Methodist Magazine - Vol. 9 2023

METHODIST MAGAZINE

DAN MILLER

PRESIDENT AND CEO

METHODIST HEALTHCARE

A MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF METHODIST HEALTHCARE

Hello Methodist Healthcare family,

It is such a privilege to be your new President and CEO. I want to start out by sharing just how excited and honored I am to serve our 12,500 employees and over 3,500 physician partners. I am truly humbled to be a part of an organization with such a sacred mission and to lead those who carry it forward. Not many companies can say that they’ve invested $1.4 billion in their community over the past decade. In fact, we invested $768 million in charity and indigent care in 2021 alone.

Team- we have already achieved so much in the first few months of 2023 and we’ve got an even bigger year ahead, reaching so many historically significant milestones as several of our facilities celebrate big birthdays. I look forward to paying tribute to each of the hospitals and programs that have blazed the trail of world-class healthcare throughout decades, but we get to watch new facilities take their first steps this year, too, creating their own history.

2023 will see the opening of Methodist Hospital |Landmark, introduce new FSERs in more neighborhood communities, and mark incredible progress with the Methodist Hospital | Westover Hills campus. But as excited as I am to continue into 2023, I want you to know that over the next couple of months, my top priority is simply to listen. Before I can help lead us into the future, I need to better understand where we’ve been; what must be protected and preserved; what makes each hospital, each department, each person so valuable and unique.

It’s a great time to be a part of Methodist Healthcare. We’re going to continue to do meaningful work in our community and I look forward to doing it together.

God bless, Dan Miller President and CEO Methodist Healthcare

STAFF SHOUT-OUTS

“CAYLA DILLARD has been an RN at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa in the Emergency Department for a little over two years. During her time in our facility, she has developed into an amazing leader. As a relief charge nurse, you would never know she isn’t one of the full-time CNCs. She remains calm during patient volume surges, critical patients, and emergent deliveries. She has a gentle “take charge” leadership style and knows when to ask for help. Cayla’s team members say she is one of the hardest workers we have ever worked with. She goes above and beyond for her team and especially her patients. As the CNO, I know that Cayla is our next up-and-coming leader. I am excited to see her continue her leadership journey with MHS.”

“DAMIEN RODRIGUEZ has such a positive, helpful, can-do attitude. He is amazingly responsive and will stop what he is doing to come and personally help you figure out IT issues. He helps make presentations and meetings happen, fixes things during a time crunch, and keeps the hospital running smoothly. He deserves recognition and appreciation for his teamwork and leading by example.

- Drew Seelman, Chief Nursing Officer at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

I would like to recognize MARIA BACIC. She started her journey with Methodist in June of 1984. This April she is set to retire. Over the last 39 years, Maria has welcomed countless babies into the world. She has helped thousands of mothers navigate through one of the most memorable life experiences - becoming a mother. She has also been the support to the parents who were grieving for a lost child. She has imparted her knowledge on countless new Labor and Delivery nurses and has gained the respect of all of our physicians. Maria has been the rock of the Labor and Delivery Unit for a very long time. Every nurse has a Maria story. She may be leaving us, but she will not be forgotten.

-Sarah Overgaag RN, BSN, Manager, Labor and Delivery, Antepartum, Methodist Hospital

- Chris Ward, Chief Medical Officer at Methodist Hospital | Texsan

“MAGGIE MALEK has been a member of the Methodist Healthcare family for seven years and has served as the Clinical Nutrition Manager at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak for the last year. In addition to providing exceptional, compassionate care for her patients, she also oversees and leads our team of excellent dietitians. Maggie brings such positivity to her work and takes pride in educating and providing recommendations to patients, ultimately enhancing their outcomes and well-being. She is an admirable caregiver and leader and it is a joy to watch her lead and grow!”

Kandyce Johnson, Director of Food & Nutrition Services at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

“MARIA QUIROZ has been a nurse at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan since July 2020. She is an excellent preceptor whose preceptees have recognized her for being patient. She stays with them and guides them on processes until they can do them independently. She serves as the unit’s chair to the professional practice council, attends preceptor committee meetings, is a backup charge nurse, and is a great team player. She remains calm and jumps in to help her peers when needed.”

-Lura Zamora, Director of Telemetry at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

I have three employees to recognize from my team. DAWN SEYMOUR has been with the Methodist system for many years and is a Clinical Nurse Coordinator in Cath Lab Holding. Dawn is very proactive in project improvements and workflow. She has the highest respect from her staff. • GINA VALENTINE is a Clinical Nurse Coordinator in the Cath Lab. She has great relationships with staff, physicians, and ancillary departments. With her CVICU background, she can train and direct nurses, including our new grads. • And finally, DEB CAHENZLI, a tenured nurse in the Electrophysiology Lab. She provides direction to other nurses and new employees. Deb has recently been a part of the Clinical Scene Investigation program which was 1 year in completion. Deb and her team improved throughout put within the departments.

