WELL KEEPING Methodist Healthcare—San Antonio Summer 2023 IN THIS ISSUE: p3 How to stay safe in summer heat p5 Hill Country Memorial joins Methodist Healthcare p6 Robotic-assisted heart surgery a success ENHANCING PEDIATRIC PATIENTS’ LIVES Methodist Children’s Child Life Robot creates unique virtual adventures —Continued on next page In a groundbreaking initiative, the Child Life Team at Methodist Children’s Hospital has introduced a robot that gives pediatric patients an opportunity to explore beyond the hospital walls. This one-of-a-kind robot allows children to explore beyond the limitations of their hospital rooms with an immersive and interactive experience. With a screen that displays the outside world and the ability to control its movements, the robot is opening up a world of possibilities for young patients, offering them a virtual escape from their medical confines. Equipped with a screen that displays a live feed of the outside world, the robot enables patients to see and interact with their surroundings. By controlling the movements of the robot remotely, young patients can explore areas beyond their hospital room, virtually venturing into places they might otherwise never have the chance to visit.
KEEPING WELL — SUMMER 2023 San Antonio Spurs help Methodist Healthcare moms and newborns celebrate Mother’s Day in style The San Antonio Spurs gifted a few lucky moms and their newborns with Spurs gear in honor of Mother’s Day. Mothers and their little ones from Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak, and Methodist Hospital were gifted the items, creating a memorable moment for all! During a trial run of this exceptional technology at the San Antonio Zoo, 12-year-old Jackson Jaimez was able to control the robot’s movements and witness the zoo’s fascinating wildlife up close. He marveled at the sight of hippos and even had a giraffe interact with the robot. The robot has become a valuable tool in the hands of the Child Life Team at Methodist Children’s Hospital, as it empowers pediatric patients to take control of their own experiences. By navigating the robot remotely, children make choices and embark on personalized adventures. This newfound control has a positive impact on their emotional well-being, fostering resilience and aiding in their overall recovery process. —Continued from front page Methodist Children’s Child Life Robot creates unique virtual adventures 2 SAHealth.com Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant holds flip-flop drive In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant placed flip-flop collection bins in most Methodist Healthcare hospitals. John Jay Science and Engineering Academy High School also participated in the drive. Why flip-flops? Many of our patients seeking behavioral health treatment often arrive without shoes. Upon discharge, several rely on bus transportation, but are not allowed on the bus without shoes. The flip-flop donations will be given to behavioral health patients upon discharge to ensure they have shoes and the ability to access much-needed transportation options. Of the 9,418 patients assessed for Behavioral Health Services within the Methodist Healthcare system in 2022, 5,375 were admitted to Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. Methodist Healthcare offers behavioral health services for adults age 18 years and older. Our 74-bed secure unit, including a specialized 10-bed geriatric unit, is located at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant.
SAHealth.com 3 KEEPING WELL — SUMMER 2023 People are encouraged to take precautions to avoid heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses Summer is a wonderful time of year. Kids are out of school, and family and friends are enjoying the great outdoors. Unfortunately, summer fun comes with the risk of sunburns and heat-related illness as well as burns associated with fireworks, campfires, and outdoor cooking. Methodist Healthcare offers some easy preventive measures for preserving the fun! Fun in the sun There are three stages of heat-related illness: 1 Heat cramps. Severe muscle spasms occur as a result of salt and water loss, most often felt in hands, calves, and feet. 2 Heat exhaustion. More than just feeling fatigued, heat exhaustion is a serious condition caused by exposure to high temperatures, humidity, and strenuous physical activity. Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, fainting, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. 3 Heat stroke. Considered a medical emergency, symptoms include confusion, lack of sweat, organ failure, and convulsions or seizures. You can reduce your risk of heat-related illness by increasing fluid intake and limiting alcohol use — alcohol and even caffeine can actually dehydrate the body. Take frequent breaks in cool and shady or air-conditioned places if spending extended time outside, and remember to reduce normal outdoor activity levels, especially during the hottest periods of the day. Speak with your physician about how to stay safe if you take medicines that make you more vulnerable to heat. If you suspect dangerous signs of heat exhaustion in others, it’s important to act quickly. Move the person out of the heat and place them in a cool environment. Have them drink cool water, and place cold, wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin, or soak the clothing with cool water. Nothing ruins your summer fun worse than a bad sunburn. One of the most important ways to avoid sunburn is the use of sunscreen. Ensure you are using sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, and remember that it should be applied 30 minutes before going out in the sun. Fires, cooking, and grilling The start of summer also means grilling season for many, which should always include an extra serving of caution on the menu. It starts with setting up a safe, well-ventilated area for the grill that includes a no-kid zone. Safety precautions to consider when grilling: » Keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your house, bushes, or other flammable materials. » Never use an accelerant such as gasoline to light a grill, bonfire, or debris pile. Gas fumes can ignite and cause a large explosion. » Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid on an already lit fire, because the flames can flash back up into the container and explode. » Always wear short sleeves and/or tight-fitting clothing while grilling. » Use utensils with long handles to stay clear of hot surfaces. Methodist Healthcare reminds community of summer heat safety Here if you need us While we hope your summer is a safe one, should something happen to you or your children, Methodist Healthcare is available to treat you with local, around-the-clock access to emergency care. Methodist Hospital is also home to the Burn and Reconstructive Program, a certified center equipped to treat all burn types for both adult and pediatric patients. To find an emergency room near you, visit SAHealth.com.
