January 14, 2019

As one of the top ranked pediatric hospitals in the nation, many patients come to Texas Children’s to access our high quality care and services. While access to patient care is crucial, providing access to reliable and understandable price and quality information for patient and their families is important too.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a ruling that requires all hospitals to publish an online list of standard charges commonly referred to as a hospital chargemaster beginning January 1 of this year.

The chargemaster is used by hospitals to create a summary of charges and services, which are submitted as claims to health plans. Since the chargemaster only provides hospital charges, it does not help patient understand their out-of-pocket expenses. The chargemaster lists standard charges for procedures, services, supplies, prescription drugs and diagnostic tests, and fees associated with services such as equipment fees and room charges. A hospital’s chargemaster data also tracks service volume, costs and revenue.

When choosing the best children’s hospital for pediatric care, consumers should compare their out-of-pocket expenses coupled with important quality factors – like physician experience/expertise, research conducted, hospital quality and patient outcomes – to help guide them in their health care decisions.

The intent of the new CMS requirement is to make healthcare more like a retail experience when it comes to quality and price shopping. As one of the top five pediatric hospitals in the U.S., Texas Children’s strives to provide the best care possible with rates that are comparable to other pediatric hospitals.

“We are committed to transparency and want to educate our patient families regarding their financial obligations,” said Texas Children’s Director of Managed Care Kabby Thompson. “It is our responsibility to help our patient families understand the difference between cost, charges and payment, and we want them to also know what their out-of-pocket expenses will be before they come in for services.”

Besides making the chargemaster available on Texas Children’s website, the organization has created an online estimator tool to help families better understand what their unique out-of-pocket expenses will be based on their individual insurance/health plan. Texas Children’s began providing estimates to patients prior to their scheduled visits over five years ago, but this is the first time that patients can access this information online.

“We have worked really hard to make sure that our charges are competitive to what other children’s hospitals across the country have in place,” Thompson said. “While many other hospitals provide care to children, the breadth and depth of services at Texas Children’s, coupled with our proven outcomes, is not comparable to the vast majority of hospitals and systems. Texas Children’s has always acted in the best interest of children and families to ensure top quality health care services today and for years to come.”

Texas Children’s chargemaster and price estimator tool can be found on the Texas Children’s website by clicking on Billing and Insurance on the homepage.

On January 10, leaders with Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women cut the ribbon on the facility’s new four-bed OB-GYN intensive care unit.

Located in the Labor and Delivery Unit on the ninth floor, the ICU offers a specialized, private space for high-risk expectant and postpartum mothers with conditions such as:

  • Sepsis
  • Peripartum bleeding
  • Hypertensive disorders
  • Placenta accreta
  • Maternal heart disease
  • Diabetes and other endocrine disorders
  • Cancer
  • Organ transplant

“This beautiful space gives our highly trained clinicians the perfect place to carry out specialized services we’ve offered to our high-risk patients since opening in 2012,” said Lynda Tyer-Viola, vice president of nursing. “Having comprehensive family centered perinatal services in such a setting will help us continue to make a dramatic difference in the lives of expectant mothers with critical complications of pregnancy.”

The Pavilion for Women is home to one of the nation’s few ICUs dedicated solely to obstetric critical care, and the only four-bed maternal ICU in the nation staffed 24/7 by a pulmonary critical care and maternal fetal care team embedded in a hospital’s labor and delivery unit.

The unit’s new space will offer critically ill obstetric patients the latest life-saving equipment and fetal monitoring systems and a dedicated ICU team including 24/7 critical care physicians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and an ICU-trained and ACLS (advanced cardiovascular life support)-certified nursing staff.

The ICU team collaborates closely with Baylor College of Medicine subspecialties including cardiology, hematology and nephrology, among others. The unit and team is also one of the most experienced in the nation in the care of post fetal surgery mothers. Uniquely, expectant mothers with a history of cancer or a new gynecologic cancer diagnosis, will also benefit from the expert care and the most advanced treatment therapies available through our renowned colleagues in gynecologic oncology.

“While life threatening illness or medical conditions add to the complexity of any pregnancy, we are fortunate to have a multidisciplinary clinical team and resources that address the needs of both mother and fetus during this very crucial period,” said Dr. David Muigai, medical director of the maternal ICU. “We feel a deep sense of privilege and pride to be able to further contribute to the overall Texas Children’s mission by offering the highest quality and most comprehensive medical services available to expectant mothers and their babies.”

Dr. Manisha Gandhi, chief of maternal-fetal medicine, agreed and said at the ribbon cutting that she was extremely excited about the continued collaboration between disciplines that the new ICU will enable and encourage.

“The need for higher level, specialized care for women has grown exponentially,” Gandhi said. “Having a dedicated space for maternal ICU services will put us in a good place to better serve these patients during this critical time.”

OB-GYN-in-chief Dr. Michael Belfort said the new ICU is an extremely important tool that will help the specially trained clinicians in the unit take care of the sickest of the sick.

