Mischer News

The Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston was recently selected as a Women’s Health Practice-Based Research Network Member Site by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Women’s Health Research Network focuses on women’s health research. Through this consortium the VA will develop and train health care providers focused on women’s issues as well as develop new research techniques toward women’s care.

A top priority of the Women Veterans Health Care Network will be to ensure all eligible female veterans who request care are able to receive it in a timely manner with the most modern equipment and technology at a level equal to that provided to male veterans.

The VA strives to be a national leader in the provision of health care for women, thereby raising the standard of care for all women.

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Arriving at 7 pounds, 21 inches long, the female SimNewB looks just like any other newborn. Equipped with many health issues — she was born limp and without vital signs, suffered several seizures along with many other health issues – the nurses in the Harris County Hospital District (HCHD) are learning to focus their lifesaving efforts on the most fragile patient.

Working with the $22,000 advanced neonatal simulator daily, the HCHD’s Nursing Education Program, specifically the Neonatal Resuscitation Program, is able to teach various clinical skills such as normal and abnormal breath sounds, heart sounds, pulse assessment, intubation and advanced procedures such as IV placement.

SimNewB has realistic anatomy and can simulate a wide variety of patient conditions. During classes, HCHD instructors can control the baby’s health while nurses perform real time techniques as if it were a true emergency. The baby responds to the clinical interventions with spontaneous respirations, visible chest rise and fall, lung, heart and vocal sounds and motion. If the nurses have done everything right, the baby will respond with a vigorous cry.

“This is extremely helpful,” said Theresa Wilson, RN, Nursing Clinical Instructor II. “Simulation allows for better clinical feedback in evaluating the nurses. Overall, this will enhance all nursing skills.”

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St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System recently announced the opening of its newest hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital at The Vintage, which began receiving patients. Located at 20171 Chasewood Park Drive (off of State Highway 249 between FM 1960 and Louetta Road), the 212,000-square-foot, 106-bed hospital features a full complement of medical services, including emergency care, general surgery, women’s services and neonatology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, cardiology and neurosciences.

“The opening of St. Luke’s Hospital at The Vintage brings greater access to quality medical care to northwest Houston,” said Frank X. Speidel, MD, chief executive officer of St. Luke’s Hospital at The Vintage. “Our team of medical professionals looks forward to providing Faithful, Loving Care® to residents and employees and growing with the community.”

St. Luke’s Hospital at The Vintage offers five operating rooms and cardiac catheterization services. Additionally, the new facility has 14 labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum suites.

As research has proven that nature positively affects healing and overall well-being, St. Luke’s Hospital at The Vintage was designed in a beautiful, scenic environment. Nestled amidst hundreds of trees, the hospital features a one-mile walking path through landscaped gardens, as well as a pond. Additionally, the unique architecture showcases wooden beams and natural stone for a warm, inviting ambiance. The soothing environment is enhanced with a water wall located in the entry lobby.

Speidel added, “Quality patient and family care is our utmost focus at St. Luke’s Hospital at The Vintage. We offer a unique hospital experience by combining expertise and clinical excellence with compassionate care.”

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HOUSTON -- For decades the destination in Houston for quality care was the Texas Medical Center, and now those name brands are driving a major change in care.

"There is a demand for the health care, and patients don't want to travel far for the health care. They would rather have local care of quality," said Dr. Steven Stern, an obstetrician-gynecologist.

That demand pushes doctors too. After 31 years delivering babies, Stern is pulling up stakes and moving to the new St. Luke's at the Vintage, in fact he is scheduled to deliver the first baby in the new hospital on Dec. 1.

"A hospital is only as good as the staff that works there. And the physicians that practice. A hospital is just a building. It is what goes into that building that makes quality of care," he said.

The hospital moved up the opening to Dec. 1 from April. That's because a group of doctors are investors in the hospital and in January that will be banned under the new health care law.

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Floods, hurricanes and even the loss of power from unexpected high winds or ice can jeopardize the safety of many refrigerated foods. So, knowing how to keep your food safe during one of these emergencies, and how to determine what foods are safe to eat, will help reduce your families risk for food borne illnesses and loss of food.

