Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System

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Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
YO U R H E A LT H Y L I V I N G M AG A Z I N E
                                                                                      FA L L 2 0 1 9

Beyond
tradition
How to safely integrate
alternative therapies
with modern medicine

+
Facing the opioid epidemic
Do you know how to protect yourself and
those you love?

Meet your perfect matcha
This green tea is steeped in health benefits

So much to live for
Husband and father Kasey Hester was
determined to beat testicular cancer.
Methodist Dallas was determined
to fight alongside him.

New molecular therapy
destroys pancreatic tumors

                       CHECK OUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS ON PAGE 4
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
FALL

                                                      CONTENTS
                                                                                                                                          2019

                                                      INSIDE & ONLINE

SHINE (Vol. 9, Issue 3) is published quarterly as a
community service for the friends and patrons of
METHODIST HEALTH SYSTEM, P.O. Box 655999,
Dallas, TX 75265-5999, telephone 214-947-4600,
MethodistHealthSystem.org. To unsubscribe,
please email pr@mhd.com.

James C. Scoggin Jr.
CEO, Methodist Health System
Pamela Stoyanoff, MBA, CPA, FACHE
President and Chief Operating Officer,
Methodist Health System
John Phillips, FACHE
President, Methodist Dallas Medical Center

                                                                                               Beyond tradition
Stacy Covitz, MBA
Assistant Vice President of Strategic
Communications, Methodist Health System
Laura Motta Mena, PhD
Director of Community and Public Relations,
Methodist Dallas Medical Center                                                               How to safely integrate alternative
Ryan Owens                                                                                    therapies with modern medicine.

                                                                                                          p. 30
Director of Public Relations, Methodist Health
System
Sarah Cohen
Publications Project Manager, Methodist Health
System

The information presented in this magazine
should be viewed for general purposes only and
should not be construed as prescribed medical
advice. Please consult your private physician for
further information or evaluation.
Models may be used in photos and illustrations.
Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing
medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health
System medical staff, including those specializing
in transplant services, are independent
practitioners who are not employees or agents of
Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Health
System, or any of its affiliated hospitals.
Methodist Family Health Centers and Medical
Groups are owned and operated by MedHealth/
Methodist Medical Group and are staffed by
independently practicing physicians who are
                                                      TO YOUR HEALTH                                  Mike Barker completed the Cowtown Half
employees of MedHealth/Methodist Medical                                                              Marathon. Read what inspires his passion
Group. The physicians and staff who provide
services at these sites are not employees or          16 | Heart attacks by the numbers               for running.
                                                      Whether you’re 20 or 65, heart disease can
agents of Methodist Health System or any of its
affiliated hospitals.
MethodistNOW is a virtual internet platform and,      develop in anyone. Do you know your risk?       FEATURES
like each of the Methodist Family Health Centers
and Medical Groups, is owned and operated
by MedHealth/Methodist Medical Group and
staffed by independently practicing physicians
who are employees of MedHealth/Methodist
                                                      PATIENT STORY                                   36 | Facing the opioid epidemic
Medical Group. The physicians and staff who                                                           Learn how to protect yourself and those you love.
provide services through the MethodistNOW
virtual platform or at the Methodist Family Health    34 | Running on recycled parts
                                                      Just seven months after a liver transplant,     41 | Targeting pancreatic tumors
Centers and Medical Groups are not employees or
agents of Methodist Health System or any of its
affiliated hospitals.
                                                                                                      A new treatment at Methodist Dallas is using
The Methodist Patient-Centered ACO
(MPCACO) is an independent legal entity and                                                           molecular therapy to destroy cancer.
is established for purposes of managing the
health of the communities served by Methodist
Health System by arranging for high-quality
healthcare services while reducing the growth
in healthcare expenditures through enhanced
care coordination. The physician members of
the Methodist Patient-Centered Accountable

                                                                                                       So much to live for
Care Organization are independently practicing
practitioners and are not employees or agents of
MPCACO, Methodist Health System, or any of its
affiliated hospitals.
Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital, Methodist                                                            When Kasey Hester’s testicular
                                                                                                        cancer was declared inoperable,
Hospital for Surgery, and Methodist Southlake
Hospital are independent legal entities separate
from Methodist Health System and its affiliated
hospitals. The physicians and other personnel
providing care at these facilities are either                                                           Methodist Dallas took up the
                                                                                                        fight for his life.
employed by or independent contractors of
Methodist Rehabilitation Hospital, Methodist

                                                                                                         p. 8
Hospital for Surgery, or Methodist Southlake
Hospital and are not employees or agents of
Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist
Health System, or any of its affiliated hospitals.

Developed by StayWell.
2019 © StayWell, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
Introducing the new Shine Online!
The healthy living content you love is now available at ShineOnlineHealth.com.
Check it out to read about trending health topics, including tips from wellness
coaches and physicians on the medical staffs at Methodist Health System hospitals.
    The site is divided into four parts to make
the stories you want to read easier to find:
    LIVE: These tips will help you live
your best life. Travel safety, preventing
illness, and caring for your family all
are covered here.
    EAT: Find delicious recipes and
                                                                                          You can now schedule
nutrition advice to spice up your                                                         Methodist doctor
healthy eating habits.                                                                    appointments online!
    LEARN: Hear from patients and
                                                                                          The service you’ve been waiting for has finally
physicians on a variety of health topics,
                                                                                          arrived! Online scheduling is now available for
including arthritis, allergies, heart issues,
                                                                                          patients at select Methodist Family Health Centers
digestive problems, mental health,
                                                                                          and Medical Groups. As long as you are an existing
and more.
                                                                                          patient and have set up a MyChart account, this
    ENRICH: Learn how to connect with
                                                                                          service is for you.
Methodist Health System and how we’re
                                                                                             Direct scheduling is currently available at the
working to serve you and our community.
                                                                                          following practices:

                                                                                          •   Methodist Breckinridge Family Medical Group
   » Visit us online today at                                                             •   Methodist Charlton Family Medicine Center
   ShineOnlineHealth.com!                                                                 •   Methodist Charlton Internal Medicine Associates
                                                                                          •   Methodist Family Health Center – Cedar Hill East
                                                                                          •   Methodist Family Health Center – Cedar Hill West
                                                                                          •   Methodist Family Health Center – Charlton
                                                                                          •   Methodist Family Health Center – Kessler Park
                                                                                          •   Methodist Family Health Center – Murphy
                                                                                          •   Methodist Family Health Center – Preston Hollow
Got questions?                                                                            •   Methodist Family Health Center – Waxahachie
Look up the answers in our                                                                •   Methodist First Aid Family Care
new and improved health library                                                           •
                                                                                          •
                                                                                              Methodist Sports Medicine
                                                                                              Methodist Uptown Medical Group.
How well do you know your asthma triggers? How do your drugs interact
with each other? What exactly happens during a cluster headache?                          More medical practices will be added in the
What are the latest trends on heart health research?                                      coming months.
  For the answers to these questions and thousands more, head to
HealthLibrary.MethodistHealthSystem.org. The quizzes, calculators, videos,                » Haven’t registered for MyChart yet? Head to
podcasts, and articles will help you research almost any health topic.                    MethodistHealthSystem.org/MyChart to get started.

Did you catch our latest Facebook Live surgery?
More than 5,500 people have watched the robot-assisted hysterectomy procedure that Methodist
Mansfield Medical Center streamed live via its Facebook page on July 9. Monica Sudbury, a wife, mom,
and schoolteacher, suffered for years with polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly known as PCOS.
She agreed to let Methodist Mansfield broadcast her surgery in hopes of educating other women
and their families about the medical options available.
  Sara Northrop, DO, OB-GYN on the medical staff at Methodist Mansfield, performed Monica’s
procedure with the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System, which involves tiny incisions and enhanced
precision and often results in less pain when compared to a traditional hysterectomy. Monica went
home from the hospital the next day and has been doing great.

