Firsts, Milestones, and Awards

METHODIST HOSPITAL | SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT ACHIEVES NEW NATIONAL KIDNEY TRANSPLANT MILESTONE

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has recognized the kidney transplant program at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant as the Nation’s only transplant program in history to perform more than 200 living donor and more than 200 deceased donor kidney transplants in a single year. According to recently released UNOS data, the program completed 221 living donor kidney transplants and 216 deceased donor kidney transplants in 2021. The program was also recognized as the largest living donor kidney transplant program, the largest kidney paired donation program, and the largest Hispanic kidney transplant program in the country. “This milestone demonstrates our commitment to improve the lives of people with kidney disease in our communities, one patient at a time,” said Kevin Scoggin, CEO of Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant. “To achieve this national recognition at a community hospital that serves a majority Hispanic population and many underserved communities around Texas, is a remarkable accomplishment.”

Adam Bingaman, MD, PhD, transplant surgeon and Director

of the Abdominal Transplant Program commented, “Kidney transplantation substantially prolongs and improves life compared with dialysis.” A primary focus of the facility’s program is to overcome barriers to transplantation that many patients face including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and social determinants. “Our program has developed unique dual expertise in both living and deceased donor transplantation, which has allowed all of our patients a better opportunity to receive a lifesaving transplant.” It is estimated that over 37 million Americans are living with kidney disease, with over 500,000 people on dialysis. Over 100,000 Americans begin dialysis each year and approximately one out of five are likely to die within a year. Over 90,000 patients are on a waiting list for a kidney transplant, yet less than 25,000 received a kidney transplant in 2021.

“Transplantation requires the generosity of living donors and donor families,” said Amanda Weichold, Vice President for

Transplant Services at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and

Transplant. “It is our privileged obligation to honor these gifts of life and our team is proud to live up to this challenge every day.”

METHODIST HOSPITAL HEART TRANSPLANT SURVIVAL RATE TOPS NATIONAL AVERAGE

The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR)

recently announced its biannual report, released every January and July, ranking transplant programs across the United States. In the latest rankings, Methodist Hospital’s heart transplant program scored above the average national percentile for one-year patient survival outcomes, and second in Texas among all heart transplant programs. According to SRTR, the expected survival rate one year after a heart transplant performed at Methodist Hospital is 94.93 percent, which is higher than the national average of 91.24 percent. SRTR compiled data over two-and-a-half years and evaluated 61 transplants. The standard survival metric is at one year, and anything over 90% is regarded as excellent.

METHODIST HOSPITAL NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AMONG AMERICA’S TOP 250 BEST HOSPITALS

Masahiro Ono, MD, Heart Transplant Surgeon, credits the success of the program to the multidisciplinary care model, innovative medical management, and support from hospital administration. “We have a progressive approach in offering heart transplantation to more patients, even those with the most acute conditions. We are dedicated to increasing waitlist survival and decreasing wait times for transplantation,” commented Dr. Ono.

Methodist Hospital’s heart transplant program is at the forefront of surgical innovation, having recently adopted an advanced organ care system (OCS) technology to improve the viability of donor organs and increased organ availability. Methodist Hospital has the only heart transplant program in South Texas, most recently surpassing 550 transplants since the program’s inception. Among the heart transplant programs in Texas, Methodist is ranked third by volume, averaging approximately 31 transplants per year. “This achievement is a testament to our team of outstanding healthcare professionals committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients,” stated Dr. Ono.

The SRTR evaluates the status of the nation’s solid organ transplant system and provides data analyses to transplant programs, organ procurement organizations, policymakers, transplant professionals, transplant recipients, organ donors and donor families, as well as the general public to help improve overall recipient outcomes.

