Fort Worth, TX - Frasier Accepts Top Nursing Job at JPS

JPS Health Network officials have named Nora Frasier, MBA, BSN, RN, as chief nursing officer. Frasier joins JPS with more than 15 years of executive experience leading healthcare organizations in both operational and clinical services roles, officials said.

Frasier has previously served as chief nursing officer at Baptist Medical Center, San Antonio, and vice president and chief nurse executive at Christus Spohn Health System, Corpus Christi.

She is a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds a certification in nursing administration. Frasier is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Texas and American Nurses Association, and a past-president elect of the Texas Organization of Nurse Executives.

San Antonio - RNs Run For Organ Donation Awareness

Four members of the nursing staff from the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital surgical ICU joined together as team "Kardiac K Runners" in support of the 12th annual Vital Alliance Donate Life 5K run and walk.

Vital Alliance is a consortium of local agencies, hospitals, transplant donors and recipients, healthcare professionals and community leaders involved in raising awareness for organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Heather Boldizsar RN, David Mendoza CNA, and Susan Wright RN, ran the 3.1 mile course, while Joe Acord, RN, walked due to a recent hamstring injury.

The four nurses usually are found providing postoperative care to veterans, officials said. The group believes in supporting awareness for organ donation and in serving as role models for health by maintaining their own healthy lifestyles, Wright said.

Tulsa, OK - Saint Francis Dedicates NICU

Saint Francis Health System recently hosted a grand opening of its new NICU in the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis. The 58-bed unit provides sophisticated treatments and services unavailable elsewhere in the area.

Hospital administrators report that more than 20,000 infants have been hospitalized in the Saint Francis NICU since 1972. The unit had been previously located within Saint Francis Hospital and known as the Eastern Oklahoma Perinatal Center. The new NICU facilities have been relocated to occupy the entire fifth floor of the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis.

The unit is reportedly the only level III C designated NICU in Tulsa, and features 38 private rooms, six rooms to accommodate families with twin births and an eight-bed specialty unit adjacent to labor and delivery. Eleven physician neonatologists provide 24/7 on-site care and the unit is equipped to provide neonatal extra corporeal membrane oxygenation, the only hospital in Tulsa with those capabilities, according to officials.

The NICU's modern design incorporates natural lighting, reduced noise levels and family-friendly amenities such as private areas for breastfeeding or pumping, a rocker/recliner and sleeper sofa for parents to stay overnight with their child. A family-centered approach to care involves a collaborative effort between the hospital staff and families to provide care and decision-making for these tiny patients.

Covington, LA - Fairway Medical Helps 'Read for the Record'

Fairway Medical Urgent Care (FMUC) joined the Junior League of Greater Covington Oct. 8 for the 2nd annual Read for the Record Campaign at Koop Drive in Covington.

Promoting childhood literacy in local communities, the campaign supporters are attempting to help break the world record of having the largest recorded number of individuals around the world reading the same book in one day. This year's campaign featured Eric Carle's children's book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

FMUC nurses were on hand to provide first aid assistance in the event any children required medical attention. 

While the number of participants worldwide is still being recorded, FMUC nurse Katelyn Roig, RN, claimed the Covington event a success.

"This was such a rewarding experience," said Roig. "Being able to interact with the kids face to face and at the same time promote education in my community. I hope to participate in future events like this."

Fort Worth, TX - Texas Health Southwest Names New Risk Manager

Texas Health (TH) Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest recently appointed Kristian Rainbow, BSN, RN, as the hospital's new risk manager.

Joining the TH staff as a nurse tech in 2002, Rainbow brings 7 years of clinical nursing experience with a specialty in women's services, officials said. In addition to her new role, Rainbow will serve as the hospital's patient advocate.

Most recently, Rainbow was a staff nurse in TH Arlington Memorial Hospital's L&D unit and NICU in Arlington, TX, where she gained knowledge of crisis management and provided recommendations to improve organizational processes for both units, according to officials.

Dallas - Medical City Uses AI to Enhance Patient Flow

Administrators at Medical City Dallas have implemented a patient management software system that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to automate patient flow throughout the hospital and improve operational efficiencies. 

The system creates a "patient itinerary," or a patient's resource plan of care. It's continually re-adjusted in real-time as conditions change and it communicates to all caregivers instantaneously, which allows for smooth patient flow, officials said.

As a result, all departments within Medical City will have a common view of each patient's daily itinerary, which will be adjusted in real-time as variables change throughout the day.

"This new system is the best breed of software that will expedite patient care needs through a transparent process to improve the timeliness of critical interventions and diagnostic procedures," said Cole Edmonson, MS, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, vice president and chief nurse executive. "We will now be able to greatly improve patient and clinician satisfaction as it relates to procedure scheduling and timeliness."

Plano, TX - Texas Health Facility Launches '30-Minute Promise'

Texas Health (TH) Presbyterian Hospital Plano is making a commitment to its ED patients that their wait time will no longer than a half-hour.

The '30-Minute Promise' is designed to shorten ED wait times and "throughput" times, which will be recorded and examined on a daily basis, said Linda Van Pelt, MS, BSN, ANCC, NE-BC, CNE, nursing director, emergency services and intensive care.

"After testing and refining our processes, we are already meeting or beating the 30-minute wait time," she added. "We worked with an EBP-based consulting group to implement a hospital-wide initiative called 'Project Smart' in January to work smarter with all departments to improve patient satisfaction. We adopted the program from Maryland's Atlantic General Hospital so we didn't have to reinvent the wheel."

Van Pelt said the program expedited the triage process in the ED waiting room by eliminating 11-15 minutes by making a simple administrative change.

"We realize patients have a choice in healthcare, and believe they should receive the best care as quick as possible," she said. "It's the right thing to do for our patients."

Although patients will be seen by a physician within 30 minutes of check-in, actual time spent in the ED will vary depending on each patient's illness, said Van Pelt. The 30-minute promise will not apply during a natural disaster or community health disaster and some fast-track patients with lower acuity complaints may be seen by a PA.

Texas - TNA District 3 Organizers Schedule No-Show Fundraiser

Organizers of the District 3 affiliate of the Texas Nurses Association (TNA) have an odd request for their members: don't show up for our upcoming function.

The "No-Gala Gala" annual is a fundraiser which supports the district's scholarship fund, which allows all money donated to the cause to go to the recipient, rather than other costs that are often attributed to such get-togethers, said Lygia Dunsworth, BSN, RN.

"The scholarship 'No-Gala Gala' fundraiser has been in place for years," she explained. "The fundraiser continues to be a success year after year which allows us to provide scholarships to students."

Dunsworth said the importance of "not attending" also supports the county health departments' recommendations to avoid crowded events/venues.

"In the midst of the flu pandemic, we are protecting our membership by asking them not to come to a crowded area for an event," she said. "The fundraising concept is also sensitive to the economic situation nationwide. Many seasoned nurses have returned to work because of lost or reduced retirement funds. We also have nurses whose spouses have been deployed and other nurses who have returned to work to support their families. This initiative provides an opportunity to donate to the scholarship fund while eliminating the need to spend additional resources for an event."

To contribute to the No-Gala Gala fundraiser visit http://tna3.org/store/page3.html .

Texas-Whistleblower civil case to go to mediation
A civil case involving two nurse whistleblowers in Texas, which has brought protests from state and national nursing organizations, may be decided out of court.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Robert Junell filed an "abate and mediate" order in the federal civil case initiated by two Winkler County nurses Anne Mitchell, RN, and Vicki Galle, RN, and the Texas Nurses Association (TNA) against the county, hospital and the sheriff where the event occurred. In the suit, the plaintiffs claim the nurses are victims of "whistleblower" retaliation and civil rights violations.

The civil suit stems from actions by Mitchell and Galle, who on April 7, reported their concerns to the Texas Medical Board (TMB) about what they claimed was substandard care provided by Winkler County Hospital physician Rolando Arafiles, MD. Two months later, the nurses were indicted on criminal charges filed against them for "misuse of official information," a third-degree felony that carries potential penalties of 2-10 years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10,000. Mitchell and Galle, both long-time nurses at the hospital, were subsequently fired from their positions and are set to go to trial for the criminal charges.

A hearing was held Oct. 21 on the state criminal case to address pending motions and also hear new evidence by the nurses' attorneys.

In the criminal case, the court ruled there will be a change of venue outside Winkler County to ensure a fair trial, but it has not been decided where trial will be moved, said Jim Willmann, JD, TNA's general counsel and director of governmental affairs. Judge Junell indicated to attorneys that his first choice was adjacent Andrews County which is also within his jurisdiction.

Pending mediation, the criminal trial is now expected to be in December or January, Willmann told ADVANCE.

Willmann said the court granted the nurses' attorneys exempt from HIPAA motions to allow them access to 10 patient records of whom the nurses expressed concerns about, so medical experts could review those cases to evaluate if the nurses' concerns were legitimate.

The nurses' attorneys put into evidence hospital survey findings conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) as part of investigating the complaint TNA filed against the hospital. The results included that the nurses did act in good faith in reporting the physician and that their termination was in retaliation for making the report.  

"Interestingly, at the 10/21 hearing the county attorney stated in open court that he agreed the nurses have a positive duty to report substandard care and that the nurses' report was based on concern about substandard care," said Willmann, who attended the hearing. "However, he continued to maintain that he was going to prove they did not act in good faith and that is all he has to prove. It is hard to understand the legal theory he is relying on that would justify his position."  

As for the civil proceedings, the order to abate pending resolution of the criminal case filed against the two nurses requires both parties in the lawsuit to mediation, which will need to be completed by Dec. 31. The order further stated that counsel is directed to notify the court upon conviction or dismissal of the underlying case. The parties must notify the court by Nov. 13 of the mediator selected.

San Antonio - UTHSC Receives $3 Million Grant

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) recently received a $3 million grant from the National Institute for Nursing Research. The funding was awarded through the "Grand Opportunities" program of the National Institutes of Health, a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009, officials said. 

Kathleen R. Stevens, EdD, RN, FAAN, professor, UTHSCSA acute nursing care, will lead the 2-year grant, which will be applied to create reportedly the first national research network of clinical and academic nurse researchers focusing on front-line hospital care provided by nurses.

"The network will collaborate in studies across multiple hospitals to quickly determine what works to improve bedside care," said Stevens. "It will be positioned to move answers rapidly into practice. Nurses are in a strong position to transform care in hospitals."

NEW DIGS: Medical Center of McKinney's surgical team prepare to perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in one of the facility's new operating rooms. courtesy Medical Center of McKinney

Medical Center of McKinney (MCM) recently completed an 8-month, $7 million expansion project that added two additional ORs and state-of-the-art surgical equipment to the hospital. The renovation now brings the full-service hospital's surgical suite capacity to six ORs, hospital officials said.

"With the new surgical expansion, we have added the latest technology for several services including neurosurgery, orthopedics and cardiothoracic surgery," said Allison Kennedy, RN. "We've added a brain image guidance system, a nerve integrity monitoring system, high-definition video instrumentation, microscopes, ultrasound machines, OR beds and new anesthesia machines."

