HMSL News to Know - Week of November 6, 2023

Week of November 6, 2023

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and HMSL is hosting two events to promote lung cancer awareness month.

1. National Lung Cancer Screening Day is Saturday, Nov. 11. HMSL is participating in the screening day and there is still time to schedule your appointment, or an appointment for a loved one. Click here to find out eligibility requirements. If you have any questions, contact Oncology Nurse Navigator Joan Burnham.

2. Quitting smoking isn't easy. HMSL will observe The Great American Smokeout on Monday, Nov. 13 at 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. There will be a booth with fun activities outside the Main Starbucks. Also, did you know 50% of lung cancer patients are not smokers? Stop by our booth if you or a loved one needs encouragement to stop smoking.

2023 United Way Campaign

Our 2023 United Way campaign is officially underway and runs through Nov. 17. We’re excited to host another event this week to help raise funds and meet our goal of $20,000.

This Wednesday, Nov. 8, The Grinch will be holding our HMSL leaders hostage. Join the Grinch in front of the Main Starbucks for a fun activity at 12:45 - 2 p.m.! To sweeten the deal, there will be cupcakes (while supplies last) and photos! If you can’t attend the event, you can still give to the Houston Methodist United Way campaign:

Set up a payroll deduction through MARS. Under Voluntary Deductions, select United Way and fill in your desired deduction amount and frequency.
Give a one-time gift with a credit card on the United Way website.
Text HMGIVES to 51555 to make a one-time donation.
Bid on items in the Houston Methodist silent auction, available Nov. 1 – 15.

Your gift will help HMSL positively impact our community beyond the patient care we provide within our hospital walls. Please donate to United Way with an open heart to help make a lasting change in someone’s life.

Leapfrog "A" Safety Grade - Fall 2023

Congratulations to everybody at HMSL for achieving a Leapfrog "A" safety grade for fall 2023. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only rating solely focused on a hospital's ability to protect patients from preventable errors, accidents, injuries and infections. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 publicly available hospital safety data measures to assign grades to nearly 3,000 U.S. acute care hospitals twice per year. Once again, all Houston Methodist hospitals received an "A" grade this fall. Thank you for putting patient safety first. It takes a true team effort to achieve this rating.

October Town Hall Meeting Winners

Thank you to all of those who attended our final set of Town Hall meetings. The Senior Leadership Team has identified winners per session, based on those who spoke up during our discussion section and those who provided feedback via the survey link. Click here to see the winners.

Election Day is Tuesday

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. As you read in Dr. Boom's email, we have a chance to improve the health and well-being of almost 1.2 million uninsured residents in Harris County by voting to support Proposition A. Houston Methodist supports it. Check out this Resource Guide for more information.

Open Enrollment Begins This Week

Houston Methodist takes pride in offering you a comprehensive total rewards package, including benefits, that supports you in every chapter of your life. Open Enrollment for benefits will be Thursday, Nov. 9 – Friday, Dec. 1. This week, the HR Hub will email you announcing the changes happening this year. You will also receive a hard copy of our Quick Start Guide at your home mailing address.

DIY Series: Cookie Decorating

Get ready for the holidays! You still have time to sign up for our DIY series class on cookie decorating. On Thursday, Nov. 9, expert instructors will show you how to decorate cookies. The class runs from 5:15 - 6:45 p.m. and is $20. Click here for more information.

HMSL Blood Drive

There are still a few slots open for the HMSL Blood drive on Friday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Main AD. Eligible donors will receive a Texans shirt (while supplies last). Click here to schedule an appointment.

Veterans Day Celebration

Join the Veterans Alliance ERG and the Center for Performing Arts Medicine in-person or virtually at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, for a ceremony to honor our HM employees, their loved ones, and all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces at the Barbara and President George H.W. Bush Atrium in Walter Tower at HMH.

If you or a family member have served in the military, you may submit a photo(s) with a short description of the veteran or military member and the branch of the service to veteransday@houstonmethodist.org by Wednesday, Nov. 8, to be displayed during the Veterans Day celebration.

Walk and Support

This Saturday, Nov. 11, you can walk and save a life! The Houston Heart Walk is taking place at Rice University. The Walk to End Alzheimer's is happening at Constellation Field. Both events start at 8 a.m. Click the buttons below for more information on how to join the HMSL teams.

Houston Heart Walk Information

Walk to End Alzheimer's Information

World Diabetes Day

Did you know 1 in 10 adults worldwide have diabetes? World Diabetes Day is Nov. 14, and each HM hospital will host events to educate employees and the public about preventing and managing diabetes, when to get tested, healthy eating, exercise and medication. HMSL's event will be on Nov. 14 at the Main lobby near Starbucks from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Scan your badge at the event to earn 500 HealthyDirections+ points.

Neuro Seminar

Thank you to Dr. Hope, Dr. Kassar and Dr. Yaltho for participating in a successful community seminar focused on neuroscience. Audience members were able to ask our panel of experts questions about brain health and neurological disorders. Looking forward to the next neuro seminar next year!

World Prematurity Awareness Month

November is World Prematurity Awareness Month. HMSL is proud to be a Level III NICU, which means our team offers comprehensive care for more seriously ill newborns of all gestational ages ≥ 22 weeks. While our staff at the Childbirth Center look after our smallest patients, they also go above and beyond for those small patients and their families everyday.

This fall, a mother and father delivered their young son at HMSL at 25.6 weeks. He weighed 1 lb. 14 oz. Mom is a huge Star Wars fan and even planned to decorate the baby's room with a Baby Yoda theme - but that all stopped with the baby's premature birth. She wasn't sure he would survive. But fast forward a few weeks, the NICU nurses wanted to surprise Mom for her birthday on Halloween with a Baby Yoda party, including their special Baby Yoda who is now 10 weeks old! The party went off smoothly with the staff wearing Yoda shirts. One of our nurses stitched Baby Yoda's special hat. While we don't hear about this team everyday, know they are truly inspiring!

Support Prematurity Awareness Month

From now until Nov. 17, the Black Ties for Culture ERG recognizes November’s designation as World Prematurity Awareness Month by hosting a systemwide all-ERG baby shower in support of Stork’s Nest. The organization provides prenatal education and support to at-risk women to help prevent cases of low birth weight, premature births and infant deaths. World Prematurity Awareness Month raises awareness of the impact of premature birth rates on families. The issue is especially acute among women of color. In Texas, the preterm rate among Black women is 41% higher than the rate among all other women.

To participate in the baby shower, you may purchase items from the Amazon online registry, or bring newborn baby items such as diapers, bottles, etc., to a drop-off location on your campus. All items must be purchased or dropped off by Nov. 17. Items not accepted include car seats, formula or baby food. Contact blacktiesforculture@houstonmethodist.org for a list of the donation contacts at your campus.

Nursing Satisfaction Award

Houston Methodist has tied for first place in MIT Sloan Management Review’s Nursing Satisfaction Index, which shows how nurses at 200 of the largest health care employers in the U.S. rate their employee experience. Becker’s Hospital Review reported that the index is based on an analysis of 150,000 Glassdoor reviews written by nurses. Houston Methodist also ranked high for nurse compensation.

2023 HMSL Holiday Party

You and your plus-one are invited to the annual HMSL Holiday Celebration. This year the festivities will take place at Safari Texas Ranch - Infinity Ballroom on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 7 p.m. - midnight. Click here to RSVP before Nov. 17. Please note, space is limited to 1,000 attendees.

New Regional Administrators at HMSL

Rebekah Phillips is now the Regional Administrator for Primary Care, OB/GYN and Gynecologic Oncology. She has been instrumental in developing and growing the departments of OBYGN and most recently Urology at HMH. Congratulations, Rebekah, on your new role!

Wayne Baudy is the new Regional Administrator of Orthopedics, Oncology and PM&R for Sugar Land. He joined HM in 2009 and has managed operations for CV Surgery, the Neurological Institute and most recently was the Department Administrator for Houston Methodist Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Clear Lake. Welcome, Wayne!

Pumpkin Round Up

HMSL partnered with the George Ranch Pumpkin Round Up to offer an experience that was exclusive to HMSL. Many employees enjoyed the outdoors and activities with both their family and work friends. The Center for Performing Arts Medicine also joined to help create a “Leaves of Gratitude” wreath that will be on display at the campus soon.

Manage Unconscious Bias

The Office of DEI is hosting another session in their Managing Unconscious Bias learning series. The session is Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 10-11:15 a.m. in Brazos Conference Rooms ABCD. Sign up through LMS with item #1605003.

Don't Try the New Outlook

You may have noticed a toggle switch in the upper-right corner of your Outlook window inviting you to “Try the new Outlook.” Don’t turn it to the on position, as it disrupts access to shared mailboxes and calendars. If you turned it on, simply turn it off. This option will be removed from your screen by Thursday, Nov. 9.

Support Services Week is celebrated Nov. 5-11. The Patient Transportation department ensures that our patients are transported safely and efficiently throughout the facility. Our department here at HMSL has over 40 staff members. Transporters play a vital role in patient flow, patient care and the overall patient experience.

The Bed Management department ensures that all of our incoming patients receive a bed assignment in a timely manner, therefore receiving the highest quality of care in the appropriate care setting at the right time. While a small department of only five employees, our patients would not flow through the care continuum without them.

This week is also National Medical Staff Services Awareness Week. They support all 1600+ physicians and allied health professionals on the HMSL medical staff to ensure they have everything needed for hospital credentialing and privileging functions. They are a small yet mighty team working behind the scenes to ensure compliance with CMS and accreditation guidelines!

It is also National Radiologic Technologist Week. Click here to read about all those who are celebrating this month.

PATIENT COMPLIMENTS

Main 6 East Patient: "The nursing staff was outstanding. I am 92 years of age and received TLC. Please commend the staff."

Brazos 4 Patient: "I was so sick (extremely low hemoglobin) that I thought I might die. The experience after being admitted to the ICU was just perfect. Care and thoughtfulness was abundantly given. Service was just great in every way."

Main 4 East Patient: "The care I received was great! I work for DNV and I can tell that the hospital staff cares about their certification and the care they provide to the patients."

IMPORTANT DATES

Tuesday, Nov. 7: Election Day

Thursday, Nov. 9: Open Enrollment begins

Thursday, Nov. 9: DIY Class - Cookie Decorating. More information.

Friday, Nov. 10: HMSL Blood Drive. More information.

Saturday, Nov. 11: Walk to End Alzheimer's. More information.

Saturday, Nov. 11: Houston Heart Walk. More information.

Tuesday, Nov. 14: Gift of Gratitude bonus payout

Wednesday, Nov. 15: Managing Unconscious Bias. Click here to sign up.

Friday, Nov. 17: 2023 Fall International Fashion Show. More information.

Friday, Nov. 17: United Way Campaign ends

Sunday, Nov. 19: 75% PTO sell begins