Kingwood Medical Center
PostNet
table of
contents 06 08 14 18 20 24
Cardiovascular Association
This team of doctors is keeping up with the beat of the LHA.
Follow the Leader
Three local leaders leading by example.
Home Grown
Four hometown healers making strides in modern medicine.
Salute to Healthcare
Honoring Lake Houston’s healthcare professionals.
Economic Development & Healthcare
Lake Houston Business Matters is a quarterly publication of Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce. It is distributed to Chamber members and regional businesses. Digital copies are available online at LakeHouston.org CONTACT INFORMATION Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce 110 West Main Street, Humble, Texas 77338 (281) 446-2128 | LakeHouston.org CHAMBER LEADERSHIP Chair of the Board Melinda Stephenson Kingwood Medical Center Chair-Elect Robert Sitton Edward Jones - Financial Advisor CEO Charlie Dromgoole Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce President Jenna Armstrong Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Colleen Merritt – cmerritt@lakehouston.org
See why healthcare is the core of our local economy.
Contributing Writers Jenna Armstrong - jarmstrong@lakehouston.org Charlie Dromgoole - cdromgoole@lakehouston.org Michael Prats – mprats@lakehouston.org Kelli White – kwhite@metromediapublishers.com
Workplace Wellness Programs
Graphic Designer Jen Weber – jweber@metromediapublishers.com
Are they worth the investment?
26
Message from the President
28
Fit Friendly
The American Heart Association is helping employers make healthy changes.
Photographers Lynn Cheney – lynn@hope-photography.com Diane Meredith – dm@dianemeredith.com PUBLISHER Metro Media, Inc. David Small – dsmall@metromediapublishers.com 4210 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 314A Fairway, Kansas 66205 | (913) 951-8413 To Advertise contact Kathy Moore (913) 951-8441, kmoore@metromediapublishers.com
The Chamber is not responsible for advertisements included in this magazine. The information in this publication was compiled with care to ensure a high level of accuracy. Nonetheless, Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce and MetroMedia cannot guarantee the correctness of the information provided or the complete absence of accidental errors. For changes or additions, contact the Chamber at 281-446-2128. No article may be reproduced without permission of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce. 4 | Lake Houston Business Matters
Abundant Health & Wellness
BY KELLI WHITE
a team of Houston-trained cardiologists dedicated to advancing heart care by providing quality service and state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and therapy options opened Cardiovascular Association (CVA). With its original offices in Texas Medical Center, other locations soon followed in Humble and then in Kingwood. The group’s focus is on comprehensive diagnostic testing and procedures to prevent and treat heart diseases and improve quality of life. “Our mission remains to provide excellent, top-notch, compassionate cardiovascular care to our patients,” said Dr. Mazen Ganim, founding physician of Cardiovascular Association. Starting with the doctors’ bedside manner and utilizing state-of-the-art imaging techniques, everything at CVA aims at providing the utmost accurate and quickest solutions to patients’ problems. The practice has now become
In 1998,
6 | Lake Houston Business Matters
one of the largest groups of cardiovascular physicians in the greater Houston area. All doctors at CVA practice in the Texas Medical Center and bring the same level of expertise locally to the Lake Houston Area. “The Lake Houston area is rapidly growing and we are ready to meet the cardiovascular needs of our community,” Ganim said.
LEADING TECHNOLOGIES Cardiovascular Association offers extensive experience in state-of-the-art therapies: • Full non-invasive cardiovascular testing including echocardiography, stress testing, stroke screening, circulation testing, etc. • Heart catheterization with angioplasty and stent placement • Electrophysiologic testing including radio frequency ablation for arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation
Advertorial
• • •
Implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators Non-surgical treatment of aortic aneurysms Non-surgical treatment of circulation disorders including venous ablation for vein problems
“CVA offers up-to-date comprehensive cardiovascular technology,” Dr. Rajiv Agarwal said. “For example, we have nuclear stress test equipment where patients can comfortably sit up rather than lie down. Our ultrasound machines enable us to pick up on the most miniscule cardiac and vascular abnormalities, and we have a 64-slice CT scanner that allows us to image blood vessels without invasive cardiac catheterization. We can now perform a Calcium Score study and find plaque buildup in the earliest stage. CVA is in the process of getting a cardiac PET scanner for more accurate, non-invasive evaluation of blood flow within the heart muscle. Additionally, Dr. Kousta Foteh is able to cure aortic aneurysms without surgery utilizing a non-invasive endovascular approach, Dr. Percy Morales is able to cure atrial fibrillation with a simple, non-surgical procedure, Dr. Charlie Ganim is able to treat vein disorders with a simple 10 minute in-office procedure, and Dr. Ricky Ganim implanted an Impella device that allows high risk cardiovascular interventions in high risk patients. Whenever a newer, better technology comes out that has potential to help our patients, CVA incorporates it to better serve our patients.”
CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY From sponsoring scholarships for Humble ISD and donating gifts during the holiday season to supporting local Little Leagues, the doctors at CVA are as passionate about community involvement as they are about heart health. The practice established the CVA Cares Foundation that holds a community-wide health fair every two years. At the last fair, approximately 4000 community members were able to take advantage of complimentary medical testing (ECG, stroke screening, circulation testing, aneurysm screening, blood tests, etc.) and educational talks. “For 17 years, we have seen the Lake Houston Area grow to new heights. However, we continue to
see a lot of cardiovascular disease in our area. We need to educate our community members about cardiovascular diseases and prevent them. We are seeing our community getting more health conscious recently due to these efforts,” Ganim said.
