www.valleybaptist.net

December 2008 • Vol. 1, Issue 9
www.valleybaptist.net
www.valleybaptist.net

James Eastham Named CEO
James Eastham, FACHE | President & CEO
Valley Baptist Health System
James E. Eastham,
FACHE, was recently
named President and
Chief Executive Officer of Valley Baptist
Health System. Mr. Eastham’s appointment
was announced by Robert Dunkin, Chairman
of the Valley Baptist Board of Trustees.
Mr. Eastham previously served as Chief
Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and
Executive Vice President for Valley Baptist.
Mr. Eastham, who joined Valley Baptist in
2002, said that he looks forward to building
on the accomplishments of the past seven
years and to Valley Baptist continuing to provide
high quality care to patients and families
throughout the South Texas region.
“I look forward to working with our board
members, hospital administrators, physicians,
employees, volunteers and our entire community
in building upon the solid foundation
already present at Valley Baptist Health
System,” Mr. Eastham said.
Mr. Eastham has 37 years of experience in
hospital administration. He previously served
as Chief Executive Officer of Memorial
Hermann Hospital, an 818-bed major teaching
hospital in the Texas Medical Center in
Houston.
He also previously served as Chief Executive
Officer and Vice President of Memorial
Hermann Southwest Hospital in southwest
Houston; Chief Operating Officer and
Executive Vice President at St. Paul Medical
Center in Dallas; Chief Executive Officer for
Mesquite Community Hospital in Mesquite
near Dallas; and Assistant Administrator
for Financial Services at the Tarrant County
Hospital District in Fort Worth.
Mr. Eastham received a Master of Business
Administration degree in Management
from Abilene Christian University-Dallas.
He also received a Bachelor’s of Business
Administration degree in Accounting from
the University of Houston and is a Certified
Public Accountant. Mr. Eastham served in
the Texas National Guard Airborne Infantry.
Mr. Eastham has received many honors
and awards, including the American College
of Healthcare Executives’ Regents Awards for
both the Houston and the North Texas areas.
He was also named the Sam Walton Business
Leader of the Year by the Fort Bend Chamber
of Commerce in 1997.
Other awards received by Mr. Eastham
include a Commendation for Service with
Distinction Award from the Dallas / Fort
Worth Hospital Council; the American
College of Healthcare Executives Forum
Inaugural Award of Merit; the Paul Harris
Fellow Award from the Rotary International
Foundation’s Dallas Chapter; and the Follmer
Bronze Merit Award for Outstanding Service
from the Healthcare Financial Management
Association.
Mr. Eastham served as Chairman of the
Board of Trustees for the Texas Association of
Public and Non-Profit Hospitals, a state-wide
organization. Mr. Eastham has also served on
the Board of Trustees for the Texas Hospital
Association and as past Chairman for the
Texas Hospital Association Political Action
Committee (HOSPAC). He has also served
as an Alternate Delegate for the American
Hospital Association House of Delegates;
and on the Credentials Committee for the
American College of Hospital Executives,
both national organizations.
Born in Houston, Mr. Eastham has three
children and seven grandchildren. His wife,
Marvene is a partner in the national executive
search firm of Witt / Kieffer.
1st Gynecological Surgery With Robot Performed At VBMC
Doctors at Valley Baptist-Harlingen have performed Cameron County’s first gynecological
surgeries using a new robot system which physicians hope will result in less pain and
faster recoveries for patients who have pain, bleeding and tumors in the uterus and other
conditions.
Dr. Susan Hunter, Obstetrician -Gynecologist, performed the first hysterectomy on a Valley
woman in her 50’s recently using the new da Vinci® robotic surgical system. Dr. Hunter was
assisted by Dr. Noemi Infante during the procedure.
“This is a ground-breaking procedure which will benefit women in the Valley,” Dr. Hunter
said. She added that this procedure could eventually drastically reduce the need for abdominal
hysterectomy, due to instrumentation and improved visualization offered with minimally
invasive robotic surgery.
Dr. Hunter noted that the robotic-assisted surgery requires only a few small incisions – as
opposed to traditional hysterectomies, which require opening up the entire abdomen with a
large incision. “With the new minimally-invasive technique, there is less pain for the patient,
less bleeding, and a faster recovery time,” Dr. Hunter said. “In fact, most of these patients go
home the very next day after their surgery.”
This robotic surgical hysterectomy technique is also very useful for early stage endometrial
and cervical cancer cases. The robot can also be used for other types of surgery, including general surgeries and prostate cancer surgery. In addition
to Dr. Hunter, physicians who are currently certified with the new system include a general surgeon, Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, and three urologists -- Dr.
Michael Finger, Dr. Erin McCormick, and Dr. Jose Maymi.