Texas - ENA Announces Officers for 2010 

The Texas Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) announced its newly-elected officers for 2010.

President - Michael Moon, MSN,RN, CNS-CC, CEN, FAEN, faculty member, University of the Incarnate Word School of Nursing and Health Professions, San Antonio

President Elect - Barry Hudson, RN, CPEN, staff nurse, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth.

Treasurer Elect - Ingrid Steinbach, RN, CEN, director of emergency and trauma services, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville

Director-at-Large - Rhonda Manor-Coombs, RN, staff nurse, St. David's Medical Center, Austin

Director - Pat Yancey, RN, CEN, staff nurse and house supervisor, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington.

Immediate Past President - Will Stewart, MSN, RN, CEN, EMT-P, nurse manager, Covenant Health System, Lubbock

Secretary - Toni Robak, BSN, RN, nurse manager, Methodist Emergency Care Center, Houston

Treasurer - Paul Clark, MSN, MA, RN, University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio;

Parliamentarian - Sally Snow, BSN, RN, FAEN, trauma program manager, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth.

Louisiana - Regional League Expands NLN's National Network

The National League for Nursing (NLN) announced the expansion of its affiliate network with the addition of the Louisiana League for Nursing (LLN). The announcement came at NLN's 2009 Education Summit, a 4-day gathering of nurse educators, administrators and executives of related healthcare institutions held in Philadelphia in September. The addition of the Louisiana League for Nursing brings the number of active constituent leagues to 22.

"We are delighted to welcome this new league into the NLN fold and look forward to raising our profile in the state of Louisiana, thanks to the visionary nurse educators there who have taken the lead in organizing the group, demonstrating their commitment to the NLN's core mission and values," said Cathleen Shultz, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, NLN president and dean of the College of Nursing at Harding University, Searcy, AR.

"We also look forward to working together as it creates programs and services to strengthen Louisiana's community of nurse educators."

The LLN board consists of 12 leading nurse educators recruited from schools of nursing across the state and headed by an experienced slate of officers:

• Melanie Green, PhD. RNC, CNE, dean of the school of nursing at Our Lady of the Lake (OLOL) College in Baton Rouge, first president.
• Lenetra L. Jefferson, PhD, RN, LMT (licensed massage therapist), assistant professor of nursing at Dillard University in New Orleans, vice president;
• Jennifer Beck, PhD, RN, CNE, associate professor and associate dean of nursing at OLOL College secretary;
• Demetrius J. Porche, DNS, APRN, professor and dean of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in New Orleans, treasurer.

Constituent leagues operate under the umbrella of the NLN's Constituent Organization Advisory Council, promoting excellence in nursing education to create a strong and diverse nursing workforce through statewide, regional and local conferences; advocacy; and other professional activities that address issues of interest to nurse educators in their respective geographic locales.

If there is no constituent league in your area and you have an interested group of nurse educators, contact Tish Hess, director of membership and excellence initiatives at 212-812-0374.

HEARTS BEHIND HEART CARE: Celebrating Memorial Health System of East Texas' receipt of the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease Silver Performance Achievement Award were Mario Estrella (left), vice president, patient care services; Ravinder Bachireddy, MD, cardiologist; Bryant Krenek, president and chief executive officer; Les Leach, chief operating officer; Rhonda Stephenson, Clinical Quality Coordinator; Peggy Gray, director, quality improvement initiatives, American Heart Association; and John Brink, RN, cath lab nurse manager. courtesy Memorial Health System of East Texas

Memorial Health System of East Texas recently received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines (GWTG)-Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Silver Performance Achievement Award. 

The award is designed to recognize a health system's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of cardiac care that effectively improves treatment of patients hospitalized with CAD.

Under GWTG-CAD, patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, aspirin, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers in the hospital and receive smoking cessation and weight management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before they are discharged.

Hospitals that receive the GWTG-CAD Silver Performance Achievement Award have demonstrated for at least 1 year that 85 percent of its coronary patients without contraindications) are discharged following the American Heart Association's recommended treatment guidelines. 

The American Heart Association's GWTG program is designed to increase the use of and adherence to the association's secondary prevention guidelines for CAD. Developed to assist healthcare professionals follow proven standards and procedures before patients are discharged, GWTG-CAD helps hospitals reduce the risk of recurrent heart attacks and death in treated patients.

EXTRAORDINARY EVENBLY: Barbara Lazor, MBA, BSN, RN, (left) chief nursing executive at CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital, Mike Evenbly, RN, and Jack McCabe, chief executive officer at St. Catherine, celebrate at the hospital's first DAISY Award ceremony. Courtesy CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital

Mike Evenbly, RN, became the first nurse at CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital to be honored with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, hospital officials said.

The award, presented in collaboration with the American Organization of Nurse Executives, is part of the Diseases Attacking the Immune System (DAISY) Foundation's program to recognize the "super-human" efforts nurses perform every day. 

Evenbly was nominated by his peers and also by a patient's family for providing spiritual and emotional support to a woman who had been abused. He provided community resources and ensured the patient's total needs were addressed, officials said.

DAISY honorees receive a certificate and a sculpture called "A Healer's Touch", hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. Moving forward, a nurse will be honored with a DAISY award each quarter.

"We are proud to be among the hospitals participating in the DAISY award program," says Barbara Lazor, MBA, BSN, RN, chief nursing executive at CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital.  "Nurses are heroes every day. Given the current national nursing shortage, the DAISY award could not be launched at a better time. It's important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and the DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that."  

Houston - St. Luke's Earns Third Magnet Designation

St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital announced it has received national recognition for excellence in nursing care for the third time from the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Designation for Nursing Excellence. Recognizing quality patient care and nursing excellence, the Magnet Recognition Program provides consumers with a quality care benchmark, officials said.

St. Luke's first achieved Magnet designation in 2001, and earned redesignation in 2005. Each time, the hospital passed a rigorous evaluation process that demonstrated nurses' clinical expertise as well as their ability to advocate on behalf of their patients, said Karen K. Myers, MSN, RN, NEA-BC.

"We are honored to be recognized for the third time by the ANCC," said Myers, vice president and chief nursing officer. "There's a Magnet moment happening here every day. We are committed to being the best of the best. We're proud to have highly skilled nursing professionals who are committed to providing comprehensive care that addresses the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of our patients."

This year, ANCC appraisers met with more than 400 direct care nurses at St. Luke's and visited every patient care area and members of various hospital councils. The appraisers identified four exemplars that included interdisciplinary practice, shared leadership structure, ongoing professional development, and the use of evidence-based practice in the delivery of nursing care, including the ongoing nursing research program.

Tyler, TX - Trinity Receives Endoscopy Recognition

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) recently recognized the Trinity Mother Frances Endoscopy Center as part of its program dedicated to promoting quality in endoscopy in all settings where it is practiced in the U.S. The center is part of Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics.

The ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program honors endoscopy units that follow the ASGE guidelines on privileging, quality assurance, endoscopy reprocessing and CDC infection control guidelines and have completed specialized training on quality and safety in endoscopy principles. Upon completion of the program, units receive an ASGE certificate of recognition.

To receive the honor, the center had to show proof of successful and current accreditation by a recognized accrediting body, sign an attestation affirming that certain ASGE and CDC guidelines are adopted as minimum requirements of the unit policy, and have a representative of the unit complete an ASGE recognition course, officials said.

The program is applicable to all settings in the U.S. where endoscopy is practiced, including office-based endoscopy units, hospital-based endoscopy units, and stand-alone ambulatory endoscopy or surgery centers, according to officials.

Fort Worth, TX -Texas Health Harris Achieves Magnet Re-designation

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth has earned re-designation as a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The hospital was reportedly the first in Tarrant County to earn Magnet status in 2005 and is now the first to achieve re-designation, according to hospital officials.

"Magnet re-designation is an even greater achievement for hospitals," said Karen Robeano, MS, RN, vice president, patient care services/chief nursing officer. "Texas Health Fort Worth had to prove how our nursing practice and programs have improved and matured since the original designation 4 years ago. Magnet re-designation gives us the ability to measure our performance against national standards in a variety of areas, and to highlight what we are doing that is innovative and exciting in terms of patient care and nursing outcomes."

St. David's Round Rock Medical Center identified a need for a level II trauma center in Williamson County. In the past 16 months, more than 600 patients have required transport from Williamson County to downtown Austin for trauma-related conditions. Now, the hospital will seek level II trauma designation, making it the only trauma center in Williamson County.

 "St. David's Round Rock was once a rural community hospital, but over the past 2 decades, it has evolved into a thriving acute care medical center with hundreds of specialty physicians, Williamson County's first comprehensive cardiovascular program and the busiest ED in Round Rock," said Patti Ellisor, MSN, MHA, BSN, RN, CNAA, chief nursing officer.

Transport Services Honored By AAMS

Children's Medical Center of Dallas Transport Services received the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) 2009 Excellence in Community Service award for its "Know Before You Go" program. The transport team uses the program to take a proactive role in preventing accidental injuries by giving parents and other adults who care for children actionable water-safety tips and strategies designed to prevent drowning or near-drownings.

Accepting the award during a March 12 Capitol Hill reception and awards ceremony was Hector Murillo, RN. The event was part of AAMS' annual spring conference, held March 11-13 in Washington, D.C. The program, which is administered by the Injury Prevention department at the hospital, is a collaborative effort between the Children's Medical Center of Dallas and the Dallas-area YMCA, American Red Cross and Safe Kids Coalition.

"AAMS is proud to present this award because it is the transport team's direct involvement - by enacting drowning rescue scenarios, which include the Children's Medical Center Dallas ambulance driving up with lights on and sirens blaring - that makes these dramatizations so effective when television news audiences see them," said AAMS President Sandy Kinkade.

UMN Brackenridge Hosts Stem Cell & Spinal Cord Injury Summit

The Brain & Spine Center at University Medical Center (UMC) Brackenridge, Austin, TX, is one of a select group of hospitals in the country exploring the opportunity to participate in a ground-breaking clinical trial that could transform treatment of individuals with spinal cord injuries.

Seton's expert physicians, clinicians and researchers in spinal cord injuries joined other experts from around the world at the Adult Stem Cell & Spinal Cord Injury Summit March 12-14 at UMC Brackenridge.

The summit, sponsored by the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation and co-hosted by UMC Brackenridge, W.M. Keck Center, and StemCyte Inc., is the first gathering of prospective investigators in a clinical trial aimed at testing use of adult stem cells in treatment of patients with spinal cord injuries.

"We are extremely excited about the possibility of our center participating in this landmark clinical trial," said Lauren Brandt, MSN, RN, CNS, CNRN, clinical director of neurosciences. "Our Brain and Spine Center sees about 100 patients with spinal cord injuries every year. We offer some of the best rehabilitation programs in the country and only hope we can offer this ground-breaking adult stem cell treatment as well."