FAMILY FOCUSED CVA welcomes three new doctors to the group in 2015 (for total of 16 doctors)! Dr. Stefano Sdringola is an interventional cardiologist with world expertise in cardiac PET scanning. Dr. Natasha Holley is a non-interventional cardiologist with passion for preventive cardiac care and Dr. John Yu is an electrophysiologist with expertise in preventive cardiology. “CVA is truly one big family. From the doctors to our staff and especially our patients, we strive to be respectful and caring. Patients come to us scared and nervous, and we treat them as if we are treating our own mom and dad. We treat our patients the way we would want to be treated,” Ganim said. For further information, please call Cardiovascular Association, PLLC at (281)-446-6656.
Cardiovascular Association , welcomes two new team members and Dr. Stefano Sdringola Dr. Natasha Holley
Spring 2015 | 7
Amber Bender
Director/Founder • Addi’s Faith Foundation
Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, one that Amber Bender and her husband Tony endured in December 2007 when their 23-month old daughter Addison Faith (Addi) succumbed to cancer. But from their darkest moment, Amber became inspired to help other children and their families suffering from the same nightmare. Committed to making Addi’s life extend far beyond her brief time on earth, Amber and Tony founded Addi’s Faith Foundation (AFF) in 2008. What Amber lacked in experience, she made up for in passion as she learned all the ins-andouts of forming and sustaining a foundation. She brought on a board of directors and chartered the 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a mission that was two-fold: to raise funds for research in pediatric brain tumors and to provide financial assistance to families struggling to care for a child with cancer. “The only thing worse than hearing those four dreadful words ‘your child has cancer,’ is then finding out that there is little they can do to treat it,” Amber said. As the founder and Executive Director of AFF, Amber works on multiple initiatives to raise funds to support their mission. She leads the organization of two major annual events: the Addishack Golf Tournament and the Walk by Faith 10k/5k. Their golf tournament sold out and raised more than $60,000 in 2014. The Walk by Faith 10k/5k hosted more than 2,000 participants and raised more than $212,000 last year. According to Amber, they have a goal of $275,000 for the 2015 race, which is slated for November 8 at Sam Houston Race Park. She knows that to find a cure, more funding needs to be directed toward research as there are still many types of childhood cancers that have a very poor prognosis with very 8 | Lake Houston Business Matters
little funding allocated to research. Since its inception, the foundation has been able to donate $455,000 to MD Anderson for research in pediatric brain tumors. The project AFF helps fund is showing great promise and has now gone to clinical trial. In efforts to ensure that this research continues, AFF has committed to giving an additional $1 million dollars. The other side of AFF’s mission is helping families dealing with childhood cancer. Amber said her family learned firsthand how hard it is, both emotionally and financially, to care for a child with cancer. She said they felt so blessed by the tremendous support received from their community and wanted to offer that to other families. To date, AFF has helped over 100 families by donating more than $150,000. Families will call thanking her because they did not know how they were going to pay their bills until they received a check from AFF. “I know what it’s like to be in this situation and I love being able to offer love and support to these families during a very difficult time,” Amber said. Amber and Tony have been able to further their organization by sharing Addi’s story and promoting fundraisers through AddisFaithFoundation.org. Amber and Tony were high school sweethearts who both graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in elementary education. Upon graduation, they married and began their search for “somewhere warm” to live. They chose Kingwood, both agreeing that if they did not like it, they could always move. That was 19 years ago. They have since been blessed with four children Trenton, 13, Riley, 11, Olivia, 5 and Addison, who would be nine today.
BY JENNA ARMSTRONG PHOTOS BY LYNN CHENEY
Dr. Kyle Buchan
Doctor of Chiropractic • Kingwood Chiropractic Associates
Community-first. It might be a way of life for only some people, but guaranteed all of them are the successful leaders that help communities thrive. Dr. Kyle Buchan of Kingwood Chiropractic Associates is one of those people. Buchan believes that “a healthier and stronger community leads to a healthier and stronger business.” And his successful practice along with numerous awards and honors has proven his statement to be true. Buchan was reared in San Antonio and played soccer at Midwestern State University and Texas A&M University where he completed his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science. He then received his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Texas Chiropractic College where he was a member of the Omega Psi Honor Society and the Council on Sports Injury. He and friend Dr. Cody McComb opened Kingwood Chiropractic Associates in 2004. “Dr. Kyle,” as he is known throughout the community, is the man behind the annual Lake Houston 10k/ 5k held each August. He served on the Chamber’s Health and Wellness committee for several years and in 2009, he presented the idea of the 10k/5k to the Board of Directors. He had a vision that the event would not only promote health and wellness to area residents, but also put Lake Houston on the map by attracting people to our beautiful community. The board unanimously approved his idea, and in 2010 the race launched attracting 500 runners. The event has since doubled and has received praise from droves of competitive runners who now make it a priority race on their calendar. Runners from countries as far away as Italy and Kenya have traveled to Lake Houston to compete. Dr. Kyle is in his seventh year on the Board of Directors for the Chamber. He has also served on the Chamber’s
