PATIENT PROFILE
those who had cared for him, and to try
to make a difference in the same way
Called to Give
to others. He began by volunteering on
weekends in the Emergency Department
at Baylor Dallas and then involved himself
Robert Merkle sees giving as more than
an opportunity. For this Dallas executive,
it became a calling.
in fund-raising for a cancer research
group at Baylor Scott & White. Years later,
he was asked to serve on the Baylor Scott
& White Dallas Foundation Board, an
organization that he continues to support.
n accidental landing while
“Robert is someone who has taken
of the providers and the commitment
skydiving in 1993 brought Robert
Merkle to Baylor University
Medical Center in Dallas with fractures
to care that he received from the Baylor his gratitude and turned it into a direction
Dallas staff. for his own life,” Rowland K. Robinson,
president of Baylor Scott & White Dallas
“The quality of care that I received
in both heels and in his lower back. The at Baylor has had a profound and lasting Foundation, said. “The board benefits
severity of his injuries caused one of the impact on me,” he said. from his experience both as a business
physicians who initially examined him to
declare Merkle’s injuries “life changing.”
leader and as a former patient.”
After extensive physical therapy,
Merkle and his family have also
Merkle regained his ability to walk and
returned to his normal life in Dallas. But contributed financial support to specific
Merkle’s heels and lower back were Merkle’s stay at Baylor Dallas did more Baylor Scott & White initiatives. Merkle
performed at Baylor Dallas. Through it all, than repair his injuries—it awakened in credits the Foundation with giving him
Merkle remembers the extraordinary skill him a calling to express his gratitude to education on specific clinical needs
Multiple surgeries to reconstruct
and how those needs can be met with
financial support, including providing
equipment for the Baylor Scott & White
Institute for Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott
& White Community Care clinics, and
Canine Companions for Independence ® .
When reflecting on the accident
that first brought him to Baylor Scott &
White, Merkle credits a greater force at
play. “My accident was a life-changing
event in several ways,” he said. “I wasn’t
going to waste my second chance at life.
Although I can never fully repay the great
compassionate care shown to me at
Baylor, I will continue to ‘pay it forward’ to
try to help others.”
The Merkle family: Robert, Shelby, Sabrina, Sydney, Rae Ann, Summer and Sheridan
INDUSTRY NEWS
Baylor Scott & White Ranks Most Awarded
Not-for-Profit Healthcare System in Texas
In the midst Hospitals list, and Baylor Hinton, CEO of Baylor Scott for themselves and their
of great Scott & White Health is the & White Health. “We are families by scoring hospitals
transformation most awarded not-for-profit honored to once again be based on several factors,
in the health- healthcare system in Texas included on this prestigious including survival, patient safety,
care field, for the second year in a row. list; but most importantly, nurse staffing and more.
Baylor Scott Additionally, Baylor University we remain laser focused & White Health remains Medical Center was ranked in our work to consistently For more information on how
committed to safe, quality No. 2 in the Dallas-Fort Worth deliver high-value, you can support Baylor Scott
care while working to drive metro area and No. 4 in Texas. affordable care with an & White’s commitment to
exceptional experience.” making healthcare better,
down costs and improve
“This recognition is a
each patient’s experience. direct reflection of our team Now in its 30th year, the U.S. News & World Report members’ commitments to U.S. News Best Hospitals list at 214.820.3417 or
recognized that commit- making healthcare better helps patients and caregivers [email protected].
ment in its 2019-20 Best for those we serve,” said Jim find the best medical centers
contact Susan McSherry
5
THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / FALL 2019