Best Practices - Fourth Quarter 2013

Medical Community News and Information

Fourth Quarter 2013

www.BestPracticesMD.com

Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital Heart and Vascular Center Highlights Women and Heart Health

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Surviving Breast Cancer • Preparing for Flu Season • Hospital News • Defeat Stubborn Fat

CONTENTS

Fourth Quarter 2013

PUBLISHER/CHAIRMAN Rick Clapp President Santiago Mendoza Jr.

EDITORIAL

12

Editor Mary Alys Cherry Medical Director Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D. Contributing Writers Mary Alys Cherry Betha Merit Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D.

ART

16

14

Creative Director Brandon A. Rowan Graphic Specialist Victoria Ugalde Photography/Editing Brian Stewart

ADVERTISING

22

Letter From the Medical Director 7 Flu Guide: Providing Practical Public/Physician Partnerships Features 8 HCA Breaks Ground for Pearland Medical Center 9 BARMC Eyes April Completion Date 10 Defeating Stubborn Fat with CoolSculpting™ 12 Heart Health at Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital 14 Houston Pain Center’s MRI Compatible Neurostimulation 16 Surviving Breast Cancer 18 MD Anderson Repeats as Top U.S. Hospital for Cancer Care 21 Houston Methodist to Buy Christus St. John Hospital 22 New Memorial Hermann Medical Campus in Pearland 6 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013

Director of Advertising Patty Kane Account Executives Patty Bederka Santiago Mendoza Jr. Debbie Salisbury Tracy Warner

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

FLU GUIDE:

Providing Practical Public/Physician Partnerships

INFLUENZA, an airborne, highly contagious, often lethal viral infection, has the potential for extensive dissemination, local epidemics, even a global pandemic, that can result in widespread death, disability and socio-economic disruption.

The virus is spread airborne via sneezing, coughing, spitting, or finger-to-face contact with contaminated objects, e.g., doorknobs.

The germ initially causes toxic symptoms, including fatigue and malaise, fever and chills, aches and pains, headaches and nausea. It targets the upper respiratory tract, causing nasal congestion, blockage and discharge and can be easily confused with the common cold or allergic rhinitis. In the event of a local epidemic, assume that the patient has influenza until otherwise proven.

Complications arise from the spread of the viral agent itself, or from other invading, opportunistic microorganisms, and include: Pharyngitis – sore throat, with or without tender, swollen neck glands.

2. Sinusitis – frontal headaches, sinus congestion and postnasal drip with irritant coughing and phlegm.

3. Otitis media – earache, decreased hearing, and sensation of ear fullness and crackling.

4. Laryngitis – hoarse voice and having to clear the throat often.

5. Bronchitis – cough with mid-chest soreness and colored sputum.

6. Croup – barking cough, stridor (noisy breathing) and difficulty breathing in.

7. Epiglottitis – excessive drooling of saliva, stridor (noisy breathing) and difficulty breathing in.

8. Bronchiolitis – coughing with wheezing and difficulty breathing out.

9. Pneumonia – spitting up blood, breathlessness, and one-sided chest pain when breathing in.

10. Septicemia – high fever, rigors, extreme weakness, prostration, faintness, shortness-of-breath, cyanosis.

1.

Personal Assessment and Response Ask the individual: “In the past 10 days, have you been in an area with diagnosed cases of influenza?”

If the answer is “No”, advise: “Keep abreast of the news for flu outbreaks and official advisories in the home and work areas.”

FLU-SPECIFIC TRIAGE GUIDELINES Influenza and flu-related complications As time passes, flu-related symptoms may appear and disappear as the infection progresses or recedes. Moreover, pre-existing problems may worsen, and co-existing conditions in other body systems may develop. Periodic evaluation is essential to determine the urgency of professional consultation (triage), and management (treatment) options.

The MIGS™ Flu Triage Chart is designed to help you review your medical condition periodically, and to make more informed, timely, triage and treatment decisions.

Monitor your illness periodically with this chart, to determine CLASS level (1-4), and hence, your response.

If the answer is “Yes”, advise: “Follow local health advisories, protect yourself, and check periodically for infection.”

Follow local health advisories: Consult media, public health departments, health care providers, special phone hotlines, text messaging or web sites, regularly.

Protect yourself at all times: 1. Avoid public congregation and unnecessary contact with others, especially in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices.

2. Stay at home as much as possible, stock up with food and supplies, and avoid unnecessary socialization.

3. Tele-commute – conduct occupational affairs online, or by phone, as much as possible, from your home or private office.

4. Wear a mask when in areas where infected people may be present, and avoid individuals with nasal congestion or coughing.

5. Avoid touching contaminated objects and keep your fingers away from your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.

6. Wash hands frequently, but avoid public restrooms. Carry and use convenient alcoholbased hand lotions when not at home.

