Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Fall 2019

EMERGENCY SERVICES FACILITY DOGS SEE PAGE 3 ® M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H C A R E — S A N A N T O N I O ● F A L L 2 0 1 9 Methodist Hospital Named No. 1 Hospital in San Antonio Methodist Hospital was named the No. 1 Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 2019–20. A best regional hospital ranking is determined by a hospital’s performance in the adult specialty rankings analysis. Specialties include cancer; cardiology; heart surgery; diabetes; endocrinology; Noel Elliott (left) joined his brother, Spurs star Sean Elliott, in celebrating the 20th anniversary of Sean’s kidney transplant at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital. Noel donated a life saving kidney to Sean, who had been quietly dealing with kidney disease for years. at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital FORMER SPURS STAR SEAN ELLIOTT CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FORMER SPURS STAR Sean Elliott and his family joined patients and staff at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sean’s kidney transplant. On Aug. 16, 1999, Noel Elliott donated a lifesaving kidney to his brother Sean. Francis Wright, M.D., performed the procedure at the hospital. At the commemora- tion held in August, the two brothers, along with Sean’s wife, Claudia Zapata-Elliott, and Noel’s wife, Kathy Elliott, celebrated with patients from the hospital’s living donor kidney transplant program, Wright and other members of the hospital’s transplant team. Sean’s transplant happened less than three months after his game-winning shot for the San Antonio Spurs in what is known as the Memorial Day Miracle. The Spurs went on to win their first NBA title in 1999. Sean then returned to play for the Spurs in March 2000. Sean said that he had quietly been dealing with kidney disease for years. “The team at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital came highly recommended,” he said. “I knew they were skilled and caring and that I could trust them with my life. They took great care of me. It’s important for everyone to see that transplants work and to recognize the need for individuals to become kidney donors.” “The real miracle was the man, not just the shot,” said Jeff Wilson, CEO of Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital. “Sean represents the amazing work that is being done every day through our living donor kidney transplant program. Incred- ible advances have been made in the 20 years since Sean’s transplant, and we want to let individuals who need a transplant know there is hope.” Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital has the No. 1 live donor paired ex- change kidney transplant program in the world and the No. 1 living donor kidney transplant program in the country. This is the 35th anniversary of the transplant program at the hospital. Individuals needing information on the transplant program should call 844-746-3338 or visit www.SAHealth.com/service/kidney-transplant . ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; GI surgery; geriatrics; gynecology; nephrol- ogy; neurology; neurosurgery; orthope- dics; pulmonology and lung surgery; and urology. Additionally, hospitals must have three or more high-performing ratings within the nine procedures and conditions evaluated. Methodist Hospital was rated high-performing in five adult procedures and conditions. Scores are also based on such factors as survival rates, patient safety, specialized staff and hospital satisfaction. “Being recognized as the best hospital in the region is affirmation of the personal commitment we make to treat every pa- tient, everyday, like family,” said Dan Miller, CEO of Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital. “An honor of this scale could only be achieved by physicians, staff and partners who consistently exemplify our mission of serving humanity to honor God. We are so thrilled to receive this designation, but even more honored that we are the destination that gets to provide the highest level of care and best patient experience to our community.”