Dr. Susan Blaney, deputy director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, recently received a Director’s Service Award from the National Cancer Institute for her outstanding and dedicated service to the Institute and the Clinical Trials and Translational Research Advisory Committee from 2015 to 2017.
Blaney is the vice chair of the Children’s Oncology Group, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported clinical trials group and the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to pediatric cancer research.
Blaney served as the co-director of the Developmental Therapeutics Program at Texas Children’s Cancer Center where she performs pre-clinical and clinical studies of new antineoplastic agents. A primary focus of her research is the development of new drugs for the treatment of central nervous system tumors in children with a particular emphasis on the development of new agents for intrathecal administration.
Texas Children’s marked the beginning of an exciting chapter in its history this month with the opening of Texas Children’s Urgent Care Westgate, the first Texas Children’s location in Austin. In preparation for the grand opening, welcoming and onboarding new members of our One Amazing Team in the capital city was a top priority.
Our new team members in Austin experienced Texas Children’s Hi for their first day on February 15, learning about the organization’s mission, core values and unique culture.
All materials at Texas Children’s Hi were presented with a celebratory feel, highlighting our distinct history and significant achievements, as well as Texas Children’s innovative future. At the end of their day, our new employees graduated from orientation with a sense of pride about being part of our one-of-a-kind organization.
“Part of the infinite passion you saw at Texas Children’s during the interview process is nothing compared to what you’ll see and experience here every single day. I know this first hand because I am a returning Texas Children’s employee,” said Hannah Pataky, Manager of Human Resources in Austin and Texas Children’s Hi facilitator. “We are an organization that truly lives its values, and our people are front and center in everything we do.”
Now, we are looking for top talent for our specialty care clinics opening in Austin in October of this year. Nearly 40 specialty-care positions will open throughout this fiscal year – from outpatient staff RNs, ambulatory service representatives and medical assistants, to radiology and ultrasound specialists, a social worker, clinical dietitian and more. All job openings will be posted internally before being announced to external candidates, giving Texas Children’s employees the first opportunity to apply.
“Our employees at Texas Children’s are our strength,” said David Wykes, director of Employee Relations. “That’s why we really encourage the internal transfer option. You know the organization, and you know our great culture we want to translate to Austin.”
A full list of available positions can be found on the Austin Careers page, along with answers to frequently asked questions and other resources.
March 21, 2018
Texas Children’s Hospital has achieved Magnet® designation for the fourth consecutive time, the highest and most prestigious recognition provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Following a site visit to Texas Children’s in January 2018, appraisers submitted a written summary of their visit to the Magnet® Commission for review and final approval of re-designation. After much anticipation, Texas Children’s received a phone call from the Magnet® Commission on Wednesday, March 21, announcing the hospital’s achievement of its fourth Magnet® designation for nursing excellence.
“We are so proud of our nurses, physicians, and our interdisciplinary teams, who consistently provide exceptional care to our patients and families,” said Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark Wallace. “Our teams have worked incredibly hard to help us reach this milestone as we continue to maintain the gold standard of nursing excellence at Texas Children’s.”
Magnet® designation reflects Texas Children’s commitment to providing excellence to enhance quality, safety and outcomes that positively influence patient and family-centered care. Magnet® designated organizations must reapply for this designation every four years.
To achieve Magnet® status, healthcare organizations submit an application and complete a thorough review process that requires system-wide engagement from nursing, physicians, and the interdisciplinary teams. When applying for designation, the Magnet® Recognition Program requires health care organizations to provide documentation and supporting evidence that aligns with the Magnet® standards and demonstrates improvement and sustainability in quality nursing care and outcomes.
On January 22 to 24, Texas Children’s was evaluated for Magnet® re-designation by four appraisers from the ANCC, who provided overwhelmingly positive feedback about our hospital system.
“During the site visit, our nurses and entire health care team shared their accomplishments, highlighted our great partnership, exceptional care delivery and collaboration to enhance patient outcomes,” said Texas Children’s Magnet® Program Director Emily Weber. “Our nursing team was recognized for leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration and steadfast focus on family-centered care.”
At the closing session, the appraisers stated they had a phenomenal experience and this was “the best organization they had ever seen. Furthermore, the appraisers described the visit as a “privilege, pleasure, and inspiring” and commented, “Family Centered Care – your staff live it and the patients know it.”
“It wasn’t surprising to hear someone from the outside describe our organization this way, because we do great work and see miracles happen every single day at Texas Children’s,” said Texas Children’s Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre. “We were very confident that our organization would receive the Magnet® re-designation which represents the gold standard for nursing excellence.”
