May 1, 2020

Effective May 1, any member of the Texas Children’s workforce (employees, Baylor faculty or staff members) are permitted to travel anywhere within the state of Texas via ground transportation and will not be subject to a 14 day quarantine upon return, provided the workforce member is asymptomatic.

However, if the in-state travel is 150 miles or greater from your normal work location, you will still be required to complete this Travel Declaration Form to ensure you are asymptomatic upon return.

We will continue to ask that all workforce members refrain from traveling by airplane, or to any location outside of Texas at this time. Those who do will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return, and will need to use PTO for the duration of their quarantine period or take an unpaid leave.

Lastly, given that the pandemic will remain a fluid situation for the foreseeable future, we advise all employees that these travel restrictions could change quickly if areas of the state encounter a sudden surge in activity. Should that happen while an employee is visiting an impacted location, he or she will be required to self-quarantine upon return, and will need to use PTO or take unpaid leave.

If you must travel, please click here for guidance and additional information about how to protect yourself and others during your trip.

April 30, 2020

More than 50 Houston high-school students are sending a special message to the Texas Children’s caregivers and health care professionals on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19: “Thank you for being our heroes.”

The students – all part of Hillary Houle’s class at Episcopal High School – recently wrote letters to express their gratitude for the hard work and sacrifices the entire local medical community has made in response to this pandemic.

With many in her class feeling anxious and concerned about all that has transpired with COVID-19 over the last few months, Houle wanted to provide a way for students to battle that inner darkness by bringing light to doctors, nurses and others experiencing stress during this crisis.

“I am writing to you today to let you know how much you are appreciated,” Natalie, a senior, said in her letter. “You are doing so much and so many look up to you as a leader, as well as myself. Thank you for all that you do. To make a difference in one person’s life is to make a difference in the world.”

To make sure our One Amazing Team and employees at health care organizations around the area could read and be encouraged by the students’ heartfelt sentiments of hope and appreciation, Houle uploaded each letter to a digital drop box for convenient access.

She’s adding more letters to the file as she receives them, and hopes her students’ efforts will inspire more teachers and young people to reach out with kindness and compassion at a time when so many who work in health care need it the most.

“While we may be trapped in our homes, we can still send love and light and gratitude out into the world,” Houle told ABC 13.

Click here to read the students’ letters for yourself.

April 28, 2020

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic Texas Children’s has remained focused on caring for our patients and their families while preserving their safety and the safety of our workforce. One area where this is especially important is in the operating room where the risks of contagion could be higher than the average hospital setting.

“The operating room is a high-risk environment because of the potential to need to intubate and extubate patients,” said Children’s Surgery Program Manager Joyce Enochs. “Both of these procedures generate aerosolized particles, which can put medical workers at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 from an infected patient.”

To protect the perioperative staff from any undo exposure or risk, the Departments of Surgery and Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine have taken a two-phased approach in protecting families and staff alike. The first phase entailed creating a training program for a new care paradigm for potential COVID patients. Dr. Chris Glover, medical director of Perioperative Services, in conjunction with Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative and Pain Medicine Simulation Committee Members – Dr. David Young, Dr. Lisa Caplan, and Dr. Kathleen Chen – created the program from the ground up to reinforce this new workflow.

The program includes an information session where team members learned about COVID-19 and how Texas Children’s employees are protecting themselves from the disease; a simulation where team members learn how to don and doff PPE appropriately and confidently; and a simulation where team members transport a mock patient from an intensive care setting into the operating room, intubate them, return to the intensive care unit.

In addition, the training covers additional precautions to limit transmission risk in the operating room. These precautions include modifications during intubation and extubation, such as the use of N95 masks and goggles, as well as the incorporation of High Efficiency Particle Air or HEPA filters on the anesthesia circuits to filter out particles and ensure that none are emitted into the air. Another effort to mitigate aerosolization in the operating room is modifying induction techniques by using plastic barriers for patients.

The second phase of this new care approach is the incorporation of expanded testing so that every patient presenting for surgery receives COVID-19 testing prior to arrival. This further answers concerns on potential exposures of our perioperative staff as well as taking a judicious approach to appropriately utilize PPE.

“This is an overarching effort to ensure our health care workers, our folks who are on the frontlines, are protected as we’re dealing with this unprecedented event,” Gover said “For us to proceed along this pathway, we’ve had a lot of support and guidance throughout the organization.”

Anesthesiologist-in-Chief Dr. Dean Andropoulos agreed and said the efforts and countless hours from the anesthesiologists who led this simulation training should be commended. “Not only are they leading at Texas Children’s Hospital, but they are setting standards for potential future outbreaks at all Children’s hospitals,” Andropoulos said.