» If you missed this fascinating Methodist Live event, head to facebook.com/MethodistMansfield.
                                                                                                     M E T H O D I S T H E A LT H SYS T E M .O R G | 3
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
FALL                                                                                     » WHERE TO FIND US
                                                                                             Methodist Charlton Medical Center,
     2019                                                                                    3500 W. Wheatland Road, Dallas, TX 75237
                                                                                             Methodist Dallas Medical Center,
                                                                                             1441 N. Beckley Ave., Dallas, TX 75203
                                                                                             Methodist Mansfield Medical Center,
                                                                                             2700 E. Broad St., Mansfield, TX 76063
                                                                                             Methodist Richardson Medical Center,
                                                                                             2831 E. President George Bush Highway,
                                                                                             Richardson, TX 75082

 Check out some of the happenings at Methodist Health System this season.
  METHODIST RICHARDSON                         THE MAD HATTER TEA PARTY                      Learn how to live with heart disease and
  NICU REUNION                                                                               diabetes and how these two conditions
                                               » Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.    interact. These free sessions include a
  » Saturday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.      » Bistro, Methodist Richardson                meal, guest speakers, and door prizes.
  » Bistro, Methodist Richardson               Medical Center                                » No registration is required, but call
  Medical Center                               Don’t be late for this very important date    214-947-0491 with any questions.
  Show us how you’ve grown! All patients of    as we celebrate breast cancer fighters
  Methodist Richardson’s neonatal intensive    and survivors. Enjoy a special day of         THE BASICS OF DIABETES
  care unit are invited to our reunion.        pampering and stay for a spot of tea.
                                                                                             » Second Tuesday of the month
  » The fun, food, and games are all free,     » The event is free, but please register at   (except December), 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  but please register so we know you’re        MethodistHealthSystem.org/Mad-Hatter.
  coming: 469-204-9449.
                                                                                             » Conference Room 4, Methodist
                                                                                             Charlton Medical Center
                                               DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
                                                                                             Join us as we cover the basics of diabetes
  FIT FALL FUN COMMUNITY
  HEALTH FESTIVAL                              » Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.        and the importance of diet and lifestyle
                                                                                             in the management of the disease. These
                                               » Parking lot A, Methodist Charlton
  » Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m. to noon         Medical Center
                                                                                             fun and informative workshops are free
                                                                                             and open to the public.
  » Kidd Springs Recreation Center,            » Emergency department driveway,
  711 W. Canty St., Dallas, TX 75208
                                               Methodist Dallas Medical Center
                                                                                             » Register at MethodistHealthSystem.
                                                                                             org/Events or by calling 214-947-6671.
  Methodist Dallas Medical Center and
                                               It’s time to clean out your medicine
  Dallas Parks & Recreation are celebrating
                                               cabinet! Bring your outdated or no-
  fall with a free event featuring health
                                               longer-needed medications to one of the
                                                                                             DIABETES 101
  screenings and family-friendly activities
  intended to help boost your health and
                                               above locations to have them disposed of      » Third Wednesday of the month,
                                               safely. This helps protect your community     1 to 4 p.m.
  wellness. Enjoy free yoga and stretching
                                               and the local environment.
  sessions, stroke and fall prevention                                                       » Third Saturday of the month,
  booths, smartwatch giveaways, and            » Learn more at takebackday.dea.gov.          9 a.m. to noon
  “Ask the Doc” sessions, as well as a
                                                                                             » J. Randall Canedy Conference Room,
  healthy lunch on us!
                                               STRONGER AFTER STROKE                         Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
  » Learn more at facebook.com/
  MethodistDallas/events.                      » Second Tuesday of the month, 1:30 p.m.      Come learn the basics of diabetes
                                                                                             self-management through diet and
                                               » Methodist Richardson Outpatient             lifestyle at these free, informative classes.
  WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPORT FOR                      Plaza, 1977 N. Collins Road, Richardson,
                                               TX 75080                                      » Registration is required: MethodistHealth
  BARIATRIC SURGERY PATIENTS                                                                 System.org/Events or 682-242-7132.
                                               Join us for this support group for stroke
  Methodist Mansfield
                                               survivors and their caregivers to learn
  » First Tuesday of the month,                about adjusting to life after stroke.         DIABETES EDUCATION CLASS
  6 to 7:30 p.m.
                                               » For information, call 469-204-6950.         » Last Wednesday of the month,
  » J. Randall Canedy Conference Room,                                                       10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
                                               HEART HEALTH AND                              » Room 204, Hitt Building, Methodist
  This free support group meets each month
                                               DIABETES WORKSHOP                             Dallas Medical Center
  to discuss different topics and offer
  accountability and encouragement for         » Third Thursday of the month,                Learn how to keep your diabetes under
  those looking to have weight-loss surgery    3 to 5 p.m.                                   control in these free classes led by certified
  or those who have had weight-loss surgery.                                                 educators. We’ll even treat you to lunch!
                                               » Auditorium, Methodist Charlton
  » For information, call 682-242-0462.        Medical Center                                » Registration is required: 214-947-6762.

                                                                             MARK YOUR
                                                                             CALENDAR!

4 | SHINE | FALL 2019
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
Diets debunked
   BUSTING THE MYTHS
   BEHIND TWO POPULAR
   DIETING TRENDS

D
            etoxing. Infrared workouts.        at Methodist Dallas and Methodist               Wellness beware:
            Low-carb. No-carb. And in this     Richardson Medical Centers, says some          Registered dietitians
            case, the keto diet and celery     of her clients were shocked at their           and food scientists
            juice. It seems like every week,   recent health screenings.                      say there isn’t
there is a new diet fad trending on                “They were excited about the               proof that
Instagram. Here, Methodist Health System’s     numbers on the scale, but then they            drinking celery
wellness team breaks down two of the           learned their LDL cholesterol numbers          juice is
most popular health claims for you.            had shot up,” she says. “While on the          any more
                                               keto diet, they’d eaten an unhealthy           beneficial
The keto diet                                  amount of saturated fat.”                      than eating
 The pitch: The ketogenic (or keto)                Shore points out that a high level         the vegetable.
diet depends on two things: a drastic          of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, puts you        In fact, it could
reduction in carbs and a high intake of        at risk for heart disease, heart attack,       be the opposite.
fat. The goal is to starve your body of        and stroke.                                        “Juicing may
carbohydrates, triggering a metabolic              “I’m telling my clients to either get      remove a lot of the
state called ketosis. Because your             off keto or revise it and focus on lean        nutritional content from
body can’t use carbs for energy, it            proteins, fruits, vegetables, and healthy      fruits and vegetables,” says
becomes efficient at burning fat for           unsaturated fats,” she says.                   Michelle Knight, CHWC, lead wellness
energy instead.                                                                               coach and program coordinator for
    Eat a steak and get skinny — sounds        Celery juice                                   Methodist Charlton Medical Center.
great, right? And on social media, your         The pitch: Loyalists say the latest           “It also takes out most of the fiber
friends following keto look amazing!           miracle health elixir is fresh celery juice.   content, which is important for
 Wellness beware: When is the last             Thousands of people, including celebrities,    digestion and lowering cholesterol.”
time your friends had their cholesterol        claim that sipping 20 ounces on an empty           While the juice has no research to
checked? Carey Shore, MS, RD, LD,              stomach is changing their lives — curing       back it up, raw celery does. Knight says
wellness coach and program coordinator         inflammation, digestive issues, skin           it provides vitamin K, folate, potassium,
                                               conditions, and chronic pain. Juice            and other antioxidants. “If you’re looking
                                               stores are selling celery juice for nearly     for the best health benefits, trade in the
                                               $10 a bottle!                                  juice for the whole fruit or vegetable.”

