February 10, 2020

We all know it when we see it.

The people who excel at everything they do. The organizations that achieve all parts of their mission. The companies that deliver great service without fail. But do we understand what it takes?

I’ve been alive long enough to know that “high quality” doesn’t just happen. But I was reminded of this recently when I sat down to talk with three members of the Quality Team at Texas Children’s Health Plan.

After a conversation with quality improvement specialists Rosendo Cardoso Gonzalez, Jeremiah Judkins and Joshua Fernelius, it all came back to me. High quality requires the right people, planning, oversight and accountability. Becoming the best is never an accident.

For this reason, improving quality is – literally – a full-time job for this team.

We started our talk with acknowledging the health plan’s upcoming accreditation survey from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). They explained to me that although our survey takes place in mid-April, the results are the sum of what we do every single day.

Here is a look inside our conversation:

How would you describe your roles at Texas Children’s Health Plan?
All: We are the team that serves as a resource to the entire health plan. We support leaders and front-line staff in a shared responsibility to achieve national HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) goals.

What is the most challenging part of the work that you do?

Rosendo – “Ro”: It’s a lot of work, but that’s why we are here. It’s also challenging because most issues are complex and don’t just involve one department. Making sure that multiple departments are on the same page can be difficult.

Jeremiah – “JJ”: Encouraging employees to use us a resource. Our job is to come in and rethink processes, systems and methods. Just because we’ve been doing something one way doesn’t mean we will keep doing it that way. But like Ro said, that’s why we are here – as a resource to help facilitate the changes.

Joshua – “Josh”: Fostering change in the organization. Lasting and sustainable change is never easy, however it’s important that we evolve for the sake of our members. They deserve for us to operate effectively at the highest level of care.

What is the most rewarding part of the work that you do?

Rosendo: It’s extremely rewarding when everyone comes together and focuses on reaching for the same goals. It’s also rewarding when we can maximize each other’s strengths to solve problems.

Jeremiah: I love Texas Children’s. I have a personal connection because my six-year-old daughter has had a health condition since she was in-utero. Texas Children’s helped save her life. I want to be part of ensuring that this organization is always operating at the highest level it possibly can.

Joshua: I have been invested in public health for many years. It truly is my passion. I enjoy the opportunity to positively impact the lives of more 400,000 health plan members each and every day. Your work seems to focus on the big picture, but what do you do on a daily basis to improve quality?

All: We run the daily operations briefing, which is the glue that holds The Health Plan together. The “DOB” offers a way to uncover organizational issues and bring barriers to the forefront. If we have more visibility into our challenges, we can solve them effectively.

***

Rosendo, Jeremiah and Joshua report to Yahaira Colorado, manager for Quality & Outcomes Management. Colorado’s team, together with Natasha Pierce – manager of Credentialing – and her team, are preparing The Health Plan to gain its NCQA accreditation this summer. For more information on NCQA, visit https://texaschildrensnews.org/strive-for-five-strive-for-five/

To learn more about “Hayes on The Health Plan” and to learn basic information about Texas Children’s Health Plan visit https://texaschildrensnews.org/hayes-on-the-health-plan/.

Know any cleft lip and palate patients who could benefit from meeting other people like themselves? If so, tell them about Camp Keep Smiling, a camp for Texas Children’s patients ages 10 to 16 years old with cleft lip and palate.

Hosted by the nonprofit Camp for All, the camp in Burton provides a safe, fun environment for patients between the ages of 10 and 16 to engage in meaningful social interaction and gain self-confidence. Participants can enjoy activities like canoeing, fishing, archery, ropes courses, basketball and arts and crafts.

Texas Children’s Pediatric plastic surgeon Dr. Laura Monson, who helped start the camp, leads the initiative with other team members from the plastic surgery division. Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, OR staff and child life specialists serve as counselors who notice tremendous strides in the campers towards the end of the session.

Admission is free of charge for patients as it is supported directly by donations and the help of generous volunteers.

This year’s camp is scheduled for Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8. Applications for patients to attend the camp are available online at this link and are due Friday, February 21. For questions, contact camp coordinator Michelle Roy at mgroy@texaschildrens.org or 832-822-3180.

February 4, 2020

Texas Children’s is always searching for innovative ways to improve the experience for our patients and their families while in our care, especially for those patients and families who are unable to go home.

Seeing the impact that our Pawsitive Play Program’s beloved therapy dogs – Elsa, Bailey, Pinto, Cohen and Pluto – have brought to countless patients and their families, Texas Children’s recently embarked on a virtual adventure that will further enhance the healing environment that animals can provide to our patients.

On January 30, Texas Children’s hosted a special celebration to announce the arrival of San Diego Zoo Kids, a closed-circuit television adventure channel, that will provide educational wildlife programming to children and families who call Texas Children’s and the Ronald McDonald House Houston “home.”

“At Texas Children’s Hospital, we are committed to the holistic care of children and families,” said Texas Children’s Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark Kline. “Outstanding partners, like the San Diego Zoo Kids Channel, can help to normalize the hospital experience for the children and families that we serve.”

This groundbreaking event included remarks from Paul Baribault, president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Global, Major General Richard Noriega, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Houston, Jackie Wallace, senior director of Public Relations for the Houston Zoo, and Denny Sanford, a businessman and philanthropist whose vision and generous donation made this program possible for children and families around the world.

