September 30, 2024

While unimaginable and unthinkable, suicide is an unfortunate reality. Every 26 seconds, someone attempts suicide. Just in the city of Houston, 13% of the youth have expressed they have attempted suicide compared to the national average of 10%. This is a very real problem affecting children everywhere but especially in our backyard. Vicki Stewart, assistant director of regional operations for Texas Children’s Pediatrics, lived through this heartbreaking experience with her own child and now uses her story to educate others on exactly what they can do to help and the resources Texas Children’s offers.

Vicki started to notice a change in her daughter when she was about 12 years old. Becoming more withdrawn with every passing day, Vicki assumed she was just an average preteen girl. But then she noticed her daughter withdrawing from her friends and no longer taking part in activities she had previously enjoyed. Soon enough, Vicki realized the behavior has escalated and she was cutting herself.

She snapped into action immediately and tried scheduling an appointment with the pediatrician. “Oh, we don’t handle that here,” she was told. They referred her to psychiatry which had a months-long waitlist. She remained vigilant, calling the office each day to see if there had been cancellations and working with her therapists, but in the end, she had no choice but to sit and watch her daughter continue to deteriorate. Multiple episodes of stress-induced hives did nothing to move her daughter up on the list. And then it happened.

Vicki went in to get her daughter up for school one morning and found her unresponsive. Next to her was a note: “I’m sorry, mom.” She was life flighted, stabilized and then admitted to a psychiatry unit. After several weeks, she was set to be discharged, not because her daughter had improved but because Vicki’s insurance wouldn’t cover further treatment. On the way home, her daughter jumped out of the car on the freeway and the process started all over again. While all of this was happening, she missed her scheduled psychiatry appointment.

Now a thriving and happily married 24-year-old woman, Vicki’s daughter has come through to the other side. The journey for Vicki was long and isolating. While continuously advocating for her daughter, she was met with roadblock after roadblock. She feels if she had been able to access the resources we now have available through Texas Children’s, things might have been different. “I would have loved to have been able to just go into this SharePoint site and at least feel like I was doing something. Find somebody that could help me or maybe a community of support,” Vicki said.

She was heavily involved in the creation of the Suicide Prevention SharePoint and made sure the committee knew it needed to be elementary and easy to navigate. “You’re so overwhelmed at that time because when you’re in the midst, you can’t process. It needs to be as simple as, ‘If you’re experiencing this, click here.’” Additionally, Vicki was a family advisor and helped to create the 20 documents available for families on the site.

Vicki especially loves the link the resources have to EAP, how to identify suicidal tendencies and what to expect if your child is in a psychiatric hospital. “Those types of resources would have been really helpful and made the experience less scary,” she explained.

The Suicide Prevention SharePoint is full of resources for Texas Children’s team members. There are a variety of resources around suicide that help families and staff in their personal lives, but also clinically from trainings, clinical tools, tip sheets and more. Familiarize yourself with what is available to you. It just might save a life.

Prior to 2019, book nooks could be found throughout the NICU, allowing siblings and families opportunities to read and share stories while visiting the unit. However, with the onset of COVID-19 and amid heightened concerns around infection control, the NICU could no longer keep communal books in the unit. The Little Listeners program fills this gap providing books directly to the patients and families, allowing them to build their own libraries!

The program expanded to include a Read-A-Thon starting in 2022. This event distributes books to NICU families and encourages families and team members to read, read, read to the babies on the unit. This year was a rousing success with 1,418 books passed out to NICU families thanks to donations from community partners and former NICU families.

One such former NICU family member is Shawna Keyes. Shawna authored, “The Adventure of Asher and Rocket,” a story written from her son, Asher’s point of view on his own NICU journey. Now six years old, Asher and Shawna are a source of inspiration for other NICU families. She joined the team at the promotional tables along with two other former NICU mothers.

“It was so heartwarming to see families and staff reading to the babies,” said Dr. Christina Wong. “Melman also joined the party. He was obviously a hit! We had a wonderful and successful 2024 Read-A-Thon.”

Maria Turner’s approach to her role in IS blends her technical expertise with a deep understanding of the human side of healthcare. Her ability to step into others’ shoes and provide compassionate solutions is at the heart of her work, making her a valued member of our One Amazing Team.

