Mary Kelly – Page 397 – Texas Children's News

October 6, 2015

Dr. Andrew Jea, Fellowship Program Director, Director of Educational Programs for the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, was recently appointed to the college’s Medical School Curriculum Committee.

The committee oversees the medical education program as a whole and has responsibility for the overall design, management, integration, evaluation and enhancement of a coherent and coordinated medical curriculum.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve on such a prestigious committee,” Jea said. “I look forward to playing a role in shaping the medical curriculum at Baylor College of Medicine.”

Jea earned his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. He completed an internship at the school, and completed his residency and spine fellowship there. Before joining Texas Children’s, he finished a second fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the University of Toronto and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Jea’s awards in the field of medical education include three Fulbright & Jaworski Faculty Excellence Awards in Teaching, and Evaluation, Educational Leadership, and Development of Enduring Educational Materials, respectively. He is the recipient of successive annual Baylor College of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery teaching awards since 2010, including Teach of the Year honors in 2012. Jea was also named the Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery Faculty Research Mentor Award in 2012. Moreover, he was recently elected a Senator to the inaugural Baylor College of Medicine Faculty Senate.

Jea’s clinical interests center around the surgical treatment of spine and spinal cord disorders, including scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis, trauma, and tumors, in the pediatric and young adult age groups. His laboratory interests involve the use of nanotechnology to effect neuronal regeneration in the setting of spinal cord injury. These interests have led to numerous grants, presentations, and publications, as well as a lasting collaborative relationship with nanotechnology scientists at Rice University.

Return to Connect

Bench and Bedside is a digest of the previous month’s stories about the clinical and academic activities of our physicians and scientists. We welcome your submissions and feedback.

September 2

Pulmonary hypertension team hosts the painting party, proceeds benefit PHA

Physicians and staff with Texas Children’s Pulmonary Hypertension Program hosted a tile painting party on August 22 where patients transformed ceramic tiles into colorful pieces of art. The event benefited the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. Read more

September 9

Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus expands urology services

Urology services at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus have been extended to meet the needs of patients in Houston and its surrounding area. Read more

September 9

Dormans sets sights high for future of Orthopedics Department

Chief of Orthopedics Dr. John Dormans joined Texas Children’s three months ago and has already developed a plan to make the Texas Children’s Orthopedics Department one of the top programs in the world. His plan focuses on three main areas – recruitment, operations and facilities, and reputation and expertise. Read more

September 9

Hair receives 2015 Clinical Faculty of the Year Award

Dr. Amy Hair, a neonatologist and director of neonatal nutrition at Texas Children’s, recently received the Baylor College of Medicine’s 2015 Clinical Faculty of the Year Award for demonstrating “exemplary performance of activities that are above and beyond the scope of assigned responsibilities.” Read more

September 9

New program offers emotional healing for parents of special-needs children

Texas Children’s Geneticist Dr. Christian Schaaf and his colleagues developed a support program that helps parents cope with the emotional challenges of caring for children with developmental disabilities by learning to let go of things they cannot control. Read more

September 15

Clinical Research Center/Research Resources Office presents research award to Dr. Wenderfer

The Clinical Research Center/Research Resources Office presented the Clinical Research Award for Third Quarter 2015 to Dr. Scott Wenderfer, Department of Pediatrics-Renal, Baylor College of Medicine. Wenderfer’s research activities focus on Inflammatory Kidney Diseases and Lupus Nephritis. Read more

September 15

Texas Children’s patients, staff create shared memories at Camp Spike N Wave, Camp Periwinkle

Every summer, Texas Children’s staff and their patients make the 90-mile trek to Camp for All, a 100-acre, barrier-free recreational facility where children with complex medical conditions experience the thrill of camping just like other kids their age. More than 185 children with epilepsy attend Camp Spike N Wave and roughly 185 patients from Texas Children’s Cancer Center go to Camp Periwinkle. Read more

