November/December 2006 Newsletter - Catholic Healthcare - Catholic Health Association of Texas

Catholic Health Association of Texas
Advocacy Day
January 30, 2007
The Driskill Hotel & State Capitol
Austin, Texas

The Catholic Health Association of Texas will hold its Advocacy Day at the Capitol in Austin on January 30, 2007. It is our unique perspective of health care – the belief that Catholic health care is a ministry of the Church which is an extension of the healing ministry of Jesus Christ – that calls us to advocate on behalf of Texas’ most vulnerable – the poor, the uninsured and the underinsured.

Texas currently has one of the highest rates of uninsured in the country and the highest rate of uninsured children – over 1.4 million.

If you would like more information about our Advocacy Day, please call Catholic Health Association of Texas at (512) 465-1521. Become an advocate for health care. Call your state legislators and express your concerns about our health care system in Texas.

The Catholic Health Association of Texas represents the combined strength of seven health systems and their sponsoring congregations and 38 Catholic hospitals in 28 cities and 10 dioceses.

Dear Members:

We want to thank each of you for your participation in the Catholic Health Association of Texas and your contributions to the organization.

May the peace and joy of Christmas be with you this holiday and throughout the New Year.

Brenda Trolin, Candise Spikes

MEMBER UPDATE

CHRISTUS Health Posts Quality and Patient Satisfaction Data on Website

(Dallas – Oct. 31, 2006) -On Wednesday, Oct. 25, CHRISTUS Health went live with a section of its Website that displays the quality and patient satisfaction scores for its hospitals and the system as a whole. (The site can be accessed through the system’s home page at www.christushealth.org).

“Because people come to our hospitals and programs each day, putting their health—and often their lives—in our hands, they deserve to know as much as possible about us. They want to receive health care services that are excellent and will result in the best outcome at the most affordable price,” said Dr. Thomas C. Royer, President and CEO of CHRISTUS Health.

Although the public has long had access to quality data through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which posts quality data on its Website, HospitalCompare, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations, the CHRISTUS site aims to provide more up-to-date information that is easier to understand. It is expected that displaying this quality and patient satisfaction information—the good, the bad and the ugly—will help patients make informed decisions when choosing a health care provider, and will also be a visible representation of the progress that CHRISTUS hospitals are making in these areas.

CSRHC to build hospital and physician office building

CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care (CSRHC) is making full-service health care more accessible to residents of one of the fastest growing sections of San Antonio. CSRHC representatives today released details of plans to build a 150-bed hospital and a 60-thousand square foot physician office building in the Westover Hills area, along Highway 151 near the entrance to SeaWorld. Construction is scheduled to begin next month on the project, which represents the first and only full-service medical complex in this part of the city.

The facilities will provide emergency room, obstetrics, inpatient surgery, family medicine, urgent care, imaging, and outpatient surgery services, as well as physician offices. The medical staff will have access to specialized equipment that represents some of the most advanced patient care technology available. These tools include digital radiology imaging, digital echocardiograms and digital CATHLAB studies, which would, for example, give a physician the ability to review a study when not present in the hospital or give a cardiologist the ability to immediately read an echocardiogram that was administered at a remote, rural clinic. There also will be full electronic medical records for all disciplines, including CPOE (Computerized Physician Order Entry), as well as bedside medication verification (BMV), which allows a caregiver to scan a medication and a patient’s armband to verify that the medication and dosage that are indicated are correct for each individual patient.

The Westover Hills project is a continuation of CSRHC’s relentless focus on providing superior patient care for the past 137 years. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Care is the only hospital system in San Antonio to receive the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Sr John Marie Crowley, CCVI, receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Sister John Marie Crowley, CCVI, a member of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston, was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), of which CHRISTUS Health and the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word are members.

Sister John Marie, who received the award at the ICCR 35th anniversary celebration in September, assumed roles relating to corporate social responsibility beginning in 1970. As a member of the Religious Treasurers’ Organization, she became very involved in groups that partnered to facilitate peace and justice.

Serving on behalf of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston and the former Sisters of Charity Health Care System (SCH), where Sister John Marie was named the first senior vice president of finance, she became a strong supporter of the corporate responsibility movement, shareholder activism, community improvement, environment and affordable housing. She played an integral role in the financial management of SCH through her clear financial perspective and practical solutions.

In 1986, Sister John Marie left SCH to serve full-time as the general treasurer for the Congregation. As Congregational General Treasurer, her accomplishments were many. She demonstrated strategic planning, foresight, wisdom, collaboration, networking and vision in the areas of financial stewardship, advocacy on behalf of women, and those oppressed by unjust structures in the world. Sister John Marie continued to serve as a board member of several facilities with SCH and CHRISTUS Health.

Covenant Receives NRC Award for Second Consecutive Year

National Research Corporation (NRC) named Covenant Medical Center as one of the top hospitals in the country and awarded Covenant with its distinguished Consumer Choice Award for 2006-2007. Covenant was the only hospital in the West Texas region to receive the award.

The NRC Consumer Choice Award identifies hospitals with the highest quality and image in over 186 markets throughout the United States. The consumer choice award is based on consumer choice for the following categories: Best Nurse, Best Doctor, Best Reputation and Best Overall Image.

