Community, connections and culture GRMC is privileged to serve as the healthcare hub of our growing region—providing essential medical services for over 150,000 people in our multicounty catchment area. We are one of the largest employers in our region, with almost 1,000 employees, 100-plus physicians on our staff and approximately 80 volunteers. We take our role as the leader in healthcare services seriously, but we also take great joy and satisfaction from our meaningful work. Each day, we engage in thousands of interactions and connections with our patients, families, co-workers, vendors, affiliated businesses and schools. How we interact and connect with each person defines our culture, propels our success, and is the key to the many local and national recognitions we have received. Patients have a choice as to where they seek care, and healthcare workers have plenty of choices as to where they work. The thousands of people who choose GRMC, often driving past another hospital to arrive here, are the testament to why culture and community matter. 5 The health value of social connections GRMEDCENTER.COM In this issue SUMMER 2024 Standard U.S. Postage PAID Salem, OR Permit No. 86
In May, the GRMC staff celebrated our 2024 Patient Experience Awards with a vibrant luau. Mahalo to our amazing staff and patients! 2 | GRMC Health Currents At Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, we are dedicated to providing the best possible experience for every patient who walks in our doors, and we are proud to say that our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Our unwavering commitment to providing excellent patient care has been consistently acknowledged on a national level. GRMC has been honored as a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Patient Experience Award by Healthgrades. Additionally, GRMC has been recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award. From our compassionate and highly skilled medical staff to our cutting-edge facilities, every element of the patient experience at GRMC is meticulously crafted to ensure comfort, safety and satisfaction. As a result of these efforts, you can trust that you will receive the highest quality of care in a welcoming environment. The confidence that our community has placed in us allows us to continue to raise the bar for patient experience in the area. “Perfect! Excellent! So friendly and kind. Excellent food! Superior service! So many thanks to all of you—you SAVED MY LIFE! Despite being seriously ill, this was the BEST hospital experience I have ever had. I was treated with such kindness. The staff was always available to assist me in any way and are very knowledgeable. I felt so comforted during a very frightening illness.” “This is a remarkable hospital. The staff is excellent, and the care I received was superior. The nurses and CNAs were the best I have ever encountered.” Read what our patients are saying about us Award-winning care at GRMC
grmedcenter.com | 3 Here at GRMC, it’s the remarkable people who truly make our facility special. It is the personal connections, the caring gestures and the genuine smiles that make our hospital a place where patients feel valued and cared for. Our growing team comprises nearly a thousand employees, but we still foster a culture of a tight-knit family. It is these amazing individuals who contribute to the positive culture and who have earned us Modern Healthcare magazine’s “Best Place to Work” for six consecutive years and The Seguin Gazette newspaper’s “Best of the Best” designation for the past decade. When walking down the halls of the hospital, you do not have to venture far to find an employee who has dedicated 10, 20 or even 40 years of their career here. This level of loyalty is a testament to the strong bonds and supportive culture we have fostered. In 1996, GRMC nurses formed the Nurse Council that still to this day plays a vital role in enhancing the patient experience. The 22-member council is built on Celebrating our team THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR HOSPITAL open communication and collaboration, which allows our nurses to advocate for patient-centered care and fosters a culture of continual improvement. Outside our hospital walls, the council organizes fundraising events like the annual food drive, which has collected over 800 pounds of food for the Christian Cupboard. Multiple basket raffles and scrub sales raise funds to help our nurses excel in accredited nursing programs. This year, the Nurse Council awarded $6,000 in nursing scholarships for this purpose. GRMC nurses lead the way in promoting a culture of continual learning and professional development. As a physical therapist at GRMC, I’m honored to be part of a team that embodies the values of compassion, excellence and selflessness every day. Together, we synergize our skills and dedication to empower patients on their path to recovery. It’s not just about healing bodies—it’s about nurturing spirits and restoring hope. Here, teamwork isn’t just a concept—it’s our cornerstone, ensuring that every patient receives the highest level of care. Our commitment to excellence drives us to constantly innovate and elevate our practice, making a meaningful impact on the lives we touch. —JC Dufner, PT GRMC has an extremely unique, healthy work environment for the 21st century. The large corporate environment is not noticeable in this facility. It is without a doubt a hospital that functions by an established mission and vision. We provide elite care with a compassionate touch, thereby making a difference in every life we are privileged to touch. The entire hospital staff uniquely cares for each other—being a GRMC employee is being part of an extremely large family. The level of technology we can offer our patients is top of the line. The physicians, PAs, NPs, nurses and ancillary staff possess a genuine passion for providing exceptional care like no other facility for which I’ve worked. Each team member is greatly valued and treated with respect. This promotes a very special feeling for all. Each employee is appreciated and known for who they are and what contribution they bring to the team every time they come to work. Being a part of this type of hometown team is so exciting. I am humbled and proud to call GRMC home. —Debbie Duke, RN, MSN Director of ICU
grmedcenter.com | 4 A core element of our hospital is our team of over 80 energetic volunteers who contribute the work hours of 20 full-time employees each year. In addition to their service, the volunteers are continually fundraising for hospital equipment, projects, and to provide scholarships to high school seniors and staff members who aspire to advance their career in healthcare. The legacy of the GRMC Volunteers is currently being honored at the Heritage Museum on River Street. We invite you to visit to learn more about our history. Heroes among us: Honoring our extraordinary hospital volunteers WANT TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOUR COMMUNITY? Join our team of dedicated volunteers and become a beacon of hope and support for our patients and their families. Call 830.401.7620. Scan the QR code to watch a YouTube video about one volunteer’s experience. Serving for today and tomorrow Another important group of volunteers is crucial to the leadership and strategic planning of GRMC and Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation. Both GRMC and GRMF governing boards comprise a wide array of community representatives and professionals who help guide our strategy and operations. We are most grateful to these volunteers for the significant contribution they make to both of our organizations. EMPOWERING EXCELLENCE Cultivating a culture of exceptional physicians The backbone of every successful hospital is its medical staff. At GRMC, our physicians are an integral part of providing exceptional patient care through their expertise and commitment. Our goal is not only to recruit outstanding physicians to care for our community, but also to foster an environment where our doctors enjoy a sense of ownership and belonging. By doing so, our physician culture attracts equally talented colleagues who share a passion for medicine and dedication to community.
