Best Practices - Third Quarter 2013

Medical Community News and Information

www.BestPracticesMD.com Third Quarter 2013

STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER

Build a Strong Body and Mind With Yoga

Choosing the Right Home Healthcare

Get the Facts on Prostate Cancer

CONTENTS

Third Quarter 2013

PUBLISHER/CHAIRMAN Rick Clapp President Santiago Mendoza Jr.

EDITORIAL

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Editor Mary Alys Cherry Medical Director Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D. Contributing Writers Matthew Ballo, M.D. Mary Alys Cherry Rod Evans Santiago Mendoza Jr.

ART Creative Director Brandon A. Rowan Graphic Specialist Victoria Ugalde

Letter From the Medical Director 7 The Microbiology of Medical Management Intelligence Features 9 St. John’s Readies Plans for Oct. 21 Golf Tourney 10 Prostate Cancer: Get the Facts 11 Governor Appoints St. John Athletic Trainer to State Board 12 Simple Tips to Keep Safe During Hot Weather Days 14 Clear Lake Regional Celebrates Completion of Expansion Project 15 CHRISTUS St. John Hospital Earns “A” in Patient Safety 16 Kelsey-Seybold Opens Its New Clinic on the Beltway 17 Memorial Hermann to Open New Medical Campus in Pearland 18 $50 Million Given to MD Anderson for Assault on Deadly Cancer 20 Choosing the Right Home Healthcare Agency 22 Yoga: Build a Strong Body and Mind 6 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Third Quarter 2013

Photography/Editing Brian Stewart

ADVERTISING Director of Advertising Patty Kane Account Executives Patty Bederka Natalie Epperly Ashley Karlen Santiago Mendoza Jr. Debbie Salisbury Amber Sample

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.

Best Practices Quarterly P.O. Box 1032 Seabrook, TX 77586 R.Clapp@Baygroupmedia.com

By Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D.

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From the Medical Director

LETTER

The Microbiology of Medical Management Intelligence

he medical profession has made astronomical strides over the 20th century, since Sir William Osler’s 1898 textbook, which contained most of the medical knowledge at that time, in just 1811 pages.

With this in mind, consider the ‘microbiology’ evolution of medical micromanagement models, past, present and future: Personal care Individual self-care with empirical home remedies has been the mainstay of Homo Sapiens Healthcare forever. Even today selfcare is the initial choice in treating illness.

However, the plethora of conflicting, questionable, opinionated and agendabiased information on-line, in print and in the social and public media contaminates appropriate: Self Treatment with Alternate and OTC Pharmaceuticals, and Home remedies.

Practitioner The classical do-everything-oneself pattern of practice, common in Osler’s time, includes arranging appointments, patient interview and examination, diagnosis and treatment, prescription and record-keeping.

These functions, being time-consuming, limit the number of patients that can be processed per day, rendering the physician exclusive as a Solo, Time-Restricted, Expensive Practitioner.

Practitioner assistance The 20th century Medical Center model saw many clinic functions – administrative, billing, clerical and documentation – managed by office staff, and incurred: Salaries, Time restriction, Absenteeism, Productivity and Human relations issues.

The need for record-keeping incurred the - Horrendous Expense of Paper – Voluminous, with the Inconvenience of Record retrieval and re-filing, Updating and Storage.

Playback recorders and transcribers came into vogue in the mid-20th century, and required: Voice Intelligibility, Recording Utilities and Staff.

Personal Computer Electronic Health Records and information management mushroomed since the 1980’s, and requires: Computers Applications, Net accounts, Digital (finger) Input and Display Availability.

Paraprofessionals Many of the routine medical and simple case management functions are increasingly

being assumed by formally trained paraprofessionals, e.g. imaging technicians, paramedics, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Moreover the incredible expansion of complex investigative and therapeutic modalities require expensive equipment, supportive service and highly trained paraprofessional technicians, all of whom are well paid and introduce the Expensive Cost Of Labor Intensiveness.

Payer associations The end of the 20th century saw the very sophistication of healthcare become prohibitively expensive for the individual healthcare consumer.

This has led to diagnostic and therapeutic facilities increasingly being fiscally coordinated by huge Consumer Monetary Establishments in Multi-disciplinary Organizations, Networks Institutions, Local and International Associations.

However, these subscription based services are only available to insured members, leaving millions without access to best care.

Prospective care Humanity began health care with self-care, informal and empirical.

The 20th century saw the evolution of care from the informed solo practitioner to the multi-disciplinary medical center, to the current payer-managed, sophisticated medical infrastructure and specialised Collective Medical Expertise, albeit in a disconnected diaspora, but kept current with compulsory Continued Medical Education.

While this has enabled incredible feats of human preservation and health promotion, it has become prohibitively expensive, and therefore exclusive, available only to the insured and the elite.

I believe there is hope for health care for all by embracing the most significant development in information management technology in human history – what I call Plasma Intelligence Exchange (π).