“We are very proud and honored to be the only hospital in the region to receive this distinguished award,” said Steve Hunter, President and CEO, Covenant Health System. “Our commitment to deliver compassionate care utilizing cutting-edge techniques makes us the region’s leader in exceptional health care.”

The NRC Healthcare Market Guide is known as one of the most comprehensive consumer assessments of the health care industry. The survey was given to more than 400,000 consumers nationwide. For more information, visit www.nationalresearch.com.

Seton Family of Hospitals Receives Distinguished Medal of Honor
Seton Medical Center Austin, Brackenridge Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Austin are among 342 hospitals nationwide to receive the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) distinguished Medal of Honor. The award is given to hospitals that achieve and exceed a life-saving organ donation rate of 75 percent or greater in a 12-month period.

“This recognition is the result of our transplant team and medical staffs’ commitment to saving lives and incredibly successful team work,” said Charles Barnett, President and Chief Executive Officer of Seton Family of Hospitals. “By working with the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), a non-profit Organ Procurement Organization for Central and South Texas, we are able to close the gap between patients on an organ waiting list and organs available for transplantation.”

The Medal of Honor is part of the HHS National Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative launched in 2003 to save and enhance thousands of lives annually by spreading best practices to the nation’s largest hospitals.

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NEWS TO USE

Catholic Health Association of Texas is currently accepting applications for the 2007 Parish Nursing Course. The course will be held from Sunday, April 15th to Saturday, April 21, 2007 at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX. To apply, click here to download PDF application or call CHA of Texas for more information at (512) 465-1521.

Student scholarship program

We are now accepting applications for the 2007 Monsignor William Broussard Health Career Scholarship Program. The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and facilitate the education and training of Catholics pursuing a career in health care.

The $1,000 annual Scholarship is available to Catholic students from Catholic dioceses in the state of Texas who will be attending a university as a sophomore or above in 2007 and majoring in a concentration of classes that will lead to a career in health care – such as nursing, occupational or physical therapy, social work, hospital administration and others. A broad range of health care career paths will be considered, and scholarships of $500 will also be awarded. Applicants from any accredited college or university in Texas may apply.

Deadline to Apply: The Scholarship Committee must receive all completed applications and attachments no later than February 16, 2007. Applicants will be notified of the Committee’s decision by March 30, 2007.

Applicants must submit one signed original document to: CHA of Texas, Attn: Monsignor William Broussard Health Career Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 15364, Austin, TX 78761-5364.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please call our office at 512-465-1521.

Health Ministry/Faith Community Nursing Resources

www.hmassoc.org: The Health Ministries Association (HMA) is a global interfaith organization committed to encouraging, supporting and developing whole-person ministries in faith groups and the communities they serve. Information and application to join is available on the website or 800-280-9919. The HMA Texas Chapter was formed in 2002 to establish a statewide network to provide health promotion education and access to resources. For information and application to join the Texas Chapter contact the membership chair, Rita.Carlson@dshs.state.tx.us or 512-458-7770.

www.dshs.state.tx.us/library/nursing.shtm: A Health Ministry/Faith Community Nursing bibliography is available on the Texas Department of State Health Services website. It has a calendar of events and a comprehensive list of resources. To check out print materials contact Carolyn Medina, librarian, at 512-458-7559 and identify yourself as a faith community/parish nurse.

www.parishnurses.org: The International Parish Nurse Resource Center is to promote the development of quality parish nurse programs through research, education and consultation. (314-918-2559). The bookstore can be reached at www.eden.edu/Bookstore/bookstore.html.

www.gbgm-umc.org/parishnursing The Rural Nurse Resource Center, Inc is a non-profit agency that provides health and safety education, nurse aid training, continuing education and parish nurse community outreach services for rural West Texas and surrounding communities.

Houston:
Karen Hahn, Center for Faith & Health Initiatives
hahnkj@mindspring.com, 281-418-2102

San Antonio:
Jean Deliganis, University of the Incarnate Word –
deligani@uiwtx.edu, 210-224-7122

Panhandle:
Sharon Hinton, Rural Nurse Resource, Inc. –
sth.rnr@door.net, 806-983-8096

January 23 (Tuesday): HMA Texas Chapter quarterly meeting at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. For more information contact Jean Deliganis or Judy Davis: deligani@uiwtx.edu or jdavis@mhm.org (210-224-7122 or 210-733-7156)

April: HMA Texas Chapter quarterly meeting – location and date to be announced.

June 21-24: The 2007 national Health Ministries Association conference, Navigating the River: Journey With Us Through Health Ministries' Healing Waters, will be held in San Antonio at the Hyatt Regency on the Riverwalk. www.hmassoc.org, 800-280-9919.

HMA Texas Chapter
Regional & Local Services, T608
Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX 78756

“The University of St. Thomas Social Justice Summer Institute: Realizing a Just Health Care System”; May 30, 2007 – June 1, 2007; Jerabeck Center, University of St. Thomas, 3800 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006. For more information contact Dr. John Francis Burke at 713-525-3814 or jfburke@stthom.edu.

NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006

Advocacy Day

MEMBER UPDATE

CHRISTUS Health Posts Quality and Patient Satisfaction Data on Website

CSRHC to build hospital and physician office building

Sr John Marie Crowley, CCVI, receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Covenant Receives NRC Award for Second Consecutive Year

NEWS TO USE

Student scholarship program

Health Ministry/Faith Community Nursing Resources