LONGVIEW (January 27, 2009) – Good Shepherd Medical Center announced today that it is among the nation’s top five percent of hospitals, according to an independent study of mortality and complication rates for nearly 5,000 hospitals released today by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading healthcare ratings company.

Good Shepherd Medical Center has achieved HealthGrades’ 2009 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM based on its clinical quality performance. According to the HealthGrades study, patients admitted to a hospital receiving this award are, on average, 27 percent less likely to die and 8 percent less likely to suffer from a major complication. This year, only 270 of the nation’s nearly 5,000 non-federal hospitals will receive this distinction.

The HealthGrades study also found that Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence are improving their patient outcomes at a greater rate in more procedures and diagnoses than all other hospitals, lowering risk-adjusted mortality rates over the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 by an average of 18%.

The level of quality healthcare practiced by the medical staff and employees of Good Shepherd Medical Center is unsurpassed in our region,” said Ed Banos, President and CEO of Good Shepherd Health System. “The awards we continue to receive from HealthGrades are evidence of a truly talented and dedicated staff. It is because of their hard work and commitment that our patients and their families receive healthcare services that are among the best in the nation.”

“The hospitals that have been designated as Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical ExcellenceTM have, across the board, been leaders in their commitment to delivering the highest quality patient care. Consumers can choose where they receive their healthcare and our study again highlights the tremendous disparity in quality between hospitals,” said Rick May, MD, HealthGrades senior physician consultant.

In October, Good Shepherd received HealthGrades 2009 Specialty Excellence awards in four areas: Coronary Intervention, Spine Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery and General Surgery. Five-star ratings in 21 areas were also received, including treatment of stroke, treatment of respiratory failure, treatment of heart attack and treatment of heart failure. Good Shepherd previously was awarded the Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence in years 2003 through 2007.

This is the seventh year that HealthGrades has independently analyzed the clinical quality performance of all non-federal hospitals across the country in 26 procedures and diagnoses. In the Distinguished Hospital Study, the company reviewed nearly 41 million hospitalization records from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. All hospitals that participate in the Medicare program were part of the independent study. Hospitals that receive the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM are those hospitals that rank in the top five percent when all 26 individual scores are aggregated into an overall score.

Short has also served as director of nursing operations and most recently, divisional director of nursing operations and rehabilitative services. In his new role as vice president, he will oversee emergency services, patient flow operations, environmental services, and inpatient rehabilitative services.

His educational background includes a bachelor of science degree in health studies and a master of science degree in physical therapy, both from Boston University. He also holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. Short is a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives, serves on the finance committee of the Texas Physical Therapy Association, and currently participates in Leadership Longview.

He and his wife, Tammi, reside in Longview and have three children.

According to the 2009 HealthGrades’ ratings, Good Shepherd Medical Center also received five-star ratings for clinical excellence in a number of key areas including: treatment of heart attack and heart failure, joint replacement, hip fracture repair, treatment of stroke, treatment of pneumonia and treatment of respiratory failure.

“These awards indicate Good Shepherd’s ongoing commitment to serving our community with the highest quality of care. The Medical Center’s dedicated staff is solely responsible for the ongoing achievements that rank us among the leading providers of health care,” said Ed Banos, President and CEO of Good Shepherd Health System.

These findings were included in the eleventh annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, which analyzed more than 41 million Medicare hospitalization records from 2005 to 2007 at the nation’s approximately 5,000 non-federal hospitals. Also according to the study, patients treated at the nation’s top-rated hospitals have a 70 percent lower chance of dying compared with the lowest-rated hospitals across 17 common procedures and conditions, ranging from heart attack and pneumonia care to respiratory failure.

While overall death rates declined from 2005 to 2007, the nation’s best-performing hospitals were able to reduce preventable deaths at a much faster rate than poor-performing hospitals, resulting in large state, regional and hospital-to-hospital variations in the quality of patient care, the study found.

In addition to a state-of-the-art fitness facility, the Institute also offers the Healthy Living Spa and Healthy Living Cafe, both of which are open to the general public. The Healthy Living Spa is a full-service day spa, designed to promote a healthy, stress-managed life. Services include a range of specially designed massages, natural manicures, pedicures and facials. A tranquil relaxation room inspires all of the senses and is available to be utilized before or after a spa treatment.

The Healthy Living Cafe is operated by Gerald Rodriguez, of Longview’s Tyler Street Bistro and Gerald’s. The Healthy Living Cafe will feature heart-healthy daily lunch specials, and will be open for business weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While the spa and cafe are open to the public, members of the Institute will receive discounts. For more information on how you may join the Institute for Healthy Living, please contact a member associate at (903) 323-6500 or visit us at 611 E. Hawkins Pkwy. during business hours.

“We are pleased to have recruited a COO with the experience that Troy Thibodeaux brings to the organization,” said Ed Banos, president and chief executive officer. “His leadership and operational experience will be valuable as we continue to evaluate strategies to enhance and grow the Health System.”

Most recently, he served as vice president of operations for East Texas Medical Center, where he was responsible for planning, organizing and directing the day to day operations of nursing, clinical, ancillary and support departments of the hospital to include Surgical Services, Pre-Op, Recovery, Same Day Surgery, Anesthesia, Food Services, Dietary, Laundry, Sleep Disorders Center, Pain Center, Neurological Institute, and Urology Institute.
Throughout his healthcare career, Troy has served in various operational leadership positions for other well respected organizations including Texas Children’s Hospital, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Baylor College of Medicine all located in Houston.

He received a bachelor of arts in psychology from Southwest Texas State University and a Masters in Health Care Administration from Texas Woman’s University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was a Regents Award Recipient in October of 2007. He currently serves on the Leadership Development Council and the Council on Policy Development for the Texas Hospital Association and has been involved in the community volunteering for organizations including Boy’s & Girl’s Club of East Texas, American Cancer Society, and United Way.

Please join us for an open house celebrating the introduction of

The Breast Center at Good Shepherd
Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
Medical Plaza III, First Floor
705 E. Marshall Avenue