7. Provide antiseptic hand lotions at all entrances to your home, offices and cars, and insist everyone entering use it.

8. Isolate infected individuals. Have them wear surgical masks, use disposable tissues, and limit touching shared objects.

9. Use disinfectants and disposables in treatment facilities. If you enter an area with infected individuals, wear disposable caps, NIOSH N95 masks, gowns and overshoes before entering, and dispose of these in special containers when leaving.

10. Shed possibly contaminated clothing when you enter your front door, bag and launder them, then shower and shampoo.

The extent to which the client should follow the above ‘ten commandments’ should be dictated by the infectivity, morbidity and mortality associated with the local influenza epidemic, as well as by the individual’s susceptibility and current state of health.

Check periodically for infection: The human defense mechanisms and immune systems will actively combat microbial infections, but may fail if the virus is particularly virulent, if there are pre-existing chronic conditions, e.g., asthma, emphysema, diabetes, leukemia, immune suppressive therapy, or if there are co-existing acute illnesses, e.g., vomiting and diarrhea.

Use the ‘Specific Triage Guidelines’ to detect influenza syndrome and flu-related complications. Then review the findings, triage suggestions, as well as the diagnostic possibilities above, to determine the urgency of professional consultation, and to describe the illness confidently, in order to get more informed medical responses.

For minor symptoms, one can use over-the-counter medications, and consider preventive vaccines and antivirals, if recommended. Medical attention, including investigations, prescription drugs, even hospital admission, may become necessary, depending on the extent of illness, complications and comorbidity.

Referring to the numbered ‘complications list’ above, the greater the number, the more urgently one should consider consulting a healthcare provider, preferably by phone, fax or e-mail. Always remember: At any level of expertise, medical decisions are only as good as the amount of information given to the health care provider.

This publication enables anyone to detect complications quickly, determine urgency confidently, and describe illness competently to health care providers, in order to get more accurate professional medical responses – directly in person, or remotely, by telephone, fax, e-mail or text messaging.

The above self-help protocol is vital for preventing pandemics by respiratory microbes, including SARS, MERS, Bird Flu and Biologic WMD’s, e.g., smallpox, anthrax and tularemia.

Use the following symbols to chart symptom progress over time in the dated columns: “–” for not present | “+” for onset of symptom | “ ” for getting worse | “ ” for getting better | “=” for unchanged | “0” is stopped *Note: The class number (1-4) is defined by the highest section with one or more positive symptoms.

FLU-RELATED SYMPTOMS To Monitor & Evaluate

POSSIBLE DIAGNOSES

DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE DATE

Suggested response

ASYMPTOMATIC CONTACT

CLASS 1

No flu symptoms

Consider vaccines/antivirals

MILD FLU SYMPTOMS

CLASS 2

Fever and chills

Use regular over-the-counter medicines and consider antivirals and/or vaccine if recommended.

Nasal congestion Sore throat Hoarseness Cough MODERATE FLU SYMPTOMS

CLASS 3

Colored spit

Consider contacting an MD as you may need prescribed medication and/or investigations.

Past asthma / wheezing Deafness Persistent fever & chills SEVERE FLU COMPLICATIONS

CLASS 4

Drooling saliva

Contact an MD as soon as possible as you may need special treatment and investigations.

Difficulty breathing Bloody spit Painful breathing Shortness of breath

*Note that these are general guidelines, and you are advised to err on the side of caution. Do not use these criteria to delay or avoid medical consultation. This guide is not intended to dissuade anyone from consulting a doctor. On the contrary, it is meant to exhort you to seek help earlier than you would have otherwise. Weigh all the information you have collected, and then make your decision.

This Chart is Compliments of Bay Area Best Practices and Victor Kumar-Misir, M.D.

*Download and share my free Flu app at the Android App Store. Search for ’migsclient’ (must be one word), to help you get best care, at home and abroad.

S N A P S H O T S

BEST PRACTICES HEALTHCARE BREAKFAST Sept. 26, 2013 • Bay Oaks Country Club

HCA breaks ground for Pearland Medical Center

H

CA Gulf Coast Division President Maura Walsh, along with Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, Manvel Mayor Delores Martin, HealthOne 24 Hour Emergency Care – Pearland Medical Director Dr. Earl Miller and HCA Gulf Coast Division Chief Financial Officer Jeff Sliwinski broke ground Sept.

17 for the new $71 million Pearland Medical Center.

“The Pearland Medical Center groundbreaking emphasizes HCA Gulf Coast Division’s long-standing commitment to the residents of Pearland and Brazoria County by providing convenient, high-quality healthcare close to home,” Walsh said.

“As an HCA affiliated hospital, Pearland Medical Center joins our continuum of nine other Houston-area medical centers, ambulatory surgery centers, diagnostic imaging facilities, and offcampus emergency centers.”

