Houston Methodist Hospital Explained

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Houston Methodist
Org/Group:Houston Methodist
Region:Houston
State:Texas
Country:US
Location:6565 Fannin Street
Healthcare:Non-profit
Type:Academic Medical Center and seven community hospitals
Emergency:Level III trauma center
Affiliation:Weill Cornell Medical College[1]
Beds:2,502
Founded:1919
Religious Affiliation:Christianity - Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church[2]

Houston Methodist Hospital is the flagship quaternary care hospital of Houston Methodist academic medical center. Located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, Houston Methodist Hospital was established in 1919 during the height of the Spanish influenza epidemic as an outreach ministry of Methodist Episcopal Church. Houston Methodist comprises eight hospitals, an academic institute, a primary care group, and more than 300 locations throughout greater Houston.

The hospital has consistently ranked as "One of America's Best Hospitals" according to U.S. News & World Report.[3] The hospital has earned worldwide recognition in multiple specialties including cardiovascular surgery, cancer, epilepsy treatment and organ transplantation.[4]

Houston Methodist System changed its official name to Houston Methodist in 2013.[5]

History

Originally located near downtown Houston, after a $1 million donation from Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen, the hospital relocated to the Texas Medical Center and opened a 300-bed facility in 1951.[6]

Michael DeBakey

Heart surgeon Michael E. DeBakey (1908–2008), a faculty member and later Chancellor Emeritus of Baylor College of Medicine, performed the first removal of a carotid artery blockage (1950); the first aorto-coronary bypass surgery (1964); the first use of a ventricular assist device to pump blood and support a diseased heart (1966); and some of the first U.S. heart transplants (1968 and 1969) at the hospital. DeBakey also created the first Dacron graft (1953).[7]

Flooding and storms

1976 flood

In 1976, unusually heavy rains caused more than $20 million in flood-related damage in the Texas Medical Center, knocking out power at three hospitals. Six feet of water filled Methodist's basement.[8]

Tropical Storm Allison

On June 8, 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dropped up to 37 inches of rain on parts of Houston, causing the worst flooding in the city's history up until that time, with serious damage to the Texas Medical Center. About 40 feet of water filled Methodist Hospital's basement and entered the neurosensory building. The hospital discharged 400 patients and did not fully reopen until five weeks after the storm. The flooding caused an estimated $360 million in damage.[9]

Expansion

Consisting of the existing Texas Medical Center facility and several newly constructed regional hospitals, Houston Methodist was established in 1996 to extend health services beyond the Texas Medical Center and into communities throughout Houston.

Research

Houston Methodist, the University of Houston, and Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University jointly founded the Institute for Biomedical Imaging Science. The institute will create interdisciplinary programs in biomedical imaging and will develop joint training programs to produce basic and applied scientists.[10]

Also, beginning in 2019 Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital will launch the EnMed program which is an innovative Engineering Medicine program designed to educate a new kind of physician who will create transformational technology for health care.[11]

Locations

Houston Methodist comprises seven community hospitals, a continuing care hospital, as well as several emergency centers and physical therapy clinics throughout greater Houston, including:[12]

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report routinely names Houston Methodist Hospital as one of its “Best Hospitals,” most recently in 2021 where it was regionally ranked number one in Texas and number 16 nationally.[29] Houston Methodist is nationally ranked in ten specialties and achieved maximum points for superior performance in 17 out of 17 common adult procedures and conditions.[30]

Innovation

Houston Methodist has a dedicated center for innovation in digital platforms for healthcare delivery [31]

Notable procedures

Accolades

Houston Methodist has five hospitals with distinction for nursing excellence and quality patient care by the Magnet Recognition Program of the American Nurses Credentialing Center.[37]

Houston Methodist Hospital was selected for the 2018 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award for excellence in delivering high-quality health care from Vizient, formerly known as UHC.[38]

Other awards and achievements include:

Affiliated schools/institutions

Houston Methodist is an academic medical center affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, as well as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. From 1950 to 2004, Houston Methodist was affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine.

