HARRIS METHODIST HEALTH FOUNDATION • SPRING 2006

HOW MANY LIVES HAVE YOU TOUCHED TODAY?

HARRIS METHODIST HEALTH FOUNDATION

New Harris MethodistSouthwest HospitalPatient Tower to beNamed for Mary and

Herbert Pease“I have a theory: If you don’t grow,

you die.” Spoken by longtime Fort Worthbusinessman Herbert Pease, Sr., it’s a theoryhe’s applied to his highly successful compa-ny as well as the theory that has spurred heand his family to make the lead gift to theHarris Methodist Southwest HospitalPatient Tower Campaign.

“I’ve visited Harris MethodistSouthwest as a patient and have discoveredit’s a grand institution,” Pease says. “Myfamily and I decided we wanted to do whatwe could to help make it even better. Wewant to help provide what’s needed to keepthis hospital strong for the growing community.”

According to Doug White, presidentof the Harris Methodist HealthFoundation, the new patient tower, current-ly under construction at Harris MethodistSouthwest, will more than double the hos-pital’s capacity. Once complete, the newMary V. and Herbert L. Pease Tower willhouse 139 new patient rooms - bringing thehospital’s total bed capacity to 215 – greatlyenhanceing the hospital’s ability to

meet the needs of Southwest Fort Worth’srapidly growing population.

This is exactly the type of growth thePease family (Herbert, his wife Mary, andtheir children Herbert L. Pease, Jr. andKimberly R. Pease) hopes to impactthrough their generous gift. “After weoffered our support to Harris MethodistSouthwest, we learned that the hospital wasfacing a significant need for capacitygrowth. So as a family, we decided that we’dlike to help that initiative,” Herbert Pease,Sr. says.

Pease cites his commitment to thecommunity he calls home as one of themotivating factors behind his philanthropy.“It’s important to believe in your area, yourcity, your services,” he says. “As citizens, we should strive to do more, provide more andbe more.”

Pease became a member of the FortWorth community when he relocated herefrom New Jersey in 1966. He began a pri-vate label food brokering business in hisgarage with three employees and a healthydose of determination. Forty years later, hiscompany, Marketing Management

Incorporated, is a worldwide industry leaderwith more than 200 employees. Whatbegan as a humble family business hasgrown now to encompass four distinct butinterrelated companies under the globalumbrella of MMI.

“This community has been good to meand my family,” Pease says, “and so hasHarris Methodist Southwest Hospital. Wefeel like this type of gift helps us show ourappreciation for both the good folks ofHarris Methodist Southwest and of thegreater community. We’re happy to helpprovide what’s needed to keep the hospitalstrong for now and in the future.”

Construction of the new $60 millionfive-story tower kicked off last fall.Dedication activities are planned forSeptember 21, with the opening of threefloors to follow in October. The final twofloors will open for patient care in April2007. The Harris Methodist HealthFoundation is supporting the project withan ambitious capital campaign. To con-tribute to this campaign, or for more infor-mation, please call (817) 317-5200.

World-renowned artist Louise B. Kimerer is making a significant contribution to the localcommunity by donating a special collection of her works for a sale that will benefit theKupferle Indigent Mammoagraphy Fund. Professional framing for this special collection ofartwork has been generously donated by Marty & Pat’s Frame Shoppe. These paintings arebeing offered for sale at a very special price and all proceeds generated by the artwork will helpprovide mammograms for indigent and underserved women in Tarrant County.

To view the paintings and price list, please visit www.hmhf.org. For more information on this exclusive collection, please call (817) 317-5200.

Endowment Honors Nursing Professionals

An endowment gift is an effective way tomake a lasting impact on a cause that’sclose to your heart. Andy and NancyThompson’s recent endowment gift willestablish a legacy of support for a nursingeducation fund that will touch the lives ofnot only its recipients, but also the count-less patients who will receive care fromthese nursing professionals.