Governmental Affairs Committee and is a past president of the Friday Morning Networking Group. He is also a volunteer soccer coach and trainer with Kingwood Alliance Soccer Club, spreading his love for soccer to kids across our community. Kingwood Chiropractic Associates has been honored by the Lone Star College Small Business Development Center as a Small Business of the Year finalist in both 2006 and 2010. Dr. Kyle was also a finalist in 2011 for Healthcare Professional of the Year. In January, 2014, Outgoing Chamber Board Chair Dr. Katherine Persson surprised Dr. Kyle at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Extravaganza by naming him the first recipient of the Chairman’s Award for his work establishing and growing the Lake Houston 10k/5k. Dr. Kyle credits the late Dave Kilby, who passed away in March, for spurring his community involvement. He said that Dave was a role model to him and played an influential role in getting him to join the Chamber and meet others in our area. “Dave was one of the first people who welcomed us to the area in 2004, and we quickly became good friends,” Dr. Kyle said. “I was new to the community, with a new business, and didn’t know anyone. He and Ted Guest really pushed for me to get involved in the Chamber and the community and I can’t thank them enough. Dave’s commitment to our community was unparalleled. He was one of the first to volunteer for the 10k/5k. His kindness, hard work and commitment were contagious and he will be missed.” Dr. Kyle and his wife Marie have two sons, Kade and Drake. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf and soccer with the boys, as well as running with his wife. Spring 2015 | 9
Carolyn Wise
Marketing Specialist • Williams Financial Group of Kingwood
In the 21 years she has lived in the Lake Houston Area, Carolyn Wise has become a leading example in volunteerism. Her leadership spans organizations such as Rotary International, FamilyTime Crisis & Counseling Center, St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church and the Lake Houston Area Chamber, and she has volunteered for several schools in Humble ISD. Carolyn grew up in Corpus Christi and graduated from Galveston Ball High School before earning a BBA in marketing from the University of Houston. She was the first female in her family to earn a college degree and cites this milestone as one of her proudest moments. In 1997, after 25 successful years in outside sales working for various Fortune 500 companies, she and her husband Bruce decided to pool their professional resources and work together to grow his financial planning business. The business has become a true family affair as their son recently joined the firm upon graduating with a finance degree from Texas State. Carolyn believes in giving back by sharing knowledge and blessings. She enjoys the new experiences that come from volunteering and appreciates learning new ideas and meeting exceptional people who share her passion. Carolyn’s mother was an avid volunteer at their church and school, which helped mold and influence Carolyn’s passion for helping those in need. “My mother taught me that one person can make a difference by impacting the lives of those less fortunate,” Carolyn said. “She led through her actions, not by words alone, because she cared about making a difference.” Carolyn said her passion is helping with social justice issues involving women and children. For the past three years
10 | Lake Houston Business Matters
she has served on the Board of Directors for FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center, an organization that provides services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in the Houston Area. Based in Humble since 1977, FamilyTime runs a 24-hour hotline and emergency shelter and provides counseling and legal advocacy services to help women, men and children get back on their feet after suffering abuse. As the Fundraising/Community Outreach Chair for FamilyTime’s Board, she serves as the contact person for their community fundraisers. In 2013, she was able to help raise awareness and secure donations to achieve a fundraising goal of $1 million to fund FamilyTime’s new 5,000 square foot administrative offices and equipment. With the motto of “Service Above Self,” it’s no surprise that Rotary International is also an organization in which Carolyn chooses to invest her time and talents. She has been a proud active Rotarian in Kingwood, serving as the Blood Drive Chair for more than seven years. She’s active in their “Flags Across Kingwood” fundraiser, which raises money for international and local community service and educational projects. Carolyn’s work in the community has not gone unnoticed. In January 2012, FamilyTime honored Carolyn as a “Woman of Achievement” for her volunteerism in local schools, St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church and the Rotary Club of Kingwood. In May 2010, she was recognized as Kingwood Rotary Club‘s Rotarian of the Year for her efforts in organizing, promoting and publicizing the club’s blood drives and public relations activities.
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12 | Lake Houston Business Matters
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Spring 2015 | 13
+HOME GROWN
Home Grown Healers
Dr. Polly Heil-Mealey
This Humble native Naturopathic Doctor is helping bodies heal themselves.
F
BY KELLI WHITE
rom an elementary student on Charles Street to a Humble High graduate, Dr. Polly Heil-Mealey, or Dr. Polly as she is called, now offices on Main Street in her home town of Humble. A Degreed
Naturopath and Certified Iridologist, Dr. Polly has been studying since 1995 and has been practicing since 2004. Her current business, Abundant Health and Wellness Center, opened in 2010 and offers a plethora of natural therapies. Dr. Polly has a passion for holistic approaches to healing. Her inspiration came to her as she was driving home from work and heard a woman’s story on the radio. This woman had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given four weeks to live. It turns out, that woman healed her body with nutrition and became cancer-free. That story was the catalyst for Polly and she took up the hobby of holistic living. That was two years before her husband was diagnosed with cancer.