The 144,000-square-foot, 30-bed acute care hospital will open in the fall of 2014 and feature surgical suites, medical/surgical beds, intensive care beds and a 24-hour emergency department.

Imaging services will include magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, a catheterization lab, echocardiogram testing, and nuclear medicine modalities. The center’s new women’s services will provide digital mammography, labor and delivery suites, cesarean-section operating rooms and a newborn nursery.

The new hospital is at the southwest intersection of Highway 288 and Shadow Creek Parkway on a 48-acre site currently home to a full-service, freestanding emergency department, imaging center and 3-story, 80,000 square foot medical office building.

Construction is scheduled to start soon.

8 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013

DOCTORAL

DIGITS 40 years

Age that risk for breast cancer increases. Ninety-five percent of new cases and 97% of breast cancer deaths occur in women 40 years of age and older. Please schedule a yearly mammogram with your health provider.

New hospital in Webster eyes April completion date

By Mary Alys Cherry

L

ook for work on the new Bay Area Regional Medical Center on Highway 3 in Webster to be completed the first week in April.

That’s the goal, said BARMC Senior Vice President Ron Castagno, with Linbeck Construction moving at top speed.

The six-story parking garage has been completed, except for the elevator, and some permitted parking has been made available to physicians and employees of the Texas Gulf Coast Medical Group and other offices next door at 250 Blossom St. in an attempt to alleviate its parking problems, with construction workers utilizing the upper levels of the parking structure.

All mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are nearing completion and the air conditioning system should be up any day.

While Medistar is the owner of the hospital and land, nearly 200 Bay Area physicians have a financial interest in the management company that will run the hospital.

Earlier this summer, Bay Area Regional Medical Center CEO Dr. Michael Lyons announced the hospital’s affiliation with the Greater Houston Emergency Physicians (GHEP). “GHEP is renowned for superior emergency patient care and exceptional physician quality. BARMC is fortunate to have GHEP operating our Emergency Department.”

Meanwhile, BARMC held a Physician Partner’s Meeting at Cullen’s Upscale Grille with about 160 attending. “During the event, a 19-member steering committee was formed

and 61 physicians volunteered for seven different steering subcommittees,” Dr. Lyons said, adding that they still have openings for doctors to participate on subcommittees.

“The high level of enthusiasm at the event invigorated all who attended,” he said, going on to invite all our community physicians “to be credentialed and serve on our medical staff.”

Once the hospital is completed it is designed to offer state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient services, Castagno said.

“Initially, it will have 104 beds in Phase I and will expand to approximately 176 beds after Phase II completion, which is projected around early-to-mid 2015. The hospital building is designed to eventually accommodate 11 floors of structure and a total of 248 beds,” he explained.

It will be an accredited general acute care facility with 3 medical/surgical floors, 5 operating rooms (can expand to 10), 2 endoscopy procedure rooms, 12 Emergency Department treatment rooms (can expand to 22), and a pediatric Observation Unit.

The building even has hurricane resistant glass that can withstand up to 225-mileper-hour winds and is being built by Medistar, which specializes in the design and construction of medical office buildings and built Triumph Hospital and Medical Plaza at Clear Lake adjacent to the new hospital.

The hospital was originally announced in 2007 but construction came to a halt in 2009 when the economy soured and loans dried up. After a two-year interruption, work began again in 2011.

1849

The year that Elizabeth Blackwell received her medical degree, the first woman to do so in the United States.

60,000 miles Estimated length of all the blood vessels in an adult human body.

600,000

Number of heart disease deaths every year in the United States.

Fourth Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

9

YOU SKIP THE DONUTS, hit the gym religiously, and steer clear of the mid-day snacks.

But no matter how hard you work, you’re still battling that pesky muffin top, or the notso-lovely love handles.

W

hat you’re battling is stubborn fat. What you need is CoolSculpting™ by Zeltiq.

It’s the coolest thing in fat reduction -- one session, one hour, with no invasive surgery and no downtime. Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz, or seen it on Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, The Doctors, or Rachael Ray -- a new way to Freeze Your Fat Away.

CoolSculpting™ is a great new option for men and women dealing with exercise- and diet-resistent problem areas. CoolSculpting™ uses the science of cryolipolysis to get rid of your stubborn fat and improve body contouring. Through cryolipolysis, targeted fat cells are treated with a cooling process which enables the body to naturally dispose of the altered cells. This painless process can eliminate up to one third of the fat from a treated region with no needles, no anesthesia, no surgery, and no required recovery time. Following treatment, patients may immediately return to normal activities, including work and exercise. Coolsculpting is FDA-approved and completely safe to use, offering you a painless route to a new body.

CoolSculpting™ is highly effective and is producing consistent results for local areas of fat like the love-handles and spare tires.

