Latest news with #MedicalCenterHealthSystem
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Benton looks forward to bridging the doctor-patient gap
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 6—Becoming Medical Center Health System's Chief Medical Officer is a little bit like a homecoming for Dr. Timothy Benton. Benton was nearby as regional dean of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. After being at Tech since 2012, he started his new position at the end of April. So far, Benton said the experience has been excellent. "It's a little bit of a homecoming for me. I've been part of the medical staff here for 13 years, and know the physicians, know the administration, and have enjoyed my work here over those 13 years," Benton said. In his role at Texas Tech, Benton knew many of the people he is now working with, but it is a change in dynamics. There are about 500 doctors and advanced practice providers who have privileges at MCH, Benton said. "Having worked with the people of Medical Center for a number of years, it's an easy transition for me. The people are friendly and warm and accepting. (They) seem to be pretty accommodating for me at this point, but it is a little different, because I'm taking on a new role instead of practicing as a physician. Now, I'll be working closer with the physicians, not in a supervisory role, but helping to settle things for them, issues for them, and working in a servant role," Benton said. Benton said the key aspect of the chief medical officer role is to be a liaison between the physicians and the administration, to help in quality healthcare delivery and help ease some of the burdens for the physicians. "That's one of my goals, is to try to help restore the doctor-patient relationship. "It's there already, but in modern medicine, there are a lot of business things that get in between the patient and the doctor at times. I want to be that bridge between the business and the patient care too. I think there's a ton of opportunity here. The medical staff is tremendous. Many are nationally certified in certain areas in particular, like our cardiology division, and there's tremendous opportunity. I want to help serve the people alongside those positions, there'll be a lot of work in quality and you know, that's managed and looked at nationally through Medicare and CMS. I'll be working a lot with that. But also Medical Center Health System is the center of this community in Ector County. I look forward to working broadly across the community in healthcare delivery," Benton said. Benton said he was vice chief of staff with Dr. Donald Davenport during COVID-19 for two years. "During the pandemic ... I was actually vice chief of staff, and hospital was without a CMO. So myself and the Chief of Staff, Dr. Davenport, took on that role to help manage the care delivery through the pandemic time. That is some experience already in the role, so I'm coming in knowing some about it," Benton said. He added that he doesn't see much of a switch from what he was doing at TTUHSC to Medical Center. "It is obviously a different title and a different place and a different building that I will go to. However, it's really, I think, continuing the work that ... I've done here for years, over the last 13 years. This is the primary teaching hospital for the residents and students, and that'll be part of my role in CMO is working with Texas Tech still, and providing that teaching environment and teaching hospital for them. I see us working together, as we always have ... between Texas Tech and Medical Center in delivering for this community and this region, I think it's just an extension of the partnership," Benton said. He added that he will go to work every day with many of the same people so it won't be much different in that regard. "My role will be a little different where I won't be in the classroom teaching so much and rounding with medical students and residents. I hope ... to continue a lot of the community work that we've done in partnership and also continue in the realm of research. There's a lot of things going on, programs in partnership with Medical Center that I was a part of with Texas Tech that I think we can continue forward with this community," Benton said. The last few years as regional dean, Benton said he didn't practice much but he still had a few patients he would see in clinic. "I think this will open the door actually, for me to be in clinic a little more. Texas Tech has asked me to supervise residents in the clinic periodically. I think I will still be doing that. I do miss patient care, but I think the role now is take care of the people who take care of the patients, and that way still delivering patient care," Benton said. He noted that he is looking forward to bridging any divides that have popped up between patients and doctors over the last five years due to COVID. "I think one thing that COVID showed us is that technology can play a role. However, technology can be a barrier, too. I see some opportunities of how we can help restore the doctor-patient relationship through technology. And by that, I don't mean AI opportunities to do diagnosis, although there's some of that in radiology and psychiatry, but more so in taking some of the administrative burdens off of the physicians. I think there's a lot of opportunity in applying technology in that way, and monitoring and controlling quality and just gathering the data and information in the background for them. That is something that I'm looking forward to, hopefully working with Medical Center in that way is better application of technology. That's something we learned in the pandemic that is out there for us, but it also can be a barrier, too so we have to be cautious," Benton said. He noted that having partnerships with colleges and universities, both locally and regionally, is critical because that is the pipeline for future generations of caregivers whether it's doctors or nurses. "That's something I'm very proud of my work over the last 13 years here, and hope to continue those relationships and building the pipeline for what we really need in the Permian Basin, and that's more healthcare workers," Benton said. This is Benton's 31st year in medicine. "The first decade was in practice. Things have changed a lot in the last two decades, and there's a lot that they have to do, and administrative work and charting work. But I think there's