4 SAHealth.com KEEPING WELL — SUMMER 2023 Methodist Healthcare hospitals honored by Healthgrades as leaders in stroke care On behalf of our 6-in-1, which includes Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, Methodist Hospital | Northeast, Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant, and Methodist Hospital | Texsan, Methodist Hospital has been recognized by Healthgrades as a 2023 Stroke Care Excellence Award recipient. Using data from each hospital, Healthgrades Specialty Excellence Awards recognize the top 10% of hospitals nationwide in 17 specialty care areas. This achievement reflects our healthcare system’s outstanding clinical outcomes and distinguishes us as one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems in stroke care. Healthgrades evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for 31 of the most common conditions and procedures at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide to identify the top-performing hospitals for specialty care. Additionally, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak was recently honored with the Five-Star for Treatment of Stroke Medallion award by Healthgrades. This five-star rating reflects Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak’s dedication to delivering better-than-expected clinical outcomes for stroke care. It honors them as one of the nation’s leading hospitals for stroke care. To learn more about Methodist Healthcare’s stroke services, visit sahealth.com/stroke. Methodist Hospital | Northeast voted Readers’ Choice award For the third consecutive year, the community voted Methodist Hospital | Northeast “Best Hospital” in San Antonio for the 2023 YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards! This award further confirms the outstanding job the Methodist Hospital | Northeast staff does to create an environment where patients want to come for their healthcare needs. The Readers’ Choice Award is unique and different from other awards because it is voted upon by the people in our community, and it is especially meaningful because it comes directly from the families we work so hard to serve. This award is also a testament to the reputation and trust Methodist Hospital | Northeast staff and physicians hold throughout San Antonio. Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan earns title as leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare equality Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan continues to prove its commitment to providing high-quality healthcare for LGBTQ+ patients and family members. Each year, the hospital earns top scores in meeting nondiscrimination policies and training; this is the seventh consecutive year the hospital has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. “Being recognized as a leader in healthcare equality for the LGBTQ+ community means so much to our hospital. Our employees strive to provide the very best care for every patient; diversity and inclusion are an essential part of our hospital’s culture,” said Greg Seiler, CEO at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan. “Our mission statement is ‘serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional and cost-effective healthcare accessible to all.’ Receiving this honor proves our understanding, commitment, and compassion for the needs of the LGBTQ+ community and their families.”
SAHealth.com 5 KEEPING WELL — SUMMER 2023 Methodist Healthcare acquires award-winning healthcare organization, Hill Country Memorial Methodist Healthcare officially acquired the Fredericksburg-based healthcare system, Hill Country Memorial, on April 1. The acquisition includes a licensed hospice and home care provider, eight medical clinics, one medical group, and an 86-bed acute care hospital, renamed Methodist Hospital | Hill Country. Located at 1020 S. State Highway 16, in Fredericksburg, Texas, Methodist Hospital | Hill Country brings Methodist Healthcare’s number of acute care hospitals to nine, offering a comprehensive array of services such as emergency, cardiology, post-acute care, surgical, obstetrics, orthopedic, and gastroenterology. “Together, Hill Country Memorial and Methodist Healthcare will start a new journey — a journey with shared values of excellence, integrity, compassion, accountability, and respect,” said Dan Miller, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare. “With humble beginnings of raising money in jars to build the hospital 50 years ago; a storied history of sharing and giving; and a world-class legacy — a new chapter will now be added to the hospital’s history book to again strengthen the Texas Hill Country community. We’re excited to be a part of that.” The healthcare system has many years of experience operating hospitals in rural areas, including the previous acquisition of Methodist Hospital | Atascosa, located in Jourdanton, and the management of Medina Regional Hospital in Hondo, Texas; Dimmit Regional Hospital in Carrizo Springs, Texas; Cuero Community Hospital in Cuero, Texas; and Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall, Texas. The acquisition also aligns well with Methodist Healthcare’s mission of serving humanity to honor God by providing exceptional and cost-effective healthcare accessible to all by creating an additional access point for patients to receive Methodist-quality services. For many years, Hill Country Memorial has coordinated the care of its patients requiring advanced inpatient treatment with Methodist Healthcare. “Hill Country Memorial has served our Texas Hill Country for the past 52 years, and we look forward to joining the Methodist family,” said Clint Kotal, the newly appointed CEO of Methodist Hospital | Hill County. “Methodist Healthcare in San Antonio is known for providing world-class care, and with their partnership, we will be able to expand services and continue offering remarkable care to our communities for years to come.” XFL players visit Methodist Children’s Hospital Methodist Children’s Hospital received a heartwarming visit from the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL and local child mariachi artist Mateo Lopez. The visit was a huge success, as the players and Coach Hines Ward spent quality time with the amazing kids at the hospital, putting smiles on their faces and spreading joy. Mateo Lopez added to the excitement of the day as he serenaded the children with his beautiful voice and amazing guitar skills. His performance made the visit an unforgettable one for them. This visit showcased the power of community coming together to bring joy and positivity to those around us. Moments like these remind us that we can make a difference in the lives of others with small acts of kindness and love.
