HMSL News to Know - Week of March 20, 2023

Week of March 20, 2023

HMSL Launches PCA Novice Program

HMSL recently launched the PCA Novice Program, in partnership with Lone Star College. The following nine HMSL employees are the first to enroll in this program:

Hinohayna Martinez, Brazos 4
Laura Rosales, Main 6 East
Sandra Ramirez, Brazos 6
Teresa Escobar, Main 4 East
Shirley Orellana, Main 4 West
Blanca Salgado, ICU
John Paul Okojie, Main ED
Pilar Deleon, Brazos 4
Shelby Garcia, ICU

They were recently hosted at a welcome lunch, where they shared why they wanted to become a PCA with CNO Janet Leatherwood, their nurse managers, Human Resources and Clinical Education in attendance. The overwhelming theme was that they want to help others. Many of them have long-term goals to become nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists. They call themselves the "influencer cohort" because they want to positively influence their peers and grow professionally.

Please join us in congratulating our first PCA Novice Program participants!

Watch Now: Your Voice, Your Improvements - Part 5

This week's video includes the return of personal pet visits for patients, new supplies that help prevent skin breakdowns while saving time for nurses and an automation program that has helped maximize scheduling capacity.

A Special Discharge

On Thursday, the team on 4E and the patient liaisons, along with the Sugar Land Fire Department, helped organize a special discharge for a patient.

Joe Woolley is a retired firefighter who served at SLFD and eventually was the chief at Pecan Grove Volunteer Fire Department. They picked him up at discharge in style on a fire engine. HMSL staff and SLFD staff, and his family, were there to cheer him as he left the hospital and was hoisted into the fire engine. It was a beautiful display of I CARE values. Thank you to everyone who made this touching moment possible.

HMSL Employee Fair Returns

After a smashing success in the fall, the HMSL Employee Fair is back for this spring. Come connect with departments and resources across the hospital and have fun doing it! We will be visited by Sugar Land Space Cowboys mascot Orion. It will be held in Brazos Conference Center on Friday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m.

Caring For You Festival

Thank you to all who attended the Spring Caring For You Spring Festival last week. We hope you enjoyed spending a little bit of time with our therapy dogs, line dancing and the photo booth.

Thank you to Volunteer Services, Employee Wellness and Employee Morale Committee for this event! Click here for more photos.

As always, mental health (top) and employee wellness resources (bottom) are linked in the newsletter each week.

Fight Against Racism

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, established by the United Nations’ General Assembly in 1979, is observed annually on March 21. It marks when police in Sharpeville, South Africa opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960. Read more in this week’s DEI Corner, available weekly through the link at the top of the newsletter.

LGBTQIA Health Awareness

March 20 - 24 is LGBTQIA Health Awareness Week. The LGBTQ+Allies ERG invites you to a discussion on LGBTQ+ health on Thursday, March 23 from 1- 2 p.m. at HMH. It will cover commonly missed health considerations for the LGBTQ+ community that will benefit health care workers and those who do not have training in direct patient care. A livestream will be available. Click here for more information.

Spiritual Diversity Speaker Series

The Office of DEI and Spiritual Care invite you to join an interfaith panel discussion to learn more about a variety of faith traditions and how they are significant in health care. This will be held Wednesday, March 29 from noon to 1 p.m. in person at the HMRI Auditorium and will also be live streamed. Click here to register.

Spring Into a Good Book!

The HMSL Digital Library has been open for three weeks. That means many of you who are on waiting lists for books will begin to see movement in the hold line. If you haven’t checked out a book yet, consider taking a look at what is available. We are always looking for suggestions, which you can submit at the bottom of the newsletter. Click here for sign up instructions.

Houston Zoo Discounts

HM employees can receive a $5 discount on regular priced adult and children’s tickets and a 25% discount on memberships at the Houston Zoo. To take advantage of this discount, log on to YouDecide via the link at the top of the newsletter. Click on the Events and Theme Parks tile and select Houston Zoo. If you have never used the site before, use the code MTH052 to register.

Fighting Breast Cancer During Women's History Month

HMSL is excited to partner with SurviveHER this weekend for their breast cancer education and prevention event, TreatHER. It takes place Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rosenberg Civic Center. We look forward to being a part of this event for our Fort Bend community.

March marks National Social Work Month. Social Workers positively touch the lives of millions of Americans each day in many places - like hospitals, schools, child welfare agencies and more. Social Workers at HMSL are in all inpatient units and the Emergency Department. Our social workers work with patients and physicians in discharge planning and connecting them with community resources and other needed support. Thank you for all you do! Click here to read more about who is celebrating this month.

PATIENT COMPLIMENTS

Breast Care Center Patient: "I love the way Methodist always makes it so easy and staff has such a friendly attitude. I haven't been disappointed in any of my visits to Methodist."

Outpatient PT/OT Patient: "My therapist's name is Gigi Bautista and she has been fantastic. She is taking care of me and at the highest level of care, and she's gotten me walking and feeling much better. She's very attentive to me. Thank you."

Brazos 6 Patient: "Care was excellent and everyone was so good to me! I had the best doctors and nurses. They kept me informed, always had a smile and their entire attitude made for a good day despite my pain and problems!"

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, March 20: Certified Nurses Day Celebration. 7:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Brazos AD. More information.

Wednesday, March 22: Ramadan begins

Thursday, March 23: Employee Health Clinic closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, March 24: Employee Health Clinic closed 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 29: Spiritual Diversity Speaker Series. In person and virtual. Register here.

Friday, April 28: System Safety Symposium. Register here.

Now Through Saturday, May 20: Comfort and Safety Open Discussion Course for Nurse Leaders. More information.

JUST FOR FUN DATES