                                               » ANOTHER MYTH BUSTED

                                               Don’t fall for the scam that cardio workouts are the way to go when
                                               it comes to losing weight. Read more at ShineOnlineHealth.com.
                                                                                               M E T H O D I S T H E A LT H SYS T E M .O R G | 5
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
What women need to know
   about thyroid disease
  D
                 o you ever feel hot or cold      depending on your thyroid condition.          recommends that women exercise, eat
                 when others around you feel      Here are a few conditions and their           healthfully, and avoid heavy drinking.
                 fine? Have you noticed           most common symptoms:
                 changes in your weight? Are                                                    Q: Can thyroid disease be treated?
   you feeling fatigued — or conversely,          Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)          Dr. VanDyke: Yes. Thyroid function
   nervous and jittery? You could be               • Weight loss                                can be measured accurately with lab
   among the one in eight women                    • Rapid heartbeat                            tests, and thyroid disease can be treated
   with a thyroid condition.                       • Trembling hands                            with medication and monitoring. But be
        Thyroid disease can interfere              • Feeling anxious or nervous                 patient — it can take up to eight weeks
   with your metabolism, sex drive, and            • Lighter periods.                           for thyroid levels to stabilize after
   menstrual cycle and cause problems                                                           starting medication.
   during pregnancy. The good news                Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
   is, it’s treatable. We asked Lindsey            • Weight gain                                Q: Are over-the-counter thyroid
   VanDyke, DO, endocrinologist on the             • Getting cold easily                        treatments safe?
   medical staff at Methodist Mansfield            • Joint or muscle pain                       Dr. VanDyke: No. An endocrinologist
   Medical Center, what women need                 • Feeling tired                              can prescribe the best treatment for
   to know about thyroid disease.                  • Heavier periods.                           your particular problem.
                                                                                                   Thyroid problems are so common, and
   Q: What is the thyroid?                        Thyroid cancer                                they can have a profound effect on vitality
   Dr. VanDyke: The thyroid is a butterfly-        • Swelling in the neck                       and quality of life. An endocrinologist can
   shaped gland at the base of the neck            • Trouble swallowing                         help you understand what’s going on with
   that produces the vital thyroid hormone.        • Hoarse voice.                              your body and address the problems so
   It controls metabolism, including heart                                                      you can feel better.
   rate and the speed at which calories           Q: How can I prevent
   are burned.                                    thyroid disease?
                                                  Dr. VanDyke: Researchers aren’t sure
   Q: What are the symptoms                       what causes thyroid disease, but                » SUSPICIOUS OF
   of thyroid disease?                            genetics may play a role. The American          YOUR SYMPTOMS?
   Dr. VanDyke: Symptoms vary                     Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
                                                                                                  If you’re worried you might
                                                                                                  have thyroid issues, consult
                 Back off on biotin                                                               an endocrinologist. Find
                   Many women take biotin supplements, recommended by dermatologists              one on our medical staff at
                    for hair and nail health. While there’s nothing wrong with biotin, it can     MethodistHealthSystem.org/
                      interfere with thyroid testing. If you’re having your thyroid checked,      FindADoctor.
                      don’t take biotin the week before testing.

6 | SHINE | FALL 2019
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
‘PUMP ’ K I N It U P !
HOW TO ADD A SEASONAL SPIN TO FAMILY FITNESS

I
     f Mother Nature designed a workout     medium- and large-sized pumpkins,
     for families, there’s no doubt her     plus little ones that can fit in the palm
     fall routine would involve the most    of your hand.
                                                                                                » NEED A DEMO?
     glorious gourd — the pumpkin! This        “A lot of things you can do with a
time of year, we love pumpkin festivals,    typical kettlebell or medicine ball, you            Head to ShineOnlineHealth.com
pumpkin pie, and pumpkin spice              can do with a pumpkin,” she says. That              for a video showing you how to
everything, so why not incorporate          makes sense considering the average                 work seasonal fruits and veggies —
a pumpkin or two into a healthy             pumpkin weighs in at 12 to 15 pounds                like pumpkins and melons —
celebration of the season? They’re          and measures about 14 inches, roughly               into your fitness routine.
inexpensive and readily available at        the same size as that equipment.
the nearest grocery store or ripe for the      Here are a few exercises to try:
picking at the nearest pumpkin patch.        • Use your small pumpkins
    Exercising with pumpkins has been          for bicep curls.
a “growing” (pun intended) trend for the     • Do situps while holding a larger             “Throw on Halloween-themed music
past 10 years, says Patricia Neus, MPH,        pumpkin across your chest.                   along with these pumpkin workouts,”
CHES, CHW, program coordinator and           • Do the pumpkin twist: Sit down with          suggests Neus with a smile. “It’s just
wellness coach at Methodist Mansfield          your feet on the floor and a pumpkin         a fun little spin on doing some
Medical Center. “In wellness, we always        in your hands. Then twist at your waist      resistance training.”
emphasize using what you have access           to work your core.                                Yes, you and the kids might feel a
to,” she says. “You don’t have to go out     • Do squats while holding the pumpkin,         little silly at first, but a good chuckle
and buy fancy equipment or join a gym.”        touching it to the ground, then lifting it   never hurt anyone. After all, laughter
    Neus recommends starting with fresh        over your head for a total body workout.     is the best medicine.

     » AN ADDED SAFETY TIP:
     Trim down that extra-thick, fibrous
     stem to avoid causing injuries.

                                                                                             M E T H O D I S T H E A LT H SYS T E M .O R G | 7
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
PATIENT STORY

                        When Kasey Hester was
                        told his testicular cancer
                        was inoperable, his wife
                        and children were his
                        greatest inspiration.

8 | SHINE | FALL 2019
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
The
                     fight of
                     his life
                            WITH A WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN, KASEY HESTER
                            HAS MANY REASONS TO LIVE — BUT WITHOUT
                            ONE VERY GOOD FRIEND AND METHODIST
                            DALLAS, HE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY

                     K
                               asey Hester and Michael Truitt, MD, have been friends for years. Together,
                               they have coached a boys’ basketball team, gone on family campouts,
                               and attended countless sporting events.
                                  So naturally, Dr. Truitt was the first person that Kasey consulted when he
dotted-line.indd 1   thought he had a hernia. Test results, however, revealed something much more serious —
                     testicular cancer. As a husband and father of five, Kasey had so much to live for — and
                     he relied on his friend to help him win the fight of his life.
                        “I knew Kasey as a 220-pound high school football player and later as a 150-pound
                     cancer patient,” says Dr. Truitt, general surgeon on the medical staff at Methodist Dallas
                     Medical Center. “I know the type of man he is and the family he had to return to. I couldn’t
                     look his wife or the kids in the eye unless we did everything we could.”

                     The impossible made possible
                     After Kasey’s cancer diagnosis in June 2018, doctors recommended that the Fort
                     Worth resident start chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the baseball-size tumor,
                     but Kasey wanted a less aggressive treatment. He traveled to an alternative medicine
                     center in Mexico. While there, his condition worsened rapidly and his kidneys failed.
                        He was rushed to the nearest U.S. hospital, in San Diego. There, surgeons deemed
                     his care futile and his tumor inoperable. They recommended hospice. Kasey and
                     his wife, Darla, contacted Dr. Truitt for advice.
                        “I don’t want to be made comfortable,” Kasey told him. “If I’m going to die, I want
                     to die fighting.”