6 SAHealth.com KEEPING WELL — SUMMER 2023 Sandra Esquivel had been experiencing major chest pain and back pain that would occur sporadically while either driving home or simply just sitting down watching TV. As an optician, some of Sandra’s tasks included cleaning, moving supplies, billing, and other related responsibilities, which at times could be challenging and stressful. After many visits with her cardiologist, Sandra was scheduled for a stent that unfortunately got canceled due to complications. Sandra became the first patient at Methodist Hospital | Texsan to undergo robotic coronary artery bypass grafting, or openheart surgery. Renata Ford, MD, FACS, Robotic Minimally Invasive and Thoracic Surgeon, paid a visit to Sandra immediately after her failed stent surgery and advised her of the robotic-assisted procedure. “Dr. Ford took the time to talk to me; she was caring and knowledgeable,” said Sandra. “I was very emotional and overwhelmed, but my family was also very supportive.” Robotic-assisted open-heart surgery is a minimally invasive approach that allows the attending surgeon to control a robotic arm equipped with different types of surgical instruments. The robotic arm mimics the surgeon’s hands with delicate movements that reduce bleeding, scarring, incision size, and pain. “It’s much more precise,” said Dr. Ford. The surgeon can access the heart without having to make a large incision or cut through the breastbone. Robotic-assisted surgery reduces the risk of postsurgical complications like infections and blood loss, and patients require a much shorter hospital stay. Dr. Ford performed the procedure on February 15, and Sandra completed her therapy by March 20. “Dr. Ford is very professional, and her entire team is wonderful,” said Sandra. “Just know that with Dr. Ford, you will be in excellent hands.” For more information on robotic-assisted surgery at Methodist Hospital | Texsan, visit sahealth.com/ specialties/robotic-surgery?location=methodist -hospital-texsan. Patient undergoes first robotic-assisted open-heart surgery at Methodist Hospital | Texsan
SAHealth.com 7 KEEPING WELL — SUMMER 2023 Methodist ER | Legacy Trails provides lifesaving trauma care to stabbing victim David Castro, 21, was involved in a road rage incident off of Highway 151 and Potranco Road. As the two vehicles came to a stop at a traffic light outside of the Methodist ER | Legacy Trails free-standing emergency room (FSER), both individuals exited their vehicles. A male stabbed Castro in the chest three times before fleeing the scene. Despite suffering severe trauma, Castro was able to walk into the FSER just before collapsing. A security guard at the admissions desk caught him and immediately called for medical attention. The entire team at Methodist ER | Legacy Trails sprang into action, including Matthew Streitz, MD, an emergency medicine physician and military trauma specialist. In seven minutes, Castro was administered three units of blood and hooked up to chest tubes, which stabilized his condition. The team was able to coordinate appropriate transport where Castro would later receive level 1 trauma care. A department of Methodist Hospital, Methodist ER | Legacy Trails is a walk-in medical facility that provides 24/7 emergency care, including for serious, sometimes life-threatening medical conditions, such as chest pain, respiratory distress, abdominal pain, broken bones or dislocated joints, serious infections, injuries, and stroke symptoms. Methodist Hospital leaders hosted a surprise reunion celebration for Castro and his family to meet the Methodist care team who saved his life as well as the EMS crews who provided transport. Methodist Healthcare partners with Methodist Healthcare Ministries to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is quickly growing. About one in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s. After age 65, the risk of having Alzheimer’s doubles. One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, with the disease killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. As the largest healthcare system in South Texas, all of our Methodist Healthcare facilities see people with Alzheimer’s come through our doors, every single day. Unfortunately, there is not a procedure or a cure for this devastating disease. Our commitment to help find an end to Alzheimer’s has been steadfast over the last four years, with Methodist Healthcare and Methodist Healthcare Ministries both being lead sponsors of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This year, we are going a step further with both our President and CEO, Dan Miller, and Jaime Wesolowski, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, serving as co-chairs for the 2023 San Antonio Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This walk is the largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research programs. The walk has over 4,000 attendees annually, bringing together all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias throughout Bexar County and the surrounding community. Dan and Jaime’s goal is to raise over $1 million, making history as the first Walk to End Alzheimer’s event to ever do so. They will need the help of all our community to reach this milestone! The walk will be held at Fiesta Texas, Saturday, October 21, 2023. To register, please visit alz.org/walk.