Plasma Intelligence Exchange (π) 21st century Plasma Intelligence Exchange (π) is poised to eliminate much of the expensive and exclusive 20th century models of healthcare delivery and achieve the elusive goal of cost efficient, clinically effective health care delivery to all.

Medical plasma intelligence exchange (π) is, like the human bloodstream, a web-based atmospheric fluid repository and conduit of personal data and public databases,

linguistic libraries, medical knowledge and clinical programs. These are instantly, interactively accessible, 24/7, by healthcare clients and clinicians, public health and academic bodies, each user, like a corpuscle, selectively extracting, processing and adding to the plasma intelligence mix.

Emerging atmospheric plasma intelligence exchange (π) surprisingly brings personal healthcare full circle, back to self-care, which has huge cost saving implications.

By facilitating individual self-assessment, triage and treatment, it avoids unnecessary consultation costs, healthcare facility overcrowding, and excessive consumption of physical, physician and fiscal resources.

It can be programmed to provide patients with affordable access to web-based evidence-based information, kept current with Continuous Medical Editing by a global coalition of Coordinated Multilingual Experts.

Plasma intelligence has the potential to enable any individual to retrieve current information, conduct multilingual health screening, rationalize self-care, have wireless video-teleconferencing with clinicians and provide instant confidential access to shared medical records.

Plasma intelligence exchange (π) provides Long distance All inclusive Crosscultural Translingual, telecommunication technologies Offering: Better communication and connectivity Availability and accessibility Cost efficient and clinically effective coordinated care to all Irrespective of Language or literacy, Location or level of income, Internationally.

Medical plasma intelligence exchange (π) technology has the capacity to enable humanity to achieve the lofty 1978 AlmaAta Declaration goal of “Healthcare for all” by ability and by necessity.

Here and now, we have the Technology, Infrastructure, Medical Expertise and monetary need to implement the probiotic LACTO BACILL-US. 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 informationmanagement 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). Fax: (281) 532-4329, email: jmlyon33@earthlink.net Third Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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St. John’s readies plans for Oct. 21 golf tourney

DOCTORAL

DIGITS

By Mary Alys Cherry

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hristus St. John Hospital in Nassau Bay has set the date for its annual charity golf tournament. It will be held Monday, Oct. 21, at Bay Oaks Country Club, 14545 Bay Oaks Blvd., in Clear Lake.

“None of this would be possible without the support of the local community. With the very generous support of our underwriter, ICON Information Consultants, all of the revenue raised at the golf tournament will benefit Christus St. John Hospital and its outreach programs,” Chief Development Officer Jack Wootton said.

Proceeds will be used by the hospital to purchase a 3D Digital Imaging system,

he said. “Very few of them are available in the Houston area, and this technology could also be used by our

“All of the revenue raised at the golf tournament will benefit Christus St. John Hospital and its outreach programs.” local ministries and clinics that serve those in need in our local community,” Wootton explained, adding that tournament sponsorships are needed.

Registration will start at 11:30 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. “Even if you do not play golf, please support this very worthy cause. The afternoon luncheon, silent auction and entertainment the day of the event will be a great time for all.

“We will even have a ‘Golf Ball Drop’ from a helicopter prior to the event when individuals can purchase golf balls to win a fantastic prize with a hole in one,” he added.

For information or to make a pledge, call Wootton at 281-333-8854 or contact him by email at Jack.Wootton@ CHRISTUS Health.org

1958 Year that the first fully implantable pacemaker was placed into a human, Arne Larsson. It failed after three hours. Larsson went on to receive 26 different pacemakers during his lifetime. He lived to the age of 86.

369,000 Number of full and part time employees in Texas’ 630 hospitals.

100-400 milliseconds

The average duration of a blink by the human eye.

Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital was honored to have the American Legion Post 554, from League City, participate in an inspiring Memorial Day. They led the flag ceremony to honor our veterans and military service members and brought memorabilia to view in the lobby. “We would like to thank all the individuals who have sacrificed and given of themselves to protect and defend our great country,” said Erin Asprec, CEO Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital.

$177 billion Annual total of economic activity produced by Texas hospital jobs.

Third Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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Prostate Cancer: Get the Facts

THIRTY YEARS AGO, the five-year survival rate among men diagnosed with prostate cancer hovered at around 69 percent.

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hanks to medical advances and treatment options, survival rates today are notably higher, at nearly 100 percent – a promising sign that doctors and researchers are gaining even more traction in the fight against the most common cancer among men.

But despite these advances, there are still many questions related to risk factors, whether to get screened, and if diagnosed, which treatment option might be best.

Matthew Ballo, M.D., radiation oncologist at the MD Anderson Regional Care Center in the Bay Area, provides insight into these commonly asked questions.

Q: How do I know if I’m at risk for prostate cancer?