Facilities Included in Thomson Reuters' 100 Top Hospitals

The Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters recently released its annual study identifying the 100 top U.S. hospitals based on their overall organizational performance.

The Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks study is based on the 100 top hospitals national balanced scorecard that evaluates performance in nine areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio, patient satisfaction, and adherence to clinical standards of care. The study has been conducted annually since 1993.

Thomson Reuters also is launching the 100 Top Hospitals: Everest Award for National Benchmarks to recognize those hospitals among the 100 winners that delivered the greatest rate of improvement over a 5-year period. This marks the first time the 100 Top Hospitals national benchmarks have been integrated with data reflecting long-term performance trends to identify the top-performing hospitals improving at the fastest rate. This year, there are 23 Everest award winners. Citizens Medical Center, Victoria, TX, was listed as an Everest award winner.

Listed in the "Top 100" hospitals from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, by category, are:

Major Teaching Hospitals

• Scott and White Memorial Hospital - Temple, TX

Large Community Hospitals

• Doctors Hospital at Renaissance - Edinburg, TX
• Citizens Medical Center - Victoria, TX

Small Community Hospitals

• Chambers Memorial Hospital - Danville, AR
• Duncan Regional Hospital - Duncan, OK
• Lake Whitney Medical Center - Whitney, TX

Dallas - 'Hannah Montana' Star Visits Medical City Children's Hospital

Former Garland, TX, resident Mitchel Musso, best known as "Oliver" in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, made a surprise stop at Medical City Children's Hospital, Dallas, in support of the "Clean Hands Are Cool Hands" campaign. The campaign is sponsored by the Health Corporation of America, which is designed to teach kids in grades kindergarten through fifth about the importance of good handwashing habits.

Mitchel had the chance to visit with pediatric patients and family members, while bringing awareness to how clean hands can help stop the spread of MRSA.

"We are very appreciative of Mitchel's dedication to bring awareness and education on the need for constant handwashing," said Cole Edmonson, MS, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, vice president and chief nurse executive. "It was a pleasure to have him at Medical City Children's Hospital to see the patients, talk with parents, thank the nursing staff and promote clean hands for all of us. It is often moments like these that serve to remind us the routine things we do, like wash our hands, make a big difference in patients' lives and their outcomes."

Nursing Program Receives Grant to Add New Faculty

The Texoma Health Foundation (THF) recently approved a 3-year, $150,000 grant proposal from East Central University (ECU) in Ada, OK, to fund a full-time faculty position for ECU's nursing program in Durant, OK.

The purpose of the THF Texoma Health Foundation is to increase the number of nursing students graduating each year from the ECU @ Southeastern Nursing Program, which was established on the Southeastern Oklahoma State University campus in 2001.

Deborah Flowers, RN, ECU professor of nursing and program coordinator of the ECU @ SE nursing program, has been the primary nursing faculty member on the Southeastern campus. The ECU nursing faculty travels weekly from Ada to Durant to teach classes. They also teach classes on the ECU campus, which are transmitted to SE classrooms by interactive television.

Kristy Lankford, RN, has been hired for the new position, which will be funded by the grant through the 2011-12 academic years. ECU will pay the costs of employee benefits and the entire cost of the position after 3 years.

According to Flowers, an additional faculty member will allow nursing faculty the time to provide more one-on-one mentoring, advisement and retention support for each student.

"This will help our efforts to increase the graduation rate of high-quality RNs and help reduce the shortage of nurses in the four THF service-area counties," Flowers said.

She noted the grant would reduce the current student/faculty contact ratio of 43-to-1 on the ECU @ SE campus to 22-to-1. For more information about the ECU nursing program, contact Flowers at dflowers@se.edu or 580-745-3199.

St. Elizabeth Hospital Recognized for Contributions to Community

The Ascension Chamber of Commerce recently named St. Elizabeth Hospital, Gonzales, LA, as Large Business of the Year during its annual awards banquet.

In presenting the award, Rae Milano, Ascension Chamber of Commerce chairperson, cited the hospital's contributions to the community through numerous local organizations, educating the community on important health topics and providing more than $2 million in uncompensated care in 2008.

Also noted was the hospital's continuing commitment to improving access to healthcare in Ascension Parish with the opening of the hospital's 40,000-square-foot expansion, opening the St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Plaza in Prairieville, LA, and partnering with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Gonzales, to open a radiation therapy center to provide services locally to individuals with cancer.

AARP Unveils Interactive Map of Top-Ranked Hospitals

Consumer's Checkbook, a nonprofit organization, recently shared with AARP The Magazine its research ranking the top hospitals from 53 of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Among the top-ranked facilities listed, 14 hospitals from Texas and Oklahoma were named.

Two facilities located in Oklahoma City made the list:

• INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center; and
• Oklahoma Heart Hospital.

There were 10 hospitals from the major metro areas in Texas.

• Heart Hospital of Austin;
• St. David's Medical Center, Austin; 
• Baylor Health Care System, Dallas;
• University Hospital-St. Paul, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas;
• Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine;
• The Methodist Hospital, Houston;
• St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, Houston;
• Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, Houston;
• Texsan Heart Hospital, San Antonio; and
• CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-City Centre, San Antonio.

Physicians also where asked where they were most likely to send patients with extremely difficult cases, and the following Texas hospitals for heart and cancer, respectively, were named:

• The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston; and
• The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

The survey, compiled by Consumers' Checkbook, was part of the research conducted for a new book called Consumers' Guide to Hospitals, which uses volumes of government safety statistics and data on death and complications along with survey results, to compare and rank hospitals in the country's largest metropolitan areas.

Consumers' Checkbook surveyed doctors from across the country and collected 140,000 ratings of hospitals in their own communities. This survey was used by AARP The Magazine to generate a detailed list of the top 125 hospitals in the U.S. by geographic area and is available at www.aarpmagazine.org/health.

Methodist Charlton Performs New Gastrointestinal Technique

Physicians at Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Dallas, recently performed their first cases using a new spiral endoscopy technology to diagnose and treat patients with obscure bleeding in the small intestine.

"Spiral endoscopy is another tool we now have to examine the small intestine, which represents 90 percent of the surface area of the digestive tract," said Randal Macurak, MD, gastroenterologist, Methodist Charlton. "It is about 20 feet long and some of the lesions we are looking for are 1-2 mm or the size of a pin head."

"We are excited about providing this procedure to our patients because we know how much it benefits them," noted Cynthia Benford, CGRN, GI lab clinical coordinator. "It is faster and far less invasive and they are happier with the results."

According to Macurak, physicians can view areas previously out of reach and do so in less than half the time needed by previous devices.

"It offers the patient the advantages of faster treatment, an easier procedure with less sedation and treatment without surgery," he said.

Health System Pairs With Wal-Mart Stores to Reopen Clinics

Northwest Health System recently opened two new CareExpress convenient care clinics to replace former RediClinics sites located in Wal-Mart stores. One clinic is located at the Fayetteville, AR, Wal-Mart supercenter at 3919 North Mall Ave., and the other was opened at the Wal-Mart supercenter in south Rogers, AR, at 4208 Pleasant Crossing Blvd.

CareExpress offers access to acute and preventive care for common health ailments treatable without need for urgent or emergency care, including sore throats, sinus infections, upper-respiratory infections, earaches, bladder infections, insect bites and stings, blood-sugar testing, vaccinations, drug screening and routine physicals.

The sites are staffed by advanced nurse practitioners who work under the oversight of Northwest Health System physicians. The clinics are open for walk-in service from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. No appointment is needed, and patients may pay cash or file claims with participating health plans. The walk-in clinics are the first operated by Northwest Health System in a Wal-Mart store.

Dell Children's Awarded LEED Platinum Designation

The U.S. Green Building Council recently awarded Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, the designation as a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Platinum hospital. LEED is the internationally recognized benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

 "As a nurse and educator in the pediatric ICU at Dell Children's Medical Center, patient safety is our main priority. It means everything to have a healthy hospital environment for our patients and staff," said Beth Hadi, RN. "By having a green facility, our patients not only have a beautiful environment, but fresh air and natural sunlight so they may heal more quickly. These advantages also benefit our nurses who work 12-hour shifts. I am so grateful for the commitment shown by our administration and nursing leadership toward making our hospital as healthy as possible. I am also extremely proud of the care our world-class doctors, nurses and clinical staff deliver to our patients on a daily basis."

To achieve LEED certification, sustainable green buildings are rated in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

"We passionately pursued the LEED Platinum designation to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, protect our central Texas environment and, most important, improve the clinical outcomes for our patients," said Bob Bonar, president and CEO. "The connection between a healthy environment and improved patient outcomes is well-established."

Healthcare Ethics Lecture Focuses on End-of-Life Care

St. Tammany Parish Hospital (STPH), Covington, LA, will host ethics lectures about end-of-life care, ethics lectures about end-of-life care presented by Diann Uustal, PhD, MBA, MS, RN, May 21 in the Mandeville/Covington Room at STPH, 1202 South Tyler St. in Covington. The lectures will be presented from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and repeated from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Through the lectures, Uustal will identify what healthcare providers ethically "owe" a dying person and three ways end-of-life care can be improved. She also will discuss when "quality of life" is more ethically compelling than the duty to preserve life and the ethical perspectives of "ordinary," "extraordinary" or "futile" treatments.

Uustal is a nationally and internationally recognized clinical nurse ethicist, educator, author and consultant. She is also the founder and president of Educational Resources in HealthCare Inc., an educational consulting firm. 

The lecture will provide 3.5 contact hours approved for nurses, social workers, physical therapists, radiologic technologists, respiratory therapists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists.

The cost for nonemployees of STPH will be $30. Call the STPH education department at 985-898-4083 to register or for more information. Registration begins 30 minutes before the presentation begins.

Arlington, TX - Gray Recognized by Press Association 

Jennifer Gray, PhD, RN, associate dean for the PhD program and the George W. and Hazel M. Jay Professor in Nursing in the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Arlington, was recently honored as a Healthcare Hero by the Fort Worth Business Press at a dinner. 

Recognized for her work in HIV and AIDS research, Gray has worked in Africa - Cameroon, Tanzania and Uganda - and also in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. While many focus on bedside nursing, Gray realizes healthcare reaches far beyond treating patients in hospitals into people's homes and the community. Gray is currently leading a team that seeks to establish the East Africa Center for Nursing Excellence to support initial and continuing nursing education.

According to Elizabeth Poster, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of nursing at UT Arlington, "Dr. Gray has spent her career committed to developing resources in both Texas and Africa that help increase the number of nurse scientists/researchers and educators. She practices what she teaches."

On faculty since 1989, Gray received her PhD in nursing from Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, which she completed while on faculty at UT Arlington. Her master's in nursing is from UT Arlington where she specialized in adult nursing and the educator role. She is an alumna of Central State University in Edmond, OK, where she earned her BSN in 1977.  

Gray has received numerous teaching honors including her induction into the UT Arlington Academy of Distinguished Teachers in 2007, the President's Award for Excellence in Distance Education Teaching and the Chancellors Award for teaching in 1998.  

