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November 29, 2007
Austin health care companies combine
Austin-based Harden Healthcare has purchased Girling Healthcare, combining two companies that provide home health care and other services in Texas and eight other states.
“We are excited about the future of the combined companies,” said Steve Hicks, chairman of Harden Healthcare and Capstar Partners.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Lew Little Jr., Harden’s CEO, will become CEO of the combined companies. The home health services will operate under the Girling Health Care name, while Harden focuses on expansion in the central United States.
Bob and Bettie Girling founded their company in 1967, expanding it to a multistate operation that provides skilled nursing, hospice, occupational therapy and other services.
This is the third acquisition this year for 6-year-old Harden Healthcare, which provides home health care, rehabilitation services and intermittent nursing care.
February 20, 2007
St. David's CEO leaves for Oklahoma job
A news release from St. David’s Medical Center
St. David’s HealthCare today announced that St. David’s Medical Center Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Cole Eslyn has accepted a position as CEO of OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK. Eslyn’s last day at St. David’s Medical Center will be March 31, 2007.
“I congratulate Cole (Eslyn) on this new opportunity and thank him for all that he has done to advance the performance and reputation of St. David’s Medical Center,” Jon Foster, CEO of St. David’s HealthCare, said. “During his tenure, the facility has embarked on an ambitious facility expansion effort; initiated noteworthy advances in the level of clinical services; and achieved dramatic improvements in clinical, financial and customer satisfaction outcomes.”
Eslyn joined St. David’s Medical Center 14 years ago. Prior to that, he served on the leadership teams of the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Ohio State University Hospital and the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas—all teaching hospitals.
“St. David’s Medical Center is a tremendous asset to the Central Texas community. I will always look back on my experience here and all that our physicians, employees, and board were able to accomplish with great pride,” Eslyn said. “The future is very bright for St. David’s and it was a difficult decision to accept this new challenge.”
OU Medical Center is a partnership between the University of Oklahoma and HCA. The Medical Center has more than 600 beds and includes a full-service children’s hospital. It is the only teaching hospital and the only level-one trauma center in the state.
St. David’s HealthCare has initiated a nationwide search for Eslyn’s successor led by Foster with participation from representatives of the hospital’s board and medical staff. Should the search process extend beyond March 31, Jeanne Nagy, the hospital’s chief operating officer, will serve as interim CEO.
St. David’s Medical Center Since 1924, St. David’s Medical Center has provided quality medical care to the residents of Central Texas. Conveniently located in central Austin at 32nd Street and IH-35, St. David’s Medical Center provides comprehensive care with special expertise in neurology and neurosurgery, cardiac services, bariatric surgery, orthopedics, maternity and newborn services and rehabilitation. The medical center includes St. David’s Hospital (acute care) and St. David’s Rehabilitation Center (physical medicine and rehabilitation). For more information, please visit www.stdavidshospital.com
St. David’s HealthCare St. David’s HealthCare is the fifth-largest private employer in the Austin area, with more than 5,600 employees and $2 billion in annual gross revenues. In 2005, St. David’s HealthCare provided more than $150 million in free care to people who could not otherwise afford to pay. For more information about St. David’s HealthCare or its seven hospitals: St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, St. David’s South Austin Hospital, St. David’s Medical Center, St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, St. David’s Rehabilitation Hospital and St. David’s Mental Health Pavilion—please visit www.stdavids.com
January 4, 2007
Seton to buy 205 acres for Hays County hospital
A news releasefrom Seton Family of Hospitals
In a move that signals interest in providing complex health care services to the exploding population south of Travis County, representatives with the Seton Family of Hospitals today announced they have signed a contract for the purchase of a 205-acre tract of land in Hays County. Seton, the region’s largest healthcare provider, is exploring the development of a major medical center at the site to add to its growing family of hospitals across Central Texas.
“As a community ministry with more than 100 years of service to Central Texas, the Seton family has always considered it our responsibility to provide health care services to all the people of this region,” Charles Barnett, President and CEO of Seton explained. “As Central Texas continues to grow, we have a responsibility to be accessible in Hays County and to provide the same level of care that is delivered throughout the Seton Family of Hospitals.
