Week of September 11, 2023
FLU VACCINE CAMPAIGN
Houston Methodist's systemwide flu vaccine campaign kicks off today and runs now through Nov. 2. You will be able to schedule your flu shot through the Employee Health portal. Click here to read Dr. Boom's message about the flu vaccine campaign which includes a link to our flu policy.
COVID-19 UPDATE
As we face this current wave of COVID-19 infections, Executive Vice President Roberta Schwartz released an email with several updates. Here are a few highlights:
- Use of N95 masks: when you leave an airborne isolation room, you should discard the N95 and obtain a new one when you re-enter the room
- Houston Methodist is not changing its masking guidelines right now
- Updated COVID-19 boosters are expected to be approved and available in late September or early October.
Read the entire email here, which includes information about the new variant.
TLIP 3: Flexible Scheduling
Houston Methodist Sugar Land is committed to being a workplace of choice for our employees. Here at HMSL, we have four Top Level Improvement Priorities (TLIPs). TLIP 3 is dedicated to finding innovative ways to empower personal and professional growth. Essentially, if it is important to you, it is important to our TLIP 3 team. Click here to read how they are tackling the idea of flexible scheduling.
Win Houston Astros Postseason Tickets!
We're getting close to October Baseball and the Houston Astros are trying to clinch a postseason berth. Houston Methodist wants to give employees a chance to catch a postseason game in person. If the Astros make the postseason, we will have tickets for each series they play at home — including the World Series! All you have to do is complete a quiz about the Astros. Click here to enter.
CPAM Bloom project
HMSL and the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) invite all staff to take part in the Bloom Project this Wednesday. Stop by the Garden Café area on Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for a fun art session. Draw or paint a native Texas flower, which will be digitally collected and turned into a vinyl mural. The mural will be installed in the skybridge between Garage A and Garage B. Click here for a helpful flyer.
More DIY Series Sign-Ups Now Open
Sign-ups are now available for two more sessions of the Employee DIY Series — cookie decorating and succulent planting. Seating is limited so be sure to reserve your seat by scanning the individual QR code. Click here for a helpful flyer. Sign-ups for wreath making will be available soon. See you there!
Upcoming ERG Events
Veterans Alliance Remembers POW and MIA Service Members
From Sept. 12-18, members of the Veterans Alliance ERG will set up tables systemwide to display “A Place Setting for One, a Table for All” presentations. This separate table setting is decorated with special symbols in honor of prisoners of war (POW) and missing in action (MIA) service members.
Register for IDD Care and Support Panel
Click here to register for the Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Care and Support Panel on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 1-2 p.m. Hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, the virtual discussion features a panel of HM parents who will offer insight into how they support and advocate for their children with IDD. Click here to submit questions in advance of the event.
Register for MOM ERG Meet and Greet
The Moms of Methodist ERG is hosting a Meet and Greet on Monday, Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Brazos Pavilion Conference Center. The come-and-go event is open to current members and to curious mothers interested in forging new friendships. Click here for more information.
Graduate Nurse Winter Cohort Registration
Registration for the winter cohort of HM's graduate nurse residency program is now open through Sept. 15. Entry level nurses are eligible to apply for this opportunity. Click here to see application requirements and apply.
Prepare for the Epic Update
The Sept. 17 Epic Update is less than a week away. If you haven't done so, review your Update Companion now to ensure you're prepared for the upcoming changes. To view your Update Companion, press F1 while logged in to Epic to access your Learning Home. You can also click here.
Pathway to Unparalleled
Pathway to Unparalleled (PTU) sessions have begun. All Houston Methodist employees are strongly encouraged to register for this 90-minute interactive class designed to help employees think about unparalleled safety. Employee sessions will continue through October. Click here for instructions to register.
Clinical Informatics Week
HMSL is getting ready to hold it's first Clinical Informatics Week. During the week of Sept. 25, there will be several learning sessions to improve and sustain HMSL metric goals in clinical informatics workflow. The sessions will be held in the atrium near Starbucks. Click here for more information.
Walk to End Alzheimer's
Two months from today, the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's will take place in Fort Bend County. The event starts at 8 a.m. at Constellation Field on November 11. This inspiring event helps raise funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. Click here to join the the HMSL team or to donate.