Methodist Hospital has been named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals™, placing it in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the country and an overall leader in clinical excellence, according to Healthgrades. Approximately 4,500 hospitals were evaluated nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. Recipients of this award have consistently delivered better than expected outcomes for their patients. “Receiving this national achievement is a testament to our team of outstanding professionals and our unwavering commitment to serve our community,” commented

Dan Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Hospital

and Methodist Children’s Hospital. “Our team diligently works to ensure we provide and uphold the highest quality of care for our patients, and it is truly an honor to be nationally recognized by Healthgrades for our excellence.” With tools like hospital ratings and awards, Healthgrades helps consumers make confident healthcare decisions by enabling the evaluation and comparison of hospital performance to find the highest quality of care.

FIRST AND ONLY HOSPITAL IN SAN ANTONIO WITH THE HIGHEST RATING FOR OPEN HEART SURGERY

Methodist Hospital | Texsan is the first hospital in San Antonio to receive a 3-star rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). “To achieve such a rating that acknowledges the exceptional clinical outcomes is truly a team effort. It requires discipline and focus, but most importantly, patientcentric care,” said Scott Rausch, Chief Executive Officer. STS publicly reports participant results for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also known as open heart surgery which treats coronary artery disease. CABG takes a blood vessel from another part of the body (usually the chest, leg or arm) and attaches it to the coronary artery above and below the narrowed area or blockage. As a national leader in healthcare transparency and accountability, the STS provides the public with the quality of surgical outcomes. The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database (ACSD) contains data on surgical procedures submitted by participants. The majority of ACSD participants receive a 2-star rating, which is considered average. In comparison, far fewer participants receive 1-star or 3-star ratings. To achieve a 3-star rating, the score and range must be higher than the STS average. Methodist Hospital | Texsan excels in advanced cardiovascular services, specifically in CABG. Texsan was an early adopter of the Heart Team Consult that is required for all non-emergent cardiovascular surgeries. The comprehensive needs of every patient that comes through the door are identified. Patients undergo several exams prior to surgery to ensure they have checked all areas in case of blockage and pulmonary function problems. These exams create an overall STS score and include: the full risk stratification, the 5-meter walk test, pulmonary function testing, the frailty index, ankle-brachial index Doppler and carotid Doppler.

Intensivists, or critical care physicians, are also required at the bedside of each patient. They are responsible for creating a plan of care for the patient post-surgery. “We have designed a functioning system that has allowed this hospital to achieve such honor,” said Christine Longtin CVRN, Cardiovascular Coordinator. With this system in place, outcomes have greatly improved such as increased patient satisfaction, reduced length of stay in the hospital and decreased post-operation complications. Texsan is well-known for being an exceptional heart hospital by the community and surrounding areas. The hospital aims to ensure that every patient receives the highest level of care possible. “It’s gratifying to know that the many years of hard work has allowed us to achieve this honor. It’s important to recognize the countless people who have maintained the standard of excellence Texsan has always had,” said Gary Maszak, MD, Chief of Staff and Cardiac Cath Lab Director. FIRST BABY OF THE NEW YEAR BORN AT METHODIST HOSPITAL

For the 22nd year in a row, local hospitals came together to welcome San Antonio’s New Year Baby. The first baby of the new year was born at Methodist Hospital. Labor and delivery unit staff across the city worked together overnight to determine which hospital delivered the first baby. A beautiful, healthy baby girl named Nadia was welcomed into the world by her parents and the hospital staff on 1/1/2022 at 12:20 AM. Nadia weighed 7lbs 1.6 oz and measured at 20.5 inches. Mom and baby are healthy, and the family was presented with various gifts from the local hospitals. The family even stayed in Room 2022! Parents, Lamia Issad and Achour Medaour, are excited to be first-time parents and are honored to be recognized by the city. “Congratulations to the happy family! I can’t think of a better way to ring in the new year than with a new baby girl or boy,” said Trish

Horlacher, RN, Director of the Mother Baby

Unit. “Methodist Hospital just wrapped up its second consecutive record-breaking year of babies born. The arrival of baby Nadia is the perfect way to kick off another year of doing what we do best; caring for women and infants of San Antonio and South Texas.”

Methodist Healthcare delivers approximately 12,000 babies per year, and about 40% of babies born in San Antonio are born at a Methodist Healthcare facility.