August 9, 2016

81016ZikaBaginside640Texas Children’s Hospital recently teamed up with H-E-B and Cutter® Insect Repellents to launch a community-based initiative to help Houstonians prepare for and prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

As part of this collaborative initiative, all three community partners will distribute 50,000 bags with free educational brochures in both English and Spanish, duct tape and insect repellent to those in targeted areas who may be at an increased risk of contracting and spreading the Zika virus.

The free bags will be distributed to patients of Texas Children’s Pediatrics Community Cares practices in Gulfgate, Corinthian Pointe, Cullen, Gulfton, Ripley House and Kingsland. The bags will also be available to Texas Children’s Health Plan patients at the Centers for Children and Women in Greenspoint and Southwest Houston.

Members of the community who are not patients of these locations can also pick up a free bag while supplies last at any of the following HEB locations:

  • H-E-B Gulfgate at 3111 Woodridge
  • H-E-B at 10251 Kempwood
  • H-E-B at 10100 Beechnut

“We are excited to work with H-E-B and Cutter Insect Repellents to help meet a critical need for so many members of our community,” says Dr. Mark W. Kline, physician-in-chief at Texas Children’s and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “We believe it is only a matter of time before the Zika virus is prevalent in our community. Helping to educate and provide the tools needed to protect those families most at risk of contracting and spreading the disease is something we feel strongly must be done.”

Zika is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitos. Once infected, a person can spread the virus by being bitten by an Aedes mosquito that then bites another individual or through sexual contact. Pregnant women can transmit Zika to their unborn child as well. In recent months, the virus has raised concern among pregnant women since the virus may increase the risk of microcephaly, a rare neurological birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads.

Although most children and adults infected with Zika will only have mild illness – usually accompanied with symptoms of rash, fever, pink eye and joint pain that typically clear up in less than a week – a small number may suffer complications involving the brain and nervous system such as temporary or permanent paralysis. Deaths from Zika are rare.

As of July 2016, no cases of Zika have been transmitted locally by a mosquito bite but the virus has been diagnosed in travelers returning to Texas from other countries. Aedes mosquitoes are common in Texas and across the Gulf Coast, so Zika cases among returning travelers have the potential to result in the local spread of the virus.

To reduce the risk of becoming infected with Zika, there are three simple steps families can take:

  • Repel: Apply a DEET-containing insect repellent when outdoors. DEET is the most effective form of insect repellent and is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as children older than 2 months of age. Follow instructions on the product and do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes or mouth, or onto a cut or irritated skin. Insect repellent may need to be reapplied. If using sunscreen, apply that first and insect repellent second.
  • Repair: If possible, use air conditioning and close windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of the home. Repair or replace damaged screens on windows or doors. Inspect screens throughout the house. Simple duct tape can be used to repair any holes in screens.
  • Remove: Inspect the area around the home and eliminate places mosquitoes can use to lay eggs. Mosquitoes need standing water to reproduce, so empty, turn over, cover or throw out anything that can hold standing water, including old tires, buckets, planters, plastic pools, birdbaths, flower pots, trash cans, cups, toys, etc.

Click here to view educational flyer about Zika. For more information on Zika, click here.

Recent articles related to Zika:
New Zika clinic opens at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women
Senator Cornyn visits Texas Children’s to attend roundtable on Zika virus
Zika virus cases surface in Texas, travelers to epidemic regions most at risk

81016ChronicleAdUrology250.pgTexas Children’s is the honored sponsor for every Tuesday’s “Houston Legends” series. We will showcase the legendary care Texas Children’s has provided since 1954, and focus on milestone moments in our unique history. Also, a complementary website offers a more detailed look at our past, our story and our breakthroughs.

On the right is the Texas Children’s ad that is featured in this week’s Chronicle. Click the ad to visit our companion website at texaschildrens.org/legendarycare. The website will change weekly to complement the newspaper ad, which will be published in section A of the Chronicle on Tuesdays for the next several weeks. We also will spotlight this special feature weekly on Connect, so stay tuned to learn and share our rich history.

