Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance has been awarded LEED® certification for environmental design by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design program that recognizes the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

The 58-bed, full-service hospital opened in September 2012, adding more than 400 new jobs to the community, and offering a high level of technology within an environment that incorporates nature in with large, energy efficient windows, décor accents of natural wood and stone, and nature-themed art, much of it from local artists.  The centerpiece of the hospital is a beautifully landscaped outdoor courtyard that features a labyrinth, designed to promote peaceful meditation for patients and employees.

“When we built Texas Health Alliance we spent a lot of time and effort thinking through each design decision and its impact on the community,” said Winjie Tang Miao, hospital president. “For us, being LEED certified is not just a plaque on the wall.  The construction phase may now be over, but we are still focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recycling and minimizing waste, which benefits our community as a whole, thus creating a healthier environment.”

During the construction phase of the project, hospital leadership worked with the design team to incorporate the latest in energy efficient technology and environmentally-friendly products.   

The biggest energy savings at the hospital comes from using a 150-ton heat pump chiller to heat water. The heat pump chiller absorbs free heat from the air and transfers it to the water, making the heating process efficient, ecological, and cost-effective. Because of the heat pump chiller, the hospital was able to offset the gas needed to provide the heating supply and saved 19 percent in energy costs.

Other design elements include using light colored roofing, certified wood in the interior, recycling and minimizing waste while constructing the hospital and reducing water usage in the hospital.

The hospital also uses its interactive patient touchscreens to help control heating and cooling costs. Upon admission, room temperatures are set at a default level, which the patient can raise and lower as needed from the comfort and safety of their bed. The automatic return to the default temperature upon discharge has been proven to save the hospital in utility costs, which can now be reallocated to other patient services.

“Hospitals never close and are always using energy, so I am very proud of the steps that we have taken to reduce our environmental impact,” said Ron Braswell, facilities development senior project manager, who worked on the certification. “What we have achieved at Texas Health Alliance is very special; we have been able to embrace a natural, healing environment that incorporates the natural beauty of our landscape, which is also energy efficient and offers patients a high level of technology.”

To find out more about Texas Health Alliance, visit www.TexasHealth.org/Alliance.

About Texas Health Alliance

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance is a 58-bed, multi-service hospital offering acute care and wellness programs to communities in North Fort Worth, Keller, North Richland Hills, Haslet, and the surrounding areas. The hospital’s services include emergency medicine, women and infant services, neonatal intensive care, imaging, physical therapy, surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, occupational health, and wellness programs. Texas Health Alliance is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org/Alliance.

About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources.  It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.

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Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS, April 11, 2014 — Whether it’s dusty stacks of old pay stubs, mortgage or credit card statements, tax forms or utility bills, the threat of identity theft these days makes letting go tough.

That’s why Texas Health Resources, in honor of Earth Day 2014, is hosting free “Shred-a-thon” events at 14 of its locations on two separate days. Personal paperwork will be safely shredded on-site beyond the leering eyes of identity thieves — and all the paper shreddings are recycled.

The on-site shredding services will be provided by Iron Mountain Incorporated. Individuals are allowed up to four boxes of paperwork — but cardboard, among other items, cannot be shredded. People will need to take their cardboard/totes back with them.

The first Shred-a-thon day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, April 19, at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth.

The second Shred-a-thon day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, May 17, at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville and Texas Health’s Arlington headquarters.

Items that can be shredded include:

• All paper
• Fasteners such as paper clips, staples, notebooks, spirals
• Business cards, brochures, banners, pamphlets, fliers

Items that are NOT to be shredded at this event include*:

• Food or liquids of any type
• Glass, plastic, aluminum
• Batteries
• Wrappers, cans or bottles
• Metal objects
• CDs
• DVDs
• USB Drives
• Hard Drives
• Audio Video Tape

*The Shredathon events at Texas Health Plano and Texas Health’s Arlington headquarters will include computer and hard-drive shredding by Techway.

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About Texas Health Resources
Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, Huguley Memorial Medical Center, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS, March 20, 2014 – Residents and employees in the Alliance area of northern Fort Worth who are struggling with depression, stress management, anxiety and other behavioral health issues now have access to new health care and wellness services through Texas Health Behavioral Health Center Alliance. 

            On March 26, Texas Health Resources will open the new center, which offers convenient access to comprehensive behavioral health care services. It is located at 2421 Westport Parkway, Suite 500, in Fort Worth, approximately one mile from Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance and its emergency department.

The center will work closely with Texas Health Alliance to help meet the total health needs of the residents of the fast-growing area. Counseling services include comprehensive free assessments, wellness classes, yoga instruction, crisis management, treatment and preventative services for adolescents (13-17 years), adults and seniors
(55 and older).

            “Having access to high-quality behavioral services is a very important part of our commitment to help Alliance-area residents stay healthy in body, mind and spirit,” said Winjie Tang Miao, president of Texas Health Alliance. “Texas Health Behavioral Health Center Alliance continues our work to bring best practices from across the Texas Health system and the country to this area to deliver the health care this community deserves.” 

