(SAN ANTONIO) – Thursday, January 17 – Mission Trail Baptist Hospital is growing to serve the needs of south San Antonio, Bexar and surrounding counties. The hospital recently announced the launch of a new robotic surgery program, the opening of Same Day Surgery Suites and national recognition for achievements in safety and quality.

At a community gathering attended by several hundred community leaders and Mission Trail Baptist employees, Regina Temple, President and CEO of the hospital, announced that the hospital had earned an “A” in the Fall, 2018 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Survey. “This A Rating is granted by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization that is committed to driving quality, safety, and transparency in the US healthcare system,” said Temple. “Leapfrog is considered the gold standard for measuring patient care. With this “A” grade, Mission Trail is ranked among an elite group of hospitals that meet the highest safety standards. Receiving an “A” Rating is a testament to our commitment to providing safe, high-quality care to our community, who deserve nothing less.”

The addition of Same Day Surgery Suites at the hospital answers the need for more operating room space on the southside. Chief Operating Officer, Sandy Ethridge saysthe hospital’s four main operating rooms were reaching capacity. “We have seenan increase of 13% in surgical volume over the past year,” said Ethridge. “By dedicating space for same day surgeries, our operating rooms are freed up for more complicated and specialized surgical cases. This allows more patients to have their procedures close to home, rather than travelling downtown or to the medical center for their care.” The Same Day Surgery Department includes two Surgery Suites, sox Pre-Operative Bays and three Post Anesthesia Care Unit Bays. Mission Trail Chief of Staff, Kevin Kirk, MD talked about the new suites from the physician’s perspective.“I am hererepresenting a dedicated group of surgeons and physicians who are truly committed to serving the South San Antonio community,” said Kirk. “The increased access to OR time will allow for expansion of services for the people who live here.”

One of these services is access to minimally-invasive robotic surgery. Mission Trail’s Chief of Surgery, Phillip Hamby, MD said the addition of a robot on the southside will attract new surgeons to the area. “This type of surgery is being performedby more surgeons because of the superior precision and imaging it provides,” said Hamby. “We are the only hospital currently offering this type of surgery for people living on the southside.I am excited about the greater access to surgeons and surgical technology this brings to the people of this community.”

Mission Trail Baptist Hospital is the newest acute care hospital San Antonio. The hospital has served southeast San Antonio for over 40 years, for the first three decades as Southeast Baptist Hospital on Southcross. Chief Strategy Officer Brandon Fowler says the hospital is the primary access point for healthcare services for some 345,000 people, living in 16 zip codes across three different counties. An area that is expected to grow by 12% in the next five years. “Mission Trail is a team of dedicated providers, clinicians and support teams that are bound by one mission: We help people achieve health for life through compassionate serviced inspired by faith. We will continue to innovate and expand the services we provide to meet the demands of a growing community. And we will continue to be a hospital with outstanding quality, delivering an excellent experience, and we will keep you safe during your most vulnerable state.”

About Baptist Health System

Baptist Health System is a trusted provider of hospital, health and wellness services in San Antonio and South Texas. The System includes six acute-care hospitals (Baptist Medical Center, Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, North Central Baptist Hospital, Northeast Baptist Hospital, and St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital) in San Antonio, and Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels, which offer more than 1,700 licensed beds. The Baptist Orthopedic Hospital and Baptist Children’s Hospital are located on the campus of North Central Baptist. The hospitals have Accredited Chest Pain and Primary Stroke Center Certifications. The system also includes Baptist Regional Children’s Center, Baptist Breast Center, Baptist Cancer Center, South Texas Lung Institute, Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, and HealthLink fitness and physical rehabilitation centers. Other affiliated entities include seven MedPost Urgent Care Centers, seven freestanding Baptist Emergency Hospitals, Baptist Physician Network, Baptist M&S Imaging Centers, ambulatory services, medical office buildings and the Baptist School of Health Professions. The system is part of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, based out of Dallas, Texas.

Media Contact:
Connie Gonzalez 210-878-9336