Barry Lenke, RN, BSN, MPS, CNAA, Director of Surgical Services at VB-H, noted that robotic surgery can be far more precise than other
surgical interventions.

Do You Know The Pneumonia Core Measures
By Lori Liendo, MPH, Certified Six-Sigma Black Belt, VBMC-Brownsville
Pneumonia Core Measures were introduced
to hospitals by the Joint Commission
and CMS in 2001. Since that time the measures
have be refined to the current seven.
Documentation is THE KEY when it comes
to core measures. If we performed the task,
document it -- and if there is a contraindication,
document that as well.
Flu season is here and we need to screen
and vaccinate our patients who qualify -- or
document the reason why they don’t qualify.
This measure will be in place until April 1st.
Here are the seven Core Measures for
Pneumonia.
• PN-1 is Oxygenation Assessment. Pneumonia
patients need an assessment of arterial
oxygenation within 24 hours of arrival at
the hospital because giving supplemental
oxygen has been shown to decrease mortality
among patients with pneumonia.
• PN-2 is Pneumococcal Vaccination for Pneumonia
patients, age 65 and older. Patients
should be screened for pneumococcal vaccine
status, and if necessary administered
the vaccine prior to discharge. Pneumococcal
vaccination is up to 75% effective in
preventing pneumococcal bacteremia and
meningitis.
• PN-3b is Blood Cultures Performed in the
Emergency Department Prior to Initial Antibiotic
Received in Hospital. Pneumonia
treatment guidelines recommend performance
of blood cultures for all inpatients to
optimize therapy, which has been shown to
reduce mortality rates.
• PN-4 is Adult Smoking Cessation Advice/
Counseling for Pneumonia patients with a
history of smoking cigarettes. Tobacco use
is the single greatest cause of disease in the
United States today. Smoking accounts for
one out of every five deaths in the U.S. and
is the most important modifiable cause of
premature death. Hospitalization can be
an ideal opportunity for a patient to stop
smoking, and smoking cessation may promote
the patient’s medical recovery. Patients
who receive even brief smoking-cessation
advice from their care providers are
more likely to quit than those who receive
no counseling whatsoever.
• PN-5c is Initial Antibiotic Received Within
6 Hours of Hospital Arrival. This refers to
pneumonia patients who receive their first
dose of antibiotics within 6 hours after arrival
at the hospital. Studies have demonstrated
lower mortality rates among patients
who received early antibiotic therapy.
• PN-6 is Initial Antibiotic Selection for
Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
patients during the first 24 hours that is
consistent with current guidelines from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the Infectious Diseases Society of
America (IDSA), the Canadian Infectious
Disease Society / Canadian Thoracic Society
(CIDS/CTS), and the American Thoracic
Society (ATS).
• PN-7 is Influenza Vaccination for Pneumonia
patients age 50 years and older, hospitalized
during October, November, December,
January, February or March who were
screened for influenza vaccine status and
were vaccinated prior to discharge, if indicated.
Influenza vaccine is highly effective
in preventing influenza-related pneumonia,
hospitalization, and death.
Alberto Quintero Wins "Passionate Educator Of The Decade
Award" At VBMC-Brownsville
Adalberto Quintero III, RN, of VBMC-Brownsville’s Emergency Dept. has won the award of the decade!
Albert has been named “Passionate Educator of the Decade” for his work with the “Shattered Dreams”
program to teach high school students about the dangers of drinking and driving.
The highly-acclaimed Shattered Dreams program is held once each spring at VBMC-Brownsville. High school
students from area schools (which have included St. Joseph Academy and Los Fresnos High School) participate in
mock accidents to illustrate the tragedy of drinking and driving. The “injured” students are brought by ambulance
to VBMC-B and rushed into the ED for emergency treatment. This past year, there was even a Memorial Service
held in VBMC-B’s historic chapel for students who didn’t survive the mock accident. Afterwards, Albert and
other VBMC-Brownsville personnel hold overnight education sessions with the students to really pound home
the message to NOT drink and drive.
Various agencies participate in Shattered Dreams, including Brownsville police and EMS. Albert’s award was announced by the University of
Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio along with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. While other personnel, such as teachers at a few
schools in various parts of Texas, won “Passionate Educator of the Year” awards, Albert was the ONLY person in the state to win the “Passionate
Educator” award for the WHOLE DECADE!!
“The Passionate Educator Award honors exceptional school and community organization employees who have worked feverishly to make the
Shattered Dreams program a success,” said Lizette Villarreal, MA, Project Coordinator with the University of Texas Health Science Center-San
Antonio. “This enthusiastic individual is recognized for their passion of education and love for students that drives them to promote programs that
will raise awareness about underage drinking and impaired driving among their students.”
“Albert has been involved in Shattered Dreams for years,” added Ingrid Steinbach, RN, CEN, Director of Emergency & Trauma Services
for VBMC-Brownsville. “This is a fantastic award for Albert and all of Valley Baptist!”