The Ladders in Nursing Careers(LINC) fund, established through generouscommunity gifts, provides educational support for full-time Harris Methodistemployees who aspire to become licensedas registered nurses. The program comple-

ments a generous tuitionreimbursement programoffered through HarrisMethodist’s parent company,Texas Health Resources, byproviding education traininggrants to allow these employ-ees to move to a part-timework schedule as they pursuetheir nursing degree whilemaintaining full-time salaryand benefits. The HarrisMethodist HealthFoundation is working tosecure community funds to

support and expand this program.By generously providing a substantial

endowment gift, the Thompson’s havemade a lasting and meaningful contribu-tion to a cause they hold dear. “Our intro-duction to and awareness of the impor-tance of the nurse’s role in healthcare beganwith a series of hospital stays by my motherand father, Alice and Fred Thompson.They always requested to be hospitalized atHarris Methodist Fort Worth, and theydaily told us of the special relationshipsthey developed with their nursing staff.They spoke of how caring, warm, smilingand supportive each was and how thatmade their hospital stays so much morebearable and comfortable,” AndyThompson explains. “It became obvious to us that their care went far beyond the

dispensing of pills or meals or procedures.It was the emotional support and the confi-dence of hope they imparted each day thatmade such an impression. Our hope is thatby establishing this endowment to theLINC program, we can in some small wayshow our gratitude to the wonderful peoplewho dedicate their professional lives to thecare and healing of others.”

The Thompson’s endowment gift is a recent link in their ongoing chain of support for Harris Methodist. In additionto his membership on the boards of TexasHealth Resources and the Harris MethodistHealth System, for various hospital entitiesand his history of financial support, Andyis immediate past chair of the HarrisMethodist Health Foundation Board. Hehas been involved with and committed tothe hospital for close to 20 years.

The Thompsons hope to encourageothers to follow in their philanthropic footsteps. “Give whatever you feel is appropriate. And, small dollars are asimportant as large dollars. Know that when you contribute to Harris Methodist,those dollars will be spent responsibly withthe community’s health needs in mind andwith your desires fully respected,”Thompson says.

For more information about establishing an endowment, please call(817) 317-5250.

Cowboy Chic Event CombinesGood Fun With a Good Cause

A new event is currently in the worksthat will combine down-home fun withsupport for a serious cause. “Levis &Lace,” billed as a “cowboy chic” event, will lasso support for Harris MethodistNorthwest’s new intensive care unit (ICU)while providing an exciting and enjoyableevening of festivity for partygoers.

Levis & Lace will feature dining,dancing, and entertainment by alternativecountry star Robert Earl Keen. Boots andbowties will be the order of the eveningSaturday, September 30 at the RenaissanceWorthington Hotel. Multiple levels ofsponsorship are available, and individualtickets are also for sale.

Diane Morrison, Azle mover andshaker and wife of HMNW physicianMarshall Morrison, MD, is serving asevent chair of the inaugural Levis & Lace.“This event is tailor-made to capture thespirit of the Azle community. It’s going tofeature all the fun elements that go into amemorable party combined with a mean-ingful purpose. Levis & Lace promises agreat time for a great cause,” she says.

The ICU expansion that will benefitfrom this event will significantly improvepatient services in northwest TarrantCounty. The new ICU will double thecapacity of the current HMNW ICU andwill give the community improved accessto critical care.

This ICU expansion and renovationproject will alleviate several importantchallenges faced by the current ICU. Mostnotably, the current three bed ward hasonly a curtain to divide one patient areafrom another, resulting in a lack of privacyand a lack of space. In addition, the cur-

rent unit is not adequately equipped toserve the growing population of northwestTarrant County. Consequently, manypatients have had to be transferred to otherfacilities farther from home due to thesimple lack of space.