The training positions the team well as it continues to prepare to care for those diagnosed with COVID-19 and as the team begins to take on elective surgeries again. In light of Gov. Abbott’s decision to loosen restrictions put in place for elective surgeries, the Department of Surgery is prioritizing cases that initially may not have been urgent, but are now more important due to the several week delay.

“Through a phased approach, our surgical team is working through the large number of cases that are pressing, primarily outpatient cases, and prioritizing them appropriately based on a variety of factors,” said Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Larry Hollier. “During the previous order, Texas Children’s continued to serve patients who needed us while remaining mindful of the impact elective surgeries may have had on critical supplies and resources. We remain prepared to care for those diagnosed with COVID-19 and cognizant of our supply levels while providing the best care possible to all patients, as we are here for them during this time and beyond.”

April 27, 2020

 

With the global pandemic resulting in a rapid increase to the nation’s unemployment rate, more Americans may now qualify for Medicaid — a government-funded health insurance program that provides coverage for low-income children, pregnant women, and disabled adults in Texas.

Texas Children’s Health Plan serves children and women in the Medicaid program, therefore, an increase in Medicaid recipients will likely result in an increase in Texas Children’s Health Plan members.

And we are ready to serve.

”We are closely collaborating with the state of Texas as we collectively respond to the evolving COVID crisis,” said Johnna Carlson, director of Government Programs. “We are anticipating a surge and know we will have the ability to serve these new members well.”

Why is it important that the health plan is ready?

Texas Children’s Health Plan is a health plan much like Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna or many others. The difference is that it manages the health care of low-income families who receive government-funded insurance.

Even outside of a pandemic, health plan employees are skilled at caring for families that are living through challenging and stressful life circumstances. “This is what we do,” Carlson said. “We care for the families that need us most. We answer the call all of the time – but especially in times like these.”

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has indicated that it saw a 47 percent increase in Medicaid application submissions in March 2020 compared to March 2019. While not all applicants may qualify for Medicaid coverage, we can expect to see an ongoing increase in Medicaid applications in the coming months.

What does the national picture look like for the low-income?

Health Management Associates, an independent firm that is consulting with health plans across the country, recently published some high-level observations and predictions:

  • The number of people receiving health insurance coverage from an employer could decline by 12 to 35 million, including both workers and family members.
  • Medicaid enrollment could increase from 71 million to 82-94 million.
  • Medicaid enrollment could grow by 5 million regardless of the number of people who lose their jobs.
  • Uninsured numbers could increase to 40 million.

Based on these and other projections there will be a national need for affordable and quality health care; and Texas Children’s Health Plan will be positioned to meet the need. If you or anyone you know would like more information about Texas Children’s Health Plan, visit texaschildrenshealthplan.org.

Our employees and staff are always collaborating on innovative ways to improve efficiency while keeping the safety of others in mind. Recently, Texas Children’s implemented new technology for temperature screening that has improved the organization’s COVID-19 employee/patient screening processes.

“We are now implementing the use of thermal imaging cameras for temperature screening,” said Bert Gumeringer, senior vice president for Facilities Operations. “We deployed 10 thermal cameras at our employee screening, and patient and visitor screening locations, at the Medical Center Campus. We plan to install these thermal cameras at West Campus and The Woodlands once they become available.”

Currently, a total of 10 thermal cameras have been installed at these Medical Center campus locations:

  • Garage 19 – three cameras
  • Pavilion for Women – two cameras
  • Legacy Tower – two cameras
  • Wallace Tower, West Tower, and Feigin – one camera each

The thermal imaging cameras measure temperature on the skin’s surface using infrared light to generate a thermal image and temperature reading in a fast, non-invasive and precise method. By leveraging this new technology, screeners can simply and accurately detect elevated skin temperatures. If an elevated temperature is identified, the employee is promptly directed to receive appropriate follow up guidance and care.

Since implementing screening protocols on March 23 as part of our COVID-19 response, the employee screening process has undergone several evolutions to adapt to the changing environment, all while maintaining a continual focus on ensuring safety and providing a positive employee experience.

“The introduction of the thermal cameras was a giant leap in advancing the efficacy and efficiency of the screening process,” said Julie Griffith, director of Patient Support Services. “Integrating thermal cameras within the screening process has been seamless. We adjusted the screening workflows and staff training relatively quickly and employees, patients, and families have become accustomed to the new process.”

