February 10, 2014

Information Services (IS) has scheduled important updates to some systems and applications during the standard monthly downtime scheduled from Friday, February 14, to Sunday, February 16.

During the third weekend each month, IS routinely maintains, tests and upgrades a variety of systems and applications to ensure they are available when needed and perform properly to support Texas Children’s mission. Applications or systems with a greater possibility of impacting users are listed below.

Epic EMR
The Epic Electronic Medical Record (EMR) will be unavailable for about 15 minutes sometime from 1 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Sunday, February 16, to address hardware issues. We expect the 15 minute downtime to occur at about 2 a.m., however, please be prepared to initiate downtime procedures immediately when the system is unavailable. Communications will be sent to Epic Downtime Leads when the downtime starts. During this downtime (or anytime Epic is unavailable):

  • Visit Connect for details on how to access results, reports and other items
  • Visit Connect for instructions on viewing a full, ‘read-only’ copy of Epic on any workstation
  • Visit Connect for an Epic downtime FAQ.

Workstations
Most Texas Children’s workstations will receive online software updates sometime from 10 p.m. Saturday, February 15, to 10 a.m. Monday, February 17. Visit Connect for schedule details and instructions for optional self-installation.

Workstation update notes:

  • Only a few machines in each area will be updated at the same time.
  • You will see an install notice on the workstation. You can click “OK” to start the update immediately; otherwise, the install will start automatically after 10 minutes.
  • Workstation updates take about one to two hours to install and will restart the machine when done. You can use the workstation during the update, but watch for a warning to shut down before the machine restarts. Remember to save your work often (especially for clinical applications).

Questions?
For questions regarding:

  • Standard monthly downtime, please call the IS Service Desk at Ext. 4-3512 (external 832-824-3512)
  • Epic EMR downtime, please call 4-EPIC at Ext. 4-3742 (external 832-824-3742)

Last year the Texas Children’s loading dock received flower and candy deliveries on Valentine’s Day causing not only delivery delays of these items, but also a delay in patient care product deliveries.

To eliminate this problem please notify your spouses, significant others, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends not to send you Valentine gifts directly to the docks. Florist deliveries can be sent by the florists directly to your desk. The dock does not have the resources to deliver these thoughtful personal gifts as they are concentrating on the delivery of patient care products.

If flowers do come to the dock they will try their best to get them to you, but patient care product delivery takes precedence. They will attempt to deliver all personal items should they come to the dock; however, they may need to call individuals to come to the dock to pick up their gifts.

Thank you for your patience.

Texas Children’s Hospital is accepting graduate nurse (GN) applications internally starting Wednesday, February 5, for the July 2014 Registered Nurse Residency Program. This innovative program helps new graduate nurses transition from student nurse to professional nurse through a variety of interactive experiences and an ongoing support network.

The GN posting is currently active in MOLI (Job ID: 129445). If you are an interested and qualified employee, Texas Children’s Chief Nursing Officer, Lori Armstrong, encourages you to consider submitting an internal transfer request.

Texas Children’s is a powerhouse of talent and our team of July 2014 Graduate Nurses will be no exception. If you have questions about the Nurse Residency Program, please call Recruitment at Ext. 4-2020.

Name Department
Barnes, Ra’mon Supply Chain Management
Bell, Regina Texas Children’s Health Plan
Bob, Jamie Food and Nutrition Services
Burris, Toyanica Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Butler, Rivwan Centralized Scheduling
Collier, Ashley Texas Children’s Newborn Center
Cowperthwait, Christina Immunology
Cruz, Margarita Language Services
Cuva, James Human Resources
Davis, Randal Texas Children’s Heart Center
Day, Robert Information Services
Espinosa, Daniel Centralized Scheduling
Estep, Holly Texas Children’s Pediatrics North Cypress
Ezzeddine, Bilal Renal Service
Flick, Taylor Texas Children’s Newborn Center
Goodwin, Jenaya Texas Children’s Health Plan
Gorman, Jessica Texas Children’s Health Centers – Clear Lake
Green, Nickey Pharmacy Services
Guevara, Silsa West Campus – Pathology
Henderson, Delarie Health Information Management
Holmes, Laturischeva Pharmacy Services
Jones, Wendolyn Admissions
Joya, Lisseth Texas Children’s Pediatrics Fannin
Kibler, Kathleen Respiratory Care
Koch, Joel Human Resources
Kopp, Meredith Texas Children’s Heart Center
Le, Amy Pediatric Radiology
Lewis, Arielle Texas Children’s Newborn Center
Lopez, Jennifer Texas Children’s Heart Center
Melo, Juan Pediatric Radiology
Momin, Nisha Allergy and Immunology
Monroe, Cheryl Quality and Outcomes Management
Motle, Edwina Texas Children’s Heart Center
Oates, Hope West Campus – Emergency Center
Ortega, Ricardo Facilities Operations
Pruitt, Stephanie Women’s Services
Pyron, Tammy Pediatric Surgical Service
Rauda, Luis The Center – Greenspoint
Santiago, Mary Pathology
Schmitz, Tara Texas Children’s Health Centers – Clear Lake
Shahbaz, Mitra Texas Children’s Health Plan
Smith, Angela Emergency Management
Tasker, Constance Operating Room
Trevino, Mayra Women’s Services
Vu, Jennifer Pharmacy Services
Wiltz, Danita Women’s Services
Zuniga, Cynthia Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
February 6, 2014

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In celebration of our 60th birthday, we’re throwing it way back – to the 1950s – on Facebook throughout the month of February. Stop by Texas Children’s Facebook page for a walk down memory lane. And if you or someone you know has photos from the early days, share them with us. Your stories are a part of Texas Children’s fascinating story!

