a healthy score

This Austin hospital ranks among top 10 in the nation, says new study

Seton Northwest Hospital ranks fourth in the nation.

Photo by Siri Stafford/Getty Images

A new report ranks one Austin hospital among the very best in the U.S. when it comes to serving patients and the community as a whole.

Brookline, Massachusetts-based think tank The Lown Institute has unveiled its Lown Institute Hospitals Index, which evaluated more than 3,000 U.S. hospitals based on civic leadership (inclusion and access), value of care, and patient outcomes (safety and satisfaction) using data from a variety of sources.

"At a time when communities are relying on them like never before, hospitals must rethink what it means to be great," says Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute, in a news release. "COVID-19 highlights how hospitals are essential community partners for anyone in need. To be great, however, a hospital cannot only provide care that's high in quality. It must also deliver value and advance equality. Our index is designed to help them do just that."

Austin's Seton Northwest Hospital ranks fourth on the list of the top U.S. hospitals overall. Seton Northwest received an A- for civic leadership, an A- for value of care, and an A+ for patient outcome, for an overall A+ grade.

The report also provides a breakdown of the best hospitals in the Austin area. Those scoring a B or better are:

Seton Northwest Hospital, A+
Central Texas Medical Center — San Marcos, A+
Seton Highland Lakes — Burnet, A
St. David's South Austin Medical Center, A-
Seton Medical Center, A-
Round Rock Medical Center, B+
St. David's Medical Center, B+
North Austin Medical Center, B

Three other Texas hospitals appear among the top 10 in the nation: JPS Health Network in Fort Worth at No. 1, Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center in Houston at No. 9, and Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas at No. 10.

The point of the study, according to the release, is to hold hospitals accountable for more than just one factor of success.

"No other hospital ranking provides a 360-degree view of hospital performance," says Shannon Brownlee, senior vice president at the Lown Institute, in the release.

"Many of the best-known hospitals score highly on patient outcomes but poorly on civic leadership and value of care. Our data show that it's possible to do well in all three categories, because some hospitals are doing it. That means all the people in their communities are being served effectively and fairly."

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A version of this story originally appeared on our sister site, InnovationMap.com.

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts