Posted on Jan 31, 2020 in
COVER STORY
Focus Cover –
Looking around the expansive Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital campus, it’s difficult to imagine that today’s regional medical center began as a small community hospital – with just 22 beds and 160 employees.
That was 1998, when the hospital welcomed its first patients. The population of Fort Bend County was less than half the size it is today, and community health mostly meant serving as a local gateway to the large hospitals in Houston’s famous Texas Medical Center.
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in 2020.
But that was then. Today, 22 years later, Houston Methodist Sugar Land encompasses:
- 347 medical, surgical and intensive care beds and 27 operating rooms in three patient towers
- Comprehensive centers of excellence including cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, orthopedics, urology and women’s services
- Three medical office buildings
- Primary care and specialty physician offices located throughout the community, along with an offsite emergency care center in Missouri City
More than 2,200 employees and 1,000 specially trained physicians treat patients from across Fort Bend and surrounding areas – from communities including El Campo, Victoria, Eagle Lake and Bay City. In just a little over two decades, Houston Methodist Sugar Land has emerged as a highly specialized regional care facility – treating patients with complex diseases and conditions across a wide range of health care specialties and subspecialties.
People and Resources: A Healing Mix
Chris Siebenaler, regional senior vice president and CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land, said the hospital has plans to add another 100 beds, new cardiac catheterization labs, an expanded emergency department, additional office space for physicians and more over the next five to seven years.
Still, he explains, the hospital’s growth isn’t just about buildings. “It’s easy to focus on the expansion of our physical campus, because that’s what people see when they drive by,” he said. “But the most important thing we have been able to do here is dramatically increase our capabilities in the core medical specialties that the community needs most. That’s what I’m most proud of. Our physicians have driven our growth since the very beginning.”
Building those competencies required more than just attracting excellent physicians. It also meant the hospital needed the necessary facilities and resources, and of course, highly trained nursing and ancillary staff.
“Today, patients in Fort Bend and surrounding areas don’t need to travel far for specialized, complex care. It’s available right here, because we have the physicians, the staff, the facilities and the technology to diagnose and treat even the most serious cases,” said Siebenaler.
Centers of Excellence Drive Advancements
Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s focus on meeting the needs of the community is exemplified by its six centers of excellence, which provide the most advanced medical services required in Fort Bend.
Cardiology
The Houston Methodist Heart & Vascular Center at Sugar Land is a nationally accredited chest pain center and the only hospital in Greater Fort Bend to provide 24/7 interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery services.
Houston Methodist Sugar Land performed the first open heart surgery in Fort Bend County in 2007 and has continued to remain the premier institution for cardiac and thoracic services. In 2019, a cardiovascular surgeon and interventional cardiologist completed the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure in Fort Bend County.
“TAVR offers significant benefits over traditional valve replacement surgery,” said Marvin D. Atkins Jr., M.D., board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon. “It means shorter hospital stays, less trauma to chest muscles and heart tissue, greatly reduced complications and a much quicker recovery time. It’s a major step forward for our patients, and I’m proud to be part of an organization that continues to put patients first.”
Neurosciences
The Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land provides a multidisciplinary team approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions, including back and neck pain, stroke, headaches and migraines, neuromuscular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, sleep disorders, brain and spinal tumors, epilepsy and seizures and more. Houston Methodist Sugar Land is the only hospital in Fort Bend that routinely performs complex brain and spinal surgeries.
“Our team approach ensures that patients receive the most comprehensive care,” said Larry Tran, M.D., board-certified neurologist and medical director of the Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land. “Being able to call upon our colleagues in specific subspecialties as needed – as well as having access to state-of-the-art facilities and highly trained operating room staff – enables us to treat complex cases.”
Oncology
The Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land is the only facility in Fort Bend that offers comprehensive oncology services onsite in one location – from diagnosis to surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, clinical trials, nurse navigators and ongoing care and support through a robust survivorship program.
