Methodist Magazine - Nurse week and Hospital Week

METHODIST MAGAZINE

PICU NURSES EARN UNIT OF DISTINCTION- TOP RANKING UNIT!

EDITOR

Cheri Love-Moceri

Associate Vice President of Communications

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kimberly Felan

Communications Manager

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant

Methodist Hospital | Texsan

Ashley Funkhouser

Communications Manager

Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

Methodist Hospital | Northeast

Melissa Geedman

Director of Communications

Methodist Hospital

Mayde Gomez

Director of Communications

Methodist Children’s Hospital

Lauren McCormick

Director of Communications

Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

“I would like to highlight ZACHARY GARCIA. Zach came to us from the adult side last year. He continues to thrive in both pedi and adult environments. He is often recognized by patients and his teams on both sides of the campus. He has so much energy and is always the first one in the room when an emergency happens. His positive attitude is contagious! His integrity is unlike I have ever seen. He is someone that truly embodies the ICARE values on and off the unit.”

“I would like to recognize two amazing nurses from our Mother-Baby Unit: MARJORIE YAMBAO & MARLISSA HARDAWAY. Both of these ladies are recognized almost daily by their peers as well as from their patients in regards to the exceptional care they provide. Marjorie and Marlissa work in the nursery as part of our core staff transitioning the babies in labor & delivery after birth. They reach out to staff to offer any help regardless of their patient load and are often recognized by the parents for the education they provide and their positive attitudes.”

-Trish Horlacher, Director for Maternal Child Services and Women’s Specialty Unit at Methodist Hospital

“DEB CAHENZLI is a tenured nurse in the Electrophysiology Lab. She does a great job providing 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 throughput within the departments.”

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

“ STEPHEN CHRISTIAN, CLS II (lab tech), is committed, passionate, and dedicated to the Texsan laboratory team. The passion he displays at work is a value that cannot be learned and an ability that cannot be taught. Thank you for your commitment and doggedness to work.”

–Beverly Derbonne, Director of Laboratory at Methodist Hospital | Texsan

“BELEN GARCIA is a charge nurse in our telemetry unit. She was caring for a patient who was brought here from South Texas. His family left, but his wife stayed to be with her husband; however, the family accidentally left with the patient’s belongings. During his consult with the cardiologist, the physician mentioned that he wanted the patient to have a treadmill cardiac stress test the next morning. The patient’s wife was worried because he had nothing to use during this exam, such as tennis shoes. She was able to purchase them but had no way to get to the store. Belen calmed the wife’s nerves and said she would drive her so she could get the things she needed. After her 12-hour shift, Belen drove her to the store, accompanied her around to get the needed items, and then drove her back to the facility. This is a true example of going above and beyond!”

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

-Amy McIntyre, Admin Dir Clinical Operations, Pediatric Hem/Onc at Methodist Children’s Hospital

“I want to give a shout out to MILETTE “IRIS” SLOAN. She is our radiology RN and she wears multiple hats while also being a huge advocate for patient care. She always escalates patient concerns, ensures safety and quality at all times while being efficient. Iris takes time with the education team to speak to floor nurses about CTA medication protocol to improve the process and in turn obtain quality CT images. Iris never hesitates to help other units for floor procedures such as TEE’s, cardioversions and stress tests and always does it with a smile.”

– Ashley Martinez, Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Methodist Hospital | Texsan

“JOSE ARRIVILLAGA leads the hospital in terms of attitude and joy. He works extremely hard and has the highest degree of pride and performance in his role. Jose is the model employee and team member who is the example of being world class. He will rise in our organization and lead in greater ways!”

“GUILLERMO GARCIA has been with Methodist and HSS for eight years. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty for the campus and puts the department’s and our officers’ needs above his own. In the year that I have been the director of the department. Guillermo has grown so much as a supervisor. I am so proud and honored to work alongside such a goaloriented supervisor.”

–Kevin Scoggin, Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant

- Nick Ashley, Director of Security Services at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

FROM BLUE JAY TO EXECUTIVE, SUSAN KILGORE SOARS

Every ship needs its captain, every orchestra- its conductor, and every major healthcare system facing the crisis of a lifetime needs its Incident Commander. Such was the case throughout the pandemic when Susan Kilgore assumed the lofty role under historic and extreme conditions. As Incident Commander, Susan led the COVID-19 Command Center for well over a year, responsible for managing the core team of infection prevention specialists, emergency response managers, internal and external communicators, facilities and operations managers, supply chain leads, etc. Running parallel with the COVID-19 pandemic, our city was hit with a debilitating winter storm that affected our hospitals’ water supplies and we were in the midst of standing up COVID vaccination clinics- all requiring Command Center resources simultaneously. As the liaison with STRAC (South Texas Regional Advisory Council) and our state’s governing bodies, Susan tirelessly advocated for our system’s needs, ensuring we were well-resourced and represented.

Without her steady and seasoned leadership, our ship would have undoubtedly drifted off course, leaving the communities of South Texas in peril. This display of determination and character is just one of many reasons Susan was recently promoted to Senior VP of Operations at Methodist Healthcare.

So where does such an impressive and storied career begin? It might surprise you to know – as a teenage volunteer. Susan’s service to Methodist Healthcare began 36 years ago when she worked as a Blue Jay volunteer during the summer while attending Medina Valley High School. While she was in college, she joined Methodist Hospital in a paid position in transport. “I always knew that I wanted to do something in healthcare,” she said.

“I went to work at Methodist because of our mission of serving humanity to honor God with the focus of making healthcare accessible to all.”

TO NEW HEIGHTS

However, her connection to Methodist Healthcare goes back even further- as far back as any person’s connection can go. Susan was born at Methodist Hospital.

After receiving her nursing degree, Susan continued to work at Methodist Hospital, creating meaningful change that impacted the patient experience. She collaborated with administration to expand the Emergency Department, implementing Point of Care testing for cardiac markers to improve turnaround times by seventy-five percent on assessment of patients with chest pain at time of triage. She would go on to hold several nursing positions at the hospital, but was ultimately destined to leave her patient’s bedside to help a greater number of people each day.

In 2009, Methodist Hospital was receiving requests from several hospitals outside the system with patients desperately needing to come to the hospital. Methodist Hospital often didn’t have vacant beds, but other hospitals in the system did. Jaime Wesolowski, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare at the time, challenged Susan to determine a way to help place all patients seeking our care with just one phone call.

“The need inspired me,” she said. “We learned that we couldn’t be just a transfer center. We had to place patients in the right beds at the right time. We are one of the first systems in the country to centralize bed management and transfer center functions into a singular patient flow management center.”

That same year, Susan developed the MHS Patient Management Center, Centralized Patient Placement Center and Centralized Transfer Center for the Division. The Patient Management Center streamlines the patient admission process for nine facilities within Methodist Healthcare representing approximately 2,200 beds, coordinating several thousand patients each week within San Antonio as well as outlying regions from El Paso to McAllen and everywhere in between.

Despite her outstanding success, Susan still sees the process as a big chess game. “The best care is local so we continue to work to get care out to rural facilities. We also need to continue creating capacity to serve those patients needing care in our Methodist Healthcare facilities. Every patient is so important,” she said.