-Todd Ginapp, Dir Cardiac Cath Lab/EP, Methodist Hospital

“GLORIA DELAO-GARZA is in a unique role as the Independent Living Donor Advocate for the nation’s largest living kidney transplant program, in that she functions independently from the kidney recipients care team. However, her role is vital to the success of a recipient receiving a life-changing transplant. Gloria’s commitment to donors goes above advocating for their rights or educating on all aspects of safe donor evaluation, operative and post-operative expectations. Gloria’s commitment remains rooted in her passion and respect for the brave individuals who come forward as potential living donors and assisting the donor in a journey of self-reflection, to guarantee the donors best interests are upheld. As she works closely to support them in their donation journey, she forms a bond that is unlike any other caregiver. Consistently receiving feedback that exudes, compassion, empathy, integrity, and respect!”

-Amanda Weichold, Vice President of Transplant Services at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant

HEALING INTERACTIVE ART TO METHODIST HOSPITAL |

EXPERIENCES COMING NORTHEAST

The patients, employees, and visitors at Methodist Hospital | Northeast can participate in interactive art experiences five days a week, through the support of Hearts Need Art, a local San Antonio nonprofit organization. The mission of Hearts Need Art is to create moments of joy, self-expression, and connection for those facing life-altering health challenges through arts engagement, advocacy, and innovation.

In the fall of 2022, Hearts Need Art was awarded as the 2022 High Impact Grant Recipient for the “Arts and Culture” award by Impact San Antonio. As one of the largest collective-giving, grant-making organizations in the nation, Impact San Antonio empowers women to join together to achieve meaningful change. The grant awarded to Hearts Need Art will provide $100,000 in funding for “Artful Recovery for Healthcare” five days a week for forty-five weeks to the patients, employees, and visitors at Methodist Hospital | Northeast.

During the interactive art experiences, patients, employees, and visitors can participate in a variety of healing opportunities. The incredibly talented staff members at Hearts Need Art are able to host group or bedside art sessions, corridor concerts, holiday crafts, writing of poems, letters or haikus and other unique healing engagements to help individuals feel seen, heard, and loved while facing lifealtering health challenges.

These creative outlets allow a holistic approach to healing for patients, which further increases their overall patient experience while in the hospital. In addition to, providing stress relieving activities to improve the emotional and mental well-being of those within the healthcare profession, whom of which are still struggling with the impacts of the COVID-10 pandemic. Upon conclusion of the “Artful Recovery for Healthcare” grant, the data collected will be used to further advocate for increasing the need for arts within the healthcare industry.

LET’S ASK THE EXPERTS…

CHEF AND DIETICIAN PARTNER FOR COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

In honor of March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month DARNELL ADAMS, Head Chef, and TAYLOR BRIZZEE, Bariatric Dietician from Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, have come together to create a healthy colon recipe and tips to reduce your risk for colon cancer.

PISTACHIO CRUSTED SALMON WITH A FIG GASTRIQUE SAUCE SERVED OVER A WARM PASTA SALAD (WITH GNOCCHI, SAUTÉED SWISS CHARD, AND KALE WITH PESTO)

PISTACHIO CRUSTED SALMON

Ingredients:

• 6oz wild salmon (you could also use another fish if you don’t care for salmon, or chicken if you don’t care for fish)

• Salt and Pepper to taste

• 2 TBS of minced garlic

• 3 TBS of dijon mustard

• ½ cup of honey

• ½ cup of crushed pistachios

• Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.

2. Prep the salmon by rinsing and patting it dry. Place the salmon on a lined baking sheet and season it with salt and pepper. Set it aside.

3. Make the pistachio topping. In a small bowl, combine garlic olive oil, mustard, lemon juice, and honey. Spread ¾ of the mixture evenly over the salmon. Next, add the pistachios to the remaining mixture and stir to combine. Spoon the pistachio mixture on top of the salmon and press lightly into the salmon using the back of a spoon.

4. Bake the salmon in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until the salmon is flaky. Remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

GNOCCHI WITH SAUTÉED SWISS CHARD AND KALE PESTO

KALE PESTO

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of roughly chopped kale leaves

• ¼ cup of fresh mint

• 2 TBS of toasted sunflower seed kernels

• 1 garlic glove

• ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese

• ½ cup of olive oil

• 1 TSP of lemon juice

• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

Combine the kale, mint, sunflower seeds, garlic, parmesan, olive oil, and lemon juice in a food processor. Pulse it until it’s a fairly smooth paste, scraping the sides as necessary. Season it to taste with salt and pepper, and set it aside.

GNOCCHI WITH SWISS CHARD

Ingredients:

• ¼ LB of potato gnocchi

• 1 TBS of butter

• 1 ½ cups of thinly sliced red onion

• 1 TSP of sugar

• 1 TSP of kosher salt

• 4 cups of chopped swiss chard

• 1 TBS of olive oil

Instructions:

1. Cook the gnocchi in a pot of boiling salted water (about 3 TBS of salt per 6 quarts of water) until they are tender or according to the package instructions. Drain the gnocchi then set it aside.

2. In a large non-stick skillet, heat 1 TBS of butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté to evenly coat the onions with the butter. Cook them, stirring occasionally, until softened (about 10 minutes.) Lower the heat to medium-lo and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the onions start to caramelize about 10-15 minutes more. Stir in salt and sugar and continue cooking until they are evenly browned.

3. Add the chopped swiss chard and sauté until the greens are wilted and tender (about 5 minutes. ) Season the mixture to taste with salt. Transfer the onions and greens mixtures to a plate of bowl and wipe out the skillet with paper towel.