“Our national healthcare methodology is centered on disease management. My philosophy is different. There is nothing wrong with our country’s medical model, but it is not my first choice. I prefer to deal with the body in a holistic way, and when my patients have recovered when no one else said they would, that is awesome! I don’t know better, I just know different.” Dr. Polly Heil-Mealey
14 | Lake Houston Business Matters
“I didn’t know enough fast enough. If I had known then what I do now, he’d still be alive,” she said. “He was diagnosed in December and died in May. That loss spurred me to spare others the grief associated with health challenges. I went from being holistic as a hobby to making it my career.” A member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, Dr. Polly is also a Diplomat of Pastoral Science with the Pastoral Medical Association. She earned a post graduate certification in BioEnergetic Science from the Academy of International BioEnergetic Sciences in London Ontario, Canada. Naturopathy uses a variety of modalities to find the cause of a body’s dysfunction. Dr. Polly explained that Naturopathic philosophy does not use drugs because the body is an organic system and needs organic remedies to repair damage so the body can heal itself. As a Certified Iridologist, Dr. Polly inspects a patient’s iris, which serves as an aid in determining a person’s state of health. This evaluation looks at the person’s DNA, which is a great help in knowing the genetic strengths and weaknesses in the body. Instead of prescribing drugs, Dr. Polly uses Electronic Acupuncture Voll (EAV) testing analysis to examine and assess each person — evaluating the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) common meridian points. The software taps into energy meridians to find blockages and tells what remedies will remove the blocks and fill the deficits. “We work to rectify the body’s deficit through nutrition and supplements. When the body functions properly, disease goes away. Every symptom is key for a healing strategy so we address the symptom to help the body heal,” she said. “No one person can heal another. But I can help the body repair itself. That’s my specialty,” Dr. Polly said. To illustrate her medical philosophy, Dr. Polly had a patient with diabetes who had been prescribed the drug metformin to treat diabetes. She explained that our bodies don’t have a deficit of metformin; something is causing a problem with the sugar metabolism/insulin production in diabetics. “The drug doesn’t address the cause of why a diabetic isn’t metabolizing insulin. In this particular person, we rectified his deficit through supplements and after 11 weeks, his A1C was hundredths of a point to be within normal range. ” The prescribed healing approach differs for each patient. “What causes diabetes, for example, in one person may not cause it in another person.” “Our national healthcare methodology is centered on disease management. My philosophy is different. There is nothing wrong with our country’s medical model, but it
is not my first choice. I prefer to deal with the body in a holistic way, and when my patients have recovered when no one else said they would, that is awesome! I don’t know better, I just know different,” Dr. Polly said. “Of course if I had a heart attack, I would see a medical doctor, but if there is a dysfunction in the body, it makes sense to find out what’s missing. That’s my personal perspective,” she said. In addition to her medical degrees, Dr. Polly also has a Master’s in Education and has an equally strong calling to share knowledge on holistic health and wellness. She strives to be a reputable source for people searching for the information she wishes she had earlier. “Despite the freedom of information act in America, we don’t have all the information we think we do. I hope to be a catalyst for others – to share information so others can move forward on their journey.” From a glaucoma patient achieving normal intraocular pressure to a stage four Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma patient having perfect bloodwork, Dr. Polly is thrilled to see results from a healthy alternative that helps the body heal. “I love seeing hopeless people regain hope. To be able to tell someone there is hope is rewarding beyond measure. Hope changes lives,” she said.
Spring 2015 | 15
+HOME GROWN
Home Grown Healers
Meet the Mehta’s
This doctor family has served patients in the Lake Houston Area for more than thirty years. BY KELLI WHITE
W
hen Dr. Navnit Mehta moved to the Lake Houston Area more than three decades ago, he didn’t know a new generation would join his medical practice. Two members of that generation happen to be his sons. In 1984, Navnit relocated here from colder weather. Having lived in New York and Chicago, he likes to say he moved south because of the snow, but in actuality, a medical partnership opportunity brought him to the Lake Houston Area and in 1985, he opened his independent practice. For the past thirty years, Dr. Mehta Sr. has cared for patients, many of whom now have families of their own. A family practice physician, Navnit graduated from B.J. Medical School in Ahmadabad, India, and relocated to New York where he began to practice family medicine. In 2005, Navnit had the privilege of adding his eldest son, Dr. Tejas Mehta, to the group. Dr. Nilay Mehta joined the practice in
16 | Lake Houston Business Matters
August 2014 bringing cardiology to the list of specialties offered through Mehta Medical Group, dba Wellspire Medical Group. Wellspire is a multi-specialty group offering expert care in Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Family Practice, Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine. Tejas, who graduated from Humble High School, specializes in Internal Medicine and enjoys practicing in his home town, even if his patients are familiar. “I like seeing people I grew up with and offering a continuity of care that spans families to extended families and now an entire generation. It’s great to have a relationship with patients. I even see former teachers sometimes,” he said. Navnit agrees that seeing familiar faces in his line of work is a pleasure. “It’s even more wonderful to see my sons every day,” he said. The Mehta’s are a close family who socialize together and have dinners often. But despite their hard work following along their father’s path and achieving their own success, Tejas and Nilay aren’t quick enough to pick up the bill. “Dad always picks up the tab,” Nilay said. “He won’t let us pay!” Joking aside, the Mehta’s and all physicians at Wellspire pride themselves on high quality of care and being invested in the area for so long. In November 2014, Wellspire achieved NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) accreditation as a patient-centered medical home. This means the facility is patient-oriented and meets quality mandates among doctors and between doctors and patients. PHOTO BY DIANE MEREDITH
“By being a multi-specialty medical group, doctors and subspecialists can instantly communicate to better serve the patients,” Tejas said. “Our patient portal also allows for better intercommunication and better patient care.” The practice has grown steadily over the years and succeeded almost solely from word of mouth for the first 25 years. Tejas said they have just recently increased their marketing efforts. And there is a lot going on at Wellspire Medical Group to share with others. Within the year, Wellspire plans to add behavioral health services to its repertoire and a med spa in their new Atascocita Care Center. In addition to its Humble location, the group also offers endocrinology care at two ancillary offices in Magnolia and Woodlands. Tejas completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and attended Temple University School of Medicine. He became a managing partner at Wellspire in 2012. Nilay graduated from Kingwood High School and brings exemplary qualifications from both UT Medical Branch in Galveston for Cardiology fellowship and Baylor College of Medicine for Internal Medicine. He also attended osteopathic medical school at Chicago College of
Osteopathic Medicine. The Mehta’s are huge Houston Texans fans and enjoy attending all the games. And when there isn’t a professional game going on, Tejas is busy with his son’s Little League and his daughter’s ballet classes. Nilay is also a father and if you’re one of his patients, you’ll quickly learn about his passion for classic cars and the Houston Rockets. Navnit loves to travel and has been to nearly every part of the globe. He recalls his favorite destination so far— New Zealand. “It is absolutely beautiful,” he said. And there is also something truly beautiful about being home grown.