HMSL Employee Parking Changes
Thank you to everybody who registered their vehicle under the new parking guidelines. The barrier arm gates are now active. You will need your badge to access employee parking, so please have it ready when approaching the gates. Only one vehicle can enter at a time. If you registered your EZ Tag, it may take a couple of weeks to be active. We thank you in advance for your patience. To read more about our updated parking guidelines or if you have questions about the new parking policy, please read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document here.
What is SLT Reading?
Have you ever wondered what HMSL’s Senior Leadership Team likes to read? You can now browse many of their favorites on the home page of the HMSL digital library collection under the “SLT’s Picks” section. Click on a title to read who suggested it and how it impacted them. The HMSL digital library is free to use via the Libby App. Your HM email and password serve as your “library card.” Click here for helpful instructions on connecting. Happy reading!
Health Track Completion is Sept. 30
If you're on the DIY Health Track, you must earn 20,000 points by Sept. 30 to earn the HealthyDirections premium for 2024. Earn points by nourishing your spiritual health. You'll receive 1,000 HealthyDirections+ points for each Nourish your Soul Session you attend. Log in here on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m.
September is a busy month for departmental celebrations and raising awareness. Click here to read about all those who are celebrating.
Housekeepers Week is September 10-16. This is a week for us to thank, show appreciation and reward our hardworking staff here at HMSL. Housekeepers Week is celebrated every second full week in September. Our EVS staff keeps our facility running clean and efficiently. Thank you to our entire team!
This week also marks Neonatal Nurses Week, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of neonatal nurses. The contributions of these health care workers to the tiniest patients (as low as 500 grams and as young as 23 weeks gestation) make a difference that lasts a lifetime for neonates and their families. In December 2022, HMSL was the first hospital in Fort Bend County to be designated as a Level III NICU. HMSL currently has 46 NICU nurses and 5 NNPs, supported by Childbirth Center Director Cristina Martin, NICU Manager Theresa Walters and Neonatal Educator Rachel Leva.
"Thank you to our NICU team for your commitment to the unit and the care you provide every day to our smallest population allowing us to deliver this high-quality service needed for our community.”
-Cristina Martin, Childbirth Center Director
PATIENT COMPLIMENTS
Main 4 West Patient: "All of the doctors and nurses provided excellent care including Dr. Ellis, Dr. Bowen and Dr. Saikia. There are too many nurses to state all of their names, however, Leah Doyle was my last nurse that I remember. She was top notch. All of the nurses were trained and were outstanding."
Sweetwater 3 Patient: "Thank you to all the nursing staff and anesthesia staff. Dr. Oppermann was amazing and my scars healed clean. All of the staff were friendly and listened to my symptoms, bringing me a quick resolution and possibly saving my life. I am truly grateful."
Brazos 4 Patient: "Nurses here were excellent, no exception. Doctors were excellent. Everybody at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital were excellent, on the top of professionalism. I thank you all!"
IMPORTANT DATES
Wednesday, September 13: CPAM Bloom Project drop-in session. More information.
Friday, September 15: Hispanic Heritage Month begins
Friday, September 15 - Sunday, September 17: Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 18: MOM ERG Meet & Greet. More information.
Thursday, September 21: DIY Class - Candle Making. More information.
Sunday, September 24 - Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur
Monday, September 25 - 29: Clinical Informatics Week. More information.
Friday, September 29 - Friday, October 6: Sukkot
Saturday, September 30: Deadline for DIY and New Hire Track participants to earn 20,000 points
Saturday, September 30: American Diabetes Association Walk. More information.
Wednesday, October 4 - Wednesday, October 25: Employee Opinion Survey
Thursday, October 5: DIY Class - Succulent Planting Class. More information.
Saturday, October 7: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. More information.
Thursday, November 9: DIY Class - Cookie Decorating Class. More information.
Saturday, November 11: Walk to End Alzheimer's. More information.
Saturday, November 11: Houston Heart Walk. More information.
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Monday, September 11 - Wednesday, September 13: vs. Oakland Athletics
Friday, September 15 - Sunday, September 17: @ Kansas City Royals
Tuesday, September 12 - Sunday, September 17: @ Sacramento River Cats
Sunday, September 17: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Friday, September 15: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert, Smart Financial Centre
Saturday, September 16: Viet Cultural Fest, NRG Center
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"If we learn nothing else from tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate."
- Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl