Awareness/Advocacy – Page 30 – Texas Children's News

March 30, 2016

It already has. And, if you ever wondered why security experts stress not to open links or attachments in unfamiliar emails, this is the reason!

Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, a 434-bed private hospital in Los Angeles, recently paid $17K to a hacker who seized control of the hospital’s computer system and returned access only in exchange for the ransom. As the name implies, ransomware locks a network by encrypting files and the perpetrator extorts a victim to obtain the decryption key.

How did it happen?

The attack likely resulted when a hospital staffer clicked a malicious link or attachment that spread the malware throughout the network despite the presence of sophisticated malware controls. Most cyberattacks start when a person opens an email link or attachment from someone they don’t know.

Healthcare at risk

While cyberattacks on hospitals are increasingly common, ransom attacks are relatively rare. But, that might be changing:

Ransomware attacks have occurred recently at health care facilities in Texas and Germany
The FBI says there has been a “definite uptick” in ransomware use by cybercriminals
McAfee Labs predicts ransomware attacks will increase in 2016

What can employees do?

Employees account for 98 percent of all data breaches in the enterprise. That means employee behavior influences our security profile more than any hardware or software tools. What is the best defense against cyberattacks? Do not click unknown links or attachments. Click here to read more about how to help protect Texas Children’s from cyberattacks!

Don’t forget to sign up to participate in the 2016 March for Babies walk on Sunday, April 24, at 9 a.m. at the University of Houston. Whether you join a Texas Children’s team or start your own team, the five-mile walk promises to be a fun day out with people who share our passion for improving the health of babies.

Last year, Texas Children’s March for Babies team was no. 9 among corporate teams for the walk, collectively raising more than $64,000. This year, as a Signature sponsor, Texas Children’s goal is to raise $120,000 that will support the March of Dimes.

“If each hospital department/unit raises an average of about $1,500, with 35 participating teams, we will reach our goal,” said Judy Swanson, vice president of Texas Children’s Newborn Center. “Texas Children’s is off to a great start with a $75,000 contribution from the system to date.”

At the March for Babies walk, there will be family teams, company teams and people walking with friends. To donate or sign up for a Texas Children’s team, type TCH in the team search bar and select your team.

If you want to build your own team, please identify a spirited organizer in your department to be a team captain for Texas Children’s. Once identified, please send their contact information to Sharla Weindorff. Contact Sharla at Ext. 4-2011 if you have further questions.

Timeline

Friday, April 8 – Walker registration due is $25 and includes a Team TCH shirt and a BBQ ticket at the walk
Friday, April 22 – All walker donation forms due. Each walker’s fundraising goal is $100 to earn the March of Dimes 2016 T-shirt
Sunday, April 24 – March of Dimes Walk, University of Houston

To learn more about March for Babies, click here.

Helpful tips to prepare for the walk

Before lacing up your shoes, Texas Children’s Employee Health and Wellness offer tips to help you prepare and become more comfortable with what to expect during the five-mile walk.

Fuel up before the walk. It is important to give your body ample time to breakdown the needed nutrients and allow your stomach to settle before your race. So eat something, such as multigrain bread, fruits or vegetables, about three hours beforehand.
Make sure to stretch before the walk. Stretching with help lengthen your muscles, give you a longer stride and prevent any injuries.
Always warm up by starting off your walk with a slower pace for about 5 minutes. After you feel like your muscles are warm, pick up the pace. Challenge yourself and walk at different intervals, fast for 3 minutes, slower pace for 3 minutes.
Dress for 15 to 20 degrees warmer. It is also important to not overdress. Check out the weather forecast and dress for 15 to 20 degrees warmer as this is how much your body will warm up once you start running. If it is going to be cold, bring expendable clothing that you are okay with not getting back, and shed these after you warm up.
Find your pace. Pay attention to your heart rate and breathing. Remember, this walk is for you, so don’t worry about others around you or their race times. Instead, focus on breathing and walk at a pace where your heart rate is elevated. However don’t overdo it, you should be able to walk and carry a conversation at the same time.
Use good walking posture. Make sure to stand up straight, head up, abdomen flat, shoes pointing straight ahead, and use an arm swing.
Stay hydrated during the walk. Keeping your body hydrated is essential is key to success. Be sure to carry water. As the temperatures rise make sure that you maintain your hydration. In very hot weather, add in a sports drink to help replenish your electrolytes.

Here are 7 tips on how to pick out the perfect walking shoes.