4. Return the skillet to the stove and heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi and stir to evenly coat it with oil. Spread the gnocchi into a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden and rips on the underside. Turn the gnocchi and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp on the other side.

5. Remove it from the heat and stir in desired amount of the pesto.

FIG GASTRIQUE SAUCE

Ingredients:

• 1 TBS of butter

• 1 finely chopped shallot

• ½ LB of finely chopped dry figs

• 1 zested orange

• 1 zested and cut in half lemon

• 2 TBS of champagne vinegar

• 1 TBS of sugar

• 1 TSP of fresh, finely chopped rosemary

• 1 TSP of sea salt

• ½ TSP of white pepper

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter.

2. Add the diced shallots to the sauce pan and continue to cook until they are translucent.

3. Add the figs, orange zest, and lemon zest. Then squeeze the leftover lemon juice into the sauce pan. Continue to add the champagne vinegar, rosemary, and sugar.

4. Simmer the fig mixture, stirring occasionally, until the figs have softened and broken down. This should take about 15 minutes.

5. Taste the gastrique and adjust the flavors to taste.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF THIS RECIPE

This recipe is an excellent source of fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. All three are linked to reducing your risk for cancer and other health challenges.

• Salmon is rich in essential Omega-3 fatty acids; essential meaning you must get them from your diet since your body cannot create them. It is also a healthier alternative to red meat due to its fat profile; beef is substantially higher in saturated fat, which has been found to lead to an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease.

• The pistachio crust is a healthy additive to the dish due to the pistachio’s nutrient profile: high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free radicals that damage cellular DNA. They help keep cells healthy and less susceptible to becoming cancerous. They can be found

in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. The fig sauce is also a great source of antioxidants (figs being a fruit).

• The pasta salad contains high fiber ingredients which has been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Kale and swiss chard are both sources of antioxidants and fiber. The National Cancer Insitute recommends consuming 5-9 servings (2.5-4.5 cups) of fruits and vegetables daily, so this side dish is an easy way to add vegetables to your day.

• Pesto is a nutrient-packed sauce that adds flavor and many health benefits to your food. It is full of antioxidants and a great source of Vitamin D and Calcium. However, it is a high-calorie condiment due to its high-fat content. Consume in moderation. The olive oil in the pesto is rich in monounsaturated fat and loaded with antioxidants.

YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER BY:

1.) Keeping your weight within a healthy range and avoid weight gain in adulthood; partake in 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly.

• Excess body fat, particularly visceral fat, is tied to the association of metabolic syndrome with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and early-onset colorectal cancer.

2.) Creating eating habits focused on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans/legumes - aiming for about 30g fiber/day.

• The American Institute for Cancer Research analysis found strong evidence linking high-fiber diets and greater whole-grain consumption with a lower risk of overall colorectal cancer.

3.) Limiting red meat consumption to 12 to 18oz per week.

• A high intake of red meats, mainly processed meats, is strongly linked with overall colorectal cancer risk.

4.) Limiting sugar-sweetened beverages, highly processed foods, and refined grain products.

• Sugar-sweetened beverages have long been linked to cancer risk by promoting weight gain and excess body weight when consumed frequently.

5.) Avoiding or limiting alcoholic beverages (one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men).

• Excess alcohol consumption consistently increases colorectal cancer risk by consuming 30g of ethanol or more daily. That’s the equivalent of two or more standard alcoholic drinks.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

Methodist Healthcare teamed up with the American Heart Association, Living for Zachary, and Keita Bates-Diop of the San Antonio Spurs to train athletes and ROTC students on hands-only CPR and AED devices at Central Catholic High School.

Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Methodist Children’s Hospital Dr. Mehesh Sharma spoke about the importance of knowing hands-only CPR and learning how to use an AED device to save a life. Methodist Healthcare and Spurs Sports & Entertainment also donated ten AED devices to local youth-serving organizations.

Methodist Healthcare is excited to announce that United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County was awarded $25,000 through HCA’s Healthier Tomorrow Fund. These funds will support our local United Way chapter’s Prenatal Care Access Program, connecting expectant parents and new parents to a multitude of resources in their community. The grant will help with developing marketing strategies to reach targeted populations such as minorities, training staff, and researching evidence-based models to improve outcomes for underserved communities.

Methodist Children’s Hospital partnered with students at Taft High School to learn basic nutrition, how to read food labels, and calculate nutrition facts for recipes as part of Kids Teaching Kids. Here, high school students share their knowledge with elementary children.

GUEST COLUMNIST

VIRGINIA AGUILLON, Administrative Director of Behavioral Health and Rehab

My family and I grew up very poor; my mother used to clean houses for a living. Some of the homes she cleaned were in Alamo Heights and I would help her. After we were done, we would drive by the University of Incarnate Word. It was at that time that I fell in love with the campus just from driving by it. I also remember all the beautiful Christmas lights they would put up. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to attend that school. After high school, I received my LVN license from St. Phillip’s College. My mother passed away while I was in nursing school, which delayed things a little bit. I also didn’t get to walk the stage, but she believed in me and told me that one day I would be a student at Incarnate Word. Surely, I proceeded to receive my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science Nursing in Leadership. I have been working with the Methodist Healthcare System for 22 years. I started as an LVN in September of 2000 and later became a registered nurse. In 2020, I became the Administrative Director of Behavioral Health and Rehab. While it has been a challenging journey, I am forever grateful to Methodist for helping me receive an education to pursue this career. All three of my children have been born at a Methodist facility as well. Methodist holds a special place in my heart and in my family’s.

