March 24, 2015

32515DrJulieBoom175

State Rep. Donna Howard honored Dr. Julie Boom, director of Texas Children’s Immunization Project, before the State Legislature earlier this month for being named Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Childhood Immunization Champion for Texas.

This annual award, given by the CDC Foundation and the CDC, honors exemplary childhood immunization advocates across the 50 U.S. states, eight U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia.

“This prestigious award recognizes individuals across the United States who have worked to protect the health and safety of children by ensuring that vaccination is a priority,” Howard said to her legislative colleagues. “After being nominated by her peers, Dr. Boom was chosen by health care professionals, community supports and other leaders for her contributions to pediatric health care in our state.”

When Boom was a medical resident, she treated a 3-year-old girl who died of meningitis. This experience inspired her to devote her career to promoting immunization through education, research, and the development of improved immunization technology and practices. Boom led the development of an automated software tool that forecasts what vaccines each child will need and when, according to the recommended schedule. To remind parents about the importance of vaccines, she helped create Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story, a book featuring 20 families affected by vaccine-preventable illnesses.

To watch a video of Boom being honored on March 4 during the 84th Legislative Session, click here and go to time code 34:06.

March 17, 2015

31815measles640

Due to the increased number of measles cases in the United States, Texas Children’s Hospital has put appropriate plans in place to care for a patient with this highly contagious disease. The hospital also is making sure all employees are protected against this infection.

Employee Health and Wellness Director Jill Fragoso said nearly 98 percent of Texas Children’s employees have received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or are immune by titer. She added that all employees can get a free MMR vaccine at the Employee Health Clinic.

“At Texas Children’s, we want to do everything possible to make sure our staff remains healthy and are immune to measles, and vaccination is the best way to do that,” Fragoso said. “Though much focus has been on measles cases in children, adults can pose an even greater risk of passing along the infection because of travel and the amount of people with whom we come in contact.”

Fragoso added that in addition to keeping ourselves safe, “we have a public health commitment to protect our coworkers, our families, our patients and our communities.”

If you aren’t sure whether you need the measles vaccine, medical personnel at the Employee Health Clinic can check your records or do a blood test to see if you carry antibodies to the infection. Please call Ext. 4-2150 to make an appointment today.

As for patient care, Dr. Judith Campbell, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, said Texas Children’s Hospital is treating patients with suspected or confirmed measles like we would any other airborne transmitted infectious disease.

“Workflows are in place to identify and isolate suspected cases of the measles,” Campbell said. “There also are several mechanisms and venues in place to educate frontline employees about measles, an infection that was considered eradicated from the United States in 2000.”

In 2014, however, the United States saw a record-breaking number of confirmed cases of the infection, 644 from 27 states, including Texas where there has been one reported case since January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition, measles is still common in many parts of the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and Africa. Worldwide, an estimated 20 million people get measles and 146,000 people, mostly children, die from the disease each year.

“The CDC is urging health care professionals to consider measles when evaluating patients with febrile rash and to ask about a patient’s vaccine status, recent travel history, and contact with individuals who have febrile rash illness,” an agency flier about the infection says. “The government agency also is urging people to get vaccinated against the potentially deadly disease.”

Facts about the measles according to the CDC

What are the measles: Measles, also known as morbilli, rubeola, or red measles, is a highly contagious infection caused by the measles virus.

Can the measles be serious: Yes. About one in four people in the United States who get measles will be hospitalized; one out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage; and one or two out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.

How does the virus spread: Measles is an airborne disease that spreads easily through the coughs and sneezes of those infected. It may also be spread through contact with saliva or nasal secretions. Nine out of ten people who are not immune who share living space with an infected person will catch it. People are infectious to others from four days before to four days after the start of the rash. People usually only get the disease at most once.

What are its symptoms: The most common symptoms of measles are fever, runny nose, red eyes and rash. The rash is classically described as a generalized red maculopapular rash that begins several days after the fever starts. It starts on the head or back of the ears and, after a few hours, spreads to the head and neck before spreading to cover most of the body, often causing itching.

How is it prevented: The best protection against measles is measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.

Vaccine Recommendations: The CDC recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. Children can receive the second dose earlier as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.