In the United States, less than 9 percent of hospitals have obtained Magnet® designation. Since 2003, Texas Children’s has been a Magnet-designated organization, and is once again honored to have achieved this elite national credential for high quality nursing.
Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and professor at Baylor College of Medicine, has been awarded the sixth annual Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine by The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health.
The Ross Prize is awarded annually by Molecular Medicine to scientists who have made a demonstrable impact in the understanding of human diseases pathogenesis and/or treatment, and who hold significant promise for making even greater contributions to the general field of molecular medicine.
“It is an honor to be recognized by Molecular Medicine and to join the prestigious roster of past Ross Prize recipients,” said Zoghbi, professor in the Departments of Pediatrics, Molecular and Human Genetics, Neurology and Neuroscience at Baylor. “I look forward to discussing my work and furthering a dialog that I hope will encourage young trainees to join the fields of neurobiology and molecular medicine.”
The prize, which includes a $50,000 award, will be presented to Zoghbi on June 5 at the New York Academy of Sciences in New York City, followed by lectures from Zoghbi and other eminent researchers. The Ross Prize is awarded through the Feinstein Institute’s peer-reviewed, open-access journal, Molecular Medicine, and made possible by the generosity of Feinstein Institute board members Robin and Jack Ross.
“Huda Zoghbi’s examination of the genetic causes for neurological diseases, such as spinocerebellar ataxia and Rett syndrome, has led to a better understanding of neurobiology,” said Feinstein Institute President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, who also serves as editor emeritus of Molecular Medicine. “It is through her discoveries that researchers are able to identify new, potential therapies for these conditions that currently have no cure.”
Zoghbi’s research focuses on identifying the genetic causes of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases and a broader understanding of neurobiology. Her lab, along with Harry Orr’s team at the University of Minnesota, discovered that excessive repeats of the DNA segment, CAG, in the ATAXIN-1 gene causes the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Over time, SCA1 may cause mental impairment, numbness, tingling or pain in the arms and legs and uncontrolled muscle tensing, wasting and twitches. Understanding the genetic cause for SCA1 has inspired additional research that may identify a therapeutic strategy for this condition that affects coordination and balance, difficulties with speech and swallowing, and weakeness in the muscles that control eye movement.
Zoghbi’s lab also has identified the genetic mutations that cause Rett syndrome. Rett syndrome mostly targets young girls and is a postnatal neurological disorder which causes problems in diverse brain functions ranging from cognitive, sensory, emotional, and motor to autonomic functions. These can affect learning, speech, sensations, mood, movement, breathing, cardiac function and even chewing, swallowing and digestion. Zoghbi’s discoveries provide a framework for understanding this disorder as well as the MECP2 duplication disorder and for charting a path for potential therapeutic interventions.
March 13, 2018
Following a recent federal court ruling, Texas Children’s Hospital expects to receive tens of millions of dollars in previously denied government reimbursements for care provided to poor and uninsured families.
In a major victory for pediatric hospitals in Texas and other states, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan on Friday vacated a recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule that allowed the agency to include private insurance payments in the calculation that determines the amount hospitals are eligible to receive in supplemental Medicaid funding, even when Medicaid doesn’t pay for the patient’s care. Children’s hospitals experienced the biggest impact from the CMS rule because they have the highest percentage of patients who have private insurance and are also eligible for Medicaid.
Texas Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas, and other children’s hospitals in Washington, Minnesota and Virginia filed the lawsuit in response to CMS’ enforcement of a Medicaid rule that resulted in certain children’s hospitals being denied Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding. DSH funding covers the gap between a hospital’s actual cost to care for Medicaid patients and the amount paid to the hospital under the Medicaid program.
“This is a huge victory for Texas Children’s, with a potential positive impact to our bottom line in 2018 of $40 million,” said Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark Wallace. Texas Children’s is estimated to have been denied about $15 million to $20 million annually in recent years.
Wallace added that hospital leaders will be discussing next steps this week, such as when we expect Judge Sullivan to issue his formal opinion, the impact of CMS’ likely appeal of the ruling, and our efforts to coordinate with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to implement the judge’s ruling.
“Regardless of the next steps in court, this is a huge win for Texas Children’s Hospital and children’s hospitals as a whole,” said Texas Children’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Weldon Gage.
In January, The Woodland’s Recognition and Reward Committee presented the inaugural Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands’ Shining Star Award to Dr. Andrew Chu with Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and Aldrian Barrett, a unit clerical assistant with the hospital’s Emergency Center.
The award winners were described as being well deserving, demonstrating flexibility and attention to the care of our patients and staff, and exhibiting the hospital’s core values of leading tirelessly, embracing freedom, living compassionately, and amplifying unity.
