Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre shares highlights from last week’s virtual Nursing Town Hall, which included presentations on the organization’s COVID-19 response, nursing quality outcomes, and system updates. The event also included a spotlight on our Adult Congenital Heart Program and nursing recognitions. Read more
Get the latest information from some of our frontline workers about COVID-19 and how Texas Children’s is working to prevent the virus and treat patients with it. Read more
Vishing is an electronic fraud tactic using voice or voice over IP (VoIP) phishing to trick individuals into revealing critical financial or personal information to unauthorized entities. Vishing is the phone’s version of email phishing and uses automated voice messages to steal confidential information. Vishing attacks use a spoofed caller ID, or a toll free number which can make an attacker appear to come from a known number that entices an individual to pick up the phone.
Compromised bank or credit card account
Whether it’s a person or a prerecorded message on the other end, you’ll be told there’s an issue with your account or a payment you made. You may be asked for your login credentials to fix the problem or asked to make a new payment. Instead of giving out your information, hang up and call your financial institution on their publicly available number.
Medicare or Social Security scam
Phone calls are the No. 1 method scammers use to reach older adults, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Thieves pose as Medicare reps and often during Medicare open enrollment season and try to extract financial information from the victim, such as their Medicare number or bank account details. Then the scammer will either fraudulently use the victim’s Medicare benefits or steal their money. Scammers may also claim to be from the Social Security Administration and threaten to suspend or cancel the victim’s Social Security number.
Attackers use Vishing because their targets do not have time to think a situation through prior to providing information. A victim can easily be confused by alarming claims and disclose valuable information. Vishing attacks can be focused on all employees, or against employees that mainly deal with people outside the organization. Departments like Marketing, Sales, the help desk and HR are good to include in vishing security tests.
Block Robocalls
A robocall is an automated phone call that usually delivers a recorded message. Scammers will also use auto-dialers to make a large number of calls in a matter of minutes, so they have a better chance of reaching a real person. There are several applications you can install from the play store and app store to help stop the unwanted calls. Some of the mobile apps you can install are Robocall Blocker, RoboKiller: Spam Call Blocker, Hiya, Nomorbo, Truecaller and many others.
Don’t answer unfamiliar numbers
Sometimes even blocking phone numbers won’t stop vishing attempts because scammers use software to scramble their real phone number. For example, scammers often mimic the area code and the first three digits of your phone number to trick you into thinking it’s a local call. If you block one number, scammers will simply call you from another.
If you answer the phone and then hang up immediately, the scammer will know that your line is active. However, if you do not pick up the phone, scammers will eventually consider your number to be dead. Resist the urge to answer the call, and you should see the frequency with which you receive robocalls begin to fall.
Texas Children’s is celebrating our multicultural team and the rich fabric of our culture throughout October as part of Global Diversity Awareness Month, the annual observance that reminds us all of the positive impact that diverse workforces make on our society. (Click on the graphic above for a full view.)
Equity and inclusiveness have been embedded in Texas Children’s foundation since the hospital first opened its doors, and President and CEO Mark A. Wallace has often reaffirmed during his decades of tenure that we believe our diversity is one of the organization’s greatest strengths.
As the nation faced widespread unrest this year in the ongoing struggle for racial justice, Wallace again called on Texas Children’s team members to lead tirelessly in addressing these issues and working to achieve meaningful change – starting within our own organization and workplace, then rippling through our communities to create a tidal wave of action.
In keeping with this commitment, our Human Resources team will be inviting employees across the organization this month to share their thoughts and experiences around diversity and inclusion at Texas Children’s. Each opportunity will be designed to provide a platform for you to tell your own unique story, while also expanding your awareness, respect and appreciation for your colleagues’ varied experiences and perspectives.
Look for additional information about our ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts in your Texas Children’s e-mail and on Connect over the next few weeks, and make plans now to raise your voice in an upcoming survey about how we can continue to cultivate an even more diverse and inclusive culture.
Did You Know?
Together, Texas Children’s One Amazing Team is a very diverse group. In fact, fully 66 percent of our employees represent ethnically diverse backgrounds – a more diverse workforce overall when compared to health care organizations nationally. When compared to the local population, our workforce most closely reflects the diversity of the greater Houston area. That’s a significant benchmark to set in one of the largest and most racially and culturally diverse cities in the country.