Other innovative programs developed by Susan include the MHS South Texas Tele Stroke Network, which was implemented in 12 rural facilities, and the VIA (Very Important Athlete) Sports Medicine Program. Her leadership and vision have also been recognized with many honors including the Methodist Excellence Pillar Award and the inaugural DAISY Award for Patient Flow.

While operational excellence, innovation, and accolades have certainly been key to Susan’s career growth, perhaps a more imperative accomplishment is being a leader others wish to follow. “Susan is the finest example of a servant leader that I have ever encountered in my 25 years in the nursing field,” said Chillon Montgomery, Director of Trauma. “She has integrity, courage, loyalty, empathy, compassion, and most importantly peer and team respect. She inspires me to be a better leader by always making the hard decisions easy by acting in the best interest of our patients and partners. Her constant drive for excellence makes me work harder every day to never disappoint her or the vision we all live by.”

Susan’s career at Methodist Healthcare is truly an inspiration. The former Blue Jay is an example of how high any employee can fly if they’re willing to spread their wings.

“I went to work at Methodist because of our mission of serving humanity to honor God with the focus of making healthcare accessible to all,” she said. “We are truly different from other hospitals. We live in a dynamic time with access to incredible technology and knowledge, yet our commitment to the patient never waivers.”

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

MARCOMM TEAM VOLUNTEERS AT SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK

The Marketing/Communications/Community (MarComm) team kicked off the first quarter of the year by volunteering as a group with the San Antonio Food Bank out at Haven for Hope. The MarComm team spent four hours prepping and serving lunch on a Friday in March. Their roles included sanitation, meal preparation, and serving lunches to over 500 people. The team also helped assemble nearly 750 sandwiches which would go to community members in need.

Haven for Hope addresses root causes of homelessness by offering programming tailored to the specific needs of the individual. Their approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented. The goal is to meet individuals where they are and support them as they move toward self-sufficiency. One of the kitchens on the Haven for Hope campus is run by the San Antonio Food Bank. They serve 800-1,500 hot meals a day to residents at Haven for Hope.

It was a fun day giving back to our community and supporting two great local non-profit organizations.

METHODIST ER | CITY BASE SPONSORS SOUND THE ALARM CAMPAIGN

On March 11, volunteers with the Greater San Antonio Chapter of the American Red Cross and Methodist ER City Base, along with Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran, came together to support the Red Cross’s Sound the Alarm campaign.

This event was sponsored by Methodist ER | City Base. The group rallied at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, installed 73 free smoke alarms, made 32 homes safer, and provided home fire education to approximately 100 families in South San Antonio.

“The Sound the Alarm campaign directly helps local families by installing smoke alarms – which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half,” said Daniel Martinez, Executive Director of the Greater San Antonio Chapter. “Our goal is to help people prepare for, respond to, and recover from home fires – which account for most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes.”

During the home visits, volunteers also shared information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts, and how to create an escape plan.

This event was a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 1,583 lives since launching in October 2014. As part of the campaign in the Central and South Texas Region, local partners have installed more than 32,000 free smoke alarms and made nearly 14,000 households safer since the launch of the campaign in 2014.

COMMITTED TO FINDING A CURE

METHODIST HEALTHCARE CEO DAN MILLER AND METHODIST HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES CEO, JAIME WESOLOWSKI PARTNER TO SUPPORT THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION

The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is quickly growing. About one in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s. After 65, the risk of having Alzheimer’s doubles.

One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, with the disease killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer, combined.

We know a good percentage of our workforce is impacted by the disease as nearly half (48%) of caregivers who provide help to older adults do so for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

As the largest healthcare system in South Texas, all of our Methodist Healthcare facilities see people with Alzheimer’s come through our doors, every single day. Unfortunately, there is not a procedure or a cure for this devastating disease.

Our commitment to help find an end to Alzheimer’s has been steadfast over the last four years, with Methodist Healthcare and Methodist Healthcare Ministries both being lead sponsors of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

This year, we are going a step further with both our President and CEO, Dan Miller, and Jamie Wesolowski, President and CEO of Methodist

Healthcare Ministries, serving as co-chairs for the 2023 San Antonio Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

This Walk is the largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. The Walk has over 4,000 attendees annually, bringing together all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias throughout Bexar County and the surrounding community.

On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony. The Promise Garden flowers represent the promises that Walk participants have come together to fulfill – a colorful display of an intent to honor, remember, care and fight to end the disease. Dan and Jaime’s goal is to raise over $1 million, making history as the first Walk to End Alzheimer’s event to ever do so.

They will need the help of all our staff to reach this milestone! The walk will be held at Fiesta Texas, Saturday, October 21, 2023. You will hear more about how you can get involved over the next few months.

If you want to register to be a team captain or sign up for a team, visit alz.org/walk.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY

METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT PARTNERS WITH THE TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT

Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital proudly supports victims and survivors of sexual assault as the only Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner - Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A) program in San Antonio. In light of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April), Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant partnered with the Texas Advocacy Project in order to raise awareness for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Texas Advocacy Project (TAP) launched its 16 annual statewide Handbags for Hope campaign on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at the hospital. Handbags for Hope provides new or like-new handbags, gender-neutral totes, and diaper bags to survivors of power-based abuse in Texas. The bags collected are then shipped to programs like TAP across the U.S. Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant was pleased to announce they will be sponsoring $2k towards the shipping costs. Through TAP’s partnerships with various agencies, shelters, hospitals, and clinics, they distribute these bags, which include information on lifesaving resources and a discreet tag with TAP’s Legal Line (800.374.HOPE), so survivors know that TAP’s attorneys and social workers are just a phone call away. The

campaign has already provided over 46,000 bags to those in need, thanks to the generosity of the community, the hard work of TAP volunteers, and partners. Bags collected at the hospital will go directly to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) care team who will distribute them to the survivors they serve. The SANE care team is comprised of registered nurses who receive specialized education and fulfill unique clinical requirements to provide specialized care to survivors of domestic and dating violence and sexual assault. By employing certified SANEs, Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant offers survivors comprehensive medical-forensic care, leading to improved patient outcomes, an increase in prosecution rates, and credible, neutral courtroom testimony. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Each February, Methodist Healthcare recognizes and celebrates Heart Month both internally at our facilities with fun events and in the community through education. This year our Heart Month marketing campaign ran from January through April as a way to reach more people and better encourage the importance of heart health.

The goal of the campaign was to encourage the community to take our free heart health risk assessment to learn their risk for heart disease and other heart complications. This assessment gauges someone’s risk and provides them with the next steps to take based on their results. With heart disease being the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, it’s important for healthcare organizations to treat heart conditions and help prevent them through education and advocacy.

This year’s effort was a huge success, and we positively impacted the lives of 1,100 people in San Antonio; that’s the number of individuals who completed our risk assessment and now know more about their heart health.

If you are curious about your own heart health, our risk assessment is available on our website at sahealth.com/heart.

HEART HEALTH MATTERS TO METHODIST

DEI DRESS FOR SUCCESS PROFESSIONAL CLOTHING DRIVE

In honor of Women’s History Month, Methodist Healthcare’s DEI Council co-hosted a spring cleaning drive with Methodist Healthcare Ministries to support the Dress for Success Donation Drive. The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire such as dresses, blazers, shoes, and purses, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Over 100 items of professional clothing were collected. Thank you for continuing to support our community!

