Inspire Coastal Bend Medical April/May 2016 by Inspire Coastal Bend Magazine

COASTAL BEND MEDICAL MAGAZINE

MAKING MIRACLES EVERY DAY

WORLD-CLASS CARE CLOSE TO HOME

CHRISTUS SPOHN TRAUMA TEAM

TLC COMPLETE CARE

HEALING THROUGH LOVE MISSION OF MERCY

FULL SPEED AHEAD!

THE ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER OF CORPUS CHRISTI

RAISING AWARENESS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION EVENTS

PHYSICIAN-EXTENDERS

HALO- HIGHWAYS FLIGHT IN THE SKY

MYTHS ABOUT “THE SILENT KILLER”

SHARE THE CARE CARE FOR THE CAREGIVER

APRIL.MAY 2016 I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Life doesn’t warn you like this.

That’s why there’s Promptu Immediate Care — Urgent Care designed for you. Imagine receiving convenient and quality health care for a fraction of what an emergency room visit would cost. Plus, Promptu accepts most major insurance plans including Tri-Care. For more information, visit PromptuCare.com or call 888-577-4424.

Stop in, pre-register and mention this ad to grab a $10 Chick-ﬁl-A® gift card.

5638 Saratoga Blvd, #114 Corpus Christi, TX 78414 – Now Open 4938 S Staples St, Ste E-8 Corpus Christi, TX 78411 – Opening April 2016 I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M 1 Hours of Operation: Mon–Fri: 8am–8pm | Sat & Sun: 10am–8pm

River City Hospice offers high quality, compassionate care to persons who can no longer benefit from curative treatment. Services are provided by a team of trained professionals that include: physicians, nurses, counselors, social workers, therapists, chaplains, nurse aides and volunteers.

ALICE

171 Medical Center Blvd., Building E Alice, TX 78332

361.664.4888

CORPUS CHRISTI

4646 Corona Dr., Suite 160 Corpus Christi, TX 78411

361.882.5900

w ww.r i verci t y hos pice.co m I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Cornerstone Home Health Cornerstone Home Health can provide a service or a combination of services in your HOME. Along with your physician and our qualified staff, we plan, coordinate, and provide care tailored to your needs.

Services we offered include: Skilled nursing, Physical therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Worker, and CNA

If you have any questions or want to make a referral, contact our office at 361-727-2131 or Toll free 1-855-328-2131

2600 Lakeview Dr. Suite 2C | Rockport, Tx 78382

AAdi Home Health is a full service home health agency. We provide quality nursing services and outstanding support services. The staff at AAdi Home Health has the experience, dedication and compassion needed to provide care in a home environment without sacrificing quality or safety.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

FASTEST GROWING

CHEERLEADING AND TUMBLING

GYM IN THE COASTAL BEND!

Call now for more details!

361.452.4712

www.modernamericancheer.com 4

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN

KEEPING YOUR SMILE BEAUTIFUL For 30 years, over 30,000 patients have placed their trust in the Vela Dental Centers. With three offices in the South Texas area, we make sure excellent dental care is convenient, accessible and affordable. Vela Dental Crosstown, near Spohn Memorial Hospital, serves our downtown, Callalen, Robstown, and Portland areas. Vela Dental Southside, located at Holly and Everhart, serves as our flagship office, providing complex implant and dental rehabilitation for all of South Texas. Vela Dental Kingsville, located at 14th and Henrietta, serves all of Kingsville and the surrounding community. Our highly skilled team of dentists and staff take pride in keeping your smile beautiful or restoring your smile to the way you deserve.

WE HAVE THE ANSWER TO ALL OF YOUR DENTAL NEEDS • Fix damaged or painful teeth • Replace single or multiple missing teeth • Enhance your smile • Remove wisdom teeth & other bad teeth • Clean and prevent gum disease

BEFORE

AFTER - 6-unit bridge and fillings

AFTER - full arch rehabilitation with 11 porcelain crowns and 2 implants

AFTER - full mouth rehabilitation with 24 porcelain crowns

Benjamin Vela DDS & Associates • General Dentistry

SOUTHSIDE - 361.994.4900 CROSSTOWN - 361.884.2266 KINGSVILLE - 361.592.4373

veladental.com

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Compassionate care for your special deliveries. Providing the best for mommy and baby. Sophia Ommani, M.D., FACOG

Specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Located at Bay Area Hospital 7121 S. Padre Island Drive, Suite 200, Corpus Christi, TX Call for your appointment today 361.993.6000 ext. 7201 Accepting New Patients 6

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

In-house fabrication lab facility on site 

1326 Santa Fe, Corpus Christi, Texas 361-888-7752  Toll Free: 1-888-299-3656 Follow us on Facebook

LATEST ADVANCEMENTS

in Microprocessor Controlled Artificial Limbs, Myoelectric Arms and Energy Storing Feet We accept all insurances

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

TOTAL JOINT SURGERY

HAND SURGERY

SPECIALIZING IN COMPREHENSIVE ORTHOPAEDIC CARE

SPINE SURGERY

SPORTS MEDICINE

6118 Parkway Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 361-883-2000 www.orthocentercc.com

QUALITY ORTHOPAEDIC CARE SINCE 1978 I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

James R. Dinn, M.D.,P.A. Robert Q. Lewis, M.D., P.A. Jeffrey R. Schlimmer, M.D., P.A. Miguel A. Berastain, Jr., M.D., P.A. Charles S. Clark, Jr., M.D., P.A. Brian L. Patterson, M.D., P.A. Aimee L. Schimizzi, M.D., P.A. Andrew A. Indresano, M.D., P.A. Camille M. Barton, PA-C Christian P. Ehrhard, PA-C Edward B. Zey, FNP-C

Emergency Room Now Open

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

It’s not just what you do, it’s who you do it for.

I’m here to help you plan for the future so you can continue all the good you do in your life.

Annie J. Castro, LUTCF, CLU® Agent, New York Life Insurance Company 4466 S. Staples Corpus Christi, Texas 78411 (361) 986-1321 ajcastro@ft.newyorklife.com www.anniejcastro.com Registered Representative offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/ SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Welcome to the SOUTH TEXAS BRAIN AND SPINE CENTER. Our surgeons provide neurosurgical care in many of the major hospitals in Corpus Christi, Texas. Our surgeons and staff provide individual and conservative treatment using the most effective and modern technologies available in the world.

SOUTH TEXAS BRAIN AND SPINE CENTER 1227 3rd Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78404

361.883.4323

www.southtexasbrainandspine.net I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

COASTAL BEND MEDICAL MAGAZINE

APRIL.MAY 2016

PUBLISHER ADRIAN GARZA EDITOR

One-of-a-kind gifts, fine home furnishings, apparel, accessories, and more!

