October 12, 2020

October 10 is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual World Mental Health Day. This year’s World Mental Health Day comes at a time when nearly every aspect of our daily lives has changed dramatically because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, we have had to adjust to a new normal. Most of us have experienced stress both in our personal and professional lives during this unprecedented time. We often stress over our health, finances, raising children, taking care of elderly parents, and coping with uncertainty or the unknown of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are many different emotional responses during different phases of a crisis, disaster or a public health emergency,” said Texas Children’s Chief of Psychology Dr. Karin Price. “While we work among health care heroes every day, even they are not immune to anxiety, stress, discouragement and difficulty coping with uncertainty. Hope begins with open, honest conversations about mental and emotional health between trusted family members, friends, colleagues and other loved ones. If someone close to you seems to be struggling or asks for help, be there for support. You don’t have to be an expert; just listening can help a lot. If you hear something beyond your ability to help, the EAP is available to support you.”

Texas Children’s Employee Assistance Program: We’re here to help

Chronic stress over time can have effects on our bodies and make us feel exhausted. While we can’t eliminate stress from our environment, we can manage our reactions to it. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at Texas Children’s (833-EAP-PLUS) is designed to help all employees and eligible family members resolve personal and job-related problems as well as promote emotional health, wellness and quality of life at work and home.

“The key to stress management is choosing where to focus your energy,” said Allison Bell, Manager of the Employee Assistance Program at Texas Children’s. “You get to choose what thoughts, emotions, and problems to focus on. We want to respond, not react. We know that everyone has different ways of coping with stress. What works for me, may not work for you. The key to stress management is finding the tools and techniques that help you and using them daily. If you want to reduce your stress levels, you need to be diligent in daily practice.”

In order to encourage team members to start a daily stress management practice, EAP developed resiliency strategies to help you manage stress and boost resiliency. To get started, please review this Stress Management Resources document which provides a variety of ways to help reduce stress. Keep in mind that building resiliency will not only help reduce stress but it will also reduce anxiety, provide your body with energy, promote good sleep patterns and provide greater satisfaction with life.

For more information about EAP resources, stress management and World Mental Health Day, click here to visit the EAP website.

Everyone has their own style when it comes to managing a work desk. Some people are neat and tidy while others prefer to have a scattered environment. Studies have proven that a clean and organized work environment helps to boost productivity and morale. However, there are major security concerns to help protect the confidentiality and integrity of company data.

Do you have a clean desk?

With countless employees processing client files, contracts, names and addresses, social security numbers, and financial information, sensitive data is left on desks at the end of each work day. Therefore whether intentional or not, the likelihood of exposure is increased.

What are the risks?

Having important papers exposed on your desk with private details, deals, and employees’ information can make the company more susceptible to fraud, a security breach or information theft. Locking your computer screen, removing sensitive post-its, printouts and even USB drives at the end of the day will significantly reduce risk.

What can you do to reduce risks?

You can start by creating a basic list of items that are allowed in your work area to help maintain a clean space. By knowing what items are allowed on your desk, helps to better understand company policy and be more efficient with end of day clean-ups.

Here are some things to consider for your clean desk to reduce risk:

  • Always lock your computer if not in use
  • Avoid leaving your computer or laptop unattended for long periods of time
  • Make sure your computer requires a password to log in
  • Contact the help desk if your computer doesn’t display a screen saver
  • Remove all scrap paper containing confidential company information that should be shredded and avoid throwing into waste baskets
  • Ensure that no important documents are left on copy machines during anytime of the day
  • Lock up and safely store all client folders, contracts and company data in a secured file cabinet or safe
  • Do not hide passwords under your keyboard or display on a monitor
  • Remove all sticky notes containing client, personal, or company information on monitors or visible to others
October 6, 2020

One of Texas Children’s most prominent surgeons, researchers and mentors is retiring after 23 years of dedicated service to Texas Children’s patients, families, employees and staff.

Dr. David Wesson stepped down from his position as associate surgeon-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital and professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine on September 30 leaving behind a body of work that will live on in the efforts of many.

