Methodist Magazine Vol. 7 2022

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Morgan Downing-Shannon Director of Communications Methodist Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services

Communications Manager

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant Methodist Hospital | Texsan

Melissa Geedman Director of Communications Methodist Hospital

Ashley Funkhouser

Communications Manager

Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Methodist Hospital | Northeast

Lauren McCormick

Director of Communications Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

EDITOR Cheri Love-Moceri

Associate Vice President of Communications

Kimberly Felan

STAFF SHOUT-OUTS

JOHN BARRON, REHAB TECH

“John Barron, our Rehab Tech who I call “The Flash”, seems to be everywhere he is needed without having to call him, and can multitask all the time. The PTs and OTs of Rehab would not be able to deliver excellent patient care without his help. He is always on time and has a very good work ethic. John is immensely loved by his co-workers and our patients. He constantly goes above and beyond for everyone. Our recognition is not even enough to appreciate him for what he does each and every day for us. He also actively participates during our fun times at work, as he has represented Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center for two years in a row during a Chili Cook off and is a member of our Fall Prevention Team. He is indeed an excellent example of a model employee with I-CARE values.”

-Maria Janette “MJ” Baking, Rehab Services Lead, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center

CHARLES SOLIS, CARDIAC MONITOR TECHNICIAN (CMT), METHODIST HOSPITAL

“Charles Solis started with Methodist in 2016 as a Cardiac Monitor Technician (CMT) after hearing about how great Methodist was to work for from his mom, Katherine who worked on 6 central. Charles served in the Marines for four years prior to joining Methodist and brought many of the skills that he learned during his active duty with him which better prepared him for his career with Methodist. Charles’s peers frequently recognize him for his compassionate nature and always being a great representation of our I-CARE values. Charles is the primary preceptor for all new night shift CMTs due to his ability to understand others’ unique learning styles and what will work best for them. Charles continues to be influential in process improvements and ensuring a safe environment for cardiac monitoring. We are very fortunate to have him as part of the Methodist family.”

JOSE PEREZ, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE

“Jose Perez is a Maintenance Mechanic Advanced partner in the Facilities Management department. He continuously shows his dedication and commitment to our facility here at Texsan. He ensures the daily operations of our facility are maintained 24/7 to provide the safest, quality care to our patients each and every day.”

-Janelle Lopez, Chief Operating Officer, Ethics & Compliance Officer, Methodist Hospital | Texsan

-Wesley Wingate, Manager Cardiac Telemetry & PSA/VMT, Methodist Hospital

“I’d like to give a big shout-out to our case manager

JULIE CHAVEZ, RN.

There is no end to Julie’s positivity and endless collaboration with her colleagues to ensure our patients are discharged safely and in a timely manner. She consistently goes the extra mile at work, and her spirit of teamwork makes Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan a better place to work. She is someone who works hard behind the scenes and always remains calm despite the many obstacles presented (such as the recent pandemic). Julie plays a supporting role in the case management department, and her ability to connect with people allows other case managers to feel comfortable reaching out to her for advice while troubleshooting complex cases. Julie is always ready to help, sharing her knowledge, experience, and advice with everyone. Thank you, Julie, for creating a positive environment within our department while showing endless kindness, perseverance, and humor! Your commitment to excellence inspires others to fulfill a greater potential than they even knew they had.”

-Irene Roberson, Director of Case Management, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

SUSAN TORKELSON, PATIENT SAFETY ATTENDANT (PSA), METHODIST HOSPITAL

“Susan Torkelson joined the Methodist Patient Safety Attendant team in 2020 during one of the most challenging times our organization has faced. Susan comes to work with a smile on her face each and every day ready to help keep our patients safe. Susan is often recognized by her peers and the nursing staff as always going above and beyond to advocate for patient safety and dignity. We are so thankful that Susan has chosen to stay with the PSA team and look forward to seeing all the great things that she can accomplish along her journey.”

Wesley Wingate, Manager Cardiac Telemetry & PSA/VMT, Methodist Hospital

LISET TRAYHAN, DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHER AND VASCULAR TECHNOLOGIST

GEORGE ROBERTS, EVS ASSOCIATE

“George Roberts is an Environment Services partner that is continuously recognized by his patients and colleagues for his exceptional care. George really gets to know his patients and their families while leaving the room spotless. Besides providing a safe environment for healing, George contributes to the EVS department’s 82 percentile rating in patient satisfaction.”

-Gregg Zier, Director of Environmental Services, Methodist Hospital | Northeast

“Liset Trayhan consistently provides high quality care and always advocates for what is best for the patient. Recently, a patient had an order for a paracentesis, which is the removal of the fluid around the abdomen. After bringing the patient down, she realized there was no fluid in the abdomen. While looking for the fluid, she saw that the patient had a large amount of fluid surrounding their lungs. She kept the patient in the ultrasound room while she called the ordering doctor and explained her findings. She was able to get the doctor to update the order for a thoracentesis, which is the removal of the fluid from around the lungs. Liset’s quick find resulted in higher quality care for the patient and allowed them to breathe much better after the procedure. She is constantly challenging herself to learn different skill sets within her profession to better serve our mission. Her experience as a Sonographer and the compassion she shares with her patients, has developed multiple longlasting relationships. Many of these patients visit regularly for treatment and drive a further distance, just to be within her exceptional care. Liset is an invaluable team member who goes above and beyond for patients within our community. She is a shining example of our mission led culture here at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak.”

-Austen Holton, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

STAFF SHOUT-OUTS

KRISTI KOGER, RN

“Kristi Koger began her career as a Patient Care Tech in the Emergency Department at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa in 2019. While working as a Patient Care Tech, she worked her way through nursing school. Once she obtained her RN license, Kristi put the valuable skills she learned as a Patient Care Tech to great use as a Registered Nurse, serving her community and the patients who came through the door at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa Emergency Department. Kristi receives regular compliments from our patients, some of who even remember her when she was a Patient Care Tech. Kristi received the Rising Star in Nursing Award in 2021 as a new Registered Nurse. Her passion for our patients shines, and her dedication to her team is evident. Kristi takes the initiative to lead her team even on the toughest days and accomplishes this with a positive attitude. She is always willing to do what it takes to help the team in any situation. She never forgets a peer’s birthday or any celebration for that matter. Kristi is always willing to take the time to teach anyone willing to learn and is always ready to answer questions, yet she is always eager to learn and improve her skills. Kristi leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets and has a bright future ahead of her at Methodist!”

-Jennifer Sorsby, Director of Emergency Services, Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

NICOLE GOMEZ, CASE MANAGER, METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CANCER AND BLOOD CENTER

“Nicole “Nikki” Gomez joined the Children’s Cancer and Blood Center as our case manager in 2021. Nikki is one of the most positive people I have had the privilege to work next to. Her exceptional attitude has benefited the staff and the patients. Her peers often recognize Nikki for always being willing to give a helping hand, put a uniform on and jump in for the safety of our patients. Nikki makes it a point to meet with every new patient and provides education for their new medical journey. Nikki is a true testament to Methodist Excellence. She always gives back, from becoming an APHON educator for the nurses in our community to safely providing care to pediatric oncology patients to dedicating her time as a camp counselor each year so our patients can have special memories. We are truly blessed to have Nikki part of our team!”

-Star Ross, Manager, Methodist Children’s Hospital Cancer and Blood Center

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

MS 150: BIKE TO THE RIVER

October 1-2, 2022

Bike from San Antonio to New Braunfels to help raise money and awareness for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. To donate or join the team visit https://mssociety.donordrive.com/.

As part of the Methodist Healthcare sponsorship for Bike MS: Valero Ride to the River 2022, we are looking for volunteers:

• Leading up to the ride, the MS Society office needs help packing rider bags, making phone calls, printing and organizing for riders with MS.

