Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Summer 2021

SAHealth.com 5 KEEPINGWELL — SUMMER 2021 The Texas Department of State Health Ser- vices recognized Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak’s significant investments in improving its trauma services by officially designat- ing the hospital as a first-time Level III Advanced Trauma Center. To receive this recognition, the hospital was found to have zero deficiencies in the state’s mandatory survey. According to the state, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak is the first hospital to rise from a previously undesignated trauma program to a Level III Trauma Center and receive a perfect survey on its first review. Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak’s elite trauma team has expanded to include dedicated trauma surgeons, a nationally- certified trauma program manager and highly skilled nurses, who are committed to treating traumatic injuries with rapid response and the highest level of care. As a Level III Advanced Trauma Center, the hospital is equipped with cutting-edge technology, dedicated resources and 24/7 trauma surgeon coverage. These special- ized surgeons, who are all instructors for the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program, use their expertise to train nurses and other providers on the most advanced and reliable approaches to caring for criti- cally injured patients. "I am very excited to be a part of the team bringing advanced trauma care to Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak,” said Jason West, MD, trauma surgeon and trauma medical direc- tor. “Our physicians and staff have vigorously trained for this purpose. We look forward to giving residents of Stone Oak and the sur- rounding areas the opportunity to have their traumatic injuries managed by specialists from research-based institutions working in a private hospital close to their home." “By bringing this level of trauma care to our community, we no longer have to transfer our patients to other facilities and can instead provide the convenient and life-saving care our community deserves right here in Stone Oak,” said Marc Strode, Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak. Balcones Heights Police Department’s Sgt. Joey Sepulveda, who was injured in an officer-involved shooting in February, returned to Methodist Hospital | Texsan to reunite with the emergency team who cared for him. The staff had planned a small, socially distanced reunion to welcome him back. Balcones Heights city leaders and members of the police department were also there to celebrate his recovery. Sgt. Sepulveda was responding to a burglary call when he was shot multiple times. His partner, Officer Edgar Ortiz, drove him to the Emergency Department at Methodist Hospital | Texsan. “He had a large wound on his right elbow. He had one to his shoulder, and he had one in his neck,” said Dr. Umar Khan, internist at Texsan. “This was a little special for me. It’s special and on another level because police, fire, EMS, emergency, we’re all one family, so this took a little more intensity, I guess, from all the staff, because it’s one of ours.” Sgt. Sepulveda said he’s recovering and grateful to everyone who helped save his life. Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak becomes anAdvanced Trauma Center Sergeant returns to EmergencyDepartment at Methodist Hospital | Texsan to say thank you Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak leaders receive Level III Trauma designation. Sgt. Joey Sepulveda thanks the Emergency Department staff who saved his life.