June 19, 2018

On June 18, Texas Children’s Pediatrics opened its first primary care site in Austin, marking another milestone in Texas Children’s path toward creating a network of quality pediatric care for children and families living in the state’s capital city.

Located at 5625 Eiger Road, Suite 225, in southwest Austin, Austin Pediatrics is managed by Dr. Casey Mulcihy, who has more than 30 years of experience in caring for children. Mulcihy offers a full array of services for children of all ages including well child care or checkups, immunizations, same-day sick appointments, management of asthmas, ADD and/ADHD, and many other common pediatric conditions. He also provides courtesy pre-natal and introductory physician consultations.

Austin Pediatrics is unique because it is a solo pediatric practice, which means patients get one-on-one care with the same doctor at every visit. The office is able to provide 24/7 coverage for after-hours emergencies, through a network of other solo pediatricians in Austin.

“We are very excited about reaching this milestone,” said Kay Tittle, president of Texas Children’s Pediatrics. “It signifies the first step of many more to come in providing quality primary pediatric care to children and their families in Austin and the surrounding area.”

Executive Vice President Michelle Riley-Brown said opening Austin Pediatrics shows Texas Children’s commitment to caring for patients and their families in the Austin area.

“Primary care is extremely important to a child’s overall health and Texas Children’s Pediatrics provides the finest pediatricians dedicated to meeting the health care needs of infants to teenagers,” Riley-Brown said. “We are proud to be offering our expertise to children and families in Austin and are looking forward to being a vital part of their lives.”

Texas Children’s marked its beginnings in Austin on March 6 with the opening of our first Texas Children’s Urgent Care location. Located at 4477 South Lamar Blvd., the office provides high-quality, efficient and affordable pediatric-focused care after hours and on weekends.

Over the next five years, we hope to open more Urgent Care locations as well as continue to build our Texas Children’s Pediatrics network. Additional plans for 2018 include the opening of another Texas Children’s Pediatrics practice in July and the opening of Texas Children’s Specialty Care in Austin.

Scheduled to open in October, Texas Children’s Specialty Care brings subspecialty pediatric care and services into the community where it’s easy for children and families to access it. Our center will be staffed by Texas Children’s board-certified physicians, surgeons, therapists and clinical staff.

“When we say we’re coming to Austin, it means we’re bringing our unique brand of care to your community,” said Melissa Fischer, Texas Children’s Pediatrics director of community business development. “At every Texas Children’s location, children are seen and treated by experts trained to care for them.”

For more information about the new Austin Pediatrics location, click here. For more information about our long-term plans in Austin, click here.

May 8, 2018

Texas Children’s Pediatrics Cypresswood recently opened its doors for the first time since torrential rains from Hurricane Harvey flooded the practice’s first floor with six feet of water.

Wearing “Cypresswood Strong” T-shirts and pinned with mums, Cypresswood staff celebrated the reopening as a homecoming. After the storm while the practice located at 8111 Cypresswood Drive in Spring was being rebuilt, staff saw their patients and families at various other Texas Children’s locations throughout the area, including Texas Children’s Urgent Care The Vintage, Texas Children’s Pediatrics FM 2920 and Texas Children’s Pediatrics Rayford.

“We are so happy to be home in our beautiful new office,” said Dr. Carolina Placenia, the lead physician at Cypresswood. “There is no place like home.”

Julie Laake, Cypresswood’s clinical supervisor, agreed and said the past eight months provided an opportunity for everyone in the practice to learn, grow and develop an even greater appreciation for one another and the support they have organization wide.

“I am greatly appreciative of all of our fellow Texas Children’s Pediatrics and Texas Children’s Urgent Care offices that welcomed us in and housed our physicians and employees during this time,” Laake said.” This allowed our Cypresswood practice to continue providing care for our patients, which could not have been done without this amazing teamwork.”

Hannah Conley, Cypresswood’s non-clinical supervisor, said everyone at Cypresswood has grown closer because of what happened during Hurricane Harvey.

“I have a new-found respect for all Texas Children’s employees and how wonderful they were during this,” Conley said. “Everyone has really done an amazing job at keeping us all afloat.”

A handful of other Texas Children’s Pediatrics were damaged during the storm but none as badly as Cypresswood, which closed its doors for the longest of any Texas Children’s Pediatrics due to Hurricane Harvey.