• We are also looking for 30 medical volunteers to help at the rest stops over the ride weekend. The event takes place October 1-2, 2022. There is a need for first aid/first responders at each of the 15 stops along the two-day route. We are looking for medical volunteers or trained medical personnel to help those riders who have MS at the rest stops. Many of them need a little extra assistance getting on or off their bikes, cool towels or cooling vests to help regulate body temperatures during the ride.

If you are interested in signing up for either of these volunteer opportunities please use this link: https://nmss.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=702349

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CYCLENATION

October 6, 2022, Joyride (Alon Shopping Center)

Ride a stationary bike for 2 hours (by yourself or split the time with your team). This event raises money and awareness for the American Heart Association. For more info or join our team, visit https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/ CycleNation/. (You can also start your own team or join any of the existing Methodist teams!)

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S

October 15, 2022, Fiesta Texas

Methodist Healthcare is proud to be a presenting sponsor for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s again this year along with our 50/50 owner, Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Both of our organizations are excited to join the Alzheimer’s Association as leaders in the fight against the disease and in their vision of a world without Alzheimer’s. For more info or to join our team and participate visit https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2022

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HEART/STROKE WALK

November 12, 2022, Texas A&M University San Antonio

Join us for a 3 mile walk to raise money and awareness for the American Heart Association. For more info or to join the Methodist team visit https://www2.heart.org/site/TR/HeartWalk/.

Although participating in walks or rides doesn’t count as volunteering, we know that many of you volunteer for non-profit organizations in other capacities. Examples of volunteer opportunities can include: non-profit board meetings, leading Boy Scout/Girl Scout troops, volunteering at a public school, donating blood, or any other service work done for a public non profit.

Don’t forget to log any of your volunteer hours at HCA.YourCause.com. For every 10 hours you log on the YourCause website, you will earn $200 to donate to a charity of your choice.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

CELEBRATIONS

Methodist Healthcare supports the LGBTQ+ community year-round, and during Pride Month, our hospitals show their pride through various events and activities. Take a look at the celebration that happened around Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan in June!

Photo: Minerva Gorjan, Vice President of Human Resources, spoke with Spectrum News 1 about the hospital’s designation as a Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality and their efforts to better care for that community.

Photo: To kick-off the start of Pride Month, the hospital hosted a pride flag raising ceremony on their campus.

Photo (L-R) 1: The hospital hosted a shoe box float pride parade competition. Congratulations to the Case Management department for winning! Photo 2: The SA Thrive Youth Center provides a safe environment for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness in San Antonio, and staff across the hospital collected much needed items for them such as gift cards, clothing, healthy snacks, personal hygiene products, and more. Photo 3 & 4: Staff from Metropolitan and our other hospitals joined together to walk in the 2022 Pride Bigger than Texas Parade downtown. We had our very own float, tshirts, and a lot of fun was had.

Photo 1: Methodist Hospital staff proudly wear their Healthcare for All shirts. Photo 2-4: Methodist Hospital’s Healthcare Equity & Inclusion team kicks off Pride Month with a celebration.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

7

ANNUAL ROWAN WINDHAM MEMORIAL CEREAL DRIVE A HUGE SUCCESS

In early June, cereal was piled high inside the lobby at Methodist Children’s Hospital, signifying another successful Rowan Windham Memorial Cereal Drive. In an effort to kick summertime childhood hunger in Bexar County and surrounding communities, staff from each Methodist Healthcare hospital and division office, along with members of the San Antonio community, collected a total of 258,221 servings of cereal for children in need.

In 2020 and 2021, the hospitals were limited to collecting monetary donations due to the pandemic. Court LeMaistre, Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services, says it was special seeing staff and the community collecting boxes of cereal again.

“This is the first year all of our Methodist Healthcare hospitals joined in as well, and it was so nice to be able to come together, in person, for an important cause,” LeMaistre said. “Not only was our team able to help thousands of children who might otherwise go hungry during the summer months, but the team did it in a way that honors our mission of serving humanity to honor God.”

The Methodist Healthcare Information Technology Group team won the title for most servings collected with a total of 26,921 servings donated. The Methodist Children’s Hospital Pediatric Surgical Unit took home the top unit award, collecting 17,150 servings of cereal. The San Antonio Food Bank will distribute the cereal among the families and organizations it serves.

After the passing of beloved patient and friend, Rowan Windham, in 2016, Methodist Children’s Hospital renamed its cereal drive to honor his legacy. Rowan, a giving child who put the good of others before himself, hoped to eliminate childhood hunger by collecting boxes upon boxes of cereal from his hospital room. His mother, Carrie Windham, remains connected to the cereal drive and collects thousands of servings of cereal herself. While addressing the audience during the 2022 reveal ceremony, Carrie said “not only is Rowan proud, but everyone should be proud of the impact made on the community”.

UVALDE RESPONSE

One week following the tragic mass shooting, staff at Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital continued to pay respect by illuminating the hospital

in the elementary school’s colors of maroon and white. Additionally, staff showed their support by wearing maroon to honor the innocent lives lost.

LET’S ASK THE EXPERT…

My name is Frank Wyatt and I have been a registered dietitian for nine years, specializing in pediatric care. My favorite food is Italian and I enjoy practicing photography in my free time. I hope you enjoy my tips and suggestions. Best wishes for your child’s school year!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Try to include protein, fiber and a complex carbohydrate each morning. For example, instead of high sugared cereal with orange juice, try a smoothie. Have fun with your meals and mix it up, you don’t have to stick to traditional breakfast items. Be creative. Another great morning health tip is to consume foods containing protein, fat and fiber. These foods will definitely help you feel full longer. They move through your body slower than simple foods like soda and sweets.

BERRY TASTY SMOOTHIE:

• ½ cup berries

• Handful of Spinach

• Almond milk

• Greek low-fat yogurt

GRANOLA AND BERRIES

• Granola

• Unsalted or lightly salted nuts

• Berries

• Almond milk or 2% milk

If your child is hungry after school or between meals, I recommend on-the-go items like fresh fruit, raw celery, carrots and broccoli paired with nuts, nut butter, or a cheese stick. A few fun crunchy items are granola, veggie chips or rice cakes in which spreads such as nut butter could be used to add flavor and protein/fat.

GUEST COLUMNIST

KRYSTAL MANTEI, Director of Clinical Care, Methodist Hospital

After the tragic event that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, I felt hurt and scared that something so horrible can happen so close to home. I have two little ones and I just couldn’t even comprehend what those parents and families were going through. Being in the healthcare field, I always have felt a need to help out others. During this tragedy, I struggled with a sense of helplessness because an entire community was in need and I didn’t know what I could do about it.

I posted on my unit’s GroupMe to see if others felt the same and wanted to help in some form or another. I immediately got responses back that others would love to help give back to the community. I reflected on my upbringing when our families would often have bake sales when we needed to raise money for school trips and community support. I wanted to find an accessible outlet for our team so anyone who wanted to participate could.

I brought up the idea to host a bake sale at our ICU leadership meeting, and each ICU and PCU unit was excited to get involved and donate to the cause. My fellow team members were sharing with me that they knew someone who was affected by the incident or that they had family members personally impacted. Some even had tears in their eyes sharing this with me. It was evident how appreciative they were that we were doing something to help and even more so heart-warming to hear how many people were immediately coming up with ideas for the bake sale. We had people talking about the types of cupcakes they could bring or who they could ask to help bake some cookies. Who doesn’t love brownies or cake pops!?

We met with the FNS team and quickly arranged the logistics to successfully host this fundraiser. We held the bake sale on June 7, I was honestly blown away by how much we sold just during the breakfast rush. We ended up raising over $2,000 and I could not be prouder of everyone who helped. We chose to give the donations to Bluebonnet Children’s Advocacy Center because they were providing long-term counseling services to those children and families involved in the tragedy.

I am so glad that I decided to turn my feelings into action. We were able to make a great and positive impact with the help of all of our teams.