September 29

Dormans presides over 50th annual meeting of SRS

Dr. John Dormans, chief of Orthopedics at Texas Children’s Hospital, completed his year as president of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) at the 50th anniversary meeting in Minneapolis September 30 to October 3 and presented one of six special lectures titled, “Neural Complications in Spinal Deformity: Detection and Avoidance.” Read more

September 29

Dr. Swathi Bataji joins Pediatric Surgery

Dr. Swathi Balaji has joined the Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratory at Texas Children’s Hospital. Balaji also has been appointed assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Read more

September 29

ICD-10 debut: New coding system launchess at Texas Children’s October 1

On October 1, Texas Children’s and other hospitals around the world switched to the ICD-10 coding system that will allow greater detail and precision in reporting patients’ diagnoses and procedures. For more than a year, Texas Children’s ICD-10 preparedness teams worked diligently to ensure all employees were prepared for the mandatory October 1 conversion. Read more

September 29

Heart Center physicians perform two cases broadcasted to live audience

Heart Center physicians performed two pediatric interventional cardiac care cases for the Pediatric and Adult Interventional Cardiac Symposium. The cases, which were performed at the Main Campus, were transmitted live to the conference in Las Vegas, Nevada via satellite. Read more

September 29, 2015

On Thursday, October 1, Texas Children’s will join other hospitals across the world and switch from ICD-9 to the expanded ICD-10 code sets to report patients’ diagnoses and procedures.

The ICD-10 system will allow greater detail and precision in describing patient care and acuity. This increased level of detail will improve our clinical providers’ ability to track data, enhance the measurement of care quality and safety, refine the claims reimbursement process and ultimately, improve clinical, financial and administrative performances.

For more than a year, Texas Children’s ICD-10 preparedness teams have worked diligently to ensure all employees are prepared for the mandatory October 1 conversion. As of today, 100 percent of our clinicians, nurses and nonclinical support staff have reached full compliance with the required training and education necessary to ensure organization-wide readiness.

While previous ICD-10 delays prompted some organizations to pause during their preparations, Texas Children’s has continued forward with technical application remediation, provider training and education to all impacted service areas.

“We would not be able to achieve this level of preparedness without the tremendous support we received from leaders across our organization,” said Texas Children’s Director of Health Information Management Austin Frazier. “Your commitment and the support from our executive team helped us achieve this milestone as we transition to this important shift in health care. Thank you!”

As we start the final countdown to ICD-10, here are some helpful resources to consider:

1. Where do I go for additional information on ICD-10?

Below are links to a quick fact sheet and helpful sites with basic information on ICD-10 to see how this change will impact your own medical record documentation:

ICD-10 Video

ICD-10 Fact Sheet

ICD-10 Industry Updates

ICD-10 Myths and Facts

2. What if I have technical issues on or after October 1 related to ICD-10?

Contact the IS Help Desk at Ext. 4-3512 for all system related questions and concerns. Clinicians can contact the 4 Epic team for support

3. Is there a crosswalk tool to assist me?

Yes. Revenue Cycle has developed a tool for quick code translation to support the organization. Those users who will be heavily impacted will be able to reference this SharePoint site directly.

4. Who should I contact if I have additional questions about ICD-10?

For other questions or concerns, email Frazier or call him at Ext. 4-1605.

Each fall, Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace rolls up his shirt sleeve and gets an annual flu shot to protect himself, you, the patients we serve, and his family – especially his young grandchildren – against a potentially deadly infection. As an employee of one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation, Wallace is asking you to do the same.

“We ask you to get your flu shot to protect yourself, and to protect those around you who really depend on you to be healthy,” he said. “When you’re healthy, the patients in our care – children and women – have a much better chance of leaving here without getting sicker.”

“Being healthy also allows you to be here for your team and coworkers during one of our busiest times of the year,” Wallace said. “But most importantly, when you get vaccinated, there’s much less chance you’ll get the flu and pass it on to the people you love, like your precious children, your spouse and others you care for.”