“We are extremely thankful no one else received substantial damage, and that we were able to continue caring for our Cypresswood patients and families while the practice was being repaired,” said Kay Tittle, Texas Children’s Pediatrics president. “It is a testament to our dedication to our patients, families, colleagues and Texas Children’s mission as a whole.”

February 27, 2018

The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) announced that Dr. Tiffany Nguyen, is among the 204 physicians and 43 PhD/Masters-level health clinicians who have become the first medical professionals globally, to be certified as Diplomates of the ABLM/American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

The ABLM was formed in November, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee, by a group of visionary physicians who saw the need to: educate physicians and allied health professionals about Lifestyle Medicine; set a common standard/language for Lifestyle Medicine protocols globally; differentiate between evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine professionals and non-evidence based Lifestyle Medicine practitioners; set a global Lifestyle Medicine benchmark; and attract health insurance funding for evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine by requiring that any fund receivers be formally certified.

“Gone are the days of diagnosing the ill, prescribing the pill and sending the bill, which has worked so well in combating communicable disease, but is hopelessly inadequate in the fight against chronic disease,” said ABLM Executive Director Stephan Herzog. “Nourishment, movement, resilience and social connectedness will become the focal point of physicians in addressing the underlying causes of chronic disease, with increasing numbers of medical schools starting to train their students in the principles of lifestyle medicine.”

Each clinician took an exam October 26 in Tucson, AZ, following the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s 2017 conference.

“For the patient, having health care providers not only look at the symptoms, but also at the underlying cause of disease,” said ACLM President George Guthrie. “It will help them take charge of their health and prevent, arrest and reverse chronic disease, thus returning years to their life and life to their years.”

Dr. Nguyen practices at the Texas Children’s Pediatrics Kingwood location, where she continues to uphold the core values of ALBM as well as Texas Children’s.

February 6, 2018

Texas Children’s Pediatrics acquired its first practice site in 1995. Two decades later, 50 more have been added and as of December 2017, all practices, hold the highest Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

NCQA Recognition Programs allow employers, patients and consumers to make quality informed health care decisions. This prestigious distinction celebrates patient care organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving quality care for their patients.

“NCQA has become the gold standard for quality of care amongst primary care physicians around the country,” said Dr. Stanley Spinner, Texas Children’s Pediatrics chief medical officer and vice president.

All 51 of the Texas Children’s Pediatrics practice sites submitted documented evidence to demonstrate data requirements for the distinction. All clinics are structured to follow the six required PCMH 2014 Standards:

  • Patient Centered Access
  • Team Based Care
  • Population Health Management
  • Care Management and Support
  • Care Coordination and Care Transitions
  • Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement

“Achieving this high level of quality of care has led to improved outcomes, often at a lower cost,” Spinner said. “Texas Children’s Pediatrics is extremely proud of the work that has been done throughout all levels of our organization during the past three years. This offers us a distinct advantage in our current managed care market.”

To date, Texas Children’s Pediatrics has achieved three successful cycles of PCMH Level III recognition, signifying organizational commitment to excellence by working together at every level across the system.

“This is an opportunity for our organization to show and prove that we only want the best care for our patients and their families,” said Natasha Fields, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Nanes Practice Manager. “Moving forward I believe it will continue to display our dedication, passion and integrity for all. It’s a special occasion and we all should celebrate.”

April 25, 2017

On April 20, Texas Children’s leaders and staff joined community members in the Third Ward to celebrate the relocation and renaming of two Texas Children’s entities that have the unified goal of building a community of healthy children and are dedicated to providing the highest quality pediatric care to the children and families they serve.

The two celebrated entities are: Texas Children’s Hospital Primary Care Practice at Palm Center, formerly the Residents’ Primary Care Group located in the Texas Medical Center, and Texas Children’s Pediatric Palm Center, formerly known as Texas Children’s Pediatrics Cullen.

Both practices are now located in the heart of the Third Ward at 5400 Griggs Road.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to better and more conveniently meet the needs of underserved children and their families in the Third Ward,” said Texas Children’s Pediatrics President Kay Tittle.

Texas Children’s Pediatric Palm Center is a community-based collaborative health and wellness project that provides an accessible medical home to children and families. Its staff of four health care providers offers ongoing community and organizational support for family-focused health services that address the broad social, health, educational and spiritual needs of children.

