Parkland Celebrates 125 Years of Care
One hundred and twenty-five years ago, on an 1894 May day, Parkland Hospital began as a clapboard building on the corner of Maple and Oak Lawn avenues.
Today, much has changed. What was once an 18-bed ward where patients were brought by horse and buggy and treated by lamplight is now an integrated health system with a 2.1-million-square-foot hospital, community clinics, correctional healthcare, homeless health services, community outreach and teaching programs.
Medical technology and the size of Parkland have dramatically changed over the years, but the commitment to care, compassion and community has deep roots since that day in May, 125 years ago.
Parkland’s goal always has been to keep Dallas healthy. In honor of their 125th anniversary, here are just a few of the ways you can live a healthier life according to the experts!
Diet
“Choose water, unsweetened tea or diet drinks instead of sodas and juices with added sugars. You can add some flavor to water by putting slices of lemon, lime or cucumber in your water.” Sarah Solly, Diabetes Educator
“The best way to control your diabetes is to know what you put in your mouth. Eat just half of a hamburger, wrap the other half and save it for the next meal.” Rachel Trammell, Registered Dietitian
Exercise
“High-intensity interval training, or HIIT, is considered safe and effective in helping patients recover from heart procedures and improve their cardiovascular function.” Jarett Berry, MD, Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation
“The reason it’s so important to attain and maintain a healthy weight is to increase our lifespan and enjoy a better quality of life. There are a whole slew of health problems associated with being overweight, including heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, liver and gall bladder disease, sleep apnea and several cancers.” Manisha Raja, MD, primary care physician at Parkland Health & Hospital System
Wellness
“The easiest way to prevent infections is by practicing thorough hand hygiene. Watch your healthcare team and visitors to make sure they sanitize their hands before contact, every time. If someone forgets to sanitize their hands, it is fine to politely request that hand hygiene guidelines be followed.” Karla Voy-Hatter, RN, Director of Infection Prevention at Parkland
“Vaccination is the most important measure we have to prevent infection. Remember to get your annual flu vaccine and other vaccines as recommended by your healthcare provider in an effort to prevent illness and avoid complications associated with vaccine-preventable illnesses.” Karla Voy-Hatter, Infection Prevention
Mental health
“Much of what we do physically impacts us mentally, so it’s important to view mental health as a component of overall health and well-being. Eating healthy foods, managing stress, exercising and getting enough sleep can go a long way in improving your mental health as well as your physical fitness,” Pedro Fernandez, MD, Medical Director of Consult-Liaison Psychiatry
“Research shows that being kind is a simple, inexpensive way to counteract the unhealthy effects of stress in our lives. The old saying, ‘It pays to be kind,’ is true.” Jacqueline Juarez, MSW, LCSW, Behavioral Health Counselor
Safety
“Following a few simple steps can help prevent a poisoning from happening at home. Parents can teach children to never touch or put anything in their mouths unless they know what it is.” Anelle Menendez, MD, North Texas Poison Center Specialist
“Hot grease or oil burns accounted for 7.3 percent of our total admissions and 24 percent of our scald burn admissions in 2018. Remember to keep hot grease or oil out of reach from young children. ” Stephanie Campbell, MS, RN, CCRN-K, Burn Program Manager, Parkland Regional Burn Center
Continuing the culture of care
Today, our commitment to care continues. We believe that keeping Dallas County well is both a privilege and a responsibility.
To join us in celebrating our 125th anniversary, take a look at other health tips from our team at www.parklandhospital.com/125 and follow us on social media to share our story.