Houston Methodist is a Christian hospital network affiliated with the United Methodist Church by means of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.https://www.houstonmethodist.org/about-us/what-we-believe/#:~:text=Houston%20Methodist%2C%20a%20Christian%20organization,provide%20quality%20health%20care%20services.

Other affiliations include Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and the University of Houston.

COVID-19 vaccine requirement

Houston Methodist hospital has required its employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine by June 7, 2021.[41] It was the nation's first hospital system to require its employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19,[42] a disease that, as of June 2021, had caused more than 3.7 million deaths worldwide.[43]

As part of the mandate, the hospital system's 26,000 employees were required to get their first COVID-19 shot by June 7, 2021.[44] [45] This wasn't the first vaccine the hospital had mandated. The flu vaccine has been mandated for all Houston Methodist employees since 2009.[46]

Ultimately, 99%[47] of employees complied with the hospital's COVID-19 mandate. Less than 0.6% of employees quit or were fired because they refused to get vaccinated, and a small number of employees were exempt or allowed to defer for medical reasons.[48]

Prior to taking action on the June 7 vaccination deadline, the hospital first suspended the 178 employees who were not yet vaccinated.[49] During this two-week suspension, 25 more employees got vaccinated.[46] [50]

Dr. Marc Boom, CEO of Houston Methodist, said as healthcare workers, we have "a sacred obligation to care for patients" and that mandating the vaccine was consistent with "our responsibility to keep patients safe".[51] More recently, Dr. Boom has also said he has no regrets about his decision, adding that the mandate was "the best decision we ever made."[48] The hospital's CEO credits it to keeping 300 employees from getting sick during the Delta surge over the 2021 summer, according to a hospital analysis.[48] Of those who did get sick during the surge, Dr. Boom said that these employees reported less severe symptoms and, importantly, no employees died.[52] [48]

There was pushback against the mandate, but it was small and short-lived.[53] 117 employees challenged the vaccine requirement by suing the hospital, claiming the vaccine was “experimental”.[54] Many such lawsuits were backed by prominent anti-vaxxers like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.[55] [56] The group of medical workers staged a walk out on June 7.[57] [58] U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes dismissed the lawsuit on June 12, 2021, calling the plaintiff's allegations that the vaccine was experimental "false" and adding that the hospital's policy doesn't violate state or federal law and isn’t considered “coercion”.[59] [60] [61] [62] On June 22, 2021, 153 Houston Methodist employees either resigned or were terminated for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19.[63]

Hospitals across the nation have since followed Houston Methodist in requiring COVID-19 vaccination for employees, with about 41% of hospitals nationwide having some sort of mandate in place as of October 2021.[64] [48]

As of December 1st, 2023 the hospital back pedaled on this policy ahead of the new state law passed by the Texas state legislature banning the requirement of COVID-19 vaccines by private employers. It should also be noted that the hospital system did not require follow up vaccination for the newer variants of COVID-19. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce/houston-methodist-nixes-covid-19-vaccine-rule-ahead-of-new-state-law.html