While it’s been over a week since the thermal cameras were integrated into the system, employees have expressed intrigue and gratitude towards this new technology. They understand that it is a necessary advancement to support the number one goal of protecting the health and safety of our patients, families and workforce.

“There is a higher level of confidence among staff now that we are screening more effectively,” said Aimee Jackson, director of Ambulatory Clinical Practice. “The new cameras allow us to process more people in a shorter amount of time while maintaining social distancing throughout the screening process.”

April 26, 2020

Finding joy 

The following passage was written by Texas Children’s Chaplain James Denham.

I don’t know about you, but I feel drained.  From all directions too.  Home, work, family, life all around feels draining. I have refreshed my email incessantly, and I have been caught staring off into space a time or too. I feel aches for reasons I can’t quite comprehend.  I wake up ready to go and conquer my day and by the time my cup of coffee is finished I start to long for my bed! My mind feels drained from doing school work at home with the kids. I feel like I have lived through seven decades – the 80’s, the 90’s, the 00’s, the 10’s, the 20’s, March, and April!  I feel tired even when I get a good night’s sleep.  Perhaps you are home schooling kids, perhaps you are managing changed hours, and perhaps you are trying hard like all of our world and our hospital to figure how to move forward.

In the face of the tough stuff of pandemic life and the exhaustion it brings, we are courageous when we can take a deep breath, to be present in this one moment, to embrace this situation for all it is, and to commit ourselves to moving forward one step at a time.  In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch acknowledges courage is knowing “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”  Courage is seeing it through with grit and persistence, and that is what you, and we, will do, because it is who we are here at Texas Children’s.  We will rise from this.

But just how do we do that? How do we have courage to move forward when we feel so tired?

It just takes one smile.  One moment of courage. One moment where sunshine peeks through the clouds.  At my church, there is a 100-year-old woman who loves pie.  I mean, I can’t overstate how much she loves her pie!  But she insisted to me and her minister recently that though her doctors told her in her virtual appointment to curtail her pie indulgence, she was still going to have her piece of pie at each meal.  She declared purposefully, “I’m gonna have my pie.  It makes me smile.” She was on to something!  Actually, she’s right on two things.  First, pie is amazing and you should definitely enjoy your pie.  But second, finding your moment of joy is worth everything!  Especially in the face of feeling drained all the time.

I wonder what makes you smile? Is it seeing the sunrise while you stand at the Legacy Tower elevator bay? Is it sitting at the dinner table with your spouse or children? Is it the sense of satisfaction after a well done surgery? Is it a smile that comes thinking about someone you love?  Is it being on a walk or the peace of a good stretch during yoga?  I am not saying that these smiles take away the drained feeling.  I am advocating though for the power of a smile once a day that proclaims what Isabel Allende wrote, “We all have an unsuspected reserve of strength inside that emerges when life puts us to the test.”  Strength emerges when we don’t suspect it, and it comes through simple ordinary things. Ordinary treasures!  Let your strength and joy emerge once today, and let that be your courage to see you through today.  Smile simply. Have a piece of pie, seriously.

April 23, 2020

If you feel you meet testing criteria, as described in a variety of sources, and are otherwise ambulatory and not seriously ill, you may obtain testing from a variety of sources.

This is a very fluid situation right now, filled with ambiguity, and current guidelines at these testing sites are designed to preserve resources, while allowing testing of ill or at-risk individuals.

All sites will screen people for symptoms and risk factors in accordance with current CDC and health department guidance. Symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. They also consider epidemiologic factors, such as recent travel, contact with anyone diagnosed or suspected of having COVID19, age, underlying conditions.

Some sites only test healthcare providers, and healthcare professionals will often be prioritized at some of these sites (and typically do not need to meet the epidemiologic criteria noted above). Asymptomatic individuals with no risk factors usually will NOT be screened at these testing sites.

If you have insurance, bring your insurance proof, and the test itself is at no cost to you. Without insurance some sites will require cash ($150 to $200). Some sites require pre-screening by phone and an identification number or proof of medical provider identification. So be prepared before you go to one of the testing sites.

Virtual care sites, an option for obtaining medical advice, will require a small fee of $20.

Who can be tested at community testing sites? 

At this time testing is still restricted to symptomatic individuals, with priority of at-risk individuals with underlying health conditions, or known exposure to COVID-19. Some sites will accept an order from your own physician. Some sites will also test children, and some will only test adults.

Option 1:

Your own primary care provider. 

This is always a good first step. If you have a primary care physician, contact their office about which testing site they prefer you to use. Some PCPs may evaluate their patients in office, collect a specimen, and send to a commercial lab such as Quest or LabCorp. Others will offer video virtual care and telemedicine visits, then refer you to one of the drive-through options listed below.

