2 min read August 2023 — In an interview with Invest:, Jay deVenny, CEO of Medical City Children’s Hospital and Medical City Women’s Hospital Dallas, discussed the significant impact of both hospitals’ services in North Texas, including addressing the region’s care needs.
What is the impact of Medical City Children’s Hospital and Medical City Women’s Hospital on North Texas?
Medical City Children’s Hospital has served the North Texas market since 1996, and Medical City Women’s Hospital Dallas opened its doors in 2018, cementing our place in the community for women and children’s care. The establishment of Medical City Children’s Hospital in the 1990s addressed the increasing demand for pediatric care in the region, contributing to our steady growth and the widespread recognition of Medical City Healthcare as a destination for various levels of pediatric care.
Notably, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones at Medical City Women’s Hospital Dallas and Medical City Children’s Hospital. Last year, we celebrated the delivery of over 5,100 babies, setting a record for the most deliveries in a single calendar year for us. This achievement, along with our strong outcomes and emphasis on excellence always, helped us earn the title of the “Best Hospital to Have a Baby” in Dallas County for three consecutive years. The accolades highlight our dedication as a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, caregivers, nurses and staff members, all committed to providing exceptional patient care.
To further bolster our commitment to excellence, we have established one of the largest neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in North Texas. As a result, we proudly hold a Level 4 NICU designation, denoting the highest level of neonatal care available. We are among the five hospitals with this designation in North Texas. Moreover, our facility boasts the prestigious Level 4 Maternal Care designation for providing the highest level of care for high-risk deliveries. This recognition is shared by only around 30 facilities statewide.
What truly sets us apart is our unique capability to offer both the highest level of neonatal care and the highest level of maternal care in North Texas — all under one roof. Parents and babies are always close by. As we continue to excel and expand, our focus on exceptional patient care remains unwavering.
How would you describe the healthcare sector in North Texas?
We are witnessing continuous growth, much like the entire state of Texas, which is expanding at a remarkable pace compared to other regions in the country. Our healthcare metropolitan market in North Texas is one of the most competitive in the United States. This dynamic environment, with its numerous facilities striving for excellence in care, elevates the overall standard of healthcare available to residents.
Living in North Texas grants people access to some of the finest healthcare services in the world. The fierce competition among facilities drives them to deliver top-notch care to their patients. Quality is paramount; it is the No. 1 factor that underpins everything else in the realm of healthcare.
What challenges are you facing and what strategies are you implementing to address them?
When examining the challenges faced by the healthcare sector, one prominent issue is the labor shortage. Both physicians and nurses are affected and those shortages are widespread across the healthcare sector. As our community and the demand for healthcare continue to grow, the need for a sufficient workforce to provide support becomes increasingly crucial. Addressing this labor challenge stands as one of our most significant opportunities.
On a positive note, consumers now play a more active role in making healthcare decisions. Unlike in the past, when people simply sought services from the nearest hospital, individuals now engage in thorough research to determine where to go for care and which healthcare providers to trust. To meet this trend, all healthcare facilities are continually elevating the variety of services and the level of care. It’s essential for us to assess the services we provide under our roof and ensure that Medical City Women’s Hospital Dallas and Medical City Children’s Hospital remain preferred choices for seeking care.
How is Medical City tackling affordability?
In North Texas, the healthcare landscape is evolving. Traditional fee-for-service models are giving way to innovative approaches that focus on reducing costs, eliminating waste and delivering effective care.
We are streamlining patient journeys to minimize hospital stays and advance patient-centric care. Discharging patients sooner can help reduce the risk of infections. It also has a positive impact on patient experience, with people able to get back home sooner. Notably, our efforts have had positive results; patients who once stayed for two days now often spend only one night in our facility.
Preventing readmissions, especially for conditions like heart failure, is a top priority. To achieve this, we have established dedicated clinics that provide regular care to discharged patients, led by nurse practitioners and other professionals. This proactive approach ensures continuous care and improves patient outcomes.
What expansion projects does Medical City have in progress?
We must keep pace with the increasing demand and growth in our community and to achieve that, we have several significant projects in the pipeline aimed at enhancing and expanding our services.
One area we are particularly proud of is our congenital heart program, which has proven to be extremely robust with high-quality outcomes. We are committed to enhancing our unique service lines, including the Maternal-Fetal Institute, which provides highly specialized care for mothers whose babies have been diagnosed with medical issues before birth. Additionally, we will continue to invest in telehealth strategies to provide accessible and convenient care.
As the demand for women’s care continues to surge, we are planning to expand our women’s hospital to increase capacity and accommodate the growing number of patients seeking our services. Our aspiration is to provide high-quality, compassionate care to every parent, mother and child in our market and community. By expanding and refining our services, we aim to meet the increasing demand while maintaining the exceptional quality of care that has become our hallmark.
What is your outlook for Medical City Children’s Hospital in the next couple of years?
Meeting patient demands is crucial but labor shortages are a significant concern. Fortunately, both Medical City Healthcare and HCA Healthcare have exciting initiatives to support our colleagues’ growth and success.
The “Texas Two-Step Nursing Program” is one such platform. It allows our colleagues to begin their careers at a Medical City Healthcare facility and pursue a fully sponsored associate degree in nursing, opening doors for further career advancement. Additionally, HCA Healthcare’s acquisition of Galen School of Nursing brings even greater opportunities — once a student completes their associate degree, they can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing through Galen with zero out-of-pocket tuition expenses. There are Galen campuses around the country, including here in North Texas. This partnership offers exceptional prospects for our employees. They can grow their careers with all expenses covered by us. This is a prime example of our commitment to nurturing talent and equipping our teams to address labor force needs effectively.
Empowering our colleagues to rise from entry-level positions to registered nurses is our priority. This investment in our team fosters a supportive and rewarding work environment. We are excited about nurturing talent and contributing to our colleagues’ growth and success.
For more information, visit:
https://medicalcityhealthcare.com/locations/medical-city-childrens-hospital/
https://medicalcityhealthcare.com/specialties/womens-care/?location=medical-city-dallas