Spring 2015 | 17
Salute to Healthcare
Honoring Lake Houston’s Health Care Professionals Chamber seeking nominations for the 2015 Nurse of the Year and Health Care Professional of the Year
Each July,
BY COLLEEN MERRITT
the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce honors
tise, beyond the scope of their jobs. They should display a
the Nurse of the Year and Health Care Professional of the
commitment to their profession and community, and serve
Year at the Salute to Health Care Luncheon. The lunch-
as an inspiration to others, striving to improve the quality
eon commends the local health care community and rec-
of care and discover new ways to assist those in need.
ognizes its substantial economic impact.
“I believe it is important to nominate medical profes-
Last year, Peggy Aalund, RN with Lone Star College
sionals who are making a difference in our community,
Kingwood was named 2014 Nurse of the Year and Dr.
whether it is innovative strategies, community service or
Susan Curling with Memorial Hermann Northeast was
outstanding achievement,” Aalund said. “This honor has
named 2014 Health Care Professional of the Year.
meant so much to me, even after forty years as a nurse! I
“As a nurse educator, I feel it is important to encourage student nurses to include volunteerism as part of their
have accomplished much in my career, but being recognized as Nurse of the Year is the highest honor.”
professionalism,” said Aalund. “I have spent my life giv-
Do you know someone who fits the bill? Nominations
ing back to my community. Through leading by example
are due June 15, 2015, and forms are available at Lake-
and inviting students to participate with me, I believe it is
Houston.org, at the Chamber Office, 110 West Main St
building a strong network of future nurse volunteers. Be-
Humble, TX 77338, or can be obtained by emailing Chris-
ing recognized as Nurse of the Year demonstrates that our
tina O’Dell at codell@lakehouston.org with a subject line
service is acknowledged and honored in our community.”
of 2015 Salute to Healthcare Nomination. A brief descrip-
The Chamber is seeking nominations for nurses and/
tion of the nominee’s achievements and contributions
or health care professionals, who, through their individu-
along with a list of activities, programs, in-kind contribu-
al or collective actions, have had an extraordinary impact
tions, etc. that directly benefited the Lake Houston Area
in the Lake Houston Area healthcare community. Three
community should accompany the form.
finalists from each category will be named in late June
The Salute to Healthcare Luncheon is Co-Presented
and honored at the 2015 Salute to Health Care Luncheon
by Independent Bank and Kingwood Medical Center. The
on Tuesday, July 21 at the Overlook in Atascocita.
Lake Houston Area healthcare community is invited to
Nominees should be individuals whose acts of service represent dedication to excellence in their area of exper-
18 | Lake Houston Business Matters
join in the celebration. Deadline to register is July 17. Lunch is $30 for Chamber members and $35 for guests.
Team! Meet the
Nilay Mehta, D.O. Cardiology
Adaeze Egesi, M.D. Dermatology Atascocita Office
Atascocita & Humble Offices
Debbie Bal, D.O. Family Practice
Ismael Diaz, M.D. Family Practice
Navnit Mehta, M.D. Family Practice
Grace Odi, M.D. Internal Medicine
Sweeya Ramireddy, M.D. Internal Medicine
Jeff Wang, M.D. Internal Medicine
Atascocita & Humble Offices
Eric Tay, M.D. Endocrinology
Humble, Magnolia & The Woodlands Offices
Tejas Mehta, M.D. Internal Medicine Humble Office
Wellspire Medical Group Humble Office
Atascocita Office
Atascocita Office
Humble Office
Brian Chou, M.D. Endocrinology
Humble Office
Humble Office
0ur 4 Convenient Locations! Atascocita
17903 West Lake Houston Pkwy., Suite 201 Humble, TX 77346
Humble
8901 FM 1960 Bypass W., Suite 101 Humble, TX 77338
Magnolia
6318 FM 1488 Rd., Suite 100 Magnolia, TX 77354
The Woodlands
9319 Pinecroft Dr., Suite 210 The Woodlands, TX 77380
For Scheduling Call (877) OUR-DOCT(OR) (877) 687-3628 Or Visit Our Website at www.Wellspire.net Spring 2015 | 19
+ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP Economic Development & Healthcare Quality healthcare is at the core of the local economy. BY KELLI WHITE AND MICHAEL PRATS
Healthcare is a unique industry. It’s the one thing nearly everyone will need at some point. The increasing demand of healthcare services warrants a plethora of area medical facilities and a rise in training opportunities. This industry rests at the core of the local economy not only because of the relationship between a growing number of healthcare jobs and increased college enrollment, but because medical facilities employ large numbers of professionals, pay taxes and support local charities. From an economic development perspective, hospitals and other healthcare employers greatly impact the economy because the industry employs workers (specifically basicand semi-skilled workers) and offers advancement opportunities not seen in many other industries. Currently, the healthcare industry is a significant source of employment in the Lake Houston Area.
