2021: A YEAR IN REVIEW
DEAR METHODIST HEALTHCARE FAMILY, Taking a page from 2020, 2021 unfolded in ways we couldn’t predict. After welcoming a vaccine and quickly standing up on-site vaccination clinics, I think our hope for better days was renewed. But even with the promise of slowing the spread, much of our focus remained on managing this virus. As a system, we tested 103,018 people for COVID-19, of which 12,964 were positive, 10,298 were admitted to one of our hospitals, and 1,435 unfortunately expired from battling this terrible disease. I know COVID has consumed our airwaves, our conversations, and much of our thoughts over the last year, but it did not keep you from achieving great things. I would like to take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments and celebrate the numerous milestones and achievements. Methodist Hospital was recognized as the Best Regional Hospital by the U.S. News and World Report for the third consecutive year, was the first hospital in the nation to implant a newly designed cardiac mechanical pump on a patient with severe heart failure as an alternative to transplantation, and hit record cardiovascular surgical/procedural volumes in aortic, vascular, heart transplant, and TAVR. They also expanded access to their emergency care with the addition of Methodist ER | Helotes, and continued their commitment to being an animal-friendly facility, welcoming Major, a facility dog designated to adult ICU care as well as Bambi, the first therapy horse in Texas. Methodist Children’s Hospital, through the Rowan Windham Memorial Cereal Drive, donated $61,772 to the San Antonio Food Bank to ensure children were fed during the summer months. And Women’s Services had a record-setting year, breaking its record for number of babies delivered in a single year with 6,364 babies born. In August 2021, the hospital also broke its monthly birth record by 59 births, delivering a total of 643 babies! Women’s Services also launched a midwifery program and expanded its perinatal navigator program to guide high-risk maternal patients through the health care process.
4 | Methodist Magazine
Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan was recognized as a “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation for the 5th consecutive year and earned their 11th consecutive A Grade for Patient Safety by the Leapfrog Group. Additionally, they surpassed 500 Chronic Total Occlusion procedures in their cardiac catheterization lab; they’re the only hospital in South Texas to have performed this many procedures! Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak received a Maternal and Neonatal Level III Designation from the State of Texas and was recognized by the American Heart Association with the Stroke Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines Award for their outstanding outcomes with stroke patients. They were also the first site to launch the Methodist Care Coordination program to better connect emergency room patients with MHSaligned specialists in orthopedic and cardiovascular services. In the first three months of the program, their ER patient experience scores tripled, the followup appointment rate for these patients doubled, and generated $150,000 in incremental revenue! Methodist Hospital | Northeast added a 30-bed Progressive Care Unit with private patient rooms to enhance patient experience, was recognized by YourSA Readers’ Choice as the “Best Hospital” in San Antonio, and expanded their ER services by opening Methodist ER | Nacogdoches to better serve the Northeast side of San Antonio and surrounding communities.