March is Women’s History Month, and a woman in my life who inspires me in the U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor. Ms. Sotomayor has been a voice for women and ethnic minorities when it comes to criminal justice issues. I have embraced equity through my work in behavioral health by doing my best to advocate for my staff members’ educational opportunities in order for them to advance in their clinical knowledge and careers. Behavioral health is just a small portion of the medical field, however, it has a huge impact. Advocating for our behavioral health patients is important to me because they too need a voice to ensure they receive the proper treatment and care. The behavioral health patient population has a tendency to be neglected and dismissed. Together, we can promote and celebrate diversity. We can highlight diversity at the different facilities by also recognizing the diversity of leadership. We should encourage employee participation in the various college networks, provide more education on cultural awareness to allow staff to feel more comfortable when interacting with diversity among patients.

METHODIST MOMENTS

SPURS

Spurs point guard, Tre Jones, in partnership with Spurs Give, helped spread some generous holiday cheer in December by donating a Gamers Outreach Kart (GO Kart) to Methodist Children’s Hospital. GO Karts are used in hospitals to provide an outlet for kids to be themselves, in the midst of treatment. Through gaming, kids can explore worlds, connect with others, express creativity, and most importantly, have fun.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS WELCOME NEWEST FANS BORN ON NEW YEARS

The San Antonio Spurs were excited to welcome the newest additions into their Spurs Family; the first babies born in 2023 at Methodist Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, and Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak! The Spurs gifted the babies their first set of fan gear, and the employees were excited to help welcome them into the world on New Year.

himself, was YouTube Content Streamer and Creator, SypherPK and San Antonio’s favorite mascot, the Spurs’ Coyote. SypherPK is known for his gaming streams and videos centering around the game Fortnite. As of December, he is the 19th most followed channel on the Twitch platform. Children of all ages had a wonderful time gaming with Tre and SypherPK. The gaming was live-streamed for patients to watch for children unable to leave their rooms.

A brief donation ceremony was held followed by open play with patients. Joining Tre, who is an avid gamer

TRE JONES AND POPULAR YOUTUBE STREAMER, SYPHERPK, BROUGHT HOLIDAY CHEER TO PATIENTS AT METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

METHODIST HOSPITAL | METROPOLITAN EXHIBITS CUSTOMIZED ARTWORK TO HONOR HEALTHCARE WORKER’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic was undoubtedly a challenging time for everyone, but it was particularly challenging for those in the healthcare profession. In collaboration with the McNay Art Museum, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan commissioned an artwork by a San Antonio-based interdisciplinary artist to pay tribute to their employees, patients, physicians, and the community.

The glazed stoneware piece, “Hearts that Flow like Rivers,” by local interdisciplinary artist Jenelle Esparza, reflects on and commemorates the effects of the pandemic and all those who faced its innumerable challenges. Esparza has been in the Education Department of the McNay for over five years.

Esparza interviewed several frontline hospital staff and physicians representing various departments to gather insight into the pandemic from those doing the critical groundwork. This collection of interviews culminated in an art piece, which symbolically acts as an altar to acknowledge a period of significant loss and resiliency.

“The motif of interlocking hands in each arched frame of the artwork is an infinite pattern that flows like a river,”

Esparza shared. “It represents the sacredness of water, the continuation of life, and how hospital staff carried each other through extraordinary physical and emotional grief. The arch consists of emblems, symbolizing a unique experience shared during the interview process. Those I interviewed expressed profound personal and professional encounters from within this hospital during one of the most intense periods at the height of our global crisis exposing the humanity and collective sacrifice this community of healthcare workers undertook.”

Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan has long supported the arts and is home to several artworks on its campus, and has partnered with the McNay Art Museum on several occasions, including this commission. The new piece of art is a welcomed addition to the acclaimed collection.

The artwork is located at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan in the main lobby for patients, staff, and guests to see, enjoy, or scan the QR code to the right.

METHODIST MOMENTS

HEART ART INSPIRES CREATIVITY AT METHODIST HOSPITAL | STONE OAK

Each year, January 31 is nationally recognized as Inspire Your Heart With Art Day. To highlight the creative expression of staff members at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak and Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak Rehabilitation Center, numerous painting sessions were hosted throughout the month of January. It provided a unique opportunity for staff to show off their art skills, while providing a stress relieving outlet. Art can inspire, motivate, guide, and touch any person in more ways than we can imagine.

We often don’t realize the impact art can have on our hearts. Therefore, each piece of art crafted incorporated a heart to help spread awareness of cardiovascular health. Various art pieces include only one heart, while others consist of multiple renditions of a heart. This art display was put on display in the lobby to be viewed by staff, patients, and visitors during the month of February, in support of American Heart Month.

