February 26, 2024

Making employee health a priority with Dr. Burdine

Texas Children’s dedication to providing a work environment prioritizing employee health and wellness has led to the expansion of our Employee Medical Clinic. In addition to the locations in the Medical Center and West Campus, this summer, full-service primary care will also be available to employees at The Woodlands! With a wide range of acute care services, chronic condition management and preventive care, the EMC is a great benefit available to all Texas Children’s employees.

What brought you to Texas Children’s, Dr. Burdine?

I am excited for this opportunity to work at TCH for several reasons! I have family who work at TCH and for the past 11 years, I have heard them praise the culture here. The Employee Medical Clinic is a unique opportunity to provide convenient access to primary and urgent care visits to TCH employees. Plus, being part of the Workforce Well-Being team allows me to engage more fully in preventive health care such as social and lifestyle factors that impact health.

Are there any services provided at the EMC you want employees to know more about?

We provide many services such as annual wellness exams, well woman exams and urgent care for common conditions like urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and common musculoskeletal conditions. We also manage chronic medical conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes type 2, hypothyroidism and asthma/allergies. Employees often don’t know the full scope of well-being benefits TCH provides, and we can help connect them to these programs. A great example is physical therapy, which we offer onsite at the EMC!

How can employees schedule an appointment at the EMC?

Appointments can be made by calling the clinic phone number at 832-824-2424 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday 6:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. or emailing empmedicalclinic@texaschildrens.org. Online direct scheduling and MyChart will be available soon.

As you know, February is Heart Month. What are some things TCH employees can do to promote heart health and what sort of cardiac services can employees receive at the EMC?

In addition to providing routine care like annual wellness checks, offered at the EMC, your primary care provider (PCP) works with you to prevent serious illnesses like heart disease. Heart health is directly impacted by chronic conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, prediabetes/diabetes and obesity.

High blood pressure or high cholesterol can be asymptomatic. Lifestyle habits, like reducing sodium intake and saturated fats, increasing physical activity and monitoring home blood pressures are tools everyone can work on to naturally lower blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity. The simplest way to increase your physical activity is to start walking. It’s free, easy and can be done just about anywhere!

We provide education regarding diet and therapeutic lifestyle goals to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. The EMC works with our free TCH Health Coaches to perform a thorough assessment of current nutrition, behavioral habits, exercise habits and ideal weight loss goals to develop an individualized plan for each patient. There are ongoing coaching sessions to help you stay on the path to success.

To make an appointment, email empmedicalclinic@texaschildrens.org.

May 25, 2016

52616employeehealth640Texas Children’s is committed to supporting you in achieving your optimal health and well-being. Since opening in 2012, our on-site Employee Medical Clinic* on Main Campus has strived to support your personal health needs and offer you convenient access to excellent health care services.

Recently, the Employee Medical Clinic launched the following five new well-being programs at no cost to Texas Children’s employees.

Live Well with Diabetes
The program features individual sessions with a certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian. During your sessions, you will work together to develop a customized nutrition and physical activity plan, discuss the role of medications, and develop stress management techniques.

Healthy Heart
The program features individual sessions with a registered dietitian who will teach you how to improve your heart health through your nutrition, stress management and much more.

Lighten Up for Life
The program features pre-and post-program body composition measurements and individual sessions for health coaching, nutrition and physical activity.

Health Coaching
Our registered health coach will help you apply your personal strengths to achieve sustainable behavior changes such as improving your sleep and gaining better work-life balance.

Nutrition Consultation
This program will teach you about optimal nutrition, how to manage portion sizes and provide answers to your nutrition questions.

To learn more about these exciting new programs, visit the Employee Medical Clinic website on Connect.

*The Employee Medical Clinic delivers many services including urgent care for personal illness and injury, care management for chronic conditions, counseling to help employees adopt the healthiest possible lifestyle and preventive care which includes your annual physical/wellness check. The clinic is comprised of a full-time primary care physician, a nurse practitioner, nurses and mid-level provider, a wellness coordinator and a health coach. Click here to meet the Employee Medical Clinic Providers.

The Employee Medical Clinic is located on Main Campus in 5 Tower by the yellow elevators in the Abercrombie Building. Our business hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

May 5, 2015

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This Friday, May 8 is Houston’s Bike to Work Day and Employee Health and Wellness encourages you to try this healthy, fun and economical way to get to work.

Bike Houston will be leading group rides from various neighborhoods into the Texas Medical Center. The rides will have a ride leader who will show you how to safely commute into work. All rides arrive to The Texas Medical Center by 8 a.m. Start times depend on location. A support station with food, drinks, and prizes will be at the south side of Cambridge Street.

Click here to R.S.V.P. for the group ride or for more information about Bike to Work Day and Bike Houston. Can’t make a group ride? No problem, just grab your helmet and ride in at a time that works best for you!

Bicycle Commuter Tips

You and Your Bike

  • Ride on roads with speed limits less than or equal to 35 mph.
  • Use a bike map and google maps with the bicycle layer turned on.
  • Always check your bike, brakes, tires, and lights ahead of rides.
  • Always wear a helmet and wear bright, tight fitting clothing if possible.
  • Ride with a friend or group if you can. Bike to Work days provide an excellent opportunity to find a group to ride in with. See BikeHouston’s event calendar to find details for May 2015.