The ideal candidate is someone in relatively good shape, with modest areas of fat bulges that they’d like removed. Some of the most common areas of stubborn fat include the upper and lower abdomen (spare tires), the flank areas (lovehandles), the upper arms (bat-wings), and inner thighs.

When it comes to body contouring, trusting a plastic surgeon is key to getting an amazing result. Dr. Swet Chaudhari has been offering CoolSculpting™ to his patients in the south Houston area for over a year and has successfully treated hundreds of patients. Contact Dr. Chaudhari today at (832) 3980112 to schedule a free consultation, and see if CoolSculpting™ is right for you. For more information, at www. suncoastplasticsurgery.net.

CoolSculpting™ is also available at Dr. Chaudhari’s new Divinity Med Spa & Wellness, the premiere medical spa in south Houston. For more info about their Summer specials, please visit www.divinitymedspa. com and like them on Facebook.

Fourth Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

11

Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital Heart and Vascular Center Highlights Women and Heart Health

H

ouston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center is a full service medical facility. They have performed more than 100 open heart surgeries in the hospital’s state-of-the-art cardiovascular operating room, equipped with the latest technology.

And their goal goes far beyond providing the best surgical care. They want to educate the public, and especially women, on prevention and recognition of individual risks and symptoms of heart disease well before the damage is done.

Dr. Walter O’Hara, cardiovascular surgeon at San Jacinto Methodist, is a wealth of information on women’s heart and vascular health. “In women, angina (heart pain or discomfort) is different than in men,” says Dr. O’Hara. “Instead of classic left arm or jaw pain or the elephant on the chest feeling, women commonly report symptoms such as back pain, reflux pain, and sleeplessness; all more subtle.”

The reasons for this are not fully understood. “Women statistically live longer than men, and develop heart disease later in life,” says Dr. O’Hara.

Additionally, heart disease research mainly

12 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013

focused on men throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, who have a larger sized coronary artery system. “Thankfully there has been a shift in research and awareness of these differences over the last 10 years or so,” says Dr. O’Hara.

The Houston Methodist San Jacinto Heart and Vascular Center performs every heart treatment and surgery except heart transplants. In addition to surgical procedures, Houston Methodist San Jacinto offers a full range of cardiovascular services, including a Cardiac Cath Lab and a cardiac rehabilitation program accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR), to assist heart patients with returning to an active life.

The hospital also received chest pain center accreditation by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (CPC), and has recently made better attempts to educate women on early heart attack care, or EHAC. Through events such as the Women’s Health Fair held each November, women can learn more about signs and prevention from experts. Attendees receive handouts published by the CPC, which make them aware of lesser-known warning signs of a heart attack, such as fatigue, nausea and anxiety.

“Women are often the caregivers in the family, even after the children are gone,

and habitually put other family members’ needs above their own. Often they ignore warning signs and put off making healthy choices for themselves,” says Dr. O’Hara, who is married with two sons.

The critical decision on whether a patient is healthy enough to face heart surgery is a process discussion with the patient’s cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeon and even their general practitioner.

Concerns about diabetes, hypertension, or other health issues all contribute to the decision. Women have a slightly higher 30-day mortality rate after heart surgery, perhaps because they do not recognize or ignore the early warning signs. Dr. O’Hara is passionate about early prevention, so in the future, patients will be healthier overall and have increased opportunity to be restored to full health and activity.

Dr. O’Hara explained the importance of the team approach between all doctors and medical personnel involved in cardiovascular care at the Heart and Vascular Center. “Each specialty has been trained to play its own critical role along the way with the patients who eventually come to see me,” he explains. “Detection may start with the general practice, ob-gyn physicians or even emergency room personnel who are positioned to recognize women at risk or with initial cardiovascular symptoms.

That is why regular check ups should not be overlooked. The cardiologist is trained in diagnosis and treatment of heart disease including the medical management of the disease and performing procedures such as angioplasty and placing heart stents. After such treatments have been attempted or considered, the patient’s coronary disease may require surgical intervention such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve replacement, performed by me, the cardiovascular surgeon.” He states that the first and most important team member is the patient. “I encourage my patients and their families to ask questions throughout the process and during recovery.”

Dr. O’Hara has been practicing cardiovascular surgery for about 13 years, both open heart and minimally invasive.

He recommends quitting smoking, eating a heart healthy diet and exercising as keys to prevention. Controlling stress, managing other health conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension are also very important, suggests Dr. O’Hara, an avid triathlete.

“Here at HMSJH, our team offers the full spectrum of state of the art cardiovascular care from prevention to surgical treatment.”

Houston Methodist San Jacinto Heart and Vascular Center is located at 4301Garth Road, Suite 212, Baytown, Texas 77521; 832.556.6625.

Fourth Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

13

Houston Pain Centers Offers the First Spinal Cord Stimulation Systems for Chronic Pain Designed for Full-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging Safety

“The most significant advance in spinal modulation therapy in the last decade.”