CaringCaregivers for the

A BACKSEAT VIEW OF A FRONTLINE CRISIS

By Cheri Love-Moceri

There are only a handful of moments in life that- when reflected upon- we remember exactly where we were, and all the vivid, little details of the moment, as if time stood still long enough for our mind to sketch it’s picture. Tuesday, May 24, 2022, would sadly deliver one of those unforgettable moments.

I think we all remember where we were when news broke that 19 children and two adults were killed in the senseless shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. And though the emotions of that horrific day can be easily recalled, I find myself more often reflecting on the day after... the day when strangers mourned strangers, political

lines in the sand faded, and communities from miles around rushed to the aid of a historically sleepy town to offer their skills, their hands, and their hearts. I was blessed to bear witness to that humanity swell up like a tidal wave when I was invited to travel with our EMS Relations Managers and their dogs as they ran towards the anxious, broken spirits waiting for them in Uvalde.

I arrived at the Northwest Technology Center around 9 a.m., met at the door by Brandon Miller and his fourlegged partner, Chanel. We greeted one another with facial expressions that acknowledged the day ahead would be overwhelming. We walked inside to find Frankie Trifilio

hurriedly mapping out plans in a war room of sorts, scattered with papers and empty coffee cups. With his dog Lady laying at his feet, he held a phone to his ear in one hand, and gathered gruesome details of the event with a pen in the other- feverishly taking notes. Moments later, Jason Miller arrived with Fresca by his side. After a few hugs, deep breaths, and a team pep talk of sorts, we all hopped into an SUV to begin our journey to Uvalde. What followed next took me somewhat by surprise.

As Brandon helmed the wheel, Frankie began to flip through his pages of notes to discuss the day’s plan as a team. As I sat listening from the third row, sandwiched between our canine companions, I was struck by the unexpected level of research done and the orchestration necessary to arrange for the dogs to visit the healthcare workers and first responders. Recounting the busy morning, Frankie had already connected with Uvalde’s Incident Command Post, Region 20 Incident Response Team, Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, and multiple first responder agencies. He knew the locations of every support resource for families, which officers were on duty at the Uvalde Police Department during the event, and which ambulance companies had managed the transport of victims. He had already been in touch with both the CEO and trauma management staff at Uvalde Memorial Hospital and knew how many patients they received, what floor each patient was on, and where transferred patients had been sent. These were all important details so the team would know where to focus their efforts upon arrival to a town brimming with emotional trauma.

Our first stop was the hospital, a scene of panicked crowds the day before as families desperately searched for both answers and loved ones. The residual energy was still palpable as we walked past the American and Texas flags, somberly swaying at half-mast. Once inside, the team immediately began making connections to staff, letting the dogs serve as a friendly handshake to those they approached. Moments prior, a bus carrying ten of our chaplains led by VP of Pastoral Care, Austin Frederick, had just arrived. It was heartwarming to see the outpour of care and immediacy of response of so many Methodist Healthcare employees who wanted to do anything they could to help. Each chaplain was dispersed to an area of need and so were we. We first visited the ER, followed by the surgical floor, and then the rehabilitation unit. In each location, the men would read the room and pinpoint an area or person that gave non-verbal cues of being in distress. Sometimes they would go up to the staff member and introduce their dog. Other times, they would strategically position themselves and wait for the doctor, nurse, or tech to slowly engage with the dogs in their own time, often

Photo Above: EMS Relations Manager, Frankie Trifilio, gathers details of the Uvalde tragedy to prepare for visit.

“They really do absorb the energies of us humans. It’s like they unburden us from our darkest feelings and selflessly take them on themselves.”

sneaking in a gentle pet or quick scratch behind the ear, careful to not draw too much attention to themselves. Time and again, I watched the dogs create a portal to safety, giving people permission to let their guard down, tears drop, smiles expand, and simply feel. Whatever the feeling under the surface, it was ushered out.

As we walked out of the building, Frankie turned to his peers, “Did you see what he did?” referring to a staff member. “That poor guy is doing his best to hold it together, but did you see that he just tried to make a phone call using his calculator?”

Despite standing right next to the gentleman, I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t even noticed. But the team certainly did. To the untrained eye, these managers are just making small talk and the dogs are just along for the ride in hopes of some attention. In reality, they are all paying attention to every step, eye movement, fluctuation in voice and word choice. They use these cues to inform their own responses.

As employees at Methodist Healthcare, we often see the EMS Relations Managers and the dogs making the rounds at our hospitals, but they also focus on first responders. Our next destination was the Uvalde Police Department. Though emotions were certainly visible at the hospital, the heaviness of the station was a stark contrast. Smiles and wagging tails seemed very out of place, but Jason, Brandon, and Frankie respectfully persisted, finding common ground to initiate conversations with the guarded, subdued staff. All three have extensive backgrounds as first responders, which helped to build trust amongst the weary officers. But the guys weren’t the only ones skillfully looking for ways to connect. Lady marched to the center of the tense room, rolled over, and lay motionless on her back. I’m told that she uses this tactic frequently, waiting people out until they finally give in as she shamelessly beckons for belly rubs. After four solid minutes of patient stillness, an officer approached and caressed her face. For the first time in several minutes, her tale wagged and the energy of the room began to shift. Chanel and Fresca used their superpowers, too. Able to read body language and detect energies, they each assessed the humans in

the room and made a beeline for those experiencing the most emotional distress. As the tensions eased, each EMS manager stepped through the gate left propped open by their dog and went deeper into their conversations with the officers. I watched as Frankie discretely and quietly spent quality time with the evidence manager. The young man had been so cautious and reserved since our arrival. Suddenly, he went into great detail about the inconceivable events he endured, almost seeming relieved to discuss the horrors of the previous day. It was plain- he simply needed the right invitation to share, and I think it made a world of difference.

Before heading back to San Antonio, the team also visited with FBI agents and several community volunteers at the Civic Center – Uvalde’s’ home base for all the families most directly impacted by the tragedy. We also drove around the town, taking time to appreciate the marquee signs of support from local businesses, as well as the mounds of flowers and candles placed in tribute of the precious lives lost.

As the dogs lay snoring in the back of the SUV, we talked.

“My wife can always tell what kind of day I’ve had just based on the behavior of Chanel when we get home,” commented Brandon. On days when the dogs encounter staff feeling particularly anxious or down, the dogs will often display more exhaustion and retreat to bed early. “They really do absorb the energies of us humans. It’s like they unburden us from our darkest feelings and selflessly take them on themselves.”

“You can’t underestimate the power of judgmentfree love,” added

Jason. “Most people don’t know the intensive training and skill involved because they only see a panting, welcoming face. These dogs are such masters of their craft. They are the cure to a sadness many didn’t allow themselves to realize they had.”

Three hours and one roadside dinner later, they stood in the empty parking lot of the Northwest Technology Center once again, reflecting on their experiences.

“I’m really humbled and honored to have been in the presence of some very strong and resilient souls today,” said Frankie. “I’m so proud of the dogs and for the difference they made. To their credit, they responded to people that needed them and I’m just really honored to be a part of their circle.”

“There were a lot of incredible stories told today, and there were a lot of stories that were not told,” said Brandon. “I just feel blessed to have seen communities come together and bring out the best of humanity.”

After walking around in their towering shadows that day, I certainly gained a deeper appreciation for the process and complexity of what they do. I also learned that our EMS Relations Managers do so much more than share the

gifts given by Lady, Fresca, and Chanel. They support our Centralized Transport Center by developing metrics and goals, conduct new hire orientation/training, and coordinate complex transports. They serve 11 campuses as the primary point of contact for EMS, operations leadership, and EMS medical directors, are instructors in the Methodist Healthcare EMS Academy, and support all emergency management and disaster response drills across the System. And that as they say- is just the tip of the iceberg.

Added Frankie, “We’d like to thank Methodist Healthcare for allowing us to do this work. It means a lot to us and a lot to our profession.”

As with all healthcare professionals, so much goes on behind the scenes to ensure people are being well cared for. You all make it seem so effortless, but a lot of effort goes into the illusion of ease. It’s serious business caring for others, whether in our hospitals or miles away in neighboring communities. Please know it does not go unnoticed and that you are each so appreciated.

So if you happen to find a furry visitor in your department soon, be sure to give her a pat on the head, but perhaps be sure to give her human handler a pat on the back, too.

CARING LIKE FAMILY

PATIENT UNDERGOES LIVER TRANSPLANT AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CIRRHOSIS

Erick Diaz, 42, a husband and father of three, was diagnosed with cirrhosis, a condition in which your liver is scarred and permanently damaged. Scar tissue replaces healthy tissue and causes the liver to lose functionality. The liver can then no longer filter out toxins from the blood. Many of the symptoms Erick experienced included stomach bloating (due to the accumulation of fluid), nausea, confusion, anxiety and he had limited physical mobility. Erick described his pain as almost bed ridden. In Erick’s case, the cause of cirrhosis was related to excessive alcohol use. His doctors were very surprised at how fast it developed as this is known to be more prevalent in older individuals.

As a project manager who works from home, Erick sits in an office for 8 or more hours a day and with his condition, it prevented him from sitting for long periods of time. He was unable to focus, felt very uncomfortable and it affected his overall day-to-day activities. Between January 2022 and March 2022, Erick underwent paracentesis once a week in order to drain out the excess fluid. This procedure provided him with temporary relief.

“Please know that I will forever be thankful for the Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant staff for saving my life,” says Erick.

Erick and his wife flew in from El Paso, Texas for a 3-day evaluation on April 12, 2022. Physicians provided him with very detailed and candid feedback about his serious liver condition. The couple was not prepared for this news, but the staff was very helpful in providing information on their next steps and coordinating a longer stay in San Antonio.

After many days of testing, Erick broke down and began to tear up. A nurse and tech played religious music and prayed with Erick, which helped him remain calm and stay positive. At that moment, he knew this facility was different, and God had placed him there for a specific reason.

When Erick discovered he was going to need a liver transplant, he felt a sense of relief but also fear. “Having zero surgeries to one major life-saving surgery was quite overwhelming,” commented Erick. “I was very surprised with the liver team. I was only on the transplant list for 11 days.” Erick spoke about the sense of urgency and how difficult this journey was going to be. Luckily, Erick had the support of his family. His recovery time in the hospital was about two weeks, and his wife stood by his side the entire time. Erick was extremely grateful for the staff who made her feel comfortable and provided her with all the necessities.

Post-transplant, Erick began to notice a change in the color of his skin. Prior to surgery, his skin was yellow. He slowly began to gain his physical mobility within 2-3 days after surgery and his veins were visible again. “I was always in the right hands,” says Erick. He described his experience in the hospital as easy, comfortable and calming.

In a note to hospital staff, Erick wrote: “I am thankful for your entire team for saving my life and going above and beyond to provide an excellent experience through this very challenging journey in my life. This is why your program is the best in Texas, if not the entire nation.”

Erick would like to recognize the following staff: Dr. Preston Foster, Dr. Luke Shen, Dr. Kavitha Thudi, Dr. Omer Junaidi, Dr. Aiman Ghufran, Dr. Abhijeet Goyal and FNP Yuni Corwin; in the third floor: Nas (RN), Erica (RN), Tracey, Sylvia, Gladys (Nurse Tech), Sally (EVS), Samantha (EVS) and Maricela (EVS), Lumi (ICU Nurse); on the second floor: Corina Esparza (RN Transplant Coordinator), Deborah (RN), Elizabeth (RN), Mark (RN), Kesha (Nurse Tech), Stephanie (Nurse Tech) and Lori (Occupational Therapist).

CARING LIKE FAMILY

HUSBAND RUNS MARATHON SHORTLY AFTER DONATING KIDNEY TO HIS WIFE IN EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR PKD

“For a while, I knew I was going to need a kidney transplant,” said Michelle Gonzalez.

Michelle was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) at just 12 years old. PKD is an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys, causing your kidneys to enlarge and ultimately, lose function.

Michelle began to experience severe cramping, weakness, high blood pressure and continuous urinary tract infections; turns out she was diagnosed with endstage renal disease. Her red blood cell count was very low which required injections to stimulate red blood cell production.

In 2020, Michelle and her husband, Salvador Gonzalez, went to Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant to begin the screening process.

Michelle and Salvador have been married for four years and together, they have a beautiful baby girl.

“There was no question in my mind, if I could [donate], I would,” said Salvador. Michelle commented, “When I first told my husband many years ago, he had already decided he would donate, but never verbally told me. It was very noble of him.”

Salvador received THE phone call about being his wife’s match and called her right away. The couple could not believe it when they learned he was a match. They were ecstatic. It was such a relief for the pair knowing Michelle did not have to undergo dialysis treatment.

“It’s crazy to think about. She told me about PKD when we first started dating and let me know that at some point she was going to need a kidney transplant,” commented Salvador. “When you first hear it, it seems far away in the future.”

The couple sat through the orientation and got to learn about all the science behind kidney transplantation as well as the process. Michelle and Salvador faced many challenges throughout the process but remained hopeful. Due to COVID-19, the transplant process was delayed. The couple was also pregnant with their first child, which caused Michelle’s kidney function to worsen. Salvador had to lose weight in order to qualify to be Michelle’s donor. He lost an estimated 65 lbs. and both continued to monitor their health until surgery day.

The kidney transplant occurred on September 22, 2021. Postsurgery, Michelle’s lung collapsed and she was moved to the ICU. While in recovery, the nurses there took excellent care

of her. Immediately after, Michelle said she felt healthier and had so much more energy.

Salvador experienced a bit of discomfort that lasted about a week after surgery. On November 3, 2021, he began jogging about six miles per day. Four months later, Salvador decided to run a marathon to raise awareness for PKD. Initially, he planned to run half a marathon, which is 13 miles. However, when that day arrived, he ended up running the full 26 miles. “Whenever he sets his mind to something, he is determined to get it done,” said Michelle.

Michelle and Salvador would like to express their gratitude to all the staff including nurses, physicians, transplant coordinators and their living donor advocate who supported them through this difficult time. “Any time I had a question, everyone was very responsive and helpful,” said Michelle.

“I now have a positive outlook on life and I feel happier,” said Michelle.

“Now that I know what PKD is and the toll it takes on a person’s body, I am glad that I was able to help my wife,” commented Salvador. “There are other people who do not have a donor and there are those who aren’t aware of organ donation; through our story, I hope others know what [the process] is like and I hope we can inspire others to become donors.”

CARING LIKE FAMILY

“Mr. Valenzuela’s case exhibited the most valuable use of Impella device to save a life and allowed him to have optimal treatment, which was the coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery,” commented Renata Ford, MD.

Oracio Valenzuela, 58, took a weekend trip to visit his son in Fort Worth, Texas and also celebrated his 12th year anniversary with his wife. Saturday night, February 12th, he started to feel extremely restless and began to have trouble breathing. It was all very sudden. Prior to this occurrence, Mr. Valenzuela had never experienced any serious health issues. The couple thought maybe these symptoms were attributed to COVID-19.

The symptoms worsened and Mr. Valenzuela was driven to the emergency room by his son. After many tests, it was concluded that he had a heart attack. He went into cardiogenic shock. This occurs when the heart is very weak it cannot pump blood and does not generate enough pressure. Due to the heart problems he was experiencing, he was also diagnosed with pulmonary edema, a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. This fluid collects in the numerous air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Mr.