GUEST COLUMNIST

FROM BLUEBIRD VOLUNTEER TO CLINICAL LEADER: A NURSE’S JOURNEY OF CHASING HIS DREAMS

My name is Andrew Delgado, a registered nurse on the 5 North Surgical Progressive Unit at Methodist Hospital. My healthcare journey began as a high school volunteer with the Blue Birds, also working at Methodist Hospital. I enjoyed interacting with patients and their families as I transported them through the hospital on their way home. Those interactions and being able to connect with another person are what attracted me to nursing. I also found the inner workings and complexity of the hospital fascinating.

Shortly after, I attended the UT Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) School of Nursing, was accepted into the internship program, and began working as a student on 5 North. The internship allowed me to build my skills as a student and better prepared me for launching as a novice nurse. I have been a nurse for four years now, working my way up to be a relief charge nurse, preceptor, and mentor, and I will graduate with my master’s degree in Nurse Education by the end of this summer. As I help develop and mentor students going through the UTHSCSA program, I encourage them to apply for the internship because of the benefits it served in helping me grow my career. I also highly encourage fellow students to apply for the HCA Direct Bill, a program and resource for employees to help offset tuition costs. The program has been a tremendous help in paying for my courses.

The preceptor and mentor experience I’ve received in my leadership role with Methodist Hospital has sparked an interest in me to pursue teaching. Currently, I am an adjunct faculty member at the UTHSCSA School of Nursing, where I have spent the last three semesters as a teacher’s assistant for the Adult I Clinical Rotation Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) program. Being able to directly impact the next generation of nurses by guiding and preparing them is what brings me joy. I plan to join the Methodist Nurse Educator Team and continue as an adjunct clinical instructor with UTHSCSA to continue shaping the future of nursing.

I look back at my beginnings and am so proud of how far I’ve come. Methodist Healthcare’s mission statement, “Serving humanity to honor God,” and the I-CARE values attracted me to Methodist Hospital, and it’s been such a privilege growing professionally in an organization that wants to see you develop and succeed. As a nurse, I believe caring for others is the greatest act of service, and as a teacher and mentor, being able to pass down knowledge, being available, and remembering everyone started as a novice are the best ways to empower, support, and build confidence in our learners. Sharing that gift will impact not only my future students but also the patients that they will care for.

“I knew I wanted to join the medical field at an early age, but I wasn’t sure exactly which field. After volunteering and seeing loved ones in the hospital, I found that the nurses provided the care the patients and families needed.”

ANDREW DELGADO, RN, Surgical Progressive Unit at Methodist Hospital

FOLLOWING IN HER FAMILY’S FOOTSTEPS, SERVING HER HOME TOWN

When I was in 9th grade at Jourdanton High School, I attended a Career Day session with the local hospital pharmacist, David Pesek. He talked so passionately about how much he enjoyed his job, how he can use most of his clinical skills and come home every day feeling like he truly helped people. He is actually my mom’s cousin; I’d grown up with him as our community pharmacist at the local independent pharmacy. He is beloved in our family and community and always sought after for advice.

After that presentation, I decided to be a pharmacist and worked toward that goal from that day forward. I attended the University of Texas College of Pharmacy and, during my intern year, lived back home in Jourdanton, where I had two rotations at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa (formerly South Texas Regional Medical Center). I was working for CVS at the time and planned a long career there, but I thought, “If I ever were to work at a hospital, it would be this one.”

After a year at CVS, I was ready for a change, my dad called David, and there happened to be an opening. It was my dream job, using my clinical skills with one of my mentors and serving my community. We work as part of the hospital’s clinical team but are also a community resource for drug information, people had been used to calling David with questions when he worked at Jourdanton Pharmacy, and that didn’t change when he came to work at the hospital. We even receive calls from local community pharmacists who need help with a medication question.

Growing up, I worked the counter at my family’s feed store, and I’ve had the opportunity to serve many of my former customers as patients. Same for family members, neighbors, and friends. The presence of our hospital means people here don’t have to drive an hour or more for appointments, procedures, or visiting loved ones. That means a lot to me because as my loved ones age, I become their chauffeur and, more importantly, their advocate. Over the last 12 years, this hospital has become like home. I even asked if I could stay an extra day after delivering my first child and getting such wonderful care from my colleagues; I wasn’t ready to leave. For a week during the snowstorm of February 2021, the hospital became home for many of us who sheltered here. I’ve always been proud of

how our team steps up to meet challenges, and the Covid-19 pandemic was no exception. Our census doubled, and the number of critical patients went up exponentially. It was unlike anything I’d seen in our facility.

One Friday, we got word that we needed to convert our PACU into an overflow ICU to be ready the following day. I moved a tower and an additional refrigerator in from an unused Pyxis machine. We spent the night stocking the unit with medications. STRAC nurses and RTs were coming in to support the facility, but the rest of the ancillary departments had to make it work with the people we had. I am proud that we made it through those difficult times together and are still standing to support the community. It is a ministry for me.

I am also a music minister and play piano at church, so it is a true joy for me when I can bring that ministry to my job. Our surgical department started a tradition of Christmas caroling around the hospital during the holidays. Last year we took it out to the community in conjunction with our Share the Warmth blanket drive. We collected enough new blankets for every assisted living and skilled nursing home resident in the county and sang Christmas songs with them when they were delivered. Our last stop was where my grandparents live. My Granny Bea paid for my piano lessons growing up, and I was proud to be able to play for her and my Papa Tinker, who has dementia. Those blankets are still on the edge of their bed, and I’m grateful a piece of me is always close to them. The day was so joyful, and I know all of us were truly warmed by the experience and are ready to do it again this Christmas. Sometimes I think about asking if we could put a piano in the lobby, but then I probably wouldn’t get any work done!

MEGAN MARTIN, PharmD, BCSCP, SIDP-ASP  Director of Pharmacy at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

GUEST COLUMNIST

For over a year now, I have been a part of the “Blue Bird photography program”, and my job is to capture the first ever newborn picture. It’s a dream job that I never thought I would have, especially considering my previous career of 25 years in transportation.

God has a way of putting us in the place where we belong. One fateful day, I found myself waiting in the hospital lobby when a young child sat down beside me. I soon discovered that this little one was deaf, but I didn’t let that deter me from making a connection. Through the pictures on my phone, we formed a bond that sparked something deep inside me. In that very moment, I realized that working with children was my true calling.

Determined to pursue my newfound passion, I started volunteering as a “Cuddle” in the Neonatal Intensive Care Uni (NICU), offering comfort and care to infants and their

families. Before long, I became a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and was overjoyed to secure a position in the pediatrics unit.

But just as I was settling into my dream job, the pandemic hit and everything changed.

When the pandemic hit, I was relocated to the 3rd floor rehabilitation unit, where I worked with adults. It was tough, but I persevered. Months later, I learned of a newborn photographer position, and I jumped on it. I have five children of my own, so taking pictures of newborns wasn’t something that made me nervous. However, I was nervous about the quality of the pictures. I wanted to make sure that the parents loved my work, especially because although I was lacking photography experience, I remained optimistic that my heartfelt approach to every shot would shine through.