A walker’s foot hits heel first and then rolls gradually from heel-to-toe. So, you will need a flexible sole and more bend in the toe than a runner. You should be able to twist and bend the toe area.
Look for a shoe that is light weight and breathable. The last thing you want is a heavy walking shoe.
Make sure the shoe that fits properly. Be sure your foot has enough room in the toe box. There should be a thumbnails width (or about a half inch) between your toes and the end of the shoe. The shoe should be wide enough in the toe that your toes can move freely. Your heel should not slip, and the shoe should not pinch or bind, especially across the arch or ball of your foot.
Try on new shoes at the end of the day or after your walk when your feet may be slightly swollen. Also be sure to wear the same socks you will be wearing during your walks. This can make a huge difference in how the shoe fits. Try on both shoes. Your feet may not be the same size (really!).
Walk around for a few minutes on a hard surface. It is worth the effort to find the right shoe for you and it is worth spending a few extra dollars.
Wear your shoes in the house for a few days to try them out. Don’t venture outdoors until you are sure the shoes are going to work for you. (If the shoes are not going to work out you will want to exchange them before scuffing them up outside.)
Keep track of how many miles you have put on your shoes, and replace them every 300 to 600 miles (480 to 970 km). (If you are wearing very light weight shoes, are overweight, or you are hard on your shoes stay toward the low end on mileage.) To extend the life of your shoes be sure to only wear them only for your walks. Also rotating two pair of shoes will give them time to “bounce back” between walks.

March 8, 2016

hero-teddy-640

Hundreds of children recently gathered with hospital staff on the 3rd floor Auxiliary bridge of Texas Children’s Hospital and outside the main entrance of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus to participate in one of the medical system’s most popular events – the annual teddy bear clinic.

During the clinic, children are given the opportunity to act out the roles of various health care staff such as doctors, nurses, therapists and technicians. Children pretend to perform a variety of tests, exams and therapies to diagnosis their Teddy bear’s symptoms and heal its body.

Hosted by Child Life to celebrate national Child Life Week, the event celebrates our patients and families and how the intimate world of play is used to encourage children’s learning and support children’s coping.

March 1, 2016

On a recent Monday afternoon, identical 21-year-old twins Karly and Kestly Tinklepaugh met the man they consider their hero – Texas Children’s Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr.

“We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us a life that is as normal and healthy as possible,” Karly and Kestly said in an emotional reunion. “You are one wonderful individual.”

Two decades ago, when Karly and Kestly were just 2-years-old, Fraser performed corrective surgery on the girls, who were born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a rare and complex heart defect that is treated most successfully with open-heart surgery soon after birth.

Since their surgery, Karly and Kestly have grown up to be normal, healthy young adults. Both of them attend Lone Star College with Kestly studying to become a geologist and Karly planning on being part of the Texas Children’s team one day as an echocardiogram technician.

Over the years, the twins, who are patients with our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, have often thought of their hearts and Fraser, the man they believe saved their lives. The desire to meet the pediatric heart surgeon grew and led to a late-night email penned by the twins asking Fraser if he would be interested in meeting them.

To Karly and Kestly’s surprise, Fraser responded to their note saying he remembered them quite well and would be more than happy to arrange a meeting. Before the twins knew it, they were standing nervously on the 20th floor of West Tower waiting to shake the hand of the man who last saw them on an operating table. When Fraser arrived, hugs were exchanged and conversation about everything from heart surgery to college and grandchildren ensued.

“We are elated that we got to meet Dr. Fraser,” Karly and Kestly said. “We will forever be grateful to him and Texas Children’s.”

Fraser said he too enjoyed the visit and is grateful the Tinklepaugh’s reached out to him.

“Periodically, I’ve pondered where they were and what life had brought them,” he said. “Now, I know.”

To learn more about the Tinklepaugh’s reunion with Fraser and the twins’ heart condition, click here to watch ABC-13’s coverage of the event. To read a blog post written by the Tinklepaugh’s themselves, click here.

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.

February 2

Texas Children’s, Rice University team up to develop new way to repair birth defect

Bioengineers at Texas Children’s Hospital and Rice University have won a National Institutes of Health grant to develop a new generation of patches to repair the damaged hearts of infants. The $1.9 million, 5-year grant will allow Jeffrey Jacot and his team to take the next steps in a long-running drive to improve the survival rates of such infants, many of whom are diagnosed in utero and require surgery soon after birth.

February 2

Department of State Health Services to award Texas Children’s $1 million grant for SIU

Texas Children’s is set to receive a $1 million grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to put toward its newly constructed Special Isolation Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. The funds, to be delivered during the next five years, will specifically go toward Ebola preparedness activities that bolster employee safety and quality of care.

