Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

Methodist Sugar Land Spine Center achieves national recognition

SUGAR LAND—(December 19, 2011) — The Methodist Sugar Land Spine Center has been recognized for its delivery of superior low back care by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), making it the first back pain center in the state to receive the honor.

The NCQA’s Back Pain Recognition Program is designed to commend physicians who demonstrate that they meet specific standards for the quality care of patients with low back pain.  The NCQA also individually recognized the center’s physicians, Dr. Rajesh Bindal, Neurosurgeon; Dr. Anthony Muffoletto, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon; Dr. John Park, Neurosurgeon and Dr. Jeffrey Wood, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon. 

“For a person with back pain, the right clinician can make the difference between living with back pain, as opposed to suffering from back pain,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, President, NCQA. “By earning recognition, the Methodist Sugar Land Spine Center has demonstrated that the center provides effective, evidence-based care to its patients.”

The Back Pain Recognition Program was developed to help clinicians and practices support the delivery of high-quality care.  The program is built on evidence-based, nationally recognized clinical standards.  “Evidence-based guidelines have shown in a number of instances that a “less is more” philosophy is the right approach in treating low back pain,” said O’Kane. “The Back Pain Recognition Program identifies physicians who avoid needless imaging and procedures that don’t help patients.”

Methodist Sugar Land Spine Center opened in the May of 2010, led by Dr. Bindal as medical director. 

Dr. Bindal leads a multi-disciplinary team of physicians and health care professionals from the full range of key spinal care specialties, including:

• Imaging/diagnostics
• Neuro radiology
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic spine surgery
• Pain management
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation

“Methodist Sugar Land Spine Center brings together a complete spinal care program in one physical location, eliminating the time-consuming and frustrating routine of multiple referrals and appointments for patients who are in pain,” said Dr. Bindal.  “We are proud to receive this honor from the NCQA because it validates our patient-centric approach and our commitment to delivering the highest quality medical care.”

Methodist Sugar Land Hospital CEO Chris Siebenaler said the Spine Center is leading the way for patients in the Fort Bend and surrounding areas who need consistent, quality care for low back pain.

“Dr. Bindal and his colleagues, Dr. Muffoletto, Dr. Park and Dr. Wood – along with all the staff who support the Spine Center – are helping our patients live more productive, higher quality lives through their care and expertise,” Siebenaler said. “We are proud of the excellent work they are doing and especially pleased that their efforts are being recognized nationally.”

The Spine Center is located on the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus with easy access off Town Center Boulevard. For more information or to schedule an appointment at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Spine Center, please call 281-313-BACK (2225) or email SpineCenter@tmhs.org. 

Dr. John Park, Neurosurgeon; Dr. Rajesh Bindal, Neurosurgeon;

Dr. Anthony Muffoletto, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon and Dr. Jeffrey Wood, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon.  

What our patients are saying! | Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Review

Methodist Sugar Land Hospital achieves exceptional compliance in national patient care standards

SUGAR LAND—(December 12, 2011) — Methodist Sugar Land Hospital (MSLH) has been recognized for outstanding performance in achieving 100 percent compliance in all of its 26 core measures for third quarter, 2011. Core measures are national standards that compare the quality of care that hospitals give patients. 

MSLH is committed to consistently delivering quality health care using proven therapies. It follows core measures developed by The Joint Commission, the country’s primary accrediting body in health care. These measures have been shown to improve outcomes of patient care in four categories: heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care improvement.

Its 100 percent compliance rate means all 294 patients within these categories received 100 percent of the recommended treatments known to get the best results for patients with certain medical conditions, or surgical procedures.

Chief Nursing Officer Janet Leatherwood said it’s rare for a large hospital like MSLH to achieve 100 percent compliance in core measures. However, MSLH’s Quality Management Department identifies patients early in their hospital stay, and continuously monitors their progress to ensure they are receiving the best care with its Daily Quality Rounds program.  “We work diligently with nurses, case managers, therapists and other care providers to review every patient, every day,” Leatherwood said. “This daily review helps us quickly address any issues and reinforce overall compliance. It’s a significant time and resource commitment, but it’s a model that is successful for us.”

MSLH is already recognized as a health care leader, and with this latest achievement of 100 percent compliance in all of its core measures raises its composite performance to 97.5 percent for the most recent 12 months, and reinforces MSLH’s continued commitment to innovate, improve and provide every patient with the highest quality of care. 

Core Measures Team

What our patients are saying! | Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Review

Holiday Spirit shared at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

SUGAR LAND—(December 5, 2011) —Patients at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital during the holidays will leave with a special keepsake—all thanks to a special gift from a Sugar Land resident. In the holiday spirit, a very talented Peggy generously donated 65 beautiful holiday stockings to Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. All of the stockings were handmade by Peggy which each incorporates a unique holiday design.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas day the stockings will be delivered throughout the Hospital to our patients and their families. Peggy understands that being at the hospital for Christmas is not ideal; however, it is her hope that the stockings will bring some joy and happiness to their holiday.

Leading up to Christmas Eve, the stockings will be displayed in the hallway connecting the Sweetwater Pavilion and the Main Pavilion near the blessing wall. “We invite all community members to come view these wonderful stockings, as it is this sort of kindness and gift giving that keeps our hearts warm during the holiday season,” says Bill Bross, Director of Spiritual Care and Values Integration at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.  

A very special thank you from physicians, staff and volunteers at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital goes to Peggy for her generous and caring donation to our patients during the holiday season.

Jeanne VanDuivendyk, volunteer coordinator at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Peggy.