February 5, 2014

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Texas Children’s is going North. Or more specifically, we’re headed to The Woodlands. In fall 2017, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands will begin providing specialized care to children and families in a world-class, 548,000-square-foot facility.

“We stand at the forefront of an exciting new time in pediatric health care as we continue to grow, save more lives and create better futures for children everywhere,” said Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace at Friday’s groundbreaking ceremonies for the new hospital. “Our next 60 years start today – here in The Woodlands – with a Texas Children’s community hospital built right on this spot.”

More than 700 Texas Children’s supporters, including many residents, leaders and donors from The Woodlands area, joined Friday’s groundbreaking events to help celebrate both the new hospital and Texas Children’s 60th birthday. Along with the ceremonial turning of the first shovels of dirt, the festivities included presentation of a birthday cake: local children, all former patients of the hospital, helped Wallace sing happy birthday and blow out the candles.

A video commemorating Texas Children’s 60 years of history was shown, and guests heard remarks from Wallace, long-time hospital supporter and Woodlands resident, Carol Garner, and from Carol Ann Demaret, mother of David Vetter, known widely as the “Bubble Boy.”

A peek inside
Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands will offer specialty pediatric care in cancer, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrinology, urology, sports medicine, gastroenterology and nutrition, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, allergy and immunology, dermatology, adolescent medicine and physician rehabilitation.

Hospital facilities will include 24 emergency center rooms, 74 outpatient rooms, five radiology rooms, four operating rooms and 30 acute care beds at opening with plans of up to 200 beds. Ample free parking will be available with 1,000 spaces planned. Along with serving families throughout The Woodlands area, Texas Children’s anticipates serving families in counties throughout Greater North Houston including Montgomery, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Harris, Polk, San Jacinto and Hardin.

Partnering with Nordstrom, The Woodlands
On the heels of the birthday and groundbreaking was another big announcement of Texas Children’s newest partnership. Wallace announced that national retailer Nordstrom has chosen the new pediatric hospital in The Woodlands as the beneficiary for the opening gala of its much-anticipated new Woodlands store.

“Houston has been a great home for us and we can’t wait to open our second full-line store at The Woodlands,” said Nora Cummings, vice president and regional manager for Nordstrom. “We’re honored to partner with Texas Children’s Hospital and through our opening gala support their new Pediatric Hospital in The Woodlands.”

All proceeds from the pre-opening event, slated for Wednesday, September 3, 2014, will go toward the new hospital. The new Nordstrom at The Woodlands opens Friday, September 5, 2014. Ticket information will be shared on Connect closer to the event.

 

 

 

 

 

February 4, 2014

“For this hospital shall live and abide within the resolution that any child in the State of Texas in need of medical care and attention – regardless of race, color, creed, or capacity to pay – shall find in Texas Children’s Hospital a refuge from the ravages of disease and illness and the hope for health and happiness.”

Leopold L. Meyer, Founder
Texas Children’s Hospital groundbreaking ceremony
May 23, 1951

Many things have changed at Texas Children’s since the unveiling of the hospital’s cornerstone, but these words still capture the essence of our vision. That vision has guided Texas Children’s through 60 amazing years and hundreds of breakthrough discoveries in pediatric medicine.

“At 60, we’re the youngest of the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals, yet we are leading advancements in medicine for children and women all over the world,” said Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace. “Our expertise is respected and renowned, and the care we provide is unparalleled. We’ve done more in 60 years than most can imagine in twice the time.”

This is an exciting time at Texas Children’s Hospital as we celebrate several major milestones in our history. Last week, we introduced a brand new mission statement that defines who we are and what we want to achieve. Today, we are breaking ground on our newest community hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, which helps us fulfill our promise to deliver the right care at the right time in the right place. And tomorrow, Texas Children’s Hospital will celebrate its 60th birthday.

Click here for a video about Texas Children’s first 60 years.

On February 1, 1954, Texas Children’s opened with one building and 106 beds. We treated 4,558 patients that first year. Today, with 592 beds and nearly 6 million square feet of space, we see about 8,500 patients per day and have more than 3 million patient encounters per year.

Today, Texas Children’s Hospital is known in Houston, across the nation and around the world. Families know they can rely on us for pioneering discoveries in childhood diseases. They know our staff and employees are some of the best in the world.

“We are intensely devoted to providing the best possible care, and still we strive to be more, give more and do more for our patients,” Wallace said. “It’s that unrelenting passion that’s driven us to dream and innovate and achieve seemingly impossible things. What we have done together has changed lives, inspired hope and made birthdays happier for families all over the world.”

Celebrate with us on Facebook!

During the entire month of February, we will be celebrating our 60th birthday on Facebook. Every week, we will feature a new #TBT (Throwback Thursday) photograph from Texas Children’s archives, and we will ask our thousands of supporters, employees and past/present patients and families to share their memories and favorite things about the hospital.

Check back on Tuesday for a Connect feature story with all the highlights from today’s groundbreaking of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.