METHODIST MOMENTS

“SWEETHEART” NICU PARENTS ENJOY A ROMANTIC VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER

AT METHODIST HOSPITAL | STONE OAK

For the 3rd year in a row, staff members within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Food Nutrition Services (FNS) departments at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak collaborated to host a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for NICU parents. The evening allowed parents an opportunity to enjoy a scrumptious and relaxing meal, while still being close to their little lovebugs. Parents were escorted by NICU and FNS staff members to their private table for a four-course dinner. The tailor-made dinner included a charcuterie board appetizer, their choice of wedge or caprese salad, filet mignon and lobster, salmon, or chicken supreme. To top off the evening, they indulged their sweet cravings with either crème brulee or strawberry cheesecake for dessert. While enjoying dinner, each set of parents were able to adorn their little cuties by reminiscing about their keepsake gift, a framed photo of their baby’s footprints. These keepsake gifts were custom-made with love by the nurses within the NICU who care for each child.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR AS NEWBORNS CELEBRATE THEIR FIRST VALENTINE’S DAY

Methodist Children’s Hospital is proud to continue its tradition of capturing the love and joy of Valentine’s Day with a newborn baby photo. This year, San Antonio’s newest little valentines, Maverick Gorena (L) and Riley Marie Henning (R), are donned in dapper heart-day attire, bringing joy and love to their parents, NICU staff, and physicians.

“We were anxiously waiting for her. It was a quick and unforgettable experience, both the pregnancy and delivery,” said Riley’s mother, Ashley Henning.

With over 6,400 babies delivered last year, Methodist Children’s Hospital is the hospital with the most births in San Antonio. Methodist Children’s Hospital is dedicated to providing exceptional care to families and newborns in San Antonio. With the latest technology and highly trained team of pediatric experts, the hospital is committed to ensuring that every family has a special and memorable experience.

CARING LIKE FAMILY

THE PERFECT MATCH

Thirteen years ago, when Michael and Tammie Martinez got married, they knew they were a perfect match. Their match went beyond the altar and into the operating room when Tammie became a life-saving match for Michael by donating a kidney to him.

“We were a strong couple before the match,” said Tammie, 43. “The transplant made us even stronger. God is the foundation of our marriage and that helped us get through the entire process. We prayed separately and together.  Now, we have a physical connection, too.”

Michael, 39, had been diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. Two years ago, his kidney function started to decline, and he had to start dialysis. Soon he was in stage 4 renal failure. As the self-employed owner of a pest control company, he went on peritoneal dialysis which is conducted nightly for eight hours.

He said that from the beginning Tammie was willing to be a donor.  “I was happy, but I didn’t want to put her through something that might put her at risk in the future,” he said.  “But in the end, I couldn’t tell her ‘no.’”

Tammie said she knew she needed to take care of her husband, so she started asking questions about becoming a donor.  “We had a feeling that we would be a match,” she said.  “It was almost like we knew this was the path we were supposed to take.”

COVID PATIENT BATTLES VIRUS FOR 10 WEEKS

Sharon Pettit is quick to admit that she would not be alive today without the care she received at Methodist Hospital | Texsan.

In 2021, Sharon was in-and-out of medical facilities for a total of 10 weeks dealing with COVID and its complications. She had a pulmonary embolism, which caused the COVID to worsen.  She was unable to breathe and felt extremely sick.  “I could not walk at all,” she said.  “I thought that I was dying.”  She was so disoriented that she remembered getting into the ambulance to go to the hospital, but not much after that.  Her challenges continued as she had difficulties with equipment.  Her chest tube was pulled out, and she nearly flat-lined. Then her lung collapsed. Her situation changed when she arrived at Methodist Hospital | Texsan ER.   Carmelo Ortero, MD, cardiothoracic

Dr. Luke Shen performed Michael’s transplant at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant on August 26, 2022.

Michael said his whole team, from nurses and physicians to nephrologists, was great, and that his recovery was quicker than expected.  With his kidney working properly, he had more energy and was no longer on pain medications.  Two months after surgery he was a lot more active, working and enjoying life.

Tammie said her recovery was easy with minimal pain and discomfort.  Within three weeks she was feeling normal and in eight weeks she was back in her career as an insurance agent.  She credits Michelle Salazar, her pre-transplant donor nurse with providing support as someone she could reach out to with questions or turn to just to vent.

Both Tammie and Michael have become strong advocates for organ donation.  “As a recipient, I can’t thank everyone enough for even thinking of being a donor,” said Michael.

surgeon, assured her that she would recover and provided her with the determination to complete her rehabilitation.

“The level of care is unmatched,” said Sharon, a retired nurse.  “The level of expertise and dedication was comforting to me and provided my husband with a sense of relief.  I also was impressed with the effective communication and timely delivery of patient care.”

Now, in the last stages of her rehab, Sharon looks forward to spending time with her grandchildren.

FORTY-TWO YEARS LATER, PATIENT RETURNS TO RECEIVE BOTH A LIVER AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

42 years later, Jerry Biesenbach found himself at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant again after being there the first time because of a firework accident that occurred on New Year’s Eve. Interestingly enough, Jerry was cared for by the same nurse from his first visit. Only this time around, Jerry was here to receive both a liver and a kidney transplant.

Jerry and his wife, Joni Biesenbach, live in Stone Wall, Texas, a small city right outside of Marble Falls. The couple met in college in 1991 and now have two children together. Jerry operates a family business with his brother and son where they focus on roadwork.

18 year-old Jerry lost his hands due to an explosive dynamite, which caused him to need prosthetics. He was admitted to Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant where a nurse by the name Peggie took care of him. “He was covered in feathers! If it weren’t for the heavy-down jacket he was wearing, he would not have survived. The coat took all the impact,” says Peggie. Since then, Jerry learned how to operate his prosthetics and continued to live his life.

Fast forward to the summer of 2019, Jerry was diagnosed with cirrhosis and kidney failure. He was then referred to Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant for further evaluation. Some of the symptoms Jerry experienced were lack of energy and swelling in the legs. After many doctor appointments and tests, Jerry was not progressing. His physician, Preston Foster, MD, decided to move forward with a balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) procedure, which is a minimally invasive technique used to treat gastric variceal bleeding. Jerry was also put on

dialysis and paracentesis. “We would wake up at 4:00 AM to drive down to San Antonio for dialysis three times a week and for paracentesis once a week,” said his wife, Joni. “We would not look right or left, we were just plowing through.” Jerry’s numbers were never steady; it was like a roller coaster. He was off the transplant list more than he was on the list due to infections.

On Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Jerry and Joni celebrated their wedding anniversary while in the hospital. The staff gifted them a cake and shortly after, Jerry was sent home. The following Tuesday, the couple drove down for Jerry’s dialysis appointment. “It’s not too late for an anniversary liver,” said Joni. While Jerry was in dialysis, Joni received a phone call and they had a match! Joni could not wait to share the news with Jerry. Once she told him, his face lit up and he cried tears of joy. He couldn’t believe it! They both had fought so long and hard for this moment. “We never felt like giving up, but we certainly got discouraged at times,” said Joni.

Surgery day arrived and Jerry felt relieved. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here. I trusted them,” said Jerry. Throughout this process, Jerry created strong bonds with the entire transplant team.

During Jerry’s transplant journey, both of his children hit major life milestones such as marriage and college graduation. “So many great things happening around us. Life is fragile for all of us. Although I’ve got a long road to recovery, it’s only up from here,” says Jerry.

As Jerry exited the hospital, MHST staff had a send-off for him and his wife.

MOVES ACROSS METHODIST

METHODIST HOSPITAL WELCOMES RYAN SIMPSON AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Methodist Hospital has appointed Ryan Simpson as Chief Executive Officer. Simpson brings with him more than twenty years of hospital leadership experience. He joins Methodist Healthcare after serving as Chief Executive Officer at The Medical Center of Aurora (TMCA) and Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital located within the Healthcare Corporation of America (HCA) Continental Division for the past four years.

During his tenure as CEO, Simpson made noticeable strides in physician and employee satisfaction, improving physician engagement scores by 25 percentage points, placing TMCA in the 90th percentile as a place to practice medicine. He improved employee engagement scores to 76 percent, representing an eight-percentage point increase. He made great progress advancing quality indicators, reducing hospital-acquired conditions to place TMCA as one of the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals by IBM Watson.

Through Simpson’s leadership, he led unprecedented growth in several service lines, including the integration of Colorado Permanente Medical Group (Kaiser Permanente) into TMCA, seeing a 50 percent increase in same-store admissions. He was also instrumental in the development

of a market-wide heart surgery group, resulting in 50 percent surgical growth and 53 percent cardiac cath procedure growth over three years. Additionally, Simpson oversaw the planning and opening of Centennial Hospital, an $80 million inpatient campus expansion to Centennial Medical Plaza, and a 40-bed expansion to the Behavioral Health and Wellness Center for women’s inpatient behavioral health and expanded geriatric psychiatry, representing $10 million in capital investments.

Simpson holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Birmingham Southern College.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | NORTHEAST WELCOMES NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Methodist Hospital | Northeast has appointed Felicia De La Garza as their new Chief Operating Officer. De La Garza previously served as the Assistant Chief Operating Officer (ACOO) at Methodist Hospital. During her tenure, she helped to spearhead the lung transplant development program and played a pivotal role in the creation of Methodist Hospital’s first vascular program and the Diabetic Foot and Ankle Institute (DFAI).

Prior to her role as ACOO, De La Garza served as Vice President of Operations at Methodist Hospital, where she focused on hospital operations, programmatic development, physician recruitment, strategic planning, quality outcomes, and service line growth initiatives. Within that role, she was influential in launching Methodist Hospital’s first Texas Medical Board-approved Transplant and Circulatory Support Fellowship Program. Additionally, De La Garza helped lead the hospital’s heart transplant growth strategies and recruitment, resulting in record transplant volume for 2021 and 2022.

Before joining Methodist Healthcare, she directed Transplant Services at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and spent 10 years in the Houston healthcare industry. De La Garza received her Master of Science in Nursing, Leadership Management, and Education and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lubbock Christian University.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | LANDMARK APPOINTS ANGELA SAIF AS CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

Angela (Angie) Saif has been appointed as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Methodist Hospital | Landmark. Angie has served as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Methodist Hospital since early 2021. As ACNO, Angie oversaw over 23 departments and 900 full-time employees, including inpatient progressive care, telemetry, medical-surgical units as well as dialysis, apheresis, staffing, nursing administration, and rapid response.

During her time with Methodist Hospital, Angie has made great improvements in enhancing employee engagement and strengthening operations. Through her leadership, in-patient experience maintained above the 72 percentile for five consecutive quarters. She was instrumental in restructuring vascular access team staffing and workflow to encourage decreased central line utilization while effectively decreasing the use of contract labor by 90 percent, which resulted in an annual projected savings of $650,000. Angie also helped implement alternate nursing care models utilizing LVNs in the inpatient setting to bridge the gap in the nursing workforce in the inpatient telemetry units.

Angie has nearly twenty years of diverse hospital leadership experience and immense compassion for people, patients, and a dedication to the nursing profession. Angie has a track record of innovative problem-solving and the ability to conceptualize and implement new programs to meet organizational growth objectives.

Angie has a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Healthcare System Administration from the University of Tennessee. She is a Certified Healthcare Operations Professional (DNV-GL) as well as a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN). Angie is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives as well as the American Organization of Nurse Leaders.

As CNO over Methodist Hospital | Landmark, Angie will lead patient care for specialized surgical services including bariatrics, breast reconstruction, orthopedics, gynecology, urology, colorectal, and general surgery.

GROWTH AND EXPANSION

METHODIST HOSPITAL COMPLETES INPATIENT REHABILITATION EXPANSION

Methodist Hospital recently opened the second phase of its Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. Located on the third floor, the construction added an additional eight private rooms to the existing twenty-four. This expansion enables a broader range of acute-level, physician-led rehabilitation expertise while avoiding the disruption of transferring a patient to a separate facility.

The rehabilitation unit supports all medical conditions, though more common treatment regimens are tailored towards patients who have experienced a stroke, neurological disorders, brain or spinal cord injuries, amputation, trauma injuries, and complex orthopedic cases. With comprehensive and individualized care—all under one roof—Methodist Hospital is better positioned to deliver superior outcomes for the most clinically complex patients.

“Having an inpatient rehabilitation facility gives our patients an opportunity to recover in a supervised environment where their medical doctors can continue the management of their care,” commented Aixa Alvarez, MD, Medical Director of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. “By providing tailored occupational, physical, and speech therapy, our patients are leaving our care stronger, safer, and with the tools they need to succeed at home.”

The rehabilitation team consists of physical, occupational, and speech therapists, rehabilitation nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, case managers, and physicians who collaborate with patients and their loved ones to create a treatment plan focused on potential, not limitations. Patients receive at least three hours of daily therapy five days a week or more, and nursing care is available 24/7. The average length of stay for a patient is ten to twelve days.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | NORTHEAST STAFF PARTAKE IN CELEBRATORY BEAM SIGNING

Staff members at Methodist Hospital | Northeast helped to celebrate the construction progress on their new medical office building by partaking in a beam signing. The event gave staff a chance to leave their mark on Methodist Hospital | Northeast Plaza II. In July of 2022, the hospital officially broke ground on the new medical office building and it is anticipated to be completed this coming summer. After the event, the beam included signatures, quotes, and notes of well wishes for the future!

GROWTH AND EXPANSION

METHODIST ER | CITY BASE OPENS IN SOUTH SAN ANTONIO

Methodist Healthcare celebrated opening its newest free-standing emergency room in the Brooks City Base community by hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 25.

Now open in the Brooks City Base Landing Shopping Center, Methodist ER | City Base is an extension of Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan and officially opened on January 24, 2022. The facility provides exceptional care 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the citizens of the Brooks City Base and South San Antonio communities.

“Families on the south side deserve quality health care... It means so much to this district, which has traditionally been under-served, but we are growing, and people are noticing,” said District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, one of the guest speakers at the ceremony.

Located in the Brooks City Base Landing Shopping Center at 3154 SE Military Dr #103, San Antonio, TX 78223, this facility brings the health system’s total number of FSERs to ten.  Methodist ER | City Base consists of board-certified ER and trauma physicians, registered nurses, and other medical staff who provide quality, compassionate care to families throughout the Brooks City Base community and surrounding areas.

“We are excited to have this new presence in the Brooks City Base community,” said Greg Seiler, Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan. “We have always served this community from our hospital’s campus and can now provide excellent emergency care much closer to home.”

METHODIST HOSPITAL | STONE OAK IS THE FIRST TO BRING ADVANCED, DUAL-ENERGY CT IMAGING TO THE STONE OAK AREA

Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate their newest technological advancement, the SOMATOM® Force, a dual source computed tomography (CT) scanner. The arrival of this breakthrough technology made Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak the first hospital within the Stone Oak area to offer advanced CT technology to patients and physicians, providing high accuracy, low dose, and stunning, highresolution, information-rich images. This technology enables advanced imaging for all patients, including some of the most challenging: young children, patients with renal insufficiency, and patients who are unable to hold their breath. It’s also fast, gentle, and spacious, – providing patients with the comfort they want, and clinicians with the confidence they need.

“Our new CT scanner represents a dramatic leap forward in our technological advancements, and exemplifies our commitment to exceptional, safe, and quality care for patients at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak,” shared Jeff

Wilson, Chief Executive Officer. “It helps improve diagnostic confidence and provides a positive patient experience for even more people in our communities.”

