Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Fall 2021

2 SAHealth.com KEEPINGWELL — FALL 2021 For the third straight year, Methodist Hospital was named the No. 1 Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News &World Report . A best regional hospital ranking is determined by a hospital’s performance in the adult specialty rankings analysis. Despite the pandemic, Methodist Hospital has upheld an unwavering commitment to patient-centered care, maintaining quality and safety at the forefront. Methodist Hospital ranked high performance in eight procedures/condi- tions, three additional categories than years prior. The eight procedures and conditions include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, kid- ney failure, knee replacement and stroke. Scores are based largely on objective measures, such as survival rates, volume and quality of nursing, patient safety, specialized staff, and hospital satisfaction. Data collected from other Methodist Healthcare System hospitals, including Methodist Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, Methodist Hospital | Northeast, Methodist Hospital | Texsan, and Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant, contributed to Methodist Hospital’s designation. “It gives us great pride to receive this recognition once again as it truly reflects the outstanding efforts and atten- tion to safety our team members and physicians devote themselves to daily,” commented Dan Miller, Chief Execu- tive Officer for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital. Carlos Gonzalez, 34, spent five months hospitalized at Methodist Hospital for COVID-19. Battling the virus’s residual ef- fects, Carlos was on ECMO life support for over 120 days, one of the longest periods a patient has required a mechanical pump to oxygenate blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest. His condition continued to decline, and his care team believed he may need a lung transplant to survive. Carlos said his motivation to keep fighting for his life was the support of his family and the success of another COVID patient on his same unit who inspired him to never give up. Amy Velez, 35, was also on ECMO for more than 100 days after COVID-19 nearly took her life. She too was told that lung transplantation may be her only chance at survival, as her lungs had become too frail to function on their own. Amy and Carlos were on the same ICU unit for months, and she never imagined she would leave a lasting impression on a fellow patient while they both fought for their lives. Once Amy had transferred to inpatient rehab, she requested to revisit the ICU unit to share with her care team how far she had come. She remembered seeing the condition Carlos was still in and felt it in her heart to encourage and pray for him. “You can do this. God’s got your back. I’ll keep praying for you,” she told him. Amy said she prayed for Carlos’s recovery every day since she left Methodist Hospital. Encouraged by Amy, Carlos knew that he too would make it out of the hospital and back home with his 3-year-old son. A few weeks later, Carlos’s health progressed and he was transferred to inpatient rehab. It was there that Carlos was told he was in the same room that Amy recovered in. The “warrior room” he called it. On July 29, 2021, Carlos received the exciting news that he would be discharged home after five months of hospitalization. Staff lined the hall cheering Carlos on as he independently walked out of his room on his way home. His motivator, Amy, was cheering him on as well. After only three weeks from the day she was discharged, Amy returned to Methodist Hospital to be by Carlos’s side, to support and congratulate him for beating the hardest thing they both would overcome in their lives. Methodist Hospital named Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News &World Report After being hospitalized for fivemonths, two critically ill COVID-19 patients share emotional reunion Carlos Gonzales and Amy Velez reunite after beating COVID-19.