When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Texas, anxious parents and families quickly learned they could count on Texas Children’s for friendly and convenient drive-through testing with a speedy response within 24 hours.
Now – just one year later – more than 100,000 patient encounters have been completed at drive-through testing locations in Austin and at The Center for Women and Children, the Meyer Building and Pavilion for Women at the Medical Center, West Campus and The Woodlands.
Leaders largely credit a committed and flexible labor pool team and contract staff across the system for getting the first-of-its-kind initiative off to a strong start, and helping it thrive despite unforeseen challenges and disruptions.
“We are committed to be available for our patient needs, and will continue to work as a system to make sure the right testing options are available to meet those patient needs,” said Assistant Vice President Sara Montenegro, who has led the initiative since its inception and continues to chart a course for the future.
“At this time, we will continue testing for pre-ordered, and scheduled appointments in our drive-through locations, and will continue to offer testing alongside office appointments at our primary care and urgent care locations.”
The drive-through testing effort has also been highly collaborative and an example of how we amplify unity at Texas Children’s to achieve the best possible results, including:
- Child Life team members developing information for parents about what to expect so they could prepare their children for testing before pulling into the drive-through.
- IS helping to set up equipment to reduce patient prep time and improve the workflows at the testing sites, which changed periodically as the process evolved over time and adjustments were made to streamline ordering tests, scheduling patients and setting testing times.
- The Pathology team for seamlessly receiving couriered specimens 7 days a week over the last year, to ensure high quality results were available for patients timely.
- The EPIC team setting up scheduling and documentation workflow, helping families have access to easy directions in MyChart, and staying available round-the-clock to handle any new technology challenges.
- Marketing providing testing center signage and up-to-date information for parents and families to access on Texas Children’s websites
- Supply Chain ensuring there were always enough supplies and cool gowns for summertime testing in the Texas heat – and Facilities making sure staff members stayed warm during the February cold snap and cool in the warmer months, with a clean, mosquito-free site to work from every day.
“Our staff is what makes the testing centers successful,” said Ginger Dillehay, Manager, Quality Improvement at Texas Children’s Pediatrics. “Keeping a light and fun atmosphere in the middle of a pandemic is challenging. Our team members consoled and entertained patients and parents while maintaining quality and efficiency. So many teams contributed to this success.”
Pam Burns, Quality Improvement Coordinator, Texas Children’s Pediatrics, is also a licensed vocational nurse who is not normally involved in direct patient care. She was grateful for the opportunity to work at the drive-through testing sites and make an impact during the pandemic – at a time when our patients, families and colleagues on the frontlines needed it the most.
“Even in the beginning when it was a little scary because we didn’t know much about this illness, it was nice to contribute,” Burns said. “I don’t think any of us thought we would be doing this a year later or 100,000 patients later, but it has been rewarding.”