This technology offers physicians and staff the ability to perform scans with freezing motion. As one of the industry’s fastest and most versatile scanning modes, it allows the user to perform an entire adult chest, abdomen, and pelvis study in only one second, so patients don’t need to hold their breath. It can also enable low-dose imaging in lung and colon exams. Patients who are diagnosed with lung or colon cancer are likely to undergo additional follow-up imaging studies that can now be delivered at a continually low dose to enable more decisive treatment and posttherapy evaluations.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HOSPITAL | NORTHEAST CVTS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO YEARS INFECTION FREE

The Cardiovascular Telemetry Services (CVTS) unit at Methodist Hospital | Northeast recently celebrated two years free of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI), Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI), and MethicillinResistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bloodstream Infections (MRSA BSI). Their dedication to providing safe and quality care to patients and the Live Oak community has been exemplified through this remarkable accomplishment.

Methodist Hospital | Atascosa has earned the Go Clear Award™ for its achievement in eliminating hazardous smoke from its surgical procedures. The Go Clear Award is presented by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) is a national recognition honoring health care facilities that have committed to providing increased surgical patient and health care worker safety by implementing practices that eliminate smoke caused by the use of lasers and electrosurgery devices during surgery.

Methodist Hospital | Atascosa earned this award by undergoing comprehensive surgical smoke education and testing and for providing the medical devices and resources necessary to evacuate surgical smoke during all smokegenerating procedures.

Surgical smoke is the unwanted by-product of energygenerating devices that are used in 90 percent of all surgeries. Its contents include toxic chemicals such as

IN THE GREEN AT METHODIST HOSPITAL | ATASCOSA

The Methodist Hospital | Atascosa team celebrated 365 days of being ‘in the green’ or also known as having zero HealthcareAssociated Infections. This achievement demonstrates each employee’s commitment and passion for the work and cares they provide.

benzene, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide, viruses, bacteria, blood and cancer cells. Inhalation and absorption of surgical smoke pose serious health risks to patients and surgical staff. Today, it is estimated only 50% of health care workers across the U.S. understand the hazards of smoke exposure.

“The achievement of the AORN Go Clear Award Gold Level is significant for our Methodist Hospital | Atascosa surgical team and hospital,” shared Theresa Gonzales, Director of Surgical Services at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa. “We always strive for excellence and want a safe environment for our patients and employees; this is just one example of our efforts. This initiative was driven by our surgical staff, but the support of our leadership, anesthesiologists, and surgeons was also a big part of our success. We want the best for our patients and are excited to be awarded this honor.”

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT CONTINUES TO EXCEL WITHIN THEIR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PROGRAM

According to recently released UNOS data, the Methodist Transplant Institute in San Antonio completed 171 living donor kidney transplants and 171 deceased donor kidney transplants in 2022. The program was recognized as the largest living donor kidney transplant program and the largest Hispanic kidney transplant program in the nation. Additionally, this program ranks number one in Texas for their deceased donor program.

Meet living donor, Ashley Munoz and her father, Gilberto Munoz, who received his daughter’s kidney on December 14, 2022. Mr. Munoz began to experience fatigue and became pale. After many visits with his doctor, he was put on dialysis for about a year. During his time in the dialysis center, he was educated on living donor programs and after thorough research; he found that this hospital had the number one program in the nation. “Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant has great staff! I trusted them,” said Mr. Munoz.

Ashley wanted more time with her father, so she volunteered to be his donor in hopes that they were a match. Although Mr. Munoz felt nervous about the complications of transplant surgery, he says Ashley was extremely supportive and comforting. “The entire transplant team was very responsive. I was constantly reassured about the procedure and they would answers any questions I had,” says Ashley.

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant thanks patients like Ashley and Gilberto for trusting them with their care.

According to the American Kidney Fund, it is estimated that nearly 37 million Americans are living with kidney disease and about 5700,000 people are on dialysis. Additionally, Over 800,000 Americans are currently living with kidney failure. Last year, more than 6,400 people became living organ donors.

“This achievement demonstrates that our transplant program is committed to doing what we can to remove barriers for these patients,” said Amanda Weichold, Vice President for Transplant Services at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. “Transplantation requires the generosity of living donors and donor families.”

“Our goal is to improve the lives of people with kidney disease in our communities, one patient at a time,” said Kevin Scoggin, CEO of Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. “To achieve these milestones at a community hospital that serves a majority Hispanic population and many underserved communities around Texas, is a remarkable accomplishment.”

FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, METHODIST HOSPITAL NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AMONG AMERICA’S 250 BEST HOSPITALS, BY HEALTHGRADES

For the second consecutive year, Methodist Hospital was named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2023, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients. This achievement puts Methodist Hospital in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance across the most common conditions and procedures.

Data collected from other Methodist Healthcare System hospitals -including Methodist Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, Methodist Hospital | Northeast, Methodist Hospital | Texsan, and Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant-contributed to Methodist Hospital’s designation.

Healthgrades evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for 31 of the most common conditions and procedures at nearly 4,500 hospitals across the country to identify the top-performing hospitals. This year’s analysis revealed significant variation between America’s Best 250 Hospitals and hospitals that did not receive the distinction. In fact, if all hospitals performed similarly to America’s 250 Best, over 160,000 lives could have been saved.

With tools like hospital ratings and awards, Healthgrades helps consumers make confident healthcare decisions by enabling the evaluation and comparison of hospital performance to find the highest quality of care. Visit Healthgrades.com for an in-depth look at Methodist Hospital’s performance and profile to explore the highest quality care in San Antonio.

METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL’S FACILITY DOG, JAMIE, CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY IN STYLE ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY.