Request Neonatal Survey
Request Maternal Care Survey
  • Services
    • About the Survey Process
    • Maternal Surveys
    • Neonatal Surveys
    • Frequently Asked Maternal Questions
    • Frequently Asked Neonatal Questions
  • Education
  • About Texas Perinatal Services
    • Become a Surveyor
    • Why Choose Texas Perinatal Services?
  • Resources
    • Maternal, Neonatal, and Pediatric Resources
      • Maternal Care Resources
      • Maternal Mortality Resources
      • Maternal Racial Disparity Resources
      • Neonatal Resources
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Connect With Us – Mighty Networks
    • Publications
  • Contact

Blog

A Conversation with Texas Perinatal Services Maternal Surveyor Dr. Elly Xenakis

December 14, 2018

At Texas Perinatal Services, we pride ourselves on hiring only Texas-based, Texas-experienced clinicians for our survey teams. Why is that important? Because, unlike clinicians whose frame of reference may come from other regions of the country, our surveyors understand the unique challenges of delivering healthcare in a state as large and diverse as Texas.

Dr. Elly Xenakis is one of those seasoned Texas maternal care experts, and we are proud to have her on our survey team. She recently shared some insights on the new maternal care rules and what hospitals need to know as they undertake this journey.

———

How will hospitals – and more importantly, their patients – benefit from the new maternal care verification surveys and designation rules?

The new rules are going to improve the safety of patients and the level of care they receive. They also give patients an opportunity to access the appropriate level of care they need.

Why did you choose to become a TPS surveyor?

As an experienced physician and a Maternal-Fetal Medicine/OB-GYN specialist, I can offer insights and understanding by being a surveyor. I am also learning through this process and can facilitate improvement locally and state-wide.

I chose Texas Perinatal Services/TETAF because they are Texas based. That’s where I live, where my patients are, where my heart is.

What was it about Texas Perinatal Services that attracted you?

Texas Perinatal Services/TETAF is a Texas-based organization with surveyors knowledgeable about urban and rural realities of Texas.  TETAF has served Texas for a very long time and our teams are very knowledgeable and their experience adds value to the services delivered by our maternal care facilities throughout Texas.

Tell us about your experience so far in surveying maternal care programs.

As an OB-GYN who specializes in high-risk patients, I find that I am learning just as much as the hospitals. I have been very impressed and enlightened by this process. The dedication, commitment and collaboration among the providers, the administration and the hospitals themselves is impressive. They share a common goal to provide the best of care for women and their children.

As we go through the process, we are together enhancing knowledge. We are here to facilitate and what we are doing through the surveys is to corroborate and enhance the opportunities for every hospital to provide the best care for the mothers and their children. This process helps everybody.

What experience do you bring to your role as a surveyor that you hope will be beneficial to the hospitals and clinical teams you survey?

I have spent my career in a county hospital which gives me a unique perspective about serving an underserved population. I serve a population with very diverse needs. We have a lot of outreach and transfers, and I see the conditions and needs of rural Texas communities. Over my 28 years in San Antonio, I have had the opportunity to work with every level of maternal care in South Texas and I think that is valuable experience in my survey role.

Any advice to hospitals as they prepare for their first maternal survey?

Become familiar with the requirements for designation. Know the process and what’s required for your hospital. You need to be very well prepared and diligent as you get ready for the survey. I encourage people to contact their Regional Advisory Councils and talk to others who have gone through their survey already. Take advantage of the TETAF/Texas Perinatal Services resources that are available through their website. They have produced several webinars that are online, and lots of information can be found on their site.

———

About Dr. Xenakis

Elly Marie-Jeanne Xenakis, MD, is board certified in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics-gynecology. She completed her fellowship in San Antonio and has taught and practiced medicine there for nearly three decades. She has received numerous teaching and mentorship awards, and has been named one of the best doctors in America, a “Texas Super Doctor”, and most recently, one of the best doctors in San Antonio, Texas.

Tags: Uncategorized

Recent Posts

  • Before The First Maternal Verification Survey
  • Best Practice: UMC El Paso Maternal Survey Insights
  • A Conversation with Texas Perinatal Services Maternal Surveyor Dr. Elly Xenakis

  • “Your physician surveyor was a great mentor and shared a lot of knowledge with our team.”
    Christus Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos
  • “Incredibly helpful with any questions or concerns we had prior to the survey and always responded in a timely manner to any requests/clarifications we asked for.”
    Methodist Children’s Hospital
  • “The neonatal physician surveyor made us feel very comfortable during the survey and was very patient."
    Knapp Medical Center
  • “Our nurse surveyor was very knowledgeable and comforting.”
    San Angelo Community Medical Center
  • “Great communication.”
    Valley Regional Medical Center
  • “Great feedback to aid us in a direction to take in improving our overall program. Great learning opportunity. Recognized our hard work.”
    Southwest General Hospital
  • “The nurse surveyor was energetic, shared her experiences and was friendly.”
    Ascension Seton
  • “The neonatal physician surveyor was very helpful and gave us ideas to build our
    quality improvement program.”
    Ascension Providence
  • “Your team did a great job with the survey and was very knowledgeable.”
    The Hospitals of Providence Children’s Hospital El Paso

(512) 524-2892
3400 Enfield Rd, Austin, TX 78703

Email: info@tetaf.org
Fax: (512) 366-7240

fontawsome fontawsome fontawsome
Stay Informed
Add your name to our mailing list to keep up to date on the latest news.
© Copyright 2023 Texas EMS, Trauma, & Acute Care Foundation. Website Designed by My House of Design.