Nursing Excellence in Action: Ben Taub Earns Magnet with Distinction® and LBJ Earns Magnet Recognition® Again
Joining a truly elite group of hospitals nationwide—only 30—Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital earns the Magnet with Distinction® recognition from the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC).
For the consecutive time, Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital earned Magnet Recognition®, an accomplishment first achieved in 2021.
Harris Health is doubling its success—again. In 2021, both of its hospitals—Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) and Ben Taub—earned the prestigious Magnet® designation for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credential Center (ANCC). This year, both hospitals achieved Magnet® redesignation, one of the highest honors in the nursing profession—an accolade earned by fewer than 10% of hospitals nationwide.
Ben Taub Hospital went a step further, earning the rare recognition of Magnet with Distinction®, an elite award given to only 30 hospitals nationwide. An impressive accomplishment considering there are 6,093 hospitals in the U.S., according to the American Hospital Association.
In addition, both LBJ and Ben Taub hospitals received a combined 21 official commendations (known as exemplars) from ANCC for exceeding national benchmarks in areas ranging from clinical quality to patient experience.
“Our Magnet® redesignation journeys are more than just acknowledgements of clinical excellence—they reflect of our deeply rooted culture where compassion, professionalism and leadership converge every day at Harris Health,” says Jackie Brock, DNP, executive vice president and chief nursing executive, Harris Health. “Our nurses are empowered by strong shared governance, leadership and a commitment to professional growth at every level. Magnet® is a powerful affirmation of our team’s dedication to our patients and our community.”
Ben Taub Hospital received its redesignation on May 20, while LBJ Hospital was honored on April 23. Both milestones were celebrated by staff at hospital-wide announcement parties.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our teams,” says Glorimar Medina, MD, executive vice president and CEO, Hospital Campuses, Harris Health. “Their leadership, dedication and heart are what distinguish our hospitals.”
At LBJ Hospital, one of the commendations recognized the Food Farmacy program—an innovative initiative supporting patients with chronic disease (uncontrolled diabetes) and food insecurity. Participants receive prescriptions they can fill at the hospital’s mini-food pantry for fresh fruits, vegetables and proteins at no cost. Patients are paired with a dietitian and community health worker for nutrition education and support.
“This recognition not only symbolizes world-class patient care and professional nursing practice—it celebrates LBJ Hospital’s unwavering commitment to health equity, innovation and team-based care,” says Tekhesia Phillips, MSN, chief nursing officer, LBJ Hospital. “This redesignation belongs to every nurse who stayed late, who spoke up in shared governance, who led a quality improvement initiative, or who wholeheartedly delivered compassionate care to our patients.”
At Ben Taub Hospital, a culture of purpose, teamwork and mission-driven service defines the nursing environment, says Derek Curtis, DNP, chief nursing officer, Ben Taub Hospital.
“From bedside nurses to executive leaders, our focus remains the same—putting patients first and continually raising the standard for care,” he adds. “Our nurses are the heart and soul of exceptional patient care, and their commitment to excellence inspires all of us.”
As Harris Health continues construction of its new Level I trauma-capable hospital on the LBJ Hospital campus, the foundation for nursing excellence is firmly in place.
“We’re ready to serve more patients, grow our talent, expand our services and elevate the bar on what it means to be a public safety-net healthcare system,” Brock adds. “With Magnet® standards already woven into our DNA, our hospitals are poised to lead the region into the next era of compassionate, data-driven, equitable care.”
Eleven Harris Health nurses were honored as top nursing professionals in greater Houston by the Houston Chronicle’s 25th Anniversary Salute to Nurses Awards.
The event recognizes the top 200 nurses in for their dedication to the profession in observance of National Nurses Week in May.
Harris Health nurses recognized:
Top 15
- Tammy Straps, director of nursing, Emergency/Trauma Service Administration, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
Top 200
- Anita Bates, nurse manager, Executive Nursing, Thomas Street at Quentin Mease Health Center
- Ron Ryan Bautista, clinical resource nurse, Women's & Infant Service Administration, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
- Amanda Brown, nurse clinician III, 4B IMU/Med Surg/Tele, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
- Leslie Martinez, nurse clinician II, Fourth Floor Observation, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
- Katiana Oro, nurse clinician IV, 3A IMU/Med Surg/Tele, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
- Mary Ann Padua, nurse manager, Observation Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
- Deepa Paul, nurse clinician IV, Perinatal Special Care, Ben Taub Hospital
- Ruby Varughese, clinical nurse care manager II, Care Management, Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital
- Britney White, trauma coordinator, Trauma Services, Ben Taub Hospital
- Tessia Winnfield, ambulatory care nurse, manager, Executive Nursing, Ben Taub Hospital
Harris Health is elevating community health workers (CHW) across Texas. In April, the system hosted a webinar training of more than 230 CHWs from across the state in celebration of Texas Community Health Workers Day and in support of the mission of the Sheila Jackson Lee Center for Accelerating Health Outcomes (CARE).