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Academic Affiliations. Houston Methodist.
  2. Web site: https://www.houstonmethodist.org/about-us/what-we-believe/#:~:text=Houston%20Methodist%2C%20a%20Christian%20organization,provide%20quality%20health%20care%20services..
  3. http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/directory/glance_6741960.htm Hospital Directory: Detail View - U.S. News & World Report
  4. http://www.tmhs.org/tmhs/newsItem.do?channelId=-1073829253&contentId=186981&contentType=NEWS_CONTENT_TYPE Methodist Hospital System (The Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas)
  5. [Methodist Announces New Name]
  6. Web site: METHODIST HOSPITAL OF HOUSTON. SIBLEY. MARILYN M.. June 15, 2010. tshaonline.org. en. January 22, 2019.
  7. News: Famed Heart Surgeon Michael DeBakey Dead. CBS News. January 22, 2019.
  8. News: 4 Dead, Thousands Routed By 12‐Inch Rain in Houston. Sterba. James P.. June 17, 1976. The New York Times. January 22, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331.
  9. Web site: Tropical Storm Allison, June 2001. January 22, 2019. Risk Assessment Models. January 22, 2019.
  10. Web site: University Offices. www.uh.edu.
  11. Web site: About EnMed. www.tamhsc.edu.
  12. Web site: Hospital Locations - Houston Methodist. www.houstonmethodist.com.
  13. Web site: Hospital Locations | Houston Methodist . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140212220543/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/OurHospitals.cfm?id=37102 . February 12, 2014 . dead .
  14. Web site: Texas Medical Center - Houston Methodist. houstonmethodist.org.
  15. Web site: Hospital Locations - Houston Baytown. www.houstonmethodist.org.
  16. Web site: Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140327063404/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/sjmh.cfm?id=36917 . March 27, 2014 . dead .
  17. Web site: Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140311095230/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/sjmh.cfm?id=36844 . March 11, 2014 . dead .
  18. Web site: Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital | Quality hospital in Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, Texas and a leader in heart and cardiovascular care, orthopedics and quality birthing center . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140213231905/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/mslh.cfm?id=36996 . February 13, 2014 . dead .
  19. Web site: Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140327063012/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/mwh.cfm?id=36994 . March 27, 2014 . dead .
  20. Web site: Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140327063000/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/mwh.cfm?id=36923 . March 27, 2014 . dead .
  21. Web site: Houston Methodist West Hospital . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130925235643/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/mwhh.cfm?id=36838 . September 25, 2013 . dead .
  22. Web site: Houston Methodist West Hospital . March 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140327031224/http://www.houstonmethodist.org/mwhh.cfm?id=36839 . March 27, 2014 . dead .
  23. Web site: Hospital Locations - Houston Methodist Clear Lake. www.houstonmethodist.org.
  24. Web site: Houston Methodist St. John Hospital - Houston Methodist. houstonmethodist.org.
  25. Web site: St. John Hospital - Houston Methodist. houstonmethodist.org.
  26. Web site: The Woodlands Hospital - Houston Methodist. houstonmethodist.org.
  27. Web site: Houston Methodist St. Catherine - Houston Methodist. www.houstonmethodist.org.
  28. Web site: Houston Methodist . June 16, 2022 . www.houstonmethodist.org . en.
  29. Web site: Houston Methodist Hospital. November 4, 2021. US News.
  30. Web site: Houston Methodist. November 4, 2021. www.houstonmethodist.org. en.
  31. Web site: Center for Innovation Houston Methodist. www.houstonmethodist.org. March 7, 2019.
  32. Web site: Historic Houston ORs closing at Methodist - HoustonChronicle.com. July 8, 2018. www.chron.com. en-US. January 24, 2019.
  33. Web site: Historic Fondren-Brown operating rooms of Houston Methodist Hospital closing. July 5, 2018. KPRC. en-US. January 24, 2019.
  34. Web site: Texas Medical Center NEWS. July 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706190522/http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/12_01_00/page_02.html. January 24, 2019. July 6, 2015.
  35. Web site: Latest Health Articles and Science News | Texas Medical Center . www.tmc.edu. January 24, 2019.
  36. Web site: Houston surgeons perform first skull-scalp transplant. June 4, 2015. www.chron.com. en-US. January 24, 2019.