February 2

Texas Children’s convenes task force, urges employees to educate themselves on Zika

In light of the multiple confirmed cases of Zika infection in Texas due to foreign travel, Texas Children’s leaders encourage employees, particularly pregnant women, to refrain from traveling to areas where the outbreak is growing and to follow precautionary measures to protect themselves from Zika exposure. Since the mosquito-carrying virus has been known to increase the risk of microcephaly, a neurological fetal birth defect, Texas Children’s recently convened a task force to develop management and research strategies based on screening criteria outlined by the Centers for Disease Control for pregnant women who may have been exposed to the Zika virus.

February 2 Kline: Children deserve access to best care

Many patients have been left scrambling to find a new medical home when a number of insurance companies decided not to provide in-network coverage for many hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, including Texas Children’s Hospital. Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline talks about how all children deserve access to the best care.

February 2

Zoghbi to receive medal for pioneering advancements in neuroscience research

Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s, will receive the 2016 Jessie Stevenson Kovalenko Medal from the National Academy of Science in April for her achievements in neuroscience, which includes unlocking the genetic and molecular mysteries behind rare neurological disorders.

February 2

Clinical Research Center presents research award to Dr. Anvari

The Clinical Research Center will present the Clinical Research Award for First Quarter 2016 to Dr. Sara Anvari, physician, Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Anvari is a dedicated clinical scientist for the food allergy research trials at Texas Children’s Hospital.

February 9

Three NRI researchers recognized for their contributions to neuroscience research

Drs. Michael Wangler and Shinya Yamamoto recently obtained a research grant from the Simon’s Foundation for Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) to advance their study on autism spectrum disorders. Their study titled, “In vivo functional analysis of autism candidate genes” is one of five projects selected for research funding by the SFARI. Dr. Andrea Ballabio, founder and director of the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Italy, professor at Baylor and faculty member at the NRI, has been selected to receive the 2016 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine. He will share this award with biochemist John Diffley, associate research director at the Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom.

February 16

Study finds premature infants benefit from exclusive human milk-based diet

A recent Baylor College of Medicine study led by Texas Children’s neonatologist Dr. Amy Hair, and published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine, found that premature infants weighing less than 1,250 grams at birth showed improved outcomes after being fed a human milk-based diet.

February 16

Mata twins celebrate one-year anniversary after historic separation

A year after being separated in a marathon surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital, formerly conjoined twins Knatalye and Adeline Mata are healthy, lively toddlers. Several members of our medical staff involved in the girls’ care got to see how much they have grown and how far they have come during a recent visit to Texas Children’s for their follow-up appointments with pediatric subspecialists monitoring their health and development. Hear some of their reactions and see for yourself how much the girls have progressed.

February 16

Heart Center launches series of educational animated videos

Featuring an armadillo, a bison and robot-like caregivers called Blings, a series of animated videos created by Texas Children’s Heart Center aims to help educate patients and their families about various heart conditions and treatment options. Six of the videos were unveiled at a February 15 red carpet premier and can be accessed on the Texas Children’s website at http://www.texaschildrens.org/hearteducation.

February 23

CVICU physician performs CPR, saves man’s life during spin class

When Dr. Natasha Afonso clipped in to a bike for a spin class on a recent Thursday evening, she didn’t know the skills she uses each day to treat patients in the CVICU would mean the difference between life and death for a fellow rider. Toward the end of the 45-minute, high-intensity class, Afonso heard 50-year-old Scott Corron collapse and fall off his bicycle. Because he wasn’t breathing and had no pulse, Afonso immediately started CPR, an action that ultimately saved Corron’s life.

February 23

New in situ simulation program enhances role clarity in high-risk emergencies

Texas Children’s Simulation Center recently launched the first-ever Neonatal Comprehensive In Situ Simulation Program for NICU providers at the Pavilion for Women. The program focuses on improving crisis resource management skills, one of which is role clarity, to ensure all code team members know each other’s specific roles when delivering care to patients during high-risk medical emergencies.

February 23

Texas Children’s helps develop nation’s first hospital-based rapid test for the Zika virus

Pathologists and clinical laboratory scientists at Texas Children’s Hospital and Houston Methodist Hospital developed the nation’s first hospital-based rapid test for the Zika virus in a matter of weeks as part of the L.E. and Virginia Simmons Collaborative in Virus Detection and Surveillance. Pathologist-in-Chief Dr. James Versalovic and Dr. James Dunn, director of medical microbiology and virology, led Texas Children’s Zika test development team. The new diagnostic test identifies virus-specific RNA sequences to detect the virus and can distinguish Zika virus from other virus infections like Dengue, West Nile or Chikunguny.