MY NAME IS CINDY LINARES, THEY CALL ME THE “BABY WHISPERER”

AND I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD!

These days, I have the privilege of capturing the first precious poses of 6-8 newborn babies a day. My day looks a little like this. As I enter the patient’s room, I introduce myself and immediately begin to assist the mother with getting out of bed. With tender care, I delicately position the baby in the most optimal pose for their firstever photograph. Yet, what truly captivates me is the boundless affection and tenderness that radiates from the new parents towards their little one. Witnessing this profound love never fails to leave me in awe.

As part of my job, I also bear witness to some of the most heartwrenching moments families can endure. When a stillborn baby is born, I’m often called upon to capture their fleeting existence in photographs, a precious moment for grieving parents. It’s a task that requires sensitivity, empathy, and grace. When the social worker contacts me, I know the wright of their request. I enter the room and guide the parents through the process, honoring their child’s memory with every shot. It’s a challenging job, but my driving force is knowing that I’m giving these parents something tangible to hold onto.

As for how I manage to cope the with emotional burden of it all? I focus on the baby’s peacefulness. I remind myself that they did not suffer and that their short life had meaning. I draw strength from the parents’ resilience, amazed by their unwavering love and courage in the face of unimaginable loss.

To be entrusted with such a profound responsibility is both humbling and gratifying. It’s a privilege to help families in their darkest hour, to provide them with a reminder of the love they shared with their child.  To the moms, I would want them to know that you just did something miraculous - you brought a human being into this world! In this moment, you may feel tired, overwhelmed, and perhaps a little self-conscious about how you look. But let me tell you, none of that matters. You are beautiful and powerful, and this moment is one that you will want to cherish forever.

As a photographer, I have witnessed the sparkle in the dad’s eyes when they see the transformation of their partner becoming a mother. I think fathers would agree with me when I say, there is nothing more beautiful than a mother holding her baby.

The Blue Birds photography program uses a portion of the proceeds from each photography session to purchase car seats and cribs for parents who cannot afford them. It’s a way of ensuring that all parents have what they need to care for their new little ones. The rest of the proceeds go to different charities.

I am 65 years old, and I hope to continue doing this amazing job for as long as I can. It’s the best job in the world, and I am grateful for it every single day.

EMPLOYEES SHARE THEIR WHY

“Working at Methodist Hospital has given me a new outlook on my profession and has given me more drive to do what I love doing - helping people. Methodist Healthcare has also given me the tools to earn my compounding certification! Being able to see the medications I’m making for our patients drives me to do and be better every day at work. I honestly love coming to work knowing I am going to help someone.”

- Jacqueline Sanchez, Pharmacy Tech II at Methodist Hospital

“My why for being a HIM professional is to make sure our patients receive the same exceptional care after discharge as they do when in our hospital.  My best days in the hospital are interacting with patients and family members knowing we were able to be the bridge between the hospital and the next step in their care.  Our patients trust our team with their most sensitive information and as a HIM professional I want to make sure their health story is accurate, complete, accessible and protected.”

- Shelia Cochran, Director of HIM at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

“In my freshman year, I switched my major from biochemistry to nursing. At the time, I was working at a restaurant, and a group of Methodist nurses came in. They told my coworker great things about Methodist, so I decided to apply to start learning about my future career. I love what I do because I can make someone feel cared for and make them laugh while they are going through a hard time. I love Metro because the leaders and staff are really nice! I love the location and caring for our center city community. I am so happy to have found Metro!”

- Samantha Ojeda, Post-Partum PCT at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

“Growing up, my grandmother and aunt set really great examples of capable and strong women. They were both nurses and really enjoyed the work they did. This example pushed me to become a nurse and helped me to find my calling in healthcare. I chose the ED because of the challenge it presents. There is an urgency and expediency to the nature of care that’s provided in the ED, and I found that the environment really utilizes my talents and strengths. It’s helped me hone my abilities and push myself to be a better nurse.”

- Jenel Mendoza, RN, Emergency Services at Methodist Hospital

“When I was in high school, I had to get an ultrasound, and I was absolutely fascinated with the process of the exam! After, I fell in love with the idea of helping others. I love getting to investigate what is going on inside someone’s body and helping them like the sonographer who helped me. When I was moving to Texas, I was nervous about working for an organization that didn’t focus on inclusivity. I am happy to have found a hospital that is recognized for its respectful care for the LGBTQIA+ community. I am proud to be part of Metro’s team.”

- Bailee Proctor, Ultrasound Vascular Technologist at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

“Why I chose to fulfill a career in healthcare was not straightforward. Nursing was never a dream of mine. When it was time for me to start getting serious about going to college, I did not know what path I should take. I knew I had a caring heart and loved caring for people.

One day I heard a radio commercial advertising Surgical Technologist school. I signed up for school and started four weeks later. I dedicated myself to my profession as a Surgical Tech and loved every bit of it. But something was missing. I knew I could make a bigger impact if I had the opportunity to interact with patients. Some coworkers encouraged me to go to nursing school.

Now to answer the question… my ‘WHY’? The bottom line is I just love the different aspects of my role. I help people in their most vulnerable times. Every day I choose to give patients the right to human dignity by treating them with integrity. One reason I really love my role is that not only do I help patients face to face, but I also get to be a part of their care behind the scenes. Many times while working behind the red line as an RN Surgical Tech, my patients will never even know I was a part of their care team. Being an RN Surgical Tech is a very important role. I’m super proud to perform this duty and take much pride in my work.

Considering all of this, my WHY is simple. God put warmth in my heart, and this is how I serve my Lord. By helping people in their time of need.”

“I got into healthcare because I wanted to serve God and serve those who are going through a difficult time. Having someone to connect with and talk to can make a difference in their healing process. Treating a patient is not just about physical healing; there is emotional and spiritual healing that takes place. I love Metro because they understand the importance of treating the whole patient. The people here make a difference and truly care about their patients and staff.”

“My mom has been in healthcare and worked at Methodist Hill Country for many years. Her passion for what she does and the people she works with inspired me to explore healthcare. I enjoy caring for others, especially the elderly. One day, I would like to progress in my career and advance in healthcare. The field of pharmaceuticals is interesting to me. Methodist Hospital Hill Country is home. The people, the purpose, and culture are why I enjoy coming to work each day.”

“I love patient care and truly feel this was my calling. I enjoy being at the bedside caring for my patients and their families while supporting  physically and emotionally. From clinical rotations to being a registered nurse, Methodist Hill Country is my home and I wouldn’t want to serve anywhere else.”

“Informal caregiving was my first call into healthcare as the caregiver to my late grandfather while he battled cancer. While on this journey, I met his hospice nurse who was kind, caring and inspired me to be a nurse.  She brightened the room and brought a smile to his face and I wanted to be that person for those in critical need. For most people coming to the ER, it’s the worst day of their lives and I want to make it better. I enjoy being the person of support for patients and their loved ones in crisis. Since I walked through the doors, I knew this was home and where I wanted to be – truly feeling as if God brought me where He wanted me to be.”