Innovation Provides Chronic Pain Patients with Unprecedented Access to MRI Diagnostic Care

H

ouston Pain Centers has announced it is offering patients the first and only implantable, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compatible neurostimulation (also known as spinal cord stimulation,

14 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013

or SCS) system indicated for use in the treatment of chronic back and/or limb pain.

An estimated 100 million Americans are affected by chronic pain and neurostimulation treatment has become

a mainstay of chronic pain management.

While MRI is a standard of care in the diagnosis and treatment of major health conditions (including cancer, stroke and neurological problems), patients with neurostimulation systems implanted to manage their chronic pain were previously denied MRI scans due to concerns about the system being affected by the large magnetic fields and radio frequency energy involved in MRI. Drs. Allen W. Burton and Lance S. Smith with Houston Pain Centers are among the first U.S. pain specialists to implant the new Medtronic RestoreSensor® SureScan® MRI with Vectris® SureScan® MRI percutaneous leads, which were recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for body MRI scans under specific conditions.

“The MRI-compatible stimulator from Medtronic that Dr. Smith and

M E E T O U R B AY A R E A P A I N S P E C I A L I S T S

Purvi Patel, MD Dr. Patel is board-certified in Anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology and currently sees patients at our Clear Lake clinic location. She uses a multidisciplinary approach to pain management by using interventional, medical, and rehabilitative techniques. Dr. Patel believes in creating a personalized treatment plan for each patient in order to treat painful conditions and improve quality of life.

Dr. Patel obtained her Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences from Rutgers University and

her medical degree from the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. She then went on to complete both her residency in anesthesiology and a fellowship in interventional pain medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, North American Neuromodulation Society, and Texas Pain Society.

J. Lance LaFleur, MD, MBA Using a comprehensive approach to the treatment of chronic pain, Dr. Lance LaFleur’s ultimate goal with every patient is to eliminate suffering, restore functionality, and maximize quality of life. He is board certified in both anesthesiology and pain medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

Dr. LaFleur currently sees patients at our Sugar Land and Clear Lake clinic locations.

Dr. LaFleur obtained his Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Tulane University where

I implanted is the most significant advance in spinal modulation therapy in the last decade,” said Dr. Burton. “This device will set the standard for future implantable pain control devices and ensures that patients can still have the MRI needed to provide the best possible care.”

“Until now, removal of spinal cord stimulation devices to ensure a safe body MRI scan was unavoidable,” said Dr. Smith. “With this technology, patients who are receiving SCS therapy to manage their chronic pain now have access to the full benefits of MRI scans without compromising their healthcare.”

MRI scans allow physicians to make a wide range of health diagnoses by viewing highly detailed images of internal organs, blood vessels, muscle, joints, tumors, areas of infection and more. MRI utilizes strong magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses to create images of structures inside the body. While CT scans are used for imaging hard materials in the body, like bones, MRI scans are used to image soft tissue.

he graduated magna cum laude. He then completed a four-year MD/MBA program in Health Organization Management at Texas Tech University School of Medicine. Dr. LaFleur then moved to Houston where he completed both his transitional internship and anesthesiology residency at the University of Texas Medical School. He concluded his training with an interventional pain medicine fellowship at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle.

“With this technology, patients who are receiving SCS therapy to manage their chronic pain now have access to the full benefits of MRI scans without compromising their healthcare.”

As advancements in technology have increased accuracy, effectiveness and patient comfort, MRI use has increased dramatically in recent years.

It is estimated that 60 million MRI procedures are performed worldwide each year. In the United States, the number of scans has nearly doubled in the past decade, with 32 million

scans – more than one MRI per second – performed in 2011.

Neurostimulation therapy for chronic pain uses a medical device placed under a patient’s skin to deliver mild electrical impulses to the spinal cord, which block pain signals from reaching the brain. Medtronic’s new MRI-compatible neurostimulation systems are specially designed to reduce or eliminate the hazards produced by the MRI environment.

The devices also include a proprietary SureScan feature, which sets the device into an appropriate mode for the MRI environment.

To schedule an appointment call:

713.973.PAIN (7246) or visit

www.houstonpain.com Fourth Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

15

MD Anderson center helps make it easy for area women

By Mary Alys Cherry oday, with the help of advances in research and medical care, the survival rate of breast cancer is on the rise.

More and more women are fighting back against the disease with the help of their treatment team and their own determination.

Proof of this can be found in three breast cancer survivors who have been patients at MD Anderson’s Bay Area Regional Cancer Center in Nassau Bay – Sharon Johnson of League City, Myrna Montes of Pasadena and Marnie Yancy of Friendswood.

All three were stunned on learning they had breast cancer, yet after getting over the initial shock, they are already moving forward with the help of their nurse navigator, Diana Vasquez.

