Residents of Henderson and surrounding areas now have access to medical specialists close to home at the ETMC Henderson Specialty Clinic.

“This is one of many advantages our affiliation with a regional system like ETMC brings,” Mark Leitner, ETMC Henderson administrator, said. “We are offering local citizens quality specialty medical care right here in our hospital.”

The new specialists now visiting ETMC Henderson on a weekly basis include a urologist, an oncologist and a cardiologist – all of whom are board-certified in their specialties.
“These doctors aren’t just conducting consultations with patients in their offices here. They are performing procedures and providing follow-up care on site,” Leitner said. “This helps patients and their families avoid the hassle and stress of traveling out of town for specialty care.”

New specialists and specialties
Dr. Michael Ashigbi, board-certified oncologist, completed his residency at Columbia University and sees patients in Henderson on Fridays. Dr. Andrew Roberts, a graduate of Tulane University and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, is a board-certified urologist. He practices at ETMC Henderson on Tuesdays. Board-certified cardiologist Dr. Wayne Cooper graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and treats patients at ETMC Henderson on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“We think we’ve put together an impressive line-up of doctors and specialties for the people of this community,” Leitner said. “We hope this is just the beginning. Our plans for the future are to expand the ETMC Henderson Specialty Clinic to continue to meet the needs of our patients.”

The specialty clinic is located on the third floor of ETMC Henderson, and appointments can be made by calling (903) 657-7541.

ETMC Henderson is part of East Texas’ largest healthcare system, the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System. ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

Tyler will join thousands of other cities across the U.S. on Saturday, Sept. 26, to raise awareness of the disease of obesity in the annual “Walk from Obesity,” set to begin at 10 a.m. at Rose Rudman Park at 450 Shiloh Road.

 “Obesity is a serious health epidemic that affects one in three Americans,” said Dr. Hugh Babineau, medical director of the ETMC Bariatric Center of Excellence. “More than 93 million Americans are obese and that number is expected to climb. East Texas has a high percentage of obese residents because of diet and lack of exercise,” added Babineau.

The obese are at increased risk for diabetes and heart disease. The walk will raise money to help fund research, increase education and awareness and support community initiatives.

This is the first time for Tyler to participate in the event. To register for the walk or for more information please contact Natalie Carter Pair at 903-531-8169 or Lindsey Turner at 903-593-0230 or email tylerwalkfromobesity@yahoo.com

Register online

The public is invited to a ribboncutting ceremony for the new ETMC fitness center in Jacksonville at noon on Friday, September 11.

The new center is located at 414 S. Main St., one block north of ETMC Jacksonville. Tours will be offered after the ribboncutting until 7 p.m., and membership information will be available. The new facility will open to members at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, September 14.

A $3.5 million investment
The center is a $3.5 million investment in the health and fitness of the area.
“The Nan Travis Foundation has been involved in this effort from the beginning and we are very grateful for the generous donation they have made toward this project,” said Jack Endres, ETMC Jacksonville administrator.

The facility offers:
• A 20’ by 40’ saltwater rehabilitation and exercise pool
• A separate exercise studio with aerobics floor
• A racquetball court
• Locker rooms with showers
• More than 4,600 square feet devoted to exercise equipment and free weights.
• Private treatment rooms for outpatient therapy, including physical and occupational therapy
• Cardiac Rehab classes

Members will benefit from more than 13,000 square feet of space, filled with the most modern exercise equipment available and staffed by fitness experts trained in wellness, exercise physiology, personal training, aerobic instruction and more.

Location
The new center, located in a completely renovated building that once housed Central Baptist Church’s Family Life Center, extends the campus of ETMC Jacksonville an additional block to the north. The facility’s entrance is located on the west side of the building, with convenient access to parking.

“Our members will enjoy all of the latest, greatest fitness equipment, including elliptical exercise machines, treadmills and cycles with integrated TVs and iPod compatibility,” noted Eddie Howard, vice president of the ETMC Rehabilitation Center. A broad selection of Life Fitness strength and cardio equipment has been installed at the facility, in addition to several pieces of free weight equipment.

ETMC's fitness centers provide a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for people of all fitness levels. “The staff at each ETMC Olympic Center is highly-trained and qualified, and always available to help our members when they need it. We maintain a high priority on customer service and personal interaction with our members,” Howard said.