- Martha Cain - Chaplain Clinician at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan

- Katrina Moore, Phlebotomist at Methodist Hospital | Hill Country

- Norma Mora, RN at Methodist Hospital | Hill Country

- Christina Jenschke, ADN RN, CNOR, CST at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

-  LeeAnn Schumpelt, ER RN at Methodist Hospital | Hill Country

EMPLOYEES SHARE THEIR WHY

“I chose Respiratory Therapy because it helps so many people. My son was born with insufficient surfactant in his lungs. After finding this out and spending the next week in the NICU with him, I decided to make a career change and try to help people in the same way my boy was. My favorite thing about what I do is helping our community breathe easier and helping them feel better. I love working at Methodist Atascosa because the staff is like family and I get to help my community.”

“Twenty-three years ago, I went through one of the scariest times of my life. I was 24 weeks pregnant and became very ill.  My doctor had no other choice but to deliver my baby.  My baby girl was 14.5 ounces and 11 inches long. We spent the next three and a half months at Main Methodist NICU. During that time, we met some amazing nurses. Not only did they do what was necessary to ensure my baby survived, but they also went above and beyond. They cared for us like family. I knew then that I wanted to do the same for other families. I have now been a nurse for almost 20 years, and each day my goal is still to do for my patients and their families as those nurses did for us. Everyone here at Methodist Atascosa has that same goal, and that is why this hospital has been my second home for most of my nursing career.”

“There are very few professions where you can touch the lives of others and make a difference in them; and for this reason, I love my job!”

“I enjoy my job in healthcare, more specifically the medical laboratory profession, because we make a difference in people’s lives. Medical laboratory professionals play a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of disease. It is an honor to be a leader of medical laboratory professionals that care for patients and who contribute to the decisions made by physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals that impact patient care.”

- Jonathan Lewis, Respiratory Care Practitioner at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

- Michelle VanAusdall, LVN Med/Surg at Methodist Hospital | Atascosa

- Mandie L. Garcia, Manager Administrative Services at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant

- Trent Freeman, MA, MLS (ASCP) CT, Lab Director at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant

“I love being a behavioral health technician because of the potential impact I can have on the lives of my patients. In a psychiatric unit, patients are often going through one of the most stressful periods in their lives, so even just a smile and some kind words can go a long way. As a behavioral health employee, I cannot express how lucky I am and how fulfilling it is to be able to provide support to some of the most vulnerable populations in our city.”

- Francisca Sneed, Behavioral Health Tech at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant

“I like to assist patients and get their rooms ready for their stay. I love where I work and whom I work with. I wake up every morning with a positive attitude because of the environment I am in.”

-Aaron Gonzalez, Facilities Management at Methodist Hospital | Texsan

“I enjoy taking care of our patients by making sure their meals align with their nutrition and diet plan. I also enjoy providing exceptional service to both the patients and our staff.”

-Lucia Gonzales, FNS Cook at Methodist Hospital | Texsan

“When I first started as a respiratory therapist, I always had the patient’s best interest in mind. I also love the education aspect of my job. As the years went by, I gained experience and I was able to share my knowledge and skills with new hires. I have been with Methodist for 26 years, it is my home.”

-Ernest Garcia, Respiratory Therapy Supervisor at Methodist Hospital | Texsan

“I am one of the two Patient Gaming and Technology Specialists at Methodist Children’s Hospital and I’ve been in this role for a little over five years. I do what I do because ‘I get paid to play video games for a living’ is a really fun way to explain my job, if not wholly accurate. I love that I make a difference in our patient’s stays, helping turn a hospitalization into and fun and exciting visit. I do what I do because seeing a patient go from sad and unhappy to ‘I don’t want to go home’ is always rewarding. And for the smiles. The smiles are great.

-Alexander Pereira, Patient Gaming and Technology Specialist at Methodist Children’s Hospital

EMPLOYEES SHARE THEIR WHY

“I have been with Methodist for over 13 years and in this role for almost 2 years. I have always been passionate in taking care of others from a very young age, and I feel so blessed to assist with high-risk pregnant mothers in our community.  In my role, I coordinate care for these mothers who are going to deliver within the Methodist System. There are so many uncertainties for these high-risk moms as they prepare for delivery due to complex conditions with their baby, themselves or sometimes both. I thoroughly enjoy serving these patients by providing support and education, collaborating with their care team to come up with the best delivery plan for both mom and baby, taking them on private tours in Labor and Delivery, NICU and Mother-Baby to better prepare and understand the hospital process, and serving as a point of contact for our hospital. I am very much a planner myself, and I know it helps to ease these mother’s minds knowing their care team has a plan in place for when their little one arrives. I often times try to imagine myself in my patients’ shoes as they anticipate a very stressful childbirth journey, and do my absolute best to provide compassionate care that I would want myself.”

–Ashley Klatt, BSN, RN, Perinatal Navigator, Methodist Children’s Hospital

“When I was in nursing school, I contracted meningitis and became so sick, the nurse taking care of me became my voice.

Throughout my nursing career, taking care of vulnerable and very sick patients, those unable to speak for themselves, I have always centered my nursing care to be their voice. Now in Quality, every audit, Deep Dive, and process improvement initiative represents a patient, and I am their voice.”

– Melissa Weinman, VP of Quality at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

“Patient Access is one of the first departments a patient encounters when they arrive to the facility. We always strive to provide exceptional service, by treating the patient like family during registration. This can include explaining the patient’s insurance benefits during a difficult time in addition to what to expect for the remainder of their care. We are the department to set the tone for the patient’s visit right from the very beginning. As a leader for Patient Access, my goal for the patient - from the time they register through continuing with their medical services at the facility - is to guarantee they are treated like family, know we are here to serve and help them and ensure my team is held accountable to the Methodist I-CARE Values.”

– Mike Milligan, Director of Patient Access, Methodist Hospital | Northeast

“I have been with HCA for going on 12 years. I began my nursing career in the NICU and have always known without a doubt that it is my passion. Other than being a mother and wife, I believe it is my purpose to be caring for the smallest and sickest patients. It was always a goal of mine to become a flight nurse, and MCH is where God placed me to achieve that. I absolutely adore my team members that take to the sky and roads with me as we outreach in our communities to provide top-tier care from the time we arrive until the time we hand off to the care team waiting for them at Methodist. Whether it is to be present for delivery of an extremely premature infant or stabilize a full-term infant with complications, I am blessed to be a part of the team chosen to make sure a baby receives the best care he/she deserves. I treat all my patients how I would want someone to treat my daughters, and that keeps me coming to work to learn and grow.”

-Cayte Johnson, RN, Neonatal Specialty Transport at Methodist Children’s Hospital

XFL PLAYERS VISIT METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Methodist Children’s Hospital received a heartwarming visit from the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL and local Mariachi child artist Mateo Lopez. The visit was a huge success as the players and Coach Hines Ward took time off from their busy schedule to spend quality time with the amazing kids at the hospital, putting smiles on their faces and spreading joy.

Mateo Lopez added to the excitement of the day as he serenaded the children with his beautiful voice and amazing guitar skills. The children were amazed and thrilled by his performance, making the visit an unforgettable one for them.

The hospital staff expressed their gratitude to the San Antonio Brahmas and Mateo Lopez for their generosity and kindness, which made a significant impact on the children. This visit showcased the power of community coming together to bring joy and positivity to those around us.

The hope is that this visit will inspire others to spread kindness and positivity wherever they go, especially to those in need. Moments like these remind us that we can make a difference in the lives of others with small acts of kindness and love.