Facility Awarded Hip/Knee Replacement Certification  

Medical Center of McKinney's Center for Joint Replacement earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for healthcare quality for its total hip replacement and total knee replacement programs.

Medical Center of McKinney is the only hospital in Dallas and Collin counties to receive this certification, according to Jean E. Range, MS, RN, CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.

To earn this distinction, a disease management program, such as the center's joint replacement program, undergoes an extensive, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers every 2 years.

"This certification means the facility does the right things and does them well for knee and hip replacement patients," Range said.

Medical Center Wins Multiple Awards at LSU Forum 

The LSU Healthcare Services Division (HCSD), Baton Rouge, LA, awarded staff of Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (LJCMC), Houma, LA, multiple awards for quality healthcare at the 12th annual healthcare effectiveness forum, "Medical Homes and Academic Health Systems: Fostering Excellence in Health Outcomes in the LSU System."

The seven hospitals of the LSU HCSD were eligible for the awards. LJCMC was honored with the following:

•       first place for clinical excellence in HIV/AIDS care;
•       first place for clinical excellence in cancer screening; 
•       first place for most improved in HIV/AIDS care;
•       second place for clinical excellence in care for congestive heart failure;
•       second place for clinical excellence in inpatient patient satisfaction;
•       second place for most improved in cancer screening;
•       tied for second with Walter O. Moss Medical Center, Lake Charles, LA, in clinical excellence in diabetes care; and
•       tied for second place with the Interim LSU Public Hospital, New Orleans, for clinical excellence in renal care.

Advance Preparedness & Response Center Approved

Among the most serious threats to national security are those related to the health sector, such as pandemic influenza and bioterrorism. Unfortunately, there are demonstrated gaps in the mobilization, coordination, management and training of health personnel for times of large-scale, catastrophic emergencies. 

To address these gaps in the country's readiness for disasters, The Texas A & M University System, College Station, board of regents recently approved establishment of the National Center for Emergency Medical Preparedness and Response (NCEMPR).

The center combines three A&M system members to leverage the capabilities of the following: medical and public health services expertise within the Texas A&M Health Science Center; emergency preparedness and response training within the Texas Engineering Extension Service; and research, testing and simulation expertise of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.  

NCEMPR will offer training and evaluation to local communities and the state to strengthen preparedness for future emergencies. It also will assist the federal government in development, training and deployment of disaster medical assistance teams while exploring potential opportunities for coordinated health and engineering response to international emergencies.

Bethel Named Director of Women's Services

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital administrators appointed Lori Bethel, RN, to director of women's services. She brings 26 years of clinical nursing experience with a focus on surgical care. Bethel will oversee the labor and delivery unit, NICU, mother/baby unit and gynecology for the hospital.

"Lori is a nursing leader who always rises to the occasion," said Donna Bertram, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, vice president/chief nursing officer. "She's the most organized leader that I've worked with. She loves learning new things, so she will be perfect for this position."

Most recently, Bethel served as director of surgical services and interim director of women's services for the hospital. She joined the hospital's surgery department in 2001 as a staff nurse and was promoted to nurse manager 3 years later. As nurse manager, she began a reward and recognition program for the unit.

McGinity Selected to Serve on University's Board of Regents 

Gov. Rick Perry appointed three members to the Texas Woman's University Board of Regents for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2015, including Ann Scanlon McGinity, PhD, RN, senior vice president of operations and chief nurse executive at the Methodist Hospital in Houston. The board adopts rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of the university.

McGinity is a member of the Texas Nurses Association, American Nurses Association and the Good Samaritan Foundation of Houston Board of Trustees.

Nurses' Association Elects Officers

Donna Painter, MS, RN, CNN, was elected national president-elect of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA) for 2009-10. Painter's responsibilities include serving on the national board of directors and as liaison to assigned committees. She is regional vice president, East Texas, Fresenius Medical Care, Corsicana.

The new officers will assume their respective positions at the conclusion of ANNA's 40th National Symposium in San Diego April 26-29.  

Also in regional elections, members elected four other leaders to be chapters coordinator-elect (CCE). These individuals coordinate and supervise regional chapter activities, report to regional vice presidents and serve as members on appropriate committees.

Medical Musicians Wanted

The Medical Music Group is recruiting healthcare musicians for its symphony orchestra and chorus. The group will perform twin "Healing for the Nations" concerts: Nov. 4 in Washington, DC, and Nov. 11 in London. The concerts will raise money for malaria eradication.

Great Workplace Award Honors Hospital

Hendrick Health System, Abilene, TX, recently announced it is one of only 23 organizations worldwide to be honored with the 2009 Gallup Great Workplace Award. This is the third year in a row for Hendrick to receive the honor. The Gallup Great Workplace Award recognizes the most engaged and productive workforces in the world.

In 2007, Hendrick was among 12 organizations worldwide to receive the first Gallup Great Workplace Award. Last year, Hendrick was among 20 organizations honored worldwide. Only eight of those organizations, including Hendrick, have received the award all 3 years.

To receive the award, Hendrick participated in Gallup's survey of employees around the world, which evaluates 12 criteria of engaged workforces using a 12-question survey. The award is based on survey results and a best practices portfolio summarizing the steps the organization has taken to increase workforce engagement.

To be eligible for the award, organizations must have a sample size of at least 1,000 employees with at least 80 percent of employees responding to the survey.

Applicants' results are compared across a Gallup workplace research database comprised of millions of work teams in more than 120 countries. A panel of workplace experts assesses the applicants' results to select the winners. 

Winners of the 2009 award will be presented with the award at the Gallup Summit April 28-30 in Omaha, NE.

Nurses Main Support for Parents of Premature Infants

A recent article by a nursing faculty member at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio concludes nurses are well-positioned to assist families of premature infants during this difficult time because they are at the forefront of patient and family care.

"Parenting in the NICU," by Lisa M. Cleveland, MN, RN, clinical instructor in the school of nursing's department of family nursing care, takes an in-depth look at 60 studies that focus on parents who have infants in the NICU, with the goal of uncovering the specific needs of these parents and what nurses can do to positively support them to establish their role as parents.

The article appeared in the November/December edition of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, published by the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).

"As a neonatal nurse, I have always suspected that nurses can greatly impact parenting outcomes in the NICU," Cleveland said. "The findings of this review provide evidence to support my clinical observations. In the future, I plan to study the needs of parents of Mexican descent in the NICU. This is a population of families in South Texas for which nurses often provide care, yet little is known about their cultural needs in the NICU."

"With the birth of premature infants on the rise in the U.S., this article highlights the important role nurses can play during this time in the families' lives," said Karen Peddicord, PhD, RN-BC, executive director of AWHONN.

Medical Center Wins Multiple Awards

The LSU Healthcare Services Division (HCSD), Baton Rouge, LA, awarded staff of Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center (LJCMC), Houma, LA, multiple awards for quality healthcare at the 12th annual healthcare effectiveness forum, "Medical Homes and Academic Health Systems: Fostering Excellence in Health Outcomes in the LSU System." 

The seven hospitals of the LSU HCSD were eligible for the awards. LJCMC was honored with the following:

• first place for clinical excellence in HIV/AIDS care, first place for clinical excellence in cancer screening and first place for most improved in HIV/AIDS care;
• second place for clinical excellence in care for congestive heart failure and second place for clinical excellence in inpatient patient satisfaction;
• tied for second with Walter O. Moss Medical Center, Lake Charles, LA, in clinical excellence in diabetes care;
• tied for second place with the Interim LSU Public Hospital, New Orleans, for clinical excellence in renal care; and
• second place for most improved in cancer screening.

University Regents Approve Preparedness & Response Center

Among the most serious threats to national security are those related to the health sector, such as pandemic influenza and bioterrorism. Unfortunately, there are demonstrated gaps in the mobilization, coordination, management and training of health personnel for times of large-scale, catastrophic emergencies.

To address these gaps in the country's readiness for disasters, The Texas A & M University System, College Station, board of regents recently approved establishment of the National Center for Emergency Medical Preparedness and Response (NCEMPR).

The center combines three A&M system members to leverage the capabilities of the following: medical and public health services expertise within the Texas A&M Health Science Center; emergency preparedness and response training within the Texas Engineering Extension Service; and research, testing and simulation expertise of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.

NCEMPR will offer training and evaluation to local communities and to the state to strengthen preparedness for future emergencies. It also will assist the federal government in development, training and deployment of disaster medical assistance teams while exploring potential opportunities for coordinated health and engineering response to international emergencies.

Scholarship Promotes Employee Education & Career Advancement

Donna Schero, BSN, RN, recently was awarded an academic scholarship by the St. Tammany Parish Hospital (STPH), Covington, LA, medical staff.  

Each year, the medical staff awards a $2,000 scholarship to a current STPH nurse pursuing an advanced nursing or professional degree. Schero is earning a graduate degree in nursing leadership and administration at Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA.  

She has worked in the STPH ICU and critical care unit since March 2008. She also worked at STPH from 1991 to 2006.   

The scholarship represents the medical staff's support of STPH's leadership in assisting its employees to further their education and training. Employees are able to grow professionally and move up the career ladder while still working at the hospital.

Facility Keeps Level I Trauma Center Designation 

Twenty years ago, Parkland Memorial Hospital (PMH) was the first to complete the verification process to be a level I trauma center by the American College of Surgeons. After a recent verification survey, PMH was once again recognized for its optimal trauma care. Parkland is one of only 13 level I comprehensive trauma centers in Texas and one of two in Dallas.

The survey team identified 17 strengths in Parkland's trauma program including disaster-response planning, trauma research, injury prevention, psychosocial support for the patient and family, rehabilitation and strong teamwork.

"Recently, our trauma program also received the Trauma Facility of the Year Award from the Texas Department of State Health Services for its 20-year commitment to maintaining trauma center designation and participation in regional and system development," said Jorie Klein, RN, director of trauma and disaster management. "This is a direct result of teamwork, leadership investment in the trauma program and commitment from all providers who care for the injured patient and their families through the course of their hospitalization."

High School Students Offered Peek at Healthcare Careers 

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Harrison, AR, in conjunction with local businesses, UAMS Rural Hospital Program, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, Arkansas Farm Bureau, and the Oral Health Department of the Arkansas Department of Health is offering a two week summer program for students entering 11^th or 12^th grades interested in healthcare. The program will be held June 15-26.

The program activities will include basic first aid and basic life support/CPR certification, shadowing/community rotations with medical professionals from the following fields; family medicine, nursing, pharmacology, dentistry, veterinary medicine, laboratory medicine, physical/occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, radiology, radiation therapy, kinesiology, and ophthalmology; dissection, casting, and suturing activities; overview of careers associated with medicine and health-related professionals; and teambuilding and leadership development.

Application requirements: you must be a high school junior or senior, must complete a M*A*S*H application, student and parent/guardian signatures, commitment to attend a full two week program, recommendations from a high school health or science teacher and high school counselor, official high school transcript with at least one semester of biology and 3.0 or greater GPA, and must complete a face-to-face interview with the program director.

