December 2014 – Page 3 – Texas Children's News

December 16, 2014

Read the newest Super Star interview featuring Joshua O’Brien with Corporate Financial Planning below.

Q&A: Joshua O’Brien, September 2014 Employee

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Joshua O’Brien, Senior Financial Analyst for Corporate Financial Planning. I’ve worked at Texas Children’s Hospital for 8.5 years.

What month are you Super Star for?
September 2014

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
We were having our group luncheon to celebrate the completion of the FY’15 budget and as our Senior Vice President Alec King was congratulating our team, he announced that I had won the Super Star award. I was extremely surprised, and I felt so grateful that our entire team was there to celebrate it; it’s something that I’ll remember forever.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
It’s an honor to be recognized here at Texas Children’s. I feel like our team and all of the people I get a chance to work with are so knowledgeable and work so hard that I really owe this award to them.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I think a super star employee is someone who shows they support their team through their commitment to work hard and efficiently. It’s also about being happy to be at Texas Children’s and showing that happiness to those around you. This award is given through the nominations of our peers, so it personally means a lot to know that those you work with value your efforts.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
Although I don’t have direct contact with our patients, knowing that my work providing data to make strategic decisions and meeting with areas to develop reporting tools that will impact their care, is so rewarding. Thinking of the big picture and remembering that every bit helps in taking care of our families is what keeps me positive and motivates me every day.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Texas Children’s has always been my second home, and the people in it have become a part of my family. I’ve grown up here, and all of my peers have done more than they will ever know to make me a better employee and a better person. Working at Texas Children’s as a new father has deepened my pride in the role I play in all the good that we do here. Getting to work with such wonderful people and knowing that we’re making a difference in people’s lives are what makes Texas Children’s the best.

Anything else you want to share?
I’d like to thank some of the wonderful people who have mentored me and helped me grow and progress in my career here at Texas Children’s, all the members of Corporate Financial Planning, Business Expense Administration, Accounts Payable, Pathology, Pharmacy, Family Advocacy, Information Services and the Clinical Care Center Food Court. Furthermore I’d like to thank Catherine Codispoti, Bill Little, Scott Martinez, Lisa Saenz and Aisha Jamal for all they’ve done for me here at Texas Children’s.

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Representatives from seven Houston area Chuy’s Mexican Food restaurants presented on December 9 a Vecta Distraction Station to Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. The machine, which helps promote a calming and relaxing environment for patients, was purchased with $7,000 raised at participating restaurants.

The Vecta Distraction Station aids in normalizing the hospital setting and turns an unfamiliar environment into a friendly and inviting space. The machine moves from room to room and transforms the space with a bubble column, projector and fiber optics. Child life specialists use the machine as a distraction tool during procedures, to normalize the hospital setting and to build rapport with patients during hospital visits.

“We are so appreciative of the continued support from our local Chuy’s restaurants,” said Katy Williford, child life specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. “This donation will impact many patients and families who walk through our doors and will make their stay a little bit brighter.”

December 9, 2014

Texas Children’s announced on December 4 our plan to build an eight-bed special isolation unit at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. This unit will be designed for children with highly contagious infectious diseases, such as pandemic influenza, enterovirus D68, Ebola, and many others. Additionally, we announced the state’s designation of our organization as a pediatric Ebola treatment center.

About the isolation unit

This new isolation unit at Texas Children’s will be similar to the four other biocontainment units in the country. Such units are equipped and staffed to care for patients with contagious infectious diseases.

“We will build a state-of-the-art isolation unit designed and staffed to provide the highest quality care and treatment for infants and children with serious or life-threatening infectious diseases of public health significance, always with the greatest possible margin of safety,” said Texas Children’s Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline. “We believe this will be an indispensable resource to our local community, Texas and the nation.”

This new unit will incorporate all of the latest scientific and technological approaches to biocontainment, including negative air pressure, laminar air flow, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration, separate ventilation, anterooms, biosafety cabinets, a point-of-care laboratory, special security access, autoclaves and incinerators. There will be two levels of protection from airborne particles, as well as a comprehensive waste management plan, among other safety features.

