July 21, 2020

As events continue to unfold around racial inequity in our community and across the country, Texas Children’s remains committed to supporting equality, justice, and respect, and The Black Lives Matter Movement.

Texas Children’s Psychology Section recently convened The Collaborative on Racial Equity and Inclusion for Black Youth (REI) to provide resources, information, and support to our patients, colleagues, and the broader community around this important mission. One aspect of REI is providing actions the Texas Children’s community can take. Every few weeks, the group will provide a set of “Take FIVE” actions on a particular topic related to battling racism and promoting equity, justice, and respect. Check back often to learn more ways to take action.

This week, REI is launching the program with a list of five TED Talks to watch on different aspects of racism: health disparities, parenting, systemic abuses of power, and engaging in anti-racism advocacy. The videos are between five and 20 minutes. Watch each video at your convenience and share with your communities.

Dr. David Williams, sociologist, talks about the impact of racism on health (2016)
How racism makes us sick

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, psychologist, discusses parenting and addressing racism with kids (2017)
Addressing racism with kids

Mia Birdsong interviews Black Lives Matter founders, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, & Opal Tometi (2016)
Black Lives Matter founders

Baratunde Thurston, writer/comedian and activist, discusses changing systemic abuses of power and the phenomenon of white people calling/weaponizing police against people who are #LivingWhileBlack (2019)
How to deconstruct racism

Clint Smith III, artist and activist, speaks on parenting Black children (2015)
Parenting Black children

To learn more, check out this curated list of TED talks on racism and related topics.

To contact the Collaborative on Racial Equity and Inclusion for Black Youth (REI), email RacialEquityandInclusion@texaschildrens.org

June 8, 2020

In keeping with our broader effort to adjust our policies and procedures as needed during this pandemic, Texas Children’s is making updates to its Travel Guidelines, which are outlined below. Please note that although the summertime represents a period of heightened travel for many, the COVID-19 virus remains prevalent across our communities, and as such the CDC is still advising against any non-essential travel. Effective Saturday, June 6:

  • All Texas Children’s workforce members (employees, Baylor faculty or staff members) are now permitted to travel anywhere within the continental United States via ground transportation or by airplane, and will not be subject to a 14-day quarantine upon return as long as they are asymptomatic.
  • All workforce members are still asked to refrain from traveling internationally or on a cruise. Those who choose to do so will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return, and will need to use PTO for the duration of their quarantine period or take an unpaid leave.
  • Despite the widespread lifting and loosening of restrictions put in place to counter the spread of COVID-19, this remains an ongoing and fluid situation. COVID-19 cases have been reported in every state, with some areas having higher prevalence than others. Given the increased risk of contracting COVID-19 from traveling to one of these locations, Texas Children’s Travel Guidelines could change quickly in response to a sudden surge in activity. If an employee is visiting an area that sees a sudden spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases, he or she will be required to self-quarantine upon return and will need to use PTO or take unpaid leave.
  • If you are planning to travel, we strongly encourage you to review this guidance – also available here in Spanish – for tips on how to protect yourself and others during any trip. While traveling, remain vigilant about washing your hands often, practicing social distancing and wearing a face mask or covering when in public. Also consider the risks of each mode of transportation and the prevalence of COVID-19 throughout the country.
  • During the 14 days after returning from any travel, be sure to monitor yourself for any potential symptoms of COVID-19. If you become symptomatic or learn you may have been exposed to the virus anywhere, please contact Employee Health or Medical Staff Support Services for guidance regarding our COVID-19 employee testing program. We remain committed to state-of-the-art testing for COVID-19 and appropriate contact tracing to minimize the spread of the virus in our workplace.

Contact information for Employee Health and Medical Staff Support Services can be found on the COVID-19 Resources site.

Thank you for all that you’ve done to adhere to these guidelines, as well as model safe practices to protect yourselves and others.

April 23, 2020

If you feel you meet testing criteria, as described in a variety of sources, and are otherwise ambulatory and not seriously ill, you may obtain testing from a variety of sources.

This is a very fluid situation right now, filled with ambiguity, and current guidelines at these testing sites are designed to preserve resources, while allowing testing of ill or at-risk individuals.

All sites will screen people for symptoms and risk factors in accordance with current CDC and health department guidance. Symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. They also consider epidemiologic factors, such as recent travel, contact with anyone diagnosed or suspected of having COVID19, age, underlying conditions.

Some sites only test healthcare providers, and healthcare professionals will often be prioritized at some of these sites (and typically do not need to meet the epidemiologic criteria noted above). Asymptomatic individuals with no risk factors usually will NOT be screened at these testing sites.

If you have insurance, bring your insurance proof, and the test itself is at no cost to you. Without insurance some sites will require cash ($150 to $200). Some sites require pre-screening by phone and an identification number or proof of medical provider identification. So be prepared before you go to one of the testing sites.

