Angela Gooden, a director of advanced practice providers (APP) at Texas Children’s, was recently selected as a Texas Nurse Practitioners Legislative Ambassador, and shares how this opportunity in Austin will help her become a stronger advocate for nurses and nurse practitioners at Texas Children’s and across the state. Read more
Training for Epic Tapestry is set to roll out this fall!
Epic Tapestry – launching in February 2021 – will allow Texas Children’s Health Plan to better integrate data for an improved member and provider experience. Customer-facing employees will have access to more information and will be better prepared to offer comprehensive service.
Training will take place in a combination of ways:
“Your training will be determined by your role within the organization and which portions of the module you must access,” said Elydia Villanueva, Information Services educator.
Villanueva is leading training efforts for Texas Children’s Hospital employees while Angie Ross, Epic Project Team Trainer, will lead training for Health Plan employees. Together with senior IT Project Manager Quintus Bratton, the three will ensure that nearly 1,000 employees across the system will be prepared on Go Live day.
An important point to remember is that employees will receive formal training, but they will also have access to a virtual “playground” where they can spend some time working within the modules at their own pace,” said Ross.
Training dates and locations will be released in October and training sessions will begin in December.
For more information about the overall project, visit https://texaschildrensnews.org/new-health-plan-system-will-provide-better-care-for-members/
Texas Children’s patients now have access to free parking when visiting the Medical Center Campus. Last month, The Parking & Transportation Committee approved changing the Main Street Lot, located across from Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, from a public parking lot to a no cost, patient only lot.
In addition to patient designated parking in our garages, the Main Street lot will allow restricted access to our patients to improve the overall patient parking experience and meet the current parking demand. Employees should park in their original designated parking assignment.
This new parking strategy began with an update of Texas Children’s patient assistance parking program (PAPP), managed by social work services.
“When a family experiences hardship with parking our team will do a brief assessment,” social work manager, Jackson Huynh said. “If we determine that the family qualifies, the family will be able to use the Main Street lot until they are discharged.”
Benefits of PAPP for families:
Main Street lot restrictions:
In addition, LAZ parking now manages the lot along with other parking areas throughout the Texas Medical Center, and sit on the parking and transportation committee.
The amount of families assisted through PAPP has increased by over 500 between 2018 and 2019.
“I am excited to provide no cost parking for our patient families,” assistant director of facilities operations, Michael Jackson said. “We are constantly working towards providing an easy and affordable experience for Texas Children’s families.”
Texas Children’s Well-Being team has launched a new weekly video series to help employees taking on the My Nutrition Challenge achieve a healthier, more balanced plate. This week, focus on filling one-quarter of your plate with a lean protein.
Whether animal-based or plant-based, protein has staying power! It promotes fullness and satiety, while also helping maintain muscle mass and is an important component of your meal.
Watch the video for more tips on incorporating protein from Cigna Health Coach and Registered Dietitian Staci Tobolowsky Astrein.
Maya Peterson, education coordinator in the PICU, was recently accepted into The Archer Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C. Maya shares her experience applying for this internship program and how this opportunity will benefit her in her current role at Texas Children’s. Read more
Your Texas Children’s Well-Being team has launched a new video series to help participants enrolled in the My Nutrition Challenge achieve a more balanced plate.
As the latest offering in our ongoing effort to introduce programs and resources that help keep our workforce healthy and strong, the My Nutrition Challenge Video Series provides expert insight and information to empower you to focus on incorporating healthier food options.
“We all know that you should eat fruits and vegetables and build a balanced plate, but it is important to realize the ‘why’ behind it,” said Cigna Health Coach and Registered Dietitian Staci Tobolowsky Astrein, who will be providing insights, tips and recipes every week during the challenge.
For the first week of the challenge, focus on filling one-half of your plate with fruits and vegetables.
Did you know that differently colored fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients? That’s why it is important to incorporate multiple colors in to your meals to get a variety of health benefits.
Click here to watch the video and learn more.
On February 22, dozens of people from the community along with Texas Children’s employees attended West Campus’ intimate remembrance ceremony, honoring 31 children who were taken from this world too soon.
The event was coordinated by the West Campus remembrance planning committee detailed below:
The 2020 Remembrance Ceremony Committee:
In the first floor conference center, the ceremony opened with a welcome from Director of Outpatient and Clinical Support Services Kara Abrameit, as a slideshow presented touching photos graciously shared by each family. The West Campus Chaplain, Al Cabrera, followed with a beautiful spiritual reflection.
As the program commenced, Evans and Kinnear began reading the names of each of the children that were honored. Kinnear and Eggen also recited beautiful poems, just before bereaved parents, Barry and Kris Heslop, began their keynote speech in support of all families who have lost a child.
For the first time this year, senior interpreter, Ruth Robertson, provided real time Spanish interpretation into individual headsets for families that do not speak English.
Animal assisted therapy coordinator, Adair Galanski and therapy dog Bailey attended the ceremony this year to provide comfort to families and they do daily for Texas Children’s patients.
Just before the program ended, everyone in attendance participated in a reflection activity with messages written on dissolvable paper to place in water. Personal messages were then dispersed at the base of the oak tree outside the cafeteria in continued remembrance.
Many community partners were a large part of this beautiful ceremony; Chuy’s Tex-Mex restaurant of Katy graciously donated dinner, Bubbles and Blooms provided the floral arrangements, Talents of Notes pianist serenated the event, and Chick fil A Katy generously provided drinks and dessert.
“This year’s remembrance ceremony was a beautiful gathering where families and friends were able to gather and support one another in reflection and remembrance of their children,” Evans said. “The bereaved families in attendance were so grateful to have their child’s memory honored, and this meaningful event could not have taken place without the dedication of all Texas Children’s West Campus staff and support from the Katy community partners involved.”