Good to know METHODIST HEALTHCARE 8109 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78229 U P. SSrt.eaPsnoodrsatt readdg e PAID SP ea rnmAi nt tNoon.i o1 4, 0T X9 Articles in Keeping Well do not necessarily rMcMea eepmttr hhep oosu edds neii sststt ti HHnh ceoe l asuopl dtpi heti n:ca aMl i , or Meen tsef hatoochf di ol di i dts oi ti esc sCtt . ohHMri ol sdes ptr pehr i naot a’ cds l ti Hsi | ctSoi nHps gpeo i cast i ptaa il l t, t ay l aMMMneeedttt hhhT ooor adddnii i ssss tttp HHlHa oeon asst pl ,pt iMhi tt caaeal l tr| |heNMohodeori tsst rtphoei Htpaaoosl sslti p.taaAi rtneda , lda|i tnTi doe nx sa al n , MMMI n feee ottt rhhhmooo ddda iii tsssi ottt nHHH i ooon sss Kppp iii Ettt aaaE lll P||| I NASH ttGi l oal snWCceooEOus LnaaLtkar c, nyo.d m e s f r o m a wcty hooi adnu tcre emhr r aenanasygl toaehr coqaef urc meet spye tordi ooui cvnr ai sdhl eeae rabx . pl otMeuh rot, t dpss el p. el I esaf csmyi efoi accu yochnboatenva teucestanentdy ff i2rne0sp2e3ho ff rv©teodCs.oanedyilCluosmtrmatuionnicsa. tions, Inc. All rights KnMS i aEtenyEt hPAs oeI nNdr tvi Gosi ctn Wei Ho f , eEoTaLr Xl Ltt hh7i cse8 a2pfr 2reu9i , be, 8nl ti 1 sde0hsl 9ee apdFnhr adeo sdnp eaea r tci crookmsn bsmuour fg- R o a d , 210-575-0355, website SAHealth.com. Dan Miller, President and CEO Palmira Arellano, Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Cheri Love-Moceri, Associate Vice President of Communications Heart-healthy recipe: Sweet potato and black bean enchiladas Claudia Zapata-Elliott, Health Ambassador for Methodist Healthcare My husband is obsessed with enchiladas, and if we’re frequenting a Mexican restaurant, Sean orders some version of green or red enchiladas. The saucier, the better. I’ve always avoided making them at home because I thought they were too greasy and so much work. Also, messy. But they don’t have to be cheese bombs to be delicious, and once you have the sauce and fillings down (which you can easily make ahead), the assembly is quick and so worth it. So is the extra step of making your homemade enchilada sauce. The fillings are up to your imagination — I like keeping them vegan, and this sweet potato and black bean combo with some kale ribbons is heart-healthy and does not disappoint. But feel free to fill it as you please. Butternut squash, zucchini, carrot, poblano pepper, corn, chicken, shrimp — all would work well here in any combination you and your family would enjoy. Call-A-Nurse for Children from Methodist Children’s Hospital 210-22-NURSE (210-226-8773) Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Weekends and major holidays. When your child has a medical need, Call-A-Nurse for Children from Methodist Children’s Hospital has specially trained pediatric nurses to assist you with medical advice concerning your child. HealthBus and Well Waldo’s Wheels 210-MHS-RIDE (210-647-7433) HealthBus for adults and Well Waldo’s Wheels for children and expectant moms provide transportation from your home to your doctor’s office or hospital and then pick you up later and take you home. This service is especially helpful for adults and children with special needs that require extra transportation assistance. For information on how to schedule a ride and the specific hospitals and ZIP codes served, please call 210-MHS-RIDE. Medical Advice for Adults 210-575-0355 Available 24/7 To view the recipe, please use this QR code:
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