PATIENT HAS SUCCESSFUL OPEN HEART SURGERY AFTER SUFFERING A HEART ATTACK

Valenzuela needed to be connected to a breathing machine and had several tubes attached to his lungs in order to drain out the excess liquid. Prior to the CABG surgery, he was presented with the Impella device, which is designed to help pump blood to those patients who require short-term support. The device is a very small pump inside of a catheter with an electric motor that can deliver about 2.5 liters of blood per minute. After several days, Mr. Valenzuela’s heart began to gain strength again and the Impella device was removed.

On February 16, 2022, Mr. Valenzuela underwent the CABG surgery and was in recovery for about three weeks. CABG is a surgical procedure to restore normal blood flow to an obstructed coronary artery.

Mr. Valenzuela’s life was at extremely high risk and without this surgery, things could have taken a wrong turn. He is very grateful to have been given another chance at life. He was able to return to his profession as a civil engineer and to his wife, three children and grandchild. “All the staff were extremely helpful and kind. Everyone is great at their job,” said Mr. Valenzuela.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | STONE OAK REHABILITATION CENTER STAFF INSTILLS CONFIDENCE AND STRENGTH IN PATIENTS

“The encouragement and positivity that all the nurses and therapists at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center were sending my way made me want to be positive and have a good outlook. Everything just fell into place,” shared rehab patient Jennifer Armor.

After the pandemic hit, Jennifer, age 38, moved from Dallas to San Antonio to be closer to her family. Shortly after arriving, one morning in November of 2021, she woke up unable to feel her legs. While she met with several doctors and specialists to learn why, her symptoms continued to decline. She would fall at random and had to start using a walker to get around. Then, in March of 2022, her family called emergency services as they were unable to get her off the floor.

When Jennifer awoke in the hospital, surrounded by her family, she learned that she had been diagnosed with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and acute systolic heart failure. Meaning she did not have enough oxygen in her blood and

that the left ventricle of her heart couldn’t contract strongly enough to pump blood throughout her body. After spending over a month in the ICU, she was admitted to Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center.

When she arrived, she felt defeated, tired, and hopeless after her lengthy healthcare journey. Within a few days and due to the constant support of her nurses and therapists, Jennifer began to change her mindset. After accomplishing small goals, such as being able to scoot off her bed, and seeing her body continue to progress and heal, she kept going. Within a few weeks, Jennifer was able to relearn how to use her hands, brush her hair, and eventually walk. Sharing that “Everyday was a struggle, some days it was rough. I came here thinking I can’t move, what can they do for me. Now, I am up walking and going home.” After seven weeks of recovery, Jennifer exited the Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center, independently, on her own two feet in June!

METHODIST MOMENTS

WE CELEBRATED A MAJOR BIRTHDAY

Major celebrated his 3rd birthday in July, and the CVICU staff at Methodist Hospital threw him a PAW FECT party! Major donned a festive party hat and bandana to commemorate his special day and even enjoyed a dog-friendly birthday treat. As a facility dog, Major, along with his handler Kirsta Deboy, Director of the CVICU, visits ICU patients to provide support and comfort to those struggling with their hospital stay, a new diagnosis or other stressful situations. We welcomed our four-legged employee last year, and this special golden retriever has since brought many smiles and comfort to those he meets.

STAR SPANGLED CUTIES

Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak and Methodist Children’s Hospital celebrated their tiniest stars on their first 4th of July! While dressed in their Independence Day best, they donned their red, white and blue with pride. These cuties went down in history as they brought sparkle and joy to their parents, staff and physicians.

PINBALL MACHINE SERVES AS A NOSTALGIC THERAPEUTIC OPTION FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

Patients undergoing treatment at Methodist Children’s Hospital have an exciting new tool to engage with during their hospital stay. Melody Zisman, a pediatric physical therapist and passionate staff member at the hospital, worked for many months to acquire the Transformersthemed pinball machine through Project Pinball Charity. Members of the nonprofit celebrated with staff and patients during a ribbon cutting ceremony in June.

During the ceremony, Court LeMaistre, Chief Executive Officer, Methodist Children’s Hospital and Women’s Services, thanked Melody and the pediatric physical therapy team for their work in creating fun and engaging opportunities for patients to enjoy. With the support from hospital staff and local Project Pinball volunteer technicians, many patients and their families will experience the therapeutic relief that pinball can provide during hospital stays.

Melody Zisman, physical therapist, Court LeMaistre, hospital CEO, and Daniel Spolar, Project Pinball Charities Sr. Founder and Director pose during a ribbon cutting celebration.

MOVES ACROSS METHODIST

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant welcomed new Chief Medical Officer, Koji Nishimura, MD As CMO, he partners with physicians, nurses, administrators, and staff members on quality, safety, health, and excellence initiatives. In addition, he serves as the liaison between the medical staff and the hospital.

Prior to joining the Methodist Healthcare System, Dr. Nishimura worked for the Defense Health Agency, where he developed policies and programs to standardize care across the Military Health System worldwide. He also served our country in the United States Army for 34 years as an engineer and medical corps officer. Dr. Nishimura is board certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He has extensive experience in clinical, administrative, and leadership roles with the U.S. Army, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Defense, and a for-profit medical center, including many CEO and CMO roles.

Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan welcomed Dr. Suraj Maraj as their new Chief Medical Officer in May, after he served in the same role at Methodist Hospital | Texsan. With a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in Healthcare, Dr. Maraj has over 11 years of experience in healthcare. At the beginning of his career, Dr. Maraj worked at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center as the Clinical Cardiologist and Director of the NonInvasive Cardiovascular Department. He then served at the Valley Coastal VA as Clinical Cardiologist and Cardiology Section Chief. Before joining Methodist Healthcare, he worked as the Physician Advisor and Manager at R1 (Accretive Health).

While at Methodist Hospital | Texsan, Dr. Maraj partnered with clinical staff to help set up a Heart Team process for reviewing potential cardiovascular surgical procedures. This resulted in the hospital earning the highest 3-star rating in 2021 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for quality outcomes in coronary artery bypass surgery. His focus on quality outcomes and a multidisciplinary team approach resulted in consistently low morbidity and complication rates. Additionally, Dr. Maraj was key in creating hospital infection control processes when Methodist Hospital | Texsan received the first COVID-19 patient in Texas in 2020, and he led continual quality and safety improvement, leading the hospital to five consecutive Grade A safety ratings for patient safety and quality.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, KOJI NISHIMURA, MD

METHODIST HOSPITAL | METROPOLITAN WELCOMED A NEW CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

METHODIST HOSPITAL | STONE OAK ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak announced the return of Dave Allen to Methodist Healthcare as Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak’s new Chief Nursing Officer. Dave most recently served as the Vice President of Clinical Leadership for the HCA enterprise where he successfully collaborated on the development of a robust retention strategy focused on RN and nurse support staff retention. He also created a CNO Council charged with the implementation and execution of HCA’s nursing strategy, as well as developed an executive rounding guide targeted at non-clinical executive leaders.

Prior to serving at HCA’s corporate headquarters, Dave held several positions within Methodist Healthcare including Chief Nursing Officer and Associate Vice President of Clinical Operations at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. There, he spearheaded a cultural transformation that led to ten consecutive quarters above the 75th percentile for patient experience with a three-year average of 83%, as well as earning the coveted Pathways to Excellence designation by AACN. With 20 years of healthcare experience, Dave successfully developed evidence-based solutions that improved clinical and system outcomes as noted by a 86% decrease in CLABSI, 92% decrease in CAUTI, 88% decrease in C-Diff and a 30% decrease in falls. He has numerous publications along with local, state and national presentations on leadership and evidence-based practice initiatives.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | TEXSAN WELCOMES NEW CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

Methodist Hospital | Texsan welcomes new Chief Nursing Officer, Tonja Thigpen, MSN, CCNS, CCRN-K, NEA-BC. Tonja most recently served as Chief Nursing Officer at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa. Tonja has held several other leadership roles throughout her career, including Administrative Director of Nursing Operations and Practice at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

During her time at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa, Tonja helped lead through the last major COVID-19 surge, while continuing to aid in the achievement of high employee engagement and patient satisfaction scores. Having served as a Nursing Director over several departments including, Critical Care, Emergency Department, Trauma and Adult Care Services, Tonja brings extensive experience to the hospital.