Virtual care sites, an option for obtaining medical advice, will require a small fee of $20.

Who can be tested at community testing sites? 

At this time testing is still restricted to symptomatic individuals, with priority of at-risk individuals with underlying health conditions, or known exposure to COVID-19. Some sites will accept an order from your own physician. Some sites will also test children, and some will only test adults.

Option 1:

Your own primary care provider. 

This is always a good first step. If you have a primary care physician, contact their office about which testing site they prefer you to use. Some PCPs may evaluate their patients in office, collect a specimen, and send to a commercial lab such as Quest or LabCorp. Others will offer video virtual care and telemedicine visits, then refer you to one of the drive-through options listed below.

Option 2:

Baylor College of Medicine McNair Campus

If you are BCM employee and seen by BCM OHP because of at-work exposure (no matter where you work, including TCH) or seen as a patient of a BCM clinic doctor, this is an option. The BCM Incident Command Center emails will have direct links to navigate the “exposure grid” instructions.

BCM McNair campus drive-through testing site. Testing can be done after you are seen by a BCM physician in the BCM clinic – or evaluated by OHP BCM if you are exposed from work –    with an order in EPIC from a BCM physician or OHP.

Option 3: 

Texas Children’s Hospital 

Texas Children’s employees and Baylor faculty who are medical staff are being assessed for risk associated with COVID-19. Subsequent COVID-19 testing is based on symptom criteria. Texas Children’s is not able to support testing on demand for asymptomatic individuals.

If you meet the screening criteria, you will be placed into a queue and contacted later for the next steps. Testing supply is variable and is evaluated on a daily basis. Contact your TCH supervisor for further instructions if you work at TCH and feel you meet testing criteria. Medical Staff Services will approve medical staff for testing, if testing criteria are met. You will be directed to the Meyer Building at 1919 S. Braeswood if you qualify for testing. This is a drive-through testing site.

Texas Children’s Hospital TCP outpatients also may be processed for sample collection at the Meyer Building at 1919 S. Braeswood, with proper symptoms screening, and a doctor order in EPIC. The sample will then be run at TCH per the outpatient agreements. This is a drive-through site.

Texas Children’s Hospital MWT specialty clinic outpatients and all inpatients will have samples collected in clinic or in hospital, according to PPE procedures outlined, and testing will be run in the TCH laboratory, and resulted in EPIC, twice daily, 7 days a week

Option 4:

Harris County Health Department on-line screening

Go to www.readyharris.org or www.checkforcorona.com. On these health department websites you will be guided through a three-step process:

  1. Complete on-line screening questions. You will either be reassured you do not need testing, or proceed to step 2.
  2. If you are at risk, you will receive a phone consultation.
  3. If you meet criteria for testing, you will be referred to a drive-through community testing facility site, and assigned an identification number.

Also, bring proof that you are a physician or other healthcare professional, and proof of insurance. Healthcare workers are prioritized, but the general public also will be tested if they are high risk, exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.

Option 5: (same sites as option 4 but screen by phone instead of online)

Health Department triage and testing by telephone

This is an initiative between the health departments and the Texas Medical Center Hospitals (Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, CHI St. Luke’s, and HCS Houston HealthCare).

  • Call the Houston Health Department at 832-393-4330 (9 am to 4 pm) if you reside in Houston city limits.
  • Call the Harris County Health Department at 832-927-7575 (9 am to 4 pm) if you reside outside the city of Houston, but inside Harris County.

You will be screened on the phone by a health department representative, given an identification number, and instructions on where to go to be tested. The venue for testing will be a drive-through testing center. This is now open for first responders and medical personnel, as well as people in the general public with high-risk conditions, symptoms, or known exposures. In addition to the identification number you will be required to show identification/proof of your medical doctor or first responder status (if appropriate), and proof of insurance. Insurance will be billed. No payment will be accepted.

Option 6:
United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC)

510 Tidwell

Houston 77091 

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 8 pm

A doctor’s order is required. There is a website www.ummcscreening.com for registration and pre-test eligibility screening. This is a free, non-FEMA drive-through testing site. They test both adults and children.

Option 7.

Northeast Houston at Forest Brook Middle School

7525 Tidwell Road

Houston 77017

877-470-7787

This is a non-FEMA drive-through testing center.

Option 8: 

Legacy Community Health Clinics

832-548-5000 

At this time it appears these clinics will test individuals > 18 years of age only – no children. They are drive-through testing site. A doctor’s order will be required.

Legacy Community Health Clinic (Montrose) 

1415 California St.

Houston 77006  

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm , Sat, 9 am to 3 pm

They will process insurance with a sliding scale payment if there is no insurance.

