March 8, 2021

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the emergency use of a new COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies. Although there currently are two COVID-19 vaccines being administered, the introduction of this third option is significant in the battle against this deadly virus, given that it only requires a single dose and can be safely stored in less restrictive refrigerated environments.

Today, we are excited to announce that Texas Children’s has been informed that we will be receiving an allocation of 3,000 doses of the J&J vaccine to provide our patients and team members next week. We are currently awaiting confirmation from the State on the specific date these vaccines will arrive and will provide all unvaccinated team members with more information on administration appointments next week.

These are the only vaccines provided by the State that will be available next week. With the recent mask mandate scheduled to end in Texas on Wednesday, please take this important opportunity to get vaccinated and further protect yourself, your family, colleagues and our patients from this deadly virus.

If you have questions about the J&J vaccine, below are some general facts. Additional information is also available through the FDA, as well as via a recent blog from Texas Children’s.

J&J Vaccine: What you should know

The J&J vaccine currently only requires one dose and is approved for people ages 18 and older.

During global trials, it was shown to be (on average) 66% protective against moderate to severe COVID-19 infections from 28 days after injection. In the U.S., the vaccine was 72% protective. The vaccine was also shown to be 85% protective against severe disease and prevented death in all vaccine recipients.

The vaccine is different from those produced by Pfizer and Moderna, which both use messenger RNA, or mRNA, a technology that delivers a bit of “genetic code” to cells to produce a surface spike protein and trigger an immunity response to COVID-19. The J&J vaccine utilizes a weakened common cold virus, known as adenovirus, to carry genetic instructions into the body to prompt an immunity response. This is the same technology used in an approved Ebola vaccine, as well as its Zika, RSV and HIV vaccine candidates.

Similar to the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines, the J&J vaccine can be administered to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The J&J vaccine does not need to be kept frozen and can be stored in a refrigerator for at least three months, which potentially increases global distribution and access to more communities.

Questions?

For more information, visit our website. You may also contact our HR Employee Support Center at 832-826-4600 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or email employeevaccines@texaschildrens.org.

March 4, 2021

After being acknowledged by Forbes in February as one of the best large employers in America, Texas Children’s has been named this month by Newsweek as one of the best hospitals in the world – two significant recognitions that highlight the hard work and commitment of our One Amazing Team.

Newsweek announced Texas Children’s inclusion among the World’s Best Hospitals 2021 on March 3. Our organization was one of only three institutions in Texas in the Top Specialized Hospitals category.

Newsweek compiled the World’s Best list from hospitals in 25 different countries, taking into account three primary factors: recommendations from more than 74,000 health care professionals worldwide; patient satisfaction surveys; and the key performance indicators of patient safety, hygiene measures and quality of treatment.

The recognition from Newsweek followed an announcement from Forbes in February that Texas Children’s had been named among America’s Best Large Employers for the second time in three years – rising from No. 276 in 2019, to No. 154 in 2021.

Forbes based their ranking on survey responses from 50,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Participants were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employer to friends and family, and to nominate organizations other than their own.

In a message congratulating our employees, President and CEO Mark A. Wallace emphasized the importance of making time to celebrate our successes, and encouraged team members to spend a moment reflecting on the difference they make for our patients and their families every day.

“As we’ve navigated the ongoing pandemic, stepped up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and braved the most significant winter weather our state has seen in decades, Texas Children’s has never failed to deliver on our mission – and it’s all because of you,” Wallace said.

March 2, 2021

The countdown clock is ticking. Texas Children’s Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Ward, DNP, RN, NE-BC, will host her first nursing town hall since assuming her new leadership role. Don’t miss out – the town hall will be hosted virtually via Microsoft Teams Live from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3.

During Jackie’s presentation, she will highlight her vision for nursing including her strategic plan that will build upon our nursing team’s past successes in advancing patient care, quality and safety outcomes through nursing excellence. The town hall will also include time for responses to pre-submitted questions. 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 watch the livestream of the town hall. 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 after the event.

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

‘This profession is a calling:’ Texas Children’s recognizes Social Work Month 2021

Throughout the pandemic, social workers at Texas Children’s and around the country have been on the frontlines of care connecting vulnerable people with much-needed resources – prompting the adoption of a special theme for Social Work Month 2021 that also speaks to their far-reaching impact: “Social Workers are Essential.”

Led by the National Association of Social Workers and celebrated each March, Social Work Month is an opportunity to highlight the invaluable contributions that social workers make every day by meeting people where they are and helping them live to their fullest potential.

Yet despite being a centuries-old profession that is also one of the fastest-growing in the country with more than 700,000 active practitioners, it can be hard for many of us to explain the role that social workers play in the continuum of care. What does social work even mean, and what do social workers even do?

Check out the photo gallery below for a few thoughts on social work from patients and providers, and read on for helpful answers to your most common questions from Texas Children’s own medical social workers Amanda Harris, Claressa Munfus and Diane Murrell.

Who are our social workers here at Texas Children’s?

Our Texas Children’s social workers hold master’s degrees in Social Work and are licensed to practice in Texas as professionals. Team members in the department come from a variety of backgrounds, including homeless services, mental health, child protection, substance abuse treatment, school social work and more.