As part of its goal to build a community of healthy children, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Community Cares Program provides trusted, high-quality pediatric medical services for children who otherwise would seek care from emergency rooms or possibly go without care or treatment due to low family incomes and/or lack of health insurance. Regardless of the family’s financial situation, the Community Cares Program provides health care to children from birth to age 18 and offers the opportunity to develop a trusting, long-term relationship with a board certified pediatrician.

When the doors to Texas Children’s Pediatric Palm Center first opened in 2000 at its original location, it was the first Texas Children’s Pediatrics Community Cares practice and was the vision of Dr. Robert Austin.

“Dr. Austin is the founder of and was the first pediatrician at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Cullen and believes, as we do, that we have an obligation to take care of any child who needs us and help ensure their future is healthy,” Tittle said. “Thank you, Dr. Austin, for your vision and for your continued dedication to this program.”

Resident’s Primary Care Group Clinic

The Texas Children’s Hospital Resident’s Primary Care Group Clinic recently moved from the Clinical Care Tower to the Palm Center at 5400 Griggs Road, Suite 101. The clinic also was renamed to Texas Children’s Hospital Primary Care Practice at Palm Center.

Texas Children’s Hospital Primary Care Practice at Palm Center provides comprehensive routine and preventive health care including well child check-ups, sick visits, sports physicals, immunizations and management of chronic pediatric medical conditions.

The medical staff at the clinic remains the same and will continue to be actively engaged in medical education. Texas Children’s Hospital Primary Care Practice at Palm Center will serve as the largest Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine practice that provides primary care experience for pediatric medical students and residents.

“Moving this clinical practice to the Palm Center neighborhood in Houston’s Third Ward offers a great opportunity to serve the community while modeling best practice to the next generation of pediatricians,” said Clinic Chief Dr. Teresa Duryea. “We are excited to build collaborations within the community and advocate for the needs of the children.”

The clinic’s new location offers free parking and is conveniently located at the Palm Center Station on the MetroRail’s Purple Line. Please call 346-227-7275 to facilitate transfers. Referrals can be made in Epic to Primary Care Practice (TCH Resident Continuity Clinic). Appointments can be made through Central Scheduling at 832-822-2778.

For more information on Texas Children’s Hospital Primary Care Practice at Palm Center click here. For more information about Texas Children’s Pediatric Palm Center click here.

February 21, 2017

As of February 13, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Cullen is now Texas Children’s Pediatrics Palm Center. The practice’s new location is at 5400 Griggs Road, Suite 100.

The Palm Center is a community-based collaborative health and wellness project that provides an accessible medical home to children and families. Its staff of four health care providers offers ongoing community and organizational support for family-focused health services that address the broad social, health, educational and spiritual needs of children.

As part of its goal to build a community of healthy children, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Community Cares Program provides trusted, high-quality pediatric medical services for children who otherwise would seek care from emergency rooms or possibly go without care or treatment due to low family incomes and/or lack of health insurance. Regardless of the family’s financial situation, the Community Cares Program provides health care to children from birth to age 18 and offers the opportunity to develop a trusting, long-term relationship with a board certified pediatrician.

For more information about the Palm Center click here.

August 30, 2016

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Texas Children’s Pediatrics had a very special visit this week from Olympic gold medalist Simone Manuel, the first African-American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in a swimming event.

Shortly after returning from Rio to her hometown of Sugar Land, Manuel visited Texas Children’s Pediatrics Green Park to see her long-time pediatrician Dr. Michael Connelly.

“Our entire Green Park office was excited to see Simone and her 100-meter freestyle Gold,” Connelly said. “Last September she was kind enough to bring her gold medal from the World Championship in Barcelona (4X100 relay) for me to see. Admittedly, when I saw her on my schedule this week I hoped she would bring Olympic Gold, and she didn’t disappoint.”

Manuel set an Olympic record by tying Canada’s Penny Oleskiak in the women’s 100-meter freestyle, and she helped the U.S. take gold in the 4X100-meter medley relay. She also landed silver medals in the 50-meter freestyle and the 4X100-meter freestyle race.

“When she won the 100-meter freestyle, I must admit I got emotional, even a bit teary eyed – such an accomplishment for a wonderful young lady,” Connelly said of his patient of more than 14 years. “Simone is a world class athlete but also world class in every sense. She is smart, kind, always pleasant and a joy to be with. She was most patient and engaging with the staff while we admired her gold.”

Congratulations Simone from the entire Texas Children’s family!