June 30, 2015

7115kidszone640Garth Brooks was on-site to celebrate the grand opening of the newly renovated and expanded Child Life Zone. Funded through the Teammates for Kids foundation, which Brooks co-founded in 1999, the Zone provides a fun, safe and procedure-free environment for Texas Children’s inpatient population and their families.

“The kids in this hospital, and hospitals around the world, have a hard climb,” Brooks said. “I love being part of Child Life because they understand the greatest healing principle we can bring children is to let them be children.”

Texas Children’s Child Life Zone originally opened in 2001 and now features a completely renovated and expanded play space. The Zone offers a variety of video gaming choices thanks to the new Microsoft Media Wall and Surface Pro tablets. Patients can challenge their friends to a game of pool, air hockey or race car driving on the Zone’s arcade games. An expanded kitchen offers unique programming for patients and families to learn more about healthy lifestyles while cooking with the hospital’s chef.

When the kitchen is “closed” the 24-foot kitchen counter doubles as an arts and craft bar. The Zone also includes an expanded production studio which offers patients the opportunity to explore and create music as a part of the hospital’s music therapy program. Kids can go “on air” each week as Radio Lollipop broadcasts their radio program throughout the hospital. With the new closed-circuit television system, patients on isolation will now be able to see what’s happening in the Zone and participate in live shows being broadcast from the studio.

The Zone, located in the hospital’s West Tower and adjacent to other support services, is available to patients ages 6 and up and their families. The focus of the Zone is as much on the family, in particular siblings of patients who can often feel overlooked, as it is on the patients themselves who greatly benefit from the therapeutic play the Zone provides.

“Providing patients and families with the opportunity to play normalizes the hospital environment,” said Mary Tietjens, child life manager at Texas Children’s. “Play is a wonderful therapeutic tool that supports a healing environment and promotes positive coping. We can’t thank Teammates for Kids and Microsoft enough for all they have done to make the vision a reality.”

More than 100 patients and their families attended the grand opening event and were given the chance to meet Brooks. Representatives from Teammates for Kids and Microsoft were on hand to show families the activities and resources available at the Zone. Brooks chatted with patients and families, signed autographs and posed for pictures.

“Kids are what it is all about for me. They are the greatest gift God has ever invented and they should be happy,” said Brooks.

7115shuttleupdate640Have you ever wondered if you have time to cross one more task off your to-do list before hopping on the shuttle? Better yet, have you debated whether you even have time to make the bus?

Answers to both of these questions and other shuttle-related quandaries now can be found online via your desktop or smartphone.

All six new Texas Children’s shuttles that hit the road June 29 are equipped with GPS technology, allowing riders to connect to an Internet link that will tell them where a bus is, when it’s going to arrive and how long it will be until the next stop.

You can access this information on your desktop here and on your smartphone here.

In addition to enhancing your riding experience, Director of Supply Chain Rick McFee said the GPS technology will give authorities the opportunity to monitor the shuttles’ movements and to adjust accordingly. As for now, however, all routes will stay the same.

Some additional features inside the shuttles include:

  • A comprehensive security system that will keep employees safe and will record how many people get on and off the shuttle.
  • Video capabilities will give Texas Children’s another avenue to share important information.
  • A voice announcement system will keep riders up to date about where the shuttle is and where it’s headed.
  • USB ports will be available for riders who need to charge their phone or other electronic devices.

The first thing people notice about the new shuttles is the outside of them, McFee said. All of the shuttles are painted in a bright, bold color and have a graphic design on the side. The designs are of either clouds, fish, flowers or blades of grass.

“The wraps share the excitement we all have to work for Texas Children’s Hospital,” McFee said. “They also share a bit of the spirit we have when it comes to healing sick children and taking care of women.”

A not-so-obvious feature the buses have is an environmentally-friendly fueling system. Instead of using diesel, the new shuttles are be fueled by propane. Switching to this much cleaner-burning gas will reduce our carbon footprint by 70 percent and make Texas Children’s Hospital the first hospital in the Medical Center to offer green-friendly shuttle service.

“Welcome aboard!” McFee said. “We are glad to have you on our new shuttles.”

Six additional new buses will hit the road later this summer.

7115smallanimal640We’ve all heard the saying, “Hard work pays off.”

That old adage certainly rings true for Dr. Susan Blaney, deputy director of Texas Children’s Cancer Center and executive vice chair of Research for Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.

While advancing pediatric cancer research remains one of her top priorities, Blaney has worked passionately to ensure researchers have the tools to advance their scientific investigations – all in the hopes of putting more childhood diseases on the curable or preventable list.

Seven years ago, Blaney garnered the support of the hospital’s section chiefs and the Chair of Department of Pediatrics, the late Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, who approved her proposal to establish the Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF). Blaney credits the SAIF as an important contribution to the success of translational research efforts at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“Small animal models of disease, particularly genetically engineered mice and mouse models of human tumors, are powerful tools in medical research,” Blaney said. “New, non-invasive in vivo methods for imaging small animals have greatly enhanced our ability to explore the pathological processes of human disease at the molecular and genomic levels.”