Tonja holds a BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University, an MSN from Liberty University and earned her Doctorate degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg. She has also completed the AONE Nurse Director Fellowship Program in 2016 and is a board-certified Critical Care Nurse Specialist certified in Critical Care Nursing and Nursing Administration. Tonja has a proven track record of fostering a culture of ownership through accountability, respect, innovation, and shared governance. Tonja also served in the United States Army for nine years.

Under Tonja’s leadership, Methodist Hospital | Texsan will continue to provide exceptional care to the community while growing to meet the needs of the patients and families in our community.

METHODIST HOSPITAL EXPANDS ACCESS TO CANCER CARE

WITH NEW REHABILITATION CENTER GROWTH

Methodist Hospital has opened the doors to the Methodist Cancer Care Rehabilitation Center, adding to the hospital’s already robust cancer-care services. The necessity for cancer rehabilitation services has increased steadily as cancer incidence, survival, and mean patient age increase. Despite the prevalence of cancer-related disablement, sixty-seven percent of oncology patients could benefit from rehabilitation therapy, though only two percent of patients seek the care. The Methodist Cancer Care Rehabilitation Center is expanding access to care for patients battling cancer and develops personalized care plans to help reduce or prevent the severity of side effects in all phases of cancer treatment.

The center’s therapists are certified in cancer rehabilitation and maintain a deep understanding of the physical, spiritual and emotional impact cancer has on the body. Individual therapy plans are tailored around each patient’s diagnosis and personal goals. Conditions treated include balance problems, joint and muscle pain, loss of bladder control, mobility loss, swelling and more.

Located on the campus of Methodist Hospital in the TNI building, this 6,700-square-foot specialized care center offers eight private exam rooms and a large rehabilitation gym fully equipped with cardio machines, weight training equipment, balance equipment, high-low exercise tables,

and parallel bars. Additionally, advanced technologies allow the skilled team to further conduct therapy including a biothesiometer to measure sensory deficits, spirometry to measure lung function and a bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) device designed to measure body compensation, such as muscle mass and limb volumes.

“Patients become cancer survivors from the moment of their diagnosis. We know that diagnosis and treatment of cancer takes a physical toll, and having a treatment center dedicated to multiple modalities of therapy is an important step to ensuring the best outcomes for patients with cancer in San Antonio and South Texas,” commented Dr. Melissa Crawley, medical oncologist.

The Methodist Cancer Care Rehabilitation Center is located at 4410 Medical Drive, suite 440 and is operated in partnership with Forté Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. For more information, please call (210) 575-9740 or visit SAHealth.com.

NEW CARDIAC REHAB CENTER UNVEILED AT METHODIST HOSPITAL | METROPOLITAN

Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan recently celebrated the opening of its new Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Center, expanding its cardiovascular services to cover a broader continuum of care for patients. Located in its own suite on the hospital’s campus, the center will serve as a place for patients with heart conditions to rehabilitate so they can live healthier lives.

“We are thrilled to announce our newest service offering with the opening of our Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Center,” said Megan Cool Amalakuhan, Chief Operating Officer. “Our hospital will continue to respond to the growing needs of our community through our commitment to bring high quality, comprehensive care to the communities we serve.”

The center’s multidisciplinary approach is essential for treating and managing acute and/or chronic cardiac disease. As part of the outpatient program, patients will experience a personalized treatment plan which includes evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and more. Designed to assist each patient with gaining optimal physical, psychological, social, and vocational well-being, an emphasis is placed on incorporating longterm lifestyle changes to help protect and preserve cardiovascular function and maintain optimal health.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | NORTHEAST ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF SERVICES AT GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY

Methodist Hospital | Northeast announced expansion plans with the addition of Methodist Plaza II, a second medical office building in the City of Live Oak. Methodist Plaza II will be a three-floor facility, spanning over 73,000 square feet. It will include a hospital-based outpatient surgery center with five operating rooms, robotic surgery capabilities, and a cardiology imaging center. In addition to patient care services, Methodist Plaza II will be home to several Methodist Hospital | Northeast partners: Alamo City Surgeons, Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio (CCSA), Northeast Pulmonary and Sleep Associates (NEPSA), Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio (SMASA) and Virtuosa.

This expansion is phase two of a larger growth plan for Methodist Hospital | Northeast, which encompasses the development of a third medical office building. “As our community continues to grow quickly, the increased demand for high-quality healthcare is a need we are ready and eager to provide,” said Michael Beaver, CEO at Methodist Hospital | Northeast. “Methodist Plaza II will help elevate our clinical services to support the community. As our community grows, so will we – with even bigger plans for the future.”

Over the past two years, Methodist Hospital | Northeast has grown to include a new hybrid operating room, a 30-bed state-of-the-art Progressive Critical Care Unit, a 30-bed Orthopedic Neurosurgical Unit and a parking garage expansion. The hospital has also increased access to emergency services by opening Methodist ER | Nacogdoches, Methodist ER | Converse and will soon open Methodist ER | New Braunfels, to meet the growing demands of the northeast Bexar, Guadalupe and Comal Counties.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HEALTHCARE LEADERS HONORED FOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Celeste Brizzee, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, recently graduated from HCA Healthcare’s Advanced Leadership Program. This program prepares ACNOs or future ACNOs to drive HCA Healthcare’s nursing strategy and increase the readiness of our future CNOs. Nominated by her hospital and ultimately selected to participate in the program, Celeste has learned a lot about leading a team, communications as a senior leader, and has participated in many meetings with her classmates.

“There are a lot of educational opportunities for growth and development offered here,” Celeste shared. “This program is about being innovative, creative, and learning from others.” The innovation and creativity happening at Metropolitan led Celeste to select her presentation topic for graduation; she presented on their LVN Team Model Implementation.

“To round out the program, we were tasked with presenting on an improvement project that our facility was working on tied to our specialty,” Celeste said. “This program is really about sharing information across HCA to help others and show what you’ve learned. That’s why I selected our LVN Team Model implementation; I felt it was something other facilities could learn from.”

Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan was an early adopter of the LVN Team Model, as Methodist Healthcare facilities hadn’t had the role of LVNs in its facilities in almost 20 years. “We liked the idea of bringing back LVNs into the facility as a solution to several challenges we were experiencing,” said Celeste. “We knew that our nurses were experiencing fatigue due to several factors and felt this could be a solution. We wanted to be early adopters of an alternative care team model.” The hospital saw this as an opportunity to address staffing shortages, turnover, holds in the ED, and more. The hospital knew that it was necessary to be creative and increase its capacity to care for patients and began laying the foundation for this new model.

Leaders from Metropolitan hosted a focus group with key groups to design how this new model would work. They created an LVN job description, education onboarding plan, updated staffing grids, edited necessary policies, and more. From there, they introduced this model on two units to start and onboarded a few more. They will continue to onboard this model across other departments over time.

The hospital also saw this as an opportunity to help LVNs on their way to becoming RNs; while they work at the hospital, they would receive support through school with the goal of them graduating as RNs. “This whole project is about addressing staffing needs but also paving the way for future nurses in our hospital,” Celeste shared. “We are monitoring key metrics to measure the success of this project,” she continued. “Two big focuses for us are employee engagement and patient experience. We continue to learn and improve as we go, but we’ve had several great outcomes and findings so far.”

