MDNews - San Antonio

COVER FEATURE College of Medicine. "The caliber of people coming from really renowned institutions to join our community here is phenomenal. I think the attraction for them is Baylor, which has a stellar reputation nationally. The opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a freestanding children's hospital is also very compelling." Benefits of an Open Staff Model One thing that hasn't changed is the pursuit of an open staff model, which began when Dr. Wayne was chief administrator and is a tradition that will continue in a big way at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio. This method has advantages for the medical staff, but the real winners are the patients. "As a hospital medicine physician, I have direct access to my patients' subspecialists. This environment is critical to decreasing the fragmentation of services and care that we have unfortunately seen in the past," says Vanessa Hill, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at Children's Hospital of San Antonio. "If a complex patient is admitted, all team members can directly care for that patient. Communication is absolutely improved, and the patients and their families directly receive a positive impact." The model also increases the flow of information and expertise across the entire community. "Our colleagues in the community now have access to a top-tier children's hospital in which to care for their patients. If for some reason those patients and physicians need assistance from highly specialized services, the Children's Hospital of San Antonio can meet those needs, as well," Dr. Hill says. "Additionally, an open staff model allows for community physicians to have access to Dramatic changes are propelling the Children's Hospital of San Antonio forward, building a new community of pediatric excellence. 8 | San Antonio MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM A visit by San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro in August 2013 marked the official kickoff of the construction phase at the Children's Hospital of San Antonio. Mayor Castro praised the project for aligning with his SA2020 vision. standardized, evidence-based protocols that have been implemented successfully at our hospital." Echoing that sentiment is Michelle Barajaz, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with Baylor College of Medicine and Director of the Pediatric Residency Program, who takes an even longer-term view of the benefits of an open staff model to the future health of the San Antonio community. "Physicians benefit from a growing network of intellectual partners who strive to take medical care in San Antonio to the next level. Research opportunities become richer as physicians gain access to what is inarguably one of the best pediatric centers in the country," Dr. Barajaz says. "As we begin to train the next generation of Baylor College of Medicine pediatricians here in San Antonio, these training pediatricians also win by receiving an education which is broadened to include a generous complement of sites, practice models, academic mentors and physician educators to enhance and diversify their training experience." Taking Children's Health to the Next Level One thing is certain: The benefits of partnering with Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital means the Children's Hospital of San Antonio is moving swiftly to take children's health care to the highest level. This trio is building a new community of physicians and research programs, all while the campus is under construction but open for quality patient care. "The building downtown is going to be extraordinary, but it's not the building that's important — it's what's inside the building," Dr. Wayne says. "All good things are worth waiting for, and this far exceeds anything we ever dreamed." Dr. Gilger's prediction for the future of the Children's Hospital of San Antonio in this community is far-reaching. "I see the Children's Hospital of San Antonio as a true resource for the community. We will be a force to bring the community together — businesses, academics, social advocacy groups — to really study community problems and put solutions into action," Dr. Gilger says. "We hope to teach not only the next generation of physicians how to be healthy and grow and prosper, but we also hope to share that same lesson with our children, parents and grandparents." To learn more about Children's Hospital of San Antonio, please visit www.chofsa.org. ■

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