August 23, 2016

82416thorasicsurgeryinside640Texas Children’s Hospital’s congenital heart surgery program recently earned a three star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the highest possible distinction.

Star ratings are based on the STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD) mortality risk model. One hundred and seventeen congenital heart surgery programs nationwide participated in the Spring 2016 STS CHSD Feedback Report. Texas Children’s is among only eight hospitals in the U.S. to earn a three star rating.

“We are honored to be recognized for our outcomes, which are among the best in the nation,” said Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr., surgeon-in-chief and chief of congenital heart surgery. “Since 1995, our congenital heart surgery program has carefully tracked patient outcomes and continues to be committed to transparency. Information about our performance is a driver of innovation and critical to elevating the quality of care we provide to our patients every day.”

Texas Children’s Heart Center is comprised of an expert team of congenital heart surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiovascular anesthesiologists and pediatric critical care physicians, among others. In 2015, Texas Children’s congenital heart surgery program’s overall risk-adjusted mortality rate was 1.6 percent, well below the STS national benchmark of 2.9 percent. Outcomes for atrial septal defect repairs, ventricular septal defect repairs, atrioventricular canal repairs, tetralogy of Fallot repairs and arterial switch operations were also below STS national benchmarks last year.

Texas Children’s is ranked No. 2 nationally in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about Texas Children’s Heart Center outcomes visit the website. For more information about STS Congenital Heart Surgery Public Reporting click here.

82416minimobileclinicinsideRev640The Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program has expanded with the addition of the CARESQUAD, a bright yellow mini-mobile clinic generously donated to the hospital by The Jerold B. Katz Foundation.

The clinic will help carry out the mission of the Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program, which is to provide underserved children in the Houston area with comprehensive health care and preventive education. The smaller size of the new mobile clinic will allow caregivers to reach children and families who live in and around neighborhoods with limited parking and narrow streets.

“The addition of the CARESQUAD to the Mobile Clinic Program is going to make a huge difference in the lives of so many children and their families,” said Dr. Sanghamitra Misra, medical director of the Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program. “We are excited about getting the clinic on the road and are grateful to the Katz family for making the clinic possible.”

At a recent dedication of the CARESQUAD mini-mobile clinic, Evan H. Katz said his family is thrilled to unveil the clinic and is confident it will go a long way in helping area children receive basic health care.

“For our family, this gift is special,” Katz said. “It is close to our hearts because we realize that we are assisting families with that most necessary ingredient to a good life – health.”

In addition to the program’s newest addition, The Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program is composed of two clinics: the Superkids Mobile Clinic and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. During the school year, the Super Kids Mobile Clinic travels primarily to Houston Independent School District schools, community centers and churches in the Southwest Gulfton area. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile travels primarily to HISD schools and community centers in the Southeast Hobby area. The CARESQUAD will be used all over the region, accessing places the clinics have not been able to reach before.

The clinics provide free vaccinations to those who qualify for the Texas Vaccines for Children program and also provide free well child visits, sick visits and hearing or vision screenings for uninsured children in the Houston area. In addition, both mobile clinics have pharmacies that are stocked with common medications that are provided free of charge to uninsured families. Providers can perform common laboratory tests and educate all patients coming through the clinic about the different insurance options available to them. In the summer, the clinics travel throughout the Houston area and surrounding areas to provide free vaccines to children before the school year starts.

Several “oohs and aahs” could be heard from some of Texas Children’s Hospital’s patients last week as they turned a corner on the fourth floor of the Pavilion for Women and saw eight Houston Texans cheerleaders waiting just for them.

“Wow!” 8-year-old Phoebe Danticat exclaimed when she saw the cheerleader’s smiling faces and shiny pom-poms. “This is awesome!”

The cheerleaders recently hosted their second mini Jr. cheerleading camp at Texas Children’s Hospital. During the camp, members of the cheerleading squad visited with the patients and their families, played games, signed autographs, posed for photos and taught them a dance routine. Following the event, the cheerleaders visited pulmonary, heart and adolescent medicine patients, bringing along pom-poms and autographed posters.

For cheerleader Ashley R., the August 16 visit was an opportunity to get the patient’s minds off of being in a hospital.

“Many of these children aren’t able to go to a Texans game because of their illness,” she said. “I am happy to be able to bring a part of the game to them and to have the opportunity to try and put a smile on their faces.”

The cheerleaders were able to do that and much more.

“It’s been a really good day,” said Phoebe’s twin sister, Marabelle. “Seeing the cheerleaders today was a really nice surprise.”