Seventeen years ago, Maria began her journey at Texas Children’s in an administrative support role. Her curiosity and drive quickly became apparent. “Sitting in meetings supporting others in IT, I found the work stimulating. I knew I wanted to learn more, and I was encouraged to pursue training. From there, I became a junior analyst,” Maria recalled.

Now, as a technical applications advisor and mobility lead, Maria has spearheaded our mobile technology strategy, improving access for clinicians and staff. Her leadership in enhancing the End User Experience (EUX) has directly impacted hospital operations, helping teams better serve our patients.

While Maria’s work often involves critical behind-the-scenes projects, her connection to Texas Children’s mission remains strong. “It’s really important, especially in roles like technology, to stay connected to why we do what we do,” she explained. “I love to walk the halls of the hospital, talk to our clinicians, ask them how they’re doing and how the technology is working for them.”

As a Spanish speaker, Maria also finds joy in helping families she meets in the hospital’s corridors. “For Spanish-speaking families, the hospital can be intimidating. There’s an immediate trust and comfort level because our language connects us.”

Maria’s sensitivity to others’ needs stems from her experiences as a mother of two children, one of whom has special needs. “One thing I have loved about my leadership team is they’ve always been so flexible when I need to step out or take some time away.” She has received critical support during life events like a hospital stay after a car accident during her pregnancy and when caring for her ailing father.

Maria’s journey as a woman in a male-dominated field has come with challenges, but she’s found support from women across the hospital, including IS Senior Project Manager Susan Clark and executive vice president and CIO Myra Davis. She pays it forward by mentoring young women, including the interns who join her team. “It can be intimidating to sit in a room full of highly intelligent men, but women bring different, equally important qualities. They need to hear our voices.”

Reflecting on the bond between women, Maria shared a poem she wrote that captures the profound impact of mentorship: “Where seasoned women are able to share adversities, overcome and impart wisdom. Where young women, uninhibited by life lessons not yet learned, inspired me to dream further and filled me with hope for future generations. Our time, a gentle reminder that the world needs each of our gifts.”

Maria continues to bridge technology and compassion at Texas Children’s, reminding us these worlds are not mutually exclusive, and that connection, curiosity and care are as vital to innovation as the technology itself.

September 23, 2024

Your ongoing commitment to our patients, members, their families and each other continues to make a difference. We will continue to lead the way in caring for the communities we serve by requiring all Texas Children’s team members, inclusive of our employees, Baylor faculty and staff, contractors and volunteers to receive the flu vaccine this fall. 

What’s new

 

  • Exemptions. Medical or religious exemptions obtained from Texas Children’s last year will automatically carry over to this season, so there is no need to recertify, unless the exemption was based on a temporary medical condition. Details on how to submit a new request is included below for all team members, including those who joined Texas Children’s after April 1, 2024 and want to request a medical or religious exemption.
  • Deadline for compliance. You have until Thursday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. to receive the flu vaccination or have an approved exemption to maintain employment at Texas Children’s.
  • Connect feature. A link to the Employee Health virtual assistant tool is available in the Current Initiatives section on the Connect homepage. 

What you need to know

  • Vaccine availability. There are multiple ways to receive a flu vaccine.
    • Texas Children’s Pediatrics (TCP). Team members can schedule their flu vaccine during their child’s onsite appointment at any TCP, but you will need to submit proof through the Employee Health virtual assistant tool.
    • Flu vaccine events. North Austin Campus, The Medical Center, West Campus, The Woodlands and TCHP will offer free flu vaccinations starting Tuesday, Sept. 24.
    • Outside provider. You can receive the vaccine through your doctor or pharmacy but will need to submit proof through the Employee Health virtual assistant tool.
    • Employee Health. One-on-one appointments can be scheduled starting Sept. 24.
  • Baylor flu vaccine requirement. Baylor team members must also complete the Baylor attestation process by Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. if they received the vaccine outside of Baylor, including at a Texas Children’s flu vaccine event, through the BCM Flu Vaccine app. Baylor team members will need their ECA to access the app. Those team members who cannot access the app can also send their vaccine record to vaccinecompliance@bcm.edu and the attestation information will be entered on their behalf. Non-BCM members of our Medical Staff will receive attestation instructions in a separate email from the Medical Staff Office.
     
