March 10, 2017

Several patients and their families recently received a surprise visit from an intimate group of community members who came to the hospital offering gifts, support and smiles.

On March 7, Karen Costa, Davis Sprague and Leah Walker with RSM US LLP, a tax, audit and consulting firm, popped in various inpatient rooms on West Tower toting 100 care packages filled with toiletry items for patient families and two decorative jars full of inspirational messages for nurses.

The visit was part of one of the firm’s culture, diversity and inclusion groups called the Star Women’s Network (STAR), which Costa leads. STAR’s mission is to exercise and promote stewardship and teamwork resulting in the advancement and retention of RMS’s women. The group has concentrated its stewardship effort on activities that benefit Texas Children’s.

Their recent work was greatly appreciated by patients, families, staff and Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace, who met with the group before they went to patients’ rooms.

“It is so nice for you all to come out and do this,” Wallace said. “Thank you so much. It means a lot.”

Ashley Carranza, a staff nurse in hematology-oncology, was tending to Lilly, a 5-year-old patient, when the RSM group stopped by and gave the little girl’s grandmother a care package and Lilly a hug and a card containing a hand-written supportive message.

“Visits like these mean the world to our patients and families,” Carranza said while watching Lilly beam with excitement. “It truly brightens their day.”

The notes the RSM group wrote specifically for Carranza and her colleagues also were well received.

“It’s so nice that someone has taken the time to think of us too,” Carranza said.

Crystal Ortiz with Volunteer Services echoed Carranza and Wallace’s comments and added that small gestures such as these make a big difference and provide some much-needed relief during what can be a tough time.

March 7, 2017

Texas Children’s is committed to the health and well-being of our patients, their families and our employees. This is why all patient care providers and other employees whose duties are listed below are required to have their routine tuberculosis (TB) skin test. Testing will begin Tuesday, March 7 (click on the flier for larger view of all dates, times, and locations).

Employees who are unable to be tested on any of these dates may make appointments by calling Employee Health at ext. 4-2150.

Which Texas Children’s employees are required to receive a TB skin test?

  • Employees who work in a hospital setting
  • Employees who work in a non-hospital setting but have possible patient contact
  • Employees who have face-to-face contact with suspected or confirmed TB patients or have the potential of exposure through shared air space with infectious patients
  • Employees with a negative TB skin test history and have not received a TB skin test in 2017

Employees with a known positive TB skin test will NOT receive a TB skin test. They will receive an email with instructions to complete a questionnaire through the Employee Health & Wellness Portal. Employees located off-site will receive separate instructions from their leader at a later date.

The current risk assessment provided by the Texas Children’s Infection Control Committee states that routine skin testing will occur every two years. For more information, please see sections 8 and 9 of the Tuberculosis Exposure Control Plan Procedure or visit the Employee Health Services page on Connect.

Thank you in advance for your support in helping safeguard the well-being of our patients, their families, and our employees.

Hundreds of children recently gathered with hospital staff on The Auxiliary Bridge of Texas Children’s Hospital and outside the main entrance of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus to participate in one of the medical system’s most popular events – the annual teddy bear clinic.

During the clinic, children are given the opportunity to act out the roles of various health care staff such as doctors, nurses, therapists and technicians. Children pretend to perform a variety of tests, exams and therapies to diagnosis their Teddy bear’s symptoms and heal its body.

Hosted by Child Life to celebrate national Child Life Week, the event celebrates our patients and families and how the intimate world of play is used to encourage children’s learning and support children’s coping.

Morris Shreck, EDI coordinator, died unexpectedly November 30, 2016, at the age of 54.

Morris joined Texas Children’s Hospital in December 2002 working in the Transfer Center. He moved to account representative in Business Services and finally as EDI coordinator in the Revenue Cycle Payment Operations.

He was known as a loyal, hardworking and dedicated colleague. Everyone who worked alongside Morris will miss his sense of humor and his conversations about Houston sports teams and college football, especially the Houston Cougars. Morris and his wife of 30 years, Norma (also a Texas Children’s employee), spent much of their free time together travelling to visit their extended family.