A: There are certain factors that can increase your risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, which include family history, race and age. Men with a father or brother who has had prostate cancer are likely to inherit those same DNA changes, and therefore should be screened sooner than other men. The disease is more common in African-American men, who have nearly twice the occurrences compared to Caucasian men. And age is another risk factor: as you get older your risk for prostate cancer increases.

Q: When should I get screened for prostate cancer?

A: When and how often you get tested for prostate cancer depends on your chances of getting the disease. Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely get prostate cancer; it just means that your chances of developing the disease are higher. If you do not have any of the risk factors, then you won’t

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need to begin screening until age 50 or older. If you are at an increased risk, you should begin screening at age 45. Testing for prostate cancer includes an annual digital rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. I recommend discussing screening risks and benefits with your physician before you consider testing.

Q: What happens if my PSA score is high?

A: A normal PSA score is 4 or below.

While a score over 4 does not mean you have prostate cancer, it does indicate a higher risk. If it’s high enough that your doctor suspects prostate cancer, a biopsy may be performed. This is the only way to tell for sure if you have the disease or not.

If the biopsy results come back positive,

“Men with a father or brother who has had prostate cancer are likely to inherit those same DNA changes, and therefore should be screened sooner than other men.”

then you can talk with your physician or call MD Anderson at 1-877-MDA-6789 to discuss treatment options.

Q: I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which treatment option should I choose?

A: There are several options available for treating prostate cancer, and which one you choose as the best for you depends on your particular case, what your doctor recommends, and most importantly, what you as the patient feel most comfortable with. Standard treatments for prostate cancer include radiation therapy where the prostate is exposed to external or internal radiation beams; surgery, which involves the removal of the prostate; active surveillance or watchful waiting, which means no treatment is given, but the patient is monitored closely; and medical treatment, which encompasses hormone therapies and chemotherapy.

Many factors are considered before a physician recommends a treatment plan, such as the stage of the cancer, the age of the patient and the overall health of the patient, but the ultimate decision is yours. Before rushing into a treatment, I suggest discussing your options with your physician as well as your family and friends.

To get more information about prostate cancer and the treatment options available, visit www.MDAnderson.org.

To learn about Dr. Ballo and the services available at the MD Anderson Regional Care Center where he practices, go to www.MDAnderson.org/BayArea.

Governor appoints St. John athletic trainer to state board

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ov. Rick Perry has appointed Cathy Supak of the Christus St. John Hospital Sports Medicine Center to the Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers. Supak, a board-certified and licensed athletic trainer, is the primary athletic trainer for Clear Brook High School female athletics.

The Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers is a Texas state board that serves as the licensing and regulatory authority of athletic trainers in Texas. As a board member, Supak will help carry out the board’s purpose of protecting public health, safety, and welfare by establishing and enforcing qualifications and standards of practice for licensed athletic trainers.

Supak is serving a six-year term that expires in January 2019.

“This appointment is a once in a lifetime honor and I am humbled by the duty it entails,” Supak says. “It’s something I wanted to do to give back to my peers.”

Texas first licensed athletic trainers in 1971. Her father, John H. Poerner, was a member of the House of Representatives at the time and voted to pass the law into effect. Now, more than 40 years later, Supak serves on the board that the legislation created.

Supak is now in her 28th year as an athletic trainer. She has been at St. John Hospital’s Athletic Training Program since 1993.

“Our responsibility is the prevention, assessment and care of emergency, acute and chronic athletic injuries,” she says. “We see athletes from the moment of injury usually through all the treatment and get them back on the field from start to finish. That’s the best part of the job. It’s very rewarding.”

Supak’s appointment to the

state advisory board is a point of pride for the hospital, says CEO Tom Permetti.

“Cathy’s appointment is a great example of the dedication she brings to her profession and to the Christus St. John Hospital Sports Medicine Center,” says Permetti. “Her devotion to her profession and to the athletes she serves continues to bring recognition to our Athletic Training Program, making it one of the best in the state.”

St. John Sports Medicine has been providing athletic training as community service to the area high schools since 1990, placing athletic trainers into 12 high schools where they serve more than 10,000 student athletes.

Supak is a member of the National and Southwest Athletic Trainers’ associations, a member and past president of the Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Association and Texas State University Bobcat Athletic Trainers’ Alumni Club, and a founding member and past board chair of the Texas State Athletic Trainers’ Association.

She received a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University-San Marcos.)

The hospital, a 178-bed facility, is a faith-based, Catholic healthcare facility located in Nassau Bay, which serves the Greater Southeast Houston Area.

Third Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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Simple tips to keep safe during hot weather days

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ith the temperature possibly hitting 100 degrees on some days, the Houston Fire Department reminds citizens about the importance of taking safety measures when outdoors to avoid heat-related medical emergencies.

This also includes making sure caregivers “Look Before They Lock” for children left in vehicles.

 Before conducting outdoors activities and feeling thirsty, drink plenty of water and electrolyte-replacement beverages.

 Avoid beverages or food sources with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar because these can actually result in the loss of body fluid. Most popular sodas contain high levels of sugar and should be avoided when conducting strenuous activity.