933: Number of LHA Healthcare Establishments = 5.2% of total LHA establishments 7104: Number of LHA Healthcare Employees = 10% of all LHA employees (From 2014 LHA Occupation Data - Health Care & Social Assistance) 20 | Lake Houston Business Matters
Hospitals and medical centers prove to create prosperity within communities because they offer well-paying jobs with benefits and upward mobility to entry-level workers. But the spectrum of healthcare offered in the Lake Houston Area goes beyond our two major hospitals, fulfilling nearly every medical need. From large medical centers to freestanding emergency care facilities to top-notch hometown doctors’ offices, the percentage of need to travel for healthcare is very minimal. “Our market provides outstanding local care in facilities equipped to handle and treat 95 percent of patients’ needs, right here, close to home,” said Melinda Stephenson, CEO of Kingwood Medical Center. And if a significant issue arises that lies outside of that 95 percent, Texas Medical Center is only 25 miles away. “Historically, the community members felt they had to go to the Medical Center, but we are getting word out that we have full surgical services right here,” Stephenson said. The market of the Lake Houston Area is viewed as a great place to live and play. “But, this market is also a great place to work,” Stephenson said. The job market in the healthcare sector alone provides thousands of local employment opportunities. No commutes necessary. And in an industry that has a low barrier to entry, great earnings potential and ample opportunity for promotions, it is no wonder why healthcare fields are attractive to people entering higher education and the job market. The healthcare ecosystem in the Lake Houston Area offers every level of care and every type of facility so students can stay here after graduation. Lone Star College Kingwood has experienced rapid
growth resulting in the need for more training opportunities, specifically in healthcare fields. More than 60 percent of healthcare workers in the area are trained at Lone Star College. “We have approximately 200 students in the pipeline,” Katherine Persson, President of Lone Star College Kingwood said. The college offers nursing, respiratory care, occupational therapy and dental hygienist programs and its facilities have reached maximum capacity. “In November 2014, a bond passed to grant us two new buildings, one of which will be a 60,000 square foot healthcare facility on the Kingwood campus,” Persson said. “In the next couple years, we will be equipped to add more programs that the medical industry is requesting.” Persson said healthcare programs at Lone Star are more entailed than other educational programs due in part to the rapid growth of the industry and an aging population, causing demand to increase. The main challenge of meeting the rising demands for healthcare professionals is time — it takes extensive training time for healthcare professionals in many subfields to become independent workers, and it takes significant time for educational institutions to gain approval and accreditation as well as to build the training facilities and design the programs. “Kingwood Medical Center has grown exponentially in the last five years,” Stephenson said. “We completed an $82 million expansion and added 250 jobs. The challenge has been not having enough nurses to meet the growing demand. It takes years to function as an independent nurse,
which is a barrier that growing hospitals face — the struggle to fill professional positions.” But despite that challenge, education in healthcare fields is still easily accessible because there is a need for trained workers and job availability is on the rise. In addition to two large hospitals, Kingwood and Memorial Hermann Northeast, that each support local causes and aid in local economic growth, the Lake Houston Area is also home to Texas Emergency Care Center, a freestanding emergency room created to increase access to emergency services for all patients and to help alleviate the overcrowding at area hospitals. “Texas Emergency Care Center creates a great opportunity for the public to seek licensed and regulated emergency medical treatment in a matter of minutes, not hours,” Rhonda Sandel, CEO of Texas Emergency Care Center said. Texas Emergency Care Center currently employs 165 team members and is growing. “By the end of the year we will have more than 225 staff members as we are opening two new facilities. Plus we have 40 staff members dedicated to our Atascocita Facility,” she said. With the availability of quality healthcare at all levels and a growing population, the Lake Houston Area is showing great promise for continued prosperity. Having highly accessible care supports and improves our community’s quality of life and provides employment for workers of all skills levels. Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries nationwide and the Lake Houston Area is in good position to capitalize on that growth. Spring 2015 | 21
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22 | Lake Houston Business Matters
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Spring 2015 | 23
+ INSPERITY ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
WORKPLACE WELLNESS PROGRAMS: Are They Really Worth the Investment?
W
BY KELLEY ZANFARDINO, HUMAN RESOURCE ADVISOR AT INSPERITY
hat’s in it for companies that devote time and money into health management programs for employees? Lower health insurance premiums? Happier employees? Workplace wellness programs can bring both benefits and liabilities into your organization. Here’s what you need to consider before launching or redesigning your health management initiatives.
Why workplace wellness? 1. Cost containment Promoting wellness as a way to contain rising costs of healthcare has been researched extensively, but the verdict remains unclear.
24 | Lake Houston Business Matters
One 2012 report found that most North American employers who have analyzed the return on investment of their wellness programs saved one to three health plan dollars per dollar invested. Other research offers similarly promising figures. But as the Society for Human Resource Management points out in a 2013 article, it’s difficult to measure the ROI because workplace wellness programs can differ greatly company-to-company. Therefore, many companies have decided that the financial case for wellness programs is “good enough,” concluding that taking some action is more likely to curb health care costs than taking no action. Still, there’s more to workplace wellness than just health care cost containment.
2. Healthy, happy culture A workplace wellness program can also play a big role in your company’s intangible culture of health, safety, productivity and quality of life. Having a program can help you compete for talent, encourage healthy choices and stimulate peer interaction. A client I worked with once described this elusive benefit as “seeing more smiling faces than frowning” when she looked at her employees. Basically, when you show your staff that you care about them, especially beyond what they contribute to your company, they are much happier. This feel-good effect can go a long way. It can impact the way your employees interact with your customers. It can affect how many good ideas come out of a brainstorming session. And, focusing on creating and maintaining a healthy and happy culture may offset a limited benefits and compensation package.