Health care personnel should have documented evidence of immunity against measles. Health care personnel without evidence of immunity should get two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Adults who are not health care personnel and who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine.

31815retirement550

31815InfographicBenefitsinside640
Click on the graphic for a larger view.

Did you know that Texas Children’s is contributing to your retirement right now?

Unlike many other organizations, Texas Children’s offers employees both a fully funded Cash Balance Pension Plan and a 403 (b) plan with match dollars. The organization recently posted its 2014 deposit into the Cash Balance Pension Plan, which Texas Children’s pays the full cost of and you are automatically enrolled in on April 1 or October 1 once you reach 21 years old and have worked 1,000 hours or more during the 12 consecutive months after your initial date of hire.

To see how much your Cash Balance Pension Plan has grown, log in to Mercer’s website at www.ibenefitcenter.com. The website has useful tools that allow you to view your balance, estimate your future pension balance and verify/update your beneficiary information.

To learn more about the Cash Balance Pension Plan, click here to view the summary plan description or call the Texas Children’s Hospital Pension Plan Support Team at 800-752-8230 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In addition to the Cash Balance Pension Plan, Texas Children’s offers a 403 (b) plan. If you are not already enrolled in the plan, you should consider doing so. You don’t want to miss out on Texas Children’s 50 percent match of the first 6 percent of your pre-tax per paycheck contribution. You can enroll anytime by contacting Fidelity at 800-343-0860 or online at www.fidelity.com/atwork.

It is never too early to start saving for retirement. The Texas Children’s benefits team encourages you to take advantage of all the retirement benefits our organization offers.

“Investing in our people with competitive retirement and other benefits helps Texas Children’s attract, support and retain top talent like you,” said Jim Cuva, assistant director of Human Resources. “That’s why we are committed to your financial well-being.”

 

31815NODA640

Mother Teresa once said that no one should die alone and that everyone should die with the sight of a loving face. Spiritual Care is making Mother Teresa’s words a reality at all Texas Children’s Hospital campuses, where unfortunately some of our patients don’t survive.

Most of those patients have loving family members or friends who are by their sides when it’s time for them to go but there are circumstances that don’t make that possible for everyone. For example, the family of a child who is rushed to our hospital for state-of-the-art care can’t make the trip or the mother of a newborn who remains inpatient far away and is the baby’s only family.

For patients such as these, it has typically been the care team’s responsibility to be there for the patient when they pass. The team’s other duties, however, don’t always make that possible. That’s why Spiritual Care has adopted the national, volunteer-centered program “No One Dies Alone,” which provides dying patients without family or friends available with a compassionate individual sitting with them at the time of death.

31815NODA550At Texas Children’s Hospital, that compassionate individual, called a compassionate companion, is an employee who has volunteered to be part of the “No One Dies Alone” program and who has gone through a two-hour training session that addresses the logistical and emotional aspects of being a compassionate companion.

When called to task, the volunteer’s expectation is simple: Quiet reading, perhaps holding a small patient or the hand of an older one. Being there is most important. The volunteer is invited to write in a journal about what happened during their shift. The journal will be given to surviving family or friends.

“The goal of the ‘No One Dies Alone’ program is death with dignity,” said Interim Social Work Manager Ellie Wallace. “Through this program, we can provide companionship to patients in the dying process who are truly alone, and in so doing, provide a gift of respect and dignity to another human being at the end of life.”

Spiritual Care is looking for people who are interested in becoming a “No One Dies Alone” volunteer. Below is some more information about the program and what your responsibilities would be as a volunteer. To sign up or for more information, please call Ext. 4-7223 or visit Spiritual Care’s website.

What is NODA?
“No One Dies Alone” is a national volunteer-centered program that was started at PeaceHealth in Eugene, Oregon in 2001 that has since been adopted for use at Texas Children’s Hospital. Its goal is to provide companionship and support for dying individuals so that no patient dies alone. To accomplish this, compassionate companions are notified by a volunteer phone coordinator to keep vigil. Compassionate companions will rotate through three-hour shifts until the patient passes. During the shifts, the compassionate companions can talk to the patient, hold hands or just be a comforting presence in the room. “No One Dies Alone” began at Texas Children’s Hospital because we believe that every person has worth. Dying is a time to remind individuals of their value to society. Compassionate companions do that as well as ensure that individuals are remembered.