Option 2:

Baylor College of Medicine McNair Campus

If you are BCM employee and seen by BCM OHP because of at-work exposure (no matter where you work, including TCH) or seen as a patient of a BCM clinic doctor, this is an option. The BCM Incident Command Center emails will have direct links to navigate the “exposure grid” instructions.

BCM McNair campus drive-through testing site. Testing can be done after you are seen by a BCM physician in the BCM clinic – or evaluated by OHP BCM if you are exposed from work –    with an order in EPIC from a BCM physician or OHP.

Option 3: 

Texas Children’s Hospital 

Texas Children’s employees and Baylor faculty who are medical staff are being assessed for risk associated with COVID-19. Subsequent COVID-19 testing is based on symptom criteria. Texas Children’s is not able to support testing on demand for asymptomatic individuals.

If you meet the screening criteria, you will be placed into a queue and contacted later for the next steps. Testing supply is variable and is evaluated on a daily basis. Contact your TCH supervisor for further instructions if you work at TCH and feel you meet testing criteria. Medical Staff Services will approve medical staff for testing, if testing criteria are met. You will be directed to the Meyer Building at 1919 S. Braeswood if you qualify for testing. This is a drive-through testing site.

Texas Children’s Hospital TCP outpatients also may be processed for sample collection at the Meyer Building at 1919 S. Braeswood, with proper symptoms screening, and a doctor order in EPIC. The sample will then be run at TCH per the outpatient agreements. This is a drive-through site.

Texas Children’s Hospital MWT specialty clinic outpatients and all inpatients will have samples collected in clinic or in hospital, according to PPE procedures outlined, and testing will be run in the TCH laboratory, and resulted in EPIC, twice daily, 7 days a week

Option 4:

Harris County Health Department on-line screening

Go to www.readyharris.org or www.checkforcorona.com. On these health department websites you will be guided through a three-step process:

  1. Complete on-line screening questions. You will either be reassured you do not need testing, or proceed to step 2.
  2. If you are at risk, you will receive a phone consultation.
  3. If you meet criteria for testing, you will be referred to a drive-through community testing facility site, and assigned an identification number.

Also, bring proof that you are a physician or other healthcare professional, and proof of insurance. Healthcare workers are prioritized, but the general public also will be tested if they are high risk, exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Option 5: (same sites as option 4 but screen by phone instead of online)

Health Department triage and testing by telephone

This is an initiative between the health departments and the Texas Medical Center Hospitals (Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, CHI St. Luke’s, and HCS Houston HealthCare).

  • Call the Houston Health Department at 832-393-4330 (9 am to 4 pm) if you reside in Houston city limits.
  • Call the Harris County Health Department at 832-927-7575 (9 am to 4 pm) if you reside outside the city of Houston, but inside Harris County.

You will be screened on the phone by a health department representative, given an identification number, and instructions on where to go to be tested. The venue for testing will be a drive-through testing center. This is now open for first responders and medical personnel, as well as people in the general public with high-risk conditions, symptoms, or known exposures. In addition to the identification number you will be required to show identification/proof of your medical doctor or first responder status (if appropriate), and proof of insurance. Insurance will be billed. No payment will be accepted.

Option 6:
United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC)

510 Tidwell

Houston 77091 

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 8 pm

A doctor’s order is required. There is a website www.ummcscreening.com for registration and pre-test eligibility screening. This is a free, non-FEMA drive-through testing site. They test both adults and children.

Option 7.

Northeast Houston at Forest Brook Middle School

7525 Tidwell Road

Houston 77017

877-470-7787

This is a non-FEMA drive-through testing center.

Option 8: 

Legacy Community Health Clinics

832-548-5000 

At this time it appears these clinics will test individuals > 18 years of age only – no children. They are drive-through testing site. A doctor’s order will be required.

Legacy Community Health Clinic (Montrose) 

1415 California St.

Houston 77006  

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm , Sat, 9 am to 3 pm

They will process insurance with a sliding scale payment if there is no insurance.

Other Legacy Community Health Clinics 

Legacy Clinic Southwest

6441 High Star Dr.

Houston 77074

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm,   Sat, 8 am to 5 pm

Legacy Clinic Fifth Ward

3811 Lyons Ave

Houston 77020

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm

Legacy Clinic Beaumont

450 N 11th St

Beaumont TX 77702

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm

Option 9

HISD Butler Stadium

13755 Main St

Houston 77035

832-927-7575

Will test first responders, and medical and health care providers > 65 year olds with fever, and general public with symptoms or exposures. If you have symptoms and want a COVID-19 test, first call the Houston or Harris County Health Department or get screened on their websites as outlined in options 4 and 5 above. This is a drive-through, free FEMA testing site. Police officers are on site.

