January 8, 2016 | (11) Comments

Often, when you hear someone say, “It’s a new day,” that means one of two things: There’s a change coming … a shift in the way things are being done. Or, more often, here at Texas Children’s we say it to mean let’s start anew tomorrow – tomorrow is a new day and another chance to offer encouragement, support or forgiveness. It’s an opportunity to learn, self-correct or right your course, or to innovate and advance an idea that could change or save a life.

So when I usher in a new year, I think of it in terms of days and opportunities – 365 opportunities to do something awesome. And I have a feeling that many of you are very much that same way, because that’s the only way we could possibly do the phenomenal things we do, year after year … day in and day out. It’s you, our people.

When I look forward to all that we aim to accomplish in 2016, I do so with confidence because I know we have the most incredible people of any organization. We are driven by our spirit, our enthusiasm and our constant belief that every day we come to work is a new day, a new opportunity, to make a difference.

To celebrate you and that spirit, I asked my team to create this video that showcases Texas Children’s people. Take a look:

You’ve heard me share my personal definition of leadership many times: Leadership = Vision + Structure + People, with people being by far the most important element in the equation. Well it’s true, and when I look back at all we accomplished last year, I am in awe of what you do and how you dedicate yourselves to fulfilling our mission in so many small and big ways.

So every day that you arrive, walk through the door with renewed anticipation of doing something great. Expect to do something that contributes to our powerful, unfolding story, because everyone here does. Move intentionally through each day, seeking the potential to change and improve something or someone — because here, that’s possible every day. At Texas Children’s, every day is a new day to be a part of something amazing.

Happy New Year to all!

December 23, 2015 | (2) Comments

Last week, as I was thinking about my Christmas message to you, I of course thought about all the things the season typically means – family, beloved traditions, lots of good food and opening that perfect gift. But over the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about gifts much greater than anything that fits beneath a tree. In particular, I thought about what a gift it is for us to be able to be here for children when they need us. This time last year, we couldn’t always do that.

Like most years around this time, our patient volume was high, but last year we reached historic highs – at or beyond our 650-bed capacity throughout November and December. On many days we reached a point when we simply had to deny children the opportunity to receive care at Texas Children’s. In fact, in November 2014 we denied 101 hospital transfers.

Denying a patient who is being transferred from another hospital is heartbreaking. These are not low-acuity patients who walk into our Emergency Center with mom. When another hospital attempts to transfer a child to Texas Children’s, that facility has assessed that the patient is so critically ill that he or she needs the comprehensive care that only Texas Children’s can provide. Having to say no to children who needed us last year is not something any of us want to see happen again.

That is why we launched the Promise Campaign to build a new community hospital in The Woodlands and a new tower here in the Texas Medical Center. But the children who need us now cannot wait until that new space is available. We need to be prepared for the high-volume season that is now upon us. And that’s where all of you play such an important role. Our leaders, physicians, nurses and staff have been working intently and strategically for months. We assessed our previous approach to patient flow decision-making, and we created a new structure.

We now have rotating teams of operational leaders and physicians focused on patient volume every day. We created a “real-time demand and capacity” process to manage patient census, so that we assess patient flow at three pivotal points daily and can more accurately forecast bed capacity. We’ve increased acute care capacity at the Main Campus and at the West Campus, and perhaps most impactful is that we’ve shifted the way we think. For example, we no longer approach the PICUs at the Main Campus and the West Campus as separate units – we think systematically about these units and consider the total capacity between them when we make decisions about the best place to send a child for care.

We’ve created interdisciplinary roles dedicated to patient flow, and our executives, physicians and unit leaders are rounding and asking front-line staff, “How are things? What do you need?” And we’re making sure the support is where it’s needed, when it’s needed. This focus and teamwork is what allowed us to continue receiving patients last week when we peaked at a census of 691. We were still able to say yes to families and children who needed us when others shut their doors due to lack of capacity.

This is huge, and it’s important. And in many cases, it’s crucial. What you are doing, what you are dedicated to accomplishing, is working – and because of the effort everyone is making together, we can care for these children at Texas Children’s. For many of these families, there is no greater gift than the moment they learn we have a bed available for their child.