Morris is survived by his wife, Norma; step-mother, Winnell Shreck; brothers, Bill Shreck, Jr. and wife Christine, Scott Shreck and wife Maconda; sisters, Kelly Shreck, Melanie Shreck and Fayellen Russell and husband Tony.

To his many extended family and friends, he will be greatly missed.

March 3, 2017

One of Texas Children’s most recognizable buildings now has a brand new name. The Clinical Care Tower has been renamed the Mark A. Wallace Tower in honor of Texas Children’s long-time President and CEO.

The announcement of the renaming came at the culmination of a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday evening. It was the work of the Board and a complete surprise to Wallace. As the meeting appeared to arrive at its routine close, Board Chair Ann Lents opened the doors of the board room to welcome a few guests – Wallace’s wife Shannon and the entire Executive Council. Lents then proceeded with reading the Board’s resolution to rename the building in honor of Wallace’s 27 years of leadership and service to the organization.

“When you came to Texas Children’s, our hospital was a good but regional provider,” Lents said. “Now Texas Children’s is the largest and most comprehensive provider of children’s and women’s services. You brought a sense of mission and unbounding energy and a generosity of spirit to the job that are all the more remarkable given that you’ve been at it since 1989.”

Wallace and his wife were filled with emotion as the announcement unfolded in the room of about 100 Board members and executives. Expressing his appreciation, Wallace recognized the commitment of the Board, staff and dedicated employees.

“When [late Board member] George Peterkin recruited me, he convinced me that with this Board, Dr. Feigin and this community that we could do something incredible,” Wallace said. “I never imagined anything like this. We’ve gone from one location, seven floors, 350,000 square feet and 1,400 employees to all of this because of the Board, the great medical staff and our employees. Our employees are so committed to this organization and to the children, women and families we take care of. I can’t adequately put into words how much this means to me.”

When Wallace took the helm of Texas Children’s in 1989, the hospital was still contained in a single building – the seven-story Abercrombie Building. The West Tower and Clinical Care Tower (now, the current Feigin Tower) were completed shortly after in 1991. In 2003, as part of a $345 million project, the West Tower was expanded and a new, 16-floor Clinical Care Tower was built at the corner of Holcombe and Fannin. The building houses most of Texas Children’s outpatient clinics, including Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Neurology and Orthopedics.

Because of the prominent location of the clinical building, it continues to be one of the most visible of the Texas Children’s medical center buildings, making it a perfect choice for the naming honor. But Lents noted that the honor is a milestone in a continuing journey.

“This is not a capstone naming, this is an interim recognition,” Lents said. “We are looking forward to many more years of your leadership.”

TEXAS CHILDREN’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, upon arriving at Texas Children’s as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark A. Wallace stated that “my goal is for Texas Children’s to be the preeminent pediatric hospital in the world”;

WHEREAS, in his pursuit of that goal, Mark A. Wallace’s visionary leadership and tireless commitment have elevated Texas Children’s to a level of excellence and preeminence not even imagined when he joined Texas Children’s in 1989;

WHEREAS, integral to the goal of preeminence, Mark A. Wallace’s vision has encompassed and supported the development of leaders at all levels, based on his steadfast belief that “leadership always influences or determines outcomes — not some of the time, but all of the time”;

WHEREAS, the members of the Board of Trustees of Texas Children’s wish to express their deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to Mark A. Wallace and honor, recognize and commemorate his inspirational leadership as well as his unwavering pursuit of excellence;

IT IS NOW, THEREFORE, RESOLVED that in recognition of his devotion and personal commitment to Texas Children’s, we hereby rename the Clinical Care Tower as the Mark A. Wallace Tower at Texas Children’s Hospital; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees looks forward to many more years of Mark A. Wallace’s commitment and extraordinary leadership in guiding Texas Children’s to continued preeminence in creating a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education and research.

UNANIMOUSLY adopted this 12th day of January, 2017.