Texas Children’s is offering free flu shots to all Texas Children’s employees, Baylor College of Medicine employees working in Texas Children’s facilities, Texas Children’s medical staff and volunteers. Employee Health is administering free flu vaccinations from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29 and 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, October 2 on The Auxiliary Bridge.

Click here to view dates and locations for your vaccination. If you are unable to make one of these dates, please make an appointment at the Employee Health clinic, located on the fifth floor of the Abercrombie Building near the yellow elevators, after Thursday, October 1. If you have questions, please call Employee Health at Ext. 4-2150. West Campus Employee Health is located on the campus’ second floor and can be reached at Ext. 7-1365.

Last year, Texas Children’s achieved a 90 percent vaccination rate. We want to reach or exceed that rate this year. As a reminder, employees should be in compliance by Tuesday, December 1. Additional information about our vaccination policy and procedures can be found here and here.

Leaders can run reports for their area(s) via the Health and Wellness portal. Individuals who would like to view and/or print their immunization records can click here for instructions on how to access that portal.

“Protect yourself, and protect those around you,” Wallace said. “It’s a simple act that could save the life of someone you love.”

When Employee Medical Clinic and Wellness Manager Julie Griffith learned her nanny would be gone a week due to a family emergency she turned to Bright Horizon’s back-up care for help.

After filling out a few forms, Griffith breathed a sigh of relief and drove her son, Cameron, downtown to the temporary child care provider’s flagship facility where trained professionals greeted them with smiles, assurances and even a “Welcome” sign.

“I was very impressed with my entire experience, which allowed me to be fully present at work knowing that my child was being well cared for,” Griffith said. “I would highly recommend taking full advantage of the Bright Horizon’s back-up child care benefit to all employees.”

What is the Back-Up Care Advantage Program?

As part of our Total Rewards benefits, Texas Children’s partners with Bright Horizons to provide temporary back-up care at low cost. Employees can access up to 80 hours of family back-up care every calendar year. Standard copays are $2 per child per hour for center-based care or $4 per hour for in-home care for any age (for up to three people), but for the month of October, there is no copay. We are offering our Back-Up Care Advantage Program at no cost for Texas Children’s benefits-eligible employees during October.

By accessing this benefit, you do not have to take personal time off or miss work when:

Your regular caregiver is unavailable or on vacation
Your children’s schools are closed for holidays or teacher in-service days
You are transitioning back to work from parental leave
Your parent or adult loved one needs care in their home – anywhere throughout the U.S.

How do I participate in this program?

You must be registered before using the program and reservations are required. Requests for care can be made one month in advance or up to the day care is needed. Please note, there are some required forms needed prior to use of back-up care. We encourage employees to register for the Back-Up Care Advantage Program in advance of first-time use.

First-time users can register via one of the following options:

Online: https://backup.brighthorizons.com

Username = TexasChildrens
Password = backup1

Phone: 877-242-2737

Customer Service is available 24 hours/7 days a week.

Questions?
Please call Total Rewards at Ext. 4-2421 Option 1.

We hope you can take advantage of this program during the month October as well as throughout the year.

Physicians from around the world attending the Pediatric and Adult Interventional Cardiac Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada were invited to watch two live cardiac catheterization cases performed by the Texas Children’s Heart Center team. The cases, which were performed at the Main Campus, were transmitted live to the conference via satellite. The purpose of these cases is to showcase the surgical techniques of the different hospitals and encourage greater collaboration. Texas Children’s was among nine hospitals from around the world chosen to participate in these live cases.

The conference, held in Las Vegas, focuses on opportunities for greater integration between congenital heart and adult structural heart disease specialists. Texas Children’s Heart Center is ranked #2 nationally in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Led by interventional cardiologist Dr. Henri Justino, The Charles E. Mullins Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories at Texas Children’s Hospital include three dedicated labs and a team of five dedicated interventional cardiologists. In 2014, the team performed more than 1,150 cardiac catheterization procedures and more than 98 percent of cases occurred without complication.