I truly wish that no child ever has to be in the hospital during the holidays, but my greater hope is that if they do, Texas Children’s can be there to care for them and ensure the best possible outcome so that they can see a better Christmas next year. That is our gift – during the holidays and every day. Thank you for all you’re doing to ensure we can continue to offer that gift.

I wish you all happy holidays and a merry Christmas.

December 10, 2015 | (10) Comments

Each fall, we ask you to get the flu shot to protect yourself and our patients against a potentially deadly infection. As many of you who have worked in other health care organizations know,  getting a flu shot is very often mandatory at  any place else that provides care.

But at Texas Children’s, we have always felt that people who work here are innately driven to do the right thing for our patients. Therefore,  our approach to  flu vaccinations  has always been very  simple – it’s the right thing to do for our patients, and we’re all here to do the best we can by our patients. That means getting vaccinated against the flu so that we have the best chance possible at keeping our patients healthy.

Even U.S. News & World Report recognizes that the rate of flu vaccine compliance at an organization is an indicator of the quality and safety of its environment. That is why they have now included  flu vaccination compliance as one of the measures in their annual best children’s hospitals assessment. While our driver for encouraging you to get vaccinated isn’t primarily about our U.S. News ranking, I can’t fathom that one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals would ever struggle to get complete compliance with flu vaccination.

We ask that you get vaccinated against the flu to protect yourself and to protect those around you who  depend on you to be healthy. When you’re healthy, the patients in our care – children and women – have a much better chance of having a better outcome . Being healthy also allows you to be here for your team and co-workers during one of our busiest times of the year.

I realize that  some people have very strongly held beliefs against getting a flu shot. But  this is so critical. We need everyone at Texas Children’s  to get vaccinated by December 31. Encourage your colleagues to do the right thing, make sure everyone in your family is vaccinated, and educate those around you about getting the flu shot.

This is not about us. It’s about the people we care for. I’m not asking you to do it for you, or me for that matter. I’m asking you to do it for our patients. Please take this responsibility to heart – we owe this simple act to our patients and their families.

Flu vaccinations are free and available in Employee Health at our Main and West campuses. If you receive your vaccination elsewhere, your Texas Children’s insurance will cover the cost. Please call Employee Health at Ext. 4-2150 if you have questions.

 

November 23, 2015 | (55) Comments

One thing that I have been acutely aware of since I was a small child is that those who are blessed should do all they can to be a blessing to others. This is something that I always tried to teach my own children, and it’s something I have kept in mind my entire life.

My wife, Shannon, shares this belief, and has one of the most generous spirits of anyone I know. A while back, Shannon had the idea of giving homeless people backpacks filled with items for their basic needs. I thought it was a great idea, so it’s something we do from time to time to help those in need.

I understand that homelessness is incredibly devastating. So I know that our distributing backpacks to homeless people in our community does not solve their greater problem of needing a place they can call home, but it’s just one way that Shannon and I are able to directly give to people in our community.

One day, as Shannon and I were about to deliver backpacks, she said, “Mark, we should make sure to ask people their names.” It was such a simple statement, but so thought provoking. The people we encounter on any given outing are indeed someone’s brother or sister, friend … some mother’s child. But we didn’t ask questions when we were handing out the backpacks. Our hearts and intentions were good and we wanted to help, but we didn’t want to intrude on their personal space or pride.

It had never occurred to me how meaningful it might be to simply ask their names. That day for the first time, however, we did, and the first couple we met made the most lasting impression on us. We introduced ourselves and then asked their names, and just recalling the look on their faces gives me chill bumps. First, there was complete and obvious shock and then appreciation that we’d simply acknowledged them as we would any new person we encounter. We learned their names were Sarah and John, but beyond that, we realized how such a small gesture was really the simplest, most respectful thing we could have done.

I know many of you volunteer year-round and especially through the holidays, helping others. So I know you’re already showing thanks for your blessings in ways that impact so many. But sometimes I think it’s important to remember that how we give, care and serve is often much greater that what we give. That’s true whether we’re serving in the community or caring for our families at Texas Children’s.

I hope that you will remember that – and think of Sarah and John – every time you enter a patient room or an elevator or walk through the hospital, crossing the paths of our patients and their families. Every one deserves respectful acknowledgement. It only takes a moment and a simple question or two. Just ask – and then really listen. You have no idea how thankful someone may be for your kindness.

With much gratitude, I wish you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.