“Unfortunately, maternal mortality is increasing in the United States and Texas,” Belfort said. “With this unit, we are better able to care for those who need us the most.”

For more information about the Pavilion’s maternal ICU, the development of which was led by Liz Bolds, assistant clinical director of high-risk nursing, click here.

Emergency medical service professionals from across Texas recently gathered in Fort Worth for the 2018 Texas EMS Conference and Texas EMS Awards ceremony, where representatives from Texas Children’s trauma center accepted this year’s Trauma Center Award – the state EMS and Trauma system’s top honor for trauma facilities.

“This really is a big deal for Texas Children’s,” said Texas Children’s Associate Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. David Wesson. “The award signals that we’re among the best trauma centers in the state, adult or pediatric, and it represents a team effort by all of the Texas Children’s Trauma Team – doctors, nurses, data specialists, prevention experts, social workers and so many others, and our leaders, Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria and Christi Reeves.”

The Texas EMS Awards, sponsored by the Texas Department of State Health Services, honor individuals and organizations that exemplify the best that state EMS and Trauma have to offer. The Trauma Center Award is presented each year to one facility in the state that has demonstrated leadership and high standards in implementing injury prevention programs and in providing trauma patient care both to citizens and visitors of Texas. Most notably, the winning trauma center is selected from among both adult and pediatric trauma facilities by members of the Texas EMS community.

“These pre-hospital providers have a unique perspective on the quality of care delivered at trauma centers across the state,” said Wesson. “They want the best care for the patients they rescue in the field. So we should be very proud to have been recognized.”

The full continuum of trauma care

Texas Children’s Level I trauma center provides comprehensive, around-the-clock evaluation and treatment for the most severely injured patients that come to the hospital. Considering there are more than 1,000 annual trauma admissions at our Texas Medical Center campus, teamwork is absolutely essential for the rapid and decisive action needed to treat traumatic injuries. The multidisciplinary team includes pediatric surgeons and surgical subspecialists, emergency medicine physicians, critical care physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, child life specialists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, physical, occupational and respiratory therapists, and other support staff – all working together effectively and efficiently when every second matters.

In addition to the world-class clinical care we provide in our trauma center, we also work with state and regional organizations to provide educational opportunities for pre-hospital providers, nurses, community groups and other hospitals. Furthermore, we have teams specially dedicated to public health and injury prevention and to the prevention and management of child abuse and neglect.

Learn more about Texas Children’s trauma center.

January 7, 2019

‘Twas the week before Christmas when patients, families and staff at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands welcomed a very special visitor. But it wasn’t Santa Claus, nor his elves. It was the All-Star shortstop for the Houston Astros – Carlos Correa.

The first stop on the visit was the main lobby, where Correa met with some of our cancer patients and their families before a dedication ceremony for the piano Correa donated last year after an inspiring visit to our campus in The Woodlands.

“The work that I saw being done here and the quality of the care the doctors and staff were providing was breathtaking,” Correa said. “It’s a privilege for me to be able to try and create a special experience for the patients and their families with my piano, and I hope it will provide a joyful distraction and entertainment for many years to come.”

To dedicate the instrument, Dr. Ricky Flores, clinical director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers at The Woodlands, played “Stella del mattino (Morning Star),” a piece whose beautiful simplicity he connects with the patients for whom Texas Children’s cares – who he says are simply beautiful.

“This piano has been an amazing gift to have here,” Flores said. “Many patients, and even some of our providers, have played it and enjoyed it so much. We are very grateful to Carlos for it.”

Following the ceremony, Correa and members of his family paid a special visit to the Acute Care Floor. They took time to pose for photos and to speak individually with several patients and their families who have spent the holidays in the hospital. Correa even talked favorite superheroes and movies. For those families, it was a holiday visit they surely won’t forget.

“I would like to thank the doctors, the patients and the staff at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands for inviting me,” Correa said. “I greatly admire the capabilities and commitment of the care providers and was inspired to witness the strength and courage of the patients they are treating. I hope my visit brought some happiness, joy and motivation for these wonderful people.”

Toss out those rigid and complicated New Year’s resolutions! Instead, kickstart 2019 by setting your intentions with One Word and gaining the tools and knowledge to become a healthier, happier you – not just for the year, but for life.

Join your Employee Well-Being and EAP Plus teams for the first Kickstart 2019 Workshop Series, which will feature the following activities and sessions:

Create Your Well-Being Vision – Choose one word that sums up how you want to be or live this year, then learn how to build the lifelong skills and behaviors you need to create and follow healthy habits that stick.

Ready to get started? We are too! Click here for the My One Word goal card and post it somewhere visible to maintain inspiration throughout the year.

Mastering Meal Prep – Eating healthy is all about the preparation. Learn how to master meal prep, from navigating the grocery store, to identifying the tools that should become your best friends in the kitchen, to finding easy recipes that you can cook in bulk. Meal prep is a tool that can be utilized by everyone, whether you are new to the kitchen or a well-seasoned home chef.