The saltwater pool offers many advantages, Howard noted. “Once they’ve experienced it, most people prefer saltwater over chlorine or bromine pools, because it doesn’t burn the eyes or irritate the skin. It also doesn’t damage hair or bathing suits as the others can.”
The new Olympic Center will offer a variety of exercise classes, including aerobics, water aerobics and yoga. Personal trainers will also be available to help members meet their fitness goals.

Private treatment rooms will allow people who need outpatient rehabilitation, such as physical or occupational therapy, to receive it in a comfortable environment.
“The new Olympic Center in Jacksonville provides a perfect complement to the services at ETMC Jacksonville,” Endres said. “In addition to the fully equipped fitness center, ETMC Jacksonville patients who need outpatient rehab services after their hospital stay can also benefit from this excellent facility.

The facility will employ approximately nine people, staffing it Monday through Saturday. Hours will be 5:30 a.m.- 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 5:30 a.m.- 7 p.m., Friday; and 8 a.m.- 2 p.m., Saturday.

For membership information, please call 903-541-5520.
ETMC Jacksonville is part of the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System’s network of hospitals throughout East Texas.

Not even two weeks into the school year, at least seven Murchison ISD students have been diagnosed with type A influenza – though whether they suffer from the seasonal variety of influenza or the much-talked-about novel H1N1 strain is unknown.

Whichever it is, says Murchison ISD School Nurse Jessica Stephenson, RN, there’s no difference in the treatment. Both H1N1 (which has erroneously been referred to as swine flu) and the seasonal variety of influenza are treated with the same antivirals and good, old-fashioned home remedies like rest and plenty of fluid. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control, most people who have been diagnosed with novel H1N1 have recovered without needing medical treatment.

For more on H1N1 visit our swine flu links page

 According to Vicki McAlister, the public health preparedness coordinator for Henderson County, as of Thursday, no other school districts had reported any influenza cases among their students.

ETMC Athens prepares for H1N1
The cases at Murchison ISD only sharpen the resolve of members of the Emergency Management Task Force at ETMC Athens. Members of that committee have been meeting alongside city, county and state officials for weeks to prepare for the possibility of a surge of flu patients in coming months.

 A recent report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology advises public health officials that it is “plausible” 20 to 40 percent of the U.S. population could contract H1N1 this fall and winter. Even so, there’s no cause for panic, said Debbie Gardiner, director of risk management and performance improvement at ETMC Athens.

“H1N1 is treated just like any other flu,” she said, “and the majority of people who get it will recover without complications.”

High-risk groups
Gardiner and other healthcare workers do point out, however, that pregnant women and children younger than five years old – especially children under 2 – are more at risk for health complications related to the H1N1 flu strain. Therefore, pregnant women and mothers of young children should speak to their physicians about the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available, most likely sometime in mid-October, along with individuals who are chronically ill or have compromised immune systems.

Everyone, health officials are urging, should be vaccinated for the seasonal flu as soon as possible. Some pharmacies and clinics already have seasonal influenza vaccines available.

Steve Lowe, director of engineering at ETMC Athens and head of the hospital’s emergency management task force, said though hospital staff and administrators are hoping for the best, they’re preparing for the worst.

ETMC Athens is a 117-bed facility, but in the event of an influx of patients suffering complications from the flu (typically dehydration), the emergency management team is preparing to be able to convert private rooms into semi-private rooms to expand to at least 175 rooms, if not more.

Planning also includes the best method of keeping flu patients separate from the general population in the hospital to prevent spreading the influenza virus internally. In August, Gardiner and others distributed posters to schools and daycares throughout Henderson County, reminding everyone how important it is to wash hands frequently and sneeze or cough into a sleeve.

In fact, good hand hygiene is the first line of defense against the spread of any type of virus. State and schools to partner Once the H1N1 vaccine does become available, starting in October, it is likely the state will partner with schools to inoculate children. “We are working closely with school districts to prepare for the distribution of the H1N1 vaccine,” said McAlister, the county’s public health preparedness coordinator. “It is all voluntary. There is no mandatory vaccine.

 So it will be up to the parents to decide whether their children receive the vaccine or not.” Though clinical trials are still under way, it appears the H1N1 vaccination will be administered in two doses, 21 to 28 days apart. “The most important message we can deliver right now,” said McAlister, “is prevention.”

ETMC Tyler has been recognized as a silver annual performance award winner for the treatment of stroke patients. The American Heart Association is spotlighting ETMC and other hospitals in the July issue of U.S. News and World Report. Listed hospitals have successfully utilized the AHA’s “Get with the Guidelines” program for coronary artery disease, heart failure or stroke. 

ETMC was recognized in the stroke category for 12 consecutive months at 85 percent or higher adherence to all performance measures.

Get with the Guidelines improvement program
“Get with the Guidelines” is the premier hospital-based quality improvement program for AHA and the American Stroke Association. It empowers healthcare provider teams to consistently treat heart and stroke patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines.
“ETMC implemented the AHA’s Get with the Guidelines program to expand and improve the care we provide in treating and preventing stroke,” said Bob Evans, administrator/CEO of ETMC Tyler. “We are very proud of this recognition.”

ETMC Tyler was the first hospital in East Texas to become a certified stroke center as designated by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The designation indicates the hospital is dedicated to providing high-quality stroke treatment and care. ETMC’s stroke program has two neuro-interventionalists and also offers round-the-clock coverage for hemorrhagic stroke patients.

To qualify
To qualify as a certified center, a facility must establish standardized protocols to assure consistent care. Physicians and staff must be educated in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke, and systems for continuous quality improvement must also be in place.

“East Texans face one of the highest stroke mortality rates in our state, and we are working to change that by providing stroke care and also community education that urges individuals to seek care quickly if they show symptoms of stroke,” Evans said.  “The faster they seek care, the better their chance of survival and recovery.”

East Texas Medical Center Tyler has joined a growing number of cutting-edge Texas businesses by becoming designated as a Mother-Friendly Worksite.

Created by the Texas legislature in 1995 and administered by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), this designation recognizes companies that allow new mothers returning to work a place and time for lactation.

“ETMC believes in the benefits of breast-feeding and has a lactation room for employees to pump breast milk,” said Lisa Burkhalter, RN, ETMC Family Birthplace clinical manager. “We have a private room on our Family Birthplace unit where the employee can pump or nurse with access to a sink and a refrigerator to store their milk. We also have accommodations for employees at our off-site locations in Tyler including behavioral health, the wound healing center and ETMC South Broadway.”

To become Mother-Friendly, ETMC developed a policy reflecting its support of breast-feeding and submitted an application to DSHS.

East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System screened 1,572 East Texas men during the 11th annual free prostate cancer screening.  

Every summer during June, ETMC offers free PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood tests to East Texas men at risk.  The blood test identifies the level of PSA in the blood.  An elevated level can be an early sign of prostate cancer.  During the past 11 years, ETMC has screened more than 28,500 men during these screenings.

“Of the 1,572 men screened, 63 of the tests came back with abnormal values,” said Todd Sigmon, vice president of the ETMC Cancer Institute. “We have contacted those patients and advised them to have a follow-up with their physician or urologist.”

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer kills 28,660 men each year in the U.S.  This year 186,320 new cases will be found.  If you missed this year’s screening or have any symptoms, don’t wait. Contact your physician for a prostate screening test.

An overview of the ETMC campus reveals construction work that's progressing on two sites. Two cranes can be seen working on the projects, which are moving forward as anticipated. The blue crane is dedicated to ETMC's new parking garage.

Construction of 72 new rooms for ETMC Tyler is right on schedule.

 “The two new patient wings being added to the fifth and sixth floor of ETMC Tyler are starting to take shape,” according to Robert Layton, ETMC corporate director of plant services. “Workers are painting the façade on the outside and soon the crane over the hospital will come down, as the construction moves to the inside of the floors with electrical, plumbing and drywall.”

The $28 million addition is scheduled to be completed in January of 2010. The new 5 North will house cardiac patients and the new 6 North will be used for oncology patients.

The two units that previously housed these patients (3 South and 6 South) will be used for overflow and will also be renovated in the future.

Parking garage
A new $20 million parking garage is also under construction on Hospital Drive. The garage will have six-levels with an estimated 1,000 new parking spaces.

 “The skywalk is also being extended this summer to reach the new garage, “added Layton. Emergency department expansion begins The ETMC Tyler emergency department is getting a $4.6 million facelift. Over the next 18 months, three new trauma rooms will be added with state-of-the-art technology including digital X-rays in the room. “We are also remodeling the waiting room and will have three triage rooms instead of one,” according to Art Chance, ETMC vice president of operations. ED West will now be open 24 hours a day to handle emergency patients. The waiting room, registration and triage will also take place in ED West during construction.

 ETMC Tyler is also updating another set of operating rooms in surgery in the basement. It takes about four months to complete this modernization which includes new floors, walls and lighting and integrated electronics for each room.

See more pictures on our Facebook page.

In the new ETMC Breast Center at ETMC Jacksonville (from left) Beth Killingsworth, ETMC Jacksonville radiology manager; Jack Endres, ETMC Jacksonville administrator; DeLeigh Haley, ETMC Jacksonville business development director; Jerry Collins, owner of Dixie Wine Company; and Marty Wiggins, ETMC corporate director of development, gather for a check presentation. The breast center now offers state-of-the-art digital mammography services in association with the ETMC Breast Center in Tyler.

Women in the Jacksonville area with special financial needs may now benefit from a special gift of caring from Dixie Wine Company. Owner Jerry Collins presented Jack Endres, ETMC Jacksonville administrator, with a check for $830 on June 15. This funding represented the proceeds from a special wine auction and related event merchandise sales held by Dixie Wine Company this spring.

A gift used throughout the year
According to Marty Wiggins, ETMC’s corporate director of development, the charitable gift will be used throughout the year to help women who cannot afford mammography services and do not meet the criteria for other programs, such as governmental aid.
“This is a wonderful means of support for the women of Cherokee County and the breast care services provided by the ETMC Breast Center at ETMC Jacksonville,” noted Endres. “We thank Mr. Collins and the family of employees of Dixie Wine Company for all their efforts and kindness.”

Collins said that while no one in his family has experienced breast cancer, he knows that this disease could strike a friend or family member at some time.
“There was a time I needed help, and now I can help others,” he added.
He said that Dixie Wine Company auctioned its own wines, plus wine from a neighboring winery this year. In 2010, they plan to grow the auction to include other wines from the East Texas area, with hopes of raising even more funds for women receiving mammography services at ETMC Jacksonville.

Check presentation
The check presentation ceremony was held at the ETMC Breast Center at the hospital, which now includes state-of-the-art digital mammography. Others participating were DeLeigh Haley, the hospital’s director of business development; Beth Killingsworth, radiology manager, and the family of employees of Dixie Wine Company.
Dixie Wine Company is located on Hwy. 69 between Bullard and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.dixiewine.com or call 903-894-4129.

Persons who wish to make a donation to the ETMC Foundation in support of the ETMC Jacksonville mammography fund, may do so by mailing a check to the ETMC Foundation, P.O. Box 6400, Tyler, Texas 75711.

ETMC Jacksonville is part of the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System’s network of hospitals throughout East Texas.

Other ETMC facilities include hospitals in Athens, Carthage, Clarksville, Crockett, Fairfield, Gilmer, Henderson, Mount Vernon, Pittsburg, Quitman, Trinity and Tyler.

 Carlyn Bluis, Jim Rippey, Warren Robicheaux, Byron Hale, Dave Ward, Jerry Massey, Elmer Ellis, Larry King, Marguery Williams, Cheryl Spearman and Lois Saldana pose beside a commemorative plaque that was unveiled at the May 27 open house at the new ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Trinity.

Ribboncutting ceremonies were held May 27, 2009, during a community open house at the new ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Trinity, located adjacent to ETMC Trinity.
Construction of the new 7,679 square feet ETMC First Physicians Clinic was recently completed with finishing touches on the new parking lot and landscape plantings. However, patients have been seen in the new clinic since mid-April.

No matter where you live in East Texas...
“No matter where you live in East Texas – whether in a city or a highly rural area – ETMC’s mission is to ensure that quality healthcare is available to you,” said Elmer G. Ellis, president/CEO of the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System. “This new First Physicians Clinic illustrates that mission in action.”
Ellis unveiled a plaque at the event to honor the partnership of spirit and service between ETMC and the Trinity Memorial Hospital District. It reads:

East Texas Medical Center Trinity
and the
ETMC Foundation
acknowledge with gratitude
the generous support of the
Trinity Memorial Hospital District
in benefit of the
ETMC First Physicians Clinic
and all it serves.

Members of the ETMC Trinity board of directors and the Trinity Memorial Hospital District board were recognized during the ceremony for their advocacy of ETMC’s growth and outreach in Trinity County.

The new clinic will provide adequate space for up to five physicians or mid-level providers. “The increased space compared to our previous clinic has allowed us to recruit two new physicians – internal medicine specialist Dr. David Mandel and pediatrician Dr. Amol Deshpande,” said Warren Robicheaux, ETMC Trinity administrator. Drs. Mandel and Desphande join Dr. Lawrence Quan, family medicine, and certified physician assistants David Price and Nita Ragle in caring for clinic patients. General surgeon Dr. Ray Chen will continue to see patients at the clinic on a part-time basis. 

A $2 Million Investment
The clinic project is an investment of $2 million into the healthcare services of Trinity County, Robicheaux noted.  “We are proud to offer such a modern and beautiful clinic, staffed by excellent physicians and physician assistants, for our community.”

The new clinic, which was designed to complement the hospital, is also conveniently connected to it, Robicheaux said. The new clinic was designed by Fitzpatrick Butler Architects, while the contractor was RPR Construction Company. Located at 315 Prospect Drive, appointments at the new clinic can be made by calling 936-594-3595.

Ron Franks, president of the Henderson Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, and Elmer G. Ellis, ETMC president/CEO, sign an agreement which makes the Henderson hospital a part of the ETMC system as an affiliate hospital.

HENDERSON, Texas – Officials with Henderson Memorial Hospital and the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System have announced that an agreement has been finalized for the Henderson hospital to affiliate with the ETMC system and become ETMC Henderson. 

Representatives of both entities participated in a signing ceremony at the Henderson hospital this morning, with ETMC officials welcoming the Henderson hospital to East Texas’ largest healthcare system. Fifteen regional community hospitals now compose the not-for-profit ETMC system, with the corporate headquarters in Tyler.

“To the wonderful people of Henderson and Rusk County, we are proud to be a part of your community,” said Elmer G. Ellis, president/CEO of the ETMC Regional Healthcare System. “Your local hospital is your lifeline, it is a source of comfort and healing and it is vital to the area’s economic health. I pledge to you that ETMC will apply its experience and resources to advance healthcare in this community to the highest level possible. ”
He added that the affiliation of the Henderson hospital is not about joining the Tyler hospital, but about being part of a regional network of care, with all of ETMC’s facilities working together to serve East Texans.

“The board of directors worked intensively for the past year-and-a-half toward securing a bright healthcare future for Rusk County,” explained Ron Franks, chairman of the Henderson Memorial Hospital board of directors. “After meeting with several organizations and reviewing multiple potential opportunities for our hospital, we ultimately reached the unanimous decision that the best partner for Henderson Memorial Hospital – and the best choice for our community – is ETMC.”

Today’s signing is the fruition of many months’ effort, which became public in January of this year when the two entities announced they had signed a letter of intent for the Henderson hospital to affiliate with the ETMC system. It is also the culmination of a comprehensive process that began in January 2008 by the Henderson Memorial Hospital board of directors to assure the health needs of Rusk County would be best served in the future.

 “The residents of Henderson and Rusk County can remain confident that the hospital will not only survive but will thrive during the coming years. Of the many health systems considered, the ETMC Regional Healthcare System was determined to be best prepared and most interested in preserving high quality care for our patients,” said Mark Leitner, ETMC Henderson’s administrator.

In the affiliation agreement, ETMC has pledged to make significant facility upgrades to ETMC Henderson, as well as clinical equipment and information technology enhancements. A long-term, comprehensive facility plan will be developed to prioritize the hospital’s physical plant needs.

ETMC Henderson will benefit from community participation through a local hospital board consisting of community members and ETMC officials.

Based on its past experience of hospital affiliations, the ETMC system is planning a highly positive transition of the Henderson Memorial Hospital employees to ETMC’s programs of employee retention, compensation and benefits. Representatives from the corporate human resources department will begin detailed meetings with the Henderson employees on May 27 to outline personnel policies and benefits plans.

ETMC Henderson is a 96-bed full-service community hospital that has served East Texans since 1928. More than 200 employees provide a full range of advanced inpatient and outpatient healthcare services, including 24-hour physician-staffed emergency services, a variety of surgical services, obstetrics, cardiac clinic, an intensive care unit, physical therapy, sleep disorders services, primary healthcare clinics and community wellness.