Just follow these simple tips if the electricity goes out…

• If your food has spent more than two hours over 40 degrees Fahrenheit, don’t eat it. As long as frozen foods still have ice crystals or are still frozen at their core, they are most likely still safe. Once the food reaches room temperature, bacteria begins to forms very quickly, so try to keep the doors closed on your refrigerator and freezer to slow down the defrosting process.
• Even without electricity, most people will still be able to cook or heat food. If you have a gas range or outdoor access to a charcoal grill or propane stove you should consider cooking perishables before they spoil. If you don’t have outdoor access, you should consider keeping a few cans of Sterno Handy: Essentially Heat in a Can. It requires no electricity and can warm up small amounts of food in cookware and can be found at most sporting goods stores.
• Additionally, if you or someone in your family has special needs—for example, you take medication regularly for a condition or you have an infant or handicap child—remember to stock up on their essential, daily care items, too. Keep an extra stash of pre-mixed baby formula and jars of baby food or a 30-day backup supply of your medications, especially during storm season.

Most of us who live along the beautiful Gulf Coast will find ourselves facing the threat of a natural disaster at some point. That’s just why the NSF Disaster Readiness Kit was developed—to help consumers learn how they can become better prepared before any disaster strikes. Visit the NSF website at www.nsf.com/index.asp for more information.

Source: NFP International

Houston companies simply have more wealth to share on average, which reflects in home-based EOG Resources' taking the number eight spot in Fortune Magazine's 25 Top-Paying Companies. Sitting smugly well above companies like Adobe Systems and Microsoft, EOG pays its Engineers an average of $171,943 a year.

The Enron spinoff has overcome any bad stigma the industry may have left lingering, by becoming on of the nation's leading independent drillers of oil and gas. Despite low prices in 2009, the company continues to hire new staffers, promote employees, and managed no layoffs.

EOG offers excellent pay and benefit packages with stock options for all employees. In addition, several locations sponsor health fairs; the Houston headquarters even has a walking club and Weight Watchers program, where 64 employees lost a combined 754 pounds in less than a year.

Search available EOG Resources career opportunities. http://www.cytiva.com/cejobs/templateEogri.asp

Source: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/fortune/1001/gallery.bestcompanies_toppay.fortune/8.html

Children who have left over candy from Halloween don't have to let it go to waste. Fort Bend Dentist Dr. Lomonte, DDS is holding his annual candy drive on November 2nd. The candy drive will take place at Dr. Lomonte's office located at 12122 Murphy Rd., Stafford, TX 77477.

This one day candy drive is an effort to promote a safe and healthy Halloween for children. Dr. Lomonte will buy back candy from children for $1 per pound. All of the candy will be donated to troops serving overseas.

Children can also write personal messages to U.S. troops to include with their candy to add a truly heartwarming touch to troops overseas. For more information contact Dr. Lomonte at 832-969-6252 or email him at dr.lomonte@sbcglobal.net.

Image courtesy of Sugar Land Magazine

Source: Sugar Land Magazine

West Houston Medical Center officials have just announced a $70 million expansion project focusing on cardiovascular, surgical, critical care, and women's health services in the West Houston area.

According to Maura Walsh, president of HCA Gulf Coast Division, this new expansion will add over 95,000 square feet of new construction and renovate over 33,000 square feet. This includes a three story tower connecting the northeast side of the existing hospital. This new tower will house the new cardiovascular facilities, as well as more space for future expansion of telemetry medical/surgical beds.

"It's been 25 years since we opened our doors and we have had a huge increase in our population and patient volume," said chief executive officer of West Houston Medical Center, Todd Caliva.

$30,000 of the funds will go towards expanding women's services. This will include labor and delivery rooms, a newborn nursery, a level II neonatal intensive care unit, and post-partum rooms. "West Houston has developed a joint strategy with The Woman's Hospital of Texas to enhance the quality of our services," Caliva said.

The expansion is set to start before the end of this year, with renovations finishing by January 2012.

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Eight Houston based children's services organizations aresharing a generous $7.8 million grant from the Hogg Foundation forMental Health. The Hogg Foundation is funding the grants from anendowment established by the Houston civic leader andphilanthropist Ima Hogg, who passed away in 1975.

The endowments will span three years, and will only be used forservices regarding mental health for children and their familieswithin Houston and Harris County. Some eligible services include:

• mental health promotion
• prevention
• early identification and intervention
• day-care centers
• transitional living shelters

The Hogg Foundation was founded in 1940 by the children offormer Texas Governor James Hogg. The goal is to promote betermental health for Texas citizens. To date, the foundation hasawarded 167 total grants worth over $28.3 million from the Ima Hoggendowment since 1976. It is also a part of the Division ofDiversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas.

Source: Houston Biz Journals

Kickerillo and Mischer’s V&W Partners, Ltd. is pleased to announce that St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System will open facilities in The Vintage, a 630-acre master planned mixed-use development located at Hwy. 249 and Louetta adjacent to the Hewlett-Packard campus which has 8,000 employees.

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