Patient Satisfaction Being Addressed with Help of Valley
Baptist Volunteers, Employees
Valley Baptist patients are having their
needs heard and addressed with the help of
some front-line representatives who are very
good at relating to our patients – our volunteers!
While Valley Baptist has for many years
participated in patient satisfaction
surveys through organizations
such as Professional
Research Consultants (PRC),
having our own volunteers
involved in surveying patients
give us people “on the ground”
who are able to help us address
patient concerns more immediately.
This in turn should
eventually help in improving
our PRC customer service
scores!
“Our team of eight volunteers
has been working at this
initiative for three months
and the results have made a
positive impact on patient
care and immediate service recovery,” said
Katie McCarty, Valley Baptist’s Director of
Volunteer Services. “The Volunteer Patient
Satisfaction Survey Team is discovering
important information as a result of these
real-time surveys.”
The team of volunteers meets in the morning
at Valley Baptist’s Quality Initiatives office
and then, clip boards in hand, fans out to
patient rooms on 6ST and other units. “Many
of the patients seem more at ease discussing
their concerns with volunteers, who often
are of a similar age and who are not involved
in the medical care, but just there to bring a
smile and see what else can be done to help
the patient,” said Chris Chizek Manrrique,
RN, BSN, MEd, CCRN, CEN, Black Belt with
the Quality Initiatives Department.
In yet another example of Valley Baptist’s
commitment to better serve its patients, a
new “Service Training and Response Team”
(START) has been formed with a cross section
of staff from three campuses as well as
Home Health and Rehab Services. This team
meets on a monthly basis and
is open to anyone who is interested
in making a difference
in enhancing and promoting a
positive customer experience
at Valley Baptist.
During October, this team
focused on emphasizing “key
words at key times.” Team
members are emphasizing
two key points within their
departments: introducing
yourself to patients and visitors,
and concluding every
interaction by asking “can I
help you with anything else”
The team believes that these
simple concepts can have a
tremendous impact on customer service.
Under this initiative, body language, eye contact,
and sincerity are the keys to making an
impact when it comes to customer service.
New Employees Attend "WOW" Week In December
New Nursing employees attending "WOW" orientation the week of Dec.
4 include, from the left, Bernadette Abregunda, RN, BSN, of PCCU; Arlena
Harbourne, RN, of Pediatrics, VBMC-Brownsville; Juella Rose Sabicon, RN, BSN,
of Med-Surg / Neuro; Sharon de los Santos, RN, BSN, of NBICU; Rodni Tagactac,
RN, BSN, of Med-Surg; Paul Timothy Cabague, RN, BSN, of PCCU; Mae Serias,
RN, BSN, of Med-Surg / Neuro; and Chill Monforte, RN, BSN, of Orthopedics.
In the back row are Israel Garza, Mental Health Tech with the VB-Brownsville
East Campus; Wendy Armijo, CNA, of Oncology; Isamar Trevino, CNA, of
PCCU; Phyllis Brosch, Anesthesia Tech, of Surgery; Elisa Perez, CNA, of ED; Matt
Andrew Magto, RN, BSN; of ED; Cecilia Nuno, RN, of Labor & Delivery at VBMC-
Brownsville; and Dennis Bates, RN, of Care Management.
New employees who attended the Center for Leadership Excellence “WOW”
training Dec. 4 include, from the left in the front row, Noelia Gonzalez, Case
Manager for Inpatient Rehab; Obed Gonzales, Pharmacy Tech; Yolanda Martinez
of Food Service; and Aracely Montoya, Lab Tech with VBMC-Brownsville.

Employees Connecting Generosity With Need:
Employee Emergency Fund
By Maribel A. Cordova, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Disaster can strike at any time, any
where, and in any way. It happened
here this year with the arrival of
Hurricane Dolly. Many homes and livelihoods
were damaged by driving rain, flood
waters, and wind gusts that swept through
Cameron, Willacy, and
surrounding counties.
Thousands of lives
were affected and
businesses disrupted,
including
the many Valley
Baptist employees
who lived in the
path of the storm.
E m p l o y e e s
emerged to
repair their
c o m m u -
nities and
w o r k p l a c e s
through dedication
and volunteer
efforts.
News that a
fellow employee
had lost his or her
home because of flooding or winds was met
with great sympathy. Thousands of Valley
Baptist employees are spread across the Rio
Grande Valley, and while many had neighbors,
family, and friends to offer support, others
were overwhelmed with the unexpected
financial burden. To lend a helping hand,
VBHS employees through the Employee
Emergency Fund (EEF), offered expeditious
financial assistance in response to the needs
created from the devastation Dolly left in her
wake.