Option 10

Delmar Stadium

2020 Mangum Road

Houston 77092

832-393-4221

Will test first responders, and medical and health care providers > 65 year olds with fever, and general public with symptoms or exposures. If you have symptoms and want a COVID-19 test, first call the Houston or Harris County Health Department or get screened on their websites as outlined in options 4 and 5 above. This is a drive-through, free FEMA testing site. Police officers are on site.

Option 11 

M.O. Campbell Center

1865 Aldine Bender Road

Houston 77032

Option 12

My Family Doctor Run by MediCorp PA Private Doctor Group 

6430 Hillcroft St.

Houston 77081 

This is a drive-through, non-FEMA private testing site. Doctors and nurses on site will evaluate for testing criteria. The test is free after insurance verification. Bring $25 in case, which will be given back to you once they verify insurance. The cost is $150 to $200 (cash only) without insurance. They will collect the sample and send samples to commercial reference laboratory, such as Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp Mon – Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.

https://www.myfamilydoctorhouston.com/

Option 13

Oakbend Medical Center

4911 Sandhill Drive

Sugar Land 77479

281-238-7870

This is a drive-through, non-FEMA private testing site. Patients to be tested must complete a telehealth visit by calling, and will be assessed for risk factors, and if appropriate, the testing will be ordered. The test is $100 without insurance, or a $40 co-pay with insurance.

www.oakbendmedcenter.org/covid-19/

Option 14

Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

18111 Lexington Blvd

Sugar Land 77479

877-470-7787

This is a free, non-FEMA drive-through testing site. Testing is conducted by United Memorial Medical Center at this location. Individuals who meet criteria, including symptoms, will be tested here.

www.sugarlandtx.gov/1969/COVID-19-Testing#testing

Option 15.

Pearland sites if you live in or near Pearland

Insurance will be billed.

Baylor St Luke’s Pearland

11713 Shadow Creek Pkwy

Pearland 77584

Pearland Medical Center HCA Pearland 

Shadow Creek Pkwy

Pearland 77584

Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital

16100 South Fwy

Pearland 77584

Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center Pearland

11525 Broadway St.

Pearland 77584

713-363-8020

Next Level Urgent Care of Pearland

8325 Broadway St., Suite 220

Pearland 77581

This site will only test high-risk patients.

Option 16. 

Goose Creek ISD – Stalworth

2102 East Archer Road

Baytown 77521

This is a free, drive-through FEMA testing site run in collaboration with Harris County Health Department. Samples will be sent to Labcorp or Quest Diagnostics commercial reference laboratories. This site appears to be for medical personnel, healthcare workers and first responders who are showing COVID-19 symptoms. Information on testing for the general public is forthcoming.

Option 17 

Next Level Urgent Care Locations

This is a privately run urgent care system. They will test individuals with symptoms, suspected exposure, as well as other high-risk groups. They will require a telemedicine virtual visit with one of their healthcare providers, or an in-person clinic visit to be seen in a drive-through line. They will bill insurance with a co-pay. Or the cost is $200 without insurance.

www.nextlevelurgentcare.com

Option 18

Houston Methodist Hospital System

Virtual urgent care provider 24/7 

A board-certified physician will assist you via a video conference to determine if you require testing and advise you on where you should go. They also have a Virtual Urgent Care app. Download MyMethodist app, and register or visit the website. Cost appears to start at $20 for the virtual urgent care visit. This is for patients over 2 years of age.

www.houstonmethodist.org/virtual-urgent-care/

Option 19

MD Anderson Diagnostic Imaging 

ONLY FOR MD ANDERSON PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES 

6602 Mapleridge St.

Houston 77081 

Option 20

Memorial Hermann System

Their COVID-19 website says if you are symptomatic with fever, cough, shortness of breath and/or meet travel criteria and/or have had significant exposure, they encourage telemedicine and virtual care options via their eVisit and eVisit video services 24/7. The cost is $25 per visit.

www.memorialhermann.org/virtual-care/evisit/

Option 21: 

Telehealth, telemedicine and virtual visits 

These are apps that can be set up and used almost immediately. There is usually a small fee. Check your health insurance provider for which telehealth benefit is included in your coverage plan.

  • Teladoc
  • AmWell
  • Doctor on Demand
  • eVisit and eVisit Video
  • MyMethodist