Many of our social workers are also skilled therapists who have served adolescent and perinatal patients within the Texas Children’s system, or worked in counseling fields prior to health care social work. Several are involved in research initiatives, present at professional conferences, contribute to organizational programs and medical advisory councils, and publish their work.

What do our social workers do?

At Texas Children’s, the social work role is directed toward removing obstacles to care with the aim of improving family functioning and health outcomes. We ensure the provider’s plan for healthcare is doable for the family – financially, with their schedule, with the needs of the other family members, considering work commitments and more.

Social workers are skilled in navigating hospital, state and federal resources in order to address family needs in a compassionate, inclusive manner. We are adept at fixing complex problems across multiple systems, often with little time and insufficient resources.

Social workers also provide therapeutic support to the patient and family as they adjust to learning about a new diagnosis or a new stage in the disease that may seem overwhelming. We assess for the continuing impact of the disease on the person or family psychologically, financially, relationally. This includes assessing for suicidal ideation, medical neglect and when mental health referrals are needed.

Social workers provide therapeutic support as they identify family strengths and empower the patient and caregiver. The social worker helps families process their feelings and anxieties in a safe space.

What types of issues do our social workers help our patients and families address?

Common causes for social work intervention include adjustment to a new diagnosis, unmet needs related to housing, transportation, finances, insurance, mental health, school advocacy, emotional support and end-of-life care.

Practical help is just as important as psychological support. For our patients who use medical equipment, we make sure that parents are aware of their children’s rights in school and empower parents to advocate for their child. We work with the school to ensure appropriate accommodations and modifications are implemented, assess for bullying and review the student’s need for social and emotional inclusion.

Do social workers help smooth the transition from pediatric care to adult care?

Absolutely. Many parents and young adults are concerned about the transition to adult care, and express anxiety about leaving the familiarity of Texas Children’s. As social workers, we provide education to prepare the young adult to have autonomy in their health care and transfer confidently.

Where do community connections come in?

Texas Children’s social workers are embedded in their service lines and simultaneously connected to multiple agencies and community resources. We extend the care that Texas Children’s provides to patients, reaching beyond the brick-and-mortar walls of the facility to support the patient in their daily life and community.

Responding to crises can take a toll, so what keeps our social workers going?

This profession is a calling, and our social workers are proud to serve our Texas Children’s patients and their families every day.

Texas Children’s International Services and Community Initiatives Director Joann Lee shares why she chose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and how she felt after receiving it.

In the midst of a winter weather event with some of the coldest temperatures Texas has seen in decades, our Texas Children’s team members immediately sprang into action to support the needs of our patients.

On February 16, a pipe burst in a mechanical room in Mark Wallace Tower, causing the loss of power to the elevators. The Cancer & Hematology Center, located on the 14th floor, was the only clinic in operation that day due to the critical need to administer chemotherapy and blood products to our patient population. The compromised elevators left patients and staff stranded on the 14th floor, while those arriving for treatment were unable to get to the clinic.

Our staff not only ensured that treatments continued for those patients still on the 14th floor, but they also took medications and supplies to the third-floor food court area to provide infusions there for patients that could not get to the clinic. Some nurses even repeatedly climbed the stairs from the third to the 14th floor to ensure patients received their treatments.

With true One Amazing Team spirit, our Ambulatory Hematology-Oncology and BMT clinics and Kangaroo Crew also rose to the challenge by collaborating together to move the infusion portion of the clinic to West Tower 7. This planning began at 4 p.m. that day and the team saw the first of 40 total patients in the “new” space at 7:30 a.m. the following day, February 17.

It took roughly 15 hours to complete the move, including the transport of our patients – some wheelchair-bound down the stairs in Mark Wallace Tower.

“Moving the clinic was a herculean task and it could not have been accomplished without our people,” said Kathleen Magee, director, Cancer Center-Clinical.

Though she said several team members deserved special thanks for embracing freedom to make the move happen – Dr. Kala Kamdar, Sandi Knight, Rhoda Phillips, Paulette Reed and Brittany Anderson – Magee also emphasized that the whole team had a hand in making it a success.

“Our entire team played a crucial part in the move,” she said. “Our clinic medical assistants, LVNs and RNs embraced the new space and created new workflows and processes. Our ShareDesk and nurse coordinators kept track of all our patients and handled rescheduling appropriately, and our faculty reviewed our patient lists numerous times.”

Also essential were the partners who worked overnight on Tuesday to support the effort: EVS, Pharmacy, Registration, IS and the OR.

“I am so thankful for all of you and your ability to really make sure our patients get the care they need, when you are all going through so much at home as well,” Magee said.

Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Ward echoed the praise and gratitude for the team members who stepped up at a time when it mattered most. Whether we’re fighting a global pandemic or navigating a significant winter weather event, Texas Children’s team members remain committed to taking care of our patients, their families and each other.

“This is leadership – doing what is right, not always what is easy,” Ward said. “I know this was not easy, but it was necessary for the patients we serve. Our patients and families are just as appreciative for each of you as I am. Thank you for your efforts today and every day.”

Have a success story to share? If you are interested in sharing a team success story, please send a brief blurb along with a photo to HRCommunications@texaschildrens.org.

In this video, several nursing leaders share why they received the COVID-19 vaccine, and they have a special message for their colleagues who haven’t scheduled their vaccine yet. Read more