METHODIST MOMENTS

METHODIST HOSPITAL | METROPOLITAN ENCOURAGES EARLY LITERACY WITH READ -A-THON

In honor of March being National Reading Month, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan’s NICU hosted a read-a-thon! Staff and families read books to the hospital’s tiniest patients throughout the month, which was therapeutic for all involved!

Having a child in the NICU is stressful and overwhelming for families, especially as they come to terms with their baby’s special care, the skills they need to learn, and the details of their child’s illness. Reading to babies daily can strengthen their senses,

promote brain growth, and increase their language and listening skills by enhancing their memory. Research proves that the earlier you begin reading to your children, the more prepared they will be once they start school.

The hospital encourages families to instill a lifelong relationship with reading and books into their children’s lives, starting as newborns. Families were - gifted books as a keepsake and were eligible to win prizes for reading to their little ones.

TEXAS NURSE DAY AT THE CAPITOL

The Texas Nurses Association hosted ‘Nurse Day at the Capitol’ in February, and nurses of all backgrounds came together to advocate for policy that betters the nursing profession. Many nurses from across our healthcare system attended; they heard about nursing issues, identified opportunities to influence healthcare policy, and more.

Attendees heard about Texas’s current public health landscape, the nurse’s role in health policy, and the nursing legislative agenda and heard from a legislative panel. The event also included visits with individual legislators.

“Nursing is a profession that touches people throughout their lifespan.  The value nurses bring to our communities cannot be underestimated. Nurse Day at the Capitol provided an opportunity for nurses to be heard by those who have the legislative ability to make changes – whether it is improving educational funding to help grow more nurses or creating laws to protect our front-line nurses. We opened doors and conversations together,” shared Mary Lee Potter, Director of Professional Nursing Practice at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan.

METHODIST MOMENTS

METHODIST HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES CELEBRATE NATIONAL BLUE AND GREEN DAY

In light of national donate life month, employees at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, and Methodist Hospital sported their blue and green in honor of National Blue and Green Day to encourage organizations and communities to come together to raise awareness around organ, eye and tissue donation. According to Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) there are currently over 104,000 people in the US in need of an organ transplant. 20 people die each day across the country because of the drastic organ shortage. In Texas alone, it is 10,000 people.

Patients who are able to receive living organ transplants are getting the best quality organ in sometimes less than a year. The abdominal program at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant specializes in kidney, liver and pancreas. The

liver transplant program has some of the best transplant outcomes in Texas. Additionally, the hospital was recognized as the largest living donor kidney transplant program and the largest Hispanic kidney transplant program in the nation. This wouldn’t be possible without the selfless sacrifices of those willing to share the gift of life by becoming an organ donor.

Choosing to donate an organ is a life-changing decision for both the donor and the recipient. The goal of the donation process is to honor the donor’s wishes and support the family through a difficult period. At this hospital, there are programs that can assist a potential donor through the transplant process.

Register to become a donor at sahealth.com/donatelife!

NICU NURSES CREATE A PROGRAM

IMPLEMENTED THROUGHOUT METHODIST

HEALTHCARE TO HELP DECREASE DIAPER RASHES IN PREMATURE BABIES

A new evidence-based project called “Butter the Buns” is being implemented at the Methodist Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to help decrease diaper rashes in premature babies.

The project, created by three experienced NICU nurses, is an educational resource that teaches techniques and the use of appropriate products to protect the delicate skin of premature infants.

“Infants that are pre-term cannot be touched often. Touching them alters their vitals and their skin is very fragile, so we try not to touch them unless needed. Unfortunately, that does mean that sometimes infants are sitting in a dirty diaper for an hour or two, and we don’t like that, but changing their diaper often and rubbing their skin could actually make it worse” says Holland Bernal one of the project’s creators.

“Their [babies] layers of skin are not developed like an adult skin, so they don’t have that extra protection. We want our babies to sleep and rest, so we can’t touch them as often,” says Patricia Maese one of the three nurses who co-created the program.

Maese says the premature babies continue to develop as they sleep and rest. She says the idea came to her after she attended a wound care master class. She compared wounded skin to be as delicate as premature baby skin.

Both nurses say understanding the products has also made a difference in care. They hope this project helps equip nurses with the knowledge and tools they need to keep pre-mature babies under their case comfortable and healthy.

The “Butter the Buns” project is being implemented throughout NICU units in the Methodist Healthcare system.

PROMOTIONS ACROSS THE SYSTEM

METHODIST HOSPITAL | TEXSAN WELCOMES ESTHER KWON AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Esther Kwon joins Methodist Healthcare after serving as Chief Operating Officer for St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas. Esther has held several other administrative roles throughout her career since 2012.

During her time as COO, Esther led 16 hospital departments and services with more than 400 full-time employees, and played an instrumental role in leading the hospital through multiple regulatory and emergency operation situations, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through her leadership, she helped position St. David’s Medical Center as one of HCA Healthcare’s top-performing comprehensive joint replacement programs, grew the hospital’s surgical oncology program, and spearheaded the effort to become one of five facilities in the nation to be designated as a Pancreatic and Liver Center of Excellence. Additionally, Esther oversaw more than $100 million in capital projects and facility renovations and expansions, including the buildout of a $72-million Electrophysiology Center.

Esther earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Policy and Administration from The Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania, with a minor in economics, and she received her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Kwon is a member of the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas Board of Directors, as well as a mentor for the St. David’s Foundation Neal Kocurek Scholarship program.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT APPOINTS NEW ASSOCIATE CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant has appointed Paulette Woodard, DNP, MHA, RN CCM as their Associate Chief Nursing Officer. Previously, Paulette served as the Vice President of Clinical Operations for this hospital. She has over 10 years of progressive healthcare experience, starting in healthcare as a food and nutrition worker, an ICU nurse, insurance, the Wounded Warrior project at Fort Sam Houston Military Base as a case manager, and as a host of other leadership positions in healthcare. Paulette earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University, and both her Masters in Healthcare Administration and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Texas Tech University.

During her time as the VP of Clinical Operations, Paulette collaborated with the SAPD Prue substation that resulted in better relations with the officers and ensured MHST was protected against acts of violence against staff. With the director of the Emergency Department, she helped stabilize processes, staff relations, and operations in the ED. Paulette works collaboratively with our unit-based councils for both nurses and techs and conducted a Nurse Resiliency project that looked at assimilation of new nurses into their nursing environment, experience with preceptors and identified areas of concerns with resolution to improve their sense of safety, support, and belonging.

Paulette was recently accepted into the Class of 2024 Executive Development Program based on her track record of success, leadership skills and drive to succeed. She has been instrumental in the successful operations at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant.

CLINT KOTAL ANNOUNCED AS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER METHODIST HOSPITAL | HILL COUNTRY

Clinton D. Kotal has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Hospital Hill Country. Most recently, Clinton served as Chief Operating Officer for HCM Medical Group and HCM Surgery Center since 2017. Prior to joining Methodist Hospital Hill Country, Clinton served as the Vice President for Ambulatory Services and Network of Care for The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. Clinton has also served in various leadership and consulting roles with large healthcare organizations across the country.

Clinton received his bachelor’s degree in business administration (finance) from Texas Tech University and his master’s degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.