Avoid drinking alcohol the evening before conducting strenuous exercise as alcohol increases.

 Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or evening when it is cooler.

 Individuals unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment need to start slowly and gradually increase heat exposure over several weeks. Take frequent breaks in the shade or in an airconditioned facility.

 A wide-brimmed, loose-fitting hat that allows ventilation helps prevent sunburn and heat-related emergencies. A tight-fitting baseball cap is not the best choice when conducting strenuous outdoors activities.

 Sunscreen also helps protect injury from the sun’s rays and reduces the risk of sunburn.

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 Wear lightweight, lightcolored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.

 Do not leave children, senior citizens or pets unattended in a vehicle.

Common heat-related medical emergencies include: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

 Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms that typically occur in the abdomen, arm, and legs in association with strenuous activity. If you have heart problems or are on a low sodium diet, get medical attention for heat cramps.

If medical attention is not necessary, take these steps: Stop all activity, and sit quietly in a cool place, drink clear juice or a sport drink , do not return to strenuous exercise for a few hours until after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or stroke.

Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in one hour.

According to City of Houston EMS Physician Director/Public Health Authority Dr. David E. Persse, if children are trapped inside cars, it can result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke, leading to permanent disability or death in a matter

 Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat.

Signs include profuse sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, a weak-but-rapid pulse and fainting. The skin may be cool and moist. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke.

 Heat stroke occurs when the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating system fails, and the body is unable to

cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes.

Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given. Heat stroke symptoms include an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally), red, hot and dry skin (no sweating), rapid and strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness.

Trapped children

More than 550 children have perished in the United States since 1998 due to being left or trapped in vehicles and from 2009 – 2011, the HFD responded to nearly 100 children under 8 left in cars. The HFD has partnered with State Farm Insurance to remind parents and caregivers to never forget or leave a child in a car and “Look Before You Lock.”

and when the child is put in the seat place the animal in the front with the driver and have a plan with the childcare provider to call you if the child does not show up for daycare.

If anyone sees an unattended child in a car, they should call 911 and stay until help arrives.

“More than 550 children have perished in the United States since 1998 due to being left or trapped in vehicles.” of minutes. Heat stroke, also known as hyperthermia, can cause shock, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, and damage to the brain, liver and kidneys.

National Stats indicate that even on “mild” days or if the window is “cracked” the inside of a vehicle can reach nearly 120 degrees. And remember, children are more sensitive to heat, causing heat stroke.

Use a reminder

HFD recommends that parents and caregivers place their purse, phone, computer or wallet in the back seat as a reminder that they have a child in the car.

Caregivers can also keep a stuffed animal in the car seat

Pool safety

Pool and water safety is also important as we try and stay cool during these hot temperatures. Active, focused, adult supervision is the most important safety measure to prevent a water-related tragedy involving a child.

The vast majority of children who drown in pools do so in the backyards of their own homes or of relatives.

HFD also recommends parents and guardians learn CPR. Seconds count if a person drowns and performing CPR quickly and correctly can save their life. For more information on local CPR classes, contact the American Red Cross, your local hospitals or medical schools.

Third Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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Photos by Mary Alys Cherry

Clear Lake Regional celebrates completion of expansion project

By Mary Alys Cherry

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center has completed it $92 million expansion project and celebrated with an open house – inviting the community in for a look-see.

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he expansion includes a new 155,000-square-foot Patient Tower plus 90,000 square feet of renovations of the existing campus in Webster.

The handsome new tower, which faces Medical Center Boulevard, includes a 30-bed intensive care unit, a 16-bed observation unit, state-of-the-art operating rooms, surgical suites and upgrades in the hospital’s technology.

The renovation project included the remodeling of patient rooms, new Cesarean suites, a new labor and delivery unit and an antepartum unit.

Perkins+Will of Dallas designed the renovation and DPR Construction of Houston was the general contractor.

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“Our top priority is to provide accessible, unparalleled health care services to our region, from a superior

medical staff and an outstanding team of employees. The enhancements . . . allow us to continue that mission,” CEO Stephen K. Jones Jr. said.

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center, which opened March 20, 1972, has 595 beds and contains 377,000 square feet in the main hospital and a 305,000-squarefoot Heart & Vascular Hospital. It employs more than 2,000 people, has some 900 physicians on staff and serves more than 1.5 million people in the surrounding Bay Area communities.

CHRISTUS St. John Hospital Earns ‘A’ in Patient Safety Only Clear Lake hospital to receive designation

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he Leapfrog Group® awarded CHRISTUS St. John Hospital an “A” Hospital Safety Score for patient safety, the only “A” awarded in the area. It marks the third recent honor from highly acclaimed national reviewers like Healthgrades® and The Joint Commission for St. John’s level of quality care and patient safety.

