NEW MANAGEMENT FOR WINNSBORO HOSPITAL

by
Maryann Miller

If you've driven West on Coke road just out of Winnsboro recently you may have noticed the new sign in front of the hospital. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Winnsboro has now become Trinity Mother Frances Hospital of Winnsboro. The change was a long time in the making, having been negotiated over a period of at least two years when rumors of the change first surfaced.

At the Open House and Ribbon Cutting last Thursday - March 4 - Dr. David Teagarden, the Chief Medical Officer for Mother Frances said that they are pleased to be partnering up with the fine medical community that is already established. He stressed that "the physicians of our clinic want to work with the doctors who have served the community for so many years. We are hoping to establish a real collegiate atmosphere as we work together."

(Pictured L-R: Dr. Alberto DeLa Cruz; Dr. Mark Clothier; J. Lindsey Bradley, CEO of Trinity Mother Frances; Gary Looper, Winnsboro Hospital Administrator. Name of the man behind him not known. Dr. Ray Thompson, and Dr. Lindzey.)

As a physician, Dr. Teagarden (below) knows how important it is for the physicians to be part of the decision making process regarding administration, so doctors are seated on the Board of Directors.

Acquiring the Winnsboro facility is part of a plan that Trinity Mother Frances has for healthcare throughout East Texas. "Our philosophy is to bring as much care close to home as we can," Dr. Teagarden said. "That establishes patient confidence and comfort."

Just a few of the specialties that will be coming to Winnsboro under this plan are urology, orthopedics, vascular surgery, and gastro intestinal doctors.

Doctor Teagarden was also excited about the fact that Trinity Mother Frances has an electronic medical records system that allows doctors throughout the system to have updated information on all patients. "That is a tremendous advantage to patients," he said. "If a primary care doctor sends a patient to a specialist, a report is sent directly to the primary physician for local records. And the specialist has instant access to the records from the primary care doctor. So he or she knows what medications the patient is on, or what the patient might be allergic to. That reduces the risk of making an error in prescribing."

Gary Looper,(R) the new CEO of the Winnsboro site comes from Austin and has 30 years experience in managing health-care systems. He is currently renting a home in Winnsboro while he sees how long his tenure will be here, but he is excited to be here. "God has really blessed me with this opportunity," he said.

He also said that he is excited about being part of Mother Frances and is "looking forward to seeing the smiles on peoples' faces when they realize all that Mother Frances can do for the hospital and the community."

The day of fun and festivities included refreshments of hamburgers, hot dogs, cup cakes and drinks. Over a hundred people came to meet some of the new hospital staff, and visit with friends from the community. For kids there was a bounce house, a portable sandbox, and a bal- toss game that all were greatly enjoyed.

Medical staff was also providing some health screenings for adults. Honey Langenbau, R.N. is the Screening Coordinator for Trinity Mother Frances and she was there with the Framingham Heart Study, which screens people for heart attack risk. By gathering some medical information and taking blood pressures, the program can calculate a person's potential for having a heart attack in the next ten years. The information gathered that day on individuals was sent to the Framingham headquarters where the analysis is done. The results will be sent to the person and to the person's primary care doctor.

Honey (R) considers this screening a vital asset for patients. "Once they are identified as at risk, they can work with their doctors to lessen that risk through lifestyle choices and treatment."

That day, Honey identified a few people who needed to see a doctor right away. "That's why we do the screenings," she said. "If I hadn't caught that today, who knows what would have happened to those folks."

City officials, including Winnsboro Mayor, Carolyn Jones, (L) were on hand to welcome the hospital dignitaries who were there to celebrate the opening. Members of the Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce were also there, as were local clergy.