METHODIST HOSPITAL |

Nick Petro has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Methodist Hospital | Landmark.

Nick has served as Vice President of Operations since 2021 with direct oversight of 44 departments, 4 outpatient clinics, and multiple service lines. Not only has he demonstrated exceptional leadership skills but he has made significant contributions to our organization’s growth and development.

During his tenure, Nick has made great improvements in strengthening operations and processes while also enhancing employee engagement. He was instrumental in leading HAI prevention, initiating a ticket-to-test process for C. Diff to improve testing stewardship as well as audit processes for hand hygiene and cleanto-dirty workflow, resulting in a reduction in CAUTI infections by 30% YOY and a 46% reduction in MRSA infections. He also helped implement efficiency initiatives for our lab to achieve 3-day turnaround times for oncology patients receiving molecular testing. Through Nick’s leadership, he improved the overall employee engagement index from 72 to 75 for all of his departments (750+ employees) with 65% participation. His expertise in growth and development is also impressive. Nick was the project lead for multiple radiology suite upgrades ($9.5M), including a 32-slice CT, 2 cardiac MRIs, and 2 updated IR Bi-Plane machines. He also executed and negotiated 3 multimillion-dollar contracts for anesthesia services to better support patient care and increase surgical volume opportunity, resulting in a 7% volume increase over the run rate. He helped achieve a new record for the most bone marrow transplant and cell therapy infusions for Methodist Hospital in a single year, with 43% growth YOY for the

program while also successfully funding the expansion and relocation of the Cell Therapy Lab, servicing the Bone Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy program.

Prior to his role as VP of Operations, Nick served as Director, Operations & Surgical Oncology Service Lines from 2020 to 2021 where he was accountable for the Surgical Oncology service lines and operational leader for the Endoscopy Center and Central Laboratory. During this time, he developed and opened a $1.2 million multidisciplinary Oncology Survivor Center and achieved an employee engagement score of 91 with 88% participation rate for the endoscopy department. Before stepping into the role as Director of Operations, Nick served as Director of Physician and Provider Relations for three years helping to develop and grow service lines in various roles for Methodist Healthcare. Nick says none of these achievements would be possible without the leaders he has been gifted the opportunity to work with.

Nick holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University. As COO of Methodist Hospital | Landmark, Nick will lead hospital operations for specialized surgical services including bariatrics, breast reconstruction, orthopedics, gynecology, colorectal, neurosurgery, and general surgery.

LANDMARK APPOINTS NICK PETRO AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

GROWTH AND EXPANSION

METHODIST HEALTHCARE OFFICIALLY ACQUIRES AWARD-WINNING HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION, HILL COUNTRY MEMORIAL

Methodist Healthcare officially acquired the Fredericksburg-based healthcare system, Hill Country Memorial, on April 1. The acquisition includes a licensed hospice and home care provider, eight medical clinics, one medical group, and an 86-bed acute care hospital, renamed Methodist Hospital | Hill Country.

Located at 1020 S State Hwy 16, in Fredericksburg, Texas, Methodist Hospital | Hill Country brings Methodist Healthcare’s number of acute care hospitals to nine, offering a comprehensive array of services such as emergency, cardiology, post-acute care, surgical, obstetrics, orthopedic, and gastroenterology.

“Together, Hill Country Memorial and Methodist Healthcare will start a new journey. A journey with shared values of excellence, integrity, compassion, accountability, and respect,” said President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare, Dan Miller. “With humble beginnings of raising money in jars to build the hospital 50 years ago; a storied history of sharing and giving; and a world-class legacy – a new chapter will now be added to the hospital’s history book to again strengthen the Texas Hill Country community. We’re excited to be a part of that.”

The System has many years of experience operating hospitals in rural areas, including the previous acquisition of Methodist Hospital | Atascosa, located in Jourdanton, Texas, with a population of just over 4,000.  Since 2017, Methodist Healthcare has recruited numerous physician specialties for the hospital, invested

in staff and equipment, added dialysis services, purchased a robot, and expanded the hospitalbased ER. To help meet the needs of other rural communities, Methodist Healthcare also manages Medina Regional Hospital in Hondo, Texas, Dimmit Regional Hospital in Carrizo Springs, Texas, Cuero Community Hospital in Cuero, Texas, and Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall, Texas.

The acquisition also aligns well with Methodist Healthcare’s mission of serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional and cost-effective healthcare accessible to all by creating an additional access point for patients to receive Methodist-quality services. Though the ownership structure is new, the shared collaboration to serve the residents of the Texas Hill Country is not. For many years, Hill Country Memorial has coordinated the care of their patients requiring advanced in-patient treatment with Methodist Healthcare. In fact, when patients in the Hill Country seek inpatient care in San Antonio, 64% choose Methodist Healthcare.

“Hill Country Memorial has served our Texas Hill Country for the past 52 years, and we look forward to joining the Methodist family,” said Clint Kotal, the newly appointed CEO of Methodist Hospital | Hill County. “Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio is known for providing world-class care, and with their partnership, we will be able to expand services and continue offering remarkable care to our communities for the years to come.”

METHODIST HOSPITAL | ATASCOSA RENOVATES ER TO IMPROVE PATIENT EXPERIENCE

In response to the growing population in Atascosa County and the continuous volume growth of their emergency room, the hospital was excited to host a ribbon cutting to introduce its newly renovated emergency department to the community.

As part of the renovation, the hospital expanded its triage area, purchased several new, comfortable chairs for patients not needing a bed, improved their check-in area and security desk, and implemented new processes and procedures to enhance the experience of staff and patients.

“Our mission statement is ‘serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional, cost-effective health care accessible to all.’ That is the hallmark of what we do, and we are so excited to share this milestone with the community,” shared Drew Seelman, Chief Nursing Officer.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT’S QUALITY TEAM GRADUATES FROM HCA’S QUALITY UNIVERSITY

Seven members of Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant’s Quality and Patient Safety team graduated from HCA’s Quality University last week. The program prepares facility-level HCA Healthcare quality leaders to grow in their leadership abilities, as well as increase their knowledge in the areas of quality, patient safety, and regulatory and accreditation compliance. MHST graduates included: Andreina Calzada, Jennifer Deosdade, Rosemary Garcia, Sarah Ortiz, Mehvish Siddiqui, Sarah Vela, and Amanda Villarreal.

TWO METHODIST HOSPITAL UNITS RECEIVE SILVER BEACON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

Congratulations to the CVICU and NSICU teams at Methodist Hospital, recipients of the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence, presented by AACN. This achievement is a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments.