Hospital Administrator Tom Permetti takes these awards to heart. “I’ve seen miracles at this hospital every day, and the lives we save are our neighbors, close friends, family members and teammates. We understand the trust you place in our hands when your loved one enters our doors. These awards demonstrate the dedication from every associate and physician, on every level, from housekeeping to the operating room, to earn that trust.”

Organizations like The LeapFrog Group®, Healthgrades® and The Joint Commission, review hospitals nationwide to monitor care and help provide consumers the information they need to make solid healthcare choices for their families. CHRISTUS St. John has earned top marks from all three.

The Leapfrog Group®, is an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits whose leading experts from Harvard University, Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University assign U.S. hospitals a Hospital Safety ScoreSM, (A, B, C, D or F) based on preventable medical errors, injuries accidents, and infections.

Scores were released this May and CHRISTUS St. John Hospital was graded the only A in the greater Clear Lake area.

“Earning an ‘A’ on the Hospital Safety Score demonstrates that this hospital has exhibited excellence in our national database of patient safety measures,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I’d like to congratulate CHRISTUS St. John for their achievements and encourage them to continue to put a priority on the safety of their patients.”

To see CHRISTUS St. John’s scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit the Hospital Safety Score website at www.

“We’re proud to have received this continual recognition for our quality care.” hospitalsafetyscore.org, which provides information on how the public can protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital stay.

Healthgrades® Inc. is another independent organization that reviews hospital quality and safety data nationwide and assigns 1, 3 and 5 Star ratings of excellence. Healthgrades® receives 11 million website visits per month accessing its hospital and physician ratings. Unlike The LeapFrog Group®, Healthgrades® compiles reports for specific procedures and diagnoses, and includes all hospitals in the U.S. that are Medicare participants.

The company reviews and ranks areas like cardiac care, women’s health, orthopedics and emergency medicine.

For the most recent 2013 review, CHRISTUS St. John hospital was the only local hospital receiving 5 Star excellence ratings in the area of Cardiac Care-Treatment of Heart Failure and in Neurosciences—3 year recipient for their Treatment of Stroke.

The Joint Commission is a U.S.based, nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c) organization that accredits more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.

All member hospitals undergo unannounced inspections on a rotating basis to evaluate hospital safety and quality operations.

Hospitals receiving the best marks are awarded Top Performer on Key Quality Measures™ by The Joint Commission.

Top Performers have hard-wired the consistent use of evidence-based practices to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients. Only 620 hospitals nationwide, including CHRISTUS St. John, earned the Top Performer designation for high achievement in areas of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. More information on The Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures™ hospitals can be found at www.qualitycheck.org.

“We’re proud to have received this continual recognition for our quality care,” adds Permetti. “It gives us the opportunity to publicly applaud the dedication of our top notch medical staff and physicians. However, we won’t celebrate for long. We want to be known for our excellence for our next 30 years as well.”

Third Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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Photo by Mary Alys Cherry

Kelsey-Seybold’s new specialty care center on the East Sam Houston Parkway.

Kelsey-Seybold opens its new clinic on the beltway

By Mary Alys Cherry

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elsey-Seybold’s handsome new clinic is now open on the beltway between Clear Lake City and Pasadena.

Construction has been under way for several months.

The 36,400-square-foot, family friendly multispecialty care center is located near Crenshaw Road on a 5.6 acre site at 5049 E. Sam Houston Parkway, just a short drive from Highway 3 as one heads north on the beltway toward Pasadena.

Once there, patients will find a little of everything in the two-story building – the convenience of an onsite pharmacy,

Texas Children’s Hospital offers specialty care practice in Pearland

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exas Children’s Pavilion for Women, Houston’s premier hospital for women’s, fetal and newborn health, has opened its first community-based OB/GYN practice in Pearland.

The new OB/GYN practice brings the Pavilion for Women’s leading expertise closer to home by offering outpatient services, making it more convenient for women to receive preventative care, sub-specialty gynecology services and pre-natal checkups in their community.

The new practice is located at 9003 Broadway St. in Pearland, next to the new location for Texas Children’s Pediatrics Pearland, which opened on Dec. 17.

“Texas Children’s Hospital expanded into obstetrical and gynecological care to fulfill our mission to improve long-term outcomes for babies and children by providing great care for their moms, even before they become mothers,” said Cris Daskevich, senior vice president of Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women.

“By opening an OB/GYN practice next door to Texas

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diagnostic and Xray facilities plus a lab and multiple physicians specializing in cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, family medicine, internal medicine, OB/ GYN, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation/spine and pulmonary medicine.

The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with the pharmacy open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. those same days, and plenty of parking is available.

Call 713-442-0000 for 24-hour appointment scheduling. Or visit Kelsey’s website, kelsey-seybold.com/Pasadena

Children’s Pediatrics Pearland, we can provide the Pearland community with a continuum of specialized care starting before pregnancy and continuing throughout the childhood and adult years.” Pearland was a natural choice for Texas Children’s to open a community-based OB/GYN practice because of the area’s dynamic growth rate and its proximity to Texas Children’s main campus in the Texas Medical Center, Daskevich added.