opportunity to bring technology into that, to help them. That's something I would like to help them with, to restore their time with their patients. All of us, me included, went into this to spend time with patients and caring for patients. We need to figure ways to help them get back to that," he added. "We are beyond thrilled to have someone of Dr. Benton's stature join our team as CMO," Russell Tippin, President & CEO, Medical Center Health System, said in a news release. "He has been an incredible partner with us during his time at Texas Tech and we look forward to having his leadership as we navigate into the future of healthcare." Benton earned his medical degree from the TTUHSC School of Medicine in 1994, before completing his residency in Family Medicine from the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. In addition, he completed a faculty development fellowship from the Keck School of Medicine with the University of Southern California in 2006.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Benton hired as Chief Medical Officer at MCH
Apr. 11—Medical Center Health System is proud to announce the hiring of Dr. Timothy Benton as Chief Medical Officer, effective Monday, April 14. "I am excited to join a team that I've worked hand-in-hand with for more than a decade," Dr. Benton said in a news release. "MCH truly cares for its patients and the community. I've seen it firsthand. I'm looking forward to helping lead this team and continuing the incredible work that has made this place the premiere source of healthcare in the Permian Basin." Dr. Benton is no stranger to West Texas and Medical Center Hospital. He joined the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine faculty in Amarillo in 2005 as the Associate Residency Program Director and eventually the Program Director. Dr. Benton then joined the TTUHSC Permian Basin Campus in 2012, where he's served as the Regional Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, focusing on the residency program and patient care. He has also been the Medical Director for the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Physician Assistant program. Dr. Benton has been a constant partner of MCH during his work with TTUHSC. He has had an active working relationship with TTUHSC residents at MCH and patient care. Dr. Benton even served as co-interim Chief Medical Officer at MCH during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (alongside Dr. Don Davenport) from 2020-2022. "We are beyond thrilled to have someone of Dr. Benton's stature join our team as CMO," Russell Tippin, President & CEO, Medical Center Health System, said in the release. "He has been an incredible partner with us during his time at Texas Tech and we look forward to having his leadership as we navigate into the future of healthcare." Dr. Benton achieved his medical degree from the TTUHSC School of Medicine in 1994, before completing his residency in Family Medicine from the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. In addition, he completed a faculty development fellowship from the Keck School of Medicine with the University of Southern California in 2006.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
MCH chief reflects on 75 years
Feb. 7—Over the last 75 years, Medical Center Hospital has seen a lot of physical, personnel and technology growth. President and CEO Russell Tippin has been head of Medical Center Health System for nearly six years. The mass shooting on Aug. 31, 2019, was Tippin's fourth day on the job. In an hour's time, seven people had been shot and killed, three law enforcement officers had been shot and wounded, at least 21 civilians had been shot and wounded, and the gunman had been shot and killed. Several others received cuts and lacerations caused by flying glass and debris associated with gunfire striking very close to their proximity. The gunman, Seth Ator, was shot and killed by multiple law enforcement agencies as they made a final stand in a field near Cinergy Theatre. Tippin also experienced COVID-19 on his watch. "I've had two once-in-a-lifetime things happen to me since I've been here, but man, time flies. It goes smooth by," he said. In healthcare, he noted, if you're standing still, you're going to get left behind. COVID taught people that they didn't have to be in an office to work, meetings could be conducted virtually and doctors' appointments as well. "If you think about 15 years ago, what an MRI machine looked like versus what, you know, what it looks like now, and how much faster it is, kind of like going from a VCR to your phone. It's kind of the same thing. They're still big, giant machines, but they used to fill up two rooms. Now our MRI machine can fit on a trailer of an 18-wheeler, and be just as effective and just as fast," Tippin said. "It's really been interesting to watch technology change and just the way healthcare is delivered now," he added. You can get prescriptions, healthcare and healthcare information — like EKGs — through apps and wearable devices like Apple Watches. Tippin said one thing that hasn't changed is the quality of the hospital's people. "West Texas people are different than other people. They're just different. There's something instilled in them that's different. Maybe it's the sand in their teeth that makes them different, the grit, but definitely their hearts and their ability to care for people is different, and that's one thing that hasn't changed in 75 years," Tippin said. The quality of the staff, nurses, doctors, housekeepers all have something inside of them that makes them want to care for other people, and that's pretty special, he added. Those doctors are no longer confined to offices or hospitals, but can be found at numerous urgent care clinics and people have adapted to that. Patients also don't have to wait as long for test results because of patient portals. They also can communicate with their doctors through the portal. "Not even 15 years ago, there was no such thing. Everything was dictated or transcribed into the medical record. Now what the doctor puts in medical record, you can see that on your phone anywhere in the world. I could even look at my chest X ray in there. I could look at my chest X ray results. You think about people who are battling, you know, big diseases, big cancers, that are having to travel for some of this care, how they're able to take their medical record in the palm of