Traffic and Bicycle Laws

  • Bikes are vehicles and laws that apply to motorists also apply to people on bikes.
  • Obey all stop signs, traffic lights and lane markings.
  • Look and signal before you change lanes or turn.
  • Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in business districts. If you prefer to travel by sidewalk rather than by road, you can always get off your bike and walk beside it.
  • Get out there and try it! Bike commuting can be fun!

Texas Children’s staff can park their bikes at the following bike rack locations:

  • Clinical Care Center near valet parking
  • Pavilion for Women near valet parking (staff restroom/shower available on the first floor, just inside the building from the bike racks)
  • Feigin Center near circle driveway
  • West Tower under breezeway
  • West Campus near the loading docks
  • All Texas Medical Center parking garages
  • Check your work location for bike racks
November 18, 2014

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If you have been thinking about quitting smoking or using nicotine, you are not alone.

Texas Children’s is here to support your efforts to quit, especially in light of the Great American Smokeout, an annual event that occurs the third Thursday of November and challenges smokers across the nation to make a plan to stop smoking.

Tobacco consumption remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the Unites States, and it is estimated that about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, which is almost one in every five adults.

Secondhand and thirdhand smoke also present health risks to those who smoke and to those around them. Research shows that secondhand smoke can seep into hair, clothing, dust, and other surfaces, and that it creates thirdhand smoke or particles that are left on surfaces after the visible smoke is gone. These particles can become airborne and can be picked up by people – especially babies and small children – who touch the surfaces and get the particles on their hands and bodies.

The best way to prevent all such risks is to stop smoking, a step the Acting U.S. Surgeon General Boris Lushniak said is the “single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives.”

Here at Texas Children’s, we value your total well-being and are committed to providing education and resources that optimize your health and wellness. That’s why employees covered under the Texas Children’s medical plan can receive free tobacco cessation medications and over-the-counter treatments. As of September 1, these tools are covered at 100 percent for Texas Children medical plan participants with a prescription.

Before you go out and get these medications and treatments, however, it’s best to set a date for when you want to quit smoking and devise a plan on how to do it. Here are some tips on how you can kick the habit:

  1. Set a Quit Date
    First things first – pick your quit date. By having a day you’re working toward, you’ll be able to prepare mentally and physically to quit smoking. Avoid choosing a day where you know you will be busy, stressed, or tempted to smoke.
  2. Tell Family and Friends You Plan to Quit
    Quitting smoking is easier when the people in your life support you. Let them know you are planning to quit and ask for their support in staying accountable.
  3. Anticipate and Plan for Challenges While Quitting
    Quitting smoking is hardest during the first few weeks. You will deal with uncomfortable feelings, temptations to smoke, withdrawal symptoms, and cigarette cravings. Just remember that they are temporary, no matter how powerful they feel at the time.
  4. Remove Cigarettes and Other Tobacco from Your Home‚ Car‚ and Work
    Don’t be tempted to smoke during your quit. Stay strong. You can do it! Removing cigarettes and things that remind you of smoking will get you ready to stop.
  5. Talk to Your Medical Provider about Quit Options
    It is difficult to quit smoking on your own, but quitting “cold turkey” is not your only choice. Smoking cessation medications can dramatically increase your likelihood of successfully quitting. Texas Children’s medical plans covers prescription medication and over-the-counter treatments at 100 percent with a prescription.

Your well-being contributes to making Texas Children’s the best possible place to work and receive care. Good luck and thank you for continuing to optimize your health and wellness.

For more information or additional guidance, please call the Employee Medical Clinic at Ext. 4-2150 or visit the Wellness Website on Connect.

April 8, 2014

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Everyone hears that proper nutrition plays a significant role in your overall health though it’s not often as easy as it sounds. A healthy meal is the best start to achieving your optimal health and wellness goals but where do you start?

Texas Children’s is dedicated to supporting you as you strive to meet your health and wellness goals. Employee Health and Wellness is sponsoring an upcoming nutrition program, MyPlate Challenge, so gather your co-workers and join together or start planning goals of your own to make Texas Children’s a healthier campus all around.

Don’t eliminate, just add! It’s a refreshing and positive way to shift the way we look at food and have fun with your coworkers along the way.

Follow these simple weekly themes and eat at least the recommended amount of a particular food group four days a week or more. It’s about being consistent, not perfect!

Week Number
Dates
Weekly Theme
Week 1
April 21-27
Fruit
Week 2
April 28- May 4
Whole Grains
Week 3
May 5-11
Lean Protein
Week 4
May 12-18
Vegetables
Week 5
May 19-26
Dairy
Week 6
May 27-June 1
Eat Well
 

Throughout the program, participants will receive an incredible amount of nutrition information and support through such things as Motivational Monday emails, interactive discussion boards, and online resources. In addition, all participants will receive a Texas Children’s MyPlate mouse pad and have the opportunity to earn bonus points toward a drawing for one of ten Fitbits.

The challenge begins Monday, April 21.

Click here to join the challenge! (This link will only open internally)