North - Northwest Austin Edition | November 2023

Health care

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Health care ocials discuss access to care, staying healthy and more Ocials from local hospitals discussed health care in the local community during a Round Rock Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Oct. 25. Dr. Matt Homan with the Texas A&M School of Nursing moderated the panel with Dr. Anas Dagh- estani of Austin Regional Clinic, Dr. Erin Koval of Ascension Seton Williamson, Dr. Michael Craun of St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center and Dr. Ghassan Salman of Baylor Scott & White. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com. Growth has created a greater need for health care services in the area. How has your organization increased the capacity to help fulll and deliver that care need? Daghestani: One of the things we look at is

trying our best to make sure that our sta and physicians live in that community and are part of that community, because they’ll have a better understanding of what services are needed. Baylor Scott & White has expressed a strategic focus on customer centricity. Can you share exactly what that is and how it impacts health care? Salman: Customer centricity means putting the patient at the center of our attention. ... Our goal is to study the patient’s journey and try to sim- plify these interactions or innovate in bringing new solutions. We have a Level II trauma center at St. David’s Round Rock. Can you share the importance of this facility and what it brings to trauma care? Craun: To be a Level II trauma center takes a lot of nancial resilience, as well as physician buy-in and commitment. ... I have had the same trauma surgeons for the last 13 years. That’s unheard of in my profession. Last year, there were a lot of reports about the “triple-demic” with RSV, COVID and u. I’d like

Dr. Matt Homan, left, moderated the panel with Daghestani, Koval, Craun and Salman.

to invite you to share your perspectives on the upcoming u season and any other health care concerns. Koval: Go see your primary care provider and do what you can to prevent these illnesses. Vaccines are one amazing tool, but … being as healthy as you can at your baseline is going to keep you well … It is really washing your hands, not touching your face, covering your sneezes and coughs, and staying home when you’re sick.

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