As we celebrate Nurses Week and the World Health Organization’s declaration of 2020 as the Year of the Nurse, Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre highlights the important role of the nursing profession and shares a special video spotlighting several of our nursing heroes and the countless ways they are making a difference. Read more
If your working hours have been temporarily changed because of how our operations have been impacted by this pandemic, your Texas Children’s benefits coverage still remains the same.
Hit the “What’s New” button on the front page of the COVID-19 Resources site for the latest information and updates on available benefits and community resources, including your:
You can also access your benefits online to review your elections 24/7 from any desktop or mobile device.
Texas Children’s Health Plan is continuing its pursuit of an accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This is the most widely-recognized accreditation program in the United States and going through the process demonstrates the health plan’s commitment to quality.
“The fact that we are continuing our process in the face of COVID-19 demonstrates the high level of commitment we have to our members,” said Emmalou Torres Cabrera, Director of Quality Management at Texas Children’s Health Plan. “The quality of our care isn’t wavering due to this pandemic. In fact, we are working to ensure that we raise the bar even more so.”
The first big milestone in the process was completed on April 14 with the submission of 262 documents. The next step is preparing for the file review that surveyors will focus on during the virtual audit, which replaces the onsite visit on June 1 and June 2.
Cabrera extends appreciation to everyone involved in the process, with special recognition to Quality Improvement Specialists Rosendo Cardoso Gonzalez, Jeremiah Judkins and Joshua Fernelius.
NCQA surveyors will ensure that the health plan is meeting quality standards in the following areas:
For more information about the National Committee Quality for Assurance, visit NCQA.org
Michael Mizwa has been named Chief Executive Officer of Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) at Texas Children’s Hospital.
Mizwa has served as the Chief Operating Officer and senior vice president of BIPAI since 2010. His vision and his strategic planning with BIPAI leaders throughout the network has resulted in the organization being internationally recognized for excellence in patient care, research and education.
Mizwa has 33 years of experience in non-profit HIV/AIDS prevention and social services and extensive experience globally in pediatric HIV/AIDS program development, administration and management, human resources development and government relations.
He has received numerous local, state, and national awards in HIV prevention and leadership, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s Price Fellowship in HIV Prevention Leadership for developing the first HIV/AIDS offender education training-of-trainers program throughout the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
“I know that you all join me in thanking Mike for accepting the position of CEO,” said BIPAI Board Chair Claire Bassett. “He has the full support of the BIPAI board and the leadership of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital.”
Bassett added that everyone invested in BIPAI can take great pride in the advances that have been made since the organization began 20 years ago but there is still much to be done for the children and families in the BIPAI network.
For more information about BIPAI and the work they do for children and families across the globe, click here.
Facing vulnerability
The following passage was written by Texas Children’s Chaplain James Denham.
We made it to May! I celebrate that we have walked through the beginning of all of this. I, like you, am tired. As Mark Wallace encouraged us in his blog post, we are filling in the gaps for each other when our journeys through the past two months have challenged us and tired us out. We fill the gaps and get through it.
Sometimes, we get through because of some things that mean a lot to us, like a smile or stirring music or amazing food or that beautiful beach we love. Most times, though, it is people who show us the way and lead us with their extraordinary compassion. Brene Brown writes that “To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees – these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain. But, I’m learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude and grace.” Indeed, her words ring powerfully true to me. It is a true wonder to me to see just how many people here at Texas Children’s embody this quote.
I wonder who you know here at Texas Children’s who leads by loving others so fiercely? I wonder who you see here at Texas Children’s who leads through their whole hearted belief and grace? I wonder who you see here at Texas Children’s who leads through facing vulnerability with joy? I wonder who you see here at Texas Children’s who leads by fulling engaging in their life and work here in the face of uncertainty? The answer I trust is many. And I trust that there are specific names who come to mind too. These are the people who inspire strength in us, who engender positivity or teamwork, who sustain our faith when we need it, who inspire us to love and lead more fiercely, even when we feel vulnerable.
My answer to this: our Texas Children’s nurses, across the board. I stand amazed at these nurses who embody Brene Brown’s words. During this pandemic and our response, they stand face to face with patients, adults, kids, mothers, fathers, and others who bring their vulnerability, and they have loved their patients fiercely through advocacy and genuineness regardless of the PPE they wear, celebrated moments and progresses through masks, believe in serving the those are sick with their whole heart, and who yet embody the joy of ordinary things, gratitude for life, grace towards others, and grit that we all need. This week as we begin the move into May and the march to summer with lots of uncertainty, we march forward with the fierce strength of our nurses, and the fierce strength of one another at Texas Children’s.
What I am challenging you to do is not be afraid to face the vulnerability of our lives now, not with just your own resources, but with the presence of others who can encourage us on through these times. In the kid’s book, Wonder, R.J. Palacio states this: “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.” Our nurses embody those qualities. And you and I know others who do too, whether staff here or your kids or neighbors or those at your place of worship. Be grateful and let them know how you appreciate them. Tell a story to others about them. Call them. Show your joy for the people that get you through. And then just like them, let courage, fierce love, kindness, friendship, and character define you too.
Effective May 1, any member of the Texas Children’s workforce (employees, Baylor faculty or staff members) are permitted to travel anywhere within the state of Texas via ground transportation and will not be subject to a 14 day quarantine upon return, provided the workforce member is asymptomatic.
However, if the in-state travel is 150 miles or greater from your normal work location, you will still be required to complete this Travel Declaration Form to ensure you are asymptomatic upon return.
We will continue to ask that all workforce members refrain from traveling by airplane, or to any location outside of Texas at this time. Those who do will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return, and will need to use PTO for the duration of their quarantine period or take an unpaid leave.
Lastly, given that the pandemic will remain a fluid situation for the foreseeable future, we advise all employees that these travel restrictions could change quickly if areas of the state encounter a sudden surge in activity. Should that happen while an employee is visiting an impacted location, he or she will be required to self-quarantine upon return, and will need to use PTO or take unpaid leave.
If you must travel, please click here for guidance and additional information about how to protect yourself and others during your trip.