May 18, 2021

Life is busy, especially more so during the pandemic. As we continue to navigate our reconstructed future, it is more important than ever to keep healthy and strong for ourselves, and our families and friends.

As part of our commitment to your total well-being, Texas Children’s Employee Health and Well-Being teams have organized a variety of programs and resources around Women’s Health Month to help refresh your focus on your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Watch for more on Connect.

This week, we are focusing on your mental well-being.

Work-life satisfaction: Take advantage of EAP Plus, the enhanced Employee Assistance Program, available to all employees and their eligible dependents. In addition to round-the-clock access to counseling services by phone and referrals to qualified mental health providers in the community, EAP Plus provides legal guidance, financial information and unlimited work-life solutions to help you take care of tasks such as planning a party, securing child or elder care, arranging home repairs and more. Call 833.EAP.PLUS 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to connect with a certified counselor, or visit the EAP Plus website and enter EAPPLUS as the Organization Web ID.

Virtual Mental Health Care: Taking care of your mental health can help you live a happier, healthier, and more productive life. Cigna now offers the following options:

  • Behavioral and mental health virtual care via MDLive, where you can talk privately with a licensed counselor or psychiatrist via video or phone anywhere and anytime. You can also have a prescription sent directly to your local pharmacy, if needed. Please note there will be a co-pay. To learn more about MDLive click here.
  • Talkspace, an online therapy platform where you are able to hold sessions with a licensed behavioral therapist from anywhere, at any time. Please note there will be a co-pay. Once you are matched with a therapist, you can message each other to schedule your session. For additional information on Talkspace, click here.
  • Meru Health offers a 12-week virtual counseling program that includes daily chat support from a licensed therapist, a biofeedback device, anonymous peer and psychiatrist support, mindfulness practices, and habit-changing activities for sleep, nutrition, and more – accessed anytime and anywhere. Click here to learn more.

After winning the Get the Vaccine to End COVID-19 Drawing, the following team members tell us why they stepped up to be vaccinated and hope to inspire others.

Wilena Grayer – 5.9 years of service
Coding Quality Assurance Specialist III – HIM Coding
I chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine to continue to protect me, as well as my family. I had 7 family members to catch COVID and I was in close contact with them, but I never got infected. Their serious of illness ranged from hospitalization on respiratory assistance to 14-day quarantine. Seeing the true COVID residual effects first hand, I chose to be safe and protect myself and those I love by getting the vaccine. I hope others choose to do the same.

Erin Psencik – 12.3 years of service
Occupational Therapist – Inpatient
I chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect not only myself and my family, but the patient and families that I treat. It was a humbling experience during both my first and second dose to know that I was doing my part to help stop the spread of this virus. Thank you Texas Children’s Hospital!

Angela Anderson – 5.9 years of service
Service Coordinator – Social Work
Honestly, initially I was against getting the vaccine, but after doing my own research and talking with family about it I decided it was best to get the vaccine. I am glad I was able to do my part for my family, my community and my world.

To date, 80 percent of our workforce has volunteered to be vaccinated against COVID-19. If you haven’t already, schedule your vaccination appointment now; simply click here and sign up for the date and time that works best for your schedule.

During Lauren Bailey’s routine 20-week anatomy scan in October 2020, her OB/GYN noticed an abnormal growth on her placenta. It was a chorioangioma, a benign, vascular tumor. Read more

May 14, 2021

May 13 was an exciting day for Texas Children’s, as 12 to 15-year-olds received their first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Register for a vaccine appointment through Texas Children’s. To sign up, please visit our Plus One page.

May 11, 2021

All Texas Children’s employees, Baylor faculty members and staff partners with a Texas Children’s issued badge can send the registration link to an unlimited number of individuals (ages 12 and older) to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at Texas Children’s.

How does the Plus One Program work?

Please see below for an overview and click here for additional frequently asked questions.

The individual can be of any relation to you – e.g. your spouse, partner, parent, child, friend, etc. Participants must be willing and able to receive the vaccine in the Houston area.
As some personal information is required, your individual(s) should complete the registration form. Simply send him/her the link below to register and schedule his/her vaccine appointments.

Registration Link

If he/she does not have internet access or a computer, we recommend that you assist in the registration and scheduling process.
Due to limited vaccine supplies, Texas Children’s will continue to use our fair and equitable approach for administrating the vaccine by assigning registered individuals into different distribution phases based on the participant’s objective risk elements, along with the number of vaccines we have available. How quickly we go through each phase will depend on how many vaccines we receive from the state. In addition to registering with Texas Children’s, we also encourage signing up at other distribution avenues and getting vaccinated as soon as a vaccine is made available by any entity. Once registered individuals are eligible to schedule their vaccination through Texas Children’s, they will be notified via email and/or phone.