The new OB/GYN practice is staffed by two Baylor College of Medicine OB/GYN physicians, Drs. Beth Davis and Kelly Hodges. In addition to a full range of regular gynecological and pre-natal care, the practice will soon offer sub-specialty services as well.

“Many of the women we care for at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women are currently driving to the medical center for their regular OB/GYN services,” said Dr. Laurie S. Swaim, chief of gynecology at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women and division director of gynecology and obstetrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “With this new clinic, women in the Pearland area will only need to travel to the Pavilion for Women for more specialized gynecological care, surgery or delivery.”

Located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women is designed to care for a woman throughout her life and offers a full range of obstetrical and gynecological services, beginning before conception and continuing after delivery.

Memorial Hermann to Open New Medical Campus in Pearland Facility to include a convenient care center, medical office building and 64-bed hospital

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emorial Hermann Health System, known for its world-class clinical expertise and patient-centered care, plans to establish a new medical campus in Pearland. The multi-purpose complex will be built on the 40-acre site currently home to an outpatient imaging center, diagnostic lab services, and medical office building.

The new facility will include a “one-of-a-kind” convenient care center, scheduled to open later this year, that will provide onestop, highly coordinated access to adult and pediatric primary care, specialty physicians, sports medicine and rehabilitation, and a 24-hour emergency room.

The centerpiece of the new medical campus will be a 64-bed acute care hospital, which will open in 2015. It will feature an intensive care unit, operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, medical/surgical units, women’s and neonatology services.

Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, said this announcement underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing residents of Pearland and Brazoria County with convenient access to highquality, comprehensive patient care.

“This new medical campus gives Pearland and surrounding areas better access to the expertise of Memorial Hermann and provides a place for medical professionals and the region’s top specialists to care for their patients closer to home,” Wolterman said.

Any healthcare need will be expertly addressed, he said, whether it’s a quick, non-emergent, outpatient visit, or a procedure requiring inpatient care, adding that the new medical campus will benefit from integration within the larger Memorial Hermann system, where patients can be transported within minutes to Memorial Hermann Southeast or Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center, if a higher

level of care is needed.

“As mayor of the city of Pearland, I am proud to have one of the nation’s outstanding integrated health systems expand its medical campus in our rapidly growing city,” said Tom Reid. “Pearland is the third largest city by population in the Gulf Coast Area and the second fastest growing city in the state of Texas, and our citizens will now have improved access to Memorial Hermann’s world-class, patient-centered care.

Erin Asprec, Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, explained that Memorial Hermann has a strong partnership with the city of Pearland and looks forward to working together to advance the health of its residents.

“We have designed our new campus with the growing needs of the community in mind,” continued Asprec. “We are very excited to bring this one-stop, highly coordinated medical facility close to home.”

Memorial Hermann Pearland will be located on the southbound side of Highway 288 near FM 518. A ground-breaking ceremony will be announced soon.

Memorial Hermann is known for world-class clinical expertise, patient-centered care, leading-edge technology and innovation. The system with its medical staff and 20,000 employees, serves southeast Texas and the greater Houston community. Memorial Hermann’s 11 hospitals include three hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, including a Level I trauma center, a hospital for children and a rehabilitation hospital, as well as three heart & vascular institute locations and eight suburban hospitals. The system also operates the Life Flight® air ambulance service, cancer, imaging and surgery centers, sports medicine and rehabilitation centers, outpatient laboratories, a wellness center, a chemical dependency treatment center, a home health agency, a retirement community and a nursing home.

Galveston Island Organizations Collaborate to Help Seniors

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ould you invest $10 a month, if you knew you could improve the quality of life for a Galveston Island senior citizen? The United Way of Galveston, the Galveston County Food Bank and the Jesse Tree have an opportunity to help these individuals, one life at a time.

These three organizations are collaborating to help Galveston Island seniors by restoring The Jesse Tree’s Senior Food Box program that was put on hold a year ago due to lack of funding.

Established in 2001, the program delivers a monthly food box to the residents of Holland House and Gulf Breeze. In addition to receiving a box full of nutritious food, the senior also benefits from a coordination of resources connecting them to healthcare and social service options. They will be offered the opportunity to take chronic conditions management classes to help rebuild their health. The project is uplifting to their spirits, knowing that someone cares, as well as offering prayer, visits and improved quality of life.

The United Way of Galveston Community Investment Program encourages collaboration among local organizations while targeting poverty and conditions that impact the quality of Island life. The Galveston County Food Bank authored the winning grant proposal securing a win-win all around the table, but especially for vulnerable seniors living on fixed incomes.

Kenna Kasten, Executive Director of the United Way of Galveston said, “We know by building on the strengths of each organization we will build a stronger community for all. The collaborative grants provide an opportunity for organizations to help more people, reducing duplication of services and reducing operational expenses.”

