March 17, 2020

The Rewards and Retention Committee presented this quarter’s Woodlands Shining Star award to, physical therapy ambulatory service representative, Jessica ‘Jessi’ Carcamo, and radiologist, Dr. Marla Sammer.

“To say she is innovative is an understatement,” Kelsi Martinez, child-life specialist, said. “Jessi was a huge part of the success for both our hospital’s Camp For All 2U event, as well as the holiday bike giveaway.”

Carcamo, was nominated by her colleagues for being an invaluable contributor to Texas Children’s One Amazing Team. Known for her bright smile and always positive attitude, Carcamo embodies what it means to embrace freedom, amplify unity, and live compassionately. She goes above and beyond, even when doing things outside of her job description.

“She embraces and completes any goal with enthusiasm and spirit,” Child-Life Specialist Barbara Bledsoe explained. “Overall, Jessi’s genuine outlook that patients and parents are an extension of the hospital family, is what makes her so deserving of this award.”

Sammer was nominated by her peers in Radiology for always giving so much of herself to both her team and patients. When it comes to patients receiving the best and most timely care, x-ray technologist, Robyn Pacheco, explained how Sammer has consistently worked late hours and through lunch to provide patient care.

“She is truly a team player and has the patient’s best interest at heart,” Pacheco said. “Whether it is working with the technologists to help streamline dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), scan protocols or with anesthesia to create a standard operating procedure for using general anesthesia in voiding cyst urethrograms, Dr. Sammer embodies the leading tirelessly core value. She thoroughly educates staff with patience and kindness.”

Dr. Victor Seghers, Radiology Service Chief of Community, says that the one thing that he admires most about Sammer is her ability to regularly pitch in and assist in patient care when others are caught up in other work duties.

Congratulations Jessi and Dr. Sammer and thank you for being the shining stars that you are, and going above and beyond for our patients, families, and co-workers!

March 12, 2020

On March 7, Texas Children’s Fetal Center held a successful patient reunion at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. Families from around the country traveled to Houston to reconnect with Fetal Center physicians, nurse coordinators and staff.

Since its inaugural event in 2007, the reunion provides an opportunity for physicians and staff to reunite with patient families who received life-saving medical and surgical care at our Fetal Center.

“Many of these families spent extended periods of time with our Fetal Center staff and in our neonatal intensive care unit,” said Texas Children’s Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief Dr. Michael Belfort. “This reunion is a memorable opportunity for our team to reconnect with these wonderful families from across the country that we have positively impacted, and we cherish the opportunity to see these patients, who overcame tough challenges in their young lives, grow and thrive.”

Chloe Villarreal, who traveled six hours from her family’s home in San Juan, Texas, joined other patient families to celebrate the lives of these precious miracle babies who were cared for by our maternal fetal medicine and NICU staff, and who have since then, reached incredible milestones along the way.

“We are grateful to Texas Children’s and all of the doctors and the entire medical team who gave us hope and reassurance, and took such great care of our baby,” said Villarreal, whose daughter Charlotte underwent fetoscopic repair surgery to treat spina bifida. “When our daughter turned 18 months old, she walked for the very first time. Texas Children’s will always be a part of our family, and that’s why I make it a point to attend the fetal reunion. It makes me feel so good that all of these children are doing wonderful.”

The Fetal Center Reunion, which occurs every two years at Texas Children’s, included a delicious lunch and plenty of fun activities for the families, including a craft corner where children got a chance to build their own Golden Retriever comfort dog and take their new furry friend home with them.

March 10, 2020

Angela Gooden, a director of advanced practice providers (APP) at Texas Children’s, was recently selected as a Texas Nurse Practitioners Legislative Ambassador, and shares how this opportunity in Austin will help her become a stronger advocate for nurses and nurse practitioners at Texas Children’s and across the state. Read more

On March 5, a ceremony was held to celebrate Texas Children’s newest wall dedicated to honoring those who contribute financial support to the organization.

The Promise Campaign donor wall, is named after the fundraising effort established in 2015 to help ensure that we can continue fulfilling our commitment and promise to meet the medical needs of children in our community, with a goal of raising $475 million by 2020.

On the first floor of the Lester and Sue Smith Legacy Tower, Texas Children’s executives, board members, and donors, arrived to music and refreshments just before to ceremony began. President and CEO Mark A. Wallace began with a welcome, briefly taking the audience on a virtual walk through the years leading up to how we have kept our promise to patients and ultimately preserved our legacy.