CELESTE BRIZZEE, VP of Clinical Operations Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

According to Celeste, the true benefits of the model change are keeping more beds open for patients, reducing ED holds, using it as a recruitment tool for future nurses, and reducing nurse-topatient ratios. Some key insights they’ve experienced are mainly tied to successful leadership; communicating with impact to build trust, delivering information clearly, timely, and concisely, holding focus groups with staff, including the LVNs, in the conversations like town halls, holding staff meetings for updates and discussion, and more. The hospital has even included their new LVNs in their Professional Practice Council, so they have a voice and are included.

Ultimately, Celeste’s presentation was selected as one of the top four across HCA Healthcare among her classmates. She even went on to present again to an even higher group of leaders within HCA. “It was an honor to have my presentation selected as one of the top four,” Celeste shared. “I truly feel that my success as a leader has been because of the support my leaders and mentors provided.”

When asked what advice Celeste has for future nurses who want to become leaders, she said, “Anything is possible! If you have a goal, meet your leader and tell them what you hope to achieve. If I know where someone wants to go, my job as a leader is to help them get there. That’s what others have done for me; I have had mentors since I was a charge nurse and even now as a Vice President.”

Celeste also believes it’s important to be passionate about being a leader and to keep learning. “It’s a team effort between you and your leaders; if you work hard and try to do the right things and work with your leaders, you can achieve a lot. I recommend taking advantage of the various opportunities to grow and develop as a leader. You are truly given many tools for success, and you’re never on your own; that’s why I love working here.

PAULETTE MELONSON-WOODARD, VP OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS, METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT

Paulette Melonson-Woodard, DNP, MHA, RN, CCM, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant was selected to participate in the ACNO Academy. This corporate program offers a course that allows future ACNOs to gain the necessary knowledge and skills for the role. “We as nurses must work to uphold our own profession, if we don’t work to embrace and take care of our profession, no one else will,” said Paulette.

Selected members of this program were instructed to develop a project that demonstrates gaps within their profession, presents future interventions, and offers solutions. Paulette collaborated with Pam Guillory, CNO of Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant to help bring this project to life. The title of this project was “Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant Residency Resiliency Pilot”.

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant is a 274-bed facility that services behavioral health, medical, surgical, bariatric and transplant along with other specialty service lines. The concept for this project originated when Paulette met a new registered nurse who shared her frustrations about her colleagues. Those frustrations stemmed from being bullied by veteran nurses who perceived her and other residents from her cohort to be progressing poorly within their role. A major contributing factor was found to be the pandemic that occurred in 2020. Paulette and her team concluded that residents failed to receive robust clinical orientation and training due to the pandemic.

In turn, this raised the question of whether or not nursing residents were resilient. Twenty-two new residents from the 2021 cohort were surveyed for this project. The questionnaire was created via Survey Monkey and was distributed among the residents using a QR code. Data revealed that resident nurses were resilient, but not as much. Residents proposed more bonding opportunities that would allow for the creation and strengthening of relationships. After gathering her findings, Paulette presented this to the senior team and all agreed on hosting more events for the staff. This summer, the team will be taking a trip to Top Golf.

Mary Angelo once said, “Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” “That’s me, that’s who I try to be,” says Paulette.

METHODIST HEALTHCARE NAMED AMONG PRESTIGIOUS FORTUNE/MERATIVE TOP 100 HOSPITALS AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Methodist Hospital, inclusive of data from Methodist Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, Methodist Hospital | Northeast, Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant, and Methodist Hospital | Texsan, has been named among the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals® list. Fortune and Merative (formerly IBM Watson Health) recognized Methodist Hospital as the only hospital in South Texas to receive this notable honor. The annual list was published by Fortune.

Recognition as one of the Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals demonstrates Methodist Healthcare’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing patient-centered care. According to Merative, as compared to similar hospitals, the hospitals included on the Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list had better results on key clinical and operational performance indicators. These include survival rates, patient complications, healthcare-associated infections, 30-day mortality and 30-day hospitalwide readmission rates, length of stay, throughput in emergency departments, inpatient expenses, profitability and ratings from patients.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by Fortune and Merative as one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals as it validates our teams’ devotion to delivering outstanding clinical outcomes,” commented Allen Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Healthcare. “Importantly, to earn such high praise during a period marked by universal staffing shortages and political unrest, truly underscores that our community’s health is the highest priority for our physicians and staff. I couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.”

The Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals lists also incorporates a community health measure into its ranking process. For the community health measure, hospitals were surveyed across three components: 1) assessing hospital contributions to community health as a provider of critical services for community health and preventive care; 2) identifying ways that hospitals contribute to community health as a community partner teaming up with local organizations to implement critical programs; and 3) focusing on ways that hospitals promote community health through their practices as anchor institutions supporting local economic and social progress. The community health measure is weighted equally with other ranking measures.

Sally Cooper, a 105-yearold local, is the oldest person in the nation to undergo a minimally invasive heart surgery known as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The procedure was performed on Thursday, April 28.

Sally was diagnosed with aortic valve stenosis, a condition causing the heart’s aortic valve to narrow, which reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. While other institutions turned her away due to her age, Methodist Hospital physicians were able to replace Sally’s valve with an artificial one through a small incision in her leg. Sally was an ideal candidate for this procedure as TAVR is a surgical option for patients who are at higher risk of complications.

“Never did we think we would do valve replacements on patients over 100 years old,” commented Dr. Jorge Alvarez, Interventional Cardiologist. “With the advancement in technology, it is exciting to offer treatment to patients that would have been left with no true options based solely on their age.”

The 105-year-old has accomplished a lot over her years and says the secret to a long life is a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. One day post-surgery, Sally was humbled to share the many experiences of her long-lived life, offering stories of her travels, hobbies of dancing the waltz and playing the violin, along with memories of her family, including three children, five grandchildren, and six greatgrandchildren. Staying true to the spunky woman she is today, she even asked Dr. Alvarez to brunch following her discharge home. Sally is recovering well and is ready to get back to the things she loves, such as playing Scrabble.

105-YEAR-OLD PATIENT IS OLDEST PERSON IN NATION TO UNDERGO TAVR HEART SURGERY

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HOSPITAL RANKED #1 IN TEXAS FOR CORONARY INTERVENTION

Methodist Hospital recently ranked #1 in Texas for coronary intervention, according to a new analysis released by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians, and health systems. Coronary intervention relates to minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures that use catheters (a thin flexible tube) to place a small structure called a stent to open up blood vessels in the heart. Earlier this year, Methodist Hospital was also recognized by Healthgrades among the top 100 hospitals for coronary intervention.

Hospitals recognized among the Top Ranked in their state by Healthgrades are providing patients with measurably superior clinical outcomes. For example, Methodist Hospital’s coronary intervention program has a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) mortality index of less than two percent for all patients, even those with the highest acuity. Additionally, the STEMI, a type of heart attack that mainly affects the heart’s lower chambers, door-to-balloon time is less than fifty-five minutes. This is a testament to the deep medical expertise that has

built a track record of delivering positive outcomes for their patients.

“We have achieved the highest level of quality for coronary PCI based on the fact that we operate as a team at Methodist. This achievement is a direct reflection of the cohesive work between all team members who interact with and care for these patients. Everything they do is to ensure that our patients receive optimal care from the moment they enter the hospital, to the time they spend in the cath lab, to the moment they are discharged home,” commented Nandish Thukral, Medical Director, Cardiac Cath Lab & Complex PCI Program for Methodist Hospital.

Access to quality information can inform and empower consumers in their decision-making process, and direct them to the best care. For the State Ranking analysis, Healthgrades evaluated clinical performance for nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide focusing on eight key specialties across a mix of chronic, urgent, and planned clinical areas. To learn more, visit Healthgrades.com for more information on how Healthgrades measures hospital quality.