                                                                                    continued on the next page >>

                                                                       M E T H O D I S T H E A LT H SYS T E M .O R G | 9
Beyond tradition Facing the opioid epidemic - Methodist Health System
Watch more patient stories like Kasey Hester’s
     THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE                                                 at ShineOnlineHealth.com.
     continued from the previous page

       Dr. Truitt arranged to have Kasey
    flown to Methodist Dallas. The surgery
    would be difficult, but Dr. Truitt knew that
    the tumor would be highly curable if the
    team was able to get him stable enough                                                                       Over three months,
    to tolerate chemotherapy.                                                                                    Kasey Hester almost
                                                                                                                 died several times from
                                                                                                                 complications related
    Overcoming obstacle after obstacle                                                                           to his cancer battle.
    By the time Kasey arrived at Methodist                                                                       His wife, Darla, was by his
                                                                                                                 side every step of the way.
    Dallas, his tumor had grown to the size
    of a basketball and had perforated
    his intestines.
       “Almost everything inside his abdomen
    was tumor,” Dr. Truitt says. “We removed
    part of the tumor, found the perforation,
    and rerouted the plumbing around it.”
       Kasey’s recovery was still uncertain. In
    Dr. Truitt’s words, “We didn’t hit a home
    run, but we put a ball in play.” And there
    were still several innings to go. In fact,
    Kasey would come close to death several
    times over the next three months before
    he began to get better.
       Following surgery, he spent 10 days
    recovering in the intensive care unit
    (ICU), then four days into chemotherapy,
    he stopped breathing. Caregivers placed
    him on breathing and feeding tubes,
    but Kasey developed pneumonia and
    his lungs continued to fail.                   joined in the fight, as well. People from   greatest motivation for getting well,”
       With Kasey in and out of consciousness      around the world were following his story   he says.
    and his lungs too weak to tolerate more        and sending good thoughts and prayers          Many people were essential to Kasey’s
    chemo, hospice once again seemed the           his way.                                    recovery, including oncologists, nurses,
    only option. In a last-ditch effort, the           Over the next several weeks, Kasey      and respiratory and physical therapists
    medical team tried omitting a particular       improved, graduating out of the ICU. He     at Methodist Dallas.
    drug associated with lung problems.            finished his last round of chemotherapy        “Every single person there took such
       That change in treatment helped             as an outpatient and returned to work       excellent care of me,” Kasey says. “I am
    Kasey recover from the pneumonia, but          in January 2019.                            especially grateful to three heroes,
    the victory was short-lived. He had yet            “There were a lot of dark days, but     without whom I wouldn’t be here: God,
    another incident when he stopped               everyone at Methodist Dallas went out of    my wife, and Dr. Truitt.”
    breathing. This time he was placed on          their way to make me feel comfortable          The power of Kasey’s story isn’t lost
    a breathing machine. Ordinarily, this          and loved,” he says.                        on Dr. Truitt. “To me, it’s about faith and
    would prevent further chemotherapy,                                                        people coming together,” he says. “He
    but Kasey’s doctors continued, knowing         A true team effort                          needed a place that would invest in him,
    his will to fight.                             Today, there isn’t a trace of cancer in     when others would not, and give him a
       On a Prayer Warriors for Kasey              Kasey’s body. “I am incredibly blessed to   chance to live. Methodist Dallas was that
    Facebook page, more than 5,000 others          be alive and back with my family, my        place for him.”

    » LEARN MORE

    Learn more about the advanced surgical services available at Methodist Dallas at
    MethodistHealthSystem.org/Dallas-Surgery.

10 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
WELLNESS

Meet your perfect matcha
M
             atcha madness is everywhere.           “You should consume no more than about half a teaspoon of matcha powder
             In addition to being widely         daily,” Shore says. “That includes from all sources that you drink or eat. And
             available as a beverage, the        go for the highest-quality matcha. You want to make sure it’s bright green —
             nutrient-packed green tea is        the greener the better. Matcha that’s darkened may be older, and its benefits
popping up in lattes, muffins, cookies, even     weaken over time.”
ice cream. What’s the hype behind this
Kermit-colored powder?                           Ready to go froth?
                                                 Matcha powder is widely available in stores and online. Add half a teaspoon
Meet your matcha                                 of matcha powder per cup of hot (nearly boiling) water. Using a matcha whisk
Matcha isn’t just any green tea. It’s grown in   or electric frother, blend until it becomes frothy. Then enjoy!
the shade, which concentrates chlorophyll
content and gives it a bright green color.
After harvesting, the leaves are steamed
and then ground into a powder.
    Unlike the traditional tea bag you steep
in hot water and discard, you consume the
powdered leaves in your mug of matcha.
So that cup contains about 30 milligrams
of caffeine, more than brewed teas. By
comparison, an 8-ounce cup of coffee packs
about 95 milligrams. Matcha can give you
the jolt without the jitters.
    It’s also a rich source of the amino acid
L-theanine, linked to mood enhancement,
and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which
has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
anticarcinogenic properties.
    “Diets rich in antioxidants may offer
protective effects from chronic diseases and
help reduce risk factors such as high blood
pressure, elevated cholesterol, and excess
body weight,” says Carey Shore, MS, RD, LD,
wellness coach and program coordinator at
Methodist Dallas and Methodist Richardson
Medical Centers.

Not too matcha, though
One gram of premium-grade matcha
powder is the recommended daily dose —
with good reason. Overconsumption
can trigger side effects of excess caffeine
(headache, insomnia, heartburn, diarrhea)
and, in extreme cases, cause liver damage
from lead toxicity.
   A ConsumerLab.com study found that
lead from the environment stays in brewed
tea leaves, which are filtered by tea bags.
Depending on the source, matcha may
deliver as much as 30 times more lead
than a cup of brewed tea.

                                                                                           M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H S Y S T E M . O R G | 11
Passing
                        the sniff test
                                                   WHAT YOUR SENSE OF SMELL SAYS ABOUT
                                                    YOUR RISK FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

                                   I
                                        f your nose stops working, it could be time         Typical signs of dementia include:
                                        to visit the doctor. A failing sense of smell    • Forgetfulness that interferes with daily life
                                        can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s              • Decreased ability to follow plans or
                                        disease in older adults, according to a             solve problems
                                   Mayo Clinic study.                                    • Difficulty with familiar tasks
                                       For 3½ years, researchers followed more           • Confusion about time or place, such
                                   than 1,600 adults in their 70s and 80s, regularly        as not knowing the season.
                                   checking their ability to identify common
                                   scents, such as banana, cinnamon, paint              Have a nose for prevention
                                   thinner, and smoke. Participants with the worst      Regardless of sense of smell, there are
                                   sense of smell were twice as likely to begin         things that you can do to head off
                                   having mild memory problems over the course          Alzheimer’s disease, such as eating a
                                   of the study. Those who had memory troubles          healthy diet. Dr. Finch advises this plan:
                                   right from the start and posted low olfactory         • Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables
                                   scores were five times as likely to develop              every day.
                                   Alzheimer’s disease.                                  • Consume legumes, such as peas, beans,
                                                                                            and lentils, three times a week.
                                   Nothing to sniff at                                   • Stick to whole-grain bread.
                                   “There is a strong correlation between the loss       • Include foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
                                   of smell and the transition from mild cognitive          — such as salmon, mackerel, sardines,
                                   impairment to Alzheimer’s dementia,” notes               walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and
                                   Michael Finch, MD, internal medicine physician           cod liver oil.
                                   on the medical staff at Methodist Charlton            • Limit sugars, carbohydrates, and saturated
                                   Medical Center. “If the loss comes on suddenly,          fats, which are abundant in red meat,
                                   lasts longer than a cold, or is accompanied by           whole-milk products, fried foods, bacon
                                   symptoms of Alzheimer’s, you should see                  and other processed meats, pizza,
                                   your doctor.”                                            and baked goods.