ETMC Henderson has been designated a Level 4 trauma center by the Texas Department of State Health Services. It is served by a medical staff of 25 physicians.
The East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System is East Texas’ largest healthcare system. ETMC facilities include hospitals in Athens, Carthage, Clarksville, Crockett, Fairfield, Gilmer, Jacksonville, Mount Vernon, Pittsburg, Quitman, Trinity and Tyler, in addition to the ETMC Rehabilitation Hospital and ETMC Specialty Hospital.
ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

“After a busy weekend of moving we are glad to finally have our doors open for business.”
That’s the word from Warren Robicheaux, ETMC Trinity administrator, after the new ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Trinity opened to its patients on Monday, April 20. It’s a feeling shared by the clinic physicians and staff, as well.

The new clinic measures 7,679 square feet, and connects to the hospital, providing greater convenience for physicians and patients alike. Located at 315 Prospect Drive, appointments at the new clinic can be made by calling 936-594-3595.
Plans are underway for a grand opening ribboncutting and community open house, scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27. More details will be announced in advertisements closer to the open house date.

The clinic provides space for five full-time physicians or mid-level healthcare providers, including Dr. Lawrence Quan, family medicine specialist, David Price, certified physician assistant, and Nita Ragle, certified physician assistant.

Two physicians will be new additions to the clinic. They are: Dr. David B. Mandel, an internal medicine specialist, who has also moved into the clinic and is accepting new patients, and Dr. Amol Deshpande, a pediatrician, who anticipates beginning his practice as an ETMC First Physician at the new clinic  in May.

In addition to these five full-time caregivers, Dr. Ray Chen, general surgeon, will continue to see patients at the clinic on a part-time basis.

Construction, furnishings and other equipment for the new ETMC First Physicians Clinic in Trinity represent a $2 million investment in the community’s healthcare services. The clinic will be owned by the Trinity Memorial Hospital District.

Members of the current Trinity Memorial Hospital District board are: Dave Ward (President), Larry King (Vice President), Travis Starr (Secretary), Jim Rippey, Marguery Williams, Lois Saldana, Carlyn Bluis, Cheryl Spearman, and Tommy Turner.
“The new clinic doubled the size of the front of our hospital,” Robicheaux said. “We are proud to offer such a modern and beautiful clinic, staffed by excellent physicians and physician assistants, for our community.”

Dr. Evans Smith has passed the examination for Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Subspecialty Certification examination, adding certification in hyperbaric medicine to his existing certification in emergency medicine. 

Dr. Smith has been on staff at ETMC Tyler in the emergency department since 2000 and has been a wound and hyperbaric medicine specialty physician at the ETMC Wound Healing Center since 2001.

He is a native of Tyler and a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. Dr. Smith obtained his bachelor of science degree from Southwest Texas State University, his medical degree from UTMB in Galveston and completed his residency at Wake Forest University.

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00GMT http://www.etmc.org/newstreetopping.htm

A years-old tradition was carried out at ETMC Tyler on January 13, with a topping-out ceremony at the construction site for the two new stories being added to the north tower of the hospital.

“A tree will be placed temporarily on top of the structure,” according to Robert Layton, ETMC plant services vice president. “This gesture symbolizes the completion of the structural elements of construction and paves the way for the finishing elements of the project. A topping-out ceremony dates to years past, when buildings were framed with lumber. Once the wooden structural components were finished, construction crews waited until the green lumber cured before proceeding with the project.”

Steel beams, instead of wood, are now used to frame projects such as the one at ETMC Tyler. But it is a time-honored tradition, and symbolizes the completion of one stage of construction and the beginning of the finishing stages.

ETMC Tyler will add 72 new rooms with one unit designated primarily for cancer patients, and the other designated for cardiac care and other medical specialties. The $21 million expansion project is estimated to be completed in January 2010. ETMC Tyler will have a total of 536 beds when construction is complete.

By Toni Garrard Clay

Little Jeorge Luis Fernandez may not have been born on New Year’s Day, but he still managed to achieve first-baby-of-the-year status at ETMC Athens with a January 2 arrival. The beautiful boy was born at 9:32 a.m. at 7 pounds, 2.75 ounces and 19.5 inches long.

The little boy’s mother was also hoping for a Jan. 1 arrival for her son because, among other reasons, she thought it would be fun to share a birthday with him. Esmeralda Juarez turned 25 on the first.