Both winners were surrounded by a team of co-workers, leaders, and Recognition and Reward Committee members when they were presented with the award. Chu and Barrett received a plaque, personalized star badge reel, coffee shop treat, free lunch coupon, and a designated parking spot for the quarter. They also will have their pictures displayed on a wall in both the in-patient and out-patient buildings.
After months of planning, the committee members were proud to present the award that is similar to the “Best of the West,” an employee-recognition award given to employees at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. The committee decided on the name Woodlands’ Shining Star by hosting a campus wide contest. The committee received 87 submissions from staff from all areas. The winner of the contest was Ashanti Jackson, a respiratory therapist in the Pulmonary Diagnostic Lab.
The committee received a dozen nominations for the new award, which honors those who go above and beyond to provide exceptional care to our patients, families and staff in The Woodlands. The committee selected the top five based on the criteria and sent those names to executive leadership for final selection. The next award will be presented in April with the goal to nominate both a physician and staff member of every quarter.
If you would like to nominate someone, please click here.
March 6, 2018
Texas Children’s Kangaroo Crew recently received the Texas Department of State Health Services Texas Emergency Medical Services Air Medical Service Award. The award is given annually to an air medical service team in Texas that demonstrates the highest standards in providing patient care and leads the way in innovation and commitment to advancing that care every day.
The Kangaroo Crew demonstrated this resilient commitment at their annual safety training at Hobby Airport. Team members participated in simulated emergencies that may occur in the field.
“We don’t like to talk about it, but it’s something we have to train for and discuss in case of an emergency,” said Kangaroo Crew Education Coordinator Jennifer Bee.
Texas Children’s created the Kangaroo Crew over 30 years ago to transport critically ill babies and children to Texas Children’s Hospital from all over the nation and Central America for high level care. The team’s annual safety training focuses on extensive preparation activities that allow them to agilely care for patients on and off of the ground. The Kangaroo Crew partners with Hobby Airport, Seven Bar Aviation, and Wilson Air to stage the event, which highlights Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, and tactics for responding during aircraft and ambulance transports.
Texas Children’s Mission Control plays a major role in the Kangaroo Crew’s swift transportation process. The initial call for a transport comes through Mission Control to the dispatchers. A charge nurse and physician help assess the need, and a transport team is dispatched immediately. Prior to the creation of Mission Control last year, the transport process averaged about 50-60 minutes.
“Now that Mission Control is part of that process, we’ve decreased our transport time by almost 50 percent,” Bee said. “We’re down to like less than 30 minutes, which is a significant change for our team. We’re getting out the door to the patients much faster.”
Efficiency is an important part of the process when dealing with critically ill patients. However, it is also imperative to perform each step precisely to avoid mistakes. Hence, the annual training.
“You want to stay calm and collected so that way you’re not tripping over stuff,” said Seven Bar Aviation Captain Kyle Neill. “Being more methodical about it versus just trying to get out as soon as possible, is a better practice. That way you can get the patient, unhook their lines and get out the door safely.”
Despite the immense pressure of the job, the goal of the intense training is to educate and strengthen the team. Bee said she makes sure the training is also a bonding experience.
“I try to throw a team building activity in there, which helps because we are constantly on the go when we are here at the hospital,” she said. “It’s kind of a small family. Everybody understands the importance of everyone’s role.”
The Kangaroo Crew employs nearly a hundred employees with a wide range of backgrounds.
“It is imperative that we train as a multi-disciplinary team – with pilots, transport team members and simulated patients – for high-risk-low-frequency events and prepare for every situation,” said Dr. Jeanine Graf, Kangaroo Crew Medical Director. “I am proud to be associated with a consistently high performing team that prioritizes safety in our simulation training.”
Texas Children’s Kangaroo Crew is the only pediatric intensive care transport service in the region that offers such a high level of expertise on each transport.
“As we look forward to the opening of Legacy Tower, we will be ready to provide access to all of our critically ill patients who call on us for service,” Graf said.
Click here or more information about the Kangaroo Crew.
Dr. Susan Blaney, deputy director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, recently received a Director’s Service Award from the National Cancer Institute for her outstanding and dedicated service to the Institute and the Clinical Trials and Translational Research Advisory Committee from 2015 to 2017.
Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and professor at Baylor College of Medicine, has been awarded the sixth annual Ross Prize in Molecular Medicine by The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health.
In January, The Woodland’s Recognition and Reward Committee presented the inaugural Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands’ Shining Star Award to Dr. Andrew Chu with Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and Aldrian Barrett, a unit clerical assistant with the hospital’s Emergency Center.