Joseph Berumen, RN, has been named chief nursing officer for Medical City Las Colinas, starting July 5.

Berumen joins with more than 25 years of healthcare experience, including executive and senior leadership positions.

“We are delighted to welcome Joseph to our hospital’s senior leadership team and our community,” says Jessica O’Neal, FACHE, CEO at Medical City Las Colinas. “Joseph’s strong foundation of clinical knowledge, frontline nursing experience and leadership expertise will further support and elevate our position as the destination of choice for healthcare excellence in the greater Las Colinas, Irving and Coppell communities.”

Berumen served previously as CNO at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Centennial. Prior to that role, he was director of critical care at Medical City McKinney and later, the assistant chief nursing officer where he helped improve quality, employee engagement and retention.

Berumen earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Executive Leadership and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Texas Tech University. He is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the American Nurses Association and the Texas Organization of Nurse Executives. He is on the Nursing Advisory Council for Western Governors University and was elected to Texas Nurses Association Leadership Succession Committee.

IRVING – The start of May has been among the five warmest on record in North Texas, according to meteorologists. Unseasonably hot temperatures earlier than normal have provided little time for the body to acclimate, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and prompting emergency room physicians at Medical City Las Colinas to provide safety tips.

“The elderly, people with underlying medical conditions and those who work outside are most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses,” says Nathan Ham, DO, medical director of emergency medicine at Medical City Las Colinas. “Gradually increasing outside heat exposure can help the body better adapt and can be important to avoid overheating.”

Heat acclimatization is the improvement in heat tolerance that comes from gradually increasing the intensity or duration of work performed in a hot setting. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heat-related illness, including heat stroke and heat exhaustion, sends more than 67,000 people to the ER annually, with more than 700 deaths. 

To help North Texans acclimatize to the early surge in high temperatures, medical experts at Medical City Las Colinas recommend following these tips:

• Gradually increase the workload performed in a hot setting over a period of 1-2 weeks
• Stay hydrated, start drinking fluids before going outdoors
• Limit alcohol
• Eat regular meals, which provide electrolytes lost in sweat
• Dress in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and wear a wide-brimmed hat

Physical condition, age and other factors may affect how the body copes with heat. Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Rapid pulse
• Faintness
• Cramps
• Tiredness or weakness

Medical City Las Colinas medical experts recommend seeking medical treatment if symptoms don’t improve after getting out of the heat and if they worsen or are still present after one hour. Learn more about how to stay cool and avoid heat-related illness here. 

IRVING – Medical City Las Colinas has been recognized by Healthgrades as a 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ recipient. This distinction places Medical City Las Colinas among the top 10% of all short-term acute care hospitals as evaluated by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting patients and providers.

During the study period (2018 through 2020), 170,231 potentially preventable patient safety events occurred among Medicare patients in U.S. hospitals.* Healthgrades found that just four patient safety indicators accounted for 74% of all patient safety events: hip fracture due to an in-hospital fall, collapsed lung resulting from a procedure/surgery, pressure or bed sores acquired in-hospital, and catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in-hospital. Healthgrades also found that patients treated in hospitals receiving the Healthgrades 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Award™ were, on average:

• 55.8% less likely to experience an in-hospital fall resulting in hip fracture, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
• 52.6% less likely to experience a collapsed lung resulting from a procedure or surgery in or around the chest, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
• 66.2% less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals
• 65.8% less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital, than patients treated at nonrecipient hospitals

“We are honored to receive recognition from Healthgrades for providing safe, high-quality care to our patients,” says Jessica O’Neal, FACHE, CEO at Medical City Las Colinas. “Patient safety is a top priority and this outstanding award is a reflection of our commitment to the care and improvement of human life.”

“Through our 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Awards, we seek to recognize hospitals that excel in providing top-quality care for their patients while preventing serious injuries during hospital stays,” says Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and head of Data Science, Healthgrades. “We are proud to name Medical City Las Colinas as a 2022 Patient Safety Excellence Award recipient and look forward to their continued efforts to make patient safety a priority.”

