Newsroom Archive

Successful surgery starts nowhere near the operating room. It starts two floors below in a secluded space — the one where sterile instruments come from.

“This is where it all begins,” said Lisa Taite, RN, manager of Sterile Processing at JPS. “We are the backbone of the O.R.”

Surveyors agree. When the O.R.s at JPS went under The Joint Commission’s microscope last month, a surveyor declared Sterile Processing “a hidden jewel at JPS,” noting “very tight processes,” and adding, “kudos to the team.”

JPS landed in the 93rd percentile among healthcare networks in a survey of physician satisfaction with electronic medical records, with a majority agreeing that electronic medical recordkeeping promotes quality care.

Compared with survey results from more than 7,700 physicians at 25 institutions across the country, doctors at JPS were more likely than most to agree with the statement, “EMR enables quality care.” When all clinicians were asked if they felt their work was fulfilling, those at JPS overwhelming indicated yes, giving JPS the highest score among all 25.

Won’t be long before JPS patients in Northeast Tarrant County can pick up prescriptions without getting out of the car, an asset for people with mobility issues. JPS Medical Home Northeast Tarrant, the first JPS clinic with a drive-through pharmacy window, is on track to open in October.

Raised by the first black judge in Dallas, Louis Bedford III grew up knowing the meaning of perseverance. For those who master it, no obstacle is too great.

JPS celebrates recipients of the 2018 John Peter Smith Excellence Awards this week, honoring 12 team members for exemplary performance and service to the communities JPS serves. Awards will be presented at a formal dinner on Wednesday night.

“At JPS a big part of our culture is to celebrate team members who perform their daily duties at a level beyond the expected,” said JPS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Earley. “Our honorees are people who live our mission to transform healthcare delivery for the communities we serve.”

JPS photographer Kevin Fujii recently had a colonoscopy, a health screening that could save your life by detecting – and allowing doctors to treat -- a deadly form of cancer before it’s too late. Far too many people avoid the procedure because they’re afraid it will be painful or embarrassing. But Kevin, who enjoys finding the lighter side of things, decided he was going to embrace it by taking care of himself and the people he loves on Valentine’s Day.

Here is his story:

Some folks celebrate Valentine’s Day with flowers or chocolates. I had a colonoscopy.

Jennifer Bailey-Jackson, JPS executive director of Talent Acquisition, Learning and Organizational Development, comes from a family that emphasizes the importance of education, always doing your best and refraining from “following the crowd.”  She remembers her father, an educator and minister, reviewing the Pythagorean Theorem with her and her siblings, as a normal and frequent dinnertime conversation.  So it’s no surprise that she has detoured from a traditional nursing career to one that incorporates strategic planning, administration and education.

Let this week’s thunderstorms serve as a reminder: Typically tumultuous springtime weather will soon be upon us. Now is a good time to update your emergency preparedness plan, especially if you or a family member have medical needs that could become acute in a severe weather event.

Even if someone doesn’t seem like they have the flu, don’t discount what you may be exposed to if you’re anywhere in the vicinity of a sneeze or cough that doesn’t get covered.

People with the flu are contagious a full day before their symptoms become noticeable and up to seven days thereafter. Children can be contagious even longer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Seeing cancer patients readmitted to the hospital malnourished, clinical dietitians at JPS launched an assistance program now providing liquid meal replacements for more than 60 patients like Judith Fleeks, who can’t take food by mouth but can’t afford the alternative.

“This stuff is so expensive, I wouldn’t have the means of providing it for myself,” Fleeks said during a stop at JPS to pick up a month’s worth of nutrient-packed formula.