Methodist Healthcare System | Keeping Well | Fall 2020

Methodist Healthcare acquires freestanding emergency rooms Methodist Hospital adds new inpatient rehab unit Methodist Hospital has opened a new 24-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit offering comprehensive, individualized services for patients re- covering from serious injuries or illness. Located on the third floor of Methodist Hospital, the unit offers immediate 24/7 access to care. The rehabilitation unit supports all medical conditions, though more common treatment regimens are tailored towards patients who have experienced stroke, neurological disorders, brain or spinal cord injuries, amputation, trauma injuries and complex orthopedic cases. “We are excited to open our new inpatient rehabilitation program to allow easier accessibility to care,” commented Dan Miller, Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital CEO. “Previously, patients were discharged to other Methodist Healthcare campuses to receive rehabilitation treatment. Now, patients are able to continue to see their specialists as they transition care in the same hospital.” The new rehab program utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to expert care, incorporating occupational, physical and speech therapists as well as nurses, physicians and specialists. “Having rehabilitation within our hospital allows our physicians to follow their patients more easily,” commented Shaun Fant, Director of Rehabilitation. “There is a large need for patients who require ad- ditional time and therapies that only an inpatient rehab can provide. We give patients an intense treaatment regimen, specifically catered to each patient based on their individual needs.” Methodist Hospital | Texsan expands emergency services Methodist Hospital | Texsan has renovated and expanded its emergency department to keep up with the growing community it serves. “We are excited that this expansion will enable us to continue to provide excep- tional care to those needing emergency services,” said Megan Amalakuhan, Chief Operating Officer at Methodist Hospital | Texsan. “Keeping our patients safe while in our care is our top priority. Our enhanced processes around cleaning and infec- tion prevention, as well as added private rooms, will allow our team members to take even greater care of our patients.” The expansion added 7,700 square feet of treatment space, 11 private rooms, in- cluding an isolation room, a trauma room, and multiple triage rooms for treatment of minor issues. The hospital also added new electronic communication boards to share real-time information about patient care. One of the first patients to need care in the new emergency department was Rudy Flores, manager at the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, who broke his wrist after a bike accident near his home in Balcones Heights. His mother-in-law drove him straight to Methodist Hospital | Texsan for care. “There was no wait at all. Within minutes, I was in the back being treated. I didn’t even have a chance to sit down,” said Rudy. “It was so convenient that the staff was able to do everything they needed in my room.” “I had a mask. They had a mask. I was never concerned about getting COVID-19,” said Rudy. “I felt safe there.” Methodist Healthcare has purchased five freestanding emergency rooms (FSERs), three of which were acquired from Steward Healthcare. The acquisition brings the total of FSERs owned by Methodist Healthcare to nine. Once operational, Methodist Healthcare will be the leading operator of FSERs in the San Antonio area. The facilities at 12805W. IH-10(nearDeZavalaRoad) and9211PotrancoRoad in theLegacy Trails Medical Center have opened. The facilities at 13434 Nacogdoches Road; 7898 Kitty Hawk in Converse, Texas; and 12285 Bandera Road, in Helotes, Texas, will open soon. “The expansion of access points for all hospital systems is crucial, especially now during a pandemic. We have prioritized the sequence of opening these facilities, and will get them up and running with Methodist staff and physicians to address the medical needs of our community,” stated Allen Harrison, President and CEO of Methodist Healthcare. The addition of the five FSERs expands Methodist’s footprint in neighborhoods and communities such as the city of Helotes and the Legacy Trails suburb where the population of residents is increasing at a steady rate. F A L L 2 0 2 0 11 K E E P I N G W E L L