Meet Jon-Michael Rains, CEO of Carrus Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospitals

 

Jon-Michael Rains has a passion for healthcare

Texoma LIVING WELL Magazine

The new Chief Executive Officer for Carrus Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospitals might surprise you.  He’s young (30!), lacks a Ph.D., often spends time conversing with patients and families, and could, in fact, be mistaken for a patient’s favorite grandson.  His demeanor is casual, his style down-to-earth.  Without pretense or ivory tower airs, Jon-Michael Rains is a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-to-work kind of guy, who has transformed Carrus Hospitals since being named CEO in late 2013.  The staff and the patients love him.

It only took this “young man”, as he is referred to by many of his patients, 90 days to help Carrus regain its financial footing as a leading healthcare facility for LTAC (long term acute care) and rehabilitation services in North Texas and Southeastern Oklahoma.  “I am a completely out-of-the-box CEO,” Rains admitted.  “I’m extremely visible and I know everyone’s name and his or her function in the organization.  It’s important to respect your staff and promote employee satisfaction with positive reinforcement.  It’s equally important for me to personally assess staff and determine whether or not they’re a good fit for our team and our goals here at Carrus.  Also, it’s important for me to randomly visit the patients and evaluate the quality of care they’re receiving.  We want to be open and available communicating with patients to find out if their needs are being met, how they feel about the quality of their stay, and how we might improve care in the future.”

His dogged determination to make a difference started early in life.  “Any time I was told I couldn’t do something, you can bet that I would have to prove I could!” said Rains.  “I grew up in a small town in East Texas and, let’s just say, I was known for not always behaving in school.  My Mom was sometimes at her wit’s end.”

Rains went to work at East Texas Medical Center, a large level one trauma facility, when he was 16 – mainly, he said with a laugh, because his parents told him he couldn’t handle both a job and school.  “At that time, I worked with renal patients and renal transplant patients as a patient attendant and ward clerk while I was attending high school until I graduated.  East Texas Medical Center awarded me a scholarship, paid in full for nursing school.  After school, I worked as renal transplant nurse for a year and then moved to the Dallas area where I worked in ER and ICU settings.  In 2007, I entered the field of healthcare quality management, risk management, and case management.”

A passion for patient care – for healthcare that works – is why Rains chose to become a nurse and then an administrator.  He helped open a new STAC hospital in the Dallas market as the Director of Quality Resource Management and Compliance.  He obtained all initial licenses for hospital operations, including TDH, CMS, HFAP (American Osteopathic Association) and CLIA for a high complexity laboratory service during his time in that position.

“When I was offered my first job in quality assurance, I knew that administration was the place where I could make a difference in the hospital and patient care overall,” Rains said.  “I feel that the incorporation of exceptional outcomes, patient-centered care, and physician and employee satisfaction are instrumental in the success of an organization.”

It wasn’t long before Rains was recruited to become COO for a large scale LTAC which excelled at increasing revenue and exceeding goals.   As part of this successful effort, Rains had among the highest quality patient outcomes in the region.  In 2013, Rains was invited to Carrus Hospitals, where he accepted the job as CEO and began putting his winning philosophy and exceptional skills to work.

“I never wanted to do anything else in my life but be part of the field of medicine,” Rains said.  “Originally, I wanted to be an ER physician.  However, once I got the chance, I realized that I can make a bigger difference in administration by assuring that all patients get the very best care at bedside.  Being in administration, I can assure that.

“I’d like to continue to grow in the field of healthcare administration and put my faith in God to help me positively impact as many patients as possible.  I think that the problem with healthcare is too many political motivations that don’t have the best interest of the patient truly at heart.”

Gaining a reputation as an innovator, Rains sees issues that adversely affect patients and works to resolve problems.  He recently negotiated a collaboration with Allegiance Ambulance to provide critical care ambulances and transport team from referring hospitals and other referring sources to Carrus.  Trained EMTs are prepared to travel with patients to Carrus, utilizing fully-equipped ambulances with the latest technology.

“We have formed a collaborative relationship with the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy to provide patients a concierge pharmacy service,” Rains said.  “Our Care Coordination Team will arrange for patients to have a 30 day supply of medications on hand when they leave the hospital, should they choose to participate in the program.  The goal is to further reduce the need for hospital re-admission, as patients will have a well-coordinated discharge plan.  The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Sherman and Denison also provide delivery services to patients who may not be able to easily leave their homes to get their medications, so there are multiple advantages offered.”

Patients and their families respond well to the welcome they receive at Carrus, as well as the exceptional care.  Rains heads an interdisciplinary team that includes physicians/specialists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, speech therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, technicians, and a host of aids and support personnel, as well as a strong management staff.  Every team member is committed to providing compassionate care that encompasses the whole person – mind, body and spirit.  They understand that hospitalization can be stressful and do all they can to make patients and families comfortable.

Carrus Hospitals were designed to minimize stress and create opportunities for healing.  The 73,000 square foot facilities includes four themed courtyards and a pond on the premises.  Each room is private, with an exterior view.  Many patients comment about how quiet and peaceful it is there.  With convenient parking, it is easy for friends and family to visit, an important part of healing.

Rains said that most patients are referred from traditional hospitals, some as far away as Arkansas.  Carrus Specialty Hospital accommodates those who are too ill, or with medical needs too great, for the patient to return to their prior living arrangement upon discharge from the traditional hospital.  Conditions frequently treated include cardiovascular issues, respiratory infections, neurological conditions, or multi-system problems.  Patients may have had a stroke, need intravenous antibiotics, require extensive wound care, or be ventilator dependent.

Carrus Rehabilitation Hospital is an inpatient facility where patients receive therapy three hours a day, six days a week under a physician-supervised treatment program. A typical stay is 10 to 14 days with the goal of regaining mobility and strength and the ability to function as independently as possible upon release.

“I enjoy traveling — domestically and internationally — boating, gardening, and working with nonprofit medial organizations such as Ragan’s Hope.  I cannot express what it feels like when providing support to catastrophically ill and injured children all over the world.  It’s the most amazing thing I can do.  I was in Haiti three days after the earthquake.  I’ve been to Ecuador, Belize and many other places.  Depending on my work schedule, I like to go on one to three mission trips per year.  I think it’s important in healthcare to give back and be charitable both in our work and personal lives.  I believe the true feeling of happiness comes from helping others. Despite what language you speak or the amount of your material possessions, love is the universal language.  I think it’s important to lead my organization with exceptional patient care, compassion, and cost effectiveness.  It’s important for financial viability, of course, but primarily it gives us added capacity to do what we do so well – serve patients and families with the most extraordinary care and attentiveness, creating a hospital experience that is second to none.”–– Jon-Michael Rains

Rains extends a personal invitation to visit Carrus, where tours are available upon request.  He suggests that you call 903-870-2600 to see the two hospitals and outpatient facilities.  The building is impressive, of course, but the people are truly amazing.  Just ask Jon.