Allison Alvarado

ART DIRECTOR Liv Madison

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PRODUCTION Holly Duvall

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steven Alford Jessica Dusek Holly Duvall Sebastian Giraldo Samantha Koepp-Stemplinger Stephanie Kusy Dr. Nestor Praderio Jane Rowley Erin Wilder

PHOTOGRAPHY Paul Marshall

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Morgan Bartel

Extensive local and name brand product lines and collections

www.inspirecoastalbendmag.com Family owned, in business since 2005 • Mon.-Sat. 9-5

For advertising information, please call 361.548.1044 or email adrian@inspirecoastalbendmag.com. For editorial comments and suggestions, please email adrian@inspirecoastalbendmag.com.

7957 Wolverine Corpus Christi, Texas 78414 Phone: 361.548.1044

Located at Old Town Six Points 1710 S. Alameda St., Corpus Christi

361.881.1091 www.bleufrog.com

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

CONTENTS

FEATURE 14 Share the Care

PATIENT

16 No Place Like Home 18 Get on the Right Path

COVER STORY

20 HALO-FLIGHT

APRIL.MAY 2016

Hope is in the air thanks to this lifesaving nonprofit organization, which provides emergency medical transport for the critically ill or injured regardless of their ability to pay.

PROFILES

26 TLC COMPLETE CARE

These freestanding ERs have truly found their neighborhood niche: delivering world-class care close to home and changing the health care landscape as we know it.

30 ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER

OF CORPUS CHRISTI PHYSICIAN-EXTENDERS

These mid-level providers keep the practice moving at full speed, focusing on prevention and wellness to provide high-caliber patient care.

34 CHRISTUS SPOHN

TRAUMA TEAM

The award-winning health system celebrates Trauma Awareness Month by honoring this outstanding team for providing high-quality, compassionate care to the Coastal Bend community.

FITNESS & OUTDOORS

36 The Path to Elite Levels

EXPRESSIONS OF INSPIRATION 40 Healing Through Love

COVER AND TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTOS BY: PAUL MARSHALL

NONPROFIT

44 Protecting Our Children

EVENTS

48 Mixing Things Up in the

Coastal Bend

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

FEATURE

When it’s time to take a break from your role as a caregiver By: DR. NESTOR PRADERIO

little rest to recharge, re-energize and return to the process of caregiving is the best prescription I can recommend for caregivers. When our loved one becomes ill and incapacitated, we tend to demonstrate a natural tendency to protect, nurture and care for them. We assume the role of “caregiver.” In tandem with the gradual decline and debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, our caregiver responsibilities tend to multiply with each stage. The physical, financial and emotional strain can be cataclysmic. Data from www.Alzheimers.gov reflects that about 15 million people care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s in the United States. Other research data estimates that family caregivers provide 17.1 billion hours of unpaid care. Alzheimer’s disease is progressive and irreversible. Caring for your loved one can be heartwarming, yet extremely challenging and overwhelming. It is often stated that in order to care for others, you must take good care of yourself. If you are at your optimum, your loved one receives the most excellent care possible. Sometimes, in order to reach your optimum, you must seek respite.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Respite is not often recognized as a viable option by caregivers. This may be a result of guilt, extreme devotion and/or dedication or a perceived sense of duty and that only they are able to provide the level of care their loved ones need and deserve. Unfortunately, I have witnessed scenarios in which caregivers neglect themselves to the point of their own detriment. I recall a gentleman (Mr. D.) in his early 80s who was the sole caregiver of his wife, who was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. She was a few years older than he was. They had one daughter who lived out of state, and they had no other relatives. A friend provided transportation to doctors’ appointments and grocery shopping. They accepted services from Meals on Wheels. Mr. D. assisted his wife with all activities of daily living (ADLs). One day, the Meals on Wheels driver had to call 911 because Mr. D. collapsed as soon as he came to the door to accept their meal. The paramedics transported Mr. D. to the hospital, where he was admitted for dehydration and heart problems. A neighbor notified the daughter, and then stayed with Mrs. D. until support services were initiated. Due to her own health issues, the daughter was unable to travel. Mr. D. hired a volunteer in-home companion

1 2 3

In-home respite services provided through a contracted home health agency in the client’s home In-home respite services provided through the City of Corpus Christi’s Senior Companion Program Temporary long-term care stay services in a contracted long-term care facility

Face To Face, LLC, coordinates referrals in collaboration with WellMed Caregiver SOS Resource Center at the Lindale Senior Center. Integration of our respite care program serves as an enhanced standard of care for those suffering from the disease.

For more information, contact us at 361-238-7777, visit us online at www.texasfacetoface.com or follow us at www.facebook.com/texasfacetoface.

KASIA BIALASIEWICZ/BIGSTOCK.COM

SHARE THE CARE

to stay with his wife until he was released. He was discharged after three days; however, Mr. D. was readmitted several times due to his declining health. The Senior Community Services program staff secured a voucher for in-home respite services allowing for a senior companion to provide care up to four hours a day for 20 hours per week. Despite the support, Mr. D. would not leave his wife or follow up on his own medical condition. Mr. D. passed away a short time later. The daughter moved her mother to a long-term care facility. The availability of respite support services is essential to the health and vitality of a family caregiver. The Face to Face Coastal Bend Walk for Memory is the only event raising funds to serve the Coastal Bend community by promoting awareness and education about Alzheimer’s disease, providing respite support and resource options for caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). All funds are dedicated to the Coastal Bend area. The Ninth Annual Walk for Memory will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 at Heritage Park. The Coastal Bend community helped us generate approximately $10,000 in walk pledges, event sponsorships and donations each year. Those proceeds have been dedicated to the Walk for Memory Respite Fund administered through the Coastal Bend Area Agency on Aging. There are three types of local respite vouchers available with up to 30 hours of short-term respite services:

WE WILL PUT YOU BACK IN THE GAME OF LIFE

TREATMENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR: Musculoskeletal Injuries Pregnancy (Pre/Post Natal Care) Diabetes Fall Prevention Neuropathy Cardiovascular Therapy Osteoarthritis Vertigo (Dizziness) Osteoporosis Athletic Rehab (Sport Specific) Thoracic-Outlet Syndrome Orthotic Evaluation/Fabriation Pre-Op/Post-Operative Therapy

ALL 6 LOCATIONS OFFER CAREFULLY DESIGNED AND SUPERVISED EXERCISE PROGRAMS IN STATE OF THE ART GYMS AND LARGE INDOOR HEATED POOLS:

CORPUS CHRISTI

CALALLEN

ALICE

5026 Deepwood Cir. • 361.854.2278 4040 Five Points Rd. • 361.241.7399 1302 E. 5th St. • 361.664.9675

PORTLAND 114 Lang Rd. • 361.643.8243

ARANSAS PASS 2150 W. Wheeler Ave. • 361.758.5199

ROCKPORT 1811 Broadway (a.k.a. Fulton Beach Rd.) 361.729.8777

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

PATIENT

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Health care in the home maximizes self-care and independence.