“Denny Sanford has given us this meaningful opportunity to share the joy and wonderment of animals with children who may be unable to visit their local zoo or aquarium due to injury or illness,” said Baribault, president and CEO of San Diego Zoo Global. “We hope the inspiring stories of the San Diego Zoo Kids channel can be a source of comfort and inspiration when young patients need it most.”

The program’s launch at Texas Children’s marks the San Diego Zoo Kids’ 300th facility location which is broadcast across 44 states and 12 countries. The channel will feature animal stories from the San Diego and Houston Zoo, and more than a dozen accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. A generous grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services made the channel available on TV monitors at Texas Children’s and Ronald McDonald House Houston.

More than a dozen patients, their families, hospital staff and invited guests attended the groundbreaking celebration, and met some amazing animals including a screetch owl and rabbit from the Houston Zoo, which was a big hit for the crowd.

Mercy Lopez, whose daughter is a patient at Texas Children’s, is grateful to Texas Children’s for bringing this new programming to patients and families.

“My daughter loves watching the Discovery Channel, so I know she will benefit from this programming,” Lopez said. “Since she can’t visit the zoo right now, she can experience it in her room.”

 

As we celebrate American Heart Month, and honor the week of February 7-14th as Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week, Donna Lovick shares some of the accomplishments from the Heart Center staff and how their volunteer efforts are making a positive impact on patients and families in the community. Read more

February 3, 2020

The Mark A. Wallace New Employee Pep Rally allows new employees to learn more about the organization and meet executives and other leaders within a festive atmosphere complete with foam fingers, pompoms and lively music. Participants included new employees based at the Medical Center who were hired between July 1 and December 31, 2019. The pep rally was held January 27 at the Pavilion for Women Conference Center.

“We are flourishing and we’re blessed to have all of you here,” President and CEO Mark A. Wallace told the new employees, recalling Texas Children’s early days in a single, seven-floor building – well before the opening of Legacy Tower at the Medical Center; the hospitals at West and The Woodlands; and the urgent care centers and specialty care clinics that stretch across Harris County and now reach into Austin and Central Texas.

“In 1989, I knew this was our destiny,” Wallace said. “I knew Texas Children’s was going to grow and flourish because that was part of the plan: taking care of more patients and more families. The key to our success has always been the people and the leadership.”

Wallace also introduced himself and shook hands with every new employee at the pep rally, pausing often to pose for photos and snap selfies.

Take a look at the photo gallery below to see some of those shots.

The countdown clock is ticking. Texas Children’s Nursing will host its seventh virtual town hall from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, at the Pavilion for Women Conference Center.

Nursing has partnered with the Corporate Communications team to organize this event to engage our team of more than 3,700 dedicated nurses that make up Texas Children’s largest employee population.

Hosted by Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre’, the town hall will include a discussion of recent nursing accomplishments, our nursing priorities and system updates. The town hall will also include time for Q&A. Nurses watching the livestream remotely can participate in the Q&A session.

Attendees can submit questions during the Town Hall by going to www.slido.com and entering the event code TCH. We will respond to as many questions as time permits during the town hall. Any unanswered questions will be responded to via individual email or the “Ask the CNO” feature on the Voice of Nursing blog.

As always, patient care is our first priority, and we know not all nurses will be able to attend the live event or view the live stream. However, nurses can still participate by viewing the town hall on-demand. The link to the town hall recording will be available on Voice of Nursing.

For more details and instructions on how to access the livestream, click here to view the flyer.

Although nearly 80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented, cardiovascular diseases continue to be a woman’s greatest health threat. That’s why knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index numbers is a vital step toward long-term heart health.

Launched by the American Heart Association, Go Red for Women is a comprehensive platform designed to encourage women to take charge of their own heart health and increase awareness of cardiovascular disease, which causes 1 in 3 deaths among women each year.

To support this effort, the Employee Medical Clinic and Well-Being Team invites you to take part in a number of heart healthy events taking place Friday, February 7. On this day, all employees are also invited to where red in recognition of Go Red for Women Day.

Here are more details on the events taking place.

Texas Medical Center
Location: Fresh Bistro in the Pavilion for Women
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

During this time, clinic staff will be on-hand to conduct heart education and blood pressure screenings, which can help assess an individual’s risk for heart disease and stroke. Heart health education and well-being resources will also be available. In partnership with Morrison Chefs, employees will also be eligible to receive a complimentary heart-healthy sweet with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

Meyer
Location: Meyer Market
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Heart health education and well-being resources will be available. Complimentary heart-healthy sweets will also be provided by Morrison Chefs with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

The Woodlands
Location: Coffee Shop and Café
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Heart health education and well-being resources will be available. Complimentary heart-healthy sweets will also be provided by Morrison Chefs with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

West Campus
Location: Dot’s Cafeteria and Coffee shop
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Heart health education and well-being resources will be available. Complimentary heart-healthy sweets will also be provided by Morrison Chefs with the purchase of a heart-healthy meal (while supplies last).

Well-Being Resources
If you have not done so already, now is the time to schedule an annual physical with your health care provider. Texas Children’s Employee Medical Clinic provides full-service primary care, including annual physicals and the well-being physical, which offers a more in-depth and comprehensive approach to understanding your key health numbers. Complimentary health and nutrition coaching is also available to help you achieve your health and well-being goals.

To view Employee Medical Clinic locations and hours of operation, please visit us on Connect. To make an appointment, please call 832-824-2424.