April 13, 2022

CNO Jackie Ward visited staff of Women’s Place, Baylor OB/GYN, and REI Ambulatory Outpatient Clinics to congratulate them on their winning entry for our Magnet decorating contest. Read More

For Charisma Mingus, who grew up practicing gymnastics, it was her multiple injuries and countless interactions with health care teams that sparked her interest in becoming a nurse. Read More

April 12, 2022

For the first time in 33 years, three major religious holidays have all fallen in April: Passover, observed in Judaism; Easter, observed in Christianity; and Ramadan, observed in Islam.

Read on to learn how two Texas Children’s providers are observing this very holy month for millions of Muslims around the world, and send a note to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team via e-mail about your observances and celebrations for this special time of year.

Are you’re sitting down to a seder? Giving up your vices for the Lenten season? Gathering family and friends for an iftar feast? Tell us about your favorite traditions and your story and photos could be featured on the DEI website.

 

We are proud to announce that Barbara Elias, Texas Children’s lead Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Coordinator in Congenital Heart Surgery, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) VAD Coordinator Leadership Award.

“As a nurse – coordinator and VAD liaison for over 25 years, I am honored to be nominated for and chosen to receive this prestigious award – not only professionally, but personally,” Elias noted of her achievement. “Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) is a dynamic field with continuous change in the paradigm shift in the acceptance of device support, patient preparation, and quality of life for all recipients.”

This prestigious award, granted annually by the ASAIO, to the nation’s top VAD Coordinator in both the adult and pediatric fields, recognizes the tremendous leadership and dedication Elias has displayed throughout her years as a VAD coordinator. As the first person from Texas Children’s to be selected, Elias is looking forward to accepting the award in person at the ASAIO 67th Annual Conference in Chicago in June.

“This award is very well deserved,” said her colleague Dr. Iki Adachi, Surgical Director of Heart Failure and Transplant and Director of the VAD Program. “Barb goes above and beyond for our patients and families and for the nurses in the Heart Center. Our VAD Program is special because our coordinator is so special.”

After completing her BSN from Kent State University, Elias began her career as an assistant nurse manager before joining Thoracic Surgery as a nurse clinician at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. From there, she helped found Cleveland Clinic Florida before returning three years later to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. In 2004, Elias furthered her career by moving to Texas to work as a transplant coordinator combined with VAD and circulatory support at Houston Methodist Hospital then joined Texas Children’s Congenital Heart Surgery Division in 2014 as the hospital’s first VAD coordinator.

As VAD coordinator, Elias is responsible for supporting all facets of Texas Children’s VAD Program, including start up, training and development, and VAD medical transport. During her time at Texas Children’s, she has been an integral part of the team’s success and instrumental in helping grow the VAD Program.

“Barb’s dedication to our patients and families always inspires me,” shared Dr. Chris Caldarone, Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery. “We are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of the Texas Children’s Heart Center.”

April 7, 2022

Financial Literacy Month in April promotes the importance of knowledge about managing your finances and skills to improve your financial situation. For those of us who are not well versed in terms of finances, you are not alone! Even if you are, you are encouraged to reflect upon your spending and ways you can make the most of your money.

This year Texas Children’s is emphasizing the many resources available to help you focus on the importance of financial literacy in your quest to improve your finances. These resources provide a valuable opportunity to learn techniques that can help you cultivate your financial literacy, review your finances and gradually improve your finances.

Grow your money as you grow

Recognizing there are many stages in life that require financial well-being, Texas Children’s has aligned with Fidelity to bring a series of webinars to reach each employee right where they are. “Allowing your finances to grow as you do is essential in maintaining financial wellbeing,” said Kenisha Lewis, Senior Retirement Benefits Consultant. “Here at Texas Children’s, we not only desire to help you live a financially independent life after retirement, but we also aim to help you on your current financial journey! We have partnered with Fidelity to help us navigate this journey. Make sure to also take advantage of Fidelity’s free financial well-being tool!”

Fidelity financial webinars

Managing My Money – Identify the three core components of a sound budget. Understand how to begin to build (or rebuild) your emergency savings fund and get control over prioritizing your debt.
Thursday, April 7 – 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Register now

Get started and save for the future you – Everyone needs a path to financial wellness and it can start with your workplace savings plan. Learn about the investment options and how to contribute so you start saving money for the future.
Wednesday, April 13 – 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Register now

Make the Most of Your Retirement Savings – How much saving is “enough” for retirement? Learn strategies that can help you save more today and tips for preserving and growing your savings in retirement.
Tuesday, April 19 – 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Register now

Maximize Social Security in Your Retirement Strategy – Understand how Social Security fits into your overall retirement income plan, when to start claiming your benefit, and how it contributes to your overall retirement paycheck
Monday, April 25 – 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Register now

Reach out to Alyssa Barnes or Christine Jasek with Fidelity if you need help navigating any of the tools Fidelity has to offer.

Texas Children’s financial resources

Employee Financial Assistance Program (EFAF) supports eligible employees during unexpected or unforeseen financial emergencies. The EFAF is funded by Texas Children’s and generous donations from our employees. To honor their contributions, the EAP exercises great care and adheres to strict policy to ensure confidentiality and that the EFAF funds are distributed appropriately to our colleagues in greatest need. Click here to learn more.

EAP-PLUS offers free financial counseling by calling 833-EAP-PLUS (833-327-7587) for  answers to questions about budgeting, debt management, tax issues and other money concerns from financial experts.

Cigna offers a cost estimator tool that explains how their system identifies costs based on provider relationships and the enrolled individual’s plan. For example, if someone is considering a colonoscopy and looks up that service under “find care and costs” there will be an estimated cost associated with that procedure, provider, and the individual’s plan. On mycigna.com you can find a step-by-step video explaining how Cigna breaks down cost estimates and how to ensure that providers who are being considered have the highest quality ratings and offer the best costs.

April 7 marks World Health Day 2022 and as an organization dedicated to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading patient care, education, and research, we could not be more excited to honor this day! Established to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) by the United Nations in 1948, World Health Day is an annually observed celebration that highlights the continued importance of global health for all people and our planet while creating awareness around select health-related topics.

This year’s theme, “Our planet, our health,” asks us to reflect on the following questions:
Are we able to reimagine a world where clean air, water and food are available to all?
Where economies are focused on health and well-being?
Where cities are livable and people have control over their health and the health of the planet?

Well-being for heathier and sustainable societies

The World Health Organization states, “In the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, and heart disease, on World Health Day 2022, we will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being.”

Societies focused on well-being have “human well-being, equity, and ecological sustainability as their goals.” Breaking the repeat cycle of inequality and forming a society grounded by well-being begins with small steps such as legislative action, legal and fiscal strategies, and social protections that over time, create long-lasting change. Climate, health, and society are all intrinsically linked, and with the increased focus on the global health and well-being of our planet and people, this year’s WHO campaign asks both the public and governments across the world to share stories of initiatives they are undertaking to protect our planet and prioritize health and well-being across societies.

How you can take action

Use the hashtag #HealthierTomorrow to share what you are doing to promote health and well-being within your home, community, city, and state, as well as opportunities for improvement.

For more information and additional resources on how to get involved this World Health Day, we encourage you to explore the World Health Organization’s website and social media channels:

“The bottom line is helping children, and I love that even after the 22 years I’ve been here, that is still our focus and priority.” Learn more about Veronica and her journey. Read More