ome health care helps older adults with illnesses or injuries live productive, independent lives for as long as possible. The program covers a wide range of services, involves active participation from the patient and caregiver and can often delay the need for long-term placement. With technological improvements, we are seeing more patients manage their chronic illnesses and recover in the home instead of in facilities. Home health care is often a preferred, cost-effective form of patient care. The health care system of the 21st century will be community-based, providing many alternatives for care. With the population aging and the influx of baby boomers seeking health care, patients will begin to determine

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

when and where they receive health care services. There really is “no place like home,” and the aging boomer population will insist on a patient-centered model of care that takes place in the home and involves family and health care providers. As the aging population struggles with multiple chronic conditions such as dementia, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes mellitus and stroke, home health becomes an important alternative in the provision of services to meet their medical needs. Home health can provide these patients and their families with early support and education regarding disease processes in the comfort of their own home. Maximizing self-care and independence is the cornerstone of home

HOME HEALTH CARE IS OFTEN A PREFERRED, COST-EFFECTIVE FORM OF PATIENT CARE.

health, and the program is designed to care for patients with specific medical and psychiatric needs. Patients participating in home health must be homebound, have had a face-to-face visit with their physician who certifies the need for services and have a plan of care established by the physician and home health care team. The plan of care generally includes a broad array of professional and support services in the home designed to include participation by the patient, family and caregiver. The patient’s physician provides oversight for all patient treatments. The home health nurse is the patient’s key to wellness in the community. The goal is improving patient outcomes by providing 24-hour

OCSKAY BENCE/BIGSTOCK.COM

By: JANE ROWLEY

Ten Signs of a Quality Home Health Agency Staff is polite and treats patients and families with respect. Staff explains patient’s plan of care to the patient and family and allows patient to participate. Staff is properly trained and licensed to provide patient care. Agency explains what to do if patient has a complaint. Agency responds quickly to patient request. Staff checks patient’s physical and emotional condition at each visit. Staff responds quickly to changes in patient’s health or behavior. Staff checks patient’s home and suggest changes to meet special needs and safety issues. Staff instructs patients on what to do in an emergency. Agency and staff protect patient privacy. Note: This sidebar was provided by Medicare.gov.

availability and response, medication management and patient, family and caregiver education on disease processes. The home health nurse, under the direction of the patient’s physician, coordinates all home care and treatment and continually educates the patients and their families on the plan of care and anticipated outcomes. In addition to skilled nursing, the home health team includes various support services that encourage patient and family participation to focus on allowing

the patient to remain self-sufficient. Rehabilitative therapies are provided in the home to treat and instruct with an emphasis on returning the patient to independence. Physical therapists provide treatment to help patients increase mobility, strength, balance and coordination. The occupational therapist provides rehabilitative services to help restore or maintain the patient’s ability to perform tasks used in activities of daily living, often modifying or adapting activities in order to increase the patient’s selfhelp and homemaking skills. Speech-language therapies are provided to treat physical and cognitive disorders that cause difficulty with communication and swallowing. Speech therapists help patients develop their language and speech skills to regain control and improve their communication. They also teach patients and family members safe and appropriate swallowing techniques. Medical social workers often participate in the patient’s treatment plan and address social, psychological and economic needs of the patient and help the family address these issues in the home environment. Home health aides provide the patients with personal care services including assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming and some light housekeeping. Modern technology has allowed additional service providers to be an active part of the patient’s treatment plan. Many laboratory services can be performed in the home by the health care team as well as X-rays, ultrasounds, EKGs, wound vacs, infusion therapy, nutritional feedings, PT/INR coagulation checks, glucose monitoring and ostomy education and care. Finally, the most important part of the health care team is the patient and his or her family and caregivers. The success of the patient’s home health plan of care depends almost entirely on the ability of the home health provider to gain the participation of the patient and their families in attaining the treatment goals. Continued education and patient compliance are vital to the success of the home care team. Home health care has made many strides recently in their ability to provide medical care and education to patients and their families. Increased technology has made numerous services available in the home setting. Home health programs have shown they are able to help physicians effectively manage most illnesses and injuries in the home while educating patients and their families on ways to regain independence and remain as self-sufficient as possible. Many studies indicate that home health services are less costly, as well as the preferred form of health care for the elderly, and as that population continues to increase, so will the need for continued improvement and expansion of the home health program.

For additional information, please contact Jane Rowley, administrator for AAdi Home Health, at 316-452-3384, or Kathryn James, R.N., administrator for Cornerstone Home Health, at 361-727-2131.

Inmon Respiratory Services, Inc. is committed to working closely with Physicians, Home Health Care Agencies, and other Health Care Professionals to consistently provide the best care possible for the patient at home. We have a full range of respiratory, sleep and hospital equipment, plus we also have a fulltime respiratory therapist and RN on staff to help if you or your patients should have any questions.

Locally owned since 1997 Full service medical equipment company ¸ Specializing in respiratory ie: CPAP and Oxygen ¸ Full time RN and RT on staff ¸ Accept most insurances ¸ Three locations CC, BV and Victoria ¸ ¸

4639 Corona Drive , Ste. 43 Corpus Christi, Texas 361.225.0052 www.inmonrespiratory.com

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

PATIENT

GET ON THE RIGHT PATH

The American Heart Association dispels a few myths about “the silent killer” so you can better care for your circulatory system and live a longer, heart-healthier life. By: ERIN WILDER

Myth 1: High blood pressure runs in my family. There is nothing I can do. I will get it, too.

High blood pressure can run in families, and if your parents or close blood relatives

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

have had high blood pressure, you are more likely to develop it, too. However, lifestyle choices have allowed many people with a family history of high blood pressure to avoid it themselves. Lifestyle changes you can make to prevent it include:  Eat a heart-healthy diet, which includes

limiting sodium to less than 1,500 milligrams per day.

 Enjoy regular physical activity.  Maintain a healthy weight.  Manage stress.

 Avoid tobacco smoke.

 Comply with medication prescriptions.  If you drink, limit alcohol.

Myth 2: I don’t use table salt, so I’m in control of my sodium intake, and my blood pressure isn’t affected.

Sodium can increase blood pressure in some people, but controlling your sodium intake means more than just putting down the saltshaker. Up to 75 percent of the sodium we consume is hidden in processed foods like tomato sauce,

soups, condiments, canned foods and prepared mixes. So always remember to read the labels.

Myth 3: I feel fine. I don’t have to worry about high blood pressure.

About 78 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure – and many of them don’t know it or don’t experience typical symptoms. If uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to severe health problems. High blood pressure is also the No. 1 cause of stroke.

Myth 4: I have high blood pressure, and my doctor checks it for me, so I don’t need to check it at home, too.