their hand, and they're able to text that or email it, or take a picture of it and send it to the cancer center, or perhaps you know another doctor they're being referred to. That kind of blows my mind, too, how that information is just so flexible now, how it moves around. Used to, you'd send in medical records requests they would have 30 or 45 days to make the copies and send it to your next doctor. Nowadays, if you don't have it done in 30 or 45 minutes, something's wrong," Tippin said. Medical records also now talk to each other. In the past, patients would be transferred from Andrews to Medical Center, for example, and you'd hand a copy of the patient's record to medical personnel. Now, you can put a patient ID number into the system and "it just brings it all over." "It's instant," Tippin said. He added that this helps with care and keeps the patient moving through the system faster. Treatment that people would go to Dallas or Houston for is also available at MCH. "That's been a goal of Medical Center for a long time," Tippin said. He added that Medical Center provides more advanced care to people in outlying towns like Fort Stockton, Monahans and Andrews. "We have doctors that travel there so those patients don't have to leave their town," Tippin said. "Our cardiac doctors are a prime example. They go all over. They go to Rankin, Monahans, Andrews. They have clinics there and that way those patients don't leave," Tippin said. "Back in the day, you needed a big heart procedure done, you left. You need a brain procedure done, you left. But now they don't have to do that. We handle it all right here," Tippin said. Texas Oncology-Odessa West Texas Cancer Center is nearby. "There are probably 60 people getting cancer treatment right now that 10, 15 years ago would be on the road to Houston to have that done. They're getting the same treatment regimen right there as they would get if they were sitting in downtown Houston. That's a big, big shift," Tippin said. He added that the hospital has more than 60,000 visits to its emergency room every year. "That's like the size of Andrews or Big Spring twice a year. ... That's a lot of people," Tippin said. One of the cardiac surgeons, Dr. Kirit Patel, performs 200 to 300 open-heart surgeries every year. "When I grew up in this area back in the 80s, open hearts were sent to Houston. They weren't done here. ... Now we're doing hundreds of those every year right here in Odessa at Medical Center. That's cool stuff. That's how you grow in health care. You find those things that people are having to travel for and you bring those to the patient. You make it convenient for the patient. ... Being able to provide those services in Odessa and Ector County is a big deal," Tippin said. There's also robotic surgery that is minimally invasive and enables patients to go home the same day. Babies in the neonatal intensive care unit let parents stay nearby while their baby is being cared for. There are other advances available for example DNA mapping for cancer treatment so you can match your treatment to your DNA. "That's very cutting edge technology to match somebody's DNA within 1 percent is amazing. That's really, really cool stuff and it just helps the patient get better faster," Tippin said. The cardiac physicians and surgeons are also top notch. "They do so many hearts; they do it so well. Their recovery rates, their success rates are so high that you may be in Odessa, Texas, but you're getting the same, if not better, care than you get in downtown Houston. That's just because these guys are so well trained. They're so well connected and they get to do it so many times that they're experts," he added. The hospital has grown from 85 beds in one building to 402 beds and at least six buildings. The hospital has partnerships with many community entities even joining with the Midland County Hospital District to establish the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Hospital being built at 3300 Farm to Market Road 1788. MCH also is extending its reach through Odessa College and University of Texas Permian Basin. "We're not going anywhere. We're going to be around," Public Relations Director Trevor Tankersley said. According to the hospital website, in 1948, there were three hospitals in Odessa. Dr. Elbert Thorton owned a six-bed hospital, Dr. Emmett Headlee owned the Headlee Hospital, which is now the Ector County Library, and Dr. J.K. Wood owned a 34-bed facility called Wood Hospital. Due to the need for more healthcare services, Wood gathered a group of citizens who met with Ector County Commissioners to propose a new Odessa hospital. The commissioners recognized the need, and C.C. Gibson was soon hired as the hospital administrator, the site said. After nearly two years of construction, the Ector County Hospital was dedicated on Nov. 27, 1949. The doors were opened for patients on Dec. 5, 1949. It cost $838,946 to build. Since 2010, Medical Center Health System has continued to open clinics at various locations to make healthcare more accessible. In 2014, MCHS opened the Center for Primary Care — JBS Parkway and the Center for Primary Care — West University that include Urgent Care clinics and pediatric services. MCHS operates three Urgent Care clinics, one ProCare Walk-in Clinic, and two Family Health Clinic locations. The health system was the integration of ProCare, all the urgent care clinics, doctors and doctors' offices, Tankersley said. The hospital now serves more than 100,000 patients a year over a 17-county area directly, but also counties in eastern New Mexico. The emergency room serves an average of 180 patients a day. During the 1980s, MCH experienced financial difficulties. After some failed financial recovery attempts by private management companies, Odessa "rallied to rescue the hospital and voted to create the Ector County Hospital District in 1989," the website said. "We're your largest trauma facility between Dallas and El Paso," Tankersley said. The hospital is currently a Level 3 trauma center, but it operates at a Level 2, he said. Tankersley said they can get the Level 2 designation back, but it's a process. "We had to drop it because of financial implications. It costs a lot of money to keep that designation, as well as holding a certain number of specialties 24/7," Tankersley said. He added that COVID threw a wrench into that and that non-clinical staff took pay cuts during the pandemic.