Diana is the first person a breast cancer patient meets, and she is with them through every step of treatment and is accessible to them at any time.

Besides having her to lean on, all three women think it’s great to have an MD Anderson center so close to their home.

This convenience really helped lower their stress and anxiety and helped make the treatment process smoother. “This is testament to why having access to quality health care in the communities surrounding Houston is so beneficial,” said Richard Ehlers, M.D., surgeon and medical director of the Bay Area center.

Sharon Johnson first felt a mass in her right breast in January 2013, and by the time she saw a doctor in March, her whole breast was swollen. Her doctor sent her to a nearby diagnostic center for an MRI, ultrasound and biopsies. On April 10, as

16 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013

she was sitting in the parking lot of Sam’s on her way to buy a veggie tray for a get-together, she got a call that changed her life.

“The doctor said, ‘It’s not what we expected. It’s cancer.’” And, a very aggressive cancer at that.

Sharon was in shock. “I don’t remember a whole lot of what she said. I just called my husband, and he met me at my best friend’s house.” Her doctor called the Bay Area Regional Care Center and got Sharon in to see Dr. Amy Hassan right away. Her treatment includes chemotherapy, surgery and then radiation.

She says her inner strength to beat this disease is her 10-year-old son, Nathan, who has Aspergers. “I feel sheer will when I look at him,” she says. “God wouldn’t have given me him if I’m not meant to be here for the long haul.” To help her share the news of her diagnosis with her son, Sharon consulted with the MD Anderson social worker who gave her a DVD that explains cancer to children.

Right now Sharon is on her second round of chemo, and then she’ll have her surgery. But in her immediate future is a fashion show called Pamper Pink Fashion Show where she will be modeling clothes with fellow breast cancer survivors as a charity benefit.

When asked what she has learned so far that she would share with other women going through breast cancer treatment, she said that would be that every journey is different. “Don’t listen to everyone else’s stories because you are not them, and they are not you. It’s your journey. It’s your life. Do what’s right for you.”

Her journey, she says, has been made so much easier by Diana: “At the beginning

you’re like a deer in headlights. Having Diana was wonderful. She has been there for every single thing, and now I feel like I have known her my whole life. Having someone I know I can call at anytime is so crucial.”

Myrna Montes was training for her first full marathon in December 2012 and had lost some weight.

That weight loss led her to discover a lump one night when she went to lie down on the couch in her Pasadena home. Since it was just before Christmas, she was not able to get an appointment with her usual OBGYN, so she made an appointment with another doctor so she could get an order for a mammogram.

The doctor was not concerned by the results of Myrna’s mammogram. Because

of her age and great health and fitness, Myrna didn’t “meet the criteria for breast cancer.” Due to some liquid in the lump, a biopsy was ordered in January. A few days later she was called in to get her results.

“My mind was at ease because I didn’t think it was anything major,” which is why she went in alone. That’s when she got the news that it was cancer—stage II. Being alone and in shock, Myrna wasn’t in the state of mind to comprehend everything the doctor was telling her, “I just wanted to go and scream,” she said.

So she set a return appointment on Jan. 23 to come back with her husband and get more details.

Her doctor referred her to the MD Anderson Regional Care Center in

the Bay Area, where she began seeing Dr. Amy Hassan in March. On March 28, Dr. Richard Ehlers performed her mastectomy, and in May of this year she started chemo and will follow up with radiation.

Her two boys, ages 8 and 3, are what has kept her going. “I’ve got two little kids so I can’t get depressed over this.” To make the physical changes, like hair loss, easier for her sons to take, she shaved her head at home and let her oldest help.

Then her husband shaved his head too.

Myrna continued running and exercising throughout her treatment. She ran the marathon she had been training for a week before her diagnosis and has run a 5K and a 7K while undergoing treatment. She has been a participant in the Race for a Cure for the last 10 years as a supporter. This October will be her first time running that race as a survivor. Her family has registered with her, and they are going to do it together.

Meanwhile, Diane, the navigator nurse, has constantly been by her side. “She is my go to person for everything. I really admire her. She texts me and calls me on the weekends just to check on me when she doesn’t have to do that.”

Advice to other women: “Stay positive.

Keep on living your life the way you were living it before your diagnosis.” Her slogan: “It may slow me down, but it’s not going to stop me.”

Marnie Yancy discovered a lump in her breast while at her Friendswood home and made an appointment to see her OBGYN on April 4. She was sent to a local breast center on April 8 for a mammogram and biopsy, but her doctor wasn’t concerned.

Then three days later she gets a call that it’s breast cancer, stage IIB. When she got the news she just sat still for a moment and then thought, “Okay, how do we move forward from here?”