Moving swiftly after the flood waters receded,
the dedicated staff of Human Resource
Administration and the Employee Assistance
Program (EAP), in partnership with The
Valley Baptist Foundation and Ambassadors
of Service coordinated a temporarily expanded
eligibility criteria and expedited review
process to distribute EEF grants to VBHS
employees impacted by the storm. Over
50 employees were awarded a sum of over
$27,000 in EEF grants.
Through the use of EEF grants, employees
were able to buy food, clothing, transportation,
fuel, medical services, and other replacement
needs for immediate assistance. Over
the course of several weeks, EEF applicants
were interviewed, screened, and assisted so
that they could pay their mortgage, rent,
utilities, and other financial obligations that
threatened to cause eviction for those who
were fortunate enough to still have a place to
call home.
The employees of Valley
Baptist truly made a difference
in our organization’s
ability to begin
the long journey to
restoring ‘normalcy’
to the lives
of its employees.
Below are just a
few of the stories
of those served.
Lost with the
many automobiles
and hundreds
of totaled
or seriously damaged
homes, were
the jobs of many
employees’ spouses
—some for good—and others that would
take weeks and months to be restored again.
This created a double stress for some employees
and their families who already live on the
financial edge due to higher-than-normal
housing and living costs. For some, it was impossible
to meet their basic living expenses
when there was no money coming in from
their partner’s hourly work. With the help of
the EEF, some were able to make ends meet
while they tried to get back on their feet.
As adults, the stresses of witnessing, and
then recovering from hurricane devastation
are serious, likened to that of sustained
stress syndromes. For children, that psychological
impact is far greater, as their sense of
safety and security is shattered. Imagine the
dismay of children watching their beds, toys,
and clothing floating in their flooded home.
After the waters subsided, children watched
their parents openly cry, for the often-meager
rewards of their struggled existence literally
were now gone, or permanently destroyed.
Their tears and subsequent anger represented
not only lost possessions, but also the
anticipated frustration and hardship they
knew their families would have to endure as
they tried to replace the things that make life
bearable. The financial assistance offered
through the Employee Emergency Fund provided
some relief.
Some families and their children moved
from temporary shelter to living with strangers,
friends, or relatives, enduring sights of
grieving and smells of post-hurricane rot
that rocked their security. Their safe routine
was now lost. Some employees that came in
were single parents; some already struggling
to meet the transportation, housing, food,
clothing, and other ongoing needs of their
family. The Fund was able to assist employees
with replacement needs and offer relief
while individuals tried to re-establish some
of the normalcy from before the storm.
The employees of Valley Baptist Health
System continue to set precedents for generosity
with the availability and distribution of
the Employee Emergency Fund. Our caring
and concerned employees sustain the fund
through charitable donations from their own
pockets. The fund is also generously supported
through the many fundraising efforts
of the VBHS Ambassadors of Service, and
through a perpetual endowment fund supported
by the Valley Baptist Auxiliary.
The Employee Emergency Fund operates
efficiently and effectively to connect generosity
with need for employees who have chosen
to work at Valley Baptist Health System. It is
empowered by VBHS employees across the
Valley to benefit VBHS employees in need
of financial assistance as a result of an unexpected,
unplanned, or unforeseeable event
which results in a threat to the employee
meeting some basic human need. Employees
with emergent need who meet EEF eligibility
criteria can apply for grants from this fund
through the ‘Downloadable Forms’ in the
EAP link on the Intranet. For more information,
call EAP at ext. 1-6876.

New Golden Palms Partnership
The Preferred Care Family of
Companies (PCI) and Valley Baptist
Heath System announced that PCI
became the new operator of Golden Palms
Retirement and Health Center, effective
November 1, 2008.
Valley Baptist Health System will continue
to have an ownership interest in the facility.
“One of Valley Baptist’s core values, collaboration,
is at the heart of this partnership,” stated
James Eastham, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Valley Baptist Health System. “This
collaborative effort is a reflection of our confidence
in PCI, their commitment to Golden
Palms’ mission and the provision of quality
care, and their expertise and specialization in
long term care services for senior adults.”
“We have been serving Texas seniors’
healthcare needs for more than 20 years,” said
Tom Scott, Preferred Care’s president and
owner. “We are proud to welcome Golden
Palms to our family of community-oriented
facilities.”
Golden Palms will continue its focus on
meeting the healthcare needs of our community’s
seniors by providing a high quality
continuum of care ranging from independent
living to extensive skilled nursing/rehabilitative
services such as physical, occupational,
and speech therapy.
“We expect this transition to be seamless,”
stated Deborah Paolini, Executive Director
of Golden Palms. “Residents will continue to
receive the service, care and personal attention
for which we have become known.”
The Preferred Care Family of Companies
operates 62 facilities in nine states including
Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas,
Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
Additionally, they have a proven track record in
Harlingen, operating La Hacienda Healthcare,
across the street from Valley Baptist Medical
Center-Harlingen, for the past six years.