Applications for the 2009 M*A*S*H program may be picked up from the high school counselor's office or the Education Office at NARMC, 620 North Main in Harrison.

 Houston - Once Again Named as a Blue Distinction Center  

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas has redesignated Houston Northwest Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care. To date, more than 400 facilities nationwide have received this designation.

As part of Blue Distinction, facilities are required to reapply periodically for re-evaluation. This review process confirms all Blue Distinction Centers continue to meet evidence-based quality thresholds, determined in collaboration with expert physicians and organizations.

It also provides an opportunity to improve the overall quality of care, by requiring all Blue Distinction Centers to meet selection criteria that keep abreast of ongoing advances in clinical practice.

Houston Northwest offers comprehensive cardiac care services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass graft surgery).

To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Care, facilities must meet the following selection criteria:an established cardiac care program, performing required annual volumes for certain procedures (e.g., a minimum of 125 cardiac surgical procedures annually, including both CABG and/or valve surgery);

Technology Prods Veterans to Live Healthier Lifestyle 

Veterans with chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, COPD and heart failure can be monitored at home using special telehealth technologies provided to them by the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

The Health Buddy is a simple piece of equipment similar to an answering machine that can be placed anywhere in the veteran's home where there is a power outlet and a working telephone jack.

Specific questions about the veteran and his illness are programmed into the Health Buddy. The veteran simply answers the questions each day. Information obtained such as blood pressure and blood glucose, along with other patient information in the electronic system, allows his care coordinator to anticipate and prevent avoidable problems. 

Coordinators monitor the information daily and contact the patient for any medication adjustments or to schedule appointments as necessary.

"The ultimate goal of the program is to work with each veteran to teach him how to improve his quality of life. Motivation and enthusiasm on the veteran's part are key factors to success," said Omana Simon, FNP-BC, care coordination/home telehealth coordinator. "Our oldest participating veteran is 90 years old."

Hospitals Purchased by North Texas Company

Rockwall Hospitals Inc., in Richardson, TX, recently purchased Integra Hospital Plano (IHP), a 73-bed rehabilitation facility in Plano, TX, and Sage Rehabilitation Hospital, a 42-bed facility in Baton Rouge, LA, and have operated efficiently during the reorganization and purchase, according to Kathy Mason, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer of IHP.

"One of the tenets of rehabilitation-nursing practice is the belief that all patients with functional limitations have value which exceeds their illnesses or disabilities," Mason said. "This same tenet has served us well at IHP as our team has been challenged by tough economic times. The nursing staff at IHP is proud to now be a member of the Rockwall Hospitals team and the relief is almost palpable. Patient satisfaction is at an all-time high and our nursing-sensitive indicators demonstrate a commitment to nursing care that has exceeded all expectations." 

Home Health Agency Adopts New Moniker

Northwest Health System, Springdale, AR, a home healthcare agency (formerly Communities Home Health), got a fresh start this year with a new name that officials believe better describes the agency's scope and focus: Northwest Arkansas Home Health.

"We have begun the new year with a new name and a renewed commitment to our patients, their families and our partners in the healthcare community," said Sherry Haynes, the home health agency's director.

The community-based home care provider has been serving the community since 1980 and continues to offer skilled nursing, home care aides, all therapy services, social workers, and many other health services in the comfort and safety of the patient's home. The agency serves home care patients in Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison counties.

The agency will continue to extend Northwest Health System's ability to refer to and partner with post-acute service providers to address the specific healthcare needs in greater Northwest Arkansas region.

With its "Partners in Care" culture, Haynes said Northwest Arkansas Home Health believes it has opportunities for enhanced collaboration, extending disease management programs and primary treatment plans beyond the walls of the hospital and into the homes of community residents.

"Providing excellence in healthcare that is cost-efficient and close to home is our ultimate goal," Haynes added. "This can only be achieved by a keen focus on patient care, quality outcomes and customer service."

Women's Center Expansion Underway

Major construction work is under way on a $13 million transformation of the Women's Unit at St. Joseph Regional Health Center, Bryan, TX, a renovation project that will expand both the number and size of rooms for new mothers and women needing other health services.

Phase I of the construction opened in January, providing new postpartum rooms and a new entryway on to the women's unit. Construction on the second phase will begin in the first quarter of 2009.

The new Women's Center will house all maternity-related services, a well-baby nursery, an expanded intensive care area for newborns, and support areas. When complete the new center will feature:

• 11 new labor/delivery/recovery rooms, nearly doubling capacity from the current six rooms;
• 34 postpartum rooms, up from the current 17 postpartum rooms that are larger;
• two expanded cesarean-section suites;
• two expanded recovery suites;
• new to the unit will be three dedicated antepartum rooms for the care of women with preterm labor;
• 29 well-baby bassinets in level I nursery;
• nine bassinets in the intensive care area for newborns with special needs. The new area will be a separate nursery space with more room to allow parents to spend more time with their babies while in intensive care.

Much of the space to be renovated currently houses SJRHC's labor & delivery, postpartum, pediatrics and nursery areas. Since all those units will remain open while work is being done, renovation construction will occur in six phases over a period of 2-3 years.

As each phase is finished, the new area will open for service allowing construction to begin in the vacated area. Phase I, which is the build-out of new postpartum rooms, is expected to be completed in January of next year.

Hospital Named To "Top Ten Best Companies in Texas" List

For the second time in 4 years, Medical City Hospital (MCH) was named one of the state's top employers in the Texas Monthly 2009 list of "Best Companies to Work for in Texas."  

As the only hospital in North Texas to make the 2009 list, MCH was the only hospital in the state to rank in the top 10 and was ranked eighth in the category with at least 250 employees, according to CEO Britt Berrett.  

Dallas - Intensivist ICU Program Introduced in North Texas

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is the first major medical center in North Texas to implement an intensivist program that puts the care of ICU patients under the guidance of board-certified critical care physicians, who directly oversee patient care in the ICU throughout the day - without other responsibilities in the hospital, according to Elizabeth Asturi, MSN, RN, director of nursing administration. 

"Not only will our patients and their families find this program reassuring during their hospital stay, it's a strong driver of nurse satisfaction," Asturi said. "While nurses are given important responsibilities in this intense clinical environment, they're part of a team that provides constant support and feedback. The nurses are supported by intensivists and other ICU specialists, so they're not on an island making decisions on their own."

The program is designed to improve outcomes and help patients recover more quickly from complex medical conditions, according to Phyllis McCorstin, RN, clinical nurse specialist for critical care/cardiology services.  

Women & Infants HIV Clinic Opens

Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, opened Women's Specialty Center, a new integrated clinic for HIV-infected postpartum women and their infants, which will provide gynecology, pediatrics and primary care services.

"HIV-infected women face many challenges, caring for the newborn, themselves and sometimes other children," said Laura N. Armas-Kolostroubis, MD, clinical director of the Texas/Oklahoma AIDS education and training center. "The fear of their baby living with the disease motivates them to care for the infant first, often leaving them lacking in care.

Hospital Opens Expanded Cardiac Cath Lab

Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth opened the newly expanded cardiac catheterization lab Feb. 17. The expansive 26,000-square-foot facility is designed to accept patients from the first signs of heart and vascular trouble through diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.

Comprehensive services will include cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology, noninvasive cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The new cardiovascular unit will feature three patient care areas, three cath lab rooms, two echocardiogram rooms and a stress echocardiogram room.

"Our vision is to be trusted as the best place for cardiovascular patients to receive safe, quality and compassionate care with access to effective and advanced treatment supported by research," said Ingrid Kindipan, MSN, CCRN, director of cardiology,. "With our new unit, we can serve more patients with advanced technologies, whether they need noninvasive testing, interventional procedures or open-heart surgery."

Hospitals Partner With Texas Cord Blood Bank  

The Texas Cord Blood Bank (TCBB), San Antonio, a publicly and privately funded nonprofit program established to create a public supply of umbilical cord blood, recently announced a partnership between St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.  

Sandy McElligott, MBA, RN, NE-BC, vice president of women services and community initiatives at Texas Children's Maternity Center, acknowledges the growing number of families interested in cord blood donation. "Over the past year, we have received numerous inquiries regarding cord blood donation," she said. "We are thrilled to now have the ability to offer this incredible service to expanding families throughout the Houston community."  

Texas, as a whole, is a premier location for a public cord blood bank due to its rich ethnic diversity, which is important to increase the likelihood of finding a suitable transfusion for all patients in need.

Children's Hospital, Touro Join Forces

The board of trustees of Children's Hospital, New Orleans, and the Touro Infirmary, New Orleans, governing board recently announced they have signed a healthcare system agreement to create a two-hospital, nonprofit, community-based hospital system in the Gulf South region.

Children's Hospital's parent corporation, Louisiana Children's Medical Center (LCMC), New Orleans, will be the common parent corporation that will govern Touro, an adult acute care, nonprofit, faith-based community medical center; and Children's Hospital, which provides pediatric care.

It is expected, when cleared by regulators, a corporate integration will emerge, tentatively expected in early 2009. Both hospitals are not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporations; have been and will continue as distinct, major medical centers; and will remain locally owned and operated under the new system.

LCMC will infuse at least $100 million in capital improvements for Touro over the next 5 years. Children's Hospital and Touro will benefit from economies of scale and have already identified synergies for both to grow and expand. The strategy calls for no layoffs at either institution.

ED Patients Screened for Substance Abuse

Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Mercy Health Center, Oklahoma City, has screened more than 600 emergency department patients since last fall for substance abuse. Mercy is one of only a handful of hospitals in the nation taking these preventive measures.

"By intervening early, we can have a significant impact on people who are struggling with drug and alcohol problems," said Gary Parker, PhD, MS, BSN, RN, Mercy's research lead. "In an ED setting, people are focused on their health, and they are much more likely to hear and act on any advice they receive. It's a critical teaching moment to help reduce drug and alcohol abuse in our state."

Known as Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, SBIRT shifts the emphasis to alcohol and drug users the traditional system has largely ignored - those who consume more than medically accepted limits but are not yet dependent.

Rejecting the notion only people with serious levels of abuse or dependency need targeted interventions, SBIRT assumes everyone, regardless of their current level of alcohol or drug consumption, can benefit from learning the facts about alcohol consumption and knowing the effects of substance abuse.

SBIRT further assumes many people who consume amounts above those limits do not understand the risks they face but can and will change their behavior when they find out. For that reason, providing education about the consequences of alcohol and other drug use is a major part of the program.

Since October, Mercy has screened 631 ED patients and, of those, 122 have been identified with alcohol-related problems and 73 have had drug-related problems, including eight pregnant women with alcohol/drug issues.

With five SBIRT-trained screeners, Mercy conducts private interviews with ED patients and provides each person with an individualized intervention appropriate to the level of risk for abuse.