“We are thrilled to showcase Texas Children’s specialized pediatric interventional cardiac care on an international level,” Justino said. “Our team performed two procedures on patients with extremely complex cardiovascular malformations which will further highlight the depth and breadth of minimally invasive transcatheter treatments we provide to our patients every day.”

Justino was joined by Dr. Athar Qureshi, associate director of the Mullins Catheterization Laboratories at Texas Children’s along with the team. The first case involved a patient with Abernethy malformation with portopulmonary hypertension. The team plans a percutaneous splenic vein puncture, splenoportography and possible placement of an additional device in the large congenital portosystemic shunt. The second case features a patient who has pulmonary vein stenosis due to Cri-du-Chat syndrome, a chromosomal condition that results when a piece of chromosome 5 is missing. The team plans balloon dilation and/or stenting of the right pulmonary vein stents with possible intentional stent fracture.

Today marks a bittersweet moment: after more than three years, we are saying farewell to the Bump Watch blog. As we close this final chapter of Bump Watch, Angela Hudson, Hasti Taghi and Rosie Moore share some of their fondest moments about this journey. And we revisit several Bump Watch families to see just how big their babies have grown since we first met them.

How a dusty hospital terrarium inspired Bump Watch

Almost 15 years ago, I was admitted to the antepartum unit at a nearby hospital. I was 21 weeks pregnant and had bouts with pre-term labor for about a week before I was finally admitted. Subsequently, I spent the next six weeks on hospitalized bedrest. My hospital room was small, dingy and nondescript. The compact sofa bed with its vinyl covering was too small for my husband and so obviously uncomfortable that I insisted he not stay most nights. And the only window in my room was a filmy 18-inch square high on the wall. Inside the “window” was what I think used to be a terrarium which housed a plastic cactus and years of dust. I spent most of my six weeks in this room, sometimes in Trendelenburg position, the perfect angle from which to study the details of that awful terrarium.

So when I came to Texas Children’s Marketing/PR department in fall 2010 and learned of the plans for Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, I was elated. I was so incredibly grateful for what Texas Children’s was positioning itself to do for women and their families. As I fully grasped the experience that we were intent on providing for our expectant mothers, I was so excited, and I really wanted to do something with that excitement – I wanted to pass it on to all of you. That’s what inspired me to give you Bump Watch.

The opening of the Pavilion represented a huge milestone for our organization, as we were venturing into adult services with an incredible vision that others hadn’t yet grasped. It was important that our staff and employees understood this and appreciated how we were going to majorly shift the approach to ob/gyn services. I was clear, however, that I didn’t want us to solely communicate to you about the Pavilion in the way we typically share news about new capital projects – construction timeline, square feet, project dollars, patient capacity and parking spaces. I also wanted you to see the Pavilion through the eyes of the mothers for whom we were creating it. Bump Watch would allow us to share all of the wonderful, thoughtful features of the Pavilion through the stories of the families.

My team started requesting participants for our Bump Watch blog in summer 2011, and many of you generously agreed to share your stories. Several months later, I was fortunate to have Hasti Taghi join our team. She had just the right amount of eagerness and zeal to embrace the idea of Bump Watch, and she breathed life into it as the blog’s first editor.

Seeing Bump Watch launch on March 3, 2012, was so rewarding. It was an awesome communication milestone for us as an organization. We had more than 100,000 views in the blog’s first three months and 557,006 views to date.

I loved all of the Bump Watch families’ stories, especially in those first months as we explored the Pavilion through their eyes. I know I can’t change the six weeks that I experienced in the hospital years ago, but Texas Children’s has changed it for the thousands of mothers who come here each year. And Bump Watch helped tell that beautiful story. I am immensely grateful, and I thank you for your part in the blog’s tremendous success.

Oh, and that’s my NICU graduate above. Clark is now the most amazing 14-year-old. Thank you for that too, Texas Children’s.

Angela J. Hudson, Director, Corporate Communications

Farewell from the Bump Watch editors

Hasti Taghi

If you know me well, you know I love babies. If you bring a baby around me, chances are I’ll ask if I can hold him or her and you won’t have much of a choice.