Jeorge Luis was a planned c-section delivery, and Ms. Juarez had asked if it would be possible to schedule the delivery on New Year’s Day. But planned surgical procedures aren’t scheduled on holidays.

It was a surprise then when her baby boy – boasting a gorgeous, silky explosion of dark hair – still ended up being the first born at ETMC Athens in 2009. It was also a blessing, because along with the first delivery comes a basket full of goodies for Mom and baby, courtesy of the hospital.

“Thank you very much. I needed these things,” said Ms. Juarez through an interpreter. “It’s a blessing.”

Ms. Juarez lives in Athens with Jeorge Luis’ father and her firstborn son, 3-year-old Jeffry. She said she is content and her baby’s arrival indicates, “it’s going to be a better year.”
Among the items contained in the gift basket from ETMC Athens are:

•  bottles and nipples;
•  pacifiers;
• diapers and wipes;
• a musical toy;
• blankets;
• onesies and socks;
• lotion and bath items;
• various baby-care items;
• a car mirror;
• chocolates and bath & body items for Mom;
• a photo album; and
• a gift certificate to the Olive Garden restaurant.
  

HENDERSON, Texas – Officials with Henderson Memorial Hospital and the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System have announced that a letter of intent has been signed between the two organizations and that negotiations are underway to finalize the terms of an agreement for the Henderson hospital to affiliate with the ETMC system.
Both entities anticipate reaching a final affiliation agreement within a few months, at which time Henderson Memorial Hospital will become ETMC Henderson.

The letter of intent is the result of months of work by Henderson Memorial Hospital’s board of directors, led by chairman Ron Franks.

"We are extremely pleased with the anticipated affiliation,” said Mark Leitner, Henderson Memorial Hospital CEO. “The process that was followed by Henderson Memorial Hospital's board of directors was designed to assure that the health needs of our communities would be best served through such an affiliation.

“The residents of Henderson and Rusk County can remain confident that the hospital will not only survive but will thrive during the coming years. Of the many health systems considered, the ETMC Regional Healthcare System was determined to be best prepared and most interested in preserving high quality care for our patients,” Leitner said.

The HMH board announced on January 9 of last year that a community-based committee had been formed to study future affiliation options for the hospital. The committee’s first task was to retain an independent healthcare consulting firm with experience in hospital affiliations to guide them through the process and ensure that the needs of community members, employees, physicians, and other stakeholders would be addressed. Ultimately, more than 30 requests for proposals were sent out by the committee, resulting in many proposals from a wide variety of healthcare organizations.

Over the past year, the HMH board has hosted representatives of several healthcare organizations to discuss their vision for the future of the Henderson hospital. Eventually, the decision was made to affiliate with the not-for-profit ETMC system.

Mark Leitner, Henderson Memorial Hospital CEO; Elmer G. Ellis ETMC president/CEO; and Ron Franks, chairman of the HMH board of directors, pose following a press conference to announce the letter of intent.

“ETMC’s work over the past months with the leadership of Henderson Memorial Hospital has already been rewarding, as together we are beginning a vision of what can be accomplished in advancing care, saving lives and growing jobs for the Rusk County community,” noted Elmer G. Ellis, president/CEO of the ETMC system. “We are excited about the work that lies ahead and appreciative of the confidence that Henderson Memorial and the community are placing in ETMC.”

“The Henderson Memorial Hospital board of directors should be commended for taking on the tremendous responsibility of carefully searching for an affiliation partner,” Ellis added. “Through the board’s conscientious efforts and the coming ETMC affiliation, Rusk County residents will access a patient-centered, well-equipped hospital that ultimately improves the quality of life for the community.”

While the affiliation agreement between HMH and ETMC is not final, it will likely address several factors, including:

• Ongoing community participation through the local hospital board
• Clinical equipment enhancements
• Information technology upgrades
• Long-term facility plan
• Employee retention and benefits
• Physician recruitment and retention

“As a system, ETMC employs a different philosophy than most large healthcare systems when it comes to the relationship with their community hospital affiliates. Where most seek to send patients to the larger facility, our mission is to provide the highest level of care possible in home communities,” Ellis said. “This is better for the patients and their families, as they can conveniently access a range of services close to home.”

Henderson Memorial Hospital is a 96-bed full-service community hospital that has served East Texans since 1928. More than 200 employees provide a full range of advanced inpatient and outpatient healthcare services, including 24-hour physician-staffed emergency services, a variety of surgical services, obstetrics, cardiac clinic, an intensive care unit, physical therapy, sleep disorders services, primary healthcare clinics and community wellness. It is served by a medical staff of 25 physicians.