Texas Children’s teamed up with the Houston Texans more than a year ago to inspire children to lead healthier, more active lives through camps, programs and events all year long. We are working alongside the Texans through community engagement and education programs to give Houston-area kids the tools necessary to make healthy choices throughout their lives. Last week’s mini Jr. cheerleading camp is just one of many of the exciting events we’ll take part in throughout the year. Click here to learn more about our partnership and view a series of photos below from the recent mini Jr. cheerleading camp.

 

82416SSStephanieChapman175Dr. Stephanie Chapman of Texas Children’s Health Plan – The Center for Children and Women – Greenspoint, is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star physician. “I am continually looking to my colleagues and striving to emulate them,” Chapman said. “To be singled out amongst such a fantastic group of peers means a lot.” Read more of her interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Stephanie Chapman, Licensed Psychologist at the Center for Children and Women. I’ve worked at the Greenspoint Center for Children and Women since we opened our doors in August 2013.

What month are you Super Star for?
July – December 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Heidi Schwarzwald, announced the award in front of our Center staff at our annual training. It was such a lovely surprise! I was so shocked I got a little tearful.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
For me, it’s an amazing honor, mostly because when I look around me I see so many excellent professionals giving their best to our patients and families every day. I am continually looking to my colleagues and striving to emulate them. To be singled out amongst such a fantastic group of peers means a lot.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I see super star behavior in us all, all of the time. I am most impressed by how our team members can be so loving and dedicated to our patients. It’s also really great when people can show joy and excitement at work, both for our patients’ gains and the successes of our teammates.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The patients and their families, 100 percent. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a kid who was ill doing better, or a mother feeling more confident in her role as a parent.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
For me it’s the Texas Children’s Health Plan Centers, as I love being able to work in the community in an integrated setting and serve historically underserved patient families. I feel blessed to have such a dream job! I also really enjoy coming into work and seeing my teammates and laughing with colleagues through the day. I actually get a little lonely on my days off.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
We show leadership every time we take on a problem and try to solve it, speak up with new ideas or step in to help fill a gap in the team. Texas Children’s has such great staff and providers; we are all showing leadership daily. I think it’s what makes our teams great.

Anything else you want to share?
Thank you to my leaders and my teammates! It is a great joy to be able to work with you.

82416FinegoldScholarship640Dr. Milton Finegold (center), chief emeritus, Department of Texas Children’s Pathology, congratulates Finegold Award recipients Marie Elaine Williams, (from left), daughter of Leslie Williams, Pavilion for Women, third floor; Tahlaya Hardin, daughter of Shelly Amos, Pediatric Radiology; Skylar McHenry, daughter of Dawn McHenry, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; and Claire Eaves, daughter of Jennifer Eaves, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.

Finegold established the scholarship in 1980 in memory of his wife, Joan, a nurse, to help the children of Texas Children’s registered nurses fulfill their educational goals. The applicant (registered nurse) must be an employee of Texas Children’s for a minimum of two years on or before May 1 of the year of application. Since the first scholarship was awarded in 1985, 90 children have benefited from the Joan M. Finegold Scholarship.

82416periwinklegatorade640In her almost 22 years with Texas Children’s Hospital, Linda Baker, assistant director of pharmacy at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, has always been involved with Camp Periwinkle, a week-long summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

Last year Baker wanted to adopt a cabin at the camp, but they were all taken so she asked camp organizers what else they needed. Gatorade!, they enthusiastically replied. Baker donated 10 cases of the drink and the camp still needed more, which gave Baker the idea to organize a campus-wide contribution this year, challenging her West Campus employees to exceed last year’s donation. They did just that, giving 1,504 bottles or 19,193 ounces of Gatorade to the Periwinkle Foundation.

“I am so proud and happy to say that the employees of West Campus came through as we always do,” Baker said. “We should all be very proud that our contribution helped keep these kids hydrated during their summer camp.”

Patients, families and staff walking along The Auxiliary Bridge last week received a sweet serenade from members of the Taiwan Vox Choir.

Comprised of roughly 70 choral members ages 9 through 14, all of the singers are from aboriginal tribes in the Jade Mountain area of Taiwan. The talented young vocalists come from remote areas of the country where resources are scarce and poverty is common. Despite these challenges, the young performers maintain a tireless work-ethic to develop their clear and harmonious sound.

The choir shared their sound with Texas Children’s Hospital and other hospitals in the Texas Medical Center on August 10.

Click here to learn more about the choir and to hear them perform.