The organization hired me just before Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women opened. I was tasked with leading the creation and execution of Bump Watch, our very first internal blog. I hadn’t had any babies, but I was fascinated with the journeys our Bump Watch moms took as they prepared for theirs and thrilled about the journey we took as we completed the Pavilion for Women.

This blog became my first major project here, my first baby. I was introduced to the loveliest employees and fell in love with all of your families. Our moms and dads were so open with their stories. They shared their highs and lows and several even had me on speed dial as they went into labor.

Through Bump Watch, we all learned of the various journeys that are taken to become a family and of the many services available at the Pavilion. Although it’s no longer new, the care we provide here still fascinates me. I am so proud to have experienced the Pavilion in its infancy and so humbled to have met the beautiful families who let me into the most important time of their lives. If I’m ever lucky enough to have my own babies, I will be so well-informed because of your willingness to open up to me. Thank you for bringing us along on your journey.

Rosie Moore

On May 5, 2014, I joined the Texas Children’s Internal Communications team. Shortly after I got here, I became the second editor of Bump Watch. When Hasti passed her “first baby” onto me, I graciously embraced this exciting opportunity.

Over the past year, I’ve learned so many important lessons from our Bump Watch moms. Perhaps the greatest lesson of all was perserverance. No matter what challenges these moms faced – large or small – they never gave up. They kept on going until they reached that light at the end of the tunnel.

I will never forget the story of Amber Jacques who triumphantly beat cancer and infertility issues and is now the proud mother of a beautiful girl. Or the story of Julia Moreira, who described the unbreakable bond she developed with her extremely sick son in the NICU who she only knew for 29 days. What a strong, courageous mother.

Thank you for sharing your stories with us about your incredible journeys to parenthood. I enjoyed being part of this adventure as you shared exciting news with all of us, like your birth announcements, the big gender reveals, or updates on how much your babies have grown since they were last featured on Bump Watch. So I thought it fitting to bring the babies back for a final – and incredibly cute – farewell.

Revisiting the “Original” Bump Watch families

1. Tanya Butler-Brown

It’s hard to believe our sweet, beautiful baby girl, Cai Amelia Brown, just celebrated her second birthday! Cai is a happy, healthy, independent, busy, feisty but loving little girl. She likes to dress herself in everyone’s clothes. She has been putting on her own shoes for quite some time now and she is really loving this potty training adventure…we’re almost there!

Cai is enrolled in a learning academy where she continues to thrive beyond our expectations. Cai’s teachers enjoy working with her because they say, “Baby Cai always has a great day and she is eager to learn, participate and demonstrate.” Cai loves to sing nursery rhymes. One of her favorites is “I Love You, I Love You, I Love You.” Another is “Ring Around the Rosy.” (Only problem is, daddy and I have a hard time getting up after “we all fall down.”) Cai also loves to dance. We have no intentions of expanding our family especially considering that my husband and I were very “mature” when we became parents to our two miraculous blessings.

2. Jessica Cernosek

Two years ago, my husband, Nathan, and I welcomed our first baby, Lucia Isabelle. Our sweet bundle of joy was a welcome surprise. We had tried to conceive for years and was on a waiting list to adopt when we found out we were expecting.

Today, Lucia is a feisty toddler. She is two and doing awesome. Lucia started school and is learning so much. She says new things every day. My favorite is, “I’m pigging out.” I have no idea who she picked that up from!

This year, we welcomed baby Baby No. 2 to our family. I found out I was pregnant again when Lucia turned one. Thomas is five months old and Lucia is doing a terrific job in her new role as big sister. We are a lively household.

3. Kimberly Clark

Time has flown by since our son, Myles Williams Clark, was featured on Bump Watch. Today, he is a vibrant, young 3-year-old boy.