The facility will continue to be called
Golden Palms Retirement and Health Center,
its name since opening in 1986. PCI has
plans to invest significantly in improving and
upgrading the facility. A community open
house is planned for early 2009 to showcase
the remodeled facility.
2008 Lights For Life at VBMC-Harlingen

New Employees Attend "WOW" Week In November
New employees who attended “WOW” training Nov. 6 include, from the left in
the front row, Merari Galindo, Phlebotomist with the Community Reference Lab;
Francisco J. Ornelas, Food Service, VBMC-Brownsville; Ruby C. Lozano, Medical
Records Specialist; Guadalupe Valdez III, Phlebotomist, Lab; Veronica Martinez,
Med. Record Specialist; Alfredo Aguilar, Specialty Technician, Heritage Program
for Senior Adults; and Ed Almaguer, Imaging Tech. Standing are Rosalie Cortinas,
Food Service; Julie Fonseca, Human Resource Administration; Amanda Lopez-
Ornelas, Claims Management; Amanda Pequeño, Division Secretary, Neonatal
ICU; Ricardo Leyva and Jose Villarreal, Food Service, VBMC-Brownsville; Melba
Garcia, Radiology; Chris White, HRA; and Oswaldo Ruiz, Black Belt-In-Training,
Quality Initiatives, VBMC-B.
New Environmental Services employees attending “WOW” training Nov. 6
include Maria Casanova, VBMC-Brownsville; Gloria Gil; Joann Molina; Martha
E. Perez; and Blanca Guerra.
New Nursing employees who participated in Valley Baptist’s “Workplace
Orientation and Welcome” (WOW) orientation the week of Nov. 6 include,
from the left, Emerson Almonte, RN, BSN, of the OR; Doreen Jill K. Dy, RN,
BSN, Oncology; Cherry A. Llanes, RN, BSN, STO; Abdul Soomro, RN, SA-C,
Surgery; Ada D. Antinero, RN, BSN, Oncology; and Danilo M. Macalling, RN,
BSN, Surgery. In the back row are Deborah Potter, LVN, Med-Surg, VBMC-
Brownsville; Patricia Ramirez, LVN, Newborn Nursery, Brownsville; Rosemary
Vela, MSTM, Postpartum, VBMC-B; Nereida L. Herrera, LVN, Newborn Nursery,
VBMC-B; Janie Garcia, GVN, Orthopedics; Noelia Martinez, CNA, Pediatrics,
VBMC-B; and Monaliza L. Aquino, RN, BSN, Pediatrics.
New employees who attended the Center for Leadership Excellence “WOW”
training Nov. 20 include, from the left in the front row, Yolanda Rosales of
Radiology; Grace Basa of Infection Control; Sabrina Sierra of Environmental
Services; Guadalupe Alvarado of Security; Amanda Sierra, Pharmacy Technician;
Norma Frias, Social Worker, Case Management; and Emma Lopez of Food
Service. Standing are Adam Brown, Manager, Revenue Cycle; Ryan Grayson,
Security, VBMC-Brownsville; Andre Zook, Physical Therapist, Rehab Services,
VB-B; Faustino Hernandez of Environmental Services; Filiberto Serna III,
Processing Specialist, Medical Records; Wilson Bourgeois, Jr. of Information
Services; and Enrique Prieto, Acct. Representative, Cardon Healthcare.
New Nursing employees who participated in Valley Baptist’s “Workplace
Orientation and Welcome” (WOW) orientation the week of Nov. 20 include,
from the left, Sonny C. Mingoy, RN, BSN, Orthopedics; Gareth Wayne Abacan,
RN, BSN, of MICU; Eda S. Soledad, RN, BSN, of Pediatrics; Melyssa Garcia, CNA,
ED at VBMC-Brownsville; and Brenda Pardo, CNA, of Oncology. In the back row
are Van Z. Dagala, RN, BSN, of PCCU; Esther Joy Tan, RN, BSN, of ED; Josefa G.
Firmeza, RN, BSN, of Pediatrics; Narcisa Dolores C. Marcia, RN, BSN, of STO; and
Isaak E. Guerrero, LVN, of Telemetry, VBMC-Brownsville.

Local Ministers, Lay People Benefitting From New Chaplain
Training Program At Valley Baptist
Valley pastors, ministers, church lay people,
and their congregations are benefiting from
a new extended Clinical Pastoral Education
program being offered by Valley Baptist’s
Pastoral Services Dept.
The new program allows interested clergy
and local residents to pursue education as
chaplain interns while continuing their regular
full-time jobs. For instance, a church pastor
who works 40 hours a week at his regular job
can attend classes in the new CPE program
just one day a week, on Tuesday mornings,
for four hours. But in order to practice their
newly-learned skills, such a pastor might
actually spend another 16 hours a week in
clinical time ministering at the hospital or in
a parish setting.