Other Legacy Community Health Clinics 

Legacy Clinic Southwest

6441 High Star Dr.

Houston 77074

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm,   Sat, 8 am to 5 pm

Legacy Clinic Fifth Ward

3811 Lyons Ave

Houston 77020

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm

Legacy Clinic Beaumont

450 N 11th St

Beaumont TX 77702

Mon – Fri, 8 am to 5 pm

Option 9

HISD Butler Stadium

13755 Main St

Houston 77035

832-927-7575

Will test first responders, and medical and health care providers > 65 year olds with fever, and general public with symptoms or exposures. If you have symptoms and want a COVID-19 test, first call the Houston or Harris County Health Department or get screened on their websites as outlined in options 4 and 5 above. This is a drive-through, free FEMA testing site. Police officers are on site.

Option 10

Delmar Stadium

2020 Mangum Road

Houston 77092

832-393-4221

Will test first responders, and medical and health care providers > 65 year olds with fever, and general public with symptoms or exposures. If you have symptoms and want a COVID-19 test, first call the Houston or Harris County Health Department or get screened on their websites as outlined in options 4 and 5 above. This is a drive-through, free FEMA testing site. Police officers are on site.

Option 11 

M.O. Campbell Center

1865 Aldine Bender Road

Houston 77032

Option 12

My Family Doctor Run by MediCorp PA Private Doctor Group 

6430 Hillcroft St.

Houston 77081 

This is a drive-through, non-FEMA private testing site. Doctors and nurses on site will evaluate for testing criteria. The test is free after insurance verification. Bring $25 in case, which will be given back to you once they verify insurance. The cost is $150 to $200 (cash only) without insurance. They will collect the sample and send samples to commercial reference laboratory, such as Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp Mon – Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.

https://www.myfamilydoctorhouston.com/

Option 13

Oakbend Medical Center

4911 Sandhill Drive

Sugar Land 77479

281-238-7870

This is a drive-through, non-FEMA private testing site. Patients to be tested must complete a telehealth visit by calling, and will be assessed for risk factors, and if appropriate, the testing will be ordered. The test is $100 without insurance, or a $40 co-pay with insurance.

www.oakbendmedcenter.org/covid-19/

Option 14

Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land

18111 Lexington Blvd

Sugar Land 77479

877-470-7787

This is a free, non-FEMA drive-through testing site. Testing is conducted by United Memorial Medical Center at this location. Individuals who meet criteria, including symptoms, will be tested here.

www.sugarlandtx.gov/1969/COVID-19-Testing#testing

Option 15.

Pearland sites if you live in or near Pearland

Insurance will be billed.

Baylor St Luke’s Pearland

11713 Shadow Creek Pkwy

Pearland 77584

Pearland Medical Center HCA Pearland 

Shadow Creek Pkwy

Pearland 77584

Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital

16100 South Fwy

Pearland 77584

Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center Pearland

11525 Broadway St.

Pearland 77584

713-363-8020

Next Level Urgent Care of Pearland

8325 Broadway St., Suite 220

Pearland 77581

This site will only test high-risk patients.

Option 16. 

Goose Creek ISD – Stalworth

2102 East Archer Road

Baytown 77521

This is a free, drive-through FEMA testing site run in collaboration with Harris County Health Department. Samples will be sent to Labcorp or Quest Diagnostics commercial reference laboratories. This site appears to be for medical personnel, healthcare workers and first responders who are showing COVID-19 symptoms. Information on testing for the general public is forthcoming.

Option 17 

Next Level Urgent Care Locations

This is a privately run urgent care system. They will test individuals with symptoms, suspected exposure, as well as other high-risk groups. They will require a telemedicine virtual visit with one of their healthcare providers, or an in-person clinic visit to be seen in a drive-through line. They will bill insurance with a co-pay. Or the cost is $200 without insurance.

www.nextlevelurgentcare.com

Option 18

Houston Methodist Hospital System

Virtual urgent care provider 24/7 

A board-certified physician will assist you via a video conference to determine if you require testing and advise you on where you should go. They also have a Virtual Urgent Care app. Download MyMethodist app, and register or visit the website. Cost appears to start at $20 for the virtual urgent care visit. This is for patients over 2 years of age.

www.houstonmethodist.org/virtual-urgent-care/

Option 19

MD Anderson Diagnostic Imaging 

ONLY FOR MD ANDERSON PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES 

6602 Mapleridge St.

Houston 77081 

Option 20

Memorial Hermann System

Their COVID-19 website says if you are symptomatic with fever, cough, shortness of breath and/or meet travel criteria and/or have had significant exposure, they encourage telemedicine and virtual care options via their eVisit and eVisit video services 24/7. The cost is $25 per visit.

www.memorialhermann.org/virtual-care/evisit/

Option 21: 

Telehealth, telemedicine and virtual visits 

These are apps that can be set up and used almost immediately. There is usually a small fee. Check your health insurance provider for which telehealth benefit is included in your coverage plan.