Workers from 30 organizations, including several from the greater Houston area, participated in the training, “De-escalation: Managing Patient Complaints in Healthcare Setting,” led by Harris Health’s Community Health Worker Program under the guidance of Krystal Gamarra, MBA, LCSW, CCM, administrative director, Clinical Integration and Transformation, Population Health. The session was supported by the Patient and Customer Relations Department. Population Health has been a certified CHW training program since 2007.
CHWs are trusted public healthcare professionals who often live in the communities they serve. They play a vital role in delivering health education, advocating for individuals navigating complex healthcare systems, and bridging cultural and linguistic gaps between patients and providers. Their work connects people to essential services such as preventive screenings, behavioral health care, transportation, housing, and food resources—addressing the full spectrum of a person’s holistic healthcare needs.
“Our role is important because we are an extra resource to patients to help guide them through their healthcare journey and answer their questions,” says Vanessa Espinoza, community health worker III, Population Health. “I enjoy delivering health education to patients and following their journey through our healthcare system.”
The training received high praise from attendees. One participant shared, “Every trainer was so informative and professional and at the same time warm and genuine. As a CHW, these are the key traits that we need to provide to our patients. Thank you.”
Gamarra emphasized the broader impact of CHWs in advancing health equity: “Their ability to reach underserved populations makes them essential partners in improving health outcomes, especially in historically marginalized communities,” she said. “This initiative demonstrates Harris Health’s expanded focus on community-centered strategies to improve health outcomes through CARE.”
The Texas Department of State Health Services has re-verified Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital as a Comprehensive Level I Trauma Facility, marking its more than 30 years of elite status among adult trauma centers in the U.S. Over the years, the hospital has built a reputation for providing expertise, innovation and life-saving trauma care to Harris County residents.
“Traumatic events can impact anyone at any time, no matter your background, socioeconomic status, where you live or any other factors,” says Glorimar Medina, MD, CEO, Hospital Campuses, Harris Health. “In trauma, every second matters. We are always here and open when you need us most.”
As one of only two adult Level I trauma centers in Harris County, Ben Taub Hospital plays a crucial role in the region’s emergency medical response system.
“Being a Level I trauma center means we offer the most comprehensive and advanced level of care for trauma patients 365 days a year,” says Stephen Mora, trauma program director, Ben Taub Hospital. “We have the capabilities of performing innovative types of life saving measures when seconds count.”
In addition to clinical excellence, Ben Taub Hospital is dedicated to advancing trauma care through research and education. The hospital is a hub for training future health care professionals, offering hands-on experience in trauma care through its medical partnership with Baylor College of Medicine.
Ben Taub Hospital first received its trauma designation in 1994 and was among the first in the country to receive such designations from the American College of Surgeons. The college verifies hospitals every three years based on the highest national standards for trauma care. The state then issues the verified designation.
Harris Health recently released its 2024 Annual Report to Our Community-Here for Everyone. Ready for Anything, a year’s glimpse into its operational and financial performance for fiscal year 2024-25. Within its pages, several services and programs are highlighted.
Among them is the Harris Health Endoscopy Center at Quentin Mease Health Center, which officially opened in January 2024. In its first year, the center treated approximately 1,400 patients and performed nearly 2,000 colon cancer screening and prevention procedures. By bringing these services in-house, Harris Health eliminated the need for outsourcing—resulting in shorter wait times, improved patient experience and significant cost savings for the organization.
Another standout initiative is Hospital at Home—the only CMS-certified program of its kind in Harris County. In its first year, the program realized a 30% cost savings while freeing up hospital beds for patients in critical need. This innovative program delivers hospital-level care in the comfort of a patient’s home, offering twice-daily in-person and virtual visits from nurses and physicians. With proven outcomes and strong patient satisfaction, the program is expanding to serve up to 250 patients annually.
You’ll also read about Ben Taub Hospital being named a “Best Maternity Hospital” by Newsweek, our large-scale CPR training efforts for staff and detained individuals through Correctional Health and the historic groundbreaking of Harris Health’s new Level I trauma-capable hospital on the campus of Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.
In fiscal year 2024–2025, Harris Health had an operating budget of approximately $2.5 billion and provided $713.5 million in charity care while serving nearly 250,000 unique patients—an impact made possible by the commitment and compassion of our entire team.