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Methodist Health System’s 13 hospitals offer vastly different experiences
By: Rita Cook
Correspondent
I Messenger
DALLAS – The Methodist Health System in the DFW area offers 13 hospitals connected through either ownership or affiliation.
Hospitals are located around the DFW area from the most well-known Methodist Dallas on Colorado Blvd. to locations in Mansfield, Duncanville, Richardson, Southlake, and the newest location in Celina, to name a few.
If you ask patients and visitors about their experiences at these diverse hospital locations you will most certainly find stories that range from total satisfaction to horror.
From comments like, “I will never go back” to “it was the best experience I could have had while at a hospital,” what is the reason for the different opinions?
And more to the point, how is the Methodist Health System attempting to ensure patients and visitors come first?
One hospital that has received its share of negative reviews is Charlton Methodist located in Southern Dallas County on the border of Duncanville and DeSoto.
“To me Charlton Methodist has been a horrible hospital since 1997,” said local area resident Andrea Potter. “My husband was taken to the emergency room there one time after a terrible accident and they sent him home that same day. This was even when they knew he had a bad head trauma and splintered ribs on one side they refused to even keep him overnight and I had to insist they do x-rays to discover he had multiple displaced ribs.”
Her opinion of Charlton Methodist has not improved over the years and she said she will go out of her way and drive to the main hospital on Colorado Blvd.
However, Ryan Owens, Assistant Vice President, Public Relations for Methodist Health System said Methodist Charlton Medical Center turns 50 years old this year and they are “doing a lot of community celebrations throughout the year in the Best Southwest.”
Anna Chumbey’s opinion of Methodist Charlton Medical Center was considerably different. “Sure I heard comments but I needed medical help and it was the closest place for me to get to,” she said, adding that Methodist is her go-to place now. “From the moment I entered the hospital i was given expert care and attention. I was in pain and wasn’t in the mood for long waits and rude employees. My blood pressure was lowered and all medical concerns were addressed. That’s all I ask for!”
Methodist Charlton offers 314 patient rooms, eight operating rooms, and dedicated practice areas for specialized medical services including Cardiology, Oncology, Urology, Women’s Health, Physical and Respiratory Therapy, according to Owens.
In 2023, the hospital also added a $71-million Emergency Department, which is a Level III Trauma Center, providing 24/7 emergency care by board certified specialists.
Owens said it treats nearly 90,000 patients a year.
Methodist Charlton has received Gold Awards for both stroke and cardiac care for the sixth year in a row from the American Heart Association.
The hospital is also a Magnet Hospital, meaning it received the highest level of honor awarded by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center, recognizing healthcare organizations for nursing excellence, collaboration, quality patient care, and innovations in professional nursing practice.
Other standouts that Methodist Charlton offers to further nurture the patient and visitor experience is a piano player in the main lobby, and it is the first hospital in the region to adopt AI-assisted High Frequency Ultrasound for non-invasive prostate cancer treatment.
“From the emergency room to the operating room to the delivery room, Methodist Charlton stands ready to serve this community with compassionate, quality healthcare” said Michael Stewart, President of Methodist Charlton Medical Center.
He gave a nod to the hospital’s first 50 years adding he is excited for the next 50.
“Quality care close to home means lives saved, families strengthened, and futures made possible,” Stewart added. “At Methodist Charlton, we are always innovating to exceed expectations in patient care and outcomes.”
About 25 miles from Methodist Charlton is a newer hospital in the network, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center with 262-bed offering acute care serving Tarrant, Johnson, and Ellis counties locally.
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center is an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Advanced Primary Heart Attack Center certified by The Joint Commission. It was awarded a top 10 Military Friendly® Employer, Gold Designation several years ago in addition to a number of other honors.
Angel Biasatti, Director of Community and Public Relations at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center said, “At Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, patient satisfaction is more than a metric—it’s a reflection of our mission to provide compassionate, high-quality care that treats every individual with dignity, respect, and empathy.”
To that end, this hospital has earned an “A,” the gold standard in hospital safety and quality from Leapfrog.
It is at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center where the nursing staff serves as the central coordinator of each patient’s care team to ensure the correct resources are brought to the bedside.
“When a new life enters the world at Methodist Mansfield, we celebrate by playing Brahms’ Lullaby over the intercom—a gentle reminder of the joy and hope that healthcare brings,” Biasatti added. “New parents receive a special celebratory meal to honor the birth of their child and patients celebrating a birthday during their stay are treated to cake, making their day—and their stay—a little brighter.”
The playing of the lullaby was also a practice at Methodist Dallas.
There is also a Music Recovery Program bringing fine arts students into patient rooms to sing and play music, encouraging healing and movement through the power of the arts.
Therapy dogs also visit patients at the bedside, offering comfort and emotional support and the hospital staff practices proactive bedside rounding, addressing concerns before discharge to ensure patient needs are met in real time.
The newest addition to the Methodist Health System is in Celina north of Dallas. It opened this past spring with 51 beds and plans to expand services such as cardiology, women’s services, orthopedics, and robotic surgery with a 40,000-square-foot medical office building also located on the hospital campus. The $237 million facility is one of Celina’s largest employers and the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer James C. Scoggin, Jr. said, “Celina, it took us 97 years to get here, but we’re darn glad we’re here.”
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