"What's made this program effective is the screeners, also known as peer health educators, are well-trained to not be judgmental or threatening and they are well scripted on how to conduct interactions that produce accurate screening results and effective interventions," said Jessica Hawkins, director of prevention services for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

DAISY Award Recipient Honored 

University Health System in San Antonio awarded Elsie Harris, RN, staff nurse II, the facility's first DAISY award, 

"It is so telling that the first words from Elsie when she received this recognition was 'I was just doing my job,'" said Nancy Ray, MA, RN, chief nursing officer and associate administrator. "What is so wonderful about the DAISY award is that it is given to nurses for simply doing what they are trained to do, with expertise and with compassion.  

"They touch the lives of patients and their families in ways that will never be forgotten, and they save lives just by noticing something out of the ordinary and following up. It takes a very special type of person to do this kind of job, and I am delighted that University Health System is participating in this wonderful program to help us all remember that." 

The award is part of a program by the national DAISY Foundation to recognize the "super-human" efforts nurses put forth every day in taking care of their patients.

Hospital Acquisition Includes Building A New Facility 

Community Health Systems Inc, Franklin, TN, recently announced a subsidiary has acquired Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital, a 74-bed acute care hospital in Siloam Springs, AR. The transaction is structured as a short-term lease of the existing facility and includes a replacement facility to be built by the end of the fourth year of the lease term.

Houston - Facility Receives Breast Center National Quality Certification

The Breast Center at Houston Northwest Medical Center was recently recognized as a certified quality breast center by the National Consortium of Breast Centers.

According to the consortium Web site, to be eligible for certification as a quality breast center, facilities must hold a Certified Participant designation and meet certain other criteria.

For example, the facility must supply data for 75 percent of the measures for which their breast center type should be able to measure performance.

Esther Valdez, RN, a MammoCare specialist at the center, said the recognition is important because it tells the community they are committed to helping educate women about breast cancer.

"The quality certification is a reflection of our hard work at the Breast Center, as well as our commitment to help the ladies of our community. We have worked very hard, not only in the hospital setting, but in the community to reach out to women to come in for early detection," Valdez said.

Brownsville, TX - Nurse Receives First DAISY Award at South Texas Facility

Nelly Opune, RN, of the NICU at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville (VBMC), became the first to receive the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at her facility. The award was presented in collaboration with the American Organization of Nurse Executives and is part of a program by the national DAISY Foundation to recognize the "super-human" efforts nurses put forth every day in taking care of their patients. The DAISY award will be given on a quarterly basis to a nurse at VBMC-Brownsville.

College Station, TX - Texas A&M Implementing Disaster Preparedness Center

To address the country's readiness for disasters, the Texas A&M University System board of regents approved the establishment of the National Center for Emergency Medical Preparedness and Response (NCEMPR).

NCEMPR combines three A&M systems: medical and public health services expertise within the Texas A&M Health Science Center; emergency preparedness and response training within the Texas Engineering Extension Service; and research, testing and simulation expertise of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.

"The A&M system engineering agencies are known around the world for exceptional training of first responders," said Nancy W. Dickey, MD, president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center and vice chancellor for health affairs for the Texas A&M University System. "This enhancement will mean improved levels and preparedness and, thus, enhanced safety for those in need."

According to Dickey, the NCEMPR will offer training and evaluation to local communities and the state to strengthen preparedness for future emergencies.

Granbury, TX - Lake Granbury Expands Facility

Lake Granbury Medical Center (LGMC), Granbury, TX, held a "topping out" celebration Jan. 21 to mark the setting of the final beam for the third floor addition to the hospital.

According to LGMC's CEO, David Orcutt, the additional 12,000 square feet will increase med/surg inpatient capacity from 24 to 48 private patient rooms. The other elements of the $15 million expansion and renovation include expansion of surgical support areas, redesigned front parking lot, renovated emergency department registration area and a new front entrance with covered visitor drop-off area.

"The substantial changes we are undertaking at the center will offer our medical staff and patients modern and comfortable facilities, as well as the technology people expect," Orcutt said. "The hospital is committed to expanding and adding services that allow patients to stay closer to home for quality medical care."

McKinney, TX - Medical Center Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Medical Center of McKinney in McKinney, TX, received the full cycle II accreditation with percutaneous coronary interventions from the Society of Chest Pain Centers Accreditation Review Committee. 

"When minutes count during a cardiac event, it is of great benefit to the Northern Collin County community for Medical Center of McKinney to be an accredited chest pain center," said Glenda Cox, MHA, BSN, RN, director of emergency services.

"This accreditation demonstrates the hospitals' commitment to diagnosing and treating cardiac patients quickly and effectively. 

According to Cox, the center's protocol-driven and systematic approach to patient management allows healthcare providers reduce time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack.

Brooklyn, NY - Promise of Nursing Regional Faculty Fellowships Available

Are you in a doctoral or master's degree program preparing to be a nurse educator; you may be eligible to apply for a faculty fellowship. The deadline for applications is March 6.

Baccalaureate-prepared RNs enrolled in graduate-level, degree-granting colleges and universities in selected regions of the U.S. may be eligible to apply for a Promise of Nursing Regional Faculty Fellowship (PON Fellowship).This program is designed to assist RNs preparing for the nurse educator role to achieve their degrees. PON Fellowships, up to $7,500 annually, may be applied toward tuition, academic fees and books.

Funding for the PON Fellowship program is contributed by several hospitals and healthcare agencies, Johnson & Johnson, and national companies with an interest in supporting nursing education.The funds are raised at gala fundraising events sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. The PON Fellowship program is administered by the Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association Inc. 

Funding is currently available in the following local regions: Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston/Galveston and Louisiana. See zip code list for eligibility at www.nsna.org - click on Foundation/Scholarships

For more information or to download an application, visit www.nsna.org/foundation/scholarships/pon_fellowship.asp or contact Jasmine Melendez, scholarship and grants administrator at 718-210-0705, ext. 118, or via e-mail at Jasmine@nsna.org.

Dallas - Walton Selected 2009 Nurse Manager Fellow 

Kathy B. Walton, MBA, RN, CPN, educator at Medical City Dallas Hospital and Medical City Children's Hospital, was recently selected as one of 31 fellows for the 2009 class of nurse manager fellows by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Nurse Fellowship Program. The nurse managers began their fellowship year with a 5-day meeting recently held in San Diego.

Edmond, OK - Mercy Health Network Opens Edmond Clinic 

Mercy Health Network, Edmond, OK, is now nine clinics strong with the addition of Mercy Edmond Signal Ridge. There are three physicians who practice family medicine and three pediatricians at the clinic.

"For almost a decade now, we have practiced medicine together and built a strong relationship here in Edmond," said Michael Olay, MD. "We decided to partner with Mercy because we want to give our patients even better access to a wider variety of quality services."

Houston/Little Rock - Hospitals on 2009 Best Companies to Work For List

Two hospitals, one in Houston and another in Little Rock, were recognized by Fortune magazine in its 12th annual list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. In all, there were 13 hospitals nationwide making the 2009 list.  

The Methodist Hospital System, Houston, was ranked No. 8 among Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For, making the list for the fourth year in a row.

"To be recognized by Fortune for 4 consecutive years is an extraordinary accomplishment," said Ron Girotto, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. "This honor is a tribute to our employees and physicians who come to work every day dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. We are wholly committed to our patients, each other and our values - and that's what sets us apart."

Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH), Little Rock, on the list for a second time, was ranked No. 85 on the 100 Best Companies to Work For list for 2009. The facility previously appeared on the list in 2007.

"Arkansas Children's Hospital is very pleased to again be ranked among Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For," said President and CEO Jonathan Bates, MD. "It is wonderful that our staff enjoys working here. Indeed, their survey response is the largest factor in these rankings. Best of all is the way the spirit at ACH helps the children and families we serve."

Oklahoma City - INTEGRIS Partners With EagleMed

INTEGRIS Health, Oklahoma City, soars to new heights on EagleMed wings. The newly established partnership between the two organizations is officially off the ground. The duo joined forces to enhance emergency air medical transport in the state of Oklahoma. 

"Our partnership with EagleMed will enable us to more quickly transfer patients even from the most remote areas of our state to institutions that provide a higher level of care," said Bruce Lawrence, executive vice president and chief operating officer of INTEGRIS Health.

As part of the partnership, EagleMed will house a medically equipped helicopter at the healthcare system's flagship hospital, INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. EagleMed also will station a medically equipped fixed-wing King Air aircraft at Sundance Airport for longer flights and inclement weather. The King Air is capable of flying in most weather conditions.

Arlington, TX - Education Center Opens for Diabetes Self-Management

Arlington Memorial Hospital, Arlington, TX, recently opened the Center for Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) to provide in-depth, individualized education to individuals with diabetes and pre-diabetes.

"In 2007, our hospital saw more than 4,500 patients with diabetes," said Bette Akpan, MS, RN, coordinator of the hospital's diabetes center. "We're working with our patients to develop individualized education plans for them so we can provide them with the education and support they need to control their diabetes."

The new center follows the standards of care established by the American Diabetes Association. After being referred to the program by a physician, each new patient receives an extensive assessment of her educational needs. Depending on individual needs, patients then attend group and/or individualized educational sessions held over a period of weeks.

Austin, TX - Dell Children's Goes Green

Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Austin, receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation, given by the U.S. Green Building Council. To achieve LEED certification, buildings are rated in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

"Our motivation to pursue LEED Platinum was not just environmental," said Robert Bonar, president and CEO. "Being a 'green' hospital has a profound, measureable effect on healing. What's good for the environment and good for our Mueller neighbors is also good for our patients."

Dallas - Medical City Dallas Supports Cord Blood Donations

Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones urged local expectant mothers to give the gift of life by donating umbilical cord blood left over after birth. Jones visited Dallas to raise awareness about the important health benefits and lifesaving potential of cord blood.

During her tenure in the Texas House of Representatives, Jones helped secure funding for the creation of the Texas Cord Blood Bank (TCBB), the first public cord blood bank in the state.

In December, Jones joined leaders with Medical City Dallas Hospital and the TCBB for a tour of the Dallas facility. The Dallas hospital is one of 10 hospitals in the state that partner with the TCBB to collect cord blood donations. Jones brought with her an official proclamation from Texas Gov. Rick Perry declaring December "Cord Blood Awareness Month."

"In just over 2 years, moms delivering at Medical City have donated nearly 2,000 units of cord blood to the TCBB," said Britt Berrett, Medical City president and CEO. "We see firsthand the lifesaving potential of cord blood among our transplant patients and are hopeful that donated units will continue to change the lives of patients across the state of Texas."

Dallas - Medical Center Opens Voice Care Center

UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas has gathered a team of specially trained physicians and therapists to launch a new center for voice care dedicated to disorders of the voice and larynx.

The voice care center targets professionals who rely on their voice - singers, actors, public speakers, lawyers, preachers and teachers - as well as seniors or anyone else experiencing deterioration or other problems with their voice.