  37. Web site: ANCC List Of Magnet® Recognized Hospitals. www.clinicalmanagementconsultants.com. January 24, 2019.
  38. Web site: Vizient Presents Clinical Performance Awards at the 2018 Connections Summit Newsroom – Vizient. newsroom.vizientinc.com. January 24, 2019.
  39. Web site: AMSN PRISM Award® Recipients. Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses. January 24, 2019.
  40. Web site: Healthgrades names honorees in 2018 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence. Healthcare Finance News. en. January 24, 2019.
  41. News: Jiménez. Jesus. Chokshi. Niraj. June 7, 2021. Hospital workers in Texas protest against a mandatory vaccine policy.. en-US. The New York Times. June 8, 2021. 0362-4331.
  42. Web site: Texas hospital CEO "deeply disappointed" by Abbott's bid to ban vaccine mandates. October 29, 2021. www.cbsnews.com. en-US.
  43. News: Chappell. Bill. June 10, 2021. The Clock's Ticking For 178 Hospital Workers Suspended For Not Getting Vaccinated. en. NPR. October 29, 2021.
  44. Web site: Dzhanova. Yelena. A Texas hospital is the first in the country to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its staff. October 29, 2021. Business Insider. en-US.
  45. Web site: Dunn. Andrew. Should the COVID-19 vaccine be mandated? Debate takes center stage, as hospitals, colleges and businesses start requiring the shot.. October 29, 2021. Business Insider. en-US.
  46. News: Texas hospital system suspends workers who won't get the COVID-19 vaccine. October 29, 2021. The Week. Garcia. Catherine. June 9, 2021.
  47. Web site: Dean. Grace. 153 workers at Houston Methodist Hospital quit or were fired after they refused a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine. October 29, 2021. Business Insider. en-US.
  48. News: Vaccine mandates stoked fears of labor shortages. But hospitals say they're working.. October 29, 2021. Kornfield. Meryl. Timsit. Annabelle. October 16, 2021. The Washington Post. limited.
  49. News: Chappell. Bill. June 10, 2021. The Clock's Ticking For 178 Hospital Workers Suspended For Not Getting Vaccinated. en. NPR. October 29, 2021.
  50. Web site: Dean. Grace. 153 workers at Houston Methodist Hospital quit or were fired after they refused a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine. October 29, 2021. Business Insider. en-US.
  51. Web site: Houston Methodist CEO Marc Boom on being the first hospital to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for employees. November 9, 2021. Health Evolution. October 13, 2021 .
  52. News: 'Coming back and biting us': US sees virus resurgence. November 2, 2021. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. English.
  53. News: Most employers shy away from mandating coronavirus vaccines. en-US. Washington Post. November 9, 2021. 0190-8286.
  54. News: Chappell. Bill. June 10, 2021. The Clock's Ticking For 178 Hospital Workers Suspended For Not Getting Vaccinated. en. NPR. November 9, 2021.
  55. News: 117 staffers sue over Houston hospital's vaccine mandate, saying they don't want to be 'guinea pigs'. en-US. Washington Post. November 9, 2021. 0190-8286.
  56. Web site: Dorn. Sara. How anti-vaxxers are engineering a wave of legal battles to fight mandatory workplace Covid jabs. November 9, 2021. Business Insider. en-US.
  57. Web site: Wu. Gwendolyn. Hensley. Nicole. June 7, 2021. 'They walked me out': Unvaccinated nurses, workers finish their last shifts at Houston-area hospital. June 8, 2021. Houston Chronicle. en-US.
  58. Web site: June 7, 2021. Dozens of Houston Methodist employees walk out of job in protest of mandatory vaccine. June 8, 2021. FOX 26 Houston. en-US.
  59. Web site: Mark. Michelle. A federal judge just ruled against over 100 Houston hospital workers who will be fired if they don't get the COVID-19 vaccine. November 9, 2021. Business Insider. en-US.
  60. Web site: Dean. Grace. 153 workers at Houston Methodist Hospital quit or were fired after they refused a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine. November 9, 2021. Business Insider. en-US.
  61. Web site: Manfredi. Lucas. June 13, 2021. Texas judge tosses hospital workers' COVID-19 vaccine requirement lawsuit, says they can 'work somewhere else'. November 9, 2021. Fox News. en-US.
  62. Web site: June 13, 2021. Federal Judge Dismisses Unvaccinated Hospital Workers' Lawsuit. November 9, 2021. HuffPost. en.
  63. Web site: 153 Houston Methodist Hospital Employees Fired Or Resigned For Refusing To Get Covid-19 Vaccine TNE. June 23, 2021. texasnewsexpress.com.
  64. Web site: Bacon. John. 'Condition of employment': Hospitals in DC, across the nation follow Houston Methodist in requiring vaccination for workers. November 9, 2021. USA TODAY. en-US.

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