                                   » FINDING HELP

                                   If you or a loved one is showing signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease,
                                   find a physician to help at MethodistHealthSystem.org/FindADoctor
                                   or by calling 214-444-7303.

12 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
WE’RE HERE FOR YOUR
                                                                                                                                                               NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal
                                                                                                                                                               civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of
                                                                                                                                                               race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Methodist
                                                                                                                                                               Health System does not exclude people or treat them

          COLD AND FLU NEEDS
                                                                                                                                                               differently because of race, color, national origin, age,
                                                                                                                                                               disability, or sex.
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Health System:

               THIS SEASON.
                                                                                                                                                                Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities
                                                                                                                                                                 to communicate effectively with us, such as:
                                                                                                                                                                 o Qualified sign language interpreters
                                                                                                                                                                 o Written information in certain other formats if available.
                                                                                                                                                                Provides free language services to people whose
                                                                                                                                                                 primary language is not English, such as:
                                                                                                                                                                 o Qualified interpreters via a contracted service provider
                                                                                                                                                                 o Information written in other languages.
                                                                                                                                                               If you need these services, please ask your nurse, the
                                                                                                                                                               house supervisor, or other hospital personnel for
                                                                                                                                                               assistance.
                                                                                                                                                               Alternatively, you may call the hospital’s operator directly
                                                                                                                                                               for assistance at the following numbers.
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Charlton Medical Center • 214-947-7777
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Dallas Medical Center • 214-947-8181
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Mansfield Medical Center • 682-242-2000
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Richardson Medical Center • 469-204-1000
                                                                                                                                                               If you believe that Methodist Health System has failed to
                                                                                                                                                               provide these services or discriminated in another way on
                                                                                                                                                               the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or
                                                                                                                                                               sex, please discuss this with your care team, or you can file
                                                                                                                                                               a grievance (complaint) with:
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Health System’s Discrimination Grievances
                                                                                                                                                               Coordinator via phone messaging at 214-947-5119 or
                                                                                                                                                               email at discriminationcomplaints@mhd.com.
                                                                                                                                                               You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S.
                                                                                                                                                               Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil
                                                                                                                                                               Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights
                                                                                                                                                               Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/
                                                                                                                                                               portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:
                                                                                                                                                                      U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
                                                                                                                                                                      200 Independence Ave., SW
                                                                                                                                                                      Room 509F, HHH Building
                                                                                                                                                                      Washington, DC 20201
                                                                                                                                                                      800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)
                                                                                                                                                               Complaint forms are available at
                                                                                                                                                               http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

                                                                                                                                                               NOTICE OF PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY
                                                                                                                                                               ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance
                                                                                                                                                               services, including TTY, are available to you free of charge:
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Charlton Medical Center • 214-947-7777
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Dallas Medical Center • 214-947-8181
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Mansfield Medical Center • 682-242-2000
                                                                                                                                                               Methodist Richardson Medical Center • 469-204-1000
                                                                                                                                                               Español (Spanish)
                                                                                                                                                               ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición
                                                                                                                                                               servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística.
                                                                                                                                                               Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
                                                                                                                                                               CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ
                                                                                                                                                               ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn.
                                                                                                                                                               繁體中文 (Chinese)
                                                                                                                                                               注意:如果您使用繁體中文,您可以免費獲得語
                                                                                                                                                               言援助服務。請致電。
                                                                                                                                                               Français (French)
                                                                                                                                                               ATTENTION : Si vous parlez français, des services d'aide
                                                                                                                                                               linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement.
                                                                                                                                                               ������������������ (Arabic)
                                                                                                                                                                   ‫ فإن خدمات المساعدة اللغوية‬،‫ إذا كنت تتحدث اذكر اللغة‬:‫ملحوظة‬
                                                                                                                                                                             :‫ اتصل برقم )رقم ھاتف الصم والبكم‬.‫تتوافر لك بالمجان‬
                                                                                                                                                               ‫( ا ُردُو‬Urdu)
                                                                                                                                                                ‫ تو آپ کو زبان کی مدد کی خدمات‬،‫ اگر آپ اردو بولتے ہيں‬:‫خبردار‬
                                                                                                                                                                                               ‫مفت ميں دستياب ہيں ۔ کال کريں‬
                                                                                                                                                               ພາສາລາວ (Lao)
                                                                                                                                                               ໂປດຊາບ: ຖ     ້ າວ
                                                                                                                                                                                ່ າທ    ົ ້ າພາສາ ລາວ, ການບ
                                                                                                                                                                                   ່ ານເວ                      ໍ ິ ລການ
                                                                                                                                                               ຊ
                                                                                                                                                               ່ ວຍເຫ ື ຼ ອດ
                                                                                                                                                                           ້ ານພາສາ, ໂດຍບ    ໍ່ ເສ
                                                                                                                                                                                                 ັ ຽຄ
                                                                                                                                                                                                    ່ າ, ແມ
                                                                                                                                                                                                          ່ ນມ
                                                                                                                                                                                                             ີ ພ ້ ອມໃຫ້
                                                                                                                                                               ທ່ ານ. ໂທຣ
                                                                                                                                                               Русский (Russian)
                                                                                                                                                               ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы говорите на русском языке, то
                                                                                                                                                               вам доступны бесплатные услуги перевода. Звоните
                                                                                                                                                               �‫( �������ر‬Farsi)
                                                                                                                                                               ‫ تسھيالت زبانی بصورت‬،‫ اگر به زبان فارسی گفتگو می کنيد‬:‫توجه‬
                                                                                                                                                               .‫ با تماس بگيريد‬.‫رايگان برای شما فراھم می باشد‬
                                                                                                                                                               Deutsch (German)
                                                                                                                                                               ACHTUNG: Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen, stehen Ihnen
                                                                                                                                                               kostenlos sprachliche Hilfsdienstleistungen zur Verfügung.
                                                                                                                                                               한국어 (Korean)
                                                                                                                                                               주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원
                                                                                                                                                               서비스를 무료로 이용하실 수 있습니다. 번으로
                                                                                                                                                               전화해 주십시오.
                                                                                                                                                               Tagalog (Tagalog – Filipino)
                                                                                                                                                               PAUNAWA: Kung nagsasalita ka ng Tagalog, maaari kang
                                                                                                                                                               gumamit ng mga serbisyo ng tulong sa wika nang walang
                                                                                                                                                               bayad.
                Learn more about how you can protect                                                                                                           िहंदी (Hindi)
                                                                                                                                                               ध्यान द�: यिद आप िहंदी बोलते ह� तो आपके िलए मुफ्त म�
         yourself and your loved ones this cold and flu season.                                                                                                भाषा सहायता सेवाएं उपलब्ध ह�। पर कॉल कर� ।
                                                                                                                                                               �ુજરાતી (Gujarati)
Call 214-947-0033 or visit MethodistHealthSystem.org/FamilyHealth.                                                                                             �ુચના: જો તમે �ુજરાતી બોલતા હો, તો િન:�ુ�ક
                                                                                                                                                               ભાષા સહાય સેવાઓ તમારા માટ� ��લ�� છે . ફોન