Besides alleviating all of these issues,the expanded and renovated ICU will alsoposition HMNW for future technologicalenhancements in the delivery of criticalcare. According to Beth Zimmerman,director of major gifts for the HarrisMethodist Health Foundation, “Thisimproved ICU will provide adequate spacefor state-of-the-art patient care equipmentwhile providing more room for families tobe involved with their loved ones’ care andfor nursing staff to work with patients.Each patient will be assured of their priva-cy while maximizing infection control.”

For more information about the Levis& Lace Cowboy Chic Event or theHMNW ICU expansion, please call BethZimmerman at (817) 317-5236.

HARRIS METHODIST HEALTH FOUNDATION

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HOW MANY LIVES HAVE YOU TOUCHED TODAY?

Gratitude. It’s a topic where words are

great, but actions speak louder.When heartfelt, gratitude can be anamazing catalyst for action. A grate-ful heart overflows with appreciationthat often turns full-circle to benefitsomeone else.

As a health care entity, HarrisMethodist provides a vital serviceexpressed through our mission to“improve the health of the people in

the communities we serve.” Working to fulfill our mission on adaily basis returns countless rewards to our caregivers. But when agrateful patient feels compelled by an experience at one of our hos-pitals to act – to give back to our institutions – that gratitude takesa form that touches many lives.

Over the years, grateful patients have contributed to theexpansion, enhancement, and success of our system. They’ve giventheir time, talent and resources as volunteers, donors, board andcommittee members, and advocates to advance the mission of ourhospitals.

In this issue of In Touch, you’ll read about the Pease family ofFort Worth. They turned their gratitude for care received at HarrisMethodist Southwest Hospital into a gift that will mean improvedfacilities and greater access to care for thousands in our area. You’llalso learn about a meaningful way that many of our patients havechosen to show their appreciation for the care provided by theirphysicians. We hope these stories will inspire your continued gen-erosity to the hospitals that have played a part in your life and thatstand by to serve you again whenever you need them.

Doug White, PresidentHarris Methodist Health Foundation

New Hospital UnitDesigned to Ease

Suffering and Increase Comfort

Thanks to medical advances in thisage of technology, we’re living longer thanever before. And that’s good news. Thereis, however, another side. Many of us willspend a larger portion of our lives livingwith chronic or debilitating illness andfrailty. Hospitals have now begun toaddress this situation through what iscalled palliative care. The purpose of pal-liative care is to reduce suffering andimprove quality of life. It is aimed at eas-ing the consequences of illness in condi-tions where a cure is not possible.

Palliative care is closely related to, butnot the same as hospice which focuses onthe care of people whose life expectancy ismeasured in months rather than years.Hospice offers specialized comfort care forthe terminally ill that is often provided inthe home. “Palliative care is an all-encom-passing care that focuses on comfort butcan include medical treatment appropriatein the situation,” according to LucyBrown, Director of Med-Surg Renal/Oncology at Harris Methodist Fort Worth.

Palliative care has been an option forpatients at Harris Methodist Fort Worthsince 2001. The Palliative Care Team,under the direction of Dr. Alvin Mathe,includes a nurse practitioner, nurse clini-cian, social workers, chaplains, as well as

pharmacists, therapists and dieticians.These specially trained health care individ-uals listen and facilitate the gathering ofinformation about the illness and potentialtreatment options. They support the family in thoughtful decision-makingbased on the patient’s condition, prognosisand known wishes. This team works closely with doctors and nurses throughoutthe hospital to identify patients who canbenefit from this care. They focus onmanaging pain and other physical symp-toms as well as providing support to fami-lies and patients as they may experienceemotional and spiritual suffering with ill-ness or when approaching the end-of-life.

Harris Methodist Fort Worth is cur-rently expanding the opportunity to servethese patients by creating a specialized unitdedicated solely to palliative care. This new12-bed unit will mean that patients and

families in need of palliative care will belocated in a centralized area and served bya highly specialized and localized team ofprofessionals. The environment will bequiet, soothing, welcoming and family-ori-ented. Space for families outside of patientcare rooms will included a family confer-ence room, chapel, and dining area.

