SPECIAL SECT IO N
“ Th a t ’ s w h y c o m m u n i c a ti o n b e t w e e n p ro v i d e rs i s s o i m p o r ta n t . W e o f fe r h i g h l y s p e c i a l i ze d tre a tm e n ts s u c h a s H y p e rb a ri c M e d i c i n e a l o n g w i th th e l a te s t, s ta te - o f- th e - a r t w o u n d c a re p ro d u c ts , to s a v e l i fe a n d l i m b .”
BY M E R E D I T H K N I G H T P H OTO BY L A U R E N M E D E A N
TARA PLEISS, BSHA
Methodist Mansfield Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center Tara Pleiss learned at a young age about hard work. Growing up on a family farm in Southern California, she knew what it was like to grow her own food and to gather and chop firewood to stay warm. “I was the oldest of three girls,” she said. “We learned early what it’s like to work to survive.” When she left home, she worked as a waitress before transitioning into medicine. “Everywhere I worked I was promoted to head waitress,” she said. “I credit the lessons learned on the farm for my ability to think outside the box and have a vision for the way things could run better.” Tara went on to nursing school but soon moved into administration where she really found her niche. “I’m too emotional to be on the frontlines as a nurse,” she said. “I asked myself how I could stay in healthcare and still be beneficial. Administration was the answer.” Now, as the Program Director at Methodist Mansfield
Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, she coordinates a unique multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, all dedicated to healing chronic wounds. “The causes of wounds are complex, and our group coordinates with primary providers and specialists in all areas necessary to handle varied circumstances and challenges of disease processes in the wound care patient,” Tara said. “One of the most important things I do is go out into the community to help coordinate care between the patients primary doctor and any specialists they’re seeing to keep everyone on the same page. Whatever it takes for healing to occur, we’re equipped and staffed to make it happen.” Tara began in her position in 2019 after working in a similar job in Nebraska. “Texas was instantly home,” she said. “I love the manners here. That’s how I was raised. I love how friendly and welcoming everyone is. This is an extraordinary job in
CONTACT 2800 EAST BROAD STREET, SUITE 308 | MANSFIELD, TEXAS 76063
(682) 242-HEAL (682-622-4325)
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may 2021
an outstanding facility. Our patients are receiving the best wound care in the country. Most days I can’t believe I get to wake up and come to work here.” “Most of our patients have one or many underlying co-morbidities causing their wound problems,” Tara continued. “That’s why communication between providers is so important. We offer highly specialized treatments such as Hyperbaric Medicine along with the latest, state-of-theart wound care products, to save life and limb.” In her free time, Tara is a member of Toastmasters and an active member of Divine Peace Lutheran Church. She enjoys weightlifting, biking, hiking, swimming, and spending time with her four girls doing anything in nature. Her personal mission statement is, “If you work hard to learn and are open to changing in any way you need to make yourself and society better, you will find success.”