Elisa Rivera, RN at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center was recognized as the Top Rehab Nurse for the San Antonio Express-News 2022 Salute to Nurses program! After moving to San Antonio eight years ago, Elisa joined the Medical/ Surgical unit at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak before making her transition to the Rehabilitation Center. Her approach to patient care is to treat everyone with kindness and to find a way to connect with them on a personal level. She shared that, “helping people, knowing that what I do for them is contributing to improvement in their health, and getting them closer to going home to their families, it’s important.” Elisa was nominated for this award by coworker Valerie Martinez, Patient Care Tech. Valerie was impressed by Elisa’s willingness to always help, ability to listen empathetically to patients and staff, and the incredible care that she provides to all patients.

Click this QR code to view a video from Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant as they thank staff for achieving a national kidney transplant milestone!

ELISA RIVERA, REHAB RN, METHODIST HOSPITAL | STONE OAK

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HEALTHCARE NURSES HONORED BY SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS’ SALUTE TO NURSES PROGRAM

The San Antonio Express-News program, Salute to Nurses, honors nurses that are nominated by peers, patients, and administration each year. Three nurses from Methodist Healthcare were honored as a winner for their respective units/specialities and were celebrated as humble health warriors. The winners enjoyed a lovely recognition ceremony in celebration of this achievement.

Kelly Collier, RN, BSN, was honored by the San Antonio Express-News as the 2022 Salute to Nurses winner for the surgery category. Kelly is a nurse in Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan’s Perioperative Services Department and was nominated by her manager, Valerie Huerta.

“Kelly’s commitment to and passion for her patients, their families, and coworkers is lovingly demonstrated in each action. She takes it upon herself to go the extra mile. She calms the fears of those who are scared, and she offers reassurance to the loved ones who are vulnerable and entrusting our team to care for their family member,” Valerie shared.

Kelly was amazed and honored to have been recognized. “Where I’m from, recognitions like this didn’t happen. You could really feel the hospitality here in San Antonio, and being honored at the ceremony for this award was unmatched; I have never felt more appreciated as a nurse.”

As a nurse for almost five years, Kelly said she found her niche in the pre-op department and her home at Metropolitan. With experience in other specialties, Kelly has been at Metropolitan for about three years.

“I originally wanted to go into nursing to help people like my grandma. I also noticed an economic divide in my hometown. People were either very poor or very wealthy, and I wanted to try to bridge the gap and provide the very best care for everyone,” Kelly shared.

Kelly is a first-generation nurse in her family and says helping people is her motivation. “Helping patients get through surgery and their families means a lot to me. Sometimes the family gets overlooked, but they are also part of our patient’s health and contribute to their mental and physical well-being,” she shared. “I love helping families understand what’s happening, such as a diagnosis. I love educating people and helping them get to the next phase in life.”

Metropolitan has greatly influenced Kelly’s dedication to caring for her patients’ family members. She feels that, especially during COVID, the importance of family has become more evident to her than ever.

“Being at Metro has really made me realize how much family means; it was so difficult throughout COVID when we couldn’t let family members visit their loved ones after a procedure,” said Kelly. “People were terrified and alone; they just wanted to say ‘I love you’ or to see their family members. Metro was the best place for me to be during COVID because it helped me take better care of my patients. We essentially became family for our patients.”

Kelly also feels one of the biggest reasons she loves working at Metropolitan is because of her tight-knit team. “They are all very strong individuals and care about each other. Having their support means so much to me,” she shared. “Also, my manager, Valerie, is great at recognizing her team; that speaks volumes as a manager. It’s been very eye-opening and amazing having her as a boss.”

She also shared how much she’s grown as a nurse during her time at Metropolitan and has a lot of faith and hope in where the hospital is and what they’re providing the community. “I have a lot of passion for Metro,” Kelly added. “I feel it was in God’s plan for me to end up at Metropolitan at some point in my life; it’s a blessing.”

When asked what she’d like to share with her fellow nurses, Kelly said, “Hang in there! You will find your niche. There is a place for everyone, and you will find the right fit. Anything is possible in this field!” Kelly also feels that empathy, flexibility, and mental toughness help nurses succeed in the field. “My mental strength, I’ve learned, is one of my biggest assets. The job is tough, but it’s worth it!”

METHODIST HOSPITAL | TEXSAN

FIRST IN TEXAS TO IMPLANT REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

As part of a clinical trial, Methodist Hospital | Texsan was the first hospital in Texas to implant the dualchamber leadless pacemaker, a new and improved device to treat abnormally slow heart rhythms and heart block. The trial was designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of this device. The clinical trial enrolled up to 550 patients at up to 80 sites worldwide. Dr. Roman-Gonzalez, at South Texas Cardiovascular Consultants, PLLC, is the Principal Investigator.

“We are very fortunate to be a center that is at the forefront of this advancement in pacing technology,” commented Jacqueline Schwartz, MD. Dr. Schwartz implanted the first three dual-chamber leadless pacemakers in three patients. Patients had variations of heart blockages that caused symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness and syncope.

The first pacemaker implantation was performed in 1958, and since then, the technology has undergone many advancements. Traditional pacemakers require an incision to implant a power generator placed under the skin near the collarbone, which then connects to cables that are extended through veins and attached to the heart muscle. Unfortunately, studies have demonstrated that over a three year period up to one-in-six patients will have a lead or surgical pocket-related complication.

The leadless pacemakers are miniature batterypowered devices that are implanted directly into the heart via a minimally invasive catheter-based

approach, and do not require an incision or cables. The dual-chamber leadless pacemaker is designed to provide synchronous, beat-by-beat pacing of the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. An advantage of this device is that it is retrievable, meaning once the battery runs out, it can be taken out and replaced in the same minimally invasive procedure. Additionally, recovery and exercise restrictions are minimized with this approach compared to the traditional pacemaker.

Methodist Hospital | Texsan is well-known as an institute that excels in cardiac care by the community and surrounding areas “The medical team at Texsan is constantly looking for ways to perform less invasive procedures that result in outcomes that are more successful for the patients we serve,” says Scott Rausch, CEO for Methodist Hospital | Texsan. “We are honored to be a part of these clinical trials that advance healthcare for us all.” The hospital aims to ensure that every patient receives the highest level of care possible and this development will allow us to serve a broader patient population.

The leadless pacemaker in this trial is being clinically evaluated as part of a clinical trial – and is not yet commercially available. If you would like to learn more about this clinical trial sponsored by Abbott, visit clinicaltrial.gov.

FOUR METHODIST HEALTHCARE HOSPITALS RECEIVE TOP SCORES FOR PATIENT SAFETY

In May, four of our Methodist Healthcare hospitals earned Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade ‘As’ for the spring of 2022, a national distinction recognizing achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to nearly 3,000 hospitals across the United States every six months. It is based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care.

Scores for Spring 2022

• Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan – 12 As in a row!

• Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant – 9 As in a row

• Methodist Hospital | Atascosa –7 As in a row

• Methodist Hospital | Texsan –6 As in a row

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to the facilities. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is fully transparent, it is also peer-reviewed and the scores are available for free to the public.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | ATASCOSA HONORED WITH AWARD FOR HEART ATTACK CARE

Methodist Hospital | Atascosa was honored with The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Referring Center Bronze award. They achieved this honor due to their commitment to providing sciencebased treatment for patients experiencing an STelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) heart attack.

Nearly 300,000 people experience a STEMI heart attack yearly in the United States. About 40% of patients with acute coronary syndrome are diagnosed with a STEMI.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the American Heart Association. We will continue to provide prompt and effective care to those patients experiencing cardiovascular emergencies, as well as all other patients,” Dr. William Stone, Medical Director of the Emergency Department, said.

This recognition highlights hospitals on the front lines of care that do not have a 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab but work closely with emergency medical services to ensure patients receive guideline-directed STEMI and NSTEMI care.

“I am honored and humbled that the American Heart Association has honored Methodist Hospital | Atascosa. The well-being and safety of our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud to provide excellent care,” Tonja Thigpen, Chief Nursing Officer, shared.