Her doctor quickly got her in to see Dr. Hassan at the Bay Area center, where she started chemotherapy, and on Aug. 26, Dr. Elhers performed her mastectomy there. And she’s doing great. Of course with the help of Diana. “I could not have done it without her. She became the face of MD Anderson. I don’t know any of my doctor’s numbers, but I know Diana’s.”

She has a 17-year-old son who is a senior on the basketball team at Clear Brook High School. She goes to all his games and is his biggest cheerleader.

When telling the news of her diagnosis to her son, she tried to refrain from using the word cancer, but he figured it out. His reaction was the same as hers, “What do we do next?”

Marnie has maintained a very positive mindset throughout this journey and has a huge support system called Team Marnie, who go with her to every treatment. They pack 7-8 people into the waiting room and eat breakfast and laugh and make the process of cancer treatment more enjoyable for her.

When asked what she would share with other women on the same journey as her she said, “Be patient. Listen to your body.

Trust in your doctors but be your own advocate and do research yourself.”

To honor these women and all community breast cancer patients and survivors, the Bay Area center is hosting its annual Pink Lighting event on Oct. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Pearland Town Center.

Fourth Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

17

MD Anderson repeats as top U.S. hospital for cancer care Bay Area care center shares in honor

T

he University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is the nation’s top hospital for cancer care, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” survey -- a ranking it has held for seven straight years.

In the last 12 years, the institution, which has a regional care center in Nassau Bay, has ranked No. 1 in cancer care 10 times. Since 1990, when the survey began, it has been listed as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the nation.

Also nationally ranked are three MD Anderson specialties, including ear, nose and throat (No. 3); gynecology (No. 6); and urology (No. 43).

Its orthopedic, neurosurgery, nephrology, psychiatry and geriatrics services were named as “High Performing” specialties.

MD Anderson’s Children’s Cancer Hospital was ranked No. 21 in the nation in a separate survey conducted by U.S. News & World Report earlier this year.

“MD Anderson is honored and humbled to be named the top hospital for cancer care in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey,” said Dr. Ronald A. DePinho, president of the institution.

“This is a recognition that MD Anderson will never take for granted. We will earn – and represent – this honor every day through our extraordinary care, compassion, innovation and service and most of all, by putting patients first.”

“I am elated that UT MD Anderson has once again been named the No.1 hospital for cancer care,” said Dr. Francisco G. Cigarroa, chancellor of the UT System.

“However, the distinction comes as no surprise for those familiar with the extraordinary breakthroughs that happen there every day.

MD Anderson faculty provides world-class patient care and are redefining the fight against cancer and improving the lives of people all over the world.

This is indeed important work

(Continued on page 21)

18 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013

Fourth Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

19

20 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013

and there is nowhere, in my opinion, that does it better,”.

Among largest in the world

MD Anderson continues as one of the largest cancer centers in the world, last year serving more than 115,000 people, nearly one-third of them new patients. Many come to the institution seeking the latest therapies, diagnostics, surgical techniques and

prevention strategies. About 8,500 patients were registered on clinical trials exploring new treatments last year, making it home to the largest clinical trials program for cancer in the nation.

MD Anderson’s clinical outreach goes beyond the Texas Medical Center and Bay Area Houston with regional care centers in The Woodlands, Sugar Land and Katy, as well

Houston Methodist to buy Christus St. John Hospital

By Mary Alys Cherry

C

hristus St. John Hospital in Nassau Bay and Houston Methodist Hospital have formed a partnership that when finalized later this year will give Methodist a majority ownership in the Clear Lake area facility.

When the transaction is finalized, St. John Hospital will continue to provide the local community with top quality health care as it does now, but under the Houston Methodist name and under Houston Methodist management.

St. John was one of two Houston area Christus hospitals forming the new partnership between the two faith-based health systems. The other is Christus St. Catherine Hospital in the Katy area. Announcement of the agreement came Sept. 18 after the boards of Christus Health and Houston Methodist took the first step, entering into a letter of intent to transfer majority ownership of the two Christus hospitals to Houston Methodist.

The transaction also includes the Christus Provider Network clinics in the Katy and Nassau Bay areas and the Christus Stehlin Foundation for Cancer Research.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Houston Methodist also will operate the Katy hospital, but it will likely be transitioned into Houston Methodist’s first postacute care facility, although Methodist said no plans have been finalized.

“This partnership brings together two faith-based organizations with long-standing commitments to the Houston community,” said Dr. Marc L. Boom, president and CEO of Houston Methodist. “Now we can expand our services to new areas and new patients in our community. With Christus, we will introduce Houston Methodist to Clear Lake while also furthering their mission.”

The next step is to complete the transaction, which is expected to happen by the end of the year.

Under the agreement, Christus will retain a minority interest in both facilities and a role in the governance oversight, and may have the option to manage St. Catherine as a post-acute facility, Dr. Boom said. The exact percentage of ownership or governance role is being determined as the partnership plans are finalized.

