“…A sense of hope that if this vaccine is available to the community, we can get to the other side of COVID-19,” says Jackie Ward, Chief Nursing Officer and SVP.
March 15, 2021
The patient is at the center of the 21st Century Cures Act in order to provide them more power in the delivery of health care, which includes access to medical information.
In 2016, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology passed federal legislation called the 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule that puts patients in charge of their health records, which is a key piece of Health and Human Services (HHS) work toward a value-based health care system. The ONC Final Rule enables the health care delivery system to deliver an “app economy” to providers and patients, physicians, hospitals, payers, and employers with innovation and choice.
Through the delivery of modern smartphone and software apps, patients and providers will see benefits in accessing electronic health information (EHI). Patients will have more convenient and easier options to gain on-demand access to their EHI whenever and wherever they need it. In addition, there will be the increasing ability for patients to choose apps that will assemble and read their records. The interoperability, information blocking, and patient access to data and electronic health record certification requirements outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act will go into effect in multiple phases and will impact our patients, health care providers and health IT software developers.
To learn more about this effort, click here.
Changes to Inpatient and Emergency Center settings will go live on March 21, 2021. With this, there will also be optimizations to Ambulatory areas, who went live with these changes in November 2020. Texas Children’s will release data via MyChart, and other patient portals, in order to make information more accessible and not require patients to go through the traditional medical record release process. Several other changes on the horizon include:
- Patient Access API – Beginning December 31, 2022, CMS-regulated payers (including Medicaid MCOs) are required to implement a secure, standards-based application programming interface (API) that allows patients to access their claims, encounter information and some clinical data.
- CMS Payer-to-Payer Data Exchange – This provision will require CMS-regulated payers to share certain clinical data with each other and other payers. This allows the patient to take their information with them as they move from payer to payer over time to help create a cumulative health record with their current payer.
- United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) standard expands – Starting in October 2022, under ONC’s rule, the definition of EHI will expand beyond the USCDI. The EHI definition will include the full HIPAA electronic designated data set.
To prepare, educate, and ensure compliance across the organization, a workgroup has been assembled to carefully review the regulation, review our policies, procedures and business practices, and develop a system wide communication plan to ensure our providers are compliant with this new federal regulation. All Texas Children’s team members are invited to learn more about this regulation and its implementation by visiting our SharePoint site, which provides details on what you need to know, including a recordings of prior Town Halls, a crash course, simulation center videos, handouts and much more.
Stay tuned for additional updates.
The Get the Vaccine to End COVID-19 Drawing was announced February 8, and will continue every weekday through Friday, March 26. Texas Children’s employees who receive their first dose are automatically eligible for the drawing and the $1,000 prize. Full details on eligibility and requirements are outlined here.
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.
Juana Mondragon – 8.8 years of service
Unit Support Assistant, Facility Operations, West Tower
“The reason why I decided to get the vaccine was because I work in the hospital and, thankfully, I have not had COVID. This was a measure to ensure that I would be protected from the virus, and in turn, protect my family, friends, and whomever I come into contact. I am very thankful to God for providing me the opportunity to receive the vaccine and to put my little grain of sand to help turn this virus around.”
Deborah Marley – 1.3 years of service
Pipeline Donor Strategies Advisor, Philanthropy, Patient & Physician Relations
“First, I would like to say how grateful I am to Texas Children’s for offering the vaccine to its employees! I feel it is my civic duty to keep those around me as healthy as possible. There have been enough people extremely ill and dying from this virus. If my actions can aid in the health of others then that is the action I should take. This is just one more step in protecting our communities. I would encourage all to get the vaccine when possible!”
Ansel Scope Marshall – 27.8 years of service
Staff Accountant, Financial Services – Payroll
“I got the vaccine because I felt in order to end the pandemic we all have to do our part. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to encourage others to get vaccinated, this is the only defense we have against the virus. Truly happy that Texas Children’s made it available to its employees and grateful to be a part of an amazing team.”