It will be fully equipped to care for any infant or child with a serious communicable disease, with all of the measures available to assure safety of the health care team, other patients and their families. A point-of-care biosafety level 3 laboratory will enable the care team to monitor the progress of patients and perform rapid detection methods to identify unusual pathogens. Housed at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, the unit is anticipated to have capacity for eight patients, all in private rooms.

This specialized unit will be led by Dr. Gordon Schutze, who will serve as medical director, as well as Dr. Judith Campbell and Dr. Amy Arrington, who will be the unit’s associate medical directors. It will be staffed by an elite team of experienced critical care and infectious disease nurses and physicians, all of whom will have successfully completed an intensive advanced certification course and practicum in infection control, hospital epidemiology and management of infectious diseases in the critical care setting. The staff will maintain their certification through participation in ongoing educational activities.

Kline said Texas Children’s is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to design, build, equip and staff the unit, which is expected to be operational within nine months and cost approximately $16 million to build.

“I could not be more impressed with Texas Children’s desire to run towards issues of critical importance to the health and well-being of the children of Texas and our nation,” said Dr. Brett Giroir, director of the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response and chief executive officer of the Texas A&M Health Science Center.

Caring for potential Ebola patients

Since the summer, Texas Children’s has been implementing a detailed plan to identify, isolate and treat suspected cases of Ebola, if necessary. As a result, following a visit from the CDC, the State of Texas designated Texas Children’s as a pediatric Ebola treatment center.

As part of the hospital’s preparation, specific protocols were developed outlining steps staff would take if and when a patient with Ebola symptoms arrived at a Texas Children’s facility. Additionally, in order to decrease the risk of exposure and provide the complex care required, the hospital identified specific areas and units responsible for caring for any patient with Ebola. The health care workers in those areas have received intense, ongoing training and simulation to help them prepare.

“This unit is part of the hospital’s long-term vision to care for children with the most serious and complex medical conditions,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, president of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. “Our leadership’s decision to build this new isolation unit at West Campus speaks volumes about our staff and employees’ skill, expertise and experience here. Our agility and responsiveness were tested just a few months ago when we had a patient with suspected Ebola under investigation. Our handling of that case demonstrated our competency here at West Campus, and it boosted the entire organization’s confidence in the readiness across the system.”

West Campus staff and employess helped lead the way for the organization to refine our protocols for care, and now Texas Children’s will lead the way for centers across the country. If you have questions about the unit or an interest in being trained to be part of the care team that will staff this unit, please contact your leader for more information.

Return to Ebola Response site.

It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays at Texas Children’s Hospital. The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony kicked off the season of joy with Santa and Mrs. Clause helping to light The Auxiliary Bridge Christmas tree. This year, the couple was accompanied by one of their elves, who brought along toys for young patients. St. John’s choir also was present singing holiday carols before the tree lighting got underway.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Randy Wright helped with the lighting, instructing one girl to close her eyes and wish for the lights to appear. Within seconds, the lights were turned on and Santa’s, “Ho, Ho, Ho,” could be heard walking down the hospital hallways.

Here are photos from the event (click on each photo for full view)

There’s plenty of cheer left for patients, families and employees. Here are some of the holiday events at the hospital and around town.

Tuesday, December 9 – FBI members carol the halls
Wednesday, December 10 – Bennett’s Bears – Brande Nester visit clinic floors
Saturday, December 13 – Christmas on MainStreet (18750 I-45N in Spring, Exit 66B) – Texas Children’s Hospital Friends and Family Day – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (see below for schedule of events) (Admission is free for Texas Children’s employees with ID badge)
Monday, December 15 – Santa Connection Program
Monday, December 15 – Apollo Chamber Orchestra performs
Monday, December 15 – Ballet in Nutcracker costumes visits
Thursday, December 18 – WATCH Santa Day
Thursday, December 18 – Puppet Pizzazz
Tuesday, December 23 – Bennett’s Bears – Brande Nester visit all floors
Tuesday, December 23 – Christmas carols performed by opera singer Anna Maria Martinez in West Tower lobby

Christmas on MainStreet (18750 I-45N in Spring, Exit 66B)

Texas Children’s Hospital Friends and Family Day

Saturday, December 13, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

5 p.m. – Dinner with Santa (Conference Center)

6:30 p.m. – Santa Parade (MSA Street – Performance from Spring High Starletts)