Because blood pressure can fluctuate, home monitoring and recording of blood pressure readings can provide your health care provider with valuable information to determine whether you really have high blood pressure and, if you do, whether your treatment plan is working. Learn more about healthy blood pressure, treatment options and lifestyle tips at www.heart.org/hbp.

ANTONIO GRAVANTE/BIGSTOCK.COM

hirty percent of Corpus Christi-area residents have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and it is estimated that many more people may be unaware they have the disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can injure or even kill you; in fact, it’s known as “the silent killer.” High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure – and the longer it’s left untreated, the more serious its complications can become. Unfortunately, because high blood pressure often has no symptoms, you may not be aware for some time that it is damaging your arteries, heart and other organs. A diagnosis of high blood pressure may seem overwhelming at first, but dispelling a few myths can get you on the right path so you’ll be motivated to care for your circulatory system and live a longer, stronger, heart-healthier life for yourself and your loved ones.

At the Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital, we specialize in rehabilitative services for patients with functional deficits, such as stroke, trauma, spinal cord injury, brain injuries, cardiac, orthopedic, complex medical conditions and other disabling impairments. Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for its Stroke Program by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in disease-specific care. The certification award recognizes CCRH’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards. Learn more at CCRH.ernesthealth.com.

To learn more about CCRH and our services, visit our website at

I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M 5726 Esplanade Drive • Corpus Christi, TX 78414I N S•P361.906.3700

COVER STORY

HALO-Flight: When a minute can make a difference

PHOTO BY PAUL MARSHALL

By: STEPHANIE KUSY

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

A Bell 407 helicopter lands in a nearby field. A critical care nurse and a flight paramedic dressed in blue and yellow suits quickly make their way to the young woman to assess her. In less than 15 minutes, she will arrive at CHRISTUS Spohn Memorial Trauma Center, her doctor anxiously waiting to provide care. In rural South Texas, the arrival of HALO-Flight can mean the difference between life and death. “In the past, it would take one-and-a-half hours before they’d get into the trauma center from Alice,” says HALO-Flight Executive Director Tom Klassen. “The time we save can be life and death. More importantly, prompt air ambulance care affects post-accident rehabilitation time they may face and how well they will live the rest of their life.” HALO-Flight provides emergency medical transport for the critically ill or injured throughout South Texas regardless of their ability to pay. Last year, they cared for more than 1,100 patients across 26 counties. Their main base is located off FM 665 in Corpus Christi. In 2012, they added a helicopter base in Alice and then in 2015, a base in Beeville. “We really looked at the efficiency at how we transported our patients,” Klassen says. “What could we do to make our patient’s experience better? In doing that, we found that 70 percent of our patients would be better served if we put helicopters in rural communities.” Response time drastically decreased. With an average launch time of just six minutes, air medical transportation arrives shortly after to assist someone requiring critical care. They often fly patients to the CHRISTUS Spohn trauma center, Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Houston and San Antonio. Since Klassen came on board in 2010, he has strongly emphasized the importance of safety – for patients and for medical crews. All transports are staffed by specially trained medical crews and outfitted with the latest in emergency medical equipment. HALO-Flight currently operates four helicopters including a state-of-the-art Bell 429 helicopter. Each flight is controlled by a dispatcher who keeps track of the helicopter via satellite tracking. “Basically, that means we can fly through the clouds,” Klassen says. “We’ve created highways in the sky. If we get bad weather, we are better equipped to accommodate some of those flights. With this helicopter, we are going to capture about 35 percent more flights that we traditionally have to turn down because of unsafe weather conditions.” HALO-Flight has been viewed as the premier provider of helicopter air ambulance services in South Texas for nearly three decades, yet the nonprofit comes from humble beginnings. “It started out as an idea on napkin,” Klassen says. “Back in 1987, there was a handful of guys down in Falfurrias that decided they needed a helicopter because a young lady was injured, and it took two-and-ahalf hours for ground transport to get to Corpus Christi.” The group of concerned citizens pooled their money together and rented a helicopter. All parties volunteered their time, from the medics to the pilots. A couple of years later, they moved to Corpus Christi because they felt the community would be better served centrally based. Since then, more than 17,000 patients have received lifesaving care by HALO-Flight. About 60 percent of those flights are from the scene of an accident where a ground ambulance would take too long to respond. The rest make up patient transfers from one hospital to another. Transports include people in need of a variety of critical care such as cardiac, respiratory, neurological and burn victims. As the only nonprofit medical air transport in South Texas, fundraising is a critical component. Each air transport costs around $20,000, and HALO-Flight provides services regardless of a person’s ability

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

to pay. “The reason it is expensive is because you are paying for 24-hour coverage 365 days out of the year for the community,” Klassen says. “The support from the community is paid back by making our operations safe.” The organization hosts three major fundraisers a year. The Sky High Rollers Casino Night took place in February. The Flint Hills Resources 25th Annual HALO-Flight Flights of Angels Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, May 2, 2016 at the Corpus Christi Country Club. And in October, the nonprofit hosts a dove shoot. The organization prides itself on keeping overhead costs down. Ninety percent of donations are directly used within their operations. “It is important for people to support HALO-Flight because many more people would die during a long ambulance drive versus surviving because of the speed to which the helicopter transports the patient to the hospital,” says Larry Dreier, former Flights of Angels Golf Tournament chair. 

PHOTOS BY NED DAWSON, HELIOPS

A call comes in from dispatch. A young female is in critical condition after being involved in a head-on collision off Highway 181 near Alice. She needs help, and fast. Within minutes, the distinctive sound of helicopter blades spinning becomes increasingly audible.

HALO-Flight provides services regardless of a person's ability to pay.

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HALO-Flight staffs less than 50 people at its three locations. Pilots work on 12-hour rotating shifts as required by FAA regulations. At all times, each base is staffed with a full crew, consisting of a paramedic, a flight nurse and a pilot. The crews are nationally recognized in their profession. Every R.N. and paramedic is nationally certified in critical care medicine, each R.N. is a certified emergency nurse and paramedics are certified as either critical care paramedics or certified flight paramedics. “We have some long-term employees that believe in our mission and enjoy what they do every single day,” Klassen says. “We are very picky on who we hire because you have to have all these credentials on the medical side. It’s a process to get hired here.” Klassen has been known to take off his suit and tie to don a jumpsuit and fly a helicopter at times. His first love will always be flying. After graduating high school, he told his parents he wanted to become a pilot. “My mom was dead set against it,” Klassen recalls. “My dad thought, ‘Gosh he’s been drawing pictures of airplanes since we he was 5; let’s do this.’ So I went to flight school. You’re eating a lot of ramen and spam in the beginning. I had the opportunity though to do the thing I’m most passionate about, and I thank God that I got to do that.” Klassen went to flight school and started flying a spotting helicopter off of a Mexican tuna fishing boat in Central America at age 19. He has lived and worked in Papua New Guinea, Australia, Thailand, Russia, Eastern Europe and all over the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, but he has found a home here in Corpus Christi. With more than 10,000 hours of flight time, Klassen feels that the 18 years spent transporting patients in helicopters has been the most rewarding. He and the staff at HALO-Flight hope to continue to serve people in South Texas for years to come.