 

Life is busy, especially more so during the pandemic. As we continue to navigate our reconstructed future, it is more important than ever to keep healthy and strong for ourselves, and our families and friends.

As part of our commitment to your total well-being, Texas Children’s Employee Health and Well-Being teams have organized a variety of programs and resources around Women’s Health Month to help refresh your focus on your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Watch for more on Connect.

Today, we are kicking off with your physical well-being.

Well-Woman Exam: Don’t forget to schedule your annual physical with your health care provider as part of your self-care routine. This is a great opportunity to check in on your general health status and physical body as well as address any health concerns.

  • Texas Children’s Employee Medical Clinic provides full-service primary care that includes annual physicals and the well-being physical, which offers a more in-depth and comprehensive approach to understanding your key health numbers. As part of our safety protocols during the pandemic, the Employee Medical Clinic is currently conducting well-woman exams in a two-part process. The first part is a virtual appointment where you can discuss concerns with one of ours providers, and the second part is in person for the physical tests. Click here to view Employee Medical Clinic locations and hours of operation, and call 832.824.2424 to make an appointment.
  • Virtual Wellness Screenings by MDLive: If you are enrolled in our Cigna medical plans, you can also get your virtual wellness screening from anywhere via video or phone at your convenience and at no cost, as part of your preventive care benefits. First, you will schedule an in-person appointment with an in-network lab for the necessary blood work and biometrics before meeting virtually with your MDLive provider online to discuss your results. Click here to learn more about this option.

Health Coaching: Texas Children’s offers free health coaching to all employees. This is a great way to make positive long-term health changes with the advice, motivation and support of your health coach. Texas Children’s currently has two health coaches to help support your well-being needs. Please contact Staci Tobolowsky-Astrein for the Medical Center and Ashley Miller for community locations.

Movement: Daily mobility contributes greatly to your overall health by stimulating our entire body from our brains to our joints. There are various types of movements ranging from quick neighborhood walks, yoga or cycling. Frequent and consistent movement is key to reducing stress and improving circulation. Check out our new Active and Fit Direct Partnership where you have the opportunity to utilize 200 on-demand workouts at no cost. If you prefer the gym, you can join Active and Fit Direct for $25 a month and have access to over 2,500+ on-demand workouts and unlimited access to gyms that are part of the network. It is also always more fun exercising with others. Try out this fun cardio workout video with your family!

After winning the Get the Vaccine to End COVID-19 Drawing, the following team members tell us why they stepped up to be vaccinated and hope to inspire others.

Frank McCormick – 15.6 years of service
Advanced Clinical Specialist Physical Therapist – Physical Therapy Inpatient
Why I got the vaccine? To protect my family and potentially break the chain of transmission to everyone.

Muping Lu – 16.9 years of service
Medical Technologist – Legacy Tower, Blood Bank
The pandemic has taken away millions of lives worldwide which includes my family member and friends. The losses are painful and heart broken. I felt helpless and desperate for effective treatments, especially the vaccines. Thanks to our scientists and the leadership of our nation, I finally saw the light at the end of tunnel when Texas Children’s announced availability of COVID-19 vaccine on December 2020. I got so excited and in the meanwhile felt a little bit anxious as a lot of people have concerns about the safety of vaccines. However, I rushed to register and became the first few batches of people vaccinated at Texas Children’s.

My thoughts are pretty simple and straightforward, I firmly believe the benefit of vaccines far more outweighs their risks, and I need to do my part to help in reaching the herd immunity threshold in the community. I had slight fever during the second dose, and thanks for the help of my supervisor and colleagues, I was able to rest at home and quickly recovered. Right now, I feel total relief and a tiny firewall against COVID-19 built around me. This tiny firewall not just protects myself, it also protects my family, co-workers, patients and all the people around me. Obviously, the more people who get vaccinated, the bigger and stronger the firewall will be. It is particularly crucial right now as the current surge of COVID-19 cases and emerges of various variants worldwide. So please get vaccinated.

Dolores Hidalgo – .6 years of service
Staff Nurse – Inpatient, Legacy Tower CICU, Floor 17
I chose to get the vaccine to continue to care, serve and help those in need and to one day be able to hug and kiss my loved ones again. #weareinthistogether

To date, 80 percent of our workforce has volunteered to be vaccinated against COVID-19. If you haven’t already, schedule your vaccination appointment now, simply click here and sign up for the date and time that work best for your schedule.