August 1, 2016

8316chroniclephilanthropy250Texas Children’s is the honored sponsor for every Tuesday’s “Houston Legends” series. For more than 20 weeks, we will showcase the legendary care Texas Children’s has provided since 1954, and focus on milestone moments in our unique history. Also, a complementary website offers a more detailed look at our past, our story and our breakthroughs.

On the right is the Texas Children’s ad that is featured in this week’s Chronicle. Click the ad to visit our companion website at texaschildrens.org/legendarycare. The website will change weekly to complement the newspaper ad, which will be published in section A of the Chronicle on Tuesdays for the next 10 weeks. We also will spotlight this special feature weekly on Connect, so stay tuned to learn and share our rich history.

Click here to visit the Promise website.

Camp-For-All-2-U-0008_jpg

Zip, zap, zop.

A group of 10 children sitting in a circle took turns saying each word over and over. Once the circle was complete, the pace quickened until you could barely understand what the children were saying.

Eventually, the group erupted in laughter and applause.

“We went around in seven seconds!” one child exclaimed.

“I bet we can do it even faster,” another proclaimed.

The wordplay exercise was one of many activities held July 25 – July 29 at Camp For All 2 U, an adaptation of Camp For All, a unique, barrier free camp in Burton, Texas, that works in partnership with other non-profits such as Texas Children’s Hospital to enrich the lives of children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs.

Camp For All 2 U brings the activities campers enjoy in Burton – music, drama, arts and crafts, and more – to Texas Children’s Hospital so that children whose current medical conditions prevent them from traveling do not exclude them from experiencing the wonders of camp.

Child Life Specialist Sarah Coltman, who has been collaborating with Camp For All to bring the experience to Texas Children’s Hospital, said the first annual event was a success and treated dozens of patients and their siblings to a much needed break from every-day hospital life.

“It’s been really nice to see these kids and their parents laughing and having fun,” she said. “We hope to bring our patients and their families this opportunity again next year.”

Camp For All Program Supervisor Allen McBride said campers in Burton always come in very shy and reserved but leave laughing, smiling and not wanting to go home. He said it was no different at Texas Children’s.

“They all seemed to have a really good time,” he said, adding that many campers met other patients and made friends.

Nine-year-old Braden Sing said he had a wonderful time at camp and that the carnival activities were his favorite. Braden has been at Texas Children’s for almost a month. He and his little sister attended camp all week.

“This is really cool,” Braden’s mother, Michelle, said. “It’s given him a chance to do some of the things he’s missed this summer.”

 

Gallery of photos from event:

July 19, 2016

72016WoodlandsDonation640When Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands opens its doors next year to provide dedicated pediatric care to the fast-growing population of The Woodlands and beyond, it will be the result of a tremendous team effort, including those who donated funds to support the cause.

“Over the past several years, Texas Children’s has received both big and small donations to help build and support Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands,” said the community hospital’s president Michelle Riley-Brown. “Our donors have worked behind the scenes to make this multimillion dollar effort happen and we appreciate everything they have done.”

The Wieghat family recently united to that collaborative effort when their four children pulled together a portion of their allowance money, walked into the Welcome Center in The Woodlands and presented their donation of $78 to Dr. Charles Hankins, chief medical officer of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.

The children – Cora, 6, Hannah, 9, Ruth, 9, and Carson, 11 – decided to give to the hospital when a group at their school had discussed making a contribution to Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands.

“The group decided not to donate the money, so the girls wanted to do it on their own,” said the children’s mother Sarah Wieghat, who, along with her husband, often stress the importance of giving as a way to help others. The girls decided to move forward and combine a portion of their allowance to donate. Their parents also joined in by matching the donation.

The Wieghats, who live in the Woodlands, are not strangers to Texas Children’s. They have used Texas Children’s pediatricians for more than 11 years and recently Texas Children’s physicians were able to help their youngest child, Cora, when others could not.

“She has been seen by Texas Children’s physicians in urology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, cardiology, orthopedics and genetics,” Wieghat said, adding that having a hospital just minutes from their home will have a great impact on their family, especially Cora.

