For parents of children struggling with epilepsy, deciding the best path for treatment can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Texas Children’s has introduced a new surgical approach to treat seizures with a less invasive procedure that is preformed through a much smaller opening in the head, which translates to less blood loss, less post-op pain, less discomfort, less swelling and a quicker recovery. Learn more by visiting our 2018 virtual Annual Report.
We all know summer in Houston is hot. Fortunately, Dairy Queen and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® are serving up the perfect way to cool down.
Thursday, July 25 is Miracle Treat Day, which raises funds for an amazing cause. For every Dairy Queen Blizzard® Treat sold on Miracle Treat Day at participating locations in the Houston area, $1 or more of that purchase will be donated to Texas Children’s Hospital to help provide life-saving treatment for children in need.
The partnership between Dairy Queen and CMN Hospitals funds projects and programs across the United States that help kids be kids, even during a hospital stay. Texas Children’s is proud to be the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospital® for Greater Houston and the surrounding area, which means fundraising activities at regional CMN Hospital retailers and partners help support Texas Children’s greatest needs in care, research and community health programs.
To learn more, visit MiracleTreatDay.com.
About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
CMN Hospitals raise funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to children across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, CMN Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time, through the charity’s Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.
Jenny Tcharmtchi shares her recent experience volunteering with her PICU colleagues at the Houston Food Bank and how their positive efforts are helping to create a healthier community for countless children and families in need. Read more
Texas Children’s Hospital is seeking an innovative solution to at-home hospital care for patients who are discharged from the health care setting but are still healing. Instead of providing patients with a binder of instructions, Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Center is working with a group of college and graduate students to create an interactive video game that encourages positive health habits in the home. The effort is part of the Healthcare Games Showdown™, which is going on throughout July and is being hosted by the world-renowned Texas Medical Center Innovation Institute.
“Leveraging game design to encourage healthy behaviors in the home is a great way to engage children and promote positive health outcomes,” said Business Development & Innovation Manager for Women’s Services Haley Jackson. “We are excited to learn from this innovative project!”
Jackson, Quinn Franklin, Assistant Director of the Psychosocial Division of the Cancer and Hematology Centers; and Dr. Monica Gramatges, Co-Director of the Center’s Survivorship Program, are advising the TCH student team with the support of Senior Vice President Myra Davis, Chief Quality Officer Dr. Eric Williams, Vice President Jackie Ward and Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers Director, Dr. Susan Blaney.
The group is working with a team of four digital media and computer science students – Jacqueline Nguyen of the University of Texas Dallas, Carlos Puerta of the University of Houston, David Musick of the University of Houston and Jonathan Nelson of Huntington University – to develop a prototype for an augmented reality game that focuses on the importance of hand washing and oral hygiene.
The concept for the game revolves around an animated world that can be unlocked by patients, families and/or caregivers when they complete a handwashing or oral hygiene activity. Players will be sent alerts on their smart phone device when it’s time for an action to be completed. Each time the player completes a task, their animated universe becomes more complex and elaborate.
“Health care video gaming allows us to foster playfulness and learning through a medium that our patients are naturally drawn to,” Franklin said.
During the development period, patients will be viewing the game and providing feedback as it is created. Marty McMahon, our Texas Children’s Gaming Activity Coordinator funded through a collaboration with Child’s Play, is also supporting this effort as a technical mentor for the students.
A live-stream following the progress of all three teams participating in the Healthcare Gaming Showdown is being hosted weekly by comedian and voice-over actor, Scott Gibbs, together with Ink Rose and Kevin Wu. Click here to learn more about the games and how to tune in to the live-stream.
“At Texas Children’s Hospital, our mission is to create a healthier future for children,” Davis said. “Using augmented reality and video games is an excellent means with which to continue our mission.”
When Forbes asked if our employees would recommend Texas Children’s to others, so many of you answered with a resounding, “Yes!,” that it launched us onto the list of America’s Best Employers – making Texas Children’s one of only three health care organizations in the entire state to earn recognition. Now that the time has come for the 2019 Houston Business Journal Best Places to Work Survey, our One Amazing Team has another opportunity to show your enthusiasm for our organization and share why you’ve decided to build your career here.
Raise your voice, share your thoughts and help spread our special Texas Children’s story all across Houston by taking the Best Places to Work Survey by the Friday, August 9 deadline. Simply click or copy and paste the link below into your web browser to get started: https://survey.quantumworkplace.com/bpsurvey/oc_GFYX76647.
Thanks to your consistent participation in the annual HBJ survey, Texas Children’s has been mentioned among Houston’s best workplaces for more than a decade. It’s time for Houston to hear our voices loud and proud again this year!
The third-party Best Places to Work survey is administered by HBJ via Quantum Workplace, Inc. That means your participation is 100 percent confidential and your responses will be kept anonymous. If you have any questions about the survey, contact the Best Places to Work team directly at bestplaces@quantumworkplace.com or by calling 1-888-415-8302.
There are many types of supervisors in various work environments; those who enforce rules, and those like Ashly Swaty, who elevates them. As a Patient Care Manger in the Legacy Tower pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), Swaty makes sure that all the nurses are taken care of and have all materials and any assistance they need.
With the PICU being so unpredictable on a daily basis, in addition to payroll paper work and nursing rounding, she ensures that nurses take lunch breaks on time. Due to the busy and fast-paced environment at times nurses often cannot leave the bedside without someone covering their assignment. Swaty is known for not hesitating to step in and make sure both the patient and nurse are taken care of daily.
“Her heart is to serve our patients, families, and staff. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure those around her have the best experience possible,” Director of Nursing, Shannon Holland said. “In all my years of leadership, I have rarely met someone with Ashly’s dedication and compassion.”
Holland recalled a time on a busy day when a nurse skipped lunch because she was extremely busy managing her very sick patient.
“Ashly jumped in feet first, took over care, and insisted the nurse take a break,” she added. “She did all of this with a smile and supportive and caring attitude. She is truly a servant leader who is caring, genuine, and the embodiment of Caught You Caring!”
Another part of Ashly’s job is to sit down with patients’ parents to understand the motivation behind certain behavior and how they can move forward with better outcomes.
“I truly love being with the families!” Swaty said. I know these days may be the worst of many in their lives, but it means the world to me knowing I can bring just a little bit of comfort or knowledge, when they’re questioning something.”
The appreciation and compassion she has for her patients and nurses goes hand in hand. Her selfless personality is why she believes there are others that deserve this award as well, nonetheless, she is grateful for the honor and the opportunity to work for such a prestigious organization.
“I was so shocked when I found out. I was mostly surprised because, honestly, there are so many people who do great things here in the PICU, so anybody in this whole place could have won,” Swaty said. “It’s such a great honor to be recognized, and an even greater honor to work for Texas Children’s.”
Last year, Texas Children’s Hospital achieved the Magnet designation for the fourth consecutive time, which is considered the highest and most prestigious recognition provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, by demonstrating exceptional care delivery and teamwork to enhance patient outcomes. Learn more by visiting our 2018 virtual Annual Report.