  • Employee Health virtual assistant tool. Visit texaschildrens.org/employeevaccines (you may need to refresh your browser) on or off the network to submit proof and access exemption request forms, consent form, flu event schedules and FAQs.
    • Submit proof. If you receive the flu vaccine at a TCP, doctor’s office or pharmacy, you will need to submit proof of vaccination via the Employee Health virtual assistant tool, which is accessible off the network. Please upload a photo of the flu vaccination record received during your appointment. Please ensure the writing is legible and includes your full legal name and birth date. A flu vaccine receipt from a pharmacy will not be accepted as proof of a flu vaccine administration record. You will not need to submit proof of vaccination if you receive the vaccine at a Texas Children’s flu vaccine event or in a one-on-one appointment with Employee Health.
    • Exemptions. Employees who do not already have an exemption received through Texas Children’s last year will need to request a medical or religious exemption from the requirement by Monday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. Approved exemptions are subject to additional safety measures or requirements. Exempt employees will receive notice of any additional requirements as part of their exemption.
    • Consent form. This form is required for those who wish to receive their flu vaccine at a Texas Children’s flu event or through a one-on-one appointment with Employee Health. It can be completed at an event or through the Employee Health virtual assistant.
    • Event schedule. Receive your vaccine at one of the vaccine events throughout Texas Children’s.
    • FAQs. Access a detailed FAQ document.
       
  • COVID-19 co-administration. Employee Health will offer the latest COVID-19 vaccine in limited quantity. Receiving this vaccine is optional. We’re waiting on receipt of these vaccines; upon availability, team members can schedule a one-on-one co-administration appointment.

Texas Children’s is pleased to announce exciting recognition from Forbes and Newsweek!

Forbes has recognized Texas Children’s as one of the best employers in Texas through their Best-in-State Employers 2024 survey. By collaborating with market research firm Statista to survey more than 160,000 employees across the United States from companies with at least 500 employees, participants rated their likelihood to recommend their employer and assessed their experiences with past and present employers.

Texas Children’s is consistently recognized as a leader in pediatric care, and recently ranked 15th out of 250 on the Newsweek 2025 World’s Best Specialized Hospitals – Pediatrics list. We were also included in their World’s Smartest Hospitals list. These rankings are determined by a global survey in which tens of thousands of medical professionals were invited to give recommendations in their area of expertise. It also factors in accreditation data and patient-reported outcome measures.

Thank you to the members of our One Amazing Team for your relentless dedication to our mission. You are the reason so many trust us for their care and why we receive these honors.

Nursing Professional Development (NPD) is essential to advancing the education and professional growth of nurses within a hospital setting. Encompassing roles like nurse educators, education coordinators, NPD specialists and clinical staff development specialists, NPD practitioners design, implement and assess educational programs to guide nurses from onboarding through ongoing career development.

Director of Nursing Excellence & Inquiry Lauren Kalember explained that NPD Practitioners help to address the “experience complexity gap” that emerges as experienced nurses retire and healthcare demands evolve. “NPD Practitioners are crucial to closing this gap,” Lauren said. “Their work ensures that nurses are well-equipped to meet the increasing acuity, complexity and technological advancements in patient care.” This career path really focuses on empowering nurses to not only perform today’s practice but evolve tomorrow’s nursing practice with the power of knowledge, skills and abilities.

The NPD team collaborates across the hospital system with clinical leaders, Information Systems, Human Resources partners and others to provide ongoing education and support for our nursing staff. One such collaborative effort was seen in a recent initiative aimed at improving financial stewardship through orientation cost reduction. The NPD team worked together to prioritize time spent on education that was closest to the point of care, making learning more relevant and cost-effective.

This year Texas Children’s celebrated the contributions of this exceptional team with a retreat for Nurse Educators and NPD Specialists. Here, they focused on best practices, role clarity, teamwork and adult learning theory. The retreat concluded with an awards ceremony, honoring those who excel in advancing the professional growth of nurses.

“The team was energized to connect, engage in education relevant to their roles, and share their vision for transforming professional development at Texas Children’s,” Lauren said. “It was an honor to create a day that left them feeling excited and inspired about their work!”

September 16, 2024

Texas Children’s CEO, Mark A. Wallace, announces his retirement.