The Silver Beacon Award for Excellence signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures, and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. It also signifies the units have evaluation and improvement strategies in place and good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks. The Silver Award winners met the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

• Leadership Structures and Systems

• Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement

• Effective Communication, Knowledge Management and Learning and Development

• Evidence-Based Practice and Processes

• Outcome Measurement

METHODIST HOSPITAL | TEXSAN CELEBRATES 1-YEAR CLABSI FREE

Methodist Hospital | Texsan celebrated 1 year CLABSIfree thanks to the diligent efforts of their amazing team! The goal of Zero Patient Harm drives everything we do as a system. Hospital Acquired Infection reduction, with a focus on Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) reduction has been a primary focus at Methodist

Hospital | Texsan. The hospital has consistently provided exceptional patient care by following sterile insertion practices, maintaining clean to dirty workflows, keeping the insertion site clean, and removing the line as soon as medically indicated to reduce the risk of a patient getting a CLABSI.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

METHODIST HEALTHCARE HOSPITALS RECEIVE UNIT OF DISTINCTION

Methodist Healthcare nurses share an unwavering commitment to caring for their patients and supporting each other. In March, HCA Healthcare celebrated exemplary nursing units across the organization at the 2022 Unit of Distinction Awards. The Unit of Distinction is achieved through measurable, exemplary performance in the strategic areas of advocacy and leadership, consistency in nursing practice and operations and leveraging scale to improve patient care.

Launched in 2015, the Unit of Distinction Awards are an essential component of HCA Healthcare’s strategic nursing agenda. With more than 2,300 sites of care, HCA Healthcare’s more than 93,000 nurses have abundant opportunities to choose work across a wide spectrum of clinical and non-clinical settings. HCA Healthcare supports and invests in nursing with leading-edge technologies and increased access to clinical education and professional development opportunities to help make HCA Healthcare a premier career destination for nurses.

In a ceremony broadcast from the HCA Healthcare headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, 204 nursing units were recognized as top-performing nursing units. Units of Distinction are categorized in the top five percent of all HCA Healthcare units in the following specialized areas of care

• Behavioral Health

• Critical Care

• Emergency Services

• Inpatient Rehabilitation

• Medical Surgical

• Pediatrics / Pediatric Intensive Care

• Surgical Services

• Women’s and Children’s Nursing

PICU NURSES EARN UNIT OF DISTINCTIONTOP RANKING UNIT!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR METHODIST HEALTHCARE NURSING UNITS FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AMONG THE BEST!

• Methodist Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit, Unit of Distinction – Top Ranking Unit

• Methodist Hospital Stone Oak, Mother Baby, Unit of Distinction Honoree

• Methodist Hospital, Cardiac Progressive Care, Unit of Distinction Honoree

• Methodist Hospital, Surgical Admissions Unit, Unit of Distinction

• Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant, Operating Room, Unit of Distinction

• Methodist Hospital Texsan, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Unit of Distinction Honoree

• Methodist Hospital, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Unit of Distinction

METHODIST HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES RECEIVE ESTEEMED COMMUNITY RECOGNITION FROM THE PHILLIPPINE NURSES ASSOCIATION

Iam Palgan, RN on CVICU received the Community Nurse of the Year Award from the Philippine Nurses Association San Antonio (PNASA). Iam was presented his award alongside San Antonio Mayor, Ron Nirenberg and Philippine Consul General Honorable, Jerril Santos.

Iam received the Community Service Award for his volunteer work with “Under the Bridge” where he responded to needs of homeless by distributing blankets, socks, and undergarments during our cold weather season (alongside his nursing colleagues from PNASA) for our local downtown community. He volunteered at Methodist Ministries, Wesley Clinic to provide blood pressure, heart rate, and medication safety tips. He is also a certified trainer and provides free educational sessions to the community on “Stop the Bleed” techniques with tourniquet application. In the past he has taught international students on NCLEX preparation courses and EKG tips. He helped to recruit/engage/welcome international nurses to San Antonio.

Phyllis Hubbard, Manager of Case Management was awarded with the Rising Star of the Year award from the Philippine Nurses Association San Antonio (PNASA). Phyllis has been with Methodist for the past 18 years.

“This recognition is a true honor. I was very surprised and proud to receive it. I will continuously strive to do my very best for our Methodist Case Management team and be part of the leadership that they deserve,” says Phyllis.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | STONE OAK RECOGNIZED BY HEALTHGRADES AS A 2023 PATIENT SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT

Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak  was recently awarded the 2023 Patient Safety Excellence Award by Healthgrades. This distinction places the hospital among the top 10% of all short-term acute care hospitals in the nation!

Healthgrades found that just four patient safety indicators account for 74% of all patient safety events: hip fracture due to an in-hospital fall, collapsed lung resulting from a procedure/surgery, pressure or bed sores acquired in the hospital, and catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in-hospital.

And as we all know, quality saves lives. In fact, using data collected in 2023, Healthgrades estimates that if all hospitals performed similarly to Patient Safety Award recipients like Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak, on average, 95,880 patient safety events could have been avoided.

Congratulations to the staff at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak for making their facility one of the safest hospitals in the nation!

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

ACUTE REHAB ONCOLOGY TEAM AWARDED THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY REHABILITATION INSTITUTE

(PORI) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION

Methodist Hospital’s Acute Rehab Services has been awarded the Physiological Oncology Rehabilitation Institute (PORi) Center of Excellence designation. This designation confirms the commitment and expertise of the physical, occupational, and speech therapists to helping patients undergoing cancer treatment. There are 35 PORi Centers of Excellence in the country and Methodist Hospital is the only program in Texas to receive this recognition.

The effort to become a PORi Center of Excellence was led by Kurtis Graves, PT & Katie Springer, OTR who along with a core development team consisting of PT, OT, and ST took on the challenge of developing and defining the Oncology

Rehabilitation program for Methodist Hospital. Oncology Rehabilitation is a medical intervention in conjunction with a patient’s cancer treatment. It is critically important to develop a comprehensive oncology treatment plan that addresses all of the patient’s body systems that have been or may be affected by their cancer or its treatment. PORi’s goal is to elevate Oncology Rehabilitation to be a norm for a cancer patient’s journey through treatment in an effort to improve a patient’s quality of life.

To qualify as a PORi Center of Excellence, the therapy team worked to have at least one PORI Oncology Rehabilitation therapist in each core discipline. The core disciplines include

Chemotoxicity & Cancer Exercise Management, Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, Head & Neck Cancer Rehabilitation, and Pelvic Cancer & Lower Extremity Rehabilitation. Methodist Hospital currently has 5 PORI Oncology Rehabilitation therapists and 5 more awaiting the opportunity to take the PORi courses.

The Methodist Oncology team has demonstrated the commitment they have made to provide the very best care for its patients through the hard work, time, and dedication they put into becoming PORi Oncology Rehabilitation therapists.

METHODIST HOSPITAL | NORTHEAST VOTED READERS’ CHOICE AWARD

For the third consecutive year, the community voted Methodist Hospital | Northeast “Best Hospital” in San Antonio for the 2023 YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards! This award further confirms the outstanding job the Methodist Hospital | Northeast staff does to create an environment where patients want to come for their health care needs.

The Readers’ Choice Award is unique and different from other awards because it is voted upon by the people in our community; and, it is especially meaningful because it comes directly from the families we work so hard to serve. This award is also a testament to the reputation and trust Methodist Hospital | Northeast staff and physicians hold throughout San Antonio. Thank you for your consistent dedication to our patients and congratulations!

Happy EMS Week to all the first responders and a special thank you to our incredible EMS Relations team who are there when first responders need it most. We are so proud of you and for the difference you continue to make.

Photo: Our heroes, Frankie Trifilio with Lady Bug, Chillon Montgomery with Fresca, and Brandon Miller with Chanel, brought comfort to the first responders in Nashville, Tennessee, after the tragic school shooting.