Meet Darcie Robert, advanced quality specialist for Women’s Services at Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin. In addition to leading quality improvement projects across women’s inpatient and outpatient areas, she’s tasked with reviewing safety scoops for North Austin Campus and ensuring regulatory requirements for the state and Joint Commission are met.
What brought you to Texas Children’s?
I moved to Austin in 1996 to study journalism at UT Austin, and after graduating, I worked for nearly a decade at The Austin Chronicle as the associate music editor and proofreader. I spent most of my 20s covering the local live music scene, for which Austin is known. I loved my time there, but wanted to do something more for my community. I eventually returned to UT and enrolled in their Alternate Entry MSN program for maternal health. I’ve spent my entire nursing career in L&D and education, so when I found out TCH was coming here, I was incredibly excited for the opportunity to do more for women and children in Central Texas with a hospital that truly values quality, patient care and employee retention. The chance to work in quality for women’s services was an obvious choice for me, and I’m loving it! I get to tell my kids I was cool once, but now I get to empower moms and help babies enter the world safely.
What are you most excited about as we open North Austin Campus?
I’m most excited about offering Austinites and Central Texans something new and amazing. Not only are we providing exceptional care to all women and children, but also highly specialized services like surgical interventions on fetuses. Austinites are somewhat used to the status quo, and TCH is so much greater than that. The culture of this organization speaks volumes for what the future holds.
What makes Austin a great place to work and live?
It’s such an incredible place to live and raise a family…the only downside is that too many people were let in on the secret! From the endless days of sunshine to the miles of hiking trails and creeks, it’s an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Austinites are welcoming to everyone regardless of background, and the more the city grows, the more diversity in culture and food it creates. It’s really difficult to narrow down my favorite restaurants in town, but I love Uchi, Otoko, Justine’s, Matt’s El Rancho, Fonda San Miguel and Ramen Tatsuya. We also love camping in Central Texas. There are so many state parks close by, Inks Lake being my favorite, and hiking the Greenbelt is always great.
What does providing the “Right Care” mean to you?
It means giving patients the choice and education to make empowered decisions about their health care. Historically, folks have had few options in Austin for their needs. Now we are building the opportunity to make educated choices about the future of the community. We’re offering truly family-centered care with real informed consent from the most amazing nurses and providers, all closer to home.
What do you like to do outside of work to recharge and unwind?
My three girls keep me pretty busy on normal days. We are a traveling family. If I’m not at work, I’m probably at the beach, camping in our RV or at Disney World. We are one of those crazy Disney families who visit Florida at least once a year.
Our dedicated team at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women provides comprehensive care to women in every stage of life, from preconception to long after the birth of a child. With the opening of North Austin Pavilion for Women and our neighboring OB/GYN clinic, the community can expect the same commitment to excellence, innovation and patient-centered care that we’re known for delivering in Houston.
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.