“Our oncology team routinely collaborates to ensure each patient receives the best pos-
sible care,” said board-certified medical oncologist and hema-tologist Jorge Darcourt, M.D. “This partnership draws on each team member’s expertise to fight cancer in a compassionate, caring and supportive environment.”
The Cancer Center specializes in the treatment of all adults with cancer and is Fort Bend County’s only hospital with American College of Surgeons – Commission on Cancer accreditation.
Orthopedics
Athletes and non-athletes alike receive comprehensive care at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Sugar Land with an on-site state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility that offers a combination of strength training, performance enhancement techniques and physical, occupational and aquatic therapy. With the addition of the Houston Methodist Orthopedic Injury Clinic, knowledgeable doctors and staff can quickly evaluate and treat injuries so you can get back to your active life. Best of all, no appointment is required.
“I am proud to be part of a group that has a 20-year history of providing comprehensive, world-class care to Fort Bend and surrounding communities,” said board-certified orthopedic surgeon Timothy Sitter, M.D. “Our commitment to providing conservative treatment with the latest, innovative technology exemplifies our dedication to providing the best possible outcome for our patients.”
Urology
The urologists at Houston Methodist Sugar Land are dedicated to the treatment of the entire genital and urinary tract. The team provides quality, personalized care in Fort Bend, combining clinical expertise with advanced technology to treat the full spectrum of urological conditions, including kidney stones, bladder and prostate conditions, urologic cancers and more.
“Houston Methodist places great value on being at the forefront of medical advancements, and that commitment shows in the care that the patients receive,” said board-certified urologist Neel Srikishen, M.D. “I’m very happy to be a part of this team and have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of my patients.”
Women’s Services
Houston Methodist Sugar Land provides specialized care for women at every stage in life. In 2019, the hospital made a $60 million investment to expand women’s services and continue providing quality and compassionate care with leading technology to accommodate the growing population of Fort Bend County.
Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s Childbirth Center will soon be home to a Level III nursery, with the personnel and equipment to provide continuous life support and comprehensive care for extremely high-risk newborn infants and those with complex and critical illnesses. And the recent addition of OB hospitalists who are dedicated inpatient OB-GYNs for round-the-clock coverage of OB-GYN emergencies brings more peace of mind for patients.
The Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at Sugar Land provides the full continuum of care – from screening through treatment and survivorship – complete with state-of-the-art imaging technologies and a calm, comfortable, welcoming environment. The hospital recently received a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, demonstrating excellence in leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement.
“Our women’s services expansion not only increases our labor and delivery capabilities but it also makes it possible for our doctors and staff to collaborate more effectively, especially in the areas of breast and cancer care,” said board-certified OB-GYN Rosalyn Miller, D.O. “This growth demonstrates our ability to not only keep up with the needs of our community, but to meet them in the best way.”
Looking Ahead to a Bright Future
What does the future look like for Houston Methodist Sugar Land? Siebenaler said the hospital will continue to be guided by its faith-based mission and its I CARE values – Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.
Houston Methodist Sugar Land will also continue to strive to meet the community’s changing health care needs, adding new services, expanding others and continuing to build both its physician base and its overall capabilities.
As the hospital’s physical footprint expands, so too will its outreach. “Growth doesn’t always have to be about the latest technology or most sophisticated procedure,” said Siebenaler. “It can mean more accessible primary care, close to where people live and work, or more preventive care and screenings. We also want to continue to expand our work with agencies that deliver health-related services, so that we can go beyond the hospital’s walls and reach people in the community. These improvements are just as important as adding subspecialties or being able to perform rare procedures.”
Most importantly, as medicine continues to evolve and change, so too will Houston Methodist Sugar Land. “It’s been an amazing journey for all of us,” said Siebenaler. “We’ve made tremendous strides and as we’ve grown, we’ve helped reshape the understanding of what a suburban hospital can be. The sky is the limit for us here, and it’s exciting to think about what we can achieve in the next 20 years.”
Aerial view of the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in 2016.