“This is a way to learn basic pastoral
care skills, and to hone pastoral care and
leadership,” said Joe Perez, Valley Baptist’s
Vice President of Pastoral Services.
“They have to be pretty committed to do this
type of ministry, in addition to their regular
work,” added Cindy Graber, Clinical Pastoral
Education Director for Valley Baptist.
Among those taking advantage of the new
26-week program is one of Valley Baptist’s
own employees, Karen Smith, who has herself
worked in the Pastoral Service Department
for many years as ministry coordinator and
receptionist.
“In her role, Karen has had numerous
occasions to actually act as a minister – but
has never had the opportunity to have training
until now,” Cindy said. “She is interested
in doing pastoral care to shut-ins at her
church.”
Others in the first class of extended CPE
interns include Valeria Dubourdieu, who
is originally from Venezuela and has been
serving as a hospice volunteer in Brownsville;
Tom Cosper, a volunteer chaplain at Valley
Baptist and a part-time minister in the
Church of Christ denomination who is
seeking board certification as a chaplain;
Jerry Garcia, a Catholic chaplain at Mission
Hospital who is working toward certification
with the National Association of Catholic
Chaplains; and M.C. Thomas, a
non-denominational pastor who
ministers to immigrants from
India through a church in the
Mission area.
These new “part-time” CPE
interns receive “quasi-mentoring”
from the full-time chaplain
residents in Valley Baptist’s
Clinical Pastoral Education
Program. The full-time program
recently expanded to the VBMC-
Brownsville campus, where David
Sanchez is serving as a second-year
resident. At VBMC-Harlingen,
the full-time CPE residents are
Erica Klaich, Sam Thomas, Loren
Fast, and Lawrence Reeve.
Topics that are addressed in the
extended CPE classes include the
process of dying, finding closure
at the end of life, coping with
grief, bereavement support, and
the chaplain’s role as part of an
inter-disciplinary care team.
“They also study crisis ministry,
to help people get through the
toughest times in their lives, and
practice good listening skills …
you have to be able to get your
own self ‘out of the way’ in order
to really be with the person who
is going through heart-breaking moments,”
Cindy said.
For more information about Valley Baptist’s
chaplain training programs, contact Cindy
Graber or Enrica Kirksey–Rincones in the
CPE Center in the Boggus Education Pavilion,
at ext. 1—6750 (389-6750 or e-mail enrica.
kirksey@ValleyBaptist.net).
Those who started as interns in an extended Clinical Pastoral Education
Program at Valley Baptist included Francisco Pon, Tom Cosper,
Karen Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Valeria Dubourdieu, M.C. Thomas, and
Jerry Garcia.
Full-time Clinical Pastoral Education residents at Valley Baptist include,
from the left, Loren Fast, Lawrence Reeve, Sam Thomas, Erica
Klaich, and David Sanchez.
New Grief Support Group
A
new Bereavement Support Group at
Valley Baptist provides comfort for
those who are grieving the loss of a
loved one, with weekly meetings that are free
and open to the public. Meetings are held on
Tuesdays evenings, led by a team of Valley
Baptist chaplains. The 4-week course continues
each month, normally on the first through
fourth Tuesdays of the month, said Chaplain
Joe Perez, M.Div., BCC, Vice President for
Pastoral Services at Valley Baptist.
“All of our chaplains have professional
training in bereavement work and can
help lead people through the grieving
process -- and to better understand their
own, unique process of grieving,” Chaplain
Perez added. “Those who experience the
loss of a family member or loved one can
join the group at any time.
For more information on the
Bereavement Support Group, call Chaplain
Joe Perez at ext. 1-1194, e-mail Joe.Perez@
ValleyBaptist.net. For information on
bereavement support in Brownsville, call
Chaplain Paul Luna at 2-5426.

Valley Baptist Indigent Care Program: Making A Difference
Did you know that Valley Baptist
is now operating the indigent
health care program in Cameron
County The program -- through a Valley
Baptist affiliate called the Rio Grande Valley
Indigent Health Care Corporation -- is making
a life-saving difference for thousands of
needy residents in our communities.
Diana Lynn Lewis of Harlingen said the new
Valley Baptist program is a “Godsend” that literally
saved her life. “They (the program staff)
bent over backward to help – not just with my
health problems, but with everything,” Ms.
Lewis said. “And they do it with a smile on
their face – and kindness in their voice. It’s so
nice to just have someone smile at you."
Ms. Lewis -- who suffers from diabetes
and neuropathy and has undergone two back
surgeries --- said she had no insulin or other
medication before finding out about the indigent
health care program. “I couldn’t afford
the medications. It’s been four years since I
worked – and I have no insurance. I couldn’t
get any benefits – I didn’t qualify. The pain
was all-consuming.”