For more information on HALO-Flight, visit www.haloflight.org.

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PHOTOS BY NED DAWSON, HELIOPS

More than 17,000 patients have received lifesaving care by HALO-Flight.

Community Celebration The 25th Annual Flights of Angels Golf Tournament

This year marks a quarter-of-a-centurymilestone for HALO-Flight with the 25th Annual Flights of Angels Golf Tournament presented by Flint Hills Resources on Monday, May 2, at the Corpus Christi Country Club. A community celebration of HALO-Flight’s service to the South Texas communities in 26 counties, the golf tournament raises funds for the nonprofit helicopter air ambulance service to help ensure that when minutes count, HALOFlight is there. This year’s tournament will feature two

flights of golf and a four-member team format. The best-ball scramble will have shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. “Part of the Flights of Angels tournament tradition is the links cuisine,” said Jane Dare Haas, HALO-Flight marketing director. “This year, we are thrilled to have seven of the best vendors preparing food for the golfers. And the vendor garnering the most votes wins the coveted traveling trophy.” All participating teams will receive a cache of welcome gifts, as well as contest and

competition prizes including Hole-In-One, Longest Drive, Yeti Chip, Speed Round, 12 random drawings for $200 in golf prizes and other competitive fun-time activities. Awards for both flights will follow play.

Golf team registration is online at HALO-Flight.org. Sponsors wishing to show their support for the lifesaving mission of HALO-Flight can do so at www.haloflight.org/explore.

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PROFILE

When it comes to urgent and emergency care, Drs. Brian Rich and Daniel Wagner are changing the health care landscape at TLC Complete Care. By: Stephanie Kusy Photos by: Paul Marshall

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ER Care with Extra TLC

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Emergency medicine has gone retail. Instead of crowds and long wait times at a hospital ER, freestanding emergency rooms like TLC Complete Care are popping up across Texas with the ability to provide quality care in a timely manner with excellent customer service. Drs. Brian Rich and Daniel Wagner saw the potential to bring personalized care to Corpus Christi several years ago. “This is a first for Corpus Christi, so this is groundbreaking and cutting edge,” Rich says. “Usually you have to wait a while for the big cities to get this first, but we took it and ran with it,” Wagner adds. The two doctors, both board certified in emergency medicine, first opened TLC Complete Care on the bustling south side back in 2011 at 7330 S. Staples between Lipes and Yorktown. Just this past February, they opened a second location at 4117 S. Staples, Ste. 140, in Parkdale Plaza, catering to those living in central Corpus Christi. TLC can do ultrasounds, X-Rays and CT scans. The lab comes fully equipped to run tests immediately. This significantly speeds up the amount of time it takes for patients to get results. Most patients are in and out within an hour. “There was a need in this area of town

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for quality scheduled care that people could come in quickly, be seen and get out quickly at an affordable cost,” Rich says. And they are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no appointment needed, with all the capabilities of a traditional hospital ER. “An emergency is often perceived to be this big life-threatening event, and it can be, but other times, it depends on the person,” Rich explains. “For example, if you have an interview for a big job on Friday and you haven’t slept because you’ve had a headache the past few days, that’s an emergency. So an emergency is a very personal definition for people. It’s hard to define.” The ER trained medical staff can treat patients with a wide range of health problems such as life-threatening issues like heart attack and stroke down to pesky allergies and colds. TLC has a lot of high-tech capabilities, but they do not have two things: crowds and long waits. “It’s comfortable, quiet, clean and reserved,” Rich says. “You

don’t have the typical drama of an ER.” The visionaries still see the ability to grow and meet the needs of the community. Their other location out in Calallen, TLC Medical Center, an urgent care center, plans to expand and convert to an ER facility offering new services, as well. “We have CT scanners,” Wagner says. “We have the latest laboratory scanners. This is all in our ER and not in urgent care. Our ability to diagnose quickly is enhanced in the ER.” Customers pay with insurance or cash-based prices. The two friends both grew up in Corpus Christi, but did not meet until they started working in a hospital emergency room. With a down-to-earth attitude, both jokingly admit they are outdoorsmen who like to be doctors. Wagner, the visionary behind the business, convinced Rich to join him on his entreprenual endeavor in the most unlikely of places – a duck blind.

Several years later, they are seeing their vision come to life. They believe their model works to provide patients fast service when they need it most with emphasis on customer care. “I think physicians as a whole have moved toward being more personable than they have had in the past,” Wagner says. “It has been more of a science, but now it’s also more of an art. The interaction, body language, bedside manner – that’s all important to us.” Their entire staff places an emphasis on quality service at each of their modern facilities – not to mention each patient room has its own TV. Unlike urgent care, they have physicians, nurses and paramedics on hand fulltime, 24 hours a day. “We have worked with most of these nurses before they came here, and I can tell you, we have some of the best,” Wagner says. “They are the crème de la crème.” Both doctors have combined experience of nearly 20 years in the ER. With a passion for helping people in need, they plan to continue to grow in the Corpus Christi area.

TLC Complete Care has locations at 7330 S. Staples and 4117 S. Staples, Ste. 140, in Parkdale Plaza. TLC Medical Center and Urgent Care is located at 14317 Northwest Blvd. in Calallen. Follow the group on Facebook for helpful healthy tips.

“TLC is comfortable, quiet, clean and reserved. You don’t have the typical drama of an ER.” I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

PROFILE

ON THE

FRONT LINES PHYSICIAN-EXTENDERS: THE ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER OF CORPUS CHRISTI’S SECRET TO SUCCESSFUL PATIENT CARE

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KNOWN FOR THEIR WORLDCLASS TOTAL ORTHOPAEDIC CARE, THE PHYSICIANEXTENDERS AT THE ORTHOPAEDIC CENTER OF CORPUS CHRISTI (OCCC) KEEP OPERATIONS MOVING FULL SPEED! The board-certified physician assistants (P.A.s) and nurse practitioners (N.P.s) assist their high-caliber surgeons, treating injuries and providing post-op care. Covering the full spectrum of orthopedic specialties, OCCC provides a supportive and friendly environment to the Corpus Christi community, according to Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Eb Zey. Zey, along with certified Physician Assistants Camille Barton and Christian Ehrhard, resides on the frontlines of triage, supporting the facility’s eight surgeons. The physician-extenders oversee patient care, maintaining operations within the facility’s 22 exam rooms. Their role is to identify cause of injury, build patient trust and support each of the onsite surgeons. When they see patients, they obtain a thorough history, perform a focused physical examination and provide treatment as necessary. With 14 years of orthopedic experience, Barton works with Dr. Jeffrey Schlimmer, who specializes in shoulder and knee injuries. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin and earned her post-graduate degree from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, physician assistant program, with honors. As diverse as their backgrounds, each mid-level provider brings different strategies to the practice. Each focuses on patients in different categories such as college athletes, the elderly and “weekend warriors.” As a sea-