The East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System is East Texas’ largest healthcare system. ETMC facilities include hospitals in Athens, Carthage, Clarksville, Crockett, Fairfield, Gilmer, Jacksonville, Mt. Vernon, Pittsburg, Quitman, Trinity and Tyler.

The ETMC system is organized so that primary healthcare is provided in more than 40 First Physicians Clinics across East Texas. Secondary care is also provided locally in the ETMC affiliate hospitals. High-level secondary and tertiary care is provided at ETMC Tyler, including the ETMC Cancer Institute, the ETMC Cardiovascular Institute, the ETMC Rehabilitation Center, the ETMC Neurological Institute, the ETMC Orthopedic Institute, and the ETMC Urology Institute. In addition, ETMC Tyler is East Texas’ only Level 1 trauma center, as designated by the Texas State Department of Health Services.

East Texas Medical Center EMS is one of the nation's largest rural ambulance services

ETMC is a not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life in communities throughout East Texas.

ETMC Outpatient Rehab is now offering a program called Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD) to help Parkinson’s patients improve their speech problems.
“Research shows 89 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease experience speech and voice disorders, including soft voice, monotone, breathiness, hoarse voice and imprecise articulation,” according to Aleta Millet, speech therapist. “This technique gives new hope for improved communication so patients have confidence in conversations.”

LSVT LOUD improves vocal loudness by stimulating the muscles of the voice box and speech mechanism through a systematic hierarchy of exercises. “It does not train people to shout or yell but the treatment uses loudness training to bring the voice to an improved, healthy vocal loudness level with no strain,” Millet said. “Research also indicates that patients have improved swallowing function.”

ETMC physical therapist Lynn Henry is trained in LSVT BIG. “Principles of LSVT LOUD are applied to limb movement in Parkinson’s patients,” Henry said. “This training increases amplitude of limb and body movement to improve speed, balance and quality of life.”

Patients of Dr. Plotkin and Dr. Bains should call 903-525-6092 and request a referral. 
Other patients should contact their physician about a referral. For questions about the program, call Aleta Millet at 903-596-3148 or Lynn Henry at 903-596-3112.

ETMC Home Health’s west and north divisions have been named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home healthcare providers in the United States.

This annual review has identified ETMC Home Health West as in the Top 100 of agencies and ETMC Home Health North as in the Top 500 of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information.

Independent information
“This recognition, based on independent, third-party information, is very gratifying to receive,” said Eddie Howard, ETMC’s vice president and chief operating officer for post acute services. “It demonstrates that the excellence our ETMC Home Health employees demonstrate every day in caring for their patients’ needs is exceptional and noteworthy among our peers in the home health industry.”

The 2008 HomeCare Elite rankings are the only performance recognition of their kind in the home health industry. These rankings are compiled each year by OCS, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare informatics, and DecisionHealth, publisher of …home health line, a respected home care industry newsletter.

“The 2008 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with optimum care while performing at the highest level,” said Nancy Buller, Senior Director of Marketing Communications at OCS, Inc. "We congratulate ETMC Home Health West on being one of the Top 100 and ETMC Home Health North on being one of the Top 500 home care agencies in the country."

“DecisionHealth would like to congratulate the top HomeCare Elite agencies that achieved excellent clinical and financial outcomes by providing quality care to their patients,” adds Marci Heydt, Executive Editor of DecisionHealth’s Home Health Line.

The entire list of the 2008 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS web site at www.ocsys.com/HCE.

CHAP Accreditation
ETMC Home Health brings quality healthcare home to East Texans, and is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (C.H.A.P.). It is staffed by fully trained, licensed and certified professionals and certified by both Medicare and the Texas Department of Health. ETMC Home Health nurses and aides visit homes throughout the counties we serve in the East Texas region.

Any individual or family may contact ETMC Home Health to schedule an evaluation. ETMC Home Health supplies skilled nursing care in the home and private nursing care for up to 24 hours a day whenever needed. Licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists are available to assist in the recovery process. Social workers locate necessary community support services for patients and their families. And home health aides assist patients with daily activities such as grooming, bathing and other personal hygiene needs. For more information, please call 1-800-256-7091.