“David has trained dozens of clinical fellows and others throughout his career, many of whom have gone on to do great things,” said Chief of Global Surgery Dr. Jed Nuchtern at an in-person and virtual retirement party for Wesson. “He also has done ground-breaking research and has been a pioneer in the operating room. In short, he is a servant leader, a consummate academic and a well-established surgeon.”

View photos from Wesson’s retirement celebration and throughout his career at Texas Children’s below.

Wesson joined Texas Children’s in 1997 as chief of Pediatric Surgery, a position he held until 2012. Shortly after arriving, building a superior trauma program became a goal. He recruited pediatric surgical subspecialists with the ability to care for children with a broad spectrum of traumatic injuries and continues to serve as a mentor to trauma residents, fellows and faculty. He led the effort to attain Level I accreditation for the Texas Children’s Hospital Trauma Center, and he served as its director from 2010 to 2014. Wesson also was instrumental in building other programs such as the Texas Children’s Fetal Center, GI surgery and surgical oncology.

“Dr. Wesson fought hard to have a trauma program and firmly believed it was a service Texas Children’s should provide,” said Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria, medical director of the Trauma Center at Texas Children’s Hospital Medical Center Campus. “Over the past decade, the center has grown tremendously becoming one of the busiest in Houston and best in the region.”

Wesson said when he finished his training 40 years ago it was during a time of rapid change in trauma care. He said children with traumatic injuries were treated like other surgical patients with no special consideration for their needs. Programs that specialized in pediatric trauma care were just beginning to come into play. During his time with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Wesson set up a trauma service there and get involved in the American College of Surgeons, which helped establish criteria for what standards a center needed to be provide pediatric trauma care.

“Trauma is the leading cause of death for school age kids,” Wesson said. “It was then and is now. Children with such injuries should be treated by people who are specialized in pediatric trauma care and prevention.”

Wesson is well known internationally for participating in some of the earliest definitive studies on the non-operative treatment of solid organ injuries in children. His research helped to bring about a new approach to the treatment splenic of trauma without the need for surgery. Although it was strongly opposed at first it is now the standard of care not only for children but also for all age groups.

Wesson received the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Millennium Commitment Award in 2000 and the Safe Kids Canada Founder Award in 2006. Baylor College of Medicine honored Dr. Wesson in 2013 with the Michael E. DeBakey Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service.

He has published more than 110 peer-reviewed papers on pediatric trauma and gastrointestinal disorders in medical journals and 33 book chapters. In 2005, he edited a leading textbook, Pediatric Trauma: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment. As a member of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, Wesson was a survey team member for Trauma Center designation for any years. He is a founding member of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Trauma.

Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Larry Hollier said Wesson is known for his calm demeanor and that in a clinical setting, he fosters special relationships with patients and families, who trust his vast experience and composed wisdom. In surgical and academic settings, Hollier said Wesson’s peaceful nature forges collaboration and collegiality.

“David is a tremendous role model who has led with integrity and grace,” Hollier said. “We all are better having known him.”

Wesson said he has looked at his career as an opportunity to help people achieve what they set out to do. “I believe everyone wins in that type of situation, most importantly the patients.”

To honor Wesson’s legacy, The Board of Trustees passed a resolution honoring Wesson and his many accomplishments. To read the resolutions, click here.

In addition, West Tower Operating Room 7 will be named in his honor. The plaque outside the operating room says:

Generously Given in Honor of David E. Wesson, MD
In recognition of 23 years of service and leadership with Texas Children’s Hospital and the Department of Surgery.

Texas Children’s Trauma Service will be named after Wesson as well. The new name will be the David E. Wesson MD Trauma Service.

As part of the company’s global Amazon Goes Gold campaign during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Amazon surprised Texas Children’s Cancer Center with a $500,000 donation. The gift will support pediatric cancer research and help with the hospital’s treatment efforts. Additionally, Amazon gifted $20,000 that will be used for patient holiday gifts and virtual events for pediatric patients and their families.

“We are extremely grateful to Amazon for this generous gift and proud to partner with them to raise awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,” said Dr. Susan Blaney, director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. “Their support will help us continue to advance our cutting edge translational research efforts in precision medicine and cellular immunotherapy. These efforts will make an incredibly positive impact in the outcome for children with cancer.”

