Feature

JPS Health Network has been recognized as a Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner for the second consecutive year, placing the health system among the most engaged and high-performing organizations worldwide. This year, JPS is one of only 70 organizations globally to receive the honor and one of just seven health systems in the United States to earn this distinction. The award underscores JPS’s continued commitment to fostering a workplace culture that empowers employees and enhances patient care.

Safely navigating winter weather

In Texas, the weather can be very unpredictable. If you are not properly prepared, this can lead to dangerous situations.

Preparing yourself and being aware of winter hazards is important. With education and action, you can be sure that this winter won’t catch you off guard!

Welcoming the New Year is always filled with surprises, and JPS Health Network had a remarkable surprise on New Year’s Day. We were thrilled to help welcome not just one but two of the first babies born in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This joyous occasion brought much happiness to the JPS team, marking a wonderful way to start the year.

The heart is a delicate organ that requires protection, making it vital to take steps to keep it healthy. Many people around the world face various heart conditions, ranging from mild to severe. Therefore, it is essential to monitor your health regularly. Staying on top of your primary care, managing your diet, getting enough sleep, and avoiding smoking can all help prevent heart-related issues.

Jacqueline Starwalt, Certified Nurse Anesthesiologist, knew she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare from an early age. Her passion was ignited after she underwent a tonsillectomy in the fourth grade. She recalls how comforting the anesthesiologist made her feel during the procedure, and she believes that ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in nursing.

“If you had told me to construct a 5-year plan in undergrad, it would look so different from where I ended up. It’s been a big journey,” Amanda Pientka, MD, Vice Chair, Internal Medicine, said.

Growing up in New York, Dr. Pientka never imagined a career in healthcare. Initially majoring in sociology, her interest in medicine began to grow after she accidentally enrolled in an infectious disease course. This newfound passion inspired her to take more science classes and work in an infectious disease immunology lab.

JPS Health Network is proud to announce that two of its transformative community projects, Thrive on Crawford and Casa de Esperanza, have been honored by D Magazine. These awards recognize our innovative approach to addressing social determinants of health, community engagement, and the groundbreaking impact on healthcare delivery in North Texas.

At JPS Health Network, our commitment to our patients does not stop when we leave our shifts for the day. Instead, our team members always dedicate themselves to service. Our team courageously speaks out in emergencies, no matter the time or where they are.

Shaw’s Patio is a local favorite among JPS team members. On the evening of October 16, team members could be found enjoying a meal and live music put on by local musician Tommy Luke.

Life can be full of unexpected situations. One day, everything seems normal, and we're just going about our daily routines without a care in the world. We often get so caught up in these routines that we never stop to think about what we would do if our world was suddenly turned upside down and the life we're used to living spiraled out of our control. When these unexpected events do occur, we are faced with either being consumed by the situation or finding the strength to keep living. 

Faith Barber, a JPS Health Network patient, has faced a fair share of adversity in her young life. At only eighteen years old, she was diagnosed with a prolactinoma. A prolactinoma is a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland that often poses symptoms comparable to those of a woman who is pregnant.

Barber was able to manage her symptoms for a couple of years, but in 2021, she noticed a rapid decline in her health. A common symptom of prolactinoma is the production of breast milk, but Barber realized that her lactation mainly consisted of blood.