5 | GRMC Health Currents Being socially connected means having friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances who provide a sense of belonging and make you feel cared for, valued and supported. It’s a vital component of your well-being. Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, depression and dementia. People with meaningful social connections tend to have better physical and mental health, healthier habits, and a better quality of life. Yet, despite the prevalence of social media, 1 in 3 adults age 45 or older feels disconnected from others and alone. Major life changes, such as moving, getting a new job or retiring, can contribute to feeling lonely. The good news is that you can take action to ease loneliness. Social connection action steps These steps can help you create stronger relationships to improve your health and well-being: • Explore ways to meet new people, such as taking a class or joining a club or a professional group that’s related to an interest or hobby. Being part of a group with shared interests, values or goals can create a sense of belonging. • Volunteer with an organization in your community that interests you and fosters a spirit of helpfulness. • If you enjoy exercising, join a gym. Even if you don’t talk much during class, group exercise can foster a sense of community. • If your busy schedule is preventing you from carving out time for others, share activities you already do—such as walking the dog—with a friend. • If you can’t meet up with people in person frequently, check in with them with a call or video chat. Regular The health value of social connections Sources: American Medical Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention We’re here for you Skilled mental healthcare counselors are available through the Teddy Buerger Center (TBC) and the Heritage Program for Seniors at GRMC. If you feel lonely, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call TBC at 830.401.1367 or the Heritage Program at 830.401.7428 to learn more or make an appointment. If you are in crisis, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 to speak with a trained responder. contact helps relationships stay strong. • If you spend time on social media, don’t let it distract you from engaging with people in other ways, such as simply going out for coffee. Creating a social network can take time, and there’s no one-size-fits-all. But pushing yourself by taking even one or two action steps can help you make progress.
We connect the hospital and the community As this edition of Health Currents points out, GRMC is deeply connected to and committed to our ever-growing community. In my role as CEO of Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation, I have the privilege of connecting the hospital and community on many levels. A recent example is the always-popular Race to Raise, with over 150 participants this year enjoying a beautiful spring day walk/run while also raising funds for a variety of projects at the hospital. GRMF sponsors other events that directly connect our generous community to our hospital services, such as GRMC pop-up food distributions and our Pistols and Petticoats gala that raises funds for Hospice care. We build relationships with individuals and businesses who are interested in supporting the hospital and finding opportunities to connect their particular passions with hospital needs. Our hospital is unique and special, as is our community. Together we continue to grow, build and support each other! SEE THE MANY WAYS YOU CAN GIVE Visit grmedfoundation.org/ways-to-give.html or scan the QR code. Elaine Bennett, CEO of GRMF Robert Haynes, CEO of GRMC Growing forward Community, connections and culture are some of my favorite subjects and are at the core of my purpose as the long-serving CEO of GRMC. Community service is our mission. Connections are built on trust, healthy relationships and dependability. Culture is built on shared visions and values. Each of these elements has been intentionally nurtured over my tenure as CEO, and all are interwoven in our strategy and operations. It is with deep pride and satisfaction that I see the many leaders throughout the hospital having taken these lessons to heart and embedding this culture in each department. Change is inevitable, and we embrace the challenges that come with it. Growth is a choice, and we look forward to building on our proud past while continually charting an everevolving bright future for our community. HEALTH CURRENTS is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of GUADALUPE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, 1215 E. Court St., Seguin, TX 78155, 800.506.6394 or 830.379.2411. Website: grmedcenter.com. Robert G. Haynes, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer Kody Gann, CPA, Chief Financial Officer Daphne Blake, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer Sheri Williams, RN, MSN, Chief Operating Officer Fay Bennett, VP of Employee Services Lauren Carter, VP of Physician Services Steve Lara, CEO of Guadalupe Regional Medical Group Elaine Bennett, CEO of Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation Deana Henk, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer, Guadalupe Health Network Rhonda Unruh, MHA, RN, VP of Quality James Lee, MD, GRMC Governing Board Chairman Michelle Rumbaut, GRMC Project Administrator Health Currents Editor: Chelsea Maldonado, MBA, Director of Marketing Information in HEALTH CURRENTS comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2024 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
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