February 18, 2014

A new eight-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at West Campus is now open. The unit will allow the hospital to accommodate patients with higher acuity and meet the needs of the community. The PICU will be staffed 24/7 with experience, board-certified critical care physicians, PICU nurses and support staff.

“We want to provide a higher level of care here at West Campus after seeing the needs of the community,” said Shannon McCord, director of West Campus Patient Care Services. “This allows even more patients to receive their care closer to home.”

West Campus is now able to care for patients with conditions including but not limited to:

  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Meningitis
  • Respiratory failure
  • Seizures
  • Shock

And neonates (<30 days) diagnosed with:

  • ALTE
  • Bronchiolitis
  • Hyperbilirubinemia
  • Suspected sepsis

Patients in need of care that is outside of the scope of care for West Campus will still be transported to Main, but this new expansion will impact the ability of the West Campus facility to do more surgical procedures and admit more patients from the Emergency Center who before were triaged to Main Campus.

The results are in! The units below will receive a special prize for having the highest number of surveys completed but it’s not too late to join these teams. The survey deadline has been extended to Friday to make sure everyone has a chance to participate and let us know how we’re doing in patient and family centeredness.

Congrats to these units who had the highest survey participation so far:

Main: Emergency Center and Cancer Center Clinic
West: Emergency Center and PM&R
Pavilion: Outpatient Obstetrics

Patients and families are the lifeblood of our organization. We want to hear your thoughts on how well we provide family centeredness in our patient care areas across the system.

To better understand best practices related to family centered care we have partnered with Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care (IPFCC), an organization dedicated to “advancing the understanding and practice of patient- and family-centered care in all settings where individuals and families receive health care.”

Below is a survey developed by the IPFCC, designed to help us better understand where we excel and still have growth related to family centered care system-wide. Please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey, providing your personal thoughts about family centered care in your patient care area. Families are an important piece of the nursing strategic plan, and your feedback will help ensure that any improvement effort we commence aligns with our needs.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TRQVJ2L

Our goal is to have EVERYONE and ANYONE that works or provides care on any patient care unit to fill out this survey (inpatient, outpatient, EC, Pediatrics, Health Centers etc.) This is an anonymous survey and is asking for your personal opinion! Please complete by Friday, February 21.

February 11, 2014

 

21214arnoldcollage640As director of Texas Children’s Simulation Center and a neonatologist at Texas Children’s Newborn Center, Dr. Jennifer Arnold is a respected health care professional. But she’s no stranger to the patient side of health care, having dealt with complications from dwarfism throughout her life.

Last year, Arnold became pregnant, and the pregnancy turned into a rare but aggressive type of cancer of the uterus. In September, Arnold was diagnosed with stage 3 choriocarcinoma. The diagnosis suddenly sent her back into the world of receiving care, rather than giving it.

“I have a unique perspective in that I’ve been a patient so many times before,” Arnold said. “But having cancer leads to a little more trepidation and uncertainty. I was in that rare position of being vulnerable and knowing all the things that can go wrong.”

Due to her short stature, Arnold’s case made it somewhat challenging for doctors to determine the correct chemotherapy dosage. Her small airway meant further complications, all of which may have been tough for an adult hospital to manage. Because of her special circumstances, Texas Children’s Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline decided that although Arnold is an adult, Texas Children’s should take her case.

Dr. Diaz-Arrastia of Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women and Dr. Chintagumpala from Texas Children’s Cancer Center teamed up to develop a plan that included chemotherapy and removing the primary tumor. They researched intensely to find the proper dosage and ensured there was always someone on-call who could manage Arnold’s airway. Texas Children’s Drs. Nancy Glass, Jodi Muscal, David Poplack and Kim-Phuong Thi Nguyen also played key roles in her care.

“I felt so much better than I would have at an adult hospital, because I’m a different circumstance,” Arnold said. “If I wasn’t at Texas Children’s I would have been 10 times more scared. But I know the doctors and nurses here, and I know how much they care. They were so on top of things, and I’m very appreciative of how everyone came together to help.”

The perk of being surrounded not only by family and friends, but by her work family, too, delighted Arnold. Colleagues came to visit her during treatment, dropping by to show support, and even had meetings during Arnold’s hospitalization to keep her updated on projects in the Simulation and Newborn Centers.

“I’m so blessed to have a lot of friends and colleagues at the hospital,” Arnold said. “It made me feel more connected to my life.”

Arnold also notes that it was the support of her husband, Bill, two adopted children, Will, and Zoey, and her parents, who helped keep her smiling and energized during her treatment. With six rounds of chemotherapy and the surgery behind her, Arnold is rejoicing in the news that her cancer has gone into remission. She is beginning to regain her stamina and looking forward to coming back to work in early March.

