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Drive and determination help new Chief Nursing/Administrative Officer Angie Kauffman steer toward success An experienced leader in healthcare operations, Angie Kauffman recently assumed the role of chief nursing/administrative officer at Westside Surgical Hospital. She is enthusiastic about supporting the hospital’s mission, vision and values by fostering a spirit of collaboration. Here, she outlines her team’s accomplishments and shares her view of the future. How did you come to Westside Surgical Hospital? I had been a chief nursing officer for nearly 10 years in Austin, where the healthcare market is smaller. I had wanted to obtain my master’s degree in business…

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Screening tests can reduce mortality by allowing doctors to find tumors early before they’ve had a chance to grow and spread. Doctors recommend regular screening beginning at age 50, but advise people to start earlier if they have one of the following risk factors: Personal or family history of colorectal cancer polyps or colorectal cancer Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis A genetic syndrome such as Lynch syndrome, Turcot syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) If you feel you may be at increased risk, your physician can offer advice and determine the right…

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    New services offer advanced treatment options With the opening of both its new Breast Center and IVF Lab, Westside Surgical Hospital continues to bring new and innovative care to its patients. The breast center will feature the most advanced reconstructive surgery techniques available today, along with imaging options that include: 3-D mammography 3-D ultrasound Stereotactic breast biopsies Bone density testing “Westside Surgical Hospital has always had a special focus on breast health, but with this new center we will be able to care for women from diagnosis through treatment using state of the art microsurgical techniques and the…

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the staff and physicians at Westside Surgical Hospital made it a priority to get involved in as many local events as possible. BRA Day at Dillard’s supported Reconstruction of a Survivor, a group that is dedicated to improving the lives of women impacted by breast cancer. Dr. Jay Shenaq, plastic and reconstructive surgeon, offered a presentation to attendees on reconstructive surgery. Great Day Houston’s Deborah Dunca served as emcee. Brave Faces Patient Celebration took place at WSH, with staff and former breast surgery patients coming together for a celebration of recovery. Houston Komen…

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A surgical technician faces her own battle with breast cancer “The doctor needs to talk to you.” The first time Yami Mora heard these words, she knew it was bad news. The 36-year-old surgical tech called to get her mammogram results, and was asked to return for “another look.” After an ultrasound, the radiology tech came in visibly concerned. “The doctor needs to talk to you,” she said. Yami knew that technologists delivered good news. Doctors delivered bad news. Yami is proud to work alongside some of the finest surgeons in Houston at Westside Surgical Hospital, a multi-specialty hospital near…

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Medicine plays a key part in treating health issues, but once medications are no longer needed, people often forget to dispose of them properly. Most medicine can simply be thrown away, however others can be harmful – or even fatal – if they fall into the wrong hands. Children, pets and people intentionally seeking drugs can all be at risk if medicine is disposed of improperly. The FDA offers this advice for drug disposal: READ THE LABELMost potentially harmful medicines have detailed instructions for disposal printed on the label. While many can simply be flushed down the toilet, don’t flush…

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Heed your body’s warning signals to avoid injury As classic as legwarmers and Jane Fonda workout videos is the adage, “No pain, no gain.” But how do you know if you’re making progress or courting trouble? The most common form of pain we associate with physical activity is delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. You’ll usually feel this soreness a day or two after beginning an exercise regimen, increasing the intensity of an existing routine or targeting a fresh set of muscles. If you’re a man over age 45 or a woman over age 55, or if you have an…

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Patients can live pain-free with cartilage restoration If you suffer from chronic knee pain, joint replacement surgery can drastically improve your life. But what if you’re too young to be a good candidate for the procedure? For a long time, the answer was you wait. Now orthopedic surgeons like Dr. Michael Trice are giving people new options. “When patients under 40 or even 50 have joint replacements, many of the joints fail early,” says Dr. Trice. “It is common for these patients to have the replacement done over again in five to ten years. A cartilage transplant can delay or…

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The hospital meets stringent quality standards Westside Surgical Hospital recently earned national accreditation from the DNV organization, recognizing the hospital’s commitment to quality and safety in providing patient care. DNV accreditation is awarded only after the entire hospital staff and work processes are surveyed by DNV auditors to ensure the facility meets its quality standards. Just as physicians, nurses, lab techs and other staff at a hospital undergo rigorous training and testing to qualify for their work — so must a hospital as a whole demonstrate that it meets a set of quality standards. The DNV is one of two…

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The reasons to quit smoking keep adding up Still smoking despite all the warnings? Then maybe this will finally be the reason you put down the pack: complications following surgery. According to researchers from the Mayo Clinic, former and current smokers who have operations have higher healthcare costs for a year afterward compared to people who never smoked. They found that smoking-related complications could add up to $17 billion in direct medical costs in the United States. Smokers will find it harder to breathe during and after surgery, and the risk of blood clots and infection is higher. The risk…

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Should you consider taking up yoga? If you’ve ever seen a yoga class in action, it’s easy to see why this form of exercise is so popular. Yoga is a low-impact exercise, so those with mobility issues can take part, and it’s good for flexibility. It also is a mind-body workout, so even though you’re doing some serious stretching it’s also relaxing. Sound good? It should, but be aware that yoga’s not for everyone, and it’s not a quick fix for all your physical issues. Accentuate the Positive Yoga is great for posture, balance, flexibility and core strength. It also…

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Combining expert opinions on the WSH Tumor Board A breast cancer patient will see many different types of physicians over the course of treatment as they move from surgery to radiology, chemotherapy and often plastic surgery. When their case is particularly complex, having all of these specialists come together can be a huge benefit in creating a comprehensive treatment plan. That’s what happens each month when the Westside Surgical Hospital Tumor Board meets. “All of the different specialties necessary for breast cancer care are in the same room and, in an open and frank fashion, can discuss a case with the…

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HOUSTON, TEXAS, December 15, 2014 The long-awaited Breast Center and IVF lab opens next month at Westside Surgical Hospital. Patients will receive comprehensive breast and fertility care with the most advanced imaging and reconstructive surgery techniques available. The landmark center offers 3D mammograms, 3D ultrasounds, stereotactic breast biopsies and bone density testing, in addition to the robust reconstructive surgery program. “Westside Surgical Hospital has always had a special focus on breast health, but with this new center we will be able to care for women from diagnosis through treatment,” shares Dr. Jay Shenaq, plastic and reconstructive surgeon who is the…

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