He said no layoffs were anticipated.

“We believe that partnering with Houston Methodist will ensure that the ongoing health care needs of the communities will be served more effectively and provide the highest likelihood that the services provided by Christus St. John and Christus St. Catherine continue,” said Ernie Sadau, president and

as a network of 14 national and international locations.

Most recently, the institution announced an agreement to provide comprehensive cancer care services at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, N.J. The cancer center also extends services to the underserved community by overseeing and staffing the oncology program at

Houston’s Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital, a component of the Harris Health System.

MD Anderson employs more than 20,000 people, including more than 1,600 faculty.

Last year, more than 1,200 volunteers – many who are cancer survivors – contributed more than 192,000 hours of service that is equivalent to 92 full- time employees.

CEO of Christus Health.

“This partnership will preserve the hospitals’ missions while ensuring they are part of a larger local system that can offer a full continuum of care.”

Christus ministries through the Christus Foundation for Healthcare in Houston – including all the clinics, school-based centers and services for the poor and underserved – will not be part of the partnership and will continue as part of Christus Health, Sadau said.

“In fact, it is the intention of Christus Health to work closely with the Foundation and the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word to expand and grow those services, as well as to add new services, to reach out in new ways to those in need in the Houston community.

“Houston Methodist was chosen because it has a strong desire to extend its services to the community, and is a high quality provider determined to further the mission of Christus St. Catherine and St. John,” Sadau said.

Boom said when a final agreement is reached, the partners will work together to continually identify new opportunities to serve, innovate, and enhance the health care provided throughout the Gulf Coast area.

Houston Methodist has 15,000 employees caring for patients in five hospitals, stand-alone emergency departments, imaging centers, PT clinics and a research institute. Houston Methodist Hospital is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s “Best Hospitals” and is ranked No. 1 in Texas. Fortune has listed Houston Methodist as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America for eight consecutive years.

“We welcome with open arms the employees, physicians and patients from Christus St. Catherine and Christus St. John to the Methodist family where we share common missions and values,” Boom said. “We have the same commitment to quality and we are both dedicated to our patients above all else.”

Fourth Quarter 2013 | www.BestPracticesMD.com|

21

New Memorial Hermann medical campus going up in Pearland

Architect’s rendering of new Memorial Hermann medical complex in Pearland

By Mary Alys Cherry

P

earland Mayor Tom Reid and a host of city, state and county officials proudly joined Memorial Hermann Health System dignitaries as the broke ground on their new medical campus in Pearland. Today construction work is moving right along.

The new medical complex will include a convenient care center that will provide one-stop, highly coordinated access to adult and pediatric primary care, specialty physicians, outpatient imaging and lab services and a 24-hour emergency room when it opens early next year.

The centerpiece of the 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, Lifeflight helipad, Ironman Sports Medicine Institute, women’s and neonatology services.

Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System,

said the groundbreaking represents the beginning of a new and great relationship between the residents of Pearland and Memorial Hermann,” said Wolterman.

“We want to be your healthcare provider of choice and earn your trust by providing safe, high quality and comprehensive care to your family and others in Pearland and surrounding areas. We look forward to serving you first with our Convenient Care Center, and later with a 64-bed, state-of-the-art hospital. We appreciate and welcome the opportunity to provide care to the citizens of this great and growing city and county.”

The new medical complex also will benefit from integration within the larger Memorial Hermann system, where patients can be transported within minutes to Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital or Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, if a higher level of care is required.

“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 immediate access to Memorial Hermann’s world-class, patient-centered care,” said Mayor Reid.

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

“The doctors and nurses who will staff the Pearland Medical Complex are the same professionals who provide high quality care to families in this area,” he said, adding that it will be staffed with the region’s top medical specialists to meet the needs of the community.”

The medical complex is located on the southbound side of Highway 288 near FM 518 at 10905 Memorial Hermann Drive in Pearland.

Memorial Hermann Medical Group West Pearland Welcomes Family Medicine Physician

F

amily medicine physician Ann Zellner, M.D., has joined Memorial Hermann Medical Group in West Pearland.

Dr. Zellner received her undergraduate degree with honors in biology from the University of Wisconsin and her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She completed her residency with the Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Sugar Land.

Dr. Zellner provides highly personalized care for patients of all ages. Among the many conditions she treats, her special interests include women’s health, sports medicine and in-office procedures such as skin biopsies and joint injections.

Dr. Zellner joins family medicine physicians Quang Bui, M.D., and Chieu Foo, M.D., and internal medicine / pediatrics physician Zenithe Pierre, M.D., as part of Memorial Hermann Medical Group West Pearland. She is seeing patients at 10905 Memorial Hermann Drive, Suite 130, Pearland, TX, 77584, and can be reached at 713.383.4950.

22 |www.BestPracticesMD.com | Fourth Quarter 2013