Services offered at the new center include:

• videostroboscopy, which allows patients to see how their vocal cords are functioning;
• voice therapy, to teach techniques designed to correct vocal patterns that may be contributing to vocal abuse or misuse;
• botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, which treat spasmodic dysphonia;
• thyroplasty and vocal-fold augmentation, operations on the voice box to strengthen weak vocal cords that are causing hoarseness or breathy-sounding voice; and
• microsurgery of the vocal folds, a minimally invasive procedure to remove polyps or cysts causing hoarseness.

Del Rio, TX - Davenport Named New CEO

Polly Davenport, MBA, BSN, RN, was recently appointed chief executive officer at Val Verde Regional Medical Center (VVRMC), Del Rio, TX. She has more than 25 years of hospital experience and spent much of her career with Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio, most recently serving as chief nurse executive for the 1,500-bed, multihospital system. Davenport will begin her duties at VVRMC Feb 16.

Morrilton, AR - Petit Jean Home Health Among Top Providers in Country

The home healthcare program, Petit Jean Home Health, at St. Anthony's Medical Center in Morrilton, AR, was named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home healthcare providers in the U.S.

According to Nancy Buller, senior director of marketing communications at OCS Inc., the annual review identifies the top 500 agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. More than 8,200 agencies were surveyed nationwide and only seven in the state of Arkansas were recognized among the top 500.

Petit Jean Home Health's director Lydia Hoyt credits her staff's focus on continual process improvement and quality patient care.

"We stand out among other providers because we not only take excellent care of our patients, but our staff truly cares for each person we serve," Hoyt said. "We believe the relationships we build with our patients help them achieve their goals and maintain their lives at home."

Kingfisher, OK - Foundation Formed to Enhance Hospital Services

Kingfisher Regional Hospital in Kingfisher, OK, recently established a charitable foundation and launched a special event, "Lights of Love," a 2008-09 annual fund drive. In addition, the foundation is planning a capital campaign in 2009.

According to foundation director Angie Ulsaker, foundation members will be able to have a preview celebration of the new hospital, slated for October 2009, before it opens its doors to the community.

"We're very excited about the opportunities that a foundation will bring to the hospital," Ulsaker said. "We're anticipating the potential for growth that a new hospital will bring to our community and its surrounding communities. The foundation will be able to support and enhance the hospital's services to meet the communities' needs."

Oklahoma City - Skin Care Fair Targets Reducing Pressure Ulcers

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently ranked Oklahoma with the third highest incidence of pressure ulcers in nursing homes. As a part of building awareness about pressure ulcers, a team of skin care experts with the Oklahoma Pressure Ulcer Coalition are hosting a free Skin Care Fair at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City Feb. 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fair will give healthcare workers, caregivers and family members of people at-risk a chance to observe and experience effective strategies to prevent and treat pressure ulcers.

"Because this is such an important issue, the solution must involve healthcare providers across the spectrum, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health and hospice care," said LaWanna Halstead, MPH, RN, vice president of quality and clinical initiatives at the Oklahoma Hospital Association. "But it also is an important issue for people who care for elderly parents or chronically ill loved ones. The message our coalition wants to get out is that everyone has an opportunity to make a difference."

The fair, through informative and interactive demonstrations, will provide caregivers with the know-how and the tools to help reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers and better treat them if they do occur.

"It's all very hands-on so people see how to prevent and treat pressure ulcers. We must increase awareness because pressure ulcers are extremely painful and can be life-threatening if not taken care of effectively. They also are expensive to treat, increasing healthcare costs for all of us," said Nancy Dobbs, MEd, RN-BC, CWOCN, Mercy enterostomal therapist.

For more information about the fair, contact Nancy Dobbs at 405-752-3183 or LaWanna Halstead at 405-427-9537.

Fort Worth, TX - JPS Opens Two School-Based Health Centers

JPS Health Network, Fort Worth, TX, dedicated two new JPS School-Based Health Centers in January, bringing the total number of JPS school-based facilities to 14. Both locations will serve Arlington Independent School District (AISD) students and their younger siblings.

The dedication for the JPS school-based health center at Workman Junior High was held Jan. 8 and is located at 701 E. Arbrook Blvd., Suite A in Arlington, TX. Workman is also the home of the AISD newcomer center for middle and senior-high students transitioning from outside the U.S. According to Beth McClean, MSN, RN, FNP-CS, director for the JPS school-based health program, the Workman location center is expecting approximately 3,700 visits per year.

"This school-based health center will be the primary location for meeting the healthcare needs of students from many cultures," McClean said. "I am very excited to see both of the school-based health centers in Arlington come to fruition. It's important for the students in Arlington to receive the healthcare they need so they can get the education they deserve."

The Nichols Junior High JPS school-based health center was dedicated Jan. 14 and is located at 1850 Brown Blvd. in Arlington, TX. The centers will offer the following services: treatment for sore throats and colds, immunizations, school physicals, and assessment and treatment of minor injuries.

Students without insurance pay $5 per visit. For students with insurance or some other coverage, applicable co-pays apply. The centers are open on school days, excluding holidays.

Houston - VA Facility Earns Human Research Accreditation

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, was recently awarded full accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs Inc. (AAHRPP). 

Established in April 2001, AAHRPP, a nonprofit organization, accredits organizations that demonstrate they provide participant safeguards that surpass the threshold of state and federal requirements. The accreditation program utilizes a voluntary, peer-driven educational model. To date, 159 organizations representing more than 750 entities have earned accreditation.

"The bottom line is accreditation is both the right and smart thing to do. It can strengthen and streamline research protection programs and help safeguard research participants," said AAHRPP President and CEO Marjorie A. Speers, PhD.

Through the rigorous accreditation process, organizations must demonstrate they have built extensive safeguards into every level of their research operation and they adhere to the highest standards for research.

AAHRPP's standards exceed federal regulations by requiring organizations to address conflict of interest, provide community outreach and education, and apply the same stringent protections to all research involving human participants. Under federal regulations, such protections are mandated only for federally sponsored or regulated research.

Accreditation is available to U.S. and international organizations that conduct biomedical, behavioral or social sciences research involving human participants and is valid for 3 years.

Arlington, TX - Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital Receives Chest Pain Center Designation

Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital was recently named a Cycle III Chest Pain Center - the highest accreditation possible for treatment of chest pain - by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

To patients, the designation means that Texas Health Arlington Memorial ranks among the best in the world at rapid recognition and collaborative treatment of heart attack. Nationally, accreditation by the Society of Chest Pain Centers is linked to better patient outcomes and more lives saved, according to an Emory University School of Medicine study published in the American Journal of Cardiology in July.

"Every second counts when it comes to treating a heart attack - time is heart muscle," said Hoyt Frenzel, MD, medical director of the emergency department and co-chair of the Chest Pain Center at Texas Health Arlington Memorial. "Texas Health Arlington Memorial has demonstrated that there is a direct correlation between accreditation as a Chest Pain Center and improved patient outcomes."

Fort Worth, TX - Baylor All Saints Receives Major Gift for Breast Center

Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth recently announced a local Fort Worth family, Dick and Mary Lowe, donated $1 million to the All Saints Health Foundation. The Lowe's are prominent Fort Worth philanthropists, and their generous gift was made in support of the Joan Katz Breast Center. The center will be located on the first floor of the new Physician Pavilion on the Baylor All Saints campus and will offer comprehensive breast services on one campus.

"The Joan Katz Breast Center will be a place of hope and healing for breast cancer patients in our community," said Freddy Jones, president of All Saints Health Foundation. "Our hospital and foundation are extremely appreciative of their commitment and extend our sincere gratitude for such a meaningful gift."

The Joan Katz Breast Center will serve the community and surrounding areas by providing help to men and women diagnosed with breast cancer. Services will be available for every aspect of treatment from screenings to patient and family support groups. Named in honor of breast cancer survivor Joan Katz, the Center will serve patients and their families by facilitating coordination between multiple specialists and services. Patients of the Center will be guided by a nurse navigator who will assist them from initial diagnosis through final treatment and follow-up. 

Lake Jackson, TX - Team Brings Cardiac Care Closer to Home

Physicians at Brazosport Regional Health System, Lake Jackson, TX, recently performed the first open heart surgery in Brazoria County on a 53-year-old male patient with cardiovascular disease. 

"It gives me great pride to announce we have just made history by performing the first open heart procedure in Brazoria County," said Daniel Buche, FACHE, CEO/president at Brazosport Regional. "Now that open heart procedures are available, patients can stay close to home, receive high-quality healthcare, and be surrounded by their loved ones."

Brazosport Regional's comprehensive cardiac care center is a result of more than 4 years of strategic planning and implementation. Brazosport Regional partnered with Brazosport Cardiology and The Southeast Texas Cardiovascular Group to establish the program. The cardiac care team includes nurses, physician assistants, perfusionists and other support staff who completed extensive training in preparation of the new program. 

Baton Rouge, LA - LSU Emergency Department Measures Included in NQF Recommendations

The National Quality Forum (NQF) has included two measures recommended by the LSU Health Care Services Division (HCSD), Baton Rouge, LA, in the 10 national voluntary consensus standards that NQF has put forth for improving care in the nation's hospital emergency departments (EDs). 

The two HCSD measures-Door to Provider and Left Without Being Seen-join eight other national voluntary consensus standards for hospital-based ED care that the NQF has endorsed to improve efficiency and care coordination in EDs, where high demand and capacity issues have increased patient wait time and decreased physician productivity.

The Door-to-Provider measure refers to the time of first contact in the ED to the time when the patient first sees the physician. The Left- Without-Being-Seen measure refers to the percent of patients leaving without being seen by a physician. The NQF considers both important for improving healthcare quality and access. 

"Quality emergency department care is a hallmark of HCSD," said Michael K. Butler, MD, MHA, CPE, FACPE, acting HCSD CEO. "The inclusion of our measures by the NQF in its consensus standards reiterates the prominence HCSD has in this specialty area, and the current HCSD Qual ED project further refines the standard for the delivery of emergency care."

Qual ED is redesigning HCSD emergency departments, improving throughput and decreasing the door-to-doctor time in the departments. It is moving HCSD hospitals from a push system to a pull system so hospitals are ready and able to accept ED patients, accelerating the delivery and improving the quality of patient care.

The goal of the NQF is to reduce overcrowding, decrease patient wait time, and improve quality of care in hospital emergency departments including transitions to in-hospital services and ambulatory care, with particular emphasis on clinical quality, coordination and efficiency.

The consensus standards for ED care are part of a broader NQF goal to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare nationwide.

Dallas - Parkland begins Nurse-Family Partnership for first-time mothers

Parkland Health & Hospital System, Dallas, is launching a new community health program for low income, first-time mothers of Dallas County known as Nurse-Family Partnership. One of 9 Texas organizations to receive funding from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, this voluntary prevention program will provide nurse home visits early in the mother's pregnancy and continue visitation until the child's second birthday.

Nurses work intensively with mothers to improve maternal, prenatal and early childhood health and well-being with the expectation that this intervention will help achieve long term improvements in the lives of at-risk families.