“Taking care of babies is the most physically exhausting part of my job, and I can’t wait until I’m ready for that again in a few weeks,” she said. “There are so many exciting projects that we were in the middle of when I got the diagnosis, and I’m really eager to pick up where I left off. Overall though, I’m just definitely looking forward to getting back to normal life.”

What’s better than having passion for the mission and knowing your spouse is in the same boat? It’s like a real life reality show for many couples at Texas Children’s who get to see their loved ones not just after hours but sometimes even run into them serendipitously around the organization.

Dr. George Mallory and his wife Debbie, Dr. Larry Hollier and his wife Dr. Lisa Hollier along with Tony Sanders and his wife Regina Barnett-Sanders tell us what it’s like to see your spouse around the halls or even ride to work together. Plus an update from last year’s engaged couples, newlyweds Tarra Kerr and Dan Christopher along with Sarah and Aaron Solis talk about their weddings and the moments they shared with their coworkers that made their special days memorable.

If you and your loved one work together and want to make sure you’re featured next year, send an email to connect news.

February 6, 2014

2514TBTexterior535

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!

February 5, 2014

2414woodlandscakekids550

Texas Children’s is going North. Or more specifically, we’re headed to The Woodlands. In fall 2017, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands will begin providing specialized care to children and families in a world-class, 548,000-square-foot facility.

“We stand at the forefront of an exciting new time in pediatric health care as we continue to grow, save more lives and create better futures for children everywhere,” said Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace at Friday’s groundbreaking ceremonies for the new hospital. “Our next 60 years start today – here in The Woodlands – with a Texas Children’s community hospital built right on this spot.”

More than 700 Texas Children’s supporters, including many residents, leaders and donors from The Woodlands area, joined Friday’s groundbreaking events to help celebrate both the new hospital and Texas Children’s 60th birthday. Along with the ceremonial turning of the first shovels of dirt, the festivities included presentation of a birthday cake: local children, all former patients of the hospital, helped Wallace sing happy birthday and blow out the candles.

A video commemorating Texas Children’s 60 years of history was shown, and guests heard remarks from Wallace, long-time hospital supporter and Woodlands resident, Carol Garner, and from Carol Ann Demaret, mother of David Vetter, known widely as the “Bubble Boy.”

A peek inside
Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands will offer specialty pediatric care in cancer, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrinology, urology, sports medicine, gastroenterology and nutrition, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, allergy and immunology, dermatology, adolescent medicine and physician rehabilitation.

Hospital facilities will include 24 emergency center rooms, 74 outpatient rooms, five radiology rooms, four operating rooms and 30 acute care beds at opening with plans of up to 200 beds. Ample free parking will be available with 1,000 spaces planned. Along with serving families throughout The Woodlands area, Texas Children’s anticipates serving families in counties throughout Greater North Houston including Montgomery, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Harris, Polk, San Jacinto and Hardin.

Partnering with Nordstrom, The Woodlands
On the heels of the birthday and groundbreaking was another big announcement of Texas Children’s newest partnership. Wallace announced that national retailer Nordstrom has chosen the new pediatric hospital in The Woodlands as the beneficiary for the opening gala of its much-anticipated new Woodlands store.

“Houston has been a great home for us and we can’t wait to open our second full-line store at The Woodlands,” said Nora Cummings, vice president and regional manager for Nordstrom. “We’re honored to partner with Texas Children’s Hospital and through our opening gala support their new Pediatric Hospital in The Woodlands.”

All proceeds from the pre-opening event, slated for Wednesday, September 3, 2014, will go toward the new hospital. The new Nordstrom at The Woodlands opens Friday, September 5, 2014. Ticket information will be shared on Connect closer to the event.

 

 

 

 

 

February 4, 2014

Patients and families are the lifeblood of our organization. We want to hear your thoughts on how well we provide family centeredness in our patient care areas across the system.

To better understand best practices related to family centered care we have partnered with Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care (IPFCC), an organization dedicated to “advancing the understanding and practice of patient- and family-centered care in all settings where individuals and families receive health care.”

Below is a survey developed by the IPFCC, designed to help us better understand where we excel and still have growth related to family centered care system-wide. Please take five minutes to fill out this survey, providing your personal thoughts about family centered care in your patient care area. Families are an important piece of the nursing strategic plan, and your feedback will help ensure that any improvement effort we commence aligns with our needs.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TRQVJ2L

Our goal is to have everyone and anyone that works or provides care on any patient care unit to fill out this survey (inpatient, outpatient, EC, Pediatrics, Health Centers, etc.). This is an anonymous survey and is asking for your personal opinion! Please complete by Tuesday, February 18.