February 25, 2014

22614emphealth640Texas Children’s is dedicated to helping you achieve optimal health and well-being by providing convenient access to excellent health care services at the Main Campus. Here are some reasons why the next time you need to see a primary care provider, you should take the yellow elevators to the 5th floor and visit your Employee Medical Clinic.

1. Location, location, location: The convenience of having an on-site medical clinic means you won’t have to waste time navigating the medical center while you take time out of your day to visit a health care provider. Plus, who wants to pay for parking somewhere else when you’re already parked in your employee parking spot?
2. We’re here for you: In addition to lunch time appointments, you asked for early morning appointments and we listened. Starting March 4, every Tuesday, the clinic will open from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Same-day appointments are available almost every day. Just call ahead and schedule a time that’s convenient for you.
3. Friendly faces: If you haven’t met them yet, our medical providers, Dr. Perkison and Joycelyn Gordon, PA are friendly and approachable and you’ll want to get to know them. Plus, you’ll love working with Noelle Hirst, RN; Valeria Martinez, clinic representative and our wellness team who are dedicated to helping you achieve optimal health and well-being.
4. Save money: All Texas Children’s Hospital medical plan participants pay a reduced $10 co-pay which is also payroll deductible.
5. We respect your privacy: Externally hosted, confidential electronic medical record keeps your information private.

You can get your well checkup and many other primary care services right here at work including, but not limited to:

  • well-woman and well-man exams
  • urgent care for minor personal illness and injuries
  • routine physicals
  • seasonal allergy and cold symptoms
  • on-site physical therapy
  • chronic condition management
  • specialty care coordination

Employee Medical Clinic Information
Location: Employee Health and Wellness Center, Main Campus, 5 Tower by yellow elevators
Hours: Mondays and Wednesday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
and Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (New Tuesday hours begin March 4: 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
Phone: 832-824-2150

By Dr. Steven Abrams, Neonatologist and Medical Director of Neonatology Nutrition Program

When I first started as a pediatric trainee in 1982, if an infant was going to receive a formula, which, unfortunately was most of them back then, there were only a few choices. Basically three companies marketed cow milk-based or soy-based formulas. Families asked their pediatrician which company they preferred and discussed whether a soy formula might be helpful. Life was simple even if those choices didn’t usually matter very much.

Now, it’s a virtual maze wandering through the formula aisle. There are more companies, more choices, and a complex set of information on the packages that make it very hard for anyone to know what to choose. Do I want my baby to get a “gentle” formula? Is she “sensitive?” Hmmm “organic” must be a good idea? Wait, am I supplementing breast-feeding? Do I need a formula that will “comfort” my baby? What about “spitting” up?

bump1

My children like to laugh and even write that sometimes I go to the store and wander through the infant formula aisle just so I can see what parents must face. It’s not infrequently that I spot a poor mom or dad combing the aisle desperately trying to guess what will make their baby happy (and sleepy!). I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about infant nutrition including formula choices but even I can’t guess sometimes what’s actually in a formula from its name and must read the list of ingredients, or search on the internet, to find the answer.

The basic principles:
So, let’s go through some principles to at least try to help with the formula aisle maze. Unquestionably, breast milk is the best choice for virtually every infant, but it is also true that the majority of infants in the United States will receive some formula during the first year of life. Helping their parents make good choices between formulas and understanding the options for infant formulas is not in conflict with supporting breastfeeding as long as it remains understood that “closest to breastmilk” is a long way away.

First, the good news is that all of the formulas you see that say “infant formula” on the label are safe except for the very few infants with special medical problems which should be identified by your pediatrician.

Second, there is no evidence at all that parents must or should buy the most expensive formula on the shelf or be concerned about the health benefits of lower cost formulas. I would, however, caution against frequent switching of brands based on one coupon or sale as some infants do seem to develop preferences over time and it can be very difficult for parents to determine the differences between an advertised brand of formula and the one their child has been receiving.

Third, parents can usually purchase powder as it is less expensive than pre-mixed liquid formula. A special exception to this is babies who are born prematurely who should only get ready-to-feed liquid for at least a month after their due date. Concentrated liquid formula is another option although parents must be cautious to properly dilute the concentrate with water based on the label instructions.

Fourth, from a nutritional perspective, there is no reason to choose any particular formula brand or type specifically for breast-fed infants who are receiving some supplemental formula. Marketing in this way should not be confused for evidence of a need for a unique formula choice in babies who are partially or primarily breastfed.

bump2

Special conditions:
Now, beyond that, it gets tougher. For the most part, babies will often have colic, spitting (reflux), upset stomachs, or mild allergic symptoms that do not necessarily require violating rule #2 above. Formulas marketed as improving one or more of these symptoms may or may not be successful in an individual baby. In general, I recommend that for most concerns such as spitting, parents try other behavioral and feeding techniques before switching to formulas marketed using vague terms such as “gentle,” “comfort,” or “sensitive.” It is not uncommon for a baby to have been tried on three or more formulas without any real difference in these symptoms. Often a baby grows out of the problem at the same time as yet another formula switch is made leading to uncertainty related to long-term formula selection.

Having said that, there are some babies who improve on specialized formulas, especially the often more expensive formulas designed to deal with severe allergic symptoms or severe reflux that might uncommonly be affecting growth. Formulas with probiotics (beneficial bacteria) may be helpful in some infants with colic although recent studies are not conclusive regarding this issue. I believe that in every such case, a family should carefully consult with their pediatrician before purchasing or using one of these formulas.