7 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m. – Light Show (Villa Lago)

7:15 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 8:15 p.m., 8:45 p.m. – Story time with Mrs. Claus (Centennial)

8 p.m. – Santa Celebration (Xfinity Stage/Lodge – Performance by Sugar Joiko)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Snowflake Making (Cross Creek)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Ornament Decorating (Wakefield)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Cookie Decorating (Centennial)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Ring Toss (Lodge)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Bean Bag Toss (Lodge)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Prize Walk (Lodge)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Food Samples (Midtown, Timbergrove, Valencia, Wakefield, Casa Lana, Cross Creek, Villa Lago)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Cooking Demo/Samples (Ashby Manor, Calais)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Photos with Santa (Alexandria $10.00 per photo)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Train Rides (In Front of Casa Lana)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – GlowStreet (lodge, Items/Prices will vary)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Membership Sales (Guest Center)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Santa’s Sweet Shop (Café, Items/Prices will vary)

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Strolling Characters (Santa Parade 6:30 p.m., Park 6:45 p.m., Santa Celebration 8 p.m., Park Entrance 8:45 p.m.)

Dr. Simon Kayyal, an assistant professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, recently joined Texas Children’s neurology team. He will develop and co-lead the Neuro-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Neuro-NICU) with Texas Children’s Neonatologist Dr. Jeffrey Kaiser, a professor of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine.

Kayyal received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston before completing his residency in pediatrics and child neurology at UT Southwestern Children’s Hospital of Dallas.

During his postdoctoral training, Kayyal observed many children and adolescent patients with irreversible brain injuries, which immediately sparked his interest in neonatal neurology. Kayyal thought, “The earlier we diagnose and treat neurologic disease, the better chance we have for improving the developmental and overall outcome of our premature and critically ill infants.”

This common goal fueled Kayyal’s passion to collaborate with neonatologists to develop Texas Children’s Neuro-NICU program. “Our goal is to help babies born with severe neurologic issues be able to enjoy life without impairments,” said Kayyal, who will also create a protocol to determine where newborns will follow-up once they have been discharged from the Neuro-NICU.

Just like a cardiovascular NICU houses newborns with heart disease, infants with neurologic disease would be treated in the Neuro-NICU where they would receive multidisciplinary care from specialists in neonatology, neurology, neurosurgery, developmental medicine and neuroradiology. The plan is to also include an MRI machine in the Neuro-NICU that would eliminate the need to transport unstable infants to other parts of the hospital.

“We want to minimize families’ anxieties during this critical time,” said Kayyal. “When they see neurologists, neonatologists, and neurosurgeons working in unison to determine the best treatment plan for their child, they know their infant is receiving the best care possible to improve their outcomes.”

The Neuro-NICU service will eventually include Texas Children’s other neurology services, like the hypothermia program led by Dr. Kaiser. The hypothermia program provides whole body cooling treatment for newborns who are oxygen deprived at birth, reducing their potential risk for severe neurologic damage.

“Dr. Kayyal is bringing an exciting vision to the neurology team with plans to better serve our patients and their families,” said Dr. Gary Clark, chief of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience at Texas Children’s. “We are pleased to have him join our team to bring more capabilities and expertise to our division.”

In addition to this new role, Kayyal lectures medical students rotating through the neurology clerkship to help them prepare for the neurology shelf exams. He also provides specialized lectures to residents and fellows to prep them for the board exams and get better acquainted with the hospital and outpatient settings.

“I am excited to pursue my passion at Texas Children’s and work alongside some of the best physicians in our specialty,” said Kayyal. “Returning home to Houston is an added plus.”

TWINS!! That’s the exciting news my husband, Danny, and I (Lauren Struzick) found out at one of our doctor’s appointments. Can you believe it? The thought of being a mother of twins never crossed my mind when I took my home pregnancy test and saw the positive sign staring right at me.

Twins do not run in our families, and being naïve in all things twins, I didn’t even think it was a possibility! But low and behold, it is! We also found out during our mind-blowing appointment that we are expecting identical twin boys!

When my doctor delivered this double dose of exciting news, my husband and I weren’t sure how to react. We were speechless! We cried, laughed and truly were in shock. We already have a 2-year-old daughter, Molly, so we know how wonderful – and let’s be honest – how hard the newborn stage can be. So, naturally, along with the excitement, we’re a little bit nervous about the thought of taking care of two infants at the same time!