February 23

Blaney receives Pioneer Award for contributions in pediatric neuro-oncology The Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation honored Dr. Susan Blaney with the Pioneer Award for Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, celebrating her 25 years of dedication to the search for new and better treatments for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. Blaney’s extensive experience in clinical translational research focuses on developing new treatment strategies for children with brain tumors and other refractory cancers. Blaney has been instrumental in developing more new agent clinical trials than anyone in the field of pediatric oncology.

February 23

Dietrich voted president-elect of North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology

Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Dr. Jennifer Dietrich has been voted president-elect of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Her tenure as president-elect begins in April. She will be voted in as president in April 2017.

February 23

Texas Children’s Health Plan Center for Children and Women earns accolades for CenteringPregnancy® program Texas Children’s Health Plan’s Center for Children and Women has earned site approval for its CenteringPregnancy® program. The Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI) has awarded both the Southwest and Greenspoint locations the official designation for closely following the CenteringPregnancy® model.

February 9, 2016

Texas Children’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is making its services easier to access using video technology. Instead of driving to one of the organization’s main locations to meet with a counselor, Texas Children’s employees and dependents can get services anywhere via a device with a camera and Internet connection.

“We are casting a wide net so that we can easily reach everyone who needs us,” said EAP Program Manager Brent LoCaste Wilken. “Technology is helping us accomplish that goal.”

Unlike Skype and popular video chat technology, the system EAP uses is secure and HIPPA compliant. The video sessions are not recorded and no one else, outside of the client and the counselor, can participate in the session.

Video counseling sessions also are being offered at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus via a 47-inch monitor mounted on a wall in a private room of the hospital’s Human Resources suite. Similar video technology will be available at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands when it opens in 2017.

To make an appointment with an EAP counselor, call Ext. 4-3327. If the session will be via video, you will receive instructions on how to access the new video technology.

The EAP helps with:

Stress management
Work/life resilience
Financial assistance
Parenting and family guidance
Crisis & trauma resolution
Grief recovery
Work performance improvement
Community referrals
Relationship counseling
Emotional well-being

February 2, 2016

The end of this month marks the deadline to sign up for a Marketplace health insurance plan. Unfortunately, for many families, simply having health insurance coverage doesn’t guarantee access to the best possible health care.

The sad truth is that there are many patients who were left scrambling to find a new medical home when a number of insurance companies decided not to provide in-network coverage for many hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, including Texas Children’s Hospital. Children and families, many suffering from serious or complex medical conditions, are being denied access to the largest, and one of the best, pediatric hospitals in the entire nation. Distraught mothers and fathers have called the hospital with emotional pleas for help, concerned that their children can no longer receive care from the doctors and nurses they have known for years or even their entire lives.

The reality is that not all hospitals are created equal. At Texas Children’s, we build facilities and recruit world-renowned pediatric subspecialists to deliver world-class health care and treatment to the children and families who need us most. As the saying goes, “it’s what we do.” We advance pediatric research and drive innovation in pediatric health care, all in hopes of discovering new therapies and cures for children with serious or life-threatening medical problems, and we scrupulously monitor and report the outcomes of the care and treatment we deliver. In conjunction with our partner, Baylor College of Medicine, we invest in the future health of the children of Houston, Texas and the nation by training more of the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists than anyone else nationally. Finally, we do all of this in a family-centered and child-friendly way, improving not only the health of the child, but also the well-being of families across our community.

These are significant investments, but we are the hospital of last resort for many children. We turn no family away and take care of the most critically ill patients and treat more complex cases than any other hospital in the state, many times absorbing the cost so every family who needs that higher level of care receives it.

We see the unfortunate results when children don’t have access to the best facilities and health professionals. Getting the right care at the right place and in a timely fashion can save insurance companies millions of dollars in the end. In other words, ensuring access to the best facilities and health professionals, like those at Texas Children’s, not only is the right thing to do, but also makes good business sense. Denying even one child access to potentially life-saving care is one too many.

Good health demands that every child should receive care regularly from a pediatrician or family physician. The many children across our community suffering from serious or complex medical conditions require more. Recent decisions by several health insurance companies make clear that while they might agree in principle with these statements, they are blind to the ramifications of their decisions for many of our community’s most vulnerable children and families. Our children need and deserve access to state-of-the-art facilities and medical equipment designed specifically for children. They need and deserve access to pediatric specialists who are among the best in the world. Little lives depend on it.

Dr. Mark W. Kline serves as physician-in-chief of Texas Children’s Hospital and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.

archive test