“We are enthusiastic about this program and value our partnership with the Jesse Tree,” said Twila Lindblade, executive director with the Galveston County Food Bank. “We are dedicated to improving access to nutritional food for the economically disadvantaged in Galveston County, including children, working poor, elderly, people with disabilities, shut-ins and others in need.”

Ted Hanley, Executive Director of the Jesse Tree said, “This generous Community Investment grant from the United Way of Galveston will rejuvenate the Senior Food Box Program and cover the delivery cost of Island Food Fairs. We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the Galveston County Food Bank and the United Way. Together we form a stronger safety net for the poor of Galveston County. Your generosity to our respective agencies benefits us all.”

For information on the Senior Food Box Program, please call the Jesse Tree at (409) 762 2233, email us at info@jessetree.net or visit the website at www.jessetree.net.

Third Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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$50 million given to MD Anderson for assault on deadly cancers

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rominent Dallas philanthropist Lyda Hill has pledged $50 million to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Moon Shots Program, an unprecedented, comprehensive assault on cancer announced in September 2012.

Her transformational gift is the largest single private philanthropic contribution to date in support of this ambitious effort to dramatically reduce cancer deaths and brings the number of donations to nearly $70 million.

In recognition of Hill’s generosity to the program, the institution will name the Lyda Hill Cancer Prevention Center in her honor.

The Moon Shots Program is composed of six teams of MD Anderson researchers and clinicians initially focusing on these eight cancers: • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)/ myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS),

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• • • • •

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Melanoma, Lung cancer, Prostate cancer, and Triple-negative breast and highgrade serous ovarian cancers.

The ultimate goal is to apply knowledge gained from this process to all cancers.

Moon shot efforts will help support all other cancer research at MD Anderson, particularly with improved resources and infrastructure.

“I’m excited about the Moon Shots Program,” said Hill, the granddaughter of H.L. Hunt. “It represents a different direction for research that crosses disciplines and offers new hope for breaking cancer’s codes. I’m pleased to offer my support to this historic effort.”

Hill’s milestone gift will support highpriority flagship projects including: • The lung cancer team’s efforts to develop more reliable, low-cost

screenings that can be available in community clinics, including blood-based biomarkers to detect the disease at its earliest stages; •

The breast/ovarian cancer team’s integrated program to screen patients for genetic mutations and to prescribe new personalized therapies.

Her gift also will support moon shot platforms, which provide infrastructure, systems and strategy in a variety of areas, such as cancer prevention and control, data analytics and research genomics.

“We’re astounded by Lyda Hill’s incredible generosity and humbled by her commitment to cancer patients and their families through this truly transformative gift,” said Dr. Ronald DePinho, president

of MD Anderson. “Its broad application across the cancer care continuum of prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship will play a significant role in the success of the entire Moon Shots Program, especially in the areas of early detection, risk assessment and the development of more effective treatments for multiple cancer types.”

A senior member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, Hill is a

charity.

Hill earned a degree in mathematics from Hollins University in 1964 and received its Outstanding Alumnae Award in 2009. Among her other numerous awards and honors are the Junior League of Dallas Lifetime Achievement Award, 2011; Association of Fundraising Professionals Fundraiser of the Year, Dallas, 2007; Leadership Dallas Outstanding Alumni Award, 2004;

“We’re astounded by Lyda Hill’s incredible generosity and humbled by her commitment to cancer patients and their families through this truly transformative gift.” longtime proponent of scientific research and biomedical advancement. The Dallasbased businesswoman, philanthropist, volunteer and environmentalist is president of LH Holdings and the Lyda Hill Foundation, which supports initiatives that increase the understanding of nature and science. As a member of The Giving Pledge, established by the Bill Gates Foundation, Hill has pledged to donate the majority of her wealth to

Headliners of the Year Award, Fort Worth Press Club, 1993; Newsmaker of the Year Award, Fort Worth, 1992; and Governor’s Award, Outstanding Volunteer in Texas, 1988.

Estimated to cost $3 billion in the first 10 years, the Moon Shots Program will receive funding from private philanthropy, institutional earnings, competitive research grants and commercialization of new discoveries.

Leading gifts lay groundwork for moon shots MD Anderson’s Moon Shots Program, an aggressive, milestone-driven effort initially targeting eight cancers, relies on private philanthropy as a crucial source of funding. Leading contributors to date include: • Lyda Hill: $50 million, • Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C.Kleberg Foundation: $10 million, • C.G. Johnson Estate: $10 million, • The Cullen Trust for Health Care: $2 million, • Mr. and Mrs. William J. Kyte: $2 million, and • The John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation: $1.5 million.

Each moon shot will receive funds and other resources to pursue innovative projects prioritized for greatest patient impact.

Specialized platforms will provide infrastructure, technologies or processes that will support all of the moon shots.

Third Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

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Choosing the Right Home Healthcare Agency

By Santiago Mendoza Jr.

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famous psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, said, “Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.” But the care for your health doesn’t have to be difficult.