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soned P.A., Ehrhard has been practicing for 17 years. Assisting spine surgeon, Dr. Andrew Indresano, he describes his role as “flexible and autonomous.” Ehrhard received a bachelor’s in biology (cum laude) from the University of Connecticut and later, earned his master’s in medical sciences from Yale University in their physician assistant associate program. He brings a unique lens, as he relocated to Corpus Christi in 2002 after serving on board the USS Nimitz during Desert Storm. He notes that pre-existing conditions in patients can cause some challenges in the healing process. Some of the top issues include fighting diabetes, obesity and smoking. “By the time we get involved with a patient, they may be in a critical state,” Erhard explains. Yet the nurtured “long-term relationship” built between provid-

er and patient improves the patient success rate exponentially. The “OCCC, a truly family-oriented practice, thrives because our surgeons have provided high-quality care for multiple generations throughout Corpus Christi and surrounding communities,” Zey says. Zey, who works closely with Schlimmer and Dr. Brian Patterson, received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later, his advanced practice nursing degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. He was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honors society during his undergraduate studies. Working with college and high-school athletes, Barton, Ehrhard and Zey focus on sports medicine and work with acute injuries both on and off the field. They care for local athletes from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and

PREVENTION AND WELLNESS REMAIN KEY FACTORS THAT DEMONSTRATE OCCC’S COMMITMENT TO QUALITY PATIENT CARE. Kingsville, as well as many high schools throughout the Coastal Bend. If an injury takes place on or off the field, they initiate an evaluation and consult with the surgeon as needed. Prevention and wellness remain key factors that demonstrate OCCC’s commitment to quality patient care. Looking beyond the symptoms, each physician-extender incorporates clinical knowledge and state-of-the-art imaging to accurately diagnose and treat the patient. Many times, the clinical presentation is complex. For example, a patient may come in complaining of leg pain, when the actual problem is spine related.

The professional environment at OCCC enables them to work as a tightly knit team. It allows them to improve patient care by consulting with each other and the surgeons. “The utilization of mid-levels within the practice has allowed for a more efficient and timely care of our patients,” says Administrator Linda Hernandez, who has been with the practice 37 years. “On a daily basis, it is apparent by our patients’ positive response that Camille, Christian and Eb are an asset to the orthopaedic center.” Barton, Ehrhard and Zey all uphold the organization’s esteemed reputation, as well as operations, patient recovery and satisfaction.

The Orthopaedic Center of Corpus Christi is located at 6118 Parkway Drive. For more information, call 361-883-2000 or visit www.orthocentercc.com.

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PROFILE

SAVING LIVES WHEN SECONDS COUNT CHRISTUS Spohn celebrates Trauma Awareness Month. By: Steven Alford

IN THE WORLD OF HEALTH CARE,

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Trauma Center, the only of its kind south of Austin. It will be an integral addition to the health care services available for South Texans. “This plan to transform health care in the Coastal Bend is not only the next evolutionary step for our trauma program, but for our entire community,” Blow said. “It’s an exciting time for our health system and our community, and we look forward to the great things to come during the next three to five years as this plan gets underway.” About CHRISTUS Spohn Health System CHRISTUS Spohn Health System is the region’s largest charity care provider and not-for-profit health care system consisting of six hospital campuses: CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi (Shoreline, Memorial and South), CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Beeville and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg (Kingsville). The health system is consistently ranked a leading health system in the area, and it has received national recognition for several pioneering programs, including trauma, cardiac care, clinical excellence and oncology. For more than 100 years, CHRISTUS Spohn has been distinguished by its high-caliber staff and affiliated physicians, its comprehensive and innovative services and its long history of responding to the needs of the community it serves. For additional information, visit www.christusspohn.org.

SOUTH TEXAS TRAUMA FACTS  In 2014, the CHRISTUS Spohn trauma team treated 2,314 patients.  Motor-vehicle accidents accounted for 36 percent of 2014 trauma cases.  Nearly 61 percent of trauma those cases came from within Nueces County.  About 67 percent of trauma patients were 55 years old or younger. Source: 2014 CHRISTUS Spohn Trauma Report

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTUS SPOHN

trauma is known as the great equalizer. Emergencies come unannounced, anywhere, at any time. Trauma doesn’t discriminate, and can it happen to anyone. That’s why it’s important for doctors and nurses to stay on top of their game, and ready to save lives when the clock is ticking. Located at the region’s only Level II Trauma Center, the CHRISTUS Spohn trauma team keeps preparedness top of mind. This spring, ahead of National Trauma Awareness Month, recognized each May since 1988, CHRISTUS Spohn has a host of events leading up. It’s a way to keep the community engaged and aware about the dangers of trauma and the opportunities to save lives. “As trauma center director, I feel like I get to take part in miracles each day,” said Dr. Osbert Blow, CHRISTUS Spohn’s chief medical officer and trauma center director. “Trauma is that one element in our life that affects all of us. Is doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from; it’s that chance accident that affects us all.” To celebrate Trauma Awareness Month, the CHRISTUS Spohn trauma team is hosting trauma preparedness courses for nurses and physicians, a trauma conference, as well as the annual trauma reunion, which brings together trauma survivors with the clinicians who provided their care. It’s a touching tribute to the hard work the trauma team puts in each day, and the integral role they play providing compassionate emergency care for residents from a dozen surrounding counties. “It’s our mission to provide first-class service and high-quality care to our community,” according to Blow. This year, the health system broke ground on what will be the new cutting-edge trauma center at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline. This state-of-the-art facility is part of a $325 million investment in the community by CHRISTUS Health that will see the creation of the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Family Health Center, and the addition of more than 420,000 square feet of new infrastructure at Shoreline. That will include the new Level II

“

IT’S OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE FIRST-CLASS SERVICE AND HIGH-QUALITY CARE TO OUR COMMUNITY.”

For more information about trauma services at CHRISTUS Spohn, visit www.christusspohn.org/ traumaservices.

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FITNESS & OUTDOORS

THE PATH TO ELITE LEVELS

Parents and athletes should do their research on specialization in regard to their specific sport. By: SEBASTIAN GIRALDO

usually do not go through a week without having an in-depth conversation about sport specialization. Sport specialization is the idea that an athlete does training in one specific sport while excluding others. Most experts agree that specialization is a necessary step in achieving elite levels, but there is much debate about when the proper time is to specialize. In the age of under-researched Facebook and Twitter articles, information on specialization has become muddled. Plenty of information is available, but concepts and recommendations are too often presented in isolation from main research findings. Here are key concepts to keep in mind when discussing specialization in youth sports.

