February 25, 2020

This March is National Nutrition Month, which is a great time to revisit those healthy resolutions you made at the beginning of the year and also learn some different ways to easily incorporate healthy options into your day-to-day routine.
To celebrate this occasion, your Employee Health and Well-Being team invites you to participate in the My Nutrition Challenge, a four-week event that will allow you to have some fun, learn some simple recipes for tasty and nutritious meals, and maybe even win a prize.

Challenge details

My Nutrition Challenge takes place beginning Monday, March 2, through Friday, March 27.
Upon registration, participants will receive a tracking form that will help them stay on top of their progress, as well as weekly motivational tips to help keep them on course

Participants who complete the post-challenge survey will receive a cutting board.
At the end of the challenge, participants who submit a success story will also be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Ninja blender.
Additional information about the challenge is available on our new Well-Being page on Connect.

Interested in the My Nutrition Challenge? Click here to register!

Self-Care classes available

In addition to the challenge, our Well-Being team and dietitians from Texas Children’s are working together to bring you a variety of events across many of our locations during National Nutrition Month. Below is a full listing.

Medical Center
All classes are held on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Well-Being Studio, West Tower, 20th floor.
March 5: Yoga for Digestion
March 12: Meal Prep
March 19: Spiritual Detox
March 26: Mind-Gut Connection

Group Nutrition
Join our well-being dietitian as she gives additional tips and guidance every Monday during the challenge from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Well-Being Studio, West Tower, 20th floor.

My Plate Event
Thursday, March 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Auxiliary Bridge

Health Plan
My Nutrition Challenge Event
Wednesday, March 4, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Conference Room, Basement Level

The Woodlands
How to Meal Prep
Tuesday, March 10, 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Conference Room A
Register here (skype option also available)

Yogurt Social
Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., Lobby, Donor Wall

West Campus
“Bite by Bite” Table Event
Wednesday, March 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Corridor outside DOTS Kitchen

Yogurt Social
Wednesday, March 25, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fifth-floor ballroom

Specialty Care Cy-Fair
Nutrition Table
Thursday, March 5, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Lobby

Resources to support your nutrition

All Texas Children’s employees, including our valued team members working outside of the Houston area, are eligible for a variety of well-being programs at no cost. This includes:

  • Health Coaching – provides you with a positive and personalized experience to help you achieve your well-being goals.
  • Nutrition Consulting – work with a dietitian to help fuel your body with the proper nutrients needed to reach your well-being goals.
  • Discounted Services – receive reduced monthly membership rates, waived enrollment fees and discounted services from all of our well-being partners.

For more information on these resources, please contact our Employee Medical Clinic at 832-824-2424 or email our Well-Being team at wellbeing@texaschildrens.org.

Let’s amplify unity among our colleagues and encourage each other to Eat Right, Bite by Bite!

February 17, 2020

Fashioned in the same back-to-school theme as Texas Children’s Hi orientation, the New Employee Pep Rally recently allowed the most recent additions of our West Campus team to learn more about the organization, while also meeting leadership among the festive atmosphere of foam fingers, pompoms and lively music. Participants included new and recent hires based at West Campus, as well as those from specialty care clinics in the surrounding communities.

“West Campus is flourishing and we’re lucky to have all of you here,” President and CEO Mark A. Wallace told the new employees. “The key to our success has always been the people and the leadership.”

Wallace reminded the new hires that they, too, are leaders in their personal and professional lives, and encouraged them to develop their own leadership definitions. He also introduced himself and shook hands with every new employee at the pep rally, pausing often to pose for photos and selfies.

Take a look at the photo gallery below to see some of those shots.

December 19, 2019

Employees across Texas Children’s decorated their office space for the holidays. Some were simple and elegant, and some were ELABORATE! Check them out.

December 15, 2019

Texas Children’s kicked off the holiday season with all three hospitals hosting annual tree lighting ceremonies. The ceremonies included appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus, caroling from local high school choirs, snow, crafts and much more. Employees also talked about what makes the holidays special in their person lives and at Texas Children’s. View more

December 2, 2019

Holiday Bread and Wassail festivities will take place throughout Texas Children’s the week of December 2. Come celebrate this beloved annual tradition with your colleagues and spread the holiday spirit. Read more

November 26, 2019

The Woodlands Campus’ therapy dog, Cohen, recently turned two years old and the campus threw him a fabulous party. Employees, patients, and their families all gathered in the campus lobby where they were able to meet and take photos with the birthday boy.

Cohen arrived to The Woodlands Campus in July of this year as Texas Children’s Hospital’s first community campus therapy dog. He is a golden retriever, doodle mix, and is the fourth therapy dog in Texas Children’s Pawsitive Play Program, which uses animal-assisted therapy to enhance the emotional well-being of pediatric patients by reducing their anxiety, perception of pain and fear of hospitalization.

His birthday festivities included a happy birthday song, games, popcorn, a cake and a host of balloons and other decorations that really set the scene.

Many leaders and executives came to wish Cohen a happy birthday, along with our President and CEO Mark Wallace.

November 18, 2019

Maintaining the privacy and security of our patients’ and Health Plan members’ medical information is a key component of providing high quality care. Patients, Health Plan members, and their families must be able to trust that no one at Texas Children’s inappropriately accesses, discloses, or uses their protected health information (PHI). Having our patients’ and Health Plan members’ trust is an essential element of the care we provide and the relationship we develop with families.

As a Texas Children’s workforce member, you should only access medical records when it is part of your official, assigned work duties. Every “click” within our patient care systems is recorded. The Compliance and Privacy Office uses data analysis software to detect potential inappropriate access. When a workforce member appears to be “snooping,” the Compliance & Privacy Office coordinates with leadership and Human Resources to investigate and determine appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Three workforce members have been terminated this year for privacy violations.

Earlier this year, a child treated at Texas Children’s Hospital was the subject of multiple news stories. The Compliance and Privacy Office applied Epic’s Break-the-Glass tool to the patient’s record to deter inappropriate access. Despite these measures, two workforce members (who worked in areas in which the patient had no activity) “broke the glass” and accessed the patient’s record. Additionally, thirty-six workforce members searched the patient’s name in Epic but did not proceed past the Break-the Glass prompt into the medical record. This “snooping” was inappropriate and in violation of law and our policies. The two workforce members who accessed the patient’s record received disciplinary action, and the thirty-six individuals who searched the patient’s name received a warning from the Compliance and Privacy Office.

Your responsibility as a Texas Children’s workforce member is to:

  • Only access PHI when it is part of your assigned work responsibilities.
  • Do not access the records of your friends, family members, children, or yourself.
  • Do not access records out of curiosity.
  • Do not disclose PHI to unauthorized persons.
  • Do not share PHI on social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.).

Key Takeaway! Do not access any medical record unless it is necessary to do your job. Inappropriately accessing, using or disclosing PHI is a violation of federal and state law and Texas Children’s policy, and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Questions? Contact the Compliance and Privacy Office by calling 832-824-2085 or emailing compliance@texaschildrens.org.