversight of the hospital’s operations

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“We at Bay Area Regional Medical Center are fortunate to have Tim join our executive team,” Dr. Lyons said. “He has a strong background in both financial and operational growth in healthcare, and I know his leadership will help our hospital continue to succeed.”

Schmidt has a diverse career that includes serving as a U.S. Navy Supply Corps officer and transitions into the position with more than 30 years experience in hospital administration, including previously serving as a CEO in Illinois, New Mexico and Texas.

“It’s an exciting time in healthcare right now, especially for the Webster and Bay Area Houston community,” said Schmidt. “Bay Area Regional Medical Center

modern, general acute care hospital with 104 beds, five operating rooms, a Hybrid OR, a full-service emergency department, state-of-the-art cath labs, 3D mammography and advanced medical equipment.

The expansion will significantly add to the hospital’s emergency, diagnostic and surgical services capabilities while nearly doubling its inpatient capacity.

The build-out of the 6th, 7th 8th and th 9 floors of the hospital will increase the total number of patient beds to approximately 200. Further reflecting the hospital’s commitment to the families it serves, the 8th floor is being designed for women’s services.

This will include labor and delivery rooms, two C-Section rooms, postpartum rooms, a well-baby nursery and NICU. Part of the 9th floor will house administration and community conference rooms, accounting and other support services.

When the expansion program is complete, Bay Area Regional Medical Center will total 373,000 square feet within nine stories.

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S N A P S H O T S

Heart Throb of the Year Dr. Alexander Sardina receives congratulations from Dr. Mary Sardina at Go Red For Women Luncheon.

Ed White Elementary Principal Matt Paulson, left, welcomes back former Principals Glenna Shields and Les Talley for the school’s 50th anniversary celebration.

20 |www.BestPracticesMD.com |Second Quarter 2015

Beau and Kimberly Harding at Go Red For Women Luncheon at South Shore Harbour Resort in League City.

Allegiance Bank President Frank Law, left, and retired Cyberonics CEO Reese Terry, right, share a light moment with Houston Mayoral candidate Bill King at breakfast at Bay Oaks Country Club.

S N A P S H O T S

Photos: Mary Alys Cherry

Mayoral candidate Bill King, left, with his former teacher, Ralph Parr, at breakfast at Bay Oaks Country Club.

Emily King Watkins, left, and her sister, Rebecca King, were on hand for dad’s big campaign announcement.

BayTran President Barbara Koslov and her husband, Geoffrey, arrive at Quasar Banquet at South Shore Harbour Resort.

Alberto and Eva deCardenas were in the crowd at Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership’s 2015 Quasar Banquet.

Bay Tech Director Kim Morris and his wife, Susan, enjoy the Quasar Banquet, which honored Dr. Bill Merrill of Texas A&M Galveston.

Jim and Lynda Guidry head for home after an enjoyable evening at the Quasar Banquet at South Shore Harbour Resort.

Second Quarter 2015 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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Upcoming Area Golf Tournaments April 13 League City Police Outreach Golf Tournament South Shore Harbour Country Club League City www.leaguecity.com/index.aspx?NID=1897

May 4 Pearland Rotary Lone Star Challenge Golfcrest Country Club Pearland www.pearlandrotary.com

May 7 Lunar Rendezvous Golf Tournament South Shore Harbour Country Club League City www.lunarrendezvous.org

May 11 Boys & Girls Harbour Golf Tournament South Shore Harbour Country Club League City www.boysandgirlsharbor.org

June 1 Space Center Rotary Golf Tournament Bay Oaks Country Club Clear Lake http://portal.clubrunner.ca/3954

22 |www.BestPracticesMD.com |Second Quarter 2015