            To help met the needs of the young families of the Alliance region, the center will offer wellness programs as well as behavioral health services. Wellness therapy and seminars will be offered including yoga, parenting, weight loss and its emotional barriers, and time management.

            With many adolescents involved in athletic programs, the center will provide sports performance therapy. The staff will work with parents and area school districts to help teenaged athletes understand and deal with stresses and expectations of sports programs.

            Other adolescent-focused therapy and support groups will address topics such as suicide, cyberbullying and self-mutilation, which are on the rise nationally.

Patients at Texas Health Behavioral Health Center Alliance are offered a comprehensive private consultation to assess the level of treatment needed. If appropriate, intensive group counseling or individualized therapy is offered. All treatment provided is on an outpatient basis and is designed to help participants balance their treatment requirements with work, education and home-life schedules.

            The center is operated by Texas Health Behavioral Health, the leading behavioral health care provider in North Texas. Texas Health Behavioral Health facilities are Centers of Excellence for the treatment of behavioral health. Counseling and treatment are offered at four hospitals and 11 outpatient centers located throughout the Metroplex.

Depression is a significant health issue in North Texas and nationwide. Almost
10 percent of adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

            “Helping North Texans achieve total well-being includes addressing emotional and behavioral aspects of patients’ lives as well as physical,” said Ramona Osburn, FACHE, senior vice president of behavioral health for Texas Health. “Texas Health Behavioral Health Center Alliance was designed to meet the specific needs faced by people in North Fort Worth.”     

            The new behavioral health center exemplifies Texas Health Resources’ focus on wellness and well-being. The system is working with Healthways, the City of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and other community groups and organizations to support development of a Blue Zones Project across Fort Worth. This is a communitywide well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes in environment, policy and social networks. The Fort Worth project will be the largest of its kind when implemented, and Texas Health Alliance will be one of many area businesses striving to become a Blue Zones Certified Workplace (www.texas.bluezonesproject.com).

            To schedule an assessment or register for a class at Texas Health Behavioral Health Center Alliance, call 682-236-6023. Visit www.TexasHealth.org/behavioral-health for more information.

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About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 25 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources. It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist and Texas Health Huguley Hospitals, Texas Health Physicians Group, outpatient facilities, behavioral health and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.

FORT WORTH, TEXAS, March 17, 2014  —  The Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce has honored Mandy Forbus, community integration director at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, with the ‘Member of the Year’ award at their Annual Business Awards Gala. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding participation and leadership skills at chamber and community events. 

“We are honored Mandy has been recognized for her dedication to the community, and we are very proud of her,” Winjie Tang Miao, president at Texas Health Alliance said. “She is an invaluable member of our team bringing innovation, creativity and dedication to both the hospital and community.”

“I was not expecting to win this award, but am so honored,” Forbus, who has worked at the hospital since it opened in 2012, and joined the Texas Health family in 2002. “I just do what I do because I believe in the purpose of the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce and in doing whatever it takes to support our community. It’s a privilege to work in the community where I live, and I am proud of what we can accomplish when we collaborate.”

Forbus also feels blessed to be part of the collaboration between Keller ISD, the Keller Chamber, the City of Keller and Texas Health Alliance at this year’s Keller Fest event, of which the hospital is the presenting sponsor.

“This year at Keller Fest, we are providing free health screenings and information from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.  Additional health and wellness information, as well as entertainment, will be provided by Keller ISD students,” Forbus said.  

In years past, there were approximately 20,000 attendees at the event, so the potential impact of this collaboration for the community is notable.

“We appreciate Mandy’s willingness to help us out on community events, especially at the eleventh hour,” Rudy Martinez, president and CEO of the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce, said. “She has been invaluable when it comes to wrapping up last minute details that seem to occur with any large event or program.  Her enthusiasm to make Keller the best business community it can be is greatly appreciated and we thank her for that.”

For more information on Keller Fest, visit www.KELLERfest.com.

For more information about Texas Health Alliance, please visit www.TexasHealth.org/Alliance.

For more information about the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.KellerChamber.com.

About Texas Health Alliance

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance is a 50-bed, multi-service hospital offering acute care and wellness programs to communities in North Fort Worth, Keller, North Richland Hills, Haslet, and the surrounding areas. The hospital’s services include emergency medicine, women and infant services, neonatal intensive care, imaging, physical therapy, surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, occupational health, and wellness programs. Texas Health Alliance is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org/Alliance.

About Texas Health Resources

Texas Health Resources is one of the largest faith-based, nonprofit health systems in the United States. The health system includes 24 acute care and short-stay hospitals that are owned, operated, joint-ventured or affiliated with Texas Health Resources.  It includes the Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Arlington Memorial and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals, a large physician group, outpatient facilities, and home health, preventive and fitness services, and an organization for medical research and education.

For more information about Texas Health Resources, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit www.TexasHealth.org.

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Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.