What to try What is the best way to determine whether workplace wellness initiatives deserve more of your time? Start small, but do try something new – implement changes that your employees will notice and hopefully get excited about. Then measure the health plan dollars you save against the dollars you’ve invested, and pay close attention to how your new or revived wellness program influences your company culture. Here are some low-cost wellness program ideas to bring to the planning table. 1. Allow employees to take walk breaks 2. Negotiate corporate discounts for health club memberships. 3. Provide bicycle racks 4. Ask your vending machine company to add healthy foods 5. Replace vending machines with a steady supply of fruit, popcorn and other healthy snacks 6. Make a kitchen area accessible to all employees 7. Provide drinking water with fountains or coolers 8. Give out t-shirts to employees who participate in any wellness program activity 9. Allow flex hours to promote work-life balance. 10. Provide access to an employee assistance program (EAP) 11. Put up posters encouraging a desk stretching routine
What to know While these ideas above are fairly low-risk in addition to being low-cost, be aware that some wellness program activities can open you up to increased liabilities. For example, if you were to host a masseuse at a wellness fair, and an employee got injured, it could result in a workers’ compensation claim. And collecting medical information on your employees from health screenings or health risk assessments could expose you to discrimination charges. In addition, wellness programs that are not based solely on voluntary participation (e.g., programs with activity and outcome based requirements) are subject to a host of additional requirements under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that can expose you to penalties if not satisfied. Recently, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) found several corporate wellness programs to be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. These are good examples of the risk these programs can pose if not designed and administered in compliance with applicable laws. For these reasons, before implementing a new wellness plan, you should involve your legal counsel. With Insperity Workforce Optimization, you get dedicated HR support that helps you weigh all the options before your next big employer initiative. Find out what is included in our fullservice HR offering. The Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce and Insperity have entered into a partnership through the Chamber Advantage Program. This partnership is best defined by our shared mission: to inform, educate, connect and inspire the performance of small and medium-size businesses in the Lake Houston Area community. Kelley Zanfardino, SPHR-CA, has more than 25 years of HR experience working in a variety of industries and organizations. Her career has been focused primarily on employee relations, leaves of absence, disability and organizational metrics. Zanfardino serves on the board for two nonprofit organizations and teaches the 12-week PHR/SPHR certification course for SHRM’s San Diego chapter.
Originally published as “Workplace Wellness Programs: Are They Really Worth the Investment?” on www.insperity.com/blog Spring 2015 | 25
Message from the President The Importance of Reauthorizing the U.S. Export-Import Bank BY JENNA ARMSTRONG
Here at the Chamber, Charlie and I coined the phrase “strategically situated” in one of our brainstorming sessions on how to market the Lake Houston Area to site selectors and companies looking to relocate. It was our counter to using the cliché “conveniently located” that the majority of cities, communities and municipalities use when trying to gain the attention of the same site selectors and businesses we are all vying to attract. The purpose of using “strategically situated” was to highlight the strength of being located between a major international airport and the Port of Houston, which is the one of the world’s busiest ports and the nation’s leading port in terms of foreign tonnage. This adds to our attractiveness to businesses, both large and small, looking to export goods. Our economy is bolstered and strengthened because of our exportimport businesses. And at the heart of the exporting and importing industry is the U.S. Export-Import Bank, more often referred to as Ex-Im Bank. You may have recently heard the term “ExIm Bank” as it has been a hotly debated issue this past year in Congress. And many people don’t understand the role of the Ex-Im Bank or its importance to not only the national and global economy, but also to our local economy. 26 | Lake Houston Business Matters
Ex-Im Bank was created in 1934 as a part of Its charter has been renewed sixteen times since 1934. Roosevelt’s New Deal with the premise of keeping Amer- Out of those sixteen renewals, fourteen of them passed eiican exports competitive in foreign markets. It is char- ther unanimously or by voice vote in at least one chamber tered as a government corporation by the Congress of the of Congress. Recently, Ex-Im Bank has had the support of United States. The Bank works to create and sustain U.S. every president including Reagan, Bush I & II, Clinton and jobs by financing sales of U.S. exports to international Obama. When President Reagan signed the 1986 law reaubuyers. In order to accomplish this, the Ex-Im Bank of- thorizing the Bank, he wrote that it sent “an important sigfers three things: nal to both our exporting community and 1. Direct loans to foreign buyers of foreign suppliers that American exporters American products; will continue to be able to compete vigor2. Loan guarantees to banks that ously for business throughout the world.” lend to foreign buyers and to banks Reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank is that make “working capital” loans to supported by the U.S. Chamber, Texas U.S. exporters; and Association of Business, and Texas Asso3. Insurance against losses on loans ciation of Manufacturers among others. made to foreign buyers by American It is vitally important to Texas and Houbanks and exporters. ston. As such, the Lake Houston Area A main tenant of this organization Chamber Board voted on a resolution in is that it doesn’t compete with private support of its reauthorization in 2014. lenders, but rather fills the gaps ofIn a letter to Congress, Texas AssociaJenna Armstrong fering financial services to facilitate tion of Business and Texas Association of President, Lake Houston Area transactions with political and/or comManufacturers wrote: Chamber of Commerce mercial risks too great for the private “Ex-Im Bank has helped over 1,000 sector to accommodate. For example, banks generally won’t accept foreign receivables as collateral for a loan, but the Ex-Im guarantees change the game. And by now, you’re probably wondering who foots the bill for these loans and guarantees. That is the best part – the U.S. Export-Import Bank has been a self-sustaining entity since 2007. Originally, the money came from the U.S. Treasury. The bank would borrow money from the Treasury, lend it at a higher interest rate and between the interests generated and fees collected for providing loan guarantees, the bank would generate revenue that would then be returned to the Treasury. Not only has Ex-Im Bank not cost us taxpayers a dime in years, but also in 2013 it returned $1 billion to the Treasury Department. Also, the Bank’s default rate is only 0.23% and has not had a loan default in nearly three decades. It is helping create jobs and paying off our national debt at the same time. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that over the next decade The Bank will refund an additional $14 billion. Of course that is all dependent on whether Congress votes to reauthorize Ex-Im Bank this June. Ex-Im Bank’s charter expired on September 30, 2014, and for the very first time in its 80-year history, the charter was not renewed. Instead, Congress extended the charter until June 30, 2015, when it will once again come up for reauthorization.
