Each month, we feature on our Web site new articles and interactive features that cover topics such as estate planning and charitable giving.  We hope it will be a useful resource for you.  New this month:  

 A New Year's Resolution to Keep
 One of the top 10 New Year's resolutions, according to several sources, is to get more organized.  Does this have a ring of familiarity to you?  Maybe you've been thinking about updating your estate plans, but have put it off for one reason or another.  Here is why it's so important to keep this promise.

Will 2012 Taxes Affect You?
 Over the past few years, it feels like tax laws have changed with the seasons.  Will 2012 be any different?  Learn what you should expect this year and just how likely it is that your plans will be impacted.

Texas Health Resources has been recognized by Healthcare Informatics magazine with a 2012 Innovator Award. One of 13 organizations recognized nationally, Texas Health received the award for the work accomplished by a team of nurses to streamline nurse workflow and documentation in the system's electronic health record (EHR). The EHR is a computer-based family of systems for collecting, organizing, sharing and managing clinical and administrative patient information. All of Texas Health's wholly owned hospitals can securely exchange patient information through the system EHR. Following completion of implementation of the EHR at 13 Texas Health hospitals in late 2010, a team of nurses representing each of the hospitals as well as nurse information technology analysts analyzed the EHR for functionality and user acceptance.

Texas Health Resources has named nurse executive Paula Spears, D.N.Sc., R.N., NEA-BC, as vice president for professional practice, research and magnet, nursing operations. Spears joins the health system from the Nursing Institute of the Mid-South in Memphis, Tenn., which she led as executive director and chief executive officer. She assumed her new role on Dec. 19, 2011. In this newly created position, Spears works with system-wide nursing leadership at all levels to establish and implement a professional practice model that helps ensure evidence-based nursing care across Texas Health. Coordinating programs such as nursing research, magnet program activities, faith community nursing and patient education, Spears' work will focus on the pursuit of excellence in care for both patients and communities. She reports to Joan Clark, D.N.P., R.N., senior vice president and chief nursing executive for Texas Health. In three years at the Nursing Institute of the Mid-South, Spears collaborated with regional academic and health care practice leaders to establish the infrastructure and organizational synergy for a unified pursuit of programs that would advance the quantity and quality of nursing care available to the community. She authored and received federal grant funding to establish a leadership development program for clinical nurses to improve patient outcomes, teamwork and team leadership skills.

Restaurant Smarts
 While there are some healthful choices in dining out, taking out, as well as boxed and prepared meals from the market, we have to be careful about what we are choosing and ordering to eat - seeing that we have no control over the chef in the kitchen.  Let's face it, he/she really doesn't care if you're on a diet, have high blood pressure, or dealing with diabetes.  They just want to make it taste good, and by 'good,' I mean more oil, cream, butter, salt, and all that in between.  Here are a few tips to remember when dining out.
 

For more information or to set up a nutrition appointment, please call the Executive Health Program at 817.250.3933.

If you have questions for the dietitian, visit

www.TexasHealth.org/AskAmber