Another small but meaningful donation to the hospital will soon be made by the very people who are building it. During a recent walk-through inspection of the hospital, Tellepsen Builders Senior Superintendent John Brock, pulled Eric Allum, assistant director of Support Services, aside and indicated the construction crew and many sub-contractors had expressed a desire to pool their personal money to make a small donation to the hospital.

“In his humble way he indicated it wouldn’t be a large amount, but it was clear the money was coming directly from those who have the least to give,” Allum said. “I was blown away by the gesture but I was not surprised knowing that many of the contractors working on the Woodlands campus are proud to be involved in a project that will help so many.”

Riley-Brown said the expansion of Texas Children’s Hospital continues to remind us that our work is a collaborative effort no matter how big or small the contribution.

This fall Texas Children’s will open its doors to the outpatient building of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. Soon thereafter in the spring of 2017, Texas Children’s second community hospital will be ready to serve The Woodlands and beyond.

The 560,000-square-foot complex will offer inpatient and outpatient specialty pediatric care, and facilities will include 72 outpatient exam rooms, 25 emergency center exam rooms, 28 critical care rooms, 32 acute care rooms, 12 radiology rooms and four operating rooms.

72016pokemon640In light of the recent Pokémon GO craze, Texas Children’s wants to remind employees about our policies and our continued responsibility to promote a safe environment for our patients and their families while they are in our care.

A recently released mobile game called Pokémon GO encourages players to use their smartphones’ GPS and cameras to catch virtual Pokémon in various and unexpected locations. This game encourages players to wander in public places in search of Pokémon characters.

It has been reported the app is being downloaded and played at Texas Children’s locations, and some Pokémon characters are showing up at our locations including patient care and secured areas. As a result, this could potentially lead to many unsafe situations for our patients, their families and our employees. This includes:

Patient and family safety
  • Patients leaving their patient care areas without telling caretakers or parents
  • Patients entering unsecure/dangerous areas
  • Patient photos being posted to social media without knowledge/consent
  • Strangers entering Texas Children’s facilities with the sole reason to play Pokémon GO
  • Malware affecting their smartphones
Employee risks
  • All of the above
  • Leaving patient care areas
  • Violation of the following:
  • Use of Social Media Policy
  • Wireless Acceptable Use IM Policy
  • Employee Conduct Policy
  • Patient Photography Procedure
  • Patient Photography Policy
Information Services (IS) risks
  • App’s ability to compromise network’s security
  • Malware infecting the network
  • Productivity loss

There are no acceptable circumstances where the app may be downloaded or played at any Texas Children’s location.

Please be aware of the above risks and possible policy violations. IS has put measures in place to block this application from our networks; however, individuals may still have access to the app via their personal data plans. Information will be distributed to patients and families as well.

72016Sager640Craig Sager, recipient of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at ESPN’s Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, or the ESPY Awards, gave an inspiring speech about his journey battling cancer and the comfort he’s found in the model train exhibit at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“Many nights I don’t get out of the hospital until after midnight. I always take the same walking path back to the hotel. The sidewalks wind through a maze of buildings, including Texas Children’s Hospital. Many nights I would stop, pause and I’ll go inside. A few feet inside the hallway is this large model train display covered by glass. There are seven buttons on the outside. They activate the trains, the circus, the toys and the trolley. And many nights alone, in the stillness and the solitude of the hospital, I push those buttons and I watch the trains as they disappear through the tunnel and emerge full steam on the other side. I watch the trains as they pass by the town square, the dinosaur canyon, the pirates cove, Santa Land and the ice skating rink. And I sit there and I watch and l listen. I listen to the sounds of the circus, of the kids laughing and of the train chugging along. Now I don’t know why I am so brought to this train set. Perhaps it’s my life coming full circle. Maybe it’s just the kid inside all of us. Or perhaps it’s a few minutes of my life that leukemia can’t take from me.”

Sager’s full speech: http://ow.ly/2PCs302fbkg