May 28, 2024

Kronos clocks distributed across multiple buildings and campuses will receive essential maintenance in staggered two-day phases starting May 30 through July 12. During scheduled maintenance, the clocks will be down from 5-11 p.m. and may not record clock-in and clock-out punches.

If the clock you usually use is down, please use the Kronos application on computers for clocking in/out during maintenance. For any missed time, notify your leaders so they can submit timekeeping adjustment forms.

Click here to see the maintenance schedule by location, starting with West Campus and The Woodlands campus on May 30-31.

For questions regarding Kronos maintenance, please contact the IS Service Desk at ext. 4-3512.

With the odds of having identical quadruplets at 1 in 15 million, Texas Children’s is thrilled to be part of the rare and awe-inspiring births of Hannah, Rebecca, Lucy and Petra – identical girls born to Mercedes and Jonathan on May 1. The lucky parents expected to add one sibling to their family of two boys – not four small sisters! The girls were conceived without assistance from fertility treatments, and are now part of a small legion of medical miracles that data and news sources put at only 75 occurrences.

Mercedes expressed her happiness in a USA TODAY article saying, “I’m excited about being able to raise these girls, and this next chapter…I know it’s going to be crazy, but I’m looking forward to this.”

“It was a privilege to be part of the team that took care of them and their four girls. The team included our front desk team, our sonographers who were doing ultrasounds every two weeks on four babies, our nurses and many more,” said Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist Dr. Manisha Gandhi.

“In addition, our maternal-fetal medicine team followed mom closely due to the increased risk for complications with monochorionic pregnancies, our delivery and postpartum team quickly got together to prepare for her unscheduled C-section, and our neonatal teams organized for the delivery and have been caring for the girls,” added Dr. Gandhi. “A team effort, for sure, for a family that doubled in size from four to eight in one day!”

A real point of pride for staff associated with the high-risk pregnancy is the fact that the quadruplets are doing so well. While they were delivered via C-section at 29 weeks gestation, there were no major complications. The babies are expected to be released from the NICU and sent home by mid-summer.

“I am truly thankful for being able to experience such an amazing event with amazing parents…seeing the quad delivery was a moment of awe, times four,” said staff nurses Jennifer Grimsley and Mae Idul. “As One Amazing Team, we were able to bring quad-joy to this family,” added staff nurse Theresa Pham.

Anesthesiologist Dr. Rakesh Narayan said it was a “privilege to work with a high quality team to provide exceptional care for the delivery of quadruplets for this patient.”

“Witnessing the intricate coordination amongst the team and seeing four healthy babies born filled me with an overwhelming sense of fulfillment, knowing that my role contributed to a successful outcome for parents and their newborn babies,” said surgical technologist Darian Hopson.

Click here to read the full story from TODAY.

Dr. Daniel Penny (left); Dr. Caner Salih

The Texas Children’s Heart Center, ranked number one in the nation for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report for seven consecutive years, is pleased to announce its new executive leadership structure.

Dr. Daniel Penny, previously Chief of Cardiology at Texas Children’s Hospital, was recently named as Executive Co-Director of the Heart Center. Dr. Caner Salih, currently Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Evelina Children’s Hospital in the U.K., will join him as Executive Co-Director this summer. Dr. Jeff Kim will succeed Dr. Penny as the new Division Chief of Cardiology.

“These distinguished leaders are internationally recognized, world-class pioneers in pediatric cardiac care,” said Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, Pediatrician-in-Chief and chair of Pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital. “At Texas Children’s, we are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes, and these outstanding leaders will continue to develop our exceptional heart program.”

Click here to read more about this exciting development.

May 20, 2024

Hurricane season begins June 1, and experts from Colorado State University are predicting volatile storms at nearly 170% of the average season activity recorded between 1991 and 2020. Of 23 named storms, 11 are likely to become hurricanes. No fewer than five are expected to become major hurricanes with 111 mile per hour winds.

Although El Niño climate patterns currently exist in the tropical Pacific, La Niña conditions are expected by peak season, August through October. The expected decrease in upper-level westerly winds from the Caribbean to the tropical Atlantic should result in a lower vertical wind shear and a likelihood of increasing numbers of stronger hurricanes. Learn more about El Niño and La Niña weather patterns here.

Take heed of expert advice: protect life and property by making an emergency plan, preparing resources and shoring up your knowledge. Multiple agencies offer help:

Employee Disaster Roster (EDR) Enrollment is Open

Annual registration for the Employee Disaster Roster is required of all team members. You will elect to be part of the Prep Team, Ride-Out Team and/or Relief Team. Details for each team are listed in the form. Work with your leader to agree on the appropriate role for you. Note, if you’re on the ride-out team, you can use this easy checklist to pack your at-work disaster bag with 5-7 days of essential supplies.

Our exceptional team is The Difference, playing a pivotal role in the lives of our patients and families. Few embody the dedication and compassion of our workforce better than these team members:

  • Brent Kaziny, pediatric emergency medicine physician and the medical director of emergency management
  • Diana Harter, director of nursing, transplant services
  • Nicholas Alderete, front desk specialist at our Urgent Care The Heights
  • Rob Hofschulte, West Campus sports physical therapy supervisor
  • Simarjeet Grewal, cardiac ICU nurse

Let’s get to know them a little better.

What inspired you to pursue a career in health care?

Brent: I became the first physician in my family because of the influence and mentorship of my own pediatrician. He always did such a great job of explaining things to me even when I was a little kid.

