Once your team reaches a 75% vaccination rate, you’re automatically eligible to win some of the hottest electronics on the market – just like these recipients! Read more
April 27, 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Texas, anxious parents and families quickly learned they could count on Texas Children’s for friendly and convenient drive-through testing with a speedy response within 24 hours.
Now – just one year later – more than 100,000 patient encounters have been completed at drive-through testing locations in Austin and at The Center for Women and Children, the Meyer Building and Pavilion for Women at the Medical Center, West Campus and The Woodlands.
Leaders largely credit a committed and flexible labor pool team and contract staff across the system for getting the first-of-its-kind initiative off to a strong start, and helping it thrive despite unforeseen challenges and disruptions.
“We are committed to be available for our patient needs, and will continue to work as a system to make sure the right testing options are available to meet those patient needs,” said Assistant Vice President Sara Montenegro, who has led the initiative since its inception and continues to chart a course for the future.
“At this time, we will continue testing for pre-ordered, and scheduled appointments in our drive-through locations, and will continue to offer testing alongside office appointments at our primary care and urgent care locations.”
The drive-through testing effort has also been highly collaborative and an example of how we amplify unity at Texas Children’s to achieve the best possible results, including:
- Child Life team members developing information for parents about what to expect so they could prepare their children for testing before pulling into the drive-through.
- IS helping to set up equipment to reduce patient prep time and improve the workflows at the testing sites, which changed periodically as the process evolved over time and adjustments were made to streamline ordering tests, scheduling patients and setting testing times.
- The Pathology team for seamlessly receiving couriered specimens 7 days a week over the last year, to ensure high quality results were available for patients timely.
- The EPIC team setting up scheduling and documentation workflow, helping families have access to easy directions in MyChart, and staying available round-the-clock to handle any new technology challenges.
- Marketing providing testing center signage and up-to-date information for parents and families to access on Texas Children’s websites
- Supply Chain ensuring there were always enough supplies and cool gowns for summertime testing in the Texas heat – and Facilities making sure staff members stayed warm during the February cold snap and cool in the warmer months, with a clean, mosquito-free site to work from every day.
“Our staff is what makes the testing centers successful,” said Ginger Dillehay, Manager, Quality Improvement at Texas Children’s Pediatrics. “Keeping a light and fun atmosphere in the middle of a pandemic is challenging. Our team members consoled and entertained patients and parents while maintaining quality and efficiency. So many teams contributed to this success.”
Pam Burns, Quality Improvement Coordinator, Texas Children’s Pediatrics, is also a licensed vocational nurse who is not normally involved in direct patient care. She was grateful for the opportunity to work at the drive-through testing sites and make an impact during the pandemic – at a time when our patients, families and colleagues on the frontlines needed it the most.
“Even in the beginning when it was a little scary because we didn’t know much about this illness, it was nice to contribute,” Burns said. “I don’t think any of us thought we would be doing this a year later or 100,000 patients later, but it has been rewarding.”
After winning the Get the Vaccine to End COVID-19 Drawing, the following team members tell us why they stepped up to be vaccinated and hope to inspire others.
Patricia Chupin – 9.8 years of service
Staff Nurse – Outpatient, The Woodlands
I decided to get vaccinated to help protect our immunocompromised patients that are at high risk of getting COVID-19 and to help protect my high-risk family members. Hope that getting vaccinated will help us get one step closer at going “back to normal” in our community.
Rafael Garza – 6.8 years of service
Enrollment Specialist, TCHPC-Southwest Shared Services
The reason I got my vaccines is first to protect our members that we take care here at The Center Southwest, then my family and of course all of us here.
Tarence Rodriguez – 4.8 years of service
Department Assistant, West Campus, Ortho/Sports Medicine
I chose to get the vaccine because I wanted to utilize any option I could to better protect myself, my family and those who I encounter against this deadly virus. Simply put, I just want to do my part in helping save lives.
To date, more than 10,500 of Texas Children’s employees have received at least one vaccine dose. If you haven’t already, schedule your vaccination appointment now, simply click here and sign up for the date and time that work best for your schedule.
In addition to the $1,000 Drawing, Winner’s Choice Team Drawing kicked off on April 1, giving team members who have received at least one vaccine dose the opportunity to win some of the most sought-after electronics on the market. For complete drawing rules and eligibility, click here.
Victoria McLarty shares what she enjoys most about her role as a transplant coordinator for Texas Children’s Heart Center and why it’s important to register to become an organ donor. Read more
Whether you’ve celebrated a patient’s milestone, shared a virtual high-five with a colleague or written a heartfelt thank-you note to someone special, we hope Texas Children’s recognition of Patient Experience Month has encouraged you to express gratitude in every way you can.