History shows us healthcare has been through dramatic changes over the past 40 years. From the Johnson administration’s implementation of Medicare in 1965, to Medicare part D and its prescription drug coverage, to most recently with the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, and its implementation in 2014. With the many facets of care for patients, home health is an important option at the heart of discussion and deserves the patient’s attention.

As government bodies, hospitals, nursing homes, even physician practices all look to reduce costs, while providing the best care, home health care is a viable option. The choices in home health companies to patients is staggering and often overwhelming, and the differences can be stark from one company to another.

Remember, a growing role exists for a patient or caregiver being proactive.

Home health care is defined by Medicare as: Medicare Parts A & B cover part-time or intermittent skilled nursing,

physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social services, home health aide, medical equipment and supplies, provided the patient meets homebound criteria.

The primary role of home health, simply put, is to bring healthcare to the patient’s home. Services can include: skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical social work. These skilled services can all be used during a treatment period, which typically ranges from 30 to 60 days. Only one or two of the aforementioned services may be needed.

As defined by Medicare, these services are: skilled nursing is direct care given

“Your choice in home healthcare is important and deserves your input as much as your physician’s.”

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by a registered nurse. Physical therapy is treatment of an injury and/or disease by mechanical means such as exercise or massage. Occupational therapy helps the patient return to their usual activities (such as bathing, and preparing meals).

Speech therapy assists problems involving speech, language, and swallowing. These types of issues typically occur following

and injury, illness or stroke. Medical Social Work is to help with social and emotional concerns related to your illness with counseling and community resources.

With a more complete picture of home health and the scope of services available, it is easier to understand the reason home health has become a primary option for hospitals upon discharge. Elderly patients often have multiple ailments, multiple medications, and multiple physicians guiding their care. Hence, the need for patients or caregivers to take a proactive role when deciding which home healthcare company should be considered.

There are resources at your disposal to gain the knowledge any patient needs.

Start your information gathering with that company’s website.

(1) A website can provide valuable information for your consideration, what its goals and mission care, and the breadth of services available.

(2) “You never know if you don’t ask.”

Ask your primary care physician which company he/she trusts and has a good working relationship. A home health company acts as a virtual extension of that physician’s office to your home. Once a patient’s care leaves the hospital, care for the patient falls on the shoulders of your doctor. The reason your doctor’s relationship with a home health company is important is twofold. The doctor needs a point of contact to ensure every service the patient needs is addressed.

Conversely, the patient has a proxy advocate with that doctor’s office. This representation becomes a link between the home health agency and the physician’s practice.

It is unquestionably reassuring to the patient and their family to know that if need arises, your home health agency has a voice and a presence with the doctor.

The last step is to simply call the office of the agency that’s being recommended. A simple phone call can be very revealing, and give you an accurate first impression on the professionalism and bedside manner of that company.

As recent as January 2013, the Journal of the American Medical Association, published a study stating that patient involvement leads to a greater success rate in treatment results. We each live in the age of information, and the ease with which information can be accessed places a greater responsibility on us. The result is a sense of ownership for the patient and their treatment and care. Your choice in home healthcare is important and deserves your input as much as your physician’s.

YOGA

Build a strong body and mind Experts from The University of Texas MD Anderson explains benefits of yoga and styles for all fitness levels

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oga is a beneficial exercise for both the body and the mind, and a regular practice can help people maintain a healthy weight and an active lifestyle, two traits known to help prevent cancer.

“Some styles of yoga include postures and movements that may get your heart pumping,” said Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D., assistant professor in MD Anderson’s Integrative Medicine Program. “And if your heart rate goes up for an extended period of time, you can count it as exercise. In addition, yoga is a mind-body practice that guides the body through a series of breathing exercises. These activities can help relieve stress and improve your overall health.”

Other health benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, improved circulation, improved mood, increased balance and better sleep. There are many different styles of yoga to choose from based on fitness level and goals. Hatha yoga is a popular style that follows well-known methods for doing certain postures and breathing. It can either be very gentle or intense, depending on how it’s being practiced.

Below is a list of other styles of yoga.

Ashtanga or Power Yoga is a more athletic style of yoga.

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Its fast pace gets the heart rate up and helps the participant lose weight.

Kundalini Yoga has a strong focus on meditation. It promotes proper breathing and chanting. While it may not increase the participant’s heart rate, this type of yoga can improve mental clarity and flexibility.

Bikram Yoga is also known as hot yoga. It strengthens the body through a series of physically challenging positions in a 105-degree room with 40 percent humidity. This exercise makes the participant sweat and relaxes his or her muscles for a deeper stretch and workout.

Tibetan Yoga focuses on controlled breathing, simple movements and meditation.

This type of yoga can improve sleep, lessen fatigue and reduce stress.

“No one style of yoga is best,” Chaoul said. “It’s more important that you find a class and type that works for you.”

To learn more about the MD Anderson Regional Care Center in the Bay Area, visit www.mdanderson. org/bayarea.