Who can volunteer for NODA?
Any employee at Texas Children’s Hospital can volunteer. This can include students who are present at Texas Children’s Hospital for clinical training or administrative training.

What training is required to be a NODA volunteer?
We require a two-hour training session before you can become a “No One Dies Alone” volunteer. It will help address the logistical and emotional aspects of being a compassionate companion. Volunteer training sessions are held once a month.

How long would I need to commit for a vigil?
You are not expected to stay any longer than your three-hour vigil shift.

Do volunteers come in during all hours of the night?
Yes, the “No One Dies Alone” program is designed to provide the dying patient with continuous company until he or she passes. Volunteers will be scheduled for three-hour shifts until the patient passes.

I’m not religious. Can I still volunteer?
Yes, religious behavior is to only be initiated by the dying patient or family member and not by the companion. At the patient’s request or family members, you can find religious implements and sacred texts in the supply bag along with contact information for the chaplain. Regardless of your religion/non-religion, it should be noted that religious tolerance on both the part of the patient and compassionate companion is expected.

How will I be notified that a vigil is taking place?
Compassionate companions are asked to volunteer to be on call for three-hour blocks. If the program coordinator activates a “No One Dies Alone” vigil, the program coordinator will send an e-blast and begin calling the volunteers who expressed their availability for a vigil.

When are vigils activated?

  • Vigils are activated by the program coordinator when patients meet the following criteria:
  • Are on comfort care
  • Are on a DNR status
  • Are expected to die within 72 hours
  • Do not have family or friends locally
  • Do not have family and friends involved and present

Being a compassionate companion has been a very emotional experience. How do other people process and deal with it?
As a “No One Dies Alone” volunteer, you are privy to one of the most personal aspects of an individual’s life. We understand the significance of what you are experiencing and know the importance of connecting with other compassionate companions to discuss your experiences. Lunch meetings are held once per quarter to get feedback from volunteers. Another suggestion is that you find a way to record your experiences, whether it is painting, poetry or journaling.

31815woodlandsExteriorSign615

To prepare for the opening of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, Texas Children’s has leased space on Lake Robbins Drive for human resources, development and marketing.

The new office, located at 1501 Lake Robbins Drive Suite 130, opened March 2 and is being used to recruit future employees, on-board staff and educate donors, said Jill Pearsall, assistant vice president of facilities, planning and development. The space will not be used for clinical services.

“We are very excited to have this new office in The Woodlands,” said President of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands Michelle Riley-Brown. “It will allow us to have greater visibility in the community and to share information about the new hospital, which is scheduled to open and be fully operational in 2017.”

Once completed, The Woodlands facility will be a 560,000-square-foot complex and will offer inpatient and outpatient specialty pediatric care. Facilities will include 18 emergency center rooms, 85 outpatient rooms, five radiology rooms, four operating rooms and 32 acute-care and 12 PICU beds with future expansion plans for up to 200 beds.

Along with serving families throughout The Woodlands Area, Texas Children’s anticipates serving families in counties throughout Greater North Houston, including Montgomery, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Harris, Polk, San Jacinto and Hardin.

In November, Riley-Brown was named president of the hospital and Dr. Charles Hankins was named chief medical officer of the institution. Riley-Brown and Hankins assumed their positions as The Woodlands leadership team in January.

31815DrHowardEpps175

Dr. Howard Epps, assistant chief of Orthopaedic Surgery and medical director of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Scoliosis, was recently appointed leadership positions in two orthopaedic surgery professional organizations.

Epps will join the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons as a member-at-large Thursday, March 26 and he will become president of the Texas Orthopaedic Association Saturday, April 18.

“I am honored to have been named to two such distinguished positions,” Epps said. “I take my responsibility with these organizations very seriously and will work hard in these leadership roles to continue to place the field of orthopaedic surgery at the forefront of modern medicine.”