  • Teladoc
  • AmWell
  • Doctor on Demand
  • eVisit and eVisit Video
  • MyMethodist
March 23, 2020

Texas Children’s is establishing labor pools to be staffed by employees across the system who have the skills and abilities to fulfill any potential labor needs during the COVID-19 event. The following labor pool roles are available at this time:

All employees are eligible
  • Patient/visitor screener
Registered nurse and Advanced Practice Provider only
  • Employee Health support
  • Emergency Center phone support
  • Emergency Center nursing support

We are asking leaders and/or team members who have leadership approval and are interested in volunteering to follow the steps below. Prior to signing up, please speak to your leader to ensure you can be relieved of your current responsibilities without disrupting any core departmental operations.

As labor needs emerge, pool participants will be evaluated against any requirements. Team members selected to fulfill labor pool assignments will be contacted separately to confirm participation and will be provided with additional training, if applicable.

Medical Center campus

Please sign up via this link (best opened with Google Chrome) as soon as possible. A confirmation email will be sent to you and your immediate supervisor with shift details. Team members can request shifts for Emergency Center Nursing support via the COVID19 Labor Team inbox at covid19laborteam@texaschildrens.org. If you have any questions, please contact covid19laborteam@texaschildrens.org.

West Campus and The Woodlands

Team members interested in volunteering for the labor pools at West Campus or The Woodlands are to email the labor teams at their respective campus:

March 3, 2020

On his blog this week, Mark Wallace addresses the Harvey Weinstein verdict and the power of the #MeToo movement. Read more

February 3, 2020

The countdown clock is ticking. Texas Children’s Nursing will host its seventh virtual town hall from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, at the Pavilion for Women Conference Center.

Nursing has partnered with the Corporate Communications team to organize this event to engage our team of more than 3,700 dedicated nurses that make up Texas Children’s largest employee population.

Hosted by Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre’, the town hall will include a discussion of recent nursing accomplishments, our nursing priorities and system updates. The town hall will also include time for Q&A. Nurses watching the livestream remotely can participate in the Q&A session.

Attendees can submit questions during the Town Hall by going to www.slido.com and entering the event code TCH. We will respond to as many questions as time permits during the town hall. Any unanswered questions will be responded to via individual email or the “Ask the CNO” feature on the Voice of Nursing blog.

As always, patient care is our first priority, and we know not all nurses will be able to attend the live event or view the live stream. However, nurses can still participate by viewing the town hall on-demand. The link to the town hall recording will be available on Voice of Nursing.

For more details and instructions on how to access the livestream, click here to view the flyer.

December 16, 2019

Staying in the hospital for a prolonged amount of time isn’t easy, especially for children. That’s why Texas Children’s and a variety of community partners are constantly looking for ways to make the hospital a warm, welcoming, fun environment for patients and their families.

Texas Children’s most recent endeavor included a gift of 10 new computers outfitted with the latest gaming technology. The generous donation was made by CDW, a leading multi-brand technology solutions provider, in partnership with the Astros Golf Foundation.

Members from both organizations announced the gift on December 16 in the Child Life Zone, a state-of-the-art, therapeutic play area where patients and their families can escape from the day-to-day hardships of their hospital stay.

“CDW is excited to be here today and is appreciative of the opportunity of this sponsorship,” said CDW Area Sales Director Shaun O’Rourke. “We hope it will make a positive impact on the people you serve.

Brian White, sales director with the Astros Golf Foundation, said his organization facilitated the partnership between CDW and Texas Children’s, and was happy to do so.

“We are thrilled to be able to partner two great groups for such a good cause,” White said.

Paige Schulz, assistant vice president of Clinical Support & Research Administration at Texas Children’s, thanked the foundation and CDW for their support and assured them that patients and their family members will benefit from their generosity

Based on the reaction of the first group of patients invited to test out the computers, Schulz’s is right.

Carla Vongphackdy said her 11-year-old daughter Jayla traveled to Texas Children’s about a week ago from Baton Rouge and aren’t sure when they will be able to head back home.

“It’s been stressful,” Carla said. “Being in the hospital for extended period of time isn’t a lot of fun.”

So, when a representative from Child Life asked Jayla if she would like to come to The Zone and try out some new computers and gaming software, she immediately said yes.

Jayla and her twin brother play games on the computer a lot at home, Carla said. The game she played Monday – Rocket League – was one they’d been hoping to try out.

“Her brother is going to be pretty jealous,” Carla said. “I’m just happy she’s enjoying herself.”

Audrey Crawford, the grandmother of 8-year-old Ryland Griffith, said she is so appreciative for the distractions Texas Children’s has provided her grandson during his more than three-week stay at the hospital.

“I couldn’t have ask for a better place for him to be,” she said. “Everyone has been great.”