Miles has reached many milestones. He is in Pre-K 3 at Wonderland Private School where he enjoys learning and playing with his friends. He loves Spiderman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He has a contagious laugh and smile, and he fills our lives with great joy and happiness. We recently expanded our family when my husband and I welcomed our fifth child, Matthew James Clark, on August 30.

4. Lindsey Gooding

Lindsey and her husband welcomed their son, William James, in April 2012 at the Pavilion for Women. He spent four weeks of his fragile life in the NICU. Today, at age 3, he has achieved so many milestones.

It’s hard to believe how fast time goes by and how much can change in the blink of an eye. You would never know that our little guy spent a month in the NICU. William is the happiest little boy who loves playing with trucks, knows all his shapes, can run, hop, do a front roll on his own, swim and loves spending time with this family. We are so thankful for the great care we’ve continued to receive over the last three years in the Pavilion!

Since our last Bump Watch post, we’ve gotten through several surgeries at the Pavilion, had a miscarriage but I am happy to report, I recently delivered a healthy baby girl in September. We named her Anna Grace, and William is thrilled to be a big brother.

5. Emily Klein

Our daughter, Audrey Olivia Klein, was born on March 28, 2012 at the Pavilion for Women. She weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces. She has grown tremendously since then.

Audrey is a thriving 3 ½ years old. She was an infant when Bump Watch first launched. She is a happy, confident, imaginative and outgoing little girl. Audrey started talking early and has a great vocabulary. She loves to get out and see things, and her favorite place to visit is the Alamo. There is never a dull moment with her.

Audrey recently became a big sister in September.

6. Dr. Susan Leong-Kee

Daniel and Abby just celebrated their two year birthday and are doing great. They just started 2-year-old preschool and their speech and vocabulary have sky rocketed. They love to sing and dance, read books, play outside and play in the pool.

We have not expanded our family yet as we absolutely have our hands full. Grandma (PoPo) is still a very big part of their lives and cooks them gourmet Chinese meals every day. We are so thankful every day she is here to help raise our twins.

7. Veronica Love

Our precious daughter, Logan Love, was born on January 30, 2014 at the Pavilion for Women. Her arrival was extra special for our family as she was born three years after my triumphant battle against breast cancer.

Logan is now 18 months old and she is beautiful, sassy and on the run. She was featured on Bump Watch when she was about two months old and has grown fast and reached many milestones since then. She climbs anything standing relatively still and loves to chase her 8-year-old brother Declan. She has brought so much joy to our lives and definitely keeps us on our toes.

8. Erin McDade

My husband and I welcomed our son, Aidan James, on March 30, 2012. He weighed a whopping 9 pounds and 13 ounces. Today, he is 3 ½ years old and, as you can see, loves fire engines.

Since Aidan’s debut on Bump Watch, our son has grown up so fast. He walked at 11 months and his first word was “ball,” which is fitting given his love for sports. He enjoys swimming, playing soccer, football and baseball. He went fishing for the first time this summer and caught his first fish. Right now, Aiden LOVES fire engines, fire fighters and any and everything associated with a fire station. He even got to have his third birthday party at the Houston Fire Museum.

Aidan’s biggest milestone to date is becoming a big brother. We welcomed Aidan’s little sister, Addison, into the world in January 2015. He absolutely loves his little sister and is the best in the family at making her laugh. While the last six months with our “threenager” has been a challenge, we wouldn’t change a single second of it.

9. Dr. Joyee Vachani

My husband, Sameer, and I welcomed our second daughter, Diya, almost two years ago at the Pavilion for Women. She is 22 months old and has brought lots of joy to our family.

Diya initially had a bumpy first year with a diagnosis of milk protein allergy and then multiple ear infections requiring ear tubes. Since then, she has grown into an amazing little person – talking, running, singing and dancing her way into the heart of everyone she meets. Big sister Avni (who is older by only 18 months) is enjoying her younger sister and realizing quickly Diya can’t be bossed around for long. Avni is thoughtful, caring and sensitive while Diya is joyous, social and fearless, and they each bring out the best in each other.

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