As the primary users of the SAIF, Texas Children’s and Baylor researchers rely on the facility’s resources to obtain preliminary data for grant proposals, with the goal of publishing their groundbreaking research in premier scientific journals and ultimately to improve the outcome for disease of childhood.

While there are multiple animal imaging facilities throughout the Texas Medical Center, many outside researchers use our facility to launch their pilot projects in collaboration with Texas Children’s faculty. These include principal investigators from the Texas Heart Institute, Rice University, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Houston, Houston Methodist Hospital and the University of Tennessee.

Co-directed by Drs. Robia G. Pautler and M. Waleed Gaber under the guidance of Blaney and Dr. Jordan Orange, vice chair of Research for Baylor’s Department of Pediatrics, the SAIF provides a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art, high-resolution imaging equipment including:

  • magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy
  • ultrasound
  • optical imaging (including bioluminescence and fluorescence)
  • computed topography
  • positron emission tomography
  • bone densitometer
  • pathological imaging (Leica microscope)
  • digital autoradiography system
  • single photon emission computed tomography

“We can uncover all sorts of amazing findings in human disease processes using multiple in vivo imaging modalities,” Pautler said. “We can measure fibrosis in the heart, track cellular and genetic activity in real-time, create blood flow maps to understand tumor growth and trace neural pathways in live animal models to detect early signs of neurodegenerative disorders.”

To enhance the power of translational research, the SAIF also helps investigators conduct longitudinal studies in the same live animal to observe different stages of disease progression and analyze what happens when potential therapeutic or diagnostic interventions are introduced.

In May, the SAIF hosted its first imaging symposium highlighting compelling research findings that would not have been possible without the support of Texas Children’s small animal imaging technologies. With approximately 100 attendees, the symposium also provided a forum to create new research ideas and initiate new collaborations with other investigators that will lead to higher levels of innovative research.

7115smallanimalinsideR640Without question, Blaney’s hard work has certainly paid off. With her vision fulfilled for the SAIF, the research vision of others has been enabled.

For example, a Texas Children’s principal investigator – who used MRI data from the SAIF to help drive his National Institutes of Health R01 grant application – recently received a score that ranked in the top one percent. Additionally, a junior Texas Children’s principal investigator who used imaging data from the SAIF in a grant application was recently awarded his very first foundation grant that will help launch his career.

“Researchers are starting to really appreciate the outstanding services provided to them through the SAIF,” Blaney said. “We are making incredible advances in research that will undoubtedly lead to novel treatments for our patients.”

7115nursingplan640Last week, Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre met with a room full of nursing leaders at the monthly Nursing Congress meeting to outline the framework of an aggressive 100-day plan for nursing.

Andre said she and other leaders are examining all nursing feedback from the past several months to determine where to prioritize efforts to improve the overall work environment/satisfaction of the care team. She shared her vision to modify the patient care manager role to allow more time for leadership and management in support of care at the bedside. Andre encouraged ideas for cultivating staff satisfaction in support of nursing retention with a renewed commitment to a healthy work environment and a culture of transparency.

“In my 29 years at Texas Children’s, I have learned the importance of being transparent, and I want our nurses to know I take my promise seriously,” Andre said. “I also want that same assurance of transparency from all of you. I know we will have the strongest nursing team if we are able to collaborate together through open dialogue around what your needs are.”

During the meeting, she asked for feedback and followed up with a survey to all nurses and nursing leaders. Andre plans to use the survey to help prioritize areas of concern and immediate improvements needed. Once the survey closes, the feedback will be used to refine the 100-day plan, which Andre aims to share with the organization in July. Among the items on her agenda as she examines plans for the next 100 days are:

  • Patient care assistants (PCA): the need for additional PCA positions to support optimal patient care delivery
  • Patient care managers (PCM): the need to allocate more of their time to mentoring/coaching staff and leading their teams
  • Float pool: the need to build a float pool to reduce dependence on contract/OT utilization
  • Resource nurse role: the need to adjust this role and grandfather in non-BSN nurses and others that previously served in the charge nurse role
  • Flexible staffing: the need to build a different model that enables more nurses to work part-time/per-diem

In addition, Andre emphasized the need for all nurses to stay at Texas Children’s and help with building and implementing this plan for change. She explained that nursing turnover at Texas Children’s, while in line with the national average, presents particular challenges as the organization is trying to significantly grow the nursing workforce. Andre asked nursing leaders to take immediate action to encourage and retain nurses on their teams and said she hopes many of the changes proposed in the 100-day plan will improve nursing satisfaction and retention as well as ensure continued excellence in quality and outcomes.

“I wholeheartedly believe our nurses are at the heart of our organization and our mission, and I strongly support the improvements we will begin making in the next 100 days and beyond,” said John Nickens, executive vice president over nursing. “We have tremendous support from leaders across the organization, and I know it will take every one of you to help our nursing team be the best it can be.”

All staff nurses are asked to complete this short survey by Friday, July 3 to help Andre and her leadership team as they strategize and set a framework for next steps.