Texas companies finance $19 billion in exports. More than half of these exporters are small businesses. Approximately one-quarter of all Texas manufacturing jobs relies on exports. Texas is the nation’s #1 exporting state and the largest user of Ex-Im Bank. As such, Texas consistently outpaces national export growth with $279.7 billion exports in 2013. We must continue to create jobs and to drive economic growth. And we need Ex-Im Bank to do it.” Creating and exporting goods is a vital part of our Houston economy. And as Lake Houston is “strategically situated” between an international airport and one of the world’s largest ports, it is critical to helping sustain and grow jobs locally.
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Spring 2015 | 27
Fit-Friendly and Loving It! This American Heart Association-sponsored program is helping employers to make healthy changes in the workplace. EDITED BY KELLI WHITE
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
studies report that obesity costs companies $225.8 billion per year in health-related productivity losses. The American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly Worksite certification program encourages businesses to adopt a healthy workplace for their employees and make wellness a priority. Since implementing the program in 2007, nearly 4,200 businesses nationwide have joined. More than two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for heart disease and stroke as well as many other chronic illnesses and conditions. Making healthy changes in the workplace, where many adults spend much of their day, is an important way to help people be healthier. “The Fit-Friendly program is a catalyst for positive change in the American workforce by recognizing employees who champion in nurturing a healthy culture in the workplace. The program has secured a strong reputation in our communities because it shows how important it is to make health a vital part of the workplace culture,” Michelle Reed, American Heart Association Communications Director- Gulf Coast said. The American Heart Association’s goal by the year 2020 is to not only reduce the rate of death from cardiovascular dis28 | Lake Houston Business Matters
eases and stroke by 20 percent, but also to improve the heart health of all Americans by 20 percent. That’s why the American Heart Association places such an importance on creating a healthy work environment, and why we encourage employers to become recognized as Fit-Friendly Worksites. Studies suggest that by encouraging physical activity and healthy eating and promoting an overall culture of health, employers can: • Increase productivity • Reduce absenteeism • Have lower turnover • Reduce healthcare costs The AHA’s Fit-Friendly Award 1) recognizes and rewards companies and organizations within our community for their wellness initiatives, 2) serves as a valuable asset for talent acquisition, and 3) assists in creating a framework and business case for senior management support of workplace wellness. Fit-Friendly Worksites can reach gold and platinum level status by implementing a variety of activities and programs to encourage physical activity, nutrition and culture enhancements such as on-site walking routes, healthy food choices in cafeterias and vending machines, annual employee health risk assessments and online tracking tools.
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Recovery isn’t simply our goal, it’s our mission When people are discharged from a traditional hospital they of need continued rehabilitation care in order recover completely.
Hope Photo
If you or someone you love needs rehabilitation, choose Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital Northeast Houston. Our team of rehab specialists is dedicated to helping each patient achieve his or her highest level of functional independence.
Rehabilitation programs include: Stroke, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Amputee, Trauma, Joint Replacement, Hip Fracture and Neurological Conditions. For more information, call today or ask your case manager.
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Spring 2015 | 29
There is no cost to apply and companies with 25 or more employees are eligible. Employers that apply for this program qualify for official recognition by the AHA. Recognition includes listing on the program’s national website, as well as at local AHA events, internal award presentations, and through press releases. Qualifying worksites also have the right to use the program’s annual recognition seal for internal communications and with external, recruitment-related communications. The Fit-Friendly Worksite Program is also part of
HOW DO WORKSITES EARN FIT-FRIENDLY RECOGNITION? • Work with your local American Heart Association to determine eligibility. • Submit your application online (by April 1 or November 1). • Renew your recognition status annually.
WHAT DO RECOGNIZED WORKSITES RECEIVE? • Recognition on the American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly program website • Recognition by the American Heart Association at local events and in communication materials, including the Annual Honor Roll published on the website • The right to use the program’s annual recognition seal for internal communications to employees and external communications related specifically to employment recruitment • An official recognition letter and recognition plaque sent by the American Heart Association • A quarterly worksite wellness e-newsletter with resources that can be used for company newsletters and programs
30 | Lake Houston Business Matters
the AHA’s “My Heart. My Life” platform aimed at educating communities about the lifestyle changes necessary to lead a heart-healthy life. “While there are only a few companies in the Greater Lake Houston area who have applied, there is potential for growth in the next year because it is incredibly easy to apply and to qualify,” Abby Ainsworth, American Heart Association Development Specialist- Greater Lake Houston, said.
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