                  Schedule your appointment today.                                                                                                             કરો
                                                                                                                                                               日本語 (Japanese)
                                                                                                                                                               注意事項:日本語を話される場合、無料の言語
                                                                                                                                                               支援をご利用いただけます。まで、お電話にて
                                                                                                                                                               ご連絡ください。
Methodist Family Health Centers and Medical Groups are owned and operated by MedHealth/Methodist Medical Group and are staffed by independently
practicing physicians who are employees of MedHealth/Methodist Medical Group. The physicians and staff who provide services at these sites are not employees
or agents of Methodist Health System or any of its affiliated hospitals.
6 tips to
    sleep well
    away from home
    W                                            2                                               5
                  hether you’re on the road          Drown out sound                                 Close the drapes
                  for business or pleasure,          People sleep best in a cool, dark, quiet        Keep ambient light to a minimum
                  travel offers a break          environment. A white noise machine or           by closing the drapes or blinds, or use
                  from your usual routine.       set of earplugs can mask the noise of           a sleep mask to keep it dark.
    Unfortunately, that break can also wreak     a hotel or unfamiliar home.
    havoc on even the soundest sleeper’s
    shut-eye.
       Here Stephen Mueller, MD,                 3   Stay on schedule
                                                      On vacation, you may be tempted
                                                                                                 6   Skip the nightcap
                                                                                                     Yes, you’re on vacation, but that tropical
                                                                                                 drink can disrupt your sleep. “Alcohol may
    pulmonologist on the medical staff at        to sleep in later than usual — or burn the      make you feel sleepy, but it also makes
    the Methodist Charlton Medical Center        midnight oil and go to bed much later           you more likely to wake up during the
    Sleep Diagnostic Center, explains how        than you normally do. “Altering your            night,” Dr. Mueller says. An hour or two
    you can get better sleep — even away         bedtime or wake-up time can make                before bedtime, swap alcohol for decaf
    from the comfort and familiarity of          it more difficult to get quality sleep,”        iced tea or sparkling water.
    your own bedroom.                            Dr. Mueller says. “The closer you stick
                                                 to your usual sleep cycle, the more             » TIP NO. 7

    1   Mimic home
       Do you have a favorite pillow? It may
                                                 likely you are to sleep well.”
                                                                                                 If these sleep tips aren’t helping
    be worth the suitcase space to bring it
    along. The feel and smell of it can help
    you sleep. “Also, stick with your normal
                                                 4   Limit screen time
                                                      The light from your smartphone,
                                                 tablet, or even the television can trick
                                                                                                 whether you’re at home or on the road,
                                                                                                 talk to your doctor. You might benefit
                                                                                                 from a sleep study to see what could
    before-bed routine,” Dr. Mueller says. “If   your brain into thinking it’s still daylight.   be interrupting your sleep. Learn more
    you usually have a warm shower before        “I recommend that people turn off their         at MethodistHealthSystem.org/
    bed, do the same while traveling to signal   devices an hour before bed to encourage         Charlton-Sleep or by calling
    to your body that it’s time for rest.”       restful slumber,” Dr. Mueller says.             214-947-0575.

14 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
Tiny but                                                    mighty
                 THE NEW CARDIOMEMS™ IMPLANT IS DRASTICALLY IMPROVING
                              HEART FAILURE MANAGEMENT

A
                   n unassuming little wireless device about the size   Committed to helping hearts
                   of a dime is saving countless lives.                 CardioMEMS is a complement to treating patients with
                      The CardioMEMS™ HF System measures
     dotted-line.indd 1
                                                                        medication — something that’s closely managed at
                   pulmonary artery blood pressure in real time.        the Heart Failure Clinic.
This allows clinicians to treat heart failure patients long before          “The Heart Failure Clinic is specialized for patients who
they have visible symptoms — or worse, before they head                 need close monitoring,” Dr. Posligua says. “We also have more
to the hospital.                                                        expertise in heart failure management. When patients are
    “Statistically, with every heart failure–related hospital           very sick, we follow them closely until they become stable
admission, the patient simply gets worse and never quite                and understand their drug regimen.”
bounces back,” explains William Posligua, MD, director of the               Whether patients have had heart failure for years or are
Methodist Charlton Medical Center Heart Failure Clinic and              new to the condition, CardioMEMS can help them manage
interventional cardiologist on the hospital medical staff.              it going forward.
“Life expectancy decreases dramatically.”                                   Patients admitted to the hospital as a result of their
    Available through the Heart Failure Clinic, the CardioMEMS          heart failure should visit the Heart Failure Clinic within
device is implanted into the pulmonary artery, which connects           a week of being discharged from the hospital to begin
the heart to the lungs. It then wirelessly uploads blood pressure       treatment and talk about the most effective options
data from inside the patient’s heart and sends those daily              going forward, Dr. Posligua says.
statistics directly to the Methodist Charlton team so they can              “The sooner we see those patients, the longer they’ll be
monitor patients in between their regular clinic visits.                successful in managing their heart failure,” he says.
    “This is great for the patients who are more sensitive,”
says nurse practitioner Riya Thenayan, APRN, FNP-C,
who works alongside Dr. Posligua at the Heart Failure Clinic.
“It allows us to tune up the dosages on their prescription              » IS CARDIOMEMS RIGHT FOR YOU?
medications in real time and cuts down on hospital readmissions.”
    According to a clinical trial, patients using the CardioMEMS        If you have heart failure, talk with the pros at
system had a 57 percent reduction in mortality and a 43 percent         the Heart Failure Clinic about how CardioMEMS
reduction in heart failure hospitalizations compared with patients      can help manage your condition more effectively.
receiving typical heart failure management with medication alone.       For a referral, call 214-444-7303.

                                                                                                M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H S Y S T E M . O R G | 15
CARDIAC CARE

   HEART ATTACKS
           Anyone, at any age, can develop heart disease. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death among Americans. The term heart
           disease refers to several kinds of conditions, the most daunting of which is the heart attack.
               “A heart attack occurs when one of the three arteries that supply blood to the heart becomes blocked with a blood clot,”
           says Jay Wright, DO, interventional cardiologist on the medical staff at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. “This usually occurs
           in an artery that is partially blocked by a process called atherosclerosis, the gradual buildup of plaque in the artery. This plaque
           can rupture, causing a blood clot to form and closing the artery completely.”
               It’s important to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and get to the hospital as soon as possible to minimize damage
           to the heart muscle. It’s also important to better understand what increases your risk for a heart attack. Check out the statistics
           and heart-healthy tips below to help prevent and respond to this deadly condition.

                                   1 5
                                                                              heart attacks is
                                                                              silent, with no
                                                                              symptoms

                     BUT TYPICALLY, RED FLAGS INCLUDE ONE OR MORE OF THESE SYMPTOMS:
                     1. Chest pain, tightness, or pressure
                     2. Persistent or recurring pain in the
                        shoulders, arms, upper back, neck,                       CALL 911 RIGHT AWAY IF YOU OR SOMEONE
                        jaw, or upper stomach                                     ELSE EXPERIENCES THESE SYMPTOMS.
                     3. Shortness of breath                                          Getting help immediately is crucial:
                     4. Lightheadedness                                          About 47 percent of sudden cardiac deaths
                     5. Cold sweats                                                     happen outside a hospital.
                     6. Nausea.

             8 ways to help prevent heart attacks:
                                                                                                                                  Control blood
               Limit                Don’t      Reduce           Manage        Be physically      Eat a            Maintain a      pressure and
            alcohol use            smoke        stress          diabetes     active every day healthy diet      healthy weight     cholesterol

16 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
BY THE NUMBERS
Who’s at risk for a heart attack?

                                          Someone in the U.S. has a heart
                                          attack every 40 seconds.