And though April is coming to a close, you can always show your appreciation for those who make a difference. Use this fun visual all year long for creative and easy ways to share your gratitude, and to keep a running list of the things you’ve done.
Need a little more inspiration? Look no further than the 10 employees we’ve spotlighted below, who have all been selected winners of the Caught You Caring of the Year Award.
Caught You Caring of the Year Award
A staple of Patient Experience Week at Texas Children’s since 2017, the Caught You Caring of the Year Awards have recognized dozens of honorees for their outstanding commitment to compassionate care of our patients and their families – and the support and encouragement their presence has given to their own teams.
For 2021, there were 36 Caught You Caring of the Year Award nominations submitted for consideration on behalf of employees across the organization whose compassion, service and teamwork set them apart.
The winners listed below were chosen by the Patient & Family Experience Committee, an interdisciplinary group that represents a broad spectrum of department and roles within the system.
Please join us in congratulating these outstanding team members for embodying Texas Children’s values in all they do, every day – and stay tuned for additional details about each recipient on Connect!
Rose Ascencio-Escobar
Guest Services, Medical Center
When a taxi driver came into the West Tower lobby to help a patient whose mother was blind and needed an escort, Rose spoke to security and the screening team to find coverage for her desk and personally guided the patient and her mother to their destination in Mark Wallace Tower. She also helped the patient’s mother call a taxi to take them back home, and followed up with the driver to confirm they had made it safely.
Louisa Barausky
Social Worker, Clear Lake Specialty Care
While she is officially scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Friday shifts, Louisa often comes into work on days when a particular family or team member has a need that a social worker can address. Even if it changes the days when she takes her own children to daycare, she always makes herself available.
Dr. Claire E. Bocchini
Provider – Transplant Infectious Diseases, Medical Center
Claire has spent countless hours helping one young patient get custom therapy for an infection of his ventricular assist device. With his last infection resistant to almost all antibiotics, she collaborated with Baylor to develop a personalized treatment; applied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a new drug; and worked with the Institutional Review Board and Institutional Biosafety Committee to ensure the patient could receive the cutting-edge treatment.
Alicia Cisneros
Medical Assistant, The Center for Children and Women
Early in the pandemic when clinicians were donning PPE to see their patients, Alicia didn’t hesitate to put on a gown and gloves herself to assist a provider in delivering care to a patient who needed her help. Thanks to her dedication, the patient had their blood work done.
Dr. Julie Hakim
OB/GYN, Pavilion for Women
Though she is a supervisor in the lab, Julie makes sure her fellow team members feel like they are equals. She values their opinions and ideas so much that she has established a quarterly Happiness Quotient Meeting, where she takes them off campus to check in on how they’re doing both personally and professionally.
Dana Hrobar
Diabetes Education Specialist, West Campus
When a young pre-teen patient presented to the clinic with diabetes-related burnout, Dana devoted considerable time with the patient and her family to better understand their perspective. Practically in tears when she arrived, the patient left with practical ways to overcome the daily stress of managing her disease – and her mother was grateful for Dana’s caring support.
Monica Kazee
Lead ASR, West Campus
After watching a parent leave the lab unsatisfied with the check-in process and wait time, Monica literally ran to stop them from leaving the parking lot without accepting her apology and assistance. She ultimately got the patient and their parent to return, and upon learning their labs were time-sensitive, worked with the phlebotomist to have them seen as soon as possible.
Aracely Lara
Guest Services, The Woodlands
Aracely is the person that families can count on for support when they come into the Emergency Center and have an unplanned admission. She connects with them promptly, listens intently to their needs and determines how Guest Services can provide immediate help that makes a dramatic difference in a scary situation.
Eric Lopez
Perioperative Care Technician, West Campus
A hard-worker and team player, Eric has taken it upon himself to celebrate his fellow team members. For CRNA Week, he displayed all the CRNAs on a board and led fellow team members in writing thoughtful notes for them. For Nurses Week, he took pictures of all the certified nurses for the display board and made them goodie bags.
Maggie Tran
CPCU RN, Medical Center
With COVID restrictions making it even harder for patients to enjoy their birthdays and holidays while hospitalized, Maggie wanted to make a difference. She went out of her way to prepare a card signed by her fellow team members to make one patient feel special, and remind them they aren’t alone.
Last week, in honor of National Volunteer Week, Texas Children’s hosted a drive-thru parade, celebrating our volunteers with service pins and other small tokens of appreciation.
Our Texas Children’s volunteer, Betty Lunsford, was the highlight of the event, celebrating 55 years of service as a Texas Children’s volunteer! Betty was greeted by team members of the Texas Children’s Heart Center’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) with posters, flowers and balloons to show our appreciation for her dedication to Texas Children’s Hospital.
Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers for your commitment to making Texas Children’s a wonderful place for our patients and their families.
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