7115NRIswannlab640As world leaders in neuroscience research, scientists from the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI) and the Cain Foundation Labs at Texas Children’s continue to pioneer innovative treatments to improve the quality of life for children with devastating neurological diseases.

From unlocking the molecular mysteries of epileptic seizures to providing novel insights on how to repair brain injuries in newborns, NRI researchers are helping to revolutionize the care and treatment for our patients at Texas Children’s Neuroscience Center and patients around the world.

In her blog, Texas Children’s scientific research writer Dr. Rajalaxmi Natarajan highlights some of the 2015 groundbreaking discoveries from the NRI labs of Drs. Benjamin Deneen, Hugo Bellen, Mirjana Malatic-Savatic and Anne Anderson.

June 23, 2015

62415newshuttles640Everybody likes getting a new vehicle. The whole experience – from the new-car smell and shiny gadgets to the sleek paint job and smooth ride – is exciting.

On Monday, June 29, the entire Texas Children’s family will get to have such an experience when six of our 12 new shuttles are rolled out sporting colorful designs and several innovative features.

“We are very excited about this new capability for Texas Children’s,” said Director of Supply Chain Rick McFee. “We think you will be too.”

The first thing people will notice about the new shuttles is the outside of them, McFee said. All 12 will be bright, bold colors and graphics with designs of clouds, fish, flowers or blades of grass.

“The wraps share the excitement we all have to work for Texas Children’s Hospital,” McFee said. “They also share a bit of the spirit we have when it comes to healing sick children and taking care of women.”

A not-so-obvious feature the buses will have is an environmentally-friendly fueling system. Instead of using diesel, all 12 shuttles will be fueled by propane. Switching to this much cleaner-burning gas will reduce our carbon footprint by 70 percent and make Texas Children’s Hospital the first hospital in the Medical Center to offer completely green-friendly shuttle service.

Some of the features inside the shuttles include:

  • A comprehensive security system that will keep employees safe and will record how many people get on and off the shuttle.
  • On-board video capabilities will give Texas Children’s another avenue to share important information.
  • A voice announcement system will keep riders up to date about where the shuttle is and where it’s headed.
  • USB charging ports will be available at each seat for riders who need to charge their phone or other electronic devices.

All buses will be equipped with GPS technology, allowing riders to connect to an Internet link that will tell them where a bus is, when it’s going to arrive and how long it will be until the next stop.

McFee said the GPS technology will give Texas Children’s management the opportunity to monitor the shuttles’ movements and to adjust accordingly based on ridership activity. As for now, however, all routes will stay the same.

The remaining six larger shuttles in the fleet will be on the road in late summer.

“Welcome aboard!” McFee said. “We are glad to have you on our new shuttles.”

62415tandemsupport640Chief Safety Officer Dr. Joan Shook knows firsthand just how stressful it can be to work in a health care environment as demanding and complex as ours.

For the past 20 plus years, she has tended to patients with various types of health conditions in the Emergency Center. Some of those patients got well and went on to live productive lives. Others weren’t so lucky.

The impact of the negative events often leads to stress, fatigue and sometimes depression and blame for all involved in the situation, Shook said. The most profound example of such emotions happened years ago when Shook was a section head in the EC and a therapist came to talk to her group about workplace stress.

“Everyone broke down in tears at that meeting,” she said. “I had no idea the burden my people were carrying.”

To help employees cope with adverse patient events such as errors, unanticipated outcomes or even death, Texas Children’s recently launched a peer-to-peer support team that can be tapped 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Texas Children’s Tandem Support Team provides access to more than 100 trained peer volunteers who are willing and ready to provide reassurance, guidance and overall support.

Director of Employee Health & Wellness Jill Fragoso said the team is comprised of clinical and nonclinical employees from across the entire Texas Children’s system and that all members have been trained by the leading experts in the field of workplace stress in a health care setting.

62315TandemSupport350“Adverse patient events can have a significant impact on the health care professional, colleagues and subsequent patients,” Fragoso said. “That’s why we want to ensure Texas Children’s is doing all we can to guide our employees through such events so they don’t burn out and/or have long lasting emotional effects.”

Staff Chaplain Kristen Springmeyer is one of the 100 trained members of the Tandem Support Team and said she volunteered because she’s seen the need for such a program and believes it will be transformative.

She said the team will give our health care workers the chance to decompress with someone they can trust and with someone who understands where they are coming from. In addition, the team will be able to point employees in need to resources such as the Employee Assistance Program, which provides confidential, professional services such as counseling, stress management and grief support.

“My job is to listen and refer when needed,” Springmeyer said. “It’s that simple, yet so important.”

All employees, managers, supervisors and peers are encouraged to contact the Tandem Support Team after any patient event that causes distress. You can do so one of three ways:

  • Page: 832-824-2099 and ask for the “Tandem Support Team.”
  • Go to: Connect Sites and Services > Centers, Clinics, Departments > Tandem Support Team
  • Find a team member at your location by looking for their special badge slip or lanyard.