The Texas Children’s donation caps off a month of giving by Amazon and is the last of several donations made across the country during the month of September. To date, Amazon has donated more than $6 million to childhood cancer programs across the country and around the world. This year, Amazon is doubling down its focus toward innovative research by donating $4 million to eight leading cancer research institutions across the U.S. In addition to partnering with hospitals, Amazon also colors packages gold (the official color of Childhood Cancer Awareness) to further increase awareness around the world

“We are incredibly proud to donate $500,000 to Texas Children’s Cancer Center and make a difference in these children’s lives,” said Daniel Martin, Amazon Operations Public Relations Manager. “Texas Children’s has done incredible work in the efforts to find a cure for childhood cancer and increase survival rates. It’s an honor to support the hospital’s mission and patients and give back to the community where our employees work and live.”

As one of the largest and top-ranked pediatric cancer and hematology centers in the U.S., Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers provide individualized state-of-the-art medical treatment for patients with childhood cancer and blood disorders. During the check presentation, several Amazon associates received a heartwarming thank you note signed by several of our Cancer Center patients.

“This gift from Amazon means a lot for Texas Children’s,” said Paola Alvarez-Malo, Vice President of Innovation Hub. “It enables us to advance pediatric cancer research, but it also gives us the opportunity to help our patients connect and normalize their experience while in our care. Amazon is a big thought leader in innovation and technology. So, whether it’s helping us advance research or optimize the patient experience, this partnership means a lot for Texas Children’s in many different ways.”

Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre shares highlights from last week’s virtual Nursing Town Hall, which included presentations on the organization’s COVID-19 response, nursing quality outcomes, and system updates. The event also included a spotlight on our Adult Congenital Heart Program and nursing recognitions. Read more

Get the latest information from some of our frontline workers about COVID-19 and how Texas Children’s is working to prevent the virus and treat patients with it. Read more

October 5, 2020

What is Vishing?

Vishing is an electronic fraud tactic using voice or voice over IP (VoIP) phishing to trick individuals into revealing critical financial or personal information to unauthorized entities. Vishing is the phone’s version of email phishing and uses automated voice messages to steal confidential information. Vishing attacks use a spoofed caller ID, or a toll free number which can make an attacker appear to come from a known number that entices an individual to pick up the phone.

Common vishing scams

Compromised bank or credit card account
Whether it’s a person or a prerecorded message on the other end, you’ll be told there’s an issue with your account or a payment you made. You may be asked for your login credentials to fix the problem or asked to make a new payment. Instead of giving out your information, hang up and call your financial institution on their publicly available number.

Medicare or Social Security scam
Phone calls are the No. 1 method scammers use to reach older adults, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Thieves pose as Medicare reps and often during Medicare open enrollment season and try to extract financial information from the victim, such as their Medicare number or bank account details. Then the scammer will either fraudulently use the victim’s Medicare benefits or steal their money. Scammers may also claim to be from the Social Security Administration and threaten to suspend or cancel the victim’s Social Security number.

What can you do to protect yourself against Vishing?

Attackers use Vishing because their targets do not have time to think a situation through prior to providing information. A victim can easily be confused by alarming claims and disclose valuable information. Vishing attacks can be focused on all employees, or against employees that mainly deal with people outside the organization. Departments like Marketing, Sales, the help desk and HR are good to include in vishing security tests.

Block Robocalls
A robocall is an automated phone call that usually delivers a recorded message. Scammers will also use auto-dialers to make a large number of calls in a matter of minutes, so they have a better chance of reaching a real person. There are several applications you can install from the play store and app store to help stop the unwanted calls. Some of the mobile apps you can install are Robocall Blocker, RoboKiller: Spam Call Blocker, Hiya, Nomorbo, Truecaller and many others.

Don’t answer unfamiliar numbers
Sometimes even blocking phone numbers won’t stop vishing attempts because scammers use software to scramble their real phone number. For example, scammers often mimic the area code and the first three digits of your phone number to trick you into thinking it’s a local call. If you block one number, scammers will simply call you from another.

If you answer the phone and then hang up immediately, the scammer will know that your line is active. However, if you do not pick up the phone, scammers will eventually consider your number to be dead. Resist the urge to answer the call, and you should see the frequency with which you receive robocalls begin to fall.