February 26, 2024

Making employee health a priority with Dr. Burdine

Texas Children’s dedication to providing a work environment prioritizing employee health and wellness has led to the expansion of our Employee Medical Clinic. In addition to the locations in the Medical Center and West Campus, this summer, full-service primary care will also be available to employees at The Woodlands! With a wide range of acute care services, chronic condition management and preventive care, the EMC is a great benefit available to all Texas Children’s employees.

What brought you to Texas Children’s, Dr. Burdine?

I am excited for this opportunity to work at TCH for several reasons! I have family who work at TCH and for the past 11 years, I have heard them praise the culture here. The Employee Medical Clinic is a unique opportunity to provide convenient access to primary and urgent care visits to TCH employees. Plus, being part of the Workforce Well-Being team allows me to engage more fully in preventive health care such as social and lifestyle factors that impact health.

Are there any services provided at the EMC you want employees to know more about?

We provide many services such as annual wellness exams, well woman exams and urgent care for common conditions like urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, and common musculoskeletal conditions. We also manage chronic medical conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes type 2, hypothyroidism and asthma/allergies. Employees often don’t know the full scope of well-being benefits TCH provides, and we can help connect them to these programs. A great example is physical therapy, which we offer onsite at the EMC!

How can employees schedule an appointment at the EMC?

Appointments can be made by calling the clinic phone number at 832-824-2424 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday 6:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. or emailing empmedicalclinic@texaschildrens.org. Online direct scheduling and MyChart will be available soon.

As you know, February is Heart Month. What are some things TCH employees can do to promote heart health and what sort of cardiac services can employees receive at the EMC?

In addition to providing routine care like annual wellness checks, offered at the EMC, your primary care provider (PCP) works with you to prevent serious illnesses like heart disease. Heart health is directly impacted by chronic conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, prediabetes/diabetes and obesity.

High blood pressure or high cholesterol can be asymptomatic. Lifestyle habits, like reducing sodium intake and saturated fats, increasing physical activity and monitoring home blood pressures are tools everyone can work on to naturally lower blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity. The simplest way to increase your physical activity is to start walking. It’s free, easy and can be done just about anywhere!

We provide education regarding diet and therapeutic lifestyle goals to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. The EMC works with our free TCH Health Coaches to perform a thorough assessment of current nutrition, behavioral habits, exercise habits and ideal weight loss goals to develop an individualized plan for each patient. There are ongoing coaching sessions to help you stay on the path to success.

To make an appointment, email empmedicalclinic@texaschildrens.org.

Meet Dr. Kelly Cline, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin. She understands from personal experience how an injury can change an athlete’s identity, and her goal is to provide excellent care so these patients can ultimately return to the sports and activities they love.

What brought you to Texas Children’s?

I was practicing in Austin for the past four years and when I heard TCH was coming, of course I was curious to learn more! It has always been my dream to create a true center of excellence for injured athletes with comprehensive care all in one place. Treating orthopedic sports injuries goes way beyond just fixing the injured body part. While I’m trained to perform the surgeries when needed, there is additional rehabilitation, physical therapy and nutritional components that come with recovery. We must also consider the psychological aspect – not only can athletes lose a sense of identity during an injury, but also there can be anxiety associated with returning to sport. The goal is to address all of these things within the recovery spectrum and provide a complete treatment program. The thought of building a unique program like this in Austin affirmed my decision to join the team!

With North Austin Campus now open, what are you most excited about?

I’m excited to build an amazing sports program that the athletes of Austin and Central Texas deserve and have never seen before. I think we truly have an opportunity to do something special and provide many service lines in one place, over time distinguishing ourselves as an elite sports center. I will strive to provide high quality care for these athletes, starting from their middle/high school days and even into when they are playing at a collegiate (and perhaps even Olympic) level!

What makes Austin a great place to work and live?

Austin has so much to offer! It has a great sports scene, including Longhorn sports and now Austin FC. I did my undergraduate studies at UT Austin, so I definitely bleed burnt orange. Hook ‘em! There are plenty of outdoor activities to partake in, and it’s an amazing city for live music. I’m a big fan of Hula Hut, it was my family’s go-to restaurant when they visited me in college and still is today. I also love the pancakes at Kerbey Lane!

What inspired you to specialize in orthopedics?