DANGERS OF EARLY SPECIALIZATION

There are negative outcomes associated with early sport specialization, including higher rates of injury, stress and early burnout. We must remember that youth sport is not adult sport, and most stages of youth development do not resemble the training and life of an older elite athlete. Youth athletes should be consistently and carefully monitored to see how they respond to sport training. A sport program in tune with understanding proper athlete development can counter many of the negative outcomes of early specialization.

SPECIALIZATION DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN EXCLUDING OTHER ACTIVITIES

Just because your child trains and plays one sport does not mean your child is going to necessarily experience more injury, stress or burnout. A child who plays one sport can still participate in other activities. Simply put, your child can play basketball without joining a youth league. Children should be encouraged to find opportunities to play in informal sport settings. Many elite soccer players enter formal soccer systems in their teenage years, but often, their background profile is that of an active child who participated in many activities. Sport specialization is measured on a spectrum with no clear definition of what does and does not constitute specialization. The path to elite levels can be different for each athlete. Your child can receive the benefits of playing different sports without participating in a formal youth league.

ONE RULE DOES NOT FIT ALL

In most sports, early diversification (the idea of playing multiple sports during early development years) has been shown to more likely lead to success than early specialization. Studies in basketball and field hockey have shown that the more activities athletes practiced and experienced in early years, the

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less sport-specific practice is necessary to achieve expertise in their sport. However, sports such as female gymnastics require higher levels of specialization during early years to achieve success because the point of peak performance is before puberty.

THE IDEA OF EARLY ENGAGEMENT

THERE IS PROBABLY A â&#x20AC;&#x153;RIGHT TIMEâ&#x20AC;? FOR SPECIALIZING IN A SPECIFIC SPORT

While early specialization might not be vital to developing into an elite athlete in some sports, new research trends indicate that early engagement can be a major predictor of success. Research into the differences between soccer players who progress to professional levels and those who do not indicate that the elite players accumulated more time playing soccer in unstructured settings in early years. This is important in a culture where kids are not playing soccer outside of club practices and games. The research shows that you need to play a lot of soccer early on to develop into an elite player. This holds true for many sports.

There is a big push to let children explore different activities during their childhood, and this can be positive for physical, psychosocial and cognitive development. However, many parents translate this into: My children should play all the sports they are good

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at and then decide later. Of course parents and players should choose whatever their sport path is, but the reality for elite athletes is that specialization likely has to occur at some point. Deliberate practice becomes essential for elite success in many sports such as soccer and basketball. This means repetitions of sport-specific skills that must be mastered for high-level performance. Steph Curryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magical dribbling and smooth jumper are likely products of constant deliberate practice. Between 13 and 16 years, most athletes should begin to specialize in the sport where they want to attain expert status. A common problem we confront in elite training is that teenagers are simultaneously participating in multiple organized activities such as soccer, cheerleading and track. Due to limited resources (including time), the athlete does not put in the amount of deliberate practice necessary to achieve elite status. For sports such as soccer, where technical skill mastery is necessary for success at high levels, these specializing years are crucial. During specializing (13-16) and investment (16-18) years, you begin to see separation in ability between top athletes. The athletes who train effectively, and more often, usually begin to rise to the top.

PARENTS AND ATHLETES SHOULD DO THEIR RESEARCH ON SPECIALIZATION IN REGARD TO THEIR SPECIFIC SPORT.

Parents and athletes should do their research on specialization in regard to their specific sport. For example, in soccer, it seems that early engagement playing a lot of soccer in informal settings is necessary, followed by a transition to specialization between 13 and 16 years of age. While most sports require specialization at some point, intense training in a single sport should be delayed until adolescence to optimize success and limit negative outcomes. Specialization is a very personal decision, and one that should involve research and discussion. Make a decision with your children that aligns with his or her long-term goals in a specific sport. For more information, visit www.giraldoelitefutbol.com. I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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EXPRESSIONS OF INSPIRATION

HEALING THROUGH LOVE

Faith-based nonprofit organization Mission of Mercy focuses on restoring dignity and providing a medical home for Coastal Bend patients. By: HOLLY DUVALL Photos by: PAUL MARSHALL

JUST OVER 25 YEARS AGO, Gianna Talone Sullivan, an Arizona doctor, had a divine calling. A few short years later, she launched the faith-based nonprofit we know to be Mission of Mercy (MOM). The organization was introduced to the Coastal Bend, and it has been fulfilling its mission for almost nine years with the help and hearts of our local community’s husband-and-wife duo, Dr. John Navar and Lynette Navar, R.N., along with several other local doctors and volunteers. “Healing through Love” on a mission to restore dignity is the MOM mantra. The group travels with their 40-foot mobile medical RV between five locations in the Coastal Bend, including two in Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Orange Grove and Robstown, to provide the highest level of free health care and assistance with medications to uninsured and underinsured working families. About 85 percent of the patients are indeed working individuals. It is

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the only source of health care and prescription medication assistance for many patients, to the tune of 3,000-plus being treated each year. There are no government funds, nor is there any funding that requires the MOM patients to prove

their poverty level, making this service unique in its own right. “The only qualification is walking though the door,” Dr. Navar exclaims. “We rely solely on donations from churches, the private sector, civic organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals to support us.” There is barely a handful of staff that gets paid, as most are volunteers. They have a neurologist, a urologist and family practice doctors who volunteer to treat patients. Some of the physicians are retired, but there are some who come from CHRISTUS Spohn and other area hospitals on their day off. “We rely on those who want to give back and depend on the local medical practices and hospitals,” Dr. Navar says. “I’ve established connections during my 39 years in medicine, and they do give back, doing what they are good at, for the sheer love of medicine.” Navar was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and attended medical school in Mexico City. He completed his anesthesia residency in Galveston. He has practiced anesthesiology in Corpus Christi for 39 years. He and his

wife, Lynette, a native of Aransas Pass and graduate of Del Mar College’s nursing program, have four adult children. Both of their daughters have followed their calling for medicine; one is a nurse, and the other is a cardiologist in pediatrics at the Duke Medical Center. Their sons are a harbor pilot and a welder. The primary goal is for MOM to become the medical home for patients. The three most common diagnoses seen there are: 1. Hypertension 2. Diabetes 3. Arthritis Treating their patients with dignity and healing them with kindness is incentive for patients to continue receiving the care that is needed, keeping them well and out of the hospital and the emergency room. Collaborating with partners such as Radiology Associates, Radiology & Imaging of South

Texas, CHRISTUS Spohn and Corpus Christi Medical Center also enables the patients to receive imaging and lab work free of charge. Plus, Lynette, who also serves as the nursing director, and her volunteers go out of their way to make sure each patient is the “most important” patient, and that no matter what ailment they are enduring, they find treatment. They do whatever possible to assist with getting the proper medications at a grossly reduced cost, to provide the necessary bridges to other community health and wellness programs and to act as a gateway when the patient needs help working through extensive documents. In fall 2017, thanks to a major measure of support from a local benefactor, MOM will open the doors to their own stateof-the art medical center at the corner of Baldwin and Ayers, across the street from Del Mar College’s Richard Auditorium in I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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Corpus Christi. This is the next step to provide continued quality health care, as well as convenience to their patients. The facility will include a clinic on the first floor with eight triage rooms, eight examination rooms, a waiting room for up to 100 patients, three offices, a registration area and more. The second floor will house nine administrative offices, a conference room, a work room, a large classroom and more. Lynette expresses the group’s excitement about the opening of the center: “We are ecstatic! This will give us a chance to expand. Our patient population is really expanding, and we need to be able to expand the number of days and physicians. I’m really hoping to attract more volunteers also with this new building, so we couldn’t be happier. I think the time has come for us to do this. We will welcome this with open arms.”