Diana: I have always had a passion for people. Though at first I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up, my best friend’s mom (a nurse) inspired me to pursue nursing.

Nicholas: I’ve always found satisfaction in helping others. Healthcare provides the unique ability to do so in so many ways.

Rob: I have a passion for working with children and adolescents to help them uncover their full potential physically and emotionally.

Simar: Serving others. Being a nurse has given me a sense of purpose.

What’s your favorite hobby or pastime outside of work?

Brent: I’ve been coaching my son’s baseball team for the last three years. It has been very rewarding to watch the team grow, get better every year and develop into kids who love the game.

Diana: I love riding my peloton! No matter what mood I am in, there is a ride that helps me decompress.

Nicholas: I enjoy fitness activities, playing video games and capturing cool events and scenery with action cameras while riding my motorcycles.

Rob: I recharge by spending time with my wife and two young kids. I also enjoy learning new skills like learning to spin a basketball on my finger and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Simar: I enjoy strength training and have recently incorporated Pilates into my fitness journey. I also love spending time with my dog, family and friends, and baking and reading on my days off.

What are the most unique opportunities or memorable experiences you’ve had at Texas Children’s?

Brent: Hurricane Harvey was the first large-scale disaster that I was very involved in. Seeing the team come in for ride-out and continue to care for patients despite the unfortunate circumstances of our community was inspiring.

Diana: My most memorable, impactful moments on the transplant team were calling a family, sometimes in the middle of the night, because we had the perfect donor match for them.

Nicholas: By collaborating with teams across our Urgent Care locations, I’ve gained valuable insight into the different approaches clinics take to caring for families.

Rob: I have had the opportunity to be on a collaborative team treating Olympians and Team USA Athletes. Seeing someone receive a gold medal at the Olympics and knowing I played a small part in that achievement is a unique feeling not many people can experience.

Simar: I have participated in multidisciplinary rounds at my patients’ bedsides countless times, so that nothing slips through the cracks when it comes to providing the highest quality care.

What do you do in your role to make a positive impact?

Brent: I make sure everyone on our team is on the same page and has the most up-to-date information.

Diana: I create a space that encourages people to be their authentic selves and welcome diverse opinions, experiences and ideas.

Nicholas: I ensure a patient’s experience is tailored to enhance their visit so the rest of my team can focus on the quality of care we provide.

Rob: I strive to ensure patients and team members get the resources and authentic feedback needed to feel supported and independent.

Simar: I lead and speak with compassion, seeking out what my patients and their families are most concerned about or what their goals are for that day, and I advocate for them by voicing these to the rest of the treatment team.

Nominate a Difference-maker

Is there someone on your team who goes above and beyond, embodying The Difference every day? We want to hear about them! Click here to tell us about their unique contribution: https://forms.office.com/r/XK8w3pwEMS

 

May 17, 2024

Following the severe storms that hit the Houston metro area last night, Texas Children’s Hospital campuses are fully operational today, and we thank our dedicated workforce for providing uninterrupted patient care through such challenging weather events.

Our Organizational Resilience team has been fully engaged to ensure we were prepared for the weather event. There may be power outages at some Texas Children’s Pediatrics locations, but they are making the necessary adjustments to ensure continuity of care. If you have any questions about your location, please consult your leader.

As always, the safety and wellbeing of our team members is our priority, and our Human Resources and operational leaders have been closely coordinating efforts throughout the night and today to support you. We know many employees and members of our medical staff are enduring unexpected power outages and commuting challenges. Please stay in touch with your leaders and let them know if you need any special assistance.

Employee Financial Assistance Fund

Texas Children’s employees whose income or homes were impacted by the May 16 thunderstorms in Texas may be eligible for disaster relief through the Texas Children’s Employee Financial Assistance Fund (EFAF).

Established and managed by the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), EFAF provides confidential financial help to eligible employees experiencing unexpected, unforeseen or unavoidable emergencies. Grant funds are available for emergency needs only.

To be eligible for an EFAF grant related to the recent winter weather event, employees must meet the requirements outlined in Employee Financial Assistance Fund Policy #1475 as well as the following criteria:

  • Must be able to verify their emergency and demonstrate that it is a basic need.
    • If requesting assistance with loss of income, employees will need to provide documentation such as late household bills to show financial hardship.
  • Must use existing resources (within reason) or plan to use them given the need is so much greater than the resources available.
  • Must contact insurance first before EFAF can assist with repairs.
    • In the application process, employees must be able to show either an insurance denial or an insurance reimbursement/payment verification.
    • If available, employees must apply for assistance from FEMA.
    • Any repairs must be related to basic needs, such as the roof, water or electricity.
    • Some home insurance will cover the cost of relocating to a hotel.
  • When the home is not livable due to damage and the employee does not have other options for shelter, relocation expenditures are covered under emergency EFAF.
  • When food loss is due to electricity outages or damage to a refrigerator has occurred, HEB gift cards can be provided.

To learn more about the EFAF process, including how to submit a confidential EFAF application, please click here or call the EAP at 832-824-3327. Our Employee Assistance Program provides confidential consultation and counseling to all Texas Children’s employees and eligible dependents. In addition to financial assistance, they are here to help employees cope with stress, trauma, crisis management and grief. For more information on EAP services, please click here.

May 16, 2024

On Mark Wallace’s blog, he celebrates Texas Children’s incredible facility dog, Bailey, as she prepares for her retirement. Read More