Renovation of space in Harris Towerto create the Palliative Care Unit is expect-ed to cost more that $3.2 million dollars.The Harris Methodist Health Foundationis embarking on a philanthropic campaignto secure at least $1 million toward thisproject. The goal is for construction of thisuniquely designed, staffed and managedunit to begin within a year.

If you’d like to know more about thePalliative Care Unit Campaign at HarrisMethodist Fort Worth, please call LauraQuenette at (817) 317-5235.

A Simple Way to Go Beyond Saying

Thanks to YourD O C T O R

A doctor often provides so muchmore than medical care. Sometimes it’s acaring touch or kind word that goesabove and beyond. Maybe a personalperspective shared during a time of stress. Or a comforting gesture that offers something no prescribed treatmentcould provide.

Those who choose the profession of medicine aren’t looking for applause,ovations, or even recognition beyond the knowledge that maybe they’ve helpedsomeone in need of care. But a new campaign developed by the HarrisMethodist Health Foundation givesappreciative patients a tangible andmeaningful way to pay tribute to thedoctors who have touched their lives.

Called “Honor Your Doctor,” thiscampaign asks grateful patients to recog-

nize their physicians with a donation thatwill not only honor their doctor’s service,but will also help strengthen health careservices for all of the community.

Gayla Shivers, a longtime HarrisMethodist supporter, has already recog-nized several of her doctors in this way.“My husband, John Shivers, and I honored three outstanding doctors fordifferent reasons. They are all extremelyprofessional, compassionate and fantasticphysicians. The world would be happierwith more like them. By making thesecontributions to a worthwhile cause, wehoped to show them our appreciation fortheir service, dedication and friendship.We really appreciated the opportunity tohonor them and say ‘thank you’ in a special way,” she says.

Inspired by National Doctor’s Day,

recognized in March, the Honor YourDoctor Campaign extends the sentimentin an ongoing way. Physicians who arehonored in this way will receive a tastefuland discreet acknowledgement of theirpatient’s thoughtfulness with no refer-ence to the amount of the gift. Differentgiving levels are available, and all are tax-deductible.

As Doug White, president of theHarris Methodist Health Foundation,says, “I can’t think of a better way tohonor the skill, commitment and com-passion of a physician who has meant somuch to the health and well-being ofyou and those you love.”

If you’d like to know more aboutthe Honor Your Doctor Campaign or areinterested in participating, please callSusan Dalton at (817) 317-5232.

Mark your calendar for the Harris Methodist Health Foundation Annual Golf TournamentThursday, October 19th

For more information, please call the HMHF at (817) 317-5200 or visit www.hmhf.org

HARRIS METHODIST HEALTH FOUNDATION • 6100 WESTERN PLACE, SUITE 1001 • FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76107 • 817-317-5200

New Group Aims to Expand Hospital’s Profile and Presence

Harris Methodist Northwest is cur-rently organizing a new DevelopmentCouncil designed to help bridge the gapbetween the hospital and the people itserves. This council will work to createrelationships of support that will help thehospital grow and better meet the needs ofthe community.

The HMNW Development Councilwill meet several times a year for informa-tive programs about the hospital and cur-rent health issues. Its members will act asliaisons between the hospital and the com-munity at large.

Steve Parker, president and CEO ofFirst Bank, Azle, has agreed to chair the

council. Parker’s history of philanthropicsupport and involvement with HMNWdates back to the early ‘90s. His existingconnection to the hospital coupled withhis strong presence in the local businesscommunity led to his position as chair ofthe council and will serve him well as thegroup works to develop a powerful profilein the community.

“I feel that the council will be an out-reach tool to inform the community of theservices and staff that are available to thearea. HMNW provides advanced medicalservices that go above and beyond thebasics,” Parker says. “I hope that throughthe council we can continually educate the community on the state-of-the-artequipment and top-notch staff membersavailable to us right here at home.”

For more information about theHMNW Development Council, please callBeth Zimmerman at (817) 317-5236.

Steve Parker