To date, more than 9,700 of Texas Children’s employees have received at least one vaccine dose. If you haven’t already, schedule your vaccination appointment now and get your chance at the $1,000 prize, simply click here and sign up for the date and time that work best for your schedule.
As Texas Children’s One Amazing Team, we have continued to successfully navigate and traverse the unprecedented times accompanying the Coronavirus. Our collective workforce has adapted to new norms and protocols in day-to-day workflows to ensure the ongoing safety of patients, families, and staff throughout the organization.
One of the new protocols that has become an integral aspect within staff’s daily routine is the screening process. As staff has received a unique, colorful wristband at the beginning of each work shift, many team members have begun collecting their wristbands. Inspired by this initial desire to reflect, commemorate, and make meaning of one’s experience as a frontline worker during this global health care crisis, Texas Children’s would like to expand the opportunity for support and reflection hospital wide.
Our two art therapists at Texas Children’s will be offering an opportunity to promote staff self-care, increase community, and decrease stress through art and creative processing. Within open studio art sessions, staff members will be able to create imagery on their wristband that expresses personal perceptions and experiences through expressive writing and art making. This individual wristband art will later be collaged into the shape of the Texas Children’s Logo.
The art making experiences will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 19 and Friday, March 26, on the fourth-floor bridge between Wallace and Legacy Towers. If you are interested in participating, our art therapists encourage you to be saving and collecting your wristbands for the collaboration. See you there!
March 11, 2021
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Texas Children’s medical and administrative teams were monitoring the outbreak since its early phase in Wuhan, China and were prepared to quickly responded to the ever-evolving situation.
March 9, 2021
Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Ward highlights key messages from her Nursing Town Hall presentation last week including a recording of the event for nurses to watch at their convenience. Read more
March 8, 2021
The Get the Vaccine to End COVID-19 Drawing was announced Monday, February 8, and will continue every weekday through Friday, March 26. Texas Children’s employees who receive their first dose are automatically eligible for the drawing and the $1,000 prize. Full details on eligibility and requirements are outlined here.
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.
Kristina McGee – 3.5 years of service
MRI Generalist
“I received the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure the health and safety for my family, friends, and patients. I was excited to do my part and encourage others to do so in hopes that we can end this pandemic.”
Aileen Valdez – 7.1 years of service
Nurse Practitioner, Texas Children’s Urgent Care (FMP)
“Thank you to Texas Children’s Hospital and organization for providing employees with the COVID-19 vaccine. I chose to get vaccinated to protect myself, my family, and my patients. I will admit that I was hesitant for awhile to receive the vaccine while pregnant, but after talking with my OB team and doing my own research, the benefits outweighed the risks. As a nurse practitioner, I felt compelled to lead by example, I felt the responsibility to protect my patients, and I felt grateful as a health care worker to be eligible to receive the vaccine. I encourage everyone that is eligible to receive it!”
Lisa Callaway – 5.5 years of service
Transition Navigator, Renal Allied Health
“I decided to get the vaccine to help prevent the spreading of the virus, to stay healthy and most of all to protect my family, church family, co-workers and friends, basically all that I come in contact with. Being that I work in the medical field I felt it was my duty to step up and show bravery, my faith in God. Hoping that it would encourage and motivate family members, church members, co-workers, and friends to step out on that same Faith. We are all in this together so we must protect each other. I encourage people to not gamble with their life and get vaccinated. I know that people have and is hearing all kind of stories about the vaccine, but it is just like going to bed at not you are not certain that you will wake up in the morning so you hope, pray, and take that chance on going to sleep. And yes I did experience some nausea, and headache but I did not allow that to keep me from getting my 2nd vaccine. So let’s all get vaccinated to end this pandemic!”
To date, more than 9,300 of Texas Children’s employees have received at least one vaccine dose.
If you haven’t already, schedule your vaccination appointment now and get your chance at the $1,000 prize, simply click here and sign up for the date and time that work best for your schedule.