"Mothers and children who have participated in the program have consistently demonstrated significantly improved prenatal health, fewer subsequent pregnancies, increased maternal employment, improved child school readiness, reduced involvement in crime, and less child abuse, neglect and injuries," said Barbara Beaty, nurse-family partnership manager, women and infants' specialty health department. "We expect to serve approximately 200 mothers with this new program in the coming year."

Oklahoma City - Diabetes Program Earns Certification

INTEGRIS Health's diabetes program at Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, earned the Gold Seal of Approval for healthcare quality from the Joint Commission, which awarded INTEGRIS disease-specific care certification for advanced inpatient diabetes and hyperglycemia.  

To earn this distinction, a disease management program undergoes an extensive, announced, on-site evaluation by a team of Joint Commission reviewers every 2 years. The program is evaluated against Joint Commission standards through an assessment of a program's processes, the program's ability to evaluate and improve care within its own organization, and interviews with patients and staff.

"This certification means INTEGRIS does the right things and does them well for patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia," said Jean E. Range, MS, RN, CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission.

"To be awarded certification for both diabetes and hyperglycemia management programs is indicative of the outstanding work we do at INTEGRIS," said April Merrill, MS, APRN, CNS

"Our hyperglycemia care team consists of physicians, nursing directors, staff nurses, educators, pharmacists, advanced practice nurses, dietitians, case managers and information technologists," noted Rise Kester, MS, APRN-BC, CNS. "We are proud to offer a well-rounded, interdisciplinary approach to patient care."

The certification is awarded for 2 years with a 1 year intra-cycle phone follow-up with the Joint Commission. A list of programs certified by the Joint Commission is available at www.jointcommission.org.

New Orleans - LSU Trauma Center Receives Level I Verification

The trauma center at the Interim LSU Public Hospital, New Orleans, was verified as a level I trauma center by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons.

The return to New Orleans of level I trauma care, the highest level attainable, gives LSU the only two level I trauma centers in Louisiana. The other is at the LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport.

Before Hurricane Katrina, the LSU level I trauma center in New Orleans was one of the best and busiest in the nation. Shortly after the storm, the trauma center and emergency department relocated to Ochsner - Elmwood Medical Center, Harahan, until February 2007 when they resumed services in a newly renovated area on the first floor of the Interim LSU Public Hospital.

Little Rock, AR - UAMS Nurse Receives Award & Psychiatric Clinic Opens

Gordon Low, MSN, APN, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, won a national award for his contributions to women's health. Low recently received the 2008 Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) Inspirations in Women's Health Award at NPWH's clinical conference in Seattle.

Low, who works with the UAMS Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System (ANGELS) program, helped create and launch two programs that use telemedicine technology to improve access to care for rural Arkansas women and women in prison. Telemedicine provides live, two-way interactive video between a remote location and UAMS' subspecialists.

One of the programs at a community health clinic in Hope, AR, uses telecolposcopy to identify women at risk for cervical cancer. Once identified, these rural, impoverished women can qualify for a Medicaid-reimbursed treatment program. The prison program allows for prenatal care through an innovative blend of training, in-person guidance, remote subspecialty consultation and 24-hour-a-day triage support.

In other news, the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute recently opened a treatment clinic. Individuals with psychiatric problems ranging from drug addiction to depression now have an extensive array of inpatient and outpatient services in one location. The institute is located at the Little Rock campus.

Arkansas first lady Ginger Beebe presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The $32 million facility, whose six stories encompass 110,000 square feet, is one of only nine institutions in the country combining research and education with inpatient and outpatient care. It marks the first time in 30 years UAMS has been able to provide inpatient psychiatric care.

"This is a very important day, not just for our department and UAMS but for the entire state," said G. Richard Smith, MD, chairman of the UAMS Department of Psychiatry and Institute director. "We have been very fortunate to have the support of so many people - in state government, in the community and here at UAMS - and we could not have accomplished this monumental task without their help. This new institute is going to open up a lot of avenues for psychiatric patients across Arkansas."

Located adjacent to the new UAMS hospital slated to open in January, the Psychiatric Research Institute has 40 beds dedicated to psychiatric patients in need of hospitalization, divided evenly among the children's unit, the geriatric unit, the acute-care for adults unit and the unit treating patients who also have medical needs. The institute plans to begin admitting patients Feb. 3.

Arkansas - VA Opening 31 New Outpatient Clinics

Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake, MD, recently announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will establish 31 new outpatient clinics in 16 states, including two in Arkansas.

The community-based outpatient clinics planned for Arkansas will be located in Faulkner and Pope counties and become operational by late 2010.

"VA is committed to providing world-class healthcare to the men and women who have served this nation," Peake said. "These new clinics will bring VA's top-notch care closer to the veterans who have earned it."

With 153 hospitals and about 745 community-based clinics, VA operates the largest integrated healthcare system in the country. VA's 2009 medical care budget of more than $41 billion will provide healthcare to about 5.8 million people during nearly 600,000 hospitalizations and more than 62 million outpatient visits.

"Community-based medicine is better medicine," said Michael Kussman, MD, VA's Under Secretary for Health. "It makes preventative care easier for patients, helps healthcare professionals have closer relationships with their patients and permits easier follow-ups for patients with chronic health problems."

Kingsville, TX - South Texas Hospital Earns Prestigious Honor

CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg, Kingsville, TX, recently announced its cardiac rehabilitation center has earned national certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Only 44 programs in the state of Texas have earned this honor - two of which are the programs at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice.

Certification recognizes those essential requirements for standards of care. To earn this distinctive certification, programs must prove excellence in almost a dozen categories, including continuing staff education, condition of equipment and patient care. Cardiac rehabilitation programs are designed to limit the physiological and psychological effects of cardiac illness, reduce the risk for sudden death or relapse, control cardiac symptoms, stabilize and/or improve the patient's condition, and enhance the patient's quality of life.

"The Associates at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg cardiac rehab work hard to provide quality and compassionate care to their patients. This national certification is proof of the excellent care available within the Kingsville community," said Barbara B. Flato, RN-BC, director cardiac rehab services for CHRISTUS Spohn Health System.

Facility Recognized for Patient Safety Programs

Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Houston, recently was one of two healthcare organizations presented an inaugural National Health System Patient Safety Leadership Award by the VHA Foundation and the National Business Group on Health (NBGH).

Established earlier this year, the award is a collaborative effort between the VHA Foundation, Irving, TX, a private, not-for-profit organization focused on improving the health and healthcare of all Americans; and the HBGH, Washington, D.C., the nation's only non-profit organization of large employers devoted to finding innovative solutions to healthcare benefits issues.

Memorial Hermann was recognized for the following:

• all employees - more than 14,000 to date - participate in "Breakthroughs in Patient Safety" training that teaches new work habits that protect patients from harm;
• employees are empowered to ask critical questions that bring attention to a team member who is about to deviate from the standard of practice;
• patients and families are encouraged to play a role in their own safety, for example, a poster suggests asking anyone who enters the room to wash their hands, it and includes a phone number to activate the rapid response team;
• the organization was one of the first in the country to use its Web site to display quality results as a way to provide transparency to patients;
• an internal Web site allows executives, the board and employees to track the system's goals and performance; and
• the health system has experienced a reduction in adverse safety events, including hospital-acquired infections as a result of documented adherence to scientifically proven actions.

The winning health systems were chosen out of applicants from across the nation by a panel of judges representing corporations, patient safety organizations, government and healthcare. Applicants were selected on criteria designed to highlight the leadership of healthcare systems in creating a culture of safety, including system-level commitment, board and senior leadership, system-wide alignment of patient safety resources and goals, improved patient outcomes and transparency in public reporting.

Hospital Receives National Accolades

Thanks to the innovation of a team of Mercy Health Center, Oklahoma City, pharmacists and nurses, Mercy has reduced the number of patients injured by falls by almost half.

The team developed a tool to assess a patient's risk for falls by looking at medications. Because of its impact, Mercy was one of six health facilities in the nation recently awarded the American Society of Health System Pharmacists Best Practices Award.

"Our program at Mercy has had a significant effect on patient safety," said Burl Beasley, DPh, MPH, pharmacist. "Many medications, including over-the-counter drugs and the combination of them can cause dizziness, especially in patients 65 and older. By scoring patients at risk, we are preventing falls."

Mercy nurses and pharmacists work together to generate a medication-specific fall-risk score for each patient admitted. If a patient scores high, it triggers the pharmacist to review the patient's full medication profile along with recommendations to reduce the risk of a fall, including suggested changes in the drugs and/or doses prescribed, laboratory surveillance, and additional patient and family education.

Scholarship Deadline Approaches

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center's (NARMC) Auxiliary, Harrison, AR, is offering two $1,000 scholarships each semester for healthcare students enrolled at the medical center and $1,200 for a student enrolled in the bridge over nursing program.

Awards are based on scholarship and financial need. Scholarships are awarded to full-time students enrolled in the following programs: radiological technology, medical lab technology, practical nursing, registered nursing, emergency medical technology, surgery technology, and the bridge over program in nursing.

Applications are available in NARMC's Nightingale's Gift Shop located in the new patient tower entrance. Deadline to submit applications for the spring semester is Dec. 31.

Patient Wristband Standardization Approved

The Louisiana Hospital Association (LHA), Baton Rouge, board of trustees recently voted to adopt a voluntary statewide standardization of color-coded patient-alert wristbands.

There is a wide variation of use and meaning of colored wristbands among Louisiana hospitals. Given the growing transient nature of the healthcare workforce, the standardization of processes and procedures can help reduce the potential for error.

The LHA board adopted five colors: 1) purple for do not resuscitate; 2) yellow for fall risk; 3) red for patient allergies; 4) green for latex allergies; and 5) pink for restricted extremities. Hospitals adopting the standardized colors can adapt this system to existing processes, including color-coding patient charts.

The LHA will be developing an implementation toolkit for hospital personnel that will be made available online during the first quarter of 2009. Additional information can be found on the LHA Web site at www.lhaonline.org.

Southwestern Medical Center Chosen No. 1 for Stroke Treatment

Southwestern Medical Center, Oklahoma City, was ranked as the only hospital in Southern Oklahoma rated a 5-star in stroke care for the third year in a row, according to the newest study from HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings company.

"Looking forward, we have a number of clinical initiatives in process with a focus on expanding existing services to include stroke care with a movement toward Joint Commission certification, developing a multispecialty neuroscience service, introduction of bariatric surgery, local provision of cosmetic surgery, medical oncology alternatives and the expansion of independent community-based primary care physicians," said Jon O'Shaughnessy, CEO.

Rigsbee Named Employee of Month

Stacey Rigsbee, RN, a charge nurse on the third floor at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (NARMC), Harrison, was recently named by the facility as Employee of the Month. She has worked at NARMC for 6 years."I work with an excellent team of nurses on third shift at night. Everyone is very good to jump in and help with whatever needs to be done," Rigsbee said after she was presented an engraved plaque noting the occasion.