Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Winter 2020

Articles in Keeping Well do not necessarily represent the opinions of doctors practicing at Methodist Healthcare facilities. Methodist Hospital campuses include: Methodist Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant, Methodist Hospital | Texsan, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, and Methodist Hospital | Northeast. Additional Methodist Healthcare hospitals are Methodist Hospital | Ambulatory Surgery, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak and Methodist Hospital | South. METHODIST HOSPITAL IS FIRST IN TEXAS TO USE NEW HEART PUMP CARDIAC SURGEONS AT Methodist Hospital con- ducted the first procedure in Texas using new heart pump technology that enables heart recovery in patients whose hearts are too weak to effectively pump blood on their own after a heart attack. The pump gives cardiac surgeons a new option for some of the sickest patients. Heart recovery can allow a patient to go home with his or her native heart and avoid much more costly and more invasive procedures. The new heart pump is temporarily implanted in a patient’s heart through minimally invasive techniques. It reduces the heart’s workload and oxygen demand, which enables the heart to rest and recover, supplying much needed blood and oxygen to other vital organs. Last September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the pump the agency’s highest level of regulatory approval. Methodist Hospital was one of only 10 sites in the United States selected to receive this advanced technology and one of only two in Texas. “We are very excited to introduce this advanced minimally invasive surgical device to our cardiovascular network at Methodist Hospital. It is designed to provide better hemodynamic support and monitoring for acute and chronic heart failure patients,” commented Masahiro Ono, MD , Surgical Director of Heart Transplant & MCS, Methodist Hospital. “It gives us longer support with better understanding of patient heart conditions than previous devices and is a great surgical option for cardiac recovery for patients who have suffering heart functions.” Zoo Visit Makes Therapy Fun for Children in Wheelchairs Four children weren't limited by the boundaries of their wheelchair, thanks to the rehabilitation team at Methodist Children’s Hospital. The team, with the help of San Antonio Zoo staff, coordinated an interactive therapy session complete with rhinos and tortoises. Most of the time, these children are unable to inter- act at the level of their peers during a fun outing such as a day at the zoo. The rehabilitation therapists set up a piece of equipment that allowed the children to stand and walk with the tortoises and even pet the rhinos! “The outing turned a therapy session that can be difficult and tiring for the child into a fun and memo- rable experience,” said Tiffany Neal, pediatric physical therapist. Methodist Healthcare health ambassadors Sean Elliott and his wife, Claudia Zapata-Elliott (standing), were special guests at the 7th Annual Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan Breast Cancer Survivors Luncheon. Held each October, the luncheon provides ongoing support for breast cancer survivors and their families. Breast Cancer Survivors Celebrate at Luncheon K E E P I N G W E L L Information in KEEPING WELL comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2020 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. WINTER 2020 KEEPING WELL is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of METHODIST HEALTHCARE, 8109 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78229, telephone 210-575-0355 , website SAHealth.com . Allen Harrison President and CEO Palmira Arellano Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Cheri Love-Moceri Director of Corporate Communications METHODIST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 8109 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78229 Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID San Antonio, TX Permit No. 1409 M e t h o d i s t H e a l t h c a r e 8 W I N T E R 2 0 2 0