Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Spring 2018

Articles in Keeping Well do not necessarily represent the opinions of doctors practicing at Methodist Healthcare facilities. PRAISE P r ac t i c i n g Carole Harris Methodist Healthcare System (MHS) CEO Jaime Wesolowski has announced his retirement to the health system and the community following a decade of excep- tional leadership. Wesolowski was appointed President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio on August 2, 2007. His position put him at the helm of the largest and most preferred health system in South Texas, comprised of nine acute care hospitals and 19 other health facilities. MHS is a 50/50 co-ownership between the local, non-profit Methodist Healthcare Ministries and investor-owned HCA. “The last 10 plus years at MHS have truly served as a ministry for me,” said Wesolowski. “It has been a privilege and an honor to work with all our employees toward the fulfillment of our mission of “serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional and cost-effective health care, accessible to all.” Together we have shaped MHS into a very high quality and service-driven healthcare system that is financially sound.” Among Wesolowski’s greatest achievements is the evolution of the mission, vision and values that drive the Methodist Excellence culture, lived by the 10,000 em- ployees who work at the System. The passion and culture across the System led to MHS earning the Texas Award for Performance Excellence in 2014, demonstrating the highest level of quality in the state of Texas. Throughout his tenure, Wesolowski led MHS hospitals through tremendous change and unprecedented growth. He was instrumental in expanding the System’s footprint and access points through the construction of theMethodist Boerne Emergency Center, the first freestanding emer- gency department in South Texas in 2008; the opening of Methodist Stone Oak Hospital in 2009; the management of four rural hospitals and the acquisitions of Methodist Texsan Hospital in 2011 and Methodist Hospital South in 2017. He was also instrumental in establishing the partner- ship between Methodist Healthcare and Spurs Sports and Entertainment (SS&E), the System’s most comprehensive and dynamic community partnership since its inception. “Jaime has been a driving force in elevating the Sys- tem’s quality measures. His quest for excellence in quality started the day he took his position at MHS,” said Dan Johnson, Chairman of the MHS Board of Governors. “A little over 10 years later, he has left quite a legacy with MHS hospitals, achieving some of the best clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction scores in the region. His passion was fueled by his desire to provide the saf- est hospital environment possible for all our patients,” added Johnson. The System and its facilities have ac- quired an unprecedented number of accreditations, awards and designations in healthcare quality under Wesolowski’s leadership, including the Texas Hospital Association Bill Astor Award in 2012, the Texas Healthcare Quality Improvement Award in 2012 and the best cur- rent Leapfrog quality scores and top CMS and Joint Commission ratings in the region. Jaime and his wife, Lori, will stay in San Antonio, con- tinuing their active roles in many nonprofit organizations. MethodistHealthcareSystemLeaderRetiring AfterAchievingaLegacyof Excellence CEO Jaime Wesolowski Methodist Healthcare’s Patient Portal Managing your health care is easier than ever . Our patient portal allows secure online access to your hospital medical records, 24 hours a day, from your computer, tablet or smartphone. Visit www.SAHealth.com/MyHealthOne To learn more about patient portal, or to create your account. Need help or have questions? Call 855-422-6625. Features offered by our Patient Portal: Lab results, reports, hospital pre-registration, find a doctor and make an appointment, bill pay, registration for classes and events, and more. N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E S P R I N G 2 0 1 8 K E E P I N G W E L L 3 Not long ago I received a message at work to call someone back about one of my recent columns. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I wondered if I had offended someone. I went back and re-read my latest column. I did not see anything that might be offensive. I held my breath and called the num- ber. A sweet woman answered and I told her I had a message to call her. She then proceeded to tell me how much she enjoys reading my column! I could not stop smiling the rest of the day. A stranger took time out of her day to make a phone call and compli- ment. Not complain. In a world where we can complain instantly via social media, it is refresh- ing to have someone go out of their way to say something nice. Don’t get me wrong, if a business/person does something wrong, they should be told. How do they expect to learn? Most people will com- plain before they praise, and few will go out of their way to compliment. I’m guilty of it. If I get great service, sure, I will thank and praise the person providing the service. However, I rarely will call the business and tell a manager about the great service I received. We move on with our day. But what if we didn’t? What if we took time to make that phone call or write a “just because” note. Ironically, a co-worker recently received a text from a peer that said, “I un- derstand how much you do. And I appreciate everything you do, always with such grace.” My co-worker needed that, especially at that mo- ment. We all need that occasionally. The next time you receive great service, I challenge you to make that phone call. Let that person know. I guarantee you will make the person’s day. And you’ll probably feel pretty good yourself. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of car- ing, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” —Leo Buscaglia Carole Harris Community Relations Specialist WomanPlus®and 55PLUS®