                                      735,000
Nearly half will have at least
1 of these 3 risk factors:

1. High blood
   pressure
2. High
   cholesterol
                                          Americans experience a
3. Smoking.                               heart attack every year.

          +              Diabetes and a strong family history of heart
                         disease also put you at a higher risk.

                                 » HOW’S YOUR HEART?

                                 Take our Heart Health Risk Assessment to learn more about
                                 your potential risks at MethodistHealthSystem.org/Heart.

                                                                                  M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H S Y S T E M . O R G | 17
Next-level
            trauma care

                     AFTER COMPLETING A RIGOROUS REVIEW
                     PROCESS WITH FLYING COLORS, METHODIST
                     MANSFIELD EARNED A LEVEL III ADVANCED
                     TRAUMA FACILITY DESIGNATION

            R
ne.indd 1                                                                                                                                          5/2/16 4:52 P

                      esidents of Mansfield and the         High-quality patient care                          In fact, Methodist Mansfield
                      surrounding areas now have a          Trauma Center Medical Director Gary K.        patients are already reaping the
                      trauma center recognized by           Alexander, MD, FACS, CPE, says before         rewards of the trauma center’s Level
                      the Texas Department of State         achieving the Level III mark, the hospital    III status. As Dr. Alexander explains,
            Health Services in their community.             emergency department (ED) was seeing          many geriatric patients are admitted
            Methodist Mansfield Medical Center’s            “an incredible number of injured patients.”   to the hospital after falls. With its
            new classification as a Level III Advanced      At times, they had to be transferred          expanded trauma resources, the
            Trauma Facility means it has the                to other hospitals, making it difficult       hospital has been able to implement
            necessary equipment, dedicated                  to consistently track their outcomes.         a G60 program, which expedites the
            resources, and specially trained trauma            “We wanted to organize, better treat,      diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic
            team to care for critically injured patients.   and track the care and outcomes for our       injuries in older adults.
               Traumatic injuries are severe and            trauma patients,” Dr. Alexander says.              “We’ve been able to get these
            sudden and require immediate care. They         “We’ll be able to see how well we are         patients through surgery and on to
            often result from serious falls, car crashes,   doing and, more important, we can             rehab within 48 hours, and we’ve
            and violence. Examples are broken bones,        make changes that improve quality             started community outreach to
            concussions, and gunshot wounds.                of care and patient satisfaction.”            prevent falls,” he says.

      18 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
OUR GOAL IS TO GET
                                                                                        PATIENTS NEEDING
                                                                                        TRAUMA CARE TO
                                                                                        DEFINITIVE TREATMENT
                                                                                        AS QUICKLY AS
                                                                                        POSSIBLE. HAVING A
                                                                                        TRAUMA CENTER
                                                                                        WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS
                                                                                        ACCOMPLISHES THAT
                                                                                        GOAL FOR MANY WHO
                                                                                        WOULD OTHERWISE
                                                                                        BE SENT TO TRAUMA
                                                                                        CENTERS 20 TO
                                                                                        30 MINUTES AWAY.
                                                                                        — MICHAEL ROSS, MANSFIELD
                                                                                        FIRE-RESCUE CHIEF

A lifesaving difference                        a Level III Advanced Trauma Facility     we don’t have a hospital and certainly
When it comes to expediting emergency          nearby allows first responders and       not a trauma hospital,” Swafford says.
response for injured patients, Mansfield       resources to stay closer to their        “We have a population of nearly
Fire-Rescue Chief Michael Ross says            response areas. “This makes us           200,000 people. It’s important we
having a Level III facility in the community   more readily available for the next      serve their medical needs as best we
will make a difference.                        emergency incident,” he says.            can, and Methodist Mansfield makes
   “Our goal is to get patients needing           Jim Swafford, Grand Prairie           that possible.”
trauma care to definitive treatment            City Council member, is also on              Ultimately, Dr. Alexander says he
as quickly as possible,” Ross says.            the Methodist Health System              believes the Methodist Mansfield Level III
“Having a trauma center within our             Board of Directors and Methodist         trauma program will make a difference
city limits accomplishes that goal             Mansfield Advisory Board. He             in the communities it serves.
for many who would otherwise                   says Methodist Mansfield’s Level III         “We are extremely proud of what we
be sent to trauma centers 20 to                trauma status gives peace of mind        have accomplished,” he says. “We feel
30 minutes away.”                              to local residents.                      that we set out with the goal to be an
   Dale McCaskill, Midlothian Fire                “Grand Prairie has some emergency     excellent trauma center, and we have
Department chief, adds that having             centers and an urgent care center, but   stuck to our principles.”

                                                                                         M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H S Y S T E M . O R G | 19
PATIENT STORY

 READY                               TO
           AFTER A CRASH AND BURN,
           METHODIST MANSFIELD
           HELPS JEFF WILLOUGHBY
           RETURN TO MOTOCROSS

20 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
RIDE
J
         eff Willoughby started riding
         a dirt bike at age 5. Speeding
         around a track and getting
         airborne doesn’t faze the
                                          to the hospital,” he says. “Ten minutes
                                          later, when I got home, the shock was
                                          starting to wear off and the pain was
                                          setting in. I realized I was really hurt.”
                                                                                         the outer third of the collarbone
                                                                                         near where it attaches to the
                                                                                         shoulder blade.
                                                                                             “Distal fractures are complicated,”
45-year-old father, who lives in                                                         explains John R. Harris, MD,
Venus, Texas, and works as a              Rapid, high-quality care                       orthopedic surgeon on the Methodist
project manager for a commercial          Mary drove Jeff to Methodist                   Mansfield medical staff. “When
construction company.                     Mansfield Medical Center, where                determining the type of plate to use
    In his 40 years of motocross, he      he was immediately admitted to                 to repair the fracture, you need to
had been relatively lucky in the injury   the emergency department. Ketan                consider the patient’s age, his activity
department, suffering only a few          Trivedi, MD, FACEP, was the treating           level, and how strong it needs to
broken ribs. But his luck ran out         emergency physician from the                   be to prevent future injury.”
on Nov. 10, 2018, during some             Methodist Mansfield medical staff                  Knowing the daredevil would
recreational riding at the TexPlex        on duty that day.                              want to get back to his adventurous
Park in Midlothian.                           “We did imaging and labs and               lifestyle, Dr. Harris chose to use a
    “I hit a jump at about 20 mph,        determined he didn’t have bleeding             titanium plate and 10 screws to repair
and the bike bucked me into the air       in his stomach, but he did have                Jeff’s fracture. The surgery took
when the foot pegs got stuck in the       multiple rib fractures and a broken            about one hour, and Jeff had to
dirt from the rutted face of a jump,”     clavicle,” Dr. Trivedi says. “As a             wear a shoulder sling for six weeks.
Jeff recalls. “I landed on my head        Level III Advanced Trauma Facility,                “I was back to work in a week
in soft sand with the bike crashing       we’re able to facilitate timely and            and a half,” Jeff says. “The trauma
down on top of my shoulder.”              coordinated care for patients like             treatment at Methodist Mansfield
    Fortunately, Jeff was wearing a       Jeff. We have quick access to                  was great.”
helmet. Spectators rushed to his side     trauma surgeons, should they                       Today, Jeff, Mary, and their
to help, but he was able to crawl to      be needed.”                                    5-year-old daughter, Avery, are
the side of the arena on his own, catch       Fortunately, Jeff didn’t require           enjoying the active lifestyle they
his breath, and load his bike on his      emergency surgery, but he would                had prior to Jeff’s injury. They took
truck. He then called his wife, Mary.     need outpatient surgery to repair              a family snow-skiing vacation to
    “I told her I needed her to take me   his clavicle.                                  Colorado in the spring and regularly
                                                                                         go for family bike rides — though
                                          Back on the bike                               not the motocross kind.
                                          Five days after injuring himself, Jeff             “Today, I’m good,” Jeff says. “When
                                          had a procedure to repair a distal             I’m on my bike, I don’t even notice
                                          clavicle fracture. This is a break in          my shoulder.”