But after being referred to Valley Baptist’s
program, Ms. Lewis was able to go to a doctor
-- for the first time in two years. “The
program paid for my doctors’ visits and the
medicine I needed,” Ms. Lewis added. “Now
I have my medications. I’m on pain killers.
Without this organization and without the
South Texas Clinic, I don’t know that I’d be
on my feet right now. This is a very wonderful
organization.”
The Rio Grande Valley Indigent Health
Care Corporation serves needy residents who
don’t have insurance and who don’t qualify
for Medicaid or Medicare. The program pays
for immunizations, surgeries, hospitalization,
lab and radiology services, diabetes care and
education programs, cancer treatments, and
other medical services. For fiscal year 2009,
the indigent care program is adding an important
new covered benefit – diabetes testing
supplies. The program, which is a result of
an agreement between Valley Baptist and
Cameron County, served 2,799 individuals in
its first year of service
The Rio Grande Valley Indigent Health
Care Program has offices in San Benito (at
the Cameron County building behind San
Benito High School, 1390 W. Expressway
83 near Williams Road) and in Brownsville
(in Suite 130 of the Edelstein Professional
Building across from VBMC-Brownsville).
Pam Magouirk serves as Executive Director.
For more information, call ext. 1-3672 (389-
3672) in the Harlingen-San Benito area or ext.
2-5744 (698-5744) in the Brownsville area.
Valley Baptist staff with the Rio Grande Valley Indigent
Health Care Program include Cynthia Carrillo, eligibility
representative in the San Benito office; Pam Magouirk,
Executive Director; and Veronica Guzman, eligibility representative.
Brownsville office staff with the Rio Grande Valley Indigent
Health Care Program include Maria Rosa Moreno,
claims analyst; and Yvette Garza, eligibility representative.
Not pictured is Annabelle Ramirez, claims analyst.
New Foot Care Institute At Valley Baptist-Brownsville
A new Foot Care Institute at Valley Baptist-
Brownsville offers specialized care that can
help prevent tragic disabilities and amputations
in diabetes and other patients in the
Brownsville area.
The Foot Care Institute’s main objective is
to take care of patients affected with foot and
ankle problems through an outpatient clinic
in the Edelstein Professional Building, across
from the Emergency Entrance at VBMC-B
on W. Jefferson St. But the Institute will also
focus efforts on early intervention, patient
education, and preventing problems from
occurring in the first place. During its grand
opening on Nov. 15, the Foot Care Institute
teamed up with the Valley Baptist Diabetes
Education Center to offer free health screenings
for the community, including blood sugar
testing and a screening for peripheral vascular
disease, which looks at circulation in the
person’s feet and lower legs.
Dr. Jose Ayala, DPM, CWS, Director of the
Foot Care Institute, noted that many patients
who are afflicted with foot and ankle problems
have diabetes. “It is important for these
patients to know the implications diabetes can
have – and to seek early treatment,” he said.
Dr. Ayala said some of the patients he sees
at the hospital come in with open wounds,
but more often than not, the patient doesn’t
realize the complications that wounds can
cause if not treated properly.
Some people have the misconception that
applying an ointment or a liquid to a wound
will take care of the problem. “But that is not
the solution,” Dr. Ayala said. “That is why we
are emphasizing that prevention must be a
priority -- to prevent a major problem from
developing.”
“If we detect a problem in its early stages,
we can often take care of it within two
weeks,” Dr. Ayala added. “But if not properly
treated, that same problem could eventually
lead to an amputation.”
When a patient loses a foot or leg, there
can be tragic consequences for the patient
and the entire family, as amputation affects
the person’s ability to work and function in
daily life. “We would like to send a message to
people from throughout the area that we have
a Foot Care Institute to help them before they
become another statistic,” Dr. Ayala said.
Marisa Aguilar, Clinical Research
Coordinator and Clinic Director of the Wound
Care Center at VBMC-B, said the Foot Care
Institute will make important preventative
services more accessible to patients.
The Foot Care Institute is located in Suite
170 of the Edelstein Building, 800 West
Jefferson. The clinic is open Monday through
Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information,
call (956) 698-5052 or visit www.
ValleyBaptist.net.

2008 Community Christmas at VBMC-Brownsville
Employees, Community Enjoy Jeff Foxworthy Benefit
Hundreds of Valley Baptist employees
and community members enjoyed
the “redneck comedy” of Jeff
Foxworthy Oct. 25 at the Rio Grande Valley
Livestock Show Grounds in Mercedes. The
nationally-known entertainer generously
donated his time and travel expenses to benefit
Valley children through a new Pediatric
Emergency Department at Valley Baptist-
Harlingen and renovation of the pediatric
unit at Valley Baptist-Brownsville.