I chose orthopedics after experiencing a personal injury myself. I tore my ACL playing soccer during my senior year of high school, undergoing surgery for reconstruction and then doing rehabilitation and physical therapy as part of my yearlong recovery. It means a lot to be able to look at an injured patient and tell them “I truly know how you feel, I’ve been through it…we can get you back from your injury to doing what you love.” To get a patient/athlete through these low points and returned to their sport is truly special, and as an orthopedic surgeon, I unofficially become part of their team! It’s an honor and privilege to be trusted to take them through surgery and recovery.

What do you like to do outside of work to recharge and unwind?

You can probably find me at a live sporting or music event! I enjoy fun recreational sports like tennis and standup paddleboarding. I’m also attempting to learn golf – emphasis on attempting! I’m not sure if golf relaxes me or just stresses me out more, but at least it gets me outside. Being with my family and friends is the best way for me to recharge.

Orthopedic & Sports Medicine at North Austin Campus will offer a full range of services including orthopedic surgery, sports injury prevention, concussion management and more with the goal of getting athletes back to doing what they love. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons work collaboratively with sports medicine doctors and sports-focused physical therapists and dietitians, as well as with other TCH sub-specialists when needed.

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 opening updates, resources and more on the Austin Expansion SharePoint.

Thanks to our long-standing institutional commitment to the highest standards of surgical care, we are proud to share the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recently reverified Texas Children’s Hospital in the Medical Center as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, and accredited The Woodlands Campus as an Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Center.

ACS Quality Programs use the best data, expert input and proven processes to help surgical care teams across the nation deliver the highest quality care. As a participant in multiple programs, Texas Children’s has earned distinction as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner in these three areas.

“As one of the very first children’s hospitals in the country verified by the American College of Surgeons, we are proud that we have now successfully completed three rounds of rigorous surveys,” said Texas Children’s Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Larry Hollier. “Additionally, we are honored to be one of only seven children’s hospitals recognized as an adolescent bariatric surgery center in the country.”

ACS-verified Trauma Centers must meet essential criteria to ensure trauma care capability and institutional performance. Verified since 2010, Texas Children’s Hospital is the only freestanding Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in our region, providing comprehensive around-the-clock coverage to evaluate and treat the most severely injured children and adolescents. Our trauma process improvement program carefully monitors and evaluates patient care and system performance while ensuring implementation of a safety-first culture.

Texas Children’s Hospital was one of the first Level I Children’s Surgery Centers to earn the distinction in 2016. A Level I verification requires us to provide surgery and anesthesia for all major pediatric specialties for children of all ages, from premature infants to adolescents. In addition to robust data collection, outcomes assessment and quality improvement efforts, the hospital must also have the highest level NICU and pediatric emergency medicine physicians and radiologists available all day, every day.

The process for ACS verification includes 12 to 18 months of rigorous preparation and collaboration. Both the Trauma and Children’s Surgery programs surveyed under new ACS standards, which required compliance with elevated metrics for multiple surgical and non-surgical subspecialties and allied health teams.

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands is home to the only adolescent bariatric surgery center in the state with a multidisciplinary clinical staff certified to meet the surgical, medical and psychological needs of its patients. Last year, they met the rigorous criteria to receive national accreditation from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint program of the ACS. Click here to read our previous story with more details on their inaugural accreditation.

Congratulations to our surgical teams on these outstanding accomplishments!

Texas Children’s is committed not only to providing exceptional care to our patients but also to fostering the growth and development of health care professionals. We believe in taking proactive steps to cultivate talent within our organization and the broader health care community. That’s why we are thrilled to announce our Surgical Technology Entrance into Practice Program (STEPP).

We’re STEPPing Up

STEPP is our latest approach to creating a pipeline of skilled surgical technologists who will enrich our workforce. Designed exclusively for students enrolled in the Houston Community College (HCC) Coleman College for Health Sciences Surgical Technology program, STEPP offers students financial assistance toward the completion of their education and opens doors for potential job placement within our hospital. This program not only benefits Texas Children’s by ensuring we have a skilled and dedicated team of surgical technologists but also contributes to the overall improvement of patient care in our community. We look forward to providing aspiring surgical technologists with the support and resources they need to succeed.

You can step up, too!

As we champion the growth and development of tomorrow’s health care professionals, we want to empower you to shape our talented surgical teams today.