The groundbreaking for the MOM Medical Center is tentatively set for this summer. To learn more about how you can partner with MOM on naming rights and recognition levels of giving, please contact Executive Director Sherry Bowers, CFRE, at 361-883-5500.

being there is why. When faced with challenges recovering after heart disease or stroke itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to have emotional support. That is why we created a network to connect patients and loved ones with others during their journey.

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NONPROFIT

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN

Child Abuse Prevention Month: a reminder that it’s our duty to ensure the safety of children both in our homes and in our community By: SAMANTHA KOEPP-STEMPLINGER

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we pay (it costs over $11,000 a year for a child to be in foster care). To educate the community on how we can all become more vigilant for our children, during the month of April, local organizations will host the following child abuse prevention awareness events: April 4: Go Blue Day 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Nueces County Courthouse Contact: Al Cardenas (361-878-3561) April 5: Nueces State of the County’s Children Presentation 9 a.m., Nueces County Commissioner’s Court Contact: Al Cardenas (361-878-3561) April 5: Pinning Our Hope on You 6 p.m.-8 p.m., CASA Office (2602 Prescott) Methodist Children’s Home and CASA of the Coastal Bend will remember those who have fallen victim to child abuse with a bell-ringing ceremony. Families are encouraged to attend and pick up their blue ribbons to wear throughout April. Blue ribbons will be available at the CASA office throughout April for those unable to attend the event. Contact: diana@coastalbendcasa.org or 361-884-2272 April 7: Child Abuse Prevention Month Event 9 a.m., Child Protective Services (4201 Greenwood) Contact: Al Cardenas (361-878-3561)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CASA

DURING 2015 in Aransas, Nueces and San Patricio Counties, there were more than 6,500 reports of child abuse and neglect. More than 1,700 were confirmed victims, with almost 300 children removed from their homes. In those counties, there are more than 900 children in foster care. In 2015, there were close to 750 children in foster care. Child abuse and neglect is an epidemic on the rise in the Coastal Bend – in every zip code and every neighborhood. April is Child Abuse Prevention month, a reminder that we all play a role in ensuring the safety of not just the children in our homes, but also the children in our community. By recognizing the struggles some families may endure that lead to abuse or knowing the signs of maltreatment of a child, you can help prevent or end the trauma that no child should ever experience. In 1989, a grandmother whose 3-yearold grandson died from abuse by his parents began tying blue ribbons to the antenna on her van as a reminder of the bruises her grandson endured. Since then, blue ribbons have been worn during April to remember the victims of child abuse and raise awareness. You may not see abuse or hear of abuse happening, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening around you or the people you know. It impacts every single one of us, from the relationships we have and the safety in our community (over 66 percent of people in prison have been in foster care at one point in their lives) to the taxes

April 12: Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation 11:15 a.m., City Hall – City Council Chambers Mayor Nelda Martinez and the Corpus Christi City Council will declare April “Child Abuse Prevention Month.” Contact: diana@coastalbendcasa.org or 361-884-2272 April 24: Blue Sunday On this day, churches will pray for victims of child abuse and those who rescued them. Register your church to participate at www.bluesunday.org. April 33: 11th Annual CASA Superhero 5K Run/Walk 8 a.m., Heritage Park Superheroes for children unite at this 5K walk/run that includes a costume contest for children and adults, as well as a vendor area of local business and organizations that will provide giveaways and activities. For more information, visit coastalbendcasa.com/5k.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS AN EPIDEMIC ON THE RISE IN THE COASTAL BEND.

2033 S. Airline Rd., Ste. D-1, Corpus Christi, TX M-Sat 8am-6pm • Sun 9am-Noon Find us on Facebook: Yolanda's Specialty Cakes

If you suspect abuse or neglect of a child, call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400. And call 211 or visit www.211texas.org to find local services for families in need. CASA of the Coastal Bend trains volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected and are in the foster care system. The next training begins May 17. For more information about CASA or to sign up for training, contact Samantha Koepp-Stemplinger at samantha@coastalbendcasa.org, call 361-884-2272 or visit www.casaofthecoastalbend.org.

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BRATING 10 YEARS E L CE

2004

2014

A HOME HEALTH AGENCY YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR CAN TRUST! BENAVIDES

119 W. Railroad Ave. Benavides, Texas 78341 Ph: (361) 256-3980 Fax: (361) 256-3981

CORPUS CHRISTI

6262 Weber Rd. Ste. 302 Corpus Christi, Texas 78413 Ph: (361) 853-3971 Fax: (361) 853-4309

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 46

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Offering care right in your community as an alternative to congested hospital ERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Where our doctors wait on you

Hours: 24/7 365 days a year

Map data ÂŠ2015 Google

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EVENTS

MIXING THINGS UP

in the Coastal Bend

Networking with Inspire Photos by: PAUL MARSHALL

JAN.

mixer

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FEB.

mixer

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Town & Country Cafe Breakfast served all day / Meeting room available upon request 4228 S. Alameda / Corpus Christi, TX 78412

361.992.0360 50

Hours: Mon-Fri: 6am-3:30pm, Sat: 6am-4pm, Sun: 6am-3pm

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COME AND CHECKOUT THE HIGHEST QUALITY TURF IN CORPUS CHRISTI AT THE GEF INDOOR ZONE The only indoor turf facility in the Coastal Bend » Youth Leagues » Adult Leagues » Private Field Rentals » Birthday Parties » Multi-sport usage

4630 Corona Dr., Suite C, 78411

361.442.1923

giraldoelitefutbol@gmail / www.gefzone.com www.facebook.com/gefzoneindoorsoccer

Compassion & Excellence

in patient rehabilitation & recovery 4713 Business 181 North | Beeville, Texas 78102 (361) 358-5612 | nursingrehabbeeville.com

CONTRACTED FACILITY

24-Hour Admissions Hotline (361) 205-9677 I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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