Founded in 1933, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the preeminent provider of musculoskeletal education to orthopaedic surgeons and others in the world. Its continuing medical education activities include a world-renowned annual meeting, multiple CME courses held around the country and at the Orthopaedic Learning Center, and various medical and scientific publications and electronic media materials. The Board of Directors manages the affairs of the academy and the association. It is the administrative authority of the academy and the association and considers all of its activities and determines its policies.

The Texas Orthopaedic Association was founded in 1936 as the united voice of orthopaedic surgeons in the state. Its mission is to ensure outstanding musculoskeletal health for Texans.

Epps is renowned as a leader in the field of pediatric orthopedics, distinguishing himself in a variety of research, clinical and academic roles. His clinical interests include limb deformity and reconstruction, fractures, clubfoot, musculoskeletal infection and cerebral palsy, which led him to author more than 35 book chapters and publications in various academic and medical journals.

After earning an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, Epps received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He did an internship in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and his residency at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program. Epps also completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedic surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

In 2002, Epps was an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Leadership Fellow and has served on the academy’s Patient Safety Committee, Nominating Committee, the Member Communications Oversight Group, the editorial board of AAOS Now, and the Board of Specialty Societies Health Policy Committee.

Epps currently serves as vice present of the Texas Orthopedic Association and secretary of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.

31815DrPatricioGargollo175

Dr. Patricio Gargollo, director of the Program for Complex Urogenital Reconstruction, was recently named associate medical director for pediatric surgery of the Simulation Center.

Gargollo’s role in the new position will be to collaborate with the Simulation Center’s medical director, Dr. Jennifer Arnold, to create an expansion of medical simulation education into the areas of pre-, peri- and post-operative care.

“In essence, we want to expand our center to include surgical simulation training,” Gargollo said. “This will include procedural training for residents, fellows, nurses and advanced practice providers. It will also allow us to use the hospital’s international reputation to reach out to an international surgical audience through telemedicine and live simulation courses.”

Lastly, Gargollo said “my hope is to replicate complex surgical cases through simulation in order to prepare surgeons and other providers who may not have the exposure to the type of difficult cases we encounter here at Texas Children’s Hospital.”

“I am very excited about working with Dr. Gargollo and about this new opportunity for the Simulation Center, our staff and our patients,” Arnold said. “It is vital that we identify leaders and champions in surgery in order to expand the educational and patient safety benefits of health care simulation to our perioperative providers and patients.”

The Pediatric Simulation Center at Texas Children’s Hospital is a multidisciplinary, hospital-based center providing hands-on pediatric and obstetric simulation training in a realistic environment to improve patient safety and patient care. In addition to the physical space, the hospital supports the center by allocating full-time personnel including a medical director, assistant director, lead physician, training specialist, systems specialist and now a surgical director.

The hospital’s dedication to the center stems from the fact that 70 percent of mistakes in medicine are due to human error, not lack of medical knowledge. The Simulation Center trains pediatric health care professionals to react and respond to high-risk pediatric and obstetric scenarios in a life-like simulated environment so that risk to patients is substantially lowered in real life situations.

Simulation is a guided technique that recreates a clinical environment and gives health care professionals exposure to high-risk scenarios without putting actual patients at risk. The simulation training experience includes:

  • Simulation exercises on high-fidelity mannequins that mimic real emergencies to facilitate team communication skills and real-time responses
  • Review of video-recorded simulation
  • Debriefing of learners to review and discuss simulation experience

Gargollo recently participated in the Mata conjoined twin separation simulation. During the simulation he, several other surgeons and operating room staff practiced several aspects the surgery, which ended up lasting just over 24 hours.

“Each and every simulation I’ve participated in has helped me prepare for whatever procedure I was about to perform,” Gargollo said. “The experience is truly invaluable and most definitely contributes to the quality of patient care we offer here at Texas Children’s Hospital.”

Gargollo was recruited to Texas Children’s Hospital to be the director of the Program for Complex Urogenital Reconstruction, which specializes in the care of patients with bladder and cloacal exstrophy, cloaca and neurogenic bladder. He also is the co-director of the Urology Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program. After earning his medical degree at Harvard Medical School, Gargollo completed a residency in general surgery followed by one in urology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also did a fellowship at Children’s Hospital Boston.