Employees who refer qualified Surgical Technologist I & II candidates through our Everyone is A Recruiter Now (E.A.R.N.) program will receive a reward of $5,000 for each successful referral.

Here’s how the E.A.R.N. program works:

Refer: Share career opportunities at Texas Children’s with your network through Voyager. Ensure your referral includes your complete name under the “How did you hear about us?” section. Your referral should complete their profile, listing you as the sole referral source.

Collect Your Reward: You’ll receive 100% of the E.A.R.N. reward approximately two pay periods after the your referral’s successful hire and completion of new employee orientation. The reward will be listed under “Select Dollars” on your paycheck.

The E.A.R.N. program pays $5,000 for featured job referrals. Employees receive $1,000 for all other successful referrals. Click here for more details about the E.A.R.N. program.

February 19, 2024
Pectus Program celebrates 1,000th pectus carinatum patient.

Texas Children’s Hospital is proud to celebrate new treatment milestones for two of our world-renowned programs. Congratulations to the Motion Analysis & Human Performance Laboratory on 1,000 clinical gait studies conducted, and to the Pectus Program on 1,000 pectus carinatum patients treated.

The Motion Analysis & Human Performance Lab at The Woodlands Campus, part of our nationally ranked Orthopedics program and one of the only pediatric labs of its kind in the state, celebrated their milestone back in October and continues to grow in prominence.

The laboratory leverages the expertise of a team of physicians, therapists, biomechanists and exercise physiologists, along with state-of-the-art computer and sensor technology, to study and improve how the human body moves. There are two different clinical focuses and groups of patients served by the lab – patients who have been referred for clinical gait analysis due to a movement disorder or underlying condition affecting their ability to walk, and those seeking sports performance assessments. Click here to watch a video highlighting these services.

Texas Children’s Pectus Program is part of the Division of Pediatric Surgery and led by a multidisciplinary team treating an assortment of chest wall abnormalities. The two most common types are pectus carinatum or “pigeon chest,” which is a deformity where the breastbone and ribs are pushed outward, and pectus excavatum, where the chest has a sunken or caved-in appearance.

The standard treatment for pectus carinatum has radically improved over time – shifting from large and complicated surgeries to nonsurgical bracing. Bracing is both highly effective and free of major complications, often taking several months to two years to correct, depending on how fast and how much a child grows.

“We are incredibly proud of our team for reaching this important milestone,” said Dr. Mark V. Mazziotti, Director of the Pectus Program. “People with pectus carinatum often struggle with reduced self-esteem…successful treatment can therefore have an immediate impact on self-image, as well as on quality of life in the long run. Our Pectus Program is highly specialized and prides itself on offering individualized care – we are privileged to make a life-changing difference for so many patients across Texas, the region and the country.”

Click here to read the full story on the Pectus Program.

Appreciative colleague submitted the following Caught You Caring recognition for Ambulatory Services Representative Mithie Solis.

“Since I transferred to Austin from Houston she has been so incredibly kind and patient with me. I have worked for TCH for some time already, but when I transferred I needed to quickly learn the different work flows and the providers’ schedules of the Specialty Care office, and she has been more than welcoming. It truly set the tone of the new environment for me and I will always appreciate her.”

Caught You Caring

There are countless examples of how team members make an impact every day. Through our Caught You Caring recognition program, anyone (patients, families, colleagues, vendors, volunteers or visitors) can provide a kind word about someone who went the extra mile. Even the smallest act of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Click here to submit a recognition for a colleague. The recipient and their leader will receive an email notification. Since its inception in 2015, there have been more than 40,000 recognitions submitted.

February 12, 2024

Appreciative colleague submitted the following Caught You Caring recognition for Director Gary Brown.

“Gary came to assess a leak in my office and ended up going above and beyond to help put the finishing touch on a piece of patient-created artwork that was destined for auction at a fundraiser. I really could not have finished the final product without his (and Manuel’s) help and the artwork ended up bringing in $8,000 to help fund quality of life programming for kidney transplant and dialysis patients!”

Caught You Caring

There are countless examples of how team members make an impact every day. Through our Caught You Caring recognition program, anyone (patients, families, colleagues, vendors, volunteers or visitors) can provide a kind word about someone who went the extra mile. Even the smallest act of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Click here to submit a recognition for a colleague. The recipient and their leader will receive an email notification. Since its inception in 2015, there have been more than 40,000 recognitions submitted.