The right pediatrician:
Finally, a key message to parents is that just as it is important to find a breast-feeding friendly and knowledgeable pediatrician, it is also important to make sure that your pediatrician can properly guide you through the formula aisle should you choose to provide an infant formula. Ask questions about why a formula choice is being recommended and whether a lower cost one, or a more readily available one, can be tried. If a specialized formula is started for your infant, remind your pediatrician regularly about this and ask if it would be possible to switch to a more routine one after a month or two. Go through the symptoms your baby is having with your pediatrician and see if the formula descriptions I mentioned earlier (e.g. for spit up, for comfort, being gentle, or organic certified) are ones that truly match what is best for your baby.

In summary, I wish you the best of luck traversing the formula aisle. Don’t forget to send occasional notes to the companies that make these formulas if you’re confused by what is being sold. I sure do!

Dr. Steven Abrams is a Texas Children’s Hospital neonatologist and Medical Director of the Neonatology Nutrition Program at Baylor College of Medicine. Like what you read? Check out our expert posts section to hear more from the vast knowledge of our doctors and other experts right here at Texas Children’s.

Ask an expert! Have a question and want to hear expert advice? Just comment below and we may even feature your question in an upcoming blog post.

The March of Dimes Texas Chapter has awarded a grant to Texas Children’s Health Plan to support “Becoming a Mom,” a program that delivers prenatal education in a group setting.

Texas Children’s Health Plan is currently offering the “Becoming a Mom – Comenzando bien Program” in Houston and Huntsville locations. The program’s goal is to provide supportive environments that promote healthy behaviors and positive birth outcomes. The “Becoming a Mom” program helps women overcome barriers to care and become informed of prenatal services.

As a managed care organization serving more than 360,000 members, Texas Children’s Health Plan provides Medicaid and CHIP insurance coverage for individuals in 21 counties, including Harris and the surrounding seven counties. Texas Children’s Health Plan supports pregnant women through the provision of “Becoming a Mom” classes, childbirth classes, home visitation programs and community events, spreading awareness of early prenatal visits and the benefits of waiting until after the 39th week of gestation before delivery.

March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

February 18, 2014

21914WCaward640

On February 7, West Campus was awarded the top honor at the Houston West Chamber of Commerce’s 16th Annual Economic Development Summit and Star Awards. Michelle Riley-Brown, president of West Campus, accepted the 2014 Pillar Award which recognizes a business or organization that consistently and tirelessly supports the business community, exemplifies the determined spirit of the Houston West Chamber and promotes a superior quality of life in our community.

“I was truly honored and humbled to receive the highest award on behalf of Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus,” said Riley-Brown. “We have grown tremendously since we opened our doors three years ago, and we look forward to continuing to treat children and families in the West Houston community.”

The Pillar Award is voted on by the Star Award Events Committee. West Campus also served as a sponsor of the event.

Watch a video about West Campus.

21914olympics640

We may not see snow in Houston but that’s not keeping patients on different units around the hospital from becoming winter Olympians. Getting into the spirit of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the Child Life department is bringing the games to the patients.

For two weeks, many units re acting as different “countries” while participating in 10 patient-friendly events. The patients from non-competing units are able to collaborate as a team on the 16th floor so all patients are able to be a part of the fun. Texas Children’s front line staff are acting as Olympic judges and letting the kids compete for gold, silver or bronze medals.

The medal counts for each floor are posted on the 16th floor and being announced daily on Radio Lollipop.

“The kids really enjoy competing and working as a team,” said Child Life Specialist, Alyssa DeMoss. “The Texas Children’s Hospital Olympics has created many opportunities for patients to meet each other and become friends which is making their time at the hospital more enjoyable.”

DeMoss said patients are constantly asking about the next day’s challenge and are excited to prepare together and compete as a team.

A few weeks ago, the hundreds of Texas Children’s staff and employees streaming into the Hornberger Conference Center felt like guests at a premier gala. The room, filled with lush florals, candles and gorgeous linens welcomed and celebrated them. They were among the 376 employees beautifully honored for their years of service to Texas Children’s at the 26th Annual Employee Recognition Celebration on February 4.

“These 376 recipients represent 7,335 years of service to Texas Children’s Hospital – wow!” said President and CEO Mark A. Wallace, addressing the crowd. “What makes this event so special is that we are all here together. We are fully present – our fondest memories hand in hand with our dreams for the future.”

The audience was filled with long-time employees marking 15, 20, 25, 30, 25, 40 and 45 years of service to the organization. Among those honored was Senior Vice President Linda Aldred who typically leads the event from the podium each year but proudly took her seat as a 25-year honoree.

In addition to long-time honorees, recipients of the Mark A. Wallace Catalyst Leadership, Smiles, and Super Star awards were recognized.

Chief of Radiology Dr. George Bisset also addressed the audience, attributing the organization’s success and advancements to the contributions of each person in the room.

“Without a doubt, all of you have played a role in creating a world-class model for educating tomorrow’s health care leaders, solving some of the greatest medical mysteries that we deal with on a daily basis and delivering preeminent care to children and women,” Bisset said.

After an emotional story about his son – electrocuted as a child and cared for at Texas Children’s – Texas Children’s Board of Trustee member Merrell Athon thanked the employees for his son and the many, many children they’ve helped through the years.

“I’ve been a trustee at Texas Children’s Hospital for 26 years,” Athon said. “And I have never been more enthusiastic about the care we are providing for the children and women in our community and the wonderful teams and the fabulous facilities we have in place to heal sick children for generations to come.”

Congratulations to all of the honorees!

Click here for the Employee Recognition Celebration event program.

In celebration of our 60th birthday, we’re throwing it way back – to the 1950s – on Facebook throughout the month of February. Stop by Texas Children’s Facebook page for a walk down memory lane. And if you or someone you know has photos from the early days, share them with us. Your stories are a part of Texas Children’s fascinating story!