January 2, 2024

On Dec. 27, Texas Children’s will transition to Chemwatch, a new software provider for hazardous chemical inventory management and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) access.

To help ensure a seamless transition, over the next few weeks, your chemical inventories will migrate to Chemwatch with no action needed on your part for the migration.

Action needed – training
  • All employees can click here to access the general user training on Environmental Health and Safety’s SharePoint site.
  • Administrative users (i.e., staff who update departmental inventories) will receive a Teams invite in the coming weeks for additional training. Administrative user training also will be available on the EHS SharePoint site.

The link to access your safety data sheets on Chemwatch will remain the same – Go to Connect under the Tools dropdown and click Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

If you have any questions, please contact EHS at 832-824-1961 or environmentalhealthandsafety@texaschildrens.org.

This holiday season, show some love to team members who make your day. Read More

December 18, 2023

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams are an extremely valuable tool used in diagnosing patients. The exam length and unusual environment can be a cause of anxiety. Historically, pediatric patients needed general anesthesia to complete their exam, but through the MR-I Got This program, patients can use MRI mock scanners to help ease anxiety.

The mock scanners look and sound like a real scanner, but on a smaller scale. It has a bed that patients can lie on and travel into a tunnel similar to a real scanner. An MRI scanner makes loud noises while taking pictures, and the mock scanner simulates those noises preparing a child for what to expect. Allowing a child to practice their scan before they enter the real scanner helps them better understand their role and become more comfortable with something unfamiliar to them.

Since the launch in March 2022, MR-I Got This has had nearly 800 patients try the mock MRI scanner at both Medical Center and West Campus combined. Of those patients, 90% have been successful in completing their MRI without any medication. Additionally, the age range of patients completing this has been very wide with the youngest successful MR-I Got This patient at 2 ½ years old fully completing the MRI scan with the help of our amazing team.

“One of the biggest challenges we face with MRIs is getting the patient comfortable with the procedure to yield the best results,” said Dr. Nilesh Desai, Chief of Neuroradiology. “The mock scanner technology and the knowledge and patience of our team members has made all the difference in the progress we’ve made.”

This program is open to all patients free of charge and is available at both Medical Center and West Campus Radiology. Providers or patients can call to schedule the mock scanner and their non-sedate MRI to follow at the following locations:

  • Medical Center: 832-826-1334
  • West Campus: 832-227-2039

Radiologist Dr. Brandon Fuqua added, “It’s not a requirement to use the mock scanner, but the patients who benefit most are those who’ve never had an MRI before or experience anxiety. However, it’s open to anyone who feels it would benefit them.”

The mock scanner team consists of MRI Coordinators, Child Life, MRI Technologists and nurses all of whom help the patient through the process and answer questions they may have.

Click here to watch a video for more information or email MRIGotThis@texaschildrens.org.

 

This holiday season, show some love to team members who make your day. Read More

December 11, 2023

System Chief Nurse Executive Dr. Jackie Ward invites you to the final Nursing Town Hall of 2023 on Friday, Dec. 15 from 1-2 p.m. at the Pavilion for Women Conference Center (fourth floor). If you’re unable to attend in person, you can stream the presentation on Microsoft Teams.

During the live event, Jackie and co-presenters will share important system updates and touch on topics like workplace safety, new HR benefits and virtual nursing. You can pre-submit questions for discussion during the event – any unanswered questions will get an email response.

Patient care is our first priority, so don’t worry if you can’t attend or watch the livestream. A recording will be available on-demand on the Voice of Nursing blog after the event.

Add it to your calendar and spread the word! Click here to view the flyer.

Due to advances in radiology equipment and pediatric imaging protocols, effective Jan. 2, 2024, Texas Children’s will no longer require lead shielding for diagnostic X-ray exams.

“We’ve come so far in technology and our team has been so dedicated to ensuring the optimal radiation dose is used for pediatric images that lead shielding is no longer needed and, in fact, may be harmful,” said Dr. Jay Poston, radiation safety officer. “Health care is always evolving, and this is a great example of an advancement benefitting both the patients and the providers who treat them. This is step in the right direction.”

Removing lead shielding will help:

  • Remove the risk of lead interfering with X-ray equipment sensors.
  • Remove the risk of covering important anatomy that the physician needs to see.
  • Reduce repeat exams and unnecessary radiation doses.

Neither gonadal nor fetal shielding of pregnant patients is required for X-ray exams, starting Jan. 2. Studies have shown lead shielding provides no tangible benefits to patient safety other than easing anxiety about radiation.

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) updated their guidelines for best practices for patient safety in X-ray imaging, which helped drive this decision.

This will impact any provider that orders X-rays for patients, including providers in the radiology department, TCP locations and urgent cares. While this new process is in effect across all campuses and locations, lead shielding will be available for any patient or family who requests it.

Q&A pamphlets are available for both adult and pediatric patients.

Meet Aaron Joseph Canson, perioperative service coordinator at Texas Children’s Hospital – North Austin. With a nurse mother and Texas Children’s pediatrician who cared for him through childhood, Aaron always knew he wanted to give back and care for others in a similar way.

What is your history with Texas Children’s?

I’m currently the OR service coordinator for ENT, urology, ophthalmology, GI and pulmonology at North Austin Campus. I have been a nurse for more than 10 years, with most of those years spent at TCH. I joined back in 2017 and helped open The Woodlands hospital. When I heard Texas Children’s was building a hospital in Austin, I was very intrigued about the idea of opening another campus. With support from my fiancée, I decided coming to Austin as a service coordinator would be a step in the right direction for my future.

What are you most excited about as we open North Austin Campus?

I am excited the Austin area will be able to get the same amazing care Houston has been receiving all these years. With the growing population, the Austin population needs us more than ever.

Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

My mom, who’s a registered nurse, and my fifth grade teacher greatly influenced my career. Seeing my mom be so passionate about her career and helping others motivated me to pursue health care. Mrs. Olson was very encouraging in my education and inspired me to dream big.

What are your favorite things to do in Austin?

From the square in Georgetown to the Austin Coffee Festival, there are many fun things to do around the area. I am a big coffee and brewery person, so Summer Moon, Red Horn Coffee House and Whitestone Brewery are fun places to go. When it comes to restaurants, Jack Allen’s Kitchen and Pinthouse Pizza are my top choices.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I plan to be at Texas Children’s Hospital. From the amount of knowledge I’ve gained to all the friendships made, this place has been so good to me these past seven years and I can’t see myself anywhere else.

Texas Children’s Hospital has one of the largest and most experienced Pediatric Surgery programs in the world, offering comprehensive surgical services for a broad range of diagnoses from routine to highly complex. North Austin Campus will offer both children and women most of the services provided in the Medical Center, including all pediatric subspecialties, in our state-of-the-art operating rooms and surgical procedure suites.

Right Care, Right Place, Right People. Now ranked #1 in Texas and #3 in the nation, we’re bringing the best to Austin. Click here for countdown updates, resources and more on the Austin Expansion SharePoint.