Fundamentals of Fitness – With all the fresh motivation the new year gives you to achieve your fitness goals, you’re primed and ready to tone up – but where and how exactly do you start? Get ready for a dynamic discussion about building a new workout routine and putting it into action.

Focusing Daily Energy – Between work, family and other responsibilities, our lives pull us in so many directions each day. Learn how to focus and shift your energy to the right places, at the right times. Make more mindful choices on how you spend your time and connect with people who bring positive energy.

Register Today
Click here for a full schedule of the Kickstart 2019 Workshop Series, including all session dates and locations. Class space is limited, register today.

Ready, Set, Win in 2019 with WW and New Fitness Partnerships
Weight Watchers is now “WW,” a reimagined and revamped program designed to inspire healthy habits for real life for people, families and communities around the world. WW is about more than weight loss; it’s about providing participants with a partner in wellness – whether that means eating better, moving more, developing a positive mindset, taking pounds off the scale or all of the above. WW also includes the new WellnessWins™ rewards program to recognize members at every steps of their wellness journey.

Click here to check out the new WW and join from January 2-25 to be enrolled in the Jumpstart Promotion, and as a new members, you’ll receive a free gift.

Texas Children’s badge holders receive reduced monthly membership rates, waived enrollment fees, and discounted programs and services from a variety of wellness partners. Click here to learn more about all of Texas Children’s wellness partnerships.

Introducing ClassPass, our newest wellness partner, offering one of the world’s most flexible memberships that allows you to work out where you want, when you want and how you want. Click here to learn more.

If you have any questions, contact the Well-Being team at wellbeing@texaschildrens.org.


The Centers for Children and Women at Texas Children’s recently received community pharmacy practice accreditation from the Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA). This accreditation demonstrates Texas Children’s ongoing commitment to high quality care and patient safety.

With approximately 33,000 community pharmacies located across the United States, The Centers in Greenspoint and Southwest are the first in Texas to gain this esteemed accreditation.

“Gaining this voluntary accreditation is an important way for us to show our investment in continuous improvement of our pharmacy practice,” said Yen Phan, pharmacy manager at The Centers for Children and Women. “Our team worked very hard to meet the rigorous CPPA requirements for accreditation, and we will continue to focus our efforts on providing exceptional patient-centered care.”

The CPPA, a non-profit organization, recognizes pharmacy practices that foster medication safety and effectiveness, ensure continuous quality improvement and facilitate desired patient health outcomes.

The Centers at Greenspoint and Southwest implemented several initiatives to meet the CPPA standards for community pharmacy accreditation including creating a Quality Committee that provides an organized forum to review quality metrics and develop solutions to prevent potential medication errors. The Quality Committee also assessed overall performance and identified areas in need of quality improvement.

“The surveyors were very impressed with our best practices and model of care,” Phan said. “Our hope is that our best practices can serve as a benchmark for other community pharmacies to replicate.”

For more information about the CPPA accreditation process, visit www.pharmacypracticeaccredit.org
For more information about The Center for Children and Women, visit www.jointhecenter.org

On January 1, 2019, Dr. Rajkumar Venkatramani assumed the role of director of the Solid Tumor Program at Texas Children’s Cancer Center. Venkatramani, associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist who is internationally recognized for his expertise in the care of children with pediatric solid tumors.

Dr. Murali Chintagumpala, who has served as director of both the Solid Tumor and Neuro-Oncology programs for many years, will continue to serve as director of the Neuro-Oncology Program, and will continue to play an integral role in the Solid Tumor Program.

Venkatramani completed his pediatric training at Kings College in London and obtained membership in the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health. He completed another pediatric residency at University of Illinois College of Medicine and a fellowship in pediatric hematology oncology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Venkatramani served on the faculty at University of Southern California for three years prior to joining the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Cancer Center in 2014.

At Texas Children’s, Venkatramani has been instrumental in developing a rare tumors program. He has established a national registry for children with rare tumors that will provide important data to physician scientists as they work to find a cure for these often times difficult to treat cancers.

Venkatramani is also a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Renal Tumor Committee, where he is actively involved in developing a national clinical trial for children with a type of recurrent or relapsed kidney tumor known as Wilms tumor.

Venkatramani has published more than 60 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and has been a recipient of numerous awards, including: The Walter Laug Distinguished Teacher Award for Outstanding Teaching and the Guidance and Inspiration and Outstanding Resident Teacher Award. In 2017, he was appointed to the editorial board of Pediatric Blood and Cancer, the premier publication that focuses on laboratory and clinical investigations for children and adolescents with cancer or blood disorders.

“I am extremely excited to have Dr. Venkatramani transition into this leadership role, as his expertise in solid tumors will serve our patients and program well,” said Dr. Susan Blaney, director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. “I am also very appreciative of the leadership that Dr. Chintagumpala has provided to the Solid Tumor Program for many years and pleased that he will continue to be actively involved in this program as well as to continue to lead the Neuro-Oncology Program as well as play a leadership role in other Center activities.”