Page 27 - Society Life_Feb_2019

TEXAS HEALTH HARRIS METHODIST HOSPITAL SOUTHLAKE | COVER STORY SL

Texas Health Southlake is a multi-specialty
A Perfectly surgical hospital. As part of its commitment
Choreographed Dance to patient safety and providing the highest
standards of care, it attains accreditation
from the Joint Commission. During one
visit, a Joint Commission surveyor asked
ONLINE TESTIMONIAL: to observe one of the hospital’s surgical
procedures—a neurosurgery case involving
“... please let me take this opportunity to share how surgery on the spine. The neurosurgeon,
anesthesiologist, vendors, nurses and techs
very grateful I am for the excellent healthcare service all settled into a finely tuned rhythm. Each
your staff provided me with the full understanding aspect of the procedure was performed at
the perfect pitch and tempo balanced, of
of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ vigilance, preparation, course, with the utmost mindfulness of the
on-going training and teamwork that created the patient’s safety.
seamless and positive experience that I had. “As she walked out of the room, the sur-
veyor compared what she had seen to a
You are all truly Healthcare Heroes!” perfect dance. Everybody knew their role
and everybody respected everyone else’s
role. They just know,” Bernard recalls. “I
– Julie Norris Witt, RN, CNOR
would put our clinical teams that work in
“I would put the O.R. up against anybody’s anywhere—
our clinical teams they are that good and that experienced.
that work in the O.R. And our surgeons would tell you the
up against anybody’s same. The biggest gem in this hospital is
anywhere—they are that our staff.”
good and that experienced.
And our surgeons would tell
you the same. The biggest That didn’t come by accident. It’s ingrained
gem in this hospital is our in a culture where people take off their
staff,” shares the President stripes and teach and coach each other to
of Texas Health Southlake work effectively together. It doesn’t matter
Traci Bernard. if you are a tech in the room handing the
instruments or if you’re the surgeon, you
both have to figure out what works well for
each of you. That’s what makes the dance
so simple, so easy that barely any words
even pass between each other. You just
know. That’s the result of mutual respect,
and it was evident on that day they were
observed. It was clear to the surveyor that
everyone treated one another as equals,
with the understanding that each role each
contributes vitally to the success of the
whole team and the patient’s best interests.

(continued on next page)

SocietyLifeMag.com | FEBRUARY 2019 25