This week a year ago – July 6 to be exact – Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark Wallace kicked off his One Amazing Team tour, visiting Texas Children’s team members at all of our locations throughout Greater Houston. The whirlwind, 73-stop tour took more than three-and-a-half months, covered about 750 miles and touched nearly 1,800 Texas Children’s staff and employees.
In case you missed it, here’s an awesome video capturing all the excitement of last year’s One Amazing Team tour!
Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women recently opened a Zika clinic to ensure women, mothers and babies continue to receive the highest quality health care during every important stage of their lives.
Located on the third floor of the Pavilion for Women in the Baylor Ob/Gyn clinic, the Zika clinic focuses on women who have traveled to Zika-affected countries, have shown symptoms of the Zika virus or have partners who have traveled to Zika-affected countries and/or have shown symptoms of the Zika virus.
Zika is transmitted primarily through mosquito bites. In recent months, the virus has heightened concern among pregnant women since the virus may increase the risk of microcephaly, a rare neurological birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads.
“It’s very important that we have a Zika clinic here at the Pavilion for Women,” said Dr. Kjersti Aagaard, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician and vice chair for Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine. “In an emerging disease, where new evidence arises daily, having a dedicated group of providers who can keep up with large amounts of crucial information, understand what testing to perform, and discern clinically important information and how to readily apply it are critically important.”
In addition to blood, urine and amniotic fluid tests and counseling, the clinic offers a targeted diagnostic ultrasound that can be performed as early as 15 weeks into pregnancy to determine if there are any concerning developmental signs for Zika infection in a fetus. Physicians and staff at the clinic are thoroughly prepared to safely and confidently treat any patient who exhibits symptoms of the Zika virus.
The Zika clinic is a direct outcome of a recently created task force that convened earlier this year. Under the guidance of Texas Children’s Ob/Gyn-in-Chief Dr. Michael Belfort and Maternal Fetal Medicine Division Director Dr. Gary Dildy, a task force of physicians and researchers from Baylor and Texas Children’s have developed management and research strategies based on important screening criteria outlined by the Centers for Disease Control for pregnant women who may have been exposed to the Zika virus. This task force has been led by Aagaard alongside Drs. Carey Eppes and Martha Rac.
The Zika clinic sees patients on Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. The clinic is staffed by one registered nurse, one medical assistant and the physician team includes Drs. Eppes, Aagaard, Rac and Magda Sanz Cortes.
The clinic will initially see patients who are internally referred by either Baylor Ob/Gyn, Partners in Ob/Gyn Care or The Women’s Specialists providers. Patient referrals to the Zika clinic from outside physicians will be accepted and expanded this summer once internal patient volume demands are addressed.
Recent Connect articles related to Zika:
Senator Cornyn visits Texas Children’s to attend roundtable on Zika virus
Zika virus cases surface in Texas, travelers to epidemic regions most at risk
Heather Shady of Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “The patients and family members have a difficult time being out of their daily routine, and I find it very rewarding to bring out the best in a difficult situation,” Shady said. Read more of Shady’s interview and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.
Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Heather Shady. I am a Patient Care Assistant, chairman of skin champions in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and a safety coach. I have worked at Texas Children’s Hospital for three and a half years.
What month are you Super Star for?
June 2016
Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I was asked to come to a meeting for the skin champions and was told they needed my input on a few things. However, when I arrived they yelled surprise! I was given a party showing their appreciation. It was very nice and thoughtful.
What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
Receiving this award has been the highlight of this year for me. It is amazing to win such an award. I really do go above and beyond to help patients, family and coworkers. This organization has provided me with support and boosted my confidence. Specific mentors at Texas Children’s have guided me with my goal to achieve my BSN.
What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
A super star at Texas Children’s is a committed, kind hearted, compassionate person who truly loves what they do. We are all superstars.
What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The exceptional coworkers I work with every day. Everyone is always so helpful and happy. It really makes a difference in how the day goes. The patients and family members have a difficult time being out of their daily routine, and I find it very rewarding to bring out the best in a difficult situation. Watching my patients with a congenital heart defect (CHD) grow up and achieve their goals motivates me to achieve my goals.
What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Everyone’s positive attitude and willingness to help others. Texas Children’s motivates you to always be better.
What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
Everyone is considered a leader because he or she takes ownership in the role they have. My definition of a leader is someone who wants to excel in what they do, stands up to do what’s right, and doesn’t give up.
Anything else you want to share?
Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look harder.
Cedric August of the Food Court is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “My definition for being a leader is to be a good role model to people that are looking up to me,” August said. Read more of his interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.
Your name, title and department.
Cedric August, Food Court Specialist, Food Court
What month are you Super Star for?
July 2016
Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
I was told during our line meeting.
What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
It means I am doing a great job. The organization has helped me be motivated a lot to be a better person.
What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
They show they are a hard worker.
What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The people I am working with and also my family.
What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Seeing the wonderful kids and the people I work with.
What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
My definition for being a leader is to be a good role model to people that are looking up to me. Everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader by working hard and helping everybody else.
Anything else you want to share?
I am grateful to work hard at Texas Children’s.
Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands was well represented Monday at the annual South County 4th of July Parade with leaders, staff and their families participating in the community’s Independence Day tradition.
Leaders and staff have been in The Woodlands community for a while now building relationships with residents in advance of the fall opening of the outpatient building of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. Soon thereafter in the spring of 2017, Texas Children’s second community hospital will be ready to serve The Woodlands and beyond.
To read more about the new hospital, click here.
The City of Houston has proclaimed Thursday, June 30, 2016, as James Mervyn Adams Day!
Dr. James Adams was presented with a proclamation from the City of Houston designating Thursday, June 30, 2016 as James Mervyn Adams Day at an event honoring his legacy and retirement on June 29 in the Feigin Center lobby.
The proclamation reads, in part, “A cofounder of Texas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr. James Adams became the leader and medical director of one of the largest NICUs in the United States, growing a humble four bed-unit to a 178-bed Newborn Center over 30 years.
In 1978, with vision and determination, Dr. Adams established the first Texas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Transport Service, eventually becoming known as the Kangaroo Crew Neonatal Transport Service.
Dr. Adams was the first physician to design, develop and implement a new Texas Children’s Hospital Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Program and a Pediatric Respiratory Care Program, bringing neonatal nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists to the forefront of newborn care in the Texas Children’s Hospital NICU.
Few people in one’s lifetime can actually bend the course of medical history. Professor James M. Adams has undoubtedly bent the history of Neonatology at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and across the nation.
After more than 46 years of dedication to saving the lives of newborns and improving their birth outcomes, Dr. Adams has chosen to begin a well-earned retirement on June 30. In recognition and appreciation of his dedication and loyal service, the City of Houston congratulates and commends, Dr. James Mervyn Adams on this milestone occasion and extends best wishes for a long and happy retirement.”
Dr. Adams will be missed but his legacy and dedication to providing only the best care for our patients will never leave us.
On June 23, the Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy held a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of childhood cancer survivorship.
The purpose of the briefing was to promote the STAR Act (Cancer Survivorship Treatment Access and Research Act), a bipartisan bill with goals of maximizing childhood cancer survivors’ quality of life, moving childhood cancer research forward, and helping kids get access to life-saving treatments.
Dr. Monica Gramatges, a pediatric oncologist and researcher at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, was one of four physicians who spoke to congressional staffers on behalf of the STAR Act. She explained the benefits of the Passport for Care, a web-based clinical decision making tool for survivors and their caregivers, and how the use of this application can overcome many of the geographic, educational, and access barriers faced by survivors.