“Thank you for your unwavering dedication to this hospital, and for embracing the change it takes to grow and create a successful organization,” Wallace said. “We are here today to celebrate history – to celebrate the story of Texas Children’s Hospital – and to unveil the beautiful Promise Campaign donor wall.”

He followed up with an introduction of chairman of the Promise Campaign and the Texas Children’s board or directors, Mike Linn. Under Linn and his wife’s leadership, the Promise campaign has raised millions of dollars for Texas Children’s and its growing need to provide dedicated, specialized pediatric health care in Houston and surrounding communities.

“The Promise Campaign is an endeavor that will always be near and dear to my heart,” Linn expressed. “I want to thank every person here – you helped bring us to this day. You believed in our dream and generously invested in it so that it could become a reality.

The Promise Campaign made its goal and raised more than $500 million two years early. This success allowed the Promise Campaign donor wall to exist today displaying 390 donor names.

After the ceremony wrapped up with closing remarks from Wallace, donors anxiously gathered to take photos near their name on the wall.

Click here for more information about the Promise Campaign.

March 9, 2020

Training for Epic Tapestry is set to roll out this fall!

Epic Tapestry – launching in February 2021 – will allow Texas Children’s Health Plan to better integrate data for an improved member and provider experience. Customer-facing employees will have access to more information and will be better prepared to offer comprehensive service.

Training will take place in a combination of ways:

  • E-Learning Courses
  • Quick Start Desk Reference Guides
  • Detailed Self-Guided Exercise Booklets
  • In-Person Classroom Training

“Your training will be determined by your role within the organization and which portions of the module you must access,” said Elydia Villanueva, Information Services educator.

Villanueva is leading training efforts for Texas Children’s Hospital employees while Angie Ross, Epic Project Team Trainer, will lead training for Health Plan employees. Together with senior IT Project Manager Quintus Bratton, the three will ensure that nearly 1,000 employees across the system will be prepared on Go Live day.

An important point to remember is that employees will receive formal training, but they will also have access to a virtual “playground” where they can spend some time working within the modules at their own pace,” said Ross.

Training dates and locations will be released in October and training sessions will begin in December.

For more information about the overall project, visit https://texaschildrensnews.org/new-health-plan-system-will-provide-better-care-for-members/

Texas Children’s patients now have access to free parking when visiting the Medical Center Campus. Last month, The Parking & Transportation Committee approved changing the Main Street Lot, located across from Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, from a public parking lot to a no cost, patient only lot.

In addition to patient designated parking in our garages, the Main Street lot will allow restricted access to our patients to improve the overall patient parking experience and meet the current parking demand. Employees should park in their original designated parking assignment.

This new parking strategy began with an update of Texas Children’s patient assistance parking program (PAPP), managed by social work services.

“When a family experiences hardship with parking our team will do a brief assessment,” social work manager, Jackson Huynh said. “If we determine that the family qualifies, the family will be able to use the Main Street lot until they are discharged.”

Benefits of PAPP for families:

  • Almost guaranteed an (undesignated) parking spot
  • Have in and out privileges
  • Can renew vouchers on a weekly basis (Monday-to-Monday)
  • Can receive their vouchers via email (e-version)
  • Maps of the Main Street lot is included in the voucher

Main Street lot restrictions:

  • Families must meet the criteria for parking assistance (social work services assessment based on financial hardship)
  • Families must be admitted for seven days or greater to receive the assistance
  • Only two caregivers per child can use PAPP, but only one car is permitted to parking in the lot at a time

In addition, LAZ parking now manages the lot along with other parking areas throughout the Texas Medical Center, and sit on the parking and transportation committee.

The amount of families assisted through PAPP has increased by over 500 between 2018 and 2019.

“I am excited to provide no cost parking for our patient families,” assistant director of facilities operations, Michael Jackson said. “We are constantly working towards providing an easy and affordable experience for Texas Children’s families.”

Texas Children’s Well-Being team has launched a new weekly video series to help employees taking on the My Nutrition Challenge achieve a healthier, more balanced plate. This week, focus on filling one-quarter of your plate with a lean protein.

Whether animal-based or plant-based, protein has staying power! It promotes fullness and satiety, while also helping maintain muscle mass and is an important component of your meal.

Watch the video for more tips on incorporating protein from Cigna Health Coach and Registered Dietitian Staci Tobolowsky Astrein.