The population of Hays County and the surrounding area is expected to grow to 185,000 by 2010 and then to 285,000 in 2020, a more than 50% growth rate in 10 years.
The property under contract was selected because of its excellent north/south access via IH-35 and Hwy 1626, and east/west access via Hwy 150. It is located in Kyle, on Interstate 35, just east of the intersection of I-35 and Highway 1626, which is also known as the Kyle Parkway at that intersection.
“We are honored that Seton is considering Kyle as part of its future and we look forward to being a partner with them,” said Tom Mattis, Kyle City Manager. “Our City is the epicenter of the most significant growth corridor in Texas and we continue to demonstrate to potential developers that Kyle provides the best opportunity to reach the widest range of new people and customers. An exciting project of this scope, with such a reputable organization as Seton, will be a huge step forward in accomplishing our goal to become a full-service community where citizens can live, play and work.”
Seton intends to work with a developer to plan and develop the entire tract of land to include not only healthcare facilities, but also possible retail, commercial and multi-family uses.
While Seton representatives look forward to becoming an integral part of the Hays County community, the purchase of land is only a first step. Any final decision on actual development at the site is dependent upon approval of both the Seton Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees of Ascension Health, of which Seton is a member. Ascension Health, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is the nation’s largest Catholic and largest nonprofit health system.
This announcement comes on the heels of other recent Seton announcements regarding new facilities. The healthcare provider is building the new Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas at the former Mueller airport site in Austin, and the new Seton Medical Center Williamson located at the corner of University Blvd. and FM 1460, east of I-35. Seton is also developing several joint venture healthcare facilities including the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center in Cedar Park, in partnership with Triad Hospitals, Inc., and a new freestanding facility in Austin that will house an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and a long-term acute care hospital, in partnership with the RehabCare Group, Inc.
November 28, 2006
Minute Clinic opens first two Austin locations
A news release from Minute Clinic
Quick, convenient, high-quality medical care is now available at two CVS/pharmacy stores in the Austin metro area. MinuteClinic has opened in CVS/pharmacy stores located in Round Rock (1855 Gattis School Road) and in Southwest Austin (3500 Slaughter Lane). Because examinations typically take 10-15 minutes and no appointment is necessary, MinuteClinic is an ideal solution for professionals and working parents who cannot afford time away from the workplace. MinuteClinic is open Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Three additional MinuteClinic health care centers are expected to open in Austin this winter. MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by certified family nurse practitioners and physician assistants who are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions (when clinically appropriate) for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. MinuteClinic also offer common vaccinations, such as flu shots, tetanus, MMR and Hepatitis A & B. “Our health care centers are an answer to consumers’ overwhelming demand for more patient-centric health care,” said Michael Howe, chief executive officer for MinuteClinic. “As more patients look to take control of their health care options, we provide a fast, convenient and affordable service for common maladies that is available seven days a week.” A subsidiary of CVS Corporation, MinuteClinic is the pioneer and largest provider of retail health care in the United States with 123 health care centers in 17 states. MinuteClinic is in-network with Aetna, Beech Street, CBSA, ChoiceCare Network (PPO), Great-West Healthcare, Humana (PPO only) and Medicare, and is working closely with other large insurance carriers in Texas to be a participating provider in their networks. For customers paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted outside each health care center. Most treatments cost $59. MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by physician assistants and nurse practitioners who are Registered Nurses (RNs) with college degrees and have two additional years of graduate-level training in family practice medicine. Nurse practitioners work in collaboration with physicians and may prescribe medication. Ann Norman, nurse practitioner and manager of operations, oversees MinuteClinic locations in the Austin metro area. MinuteClinic practitioners use a software program that at the conclusion of each visit, generates educational material, an invoice and a prescription for the patient, as well as a diagnostic record that is automatically sent to the patient’s primary care provider’s office. A collaborating physician is on call during all hours of operation. Individuals with illnesses outside MinuteClinic’s scope of services or who exhibit signs of a chronic condition are referred to their physician or, if critical, the nearest urgent care or emergency room. Patients who can’t be treated are not charged for their visit. MinuteClinic health care centers only serves patients over the age of 18 months.