Identical twins are not genetic. It’s really just an anomaly when one embryo splits into two. Since I work in the Marketing Department at Texas Children’s, I see all the collateral we produce, and I know that the main risk of having my type of identical twins (monochorionic diamniotic) is twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a serious medical condition where blood flows unequally between twins who share a placenta. My twins share a placenta but are in two different sacs separated by a really thin membrane. Luckily, we haven’t run into any complications, and it helps that I have a wonderful team of physicians and nurses at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women who have taken exceptional care of me throughout my pregnancy.

Now, I have to say that telling our families about the twins was my favorite part. We captured everything on camera – from the initial shock on their faces to when they burst into laughter and tears! Both of our families think they’re going to find out the gender of our baby, but as you’ll see they were stunned and overjoyed, just as much as we were!

Mitchell family surprise! (click image)

Struzick family surprise! (click image)

While we’ve had some time for the twin shock to dwindle down (although sometimes I still freak out), we are super excited for many reasons. Excited to see how our twin boys interact and share that special bond as identicals. Excited to see our daughter, Molly, assume the big sister role to two babies at once. And, just excited in general and blessed to have more kiddos in the Struzick household.

Our twin sons are scheduled to make their grand debut next month. As we count down to the home stretch, we’d appreciate it if you can send some positive thoughts our way! We can’t wait to begin 2015 as a family of five!

Patients treated at the Texas Children’s Hospital Hand and Microvascular Surgery Clinic now benefit from not only two physicians whose focus is on hand and upper extremity care but also from a full-time certified hand therapist.

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons Dr. Mitchel Seruya and Dr. Thomas Hunt III formed a multidisciplinary team with certified hand therapist Tara Haas.

Seruya, Hunt and Haas work with registered nurses, occupational hand therapists and medical assistants to perform clinical evaluations, formulate diagnoses and provide treatment plans for patients.

Haas has been a certified hand therapist since 2008 and has primarily worked in academic medical centers, most recently at the University of Colorado Hospital. She has a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Seton Hall University and completed the Evelyn J. Mackin Hand Therapy Fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand Center. Hass’ areas of interest are trauma, burns, and tendon lacerations and repairs.

Hunt, professor and chair of the department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor, has dedicated his career to treating sports injuries of the hand, wrist and forearm in athletes of all ages and at all levels of ability. He serves in the capacity of team physician for a national football league franchise, national medical advisor for professional golf and as a resource for elite athletes worldwide. Hunt is a graduate of Stanford University and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency, along with a research fellowship focused on bone regeneration, at the University of Kansas. He also completed a fellowship in hand, upper extremity, and microsurgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Recently, he graduated with a Doctor of Science Degree in Administration-Health Services from University of Alabama in Birmingham. Hunt is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who holds a certificate of added qualification in hand surgery. He is a member of numerous national and regional specialty societies including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Association for Hand Surgery, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Association.

Seruya, who also serves as assistant professor of Plastic Surgery at Baylor, received his undergraduate and medical degrees at Columbia University. He completed his residency at Georgetown University and his craniofacial and hand/microvascular fellowships at Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Seruya’s clinical interests include neonatal brachial plexus palsy, cerebral palsy, congenital hand anomalies and traumatic hand injuries. His research interests are focused on understanding clinical outcomes following pediatric upper extremity surgery and optimizing functional restoration. Seruya is a candidate member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Haas, Hunt and Seruya treat patients with hand and upper extremity problems developed at birth or from trauma or infection. Some of those conditions include cerebral palsy, webbed fingers and multiple joint contractors. Other services include microvascular surgery and distraction lengthening.

“The hallmarks of Texas Children’s Hand and Microvascular Surgery Clinic are centralized services and multidisciplinary care, allowing patients to be seen by all necessary specialists in the same location on the same day,” Seruya said. “This is more convenient for the patient and family and it also enhances quality and continuity of care.”

Located on the fifth floor of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, the Hand and Microvascular Surgery Clinic is open on Wednesday and Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A fully functional radiology suite is adjacent to the clinic, streamlining the process from diagnosis to management.

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