May 10, 2016

DeborahBurke175Deborah Burke of Human Resources is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “I have learned from my leaders that at any level you should still be able to assist someone or if you can’t help that person, get him or her to the right person,” Burke said. Read more of Burke’s interview and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.

Q&A: Deborah Burke, February 2016 Employee

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Deborah Burke, Project Analyst in the Talent Acquisition Department for Human Resources
I have been at Texas Children’s for 16 years and 3 months

What month are you Super Star for?
February 2016

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
My leader led me into a room of coworkers and surprised me with a cake. I thought we were going to a surprise wedding shower for her.

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?
It means a great deal to me. I really appreciate when a leader takes the time to send an email or to thank me. It makes me know that I am making a difference – that I helped. That is why I chose Human Resources. My leaders have nurtured me and guided me. I have learned from them that at any level you should still be able to assist someone or if you can’t help that person get them to the right person. Take time to listen, engage and assist. It’s amazing how much of a difference you can make by doing those three things.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I think a super star is someone that goes above and beyond consistently. You have to enjoy what you do and live it. You don’t think what you are being asked to do is your job or not you just do it and you do it to the best of your ability.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
My leaders. I have tremendous respect for them and I look to them for guidance and sometimes they probably don’t even know but I am watching and listening.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
I have been give many opportunities which has allowed me to grow and foster relationships with employees and leaders. I truly enjoy my job daily.

What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
I think coworkers, new hires and staff members will observe how you are approaching your role at Texas Children’s and it is important to make not only a good first impression but to be consistent. Sure we all have bad days but it is how you handle that bad day which leaves an impression on others. Leadership to me is someone that takes the time to teach, explain situations and keeps everyone informed so that there is no miscommunication. Leadership is remembering those underneath you are watching and you must continue to reach out and teach and guide them.

May 3, 2016

5416NursesWeek640This year’s National Nurses Week theme is “Culture of Safety: It Starts with You,” which perfectly describes what our more than 3,000 nurses do every day at Texas Children’s. From reducing central line infections to preventing pressure ulcers to helping a child walk down the hallway after surgery, our nurses are leading change, advocating and caring for our patients and improving their outcomes.

To celebrate our amazing nurses and their nursing colleagues around the country, May 6 through May 12 is designated as National Nurses Week. Each year during this time, we pause to recognize and applaud the successes, accomplishments and contributions that our nurses make to their patients and their profession.

The Nursing Retention Council has taken great pride in developing a schedule of events that are designed to ensure that nurses from across our system know how deeply valued they are. This Friday, May 6, will kick off an exciting week full of memorable events, activities and educational opportunities, including fun activities for nurses on their individual units.

On Tuesday, May 17, Connect will feature event highlights from Nurses Week, including special recognitions of our 2016 Nursing Excellence Awards winners as well as our nurses who have been recognized among the Houston Chronicle Salute to Nurses Top 150 and Top 10.

For a complete schedule of Nurses Week activities, click here and to view the recent By the Numbers flyer spotlighting Nursing at Texas Children’s, click here.

5416earthday640On April 22, the Green Team hosted two Earth Day celebrations on The Auxiliary Bridge at main campus and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.

Vendors provided eco-friendly, cost-saving tips to employees and patient families including how to become more energy efficient, tips on eating green and ways to reduce waste and recycle more.

Special guests HEB Buddy entertained the crowd at main campus while our very own West Campus Vice President Matt Schaefer dressed up as Earl The Bear to greet our employees and patient families.

Customized Green Team water bottles made of 100 percent recyclable materials and seeded confetti packets were distributed to attendees.

The Earth Day events also included tree plantings at Main and West campuses thanks to the generous donations from Trees for Houston.

As the Green Team prepares for next year’s Earth Day celebrations, feel free to drop them a line. If you have any green ideas, suggestions for next year or want to join the team, email teamgreen@texaschildrens.org.

April 27, 2016

View a testimonial from Practice Administrator Valdemar Garza about how employees are free to grow at Texas Children’s.

Check out the latest time lapse video capturing a bird’s eye view of construction on Tower E.

42716icims640Earlier this month, Texas Children’s launched a new Applicant Tracking System (ATS) on our Careers website, texaschildrenspeople.org. Powered by iCims, this advanced technology supports our national recruitment strategies to further identify, recruit and engage the best talent.

The many features of our new ATS enable Texas Children’s to conduct our recruitment processes in a more thoughtful approach that reflects our thought leadership as a premium health care employer. There are also social media components that will further engage prospective candidates, thereby creating and growing a pool of talent for our positions.

Our employees will now also have a more personalized recruitment experience. You can access your personal Careers dashboard via our new ATS Resource Center to search and apply to internal job opportunities. You will no longer have to log into MOLI. As part of the ATS transition, we have also imported your current Careers profile into the new system so there is no set-up required on your end*.

To access your Careers profile,

  • Click on the new Careers link under Human Resources on the Texas Children’s Connect homepage
  • This will bring you to our new ATS Resource Center. In the Employee section, you will find
    • Apply – Your new ATS portal
      • This is where you will access your Careers dashboard to update your profile, search job opportunities, and subscribe to news about talent communities that interest you. As long as you are signed into our Texas Children’s network, your login will be automatically authenticated when you click on this function.
    • Job Aids
      • Here you will find step-by-step instructions to help you learn, navigate, and use the features of our new ATS.

To help answer any questions, a Command Center is currently available through Friday, May 6.

Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Command Center Main Line: 832-824-1146
After Hours Process: For after hours (before 7 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m.) inquires, email the Talent Acquisition ATS mailbox at taapplicanttrackings@texaschildrens.org

* Please note that non-Texas Children’s personnel such as contingent and contract workers will need to create a new profile on our Careers website.

42716beyondthescale640Together with Weight Watchers, Texas Children’s is excited to introduce Beyond the Scale, a new program with a holistic approach to a healthier, happier life that encompasses the evolving needs, mindsets and science around weight management. As part of our commitment to your health and wellness, Texas Children’s is subsidizing 50 percent of the program cost.

This new program includes:

  • New SmartPoints® plan to make healthy eating simple. The new system delivers weight loss while using the latest nutritional science to go beyond both calories and the previous Weight Watchers PointsPlus system.
  • New fitness approach that fits a busy life. Members receive personalized activity goals and have access to the new FitBreak by Weight Watchers™ app.
  • Personalized program that serves each member’s lifestyle, goals and challenges. Based on an assessment, members receive daily and weekly SmartPoints targets, personalized activity goals and relevant content designed to help find and fuel inner strength.

To learn more about Beyond the Scale, check out this video.

How to Get Started:

  1. Register online at https://wellness.weightwatchers.com
  2. Use the following to login:
    1. Employer ID #10805693
    2. Passcode #WW10805693

Interested in hosting Weight Watchers At Work meetings at your location?
Group meetings are available for groups of 15 or more employees at any location. Please email wellbeing@texaschildrens.org to receive an interest survey and steps to providing At Work meetings.

We are looking to schedule weekly At Work meetings at the Leopold L. Meyer building. If you would like to participate, please complete this interest survey.

Check out our upcoming Employee Health & Wellness events in May!