Medical City Las Colinas has been awarded its fourteenth consecutive “A” in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for fall 2021. This national distinction recognizes Medical City Las Colinas’ achievements in protecting patients from harm and error in the hospital.

"Receiving this recognition for the fourteenth time in a row further exemplifies our dedication to high-quality, safe and compassionate care in every action, every patient, every time,” says Chase Pedersen, CNO of Medical City Las Colinas. “Patient safety is a top priority and this rating reflects why Medical City Las Colinas is the destination of choice for healthcare excellence in Las Colinas and the greater Irving area.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over thirty national performance measures reflecting errors, injuries, accidents and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harms to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

“An ‘A’ Safety Grade is a tremendous achievement, of which this community should be extremely proud,” says Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I thank the leadership and workforce of Medical City Las Colinas for its commitment to prioritizing patients and their safety, especially during these trying times.”

Medical City Las Colinas is one of ten Medical City Healthcare hospitals to be recognized with an “A” including Medical City Alliance, Medical City Arlington, Medical City Dallas, Medical City Denton, Medical City Fort Worth, Medical City Lewisville, Medical City McKinney, Medical City Plano and Medical City Weatherford.  

IRVING – Medical City Las Colinas is an Excellence Award winner and a 5-star recipient in the Women’s Care Awards as recognized by Healthgrades, a leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems. This 5-star rating indicates that Medical City Las Colinas’ clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected and places Medical City Las Colinas among national leaders in gynecologic surgery, labor, delivery, obstetrics and gynecology.

“Medical City Las Colinas is honored to receive recognition from Healthgrades for providing outstanding women’s care,” says Daniela Decell, CEO of Medical City Las Colinas. “This award reinforces our dedication to ensuring women, mothers and babies receive high-quality, compassionate care with the best possible outcomes.”

Medical City Las Colinas was recognized with multiple awards, including:

Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Recipient of the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Recognized by Healthgrades for Superior Performance in Obstetrics and Gynecology for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Among the Top 10% of Hospitals Evaluated for Obstetrics and Gynecology for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)

Labor and Delivery

• Recipient of the Healthgrades Labor and Delivery Excellence Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Recognized by Healthgrades for Superior Performance in Labor and Delivery for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Among the Top 10% of Hospitals Evaluated for Labor and Delivery for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Five-Star Recipient for Vaginal Delivery for 7 Years in a Row (2015-2021)
• Five-Star Recipient for C-Section Delivery for 7 Years in a Row (2015-2021)

GYN Surgery

• Recipient of the Healthgrades Gynecologic Surgery Excellence Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Recognized by Healthgrades for Superior Performance in Gynecologic Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Among the Top 5% of Hospitals Evaluated for Gynecologic Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)
• Five-Star Recipient for Gynecologic Procedures for 5 Years in a Row (2017-2021)
• Five-Star Recipient for Hysterectomy for 2 Years in a Row (2020-2021)

“Women can feel confident selecting a hospital recognized with a 5-star rating for providing exceptional women’s care. We commend the organizations that receive this achievement and for their ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care for their patients,” says Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Healthgrades.

Medical City Las Colinas is one of eight Medical City Healthcare hospitals honored for outstanding women’s services in the 2021 Women’s Care Awards, including Medical City Alliance, Medical City Arlington, Medical City Dallas, Medical City Lewisville, Medical City McKinney, Medical City Plano, and Medical City Weatherford.

View Healthgrades hospital quality awards and methodologies.

ABOUT MEDICAL CITY LAS COLINAS

Medical City Las Colinas is a 100-bed, acute care hospital serving Las Colinas, Irving and surrounding communities. With a medical team of more than 900 physicians, Medical City Las Colinas offers comprehensive services including A Level III Trauma Center, cardiovascular, orthopedic and spine surgery, robotic surgery, neurology, women’s services and a neonatal ICU (NICU). “A” rated for safety by the Leapfrog Group, certified by the Joint Commission in Hip and Knee Replacement surgery and Irving’s first Advanced Primary Stroke Center.

Medical City Las Colinas is part of Medical City Healthcare.