                » SCHEDULE YOUR ED VISIT ONLINE

                If you or a loved one experiences a life-threatening emergency,
                call 911. For more minor injuries and illnesses, make an
                appointment with the Methodist Mansfield ED at QuickER.org.

                                                                                       M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H S Y S T E M . O R G | 21
PATIENT STORY

                         A LIGHT AT THE END OF

                            WHEN LAJAUNE HOOD BEGAN EXPERIENCING SEVERE
                        INTESTINAL BLEEDING, SHE TURNED TO METHODIST CHARLTON
                                   FOR A RARE ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE

                           I
                                t was a harrowing series of health        offers a specialized endoscopic procedure
                                problems for Lajaune Hood.                called double balloon enteroscopy (DBE),
                                   “I couldn’t believe that all of this   which is proven to effectively diagnose and
                                was happening to me,” she says.           treat bowel conditions like the one Lajaune had.
                           “I had always been healthy and never               “The double balloon enteroscopy allows
                           taken so much as a baby aspirin on a           us to get 10 or 12 feet into the small intestine,”
                           regular basis.”                                says Randal Macurak, MD, gastroenterologist
                               In just a four-month span, she had a       on the medical staff of Methodist Charlton,
                           heart attack, had her gallbladder removed,     who performed the procedure on Lajaune.
                           started kidney dialysis, and had fluid         “In some cases, we can examine and treat
                           drained from her lungs.                        the entire small bowel with it. Typical
                               When she thought things couldn’t           intestinal endoscopic procedures don’t allow
                           get worse, doctors discovered intestinal       us to access as much of the small bowel.”
                           bleeding. This is a common yet serious             Here’s how DBE works: The physician
                           side effect for people, like Lajaune,          threads an endoscope — a long tube
                           who take blood thinners for heart              with a light and camera on the end —
                           conditions. But the care it takes              down the throat and through the digestive
                           to cure it isn’t common.                       tract. Two balloons on the tube inflate and
                                                                          deflate to help push the tube farther into
                           A look inside                                  the small intestine, giving the physician
                           Doctors in Bedford weren’t able to treat       improved visualization. Through the tube, small
                           the persistent bleeding, so Lajaune turned     instruments are passed to remove polyps,
                           to Methodist Charlton Medical Center. It’s     mark future surgical sites, perform biopsies,
                           one of a few hospitals in North Texas that     or in Lajaune’s case, cauterize bleeding areas.

22 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
A go-to place for digestive care
                                 “Methodist Charlton gets some of the
Lajaune Hood thought the         toughest cases from all over Texas
worst of her medical problems
                                 and surrounding states,” Dr. Macurak
was a heart attack. When it
was discovered that she had      says. “They come from everywhere —
intestinal bleeding, the staff   Little Rock, Shreveport, Waco. Their
at Methodist Charlton knew
                                 hospitals do what they can, and when
just what to do.
                                 they can’t do any more, they often
                                 send them to Methodist Charlton.”
                                     It took four procedures to stop
                                 Lajaune’s persistent bleeding — a result of
                                 the anticoagulants she must take for her
                                 heart condition. “She was big-time sick —
                                 definitely one of our tougher cases,”
                                 Dr. Macurak says.
                                     He cauterized seven different sites of
                                 bleeding over the span of the multiple
                                 procedures. He also used DBE to assist
                                 with closing a large surgical site.

                                 A persistent patient
                                 From the time Lajaune entered the
                                 hospital with her heart attack, it was
                                 four more months before she could return
                                 home. She believes that the prolonged
                                 stress of caring for her husband, who was
                                 recovering from a stroke, was a factor in
                                 her heart attack and the complications
                                 that followed.
                                     “I was told that surviving just one of the
                                 things that went wrong for me was pretty
                                 amazing, but to have all of that happen
                                 in a short period of time and survive was
                                 quite another,” Lajaune says. “It’s quite a
                                 testament to the care I received from the
                                 nurses and doctors and the army of friends
                                 and family who stepped in to help me.”

                                 » ADVANCED
                                 DIGESTIVE CARE

                                 If you have concerns about your
                                 digestive health, let a physician on the
                                 Methodist Charlton medical staff help.
                                 Go to MethodistHealthSystem.org/
                                 FindADoctor.

                                  M E T H O D I S T H E A L T H S Y S T E M . O R G | 23
PATIENT STORY

            Paddling to a h
                   HOW DRAGON BOAT RACING BECAME KATHY
                   BOCKMAN’S PASSION AFTER BREAST CANCER

        “
            P
                      addles up!” are 57-year-old          for every person, trying to make meaning
                      Kathy Bockman’s new favorite         out of the experience she went through.
                      words. They replace two words        We talked about the healthy ways to
                      that used to dominate her life:      go through it.”
            breast cancer.
               After her diagnosis and treatment, she      Chasing her happiness
ne.indd 1   struggled to find something that would         Even with the love and support of her                                            5/2/16 4:52 P
            bring happiness back into her life. Now        husband, Joe, and two adult sons, as well
            almost every warm Saturday, you will find      as the distraction of her full-time job as
            the Garland woman on the water with            an assistant vice president of accounting
            other survivors bonding over the most          with AT&T, Kathy found herself struggling
            unlikely of activities — dragon boat racing.   mentally and emotionally.
               “Dragon boat racing with this group            “During my journey, I was in a very sad
            of women quite literally saved me,”            and angry place, and I didn’t know why,”     Kathy Bockman conquered breast
            Kathy says.                                    she says. “After I completed six months      cancer. Now she’s found new,
                                                                                                        fun challenges, like dragon boat
                                                           of chemo, I tried a couple of different      racing, to help her live her best
            A whirlwind cancer diagnosis                   support groups, both in the community        life after cancer.
            “When I was diagnosed with breast              and at the hospital, but they just weren’t
            cancer in fall 2015, it was a whirlwind        for me.”
            of tests, treatment option decisions,             Shortly after completing chemo, she
            surgeries, radiation, and then six months      attended a cancer retreat where there
            of chemotherapy,” Kathy says. “It was          was a table set up, all decorated in pink,
            just such a shock. I had already had my        showcasing the dragon boat team Dallas
            annual mammogram earlier in the year,          United PINK. Curiosity pushed her to
            so when I felt the lump that fall, I didn’t    go talk to the women at the table. She
            think it could possibly be cancer.”            learned that every one of them was a
                After her diagnosis of a very              breast cancer survivor just like her.
            aggressive form of breast cancer                  On a whim, Kathy signed up.
            (triple negative), Kathy was referred
            to Jenevieve Hughes, MD, FACS,                 An eye-opening experience
            breast surgeon on the medical staff at         Dragon boats are essentially extra-long
            Methodist Richardson Medical Center,           canoes with a dragon head and tail. They
            to have the lump and several sentinel          hold 20 paddlers; a steerer at the back;
            nodes removed.                                 and a drummer, or caller, at the front.
                “Kathy came in ready to conquer            Festivals and races take place all over
            cancer,” Dr. Hughes says. “I encouraged        the U.S., including two major ones right
            her to give some thought about how the         here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
            first year after treatment would look for         “The women I met at the first practice
            her. The survivorship journey is different     were welcoming, fun, and energetic,”

       24 | S H I N E | F A L L 2 0 1 9
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