The “Stand Up for Kids Benefit Concert”
also featured 22 Valley fifth grade students
who participated in the Valley’s own version
of the popular TV show, “Are You Smarter
than a Fifth Grader” Harlingen Mayor Chris
Boswell and Judge Migdalia Lopez served as
the “grown-ups” who pitted their academic
knowledge against some very intelligent fifth
graders! K-TEX Radio DJs, “Patches” and
“JoJo”, provided country music as a warm-up
to the main events.
The Valley Baptist Foundation thanks all
who came to this event on behalf of our
youngest patients, including all of the generous
sponsors (sponsors enjoyed a pre-concert
meal and chance to meet Jeff Foxworthy in
person). Elliff Motors served as presenting
sponsor, while Dr. Gary Schwarz played a key
role in bringing Jeff Foxworthy to the Valley.
Quita Wittenbach and Sandra Flinn worked
very hard as co-chairs for the event, along
with numerous other volunteers.
The upgrades to Valley Baptist’s pediatric
facilities will enable children to be treated
by specially-trained staff with equipment
and services designed especially for children.
Plans include a special play room and waiting
area just for the kids, which will provide faster
service than currently available. For more
information on the continuing efforts to fund
these projects for our patients, please contact
the Valley Baptist Foundation at ext.1-1614
(389-1614).

IMPPACT Goes Live; Valley Baptist Boldly Moves Into Future
GE Centricity has gone live at Valley Baptist,
representing the beginning of a transformation
in the way health care is practiced in
the Valley. Our nurses, physicians, medical
records personnel, and other staff have been
working extremely hard on what amounts
to a major change – which will have major
benefits for our patients. For our patients, the
GE Centricity Clinical Transformation will
mean higher quality care, greater patient safety,
convenience, and easier access to health
information. Several Valley Baptist employees
said that despite challenges, the new system
should save time for employees and doctors
as we become more proficient in using the
new system.
“Once the ‘kinks’ are ironed out at the
beginning, I think it gives us the opportunity
to document better, and to give more detail
in our assessments,” said Anna Borchers, RN,
of the Comprehensive Medical Unit (5ST
now temporarily located at 3W at VBMC-
Harlingen). “The charting system is better.”
“I like using the system, it makes our work
a lot easier,” added Jennifer Friedline, RN,
clinical supervisor for the 3T and 2T night
shift at VBMC-Brownsville. “Admissions are
a whole lot easier … I’m excited about getting
all the bugs worked out in the system so we
can really see it in action.”
Jennifer added that the night staff are doing
very well with the electronic record. “The
staff has adapted very well to it. I’m very
proud of them for their acceptance of the new
system and the teamwork they’ve shown in
helping each other out. They’ve showed a lot
of initiative and follow-through. Even when it
was stressful, they really pulled together and
worked together as a team.”
Marisol Gonzalez, RN, with 2NW at
VBMC-H, said the new system helps with
patient transfers. “We don’t have to do all the
paperwork anymore … for a transfer from
unit-to-unit, all I have to do is fill out an
SBAR on the computer, and call the unit to
ask for the nurse who is admitting the patient,
and let them know we already filled out the
SBAR.”
Marisol added that overall she thinks the
Centricity upgrade is great. “It’s faster – and
everything is there. It saves time – a lot. It’s
going to take time for everyone to get used to
the system because it’s new. But in the longterm
it will pay off.”
In addition to GE Centricity Electronic
Medical Record, the project also includes two
companion applications:
• The state-of-the-art Picis applications for
high acuity areas such as surgery, anesthesia
and critical care units
• Streamline Health for medical records
Many thanks to the hard-working IMPPACT
team that worked around the clock to get
both hospitals up and running with the new
system in October. And thank you to all of
our employees for your participation in taking
Valley Baptist into the future, today!!
Upcoming Events
01/06 Bereavement Support Group
Meetings Topic: “What is
Grief” 6:00 p.m.
Boggus Education Pavilion
01/08 Diabetes Support Group
Meeting 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Boggus Education Pavilion
01/09 Black Tie Bash Fundraiser for
VB-B Women’s Services
For more information and for
ticket information: 389-1614
01/13 Bereavement Support Group
Topic: “Where am I in my
process of grief” 6:00 p.m.
Boggus Education Pavilion
01/17 Pain & Palliative Care
8 am to 12 noon
Woodward Conference Center
01/20 Bereavement Support Group
Topic: “What are my resources
for grief” 6:00 p.m.
Boggus Education Pavilion
01/27 Bereavement Support Group
Topic: “How can I re-invest in
living” 6:00 p.m.
Boggus Education Pavilion

Valley Baptist Health System
P.O. Drawer 2588
Harlingen, TX 78551
www.valleybaptist.net