Highlighting Howard Co. Business
Local healthcare, local providers healing the community day and night
“Healing is a matter of time, but sometimes it is also a matter of opportunity.” - Hippocrates
Can you imagine life without hospitals? Imagine, a friend or a family member has been involved in an accident and is laying on the ground badly wounded. What do you do? If there wasn’t a hospital nearby what do you think the chances of survival would be? Without hospitals the simplest diseases can turn fatal. The basic motto of hospitals is to take care of humanity, this is a great service as it ensures the human race continues.
Scenic Mountain Medical Center is dedicated to providing health care and being a center for healing when it comes to a host of diseases, physical and mental conditions. SMMC is a community healthcare facility serving Howard County and surrounding areas. The 146 licensed bed facility is classified as an acute care hospital with a Level IV Trauma Center Emergency Room which operates 24/7. Through the hospital and the clinic (Scenic Mountain Medical Group) an array of services are provided locally including: cardiology, orthopedics, labor and delivery, diagnostic imaging, wound care and women’s health and breast care services.
Scenic Mountain Medical Center is more than a hospital because of the welcoming, compassionate staff. In April 2019, SMMC became the 37th hospital in the Steward Family of Healthcare facilities nationally and the sixth hospital of the group located in Texas.
Steward Healthcare is the nation’s largest private, tax paying physician-led health care network. The group has received top awards for quality and safety in healthcare. Since SMMC joined the Steward family facility changes have begun, of which the most notable so far is the new signage around the building. When the project is complete there will be all new signage inside and outside the facility. At the Martin Luther King and FM 700 entrances will be LED signs, as well as new signage inside the facility.
As the nation’s healthcare facilities have been hit hard with the coronavirus pandemic, rural hospitals are being hit even harder. While some communities have been hit hard with cases, Howard County has not been hit with an influx to this point. With the slow arrival of cases, SMMC has had an opportunity to learn from surrounding areas and build up supplies which has allowed better preparation for when an influx does hit. According to SMMC Marketing Coordinator Daniel Moreno, SMMC is well prepared for any outbreak.
“Even though the front doors have been locked, the ER and clinic remained open with strict precautions. The hospital is slowly moving towards reopening the front,” Moreno said. “We are proud of our staff and all the hard work and effort they have put forth through this.
National Nurses Week was May 6-12 and Hospital Week runs through May 16. As a way to boost morale, celebrations were held with different themes throughout the week. Monday was Superhero Day and staff wore a T-shirt of their favorite hero; Tuesday was Red Dot Day and staff was able to take part in a scavenger hunt; Wednesday was Crazy Sock Day; Thursday was Luau and Friday was an opportunity for staff to enjoy a cookout.
“The community support has been amazing not just for the events to show our staff how much they are appreciated, but from local organizations, churches, and business. We have had two prayer nights for the hospital where citizens were invited to come sit in their vehicle and listen to singers from local churches. We are planning at least two more. Information about these will be posted on the SMMC Facebook page, website and in local media outlets,” Moreno said.
He continued, “The donations we have received have been awesome. H-E-B sent frozen meals for the night shift nurses to heat up. We have received gloves, masks (some homemade and decorated), face shields, food, gift baskets and medical supplies. The ER has received the largest amount of donation since they are on the front line.”
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SMMC Volunteer Auxiliary has been taking time off in order to keep them healthy and ready for service when the pandemic clears.
“We have missed our volunteers; they have such a positive attitude and were always cheerful and helpful. April Arms – volunteer coordinator – has made a point of checking on them and offering assistance if needed,” he said.
He continued, “Hospitals are a little like the beach, the next wave is always coming. Scenic Mountain Medical Center will be ready when it does.”
Scenic Mountain Medical Center is located at 1601 W. 11th Place. Visit scenicmountainmedical.org or their Facebook page for daily updates and changes.