Week of June 3, 2024
Michael Garcia
Chief Executive Officer
Houston Methodist Sugar Land
Mother Nature can be a lot like health care – unpredictable and rough but also calm and beautiful. We are now officially in June, which means hurricane season has started. These next few months could be challenging, but if we all unite together, we will be able to handle anything.
This year, weather experts are predicting an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA is forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms. Of those 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes. What I need from each of you is to prepare yourself and your families now, that way we can be there for our patients.
By now, your manager should have assigned you either a ride out role or a recovery role. Please familiarize yourself with those duties and make sure you understand what is expected of you during a storm. HMSL has a comprehensive hurricane preparedness and response plan – but we need your support. Carefully go over our hurricane supply checklist and ensure your family’s emergency plans are updated.
Another reason I want everyone to prepare now is because weather can happen at any time. Just in the last few weeks, several storms have damaged our areas. If you haven’t already, please read Dr. Boom’s President’s email detailing how a recent storm affected one of our own. While the storms are out of our control, we can control our preparedness. By preparing now, we ensure that we can continue to provide exceptional care to our patients.
On another note, I want to acknowledge we are now in our fifth month of our 5S journey. Throughout SORT and STORE, we’ve made incredible progress. It’s impressive to walk through the hospital and see the difference. This month we are moving into the third phase, SHINE, which helps us eliminate dirt, dust and other contaminants, continuing our quest to increase safety and quality and create efficient workspaces. Click here to read more about it. I appreciate your 5S efforts to date, and I know SHINE will be successful, too.
Michael Garcia
Chief Executive Officer
Houston Methodist Sugar Land
Make Hurricane Preparations Now
Hurricane season is officially underway. You never know when a natural disaster will happen and it's important to prepare your home when that time comes. COO Eliud Faz created a disaster preparation guide for his family and friends and is now sharing it with you. Download the guide here.
- Update your contact information in the MARS portal. This is a good time to register for text messages so you can receive emergency texts.
- Know your role for ride out and recovery. Ask your manager for your role and responsibilities.
- Stock up on essentials early. You should have a three-day supply of the basics for your home.
Employees Impacted by Storm Can Get Financial Assistance
More than 1,900 employees have applied for financial assistance through the Employees Helping Employees program due to property losses during the recent tornadoes and severe weather. Our goal is to provide assistance to everyone who needs it. The deadline to apply is today, June 3. Applying for an Employees Helping Employees financial grant takes a few minutes, and you could be approved for a grant that varies based on need and available funds. Click here to apply.
If you want to help a co-worker in need, consider donating to the Employees Helping Employees fund through payroll deduction. Go to MARS > Payroll and Compensation > Voluntary Deductions > Add Voluntary Deduction. You can make a recurring donation of $5 per paycheck, and any amount will help make a difference in your co-worker’s life.
Providers, Nurses, Pharmacists and Allied Health Professionals -
Take the KLAS Arch Collaborative Survey and Get a Chick-fil-A Treat
Attention all providers, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals - this week you have a chance for some free Chick-fil-A. Stop by the main lobby on Thursday, June 6 from 7-9 a.m. or 5-7 p.m. and take the KLAS Arch Collaborative survey. This survey is conducted by KLAS Research and is different from the HM Epic surveys you may have taken recently. It takes less than 10 minutes and allows you to provide feedback on the technology you use to care for patients and the support you receive to use this technology successfully. Your feedback is taken seriously, and it does make a difference. Our last KLAS survey resulted in these key changes. If you can’t attend, you can take the survey here.
Mental Health Awareness Day
Help stop the stigma associated with mental health. This Friday, June 7, join clinical education, wellness, music therapy, social work, HR and chaplain services for some fun activities to improve your mental health and learn about resources at HMSL for you and your family. They will be outside the main Starbucks from 7:15 - 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. There will also be giveaways and a raffle gift basket. Click here for more information.
Cereal Drive
Have you or your department purchased cereal for our drive yet? Our drop off date is this Friday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Brazos A (there will be a summer treat and photo booth). Your support helps East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry feed children throughout the year, including over the summer when some lose access to free meals at school. Our goal is 200 items but we hope you can help us beat that! Click here for a helpful flyer.
NEW GARDEN CAFE ADDITIONS
There are three new additions in the Garden Café. The first two are myEATz ordering kiosks: one at the pizza & deli station and the other at the grille. The touchscreen kiosks are designed to cut down on lines when ordering. Once your food is ready, you will pick it up at the same ordering station and pay at the cashier stations or Mashgin (self-pay) stations.
Another new addition is a mobile ordering option with mobile order pickup. You can now save time and skip the line by going to myEATzapp.com. First, select HMSL for the location. Then you can select the Garden Cafe to order your food and select your pick-up time. The pick up shelf is by the beverage cooler. Discounts and pay deduct are currently not accepted when ordering on the app. Mobile ordering is available weekdays from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. at the grille and 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the deli. On the weekends mobile ordering is available from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the grille. The deli is closed.
Town Hall Questions Answered
Dozens of questions were asked in our April/May Town Hall sessions. If you were unable to make it, please click here to read what senior leaders had to say about campus expansion, AI technology, employee safety and more. Our next town hall sessions will be this fall. See you there!
Cancer Survivor's Day 2024
HMSL celebrated Cancer Survivor's Day at the Houston Marriott Sugar Land on Friday, May 31. An estimated 250 survivors, caregivers and supporters were honored by the Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center. This year's theme was 'United, Surviving and Thriving.' During the celebration, the HMSL choir performed 'We Are the World'. A panel of survivors and their caregivers also lead a heartfelt discussion about the challenges surrounding a cancer diagnosis along with what motivated their strength. This amazing event would not have been possible without Amy Sebastian-Deutsch, director of oncology services, Yolanda Lopez, program manager of cancer survivorship, along with the many volunteers. Thank you! Click here to see more photos from the event.
Watercolor Class
Have you ever taken a watercolor class? If not, Tuesday, June 11 is your chance. The Houston Methodist Center for Performing Arts Medicine is hosting a beginner-level class in Brazos E from noon until 1 p.m. All materials are provided, including some fun take home supplies. Click here to sign up.
Juneteenth Celebration
Join the ERG: Black Ties for Culture - Ancestry & Black Heritage Committee on Wednesday, June 19 from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. in Brazos BC for a Juneteenth celebration. There will be door prizes! Juneteenth commemorates the freedom announcement to slaves here in Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This year’s theme will highlight how deeply rooted music has been in our culture.
HMSL Blood Drive
It's time to roll up your sleeve and save a life. The next blood drive at HMSL will be Friday, June 21 in Brazos BC from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Eligible donors will receive a Houston Astros 'Relentless' t-shirt (while supplies last). Click here to schedule an appointment.
Complete Your Self-Evaluation by July 5
It’s time to complete your self-evaluation as part of the annual Focal Point Review process. This is your opportunity to make sure your leader is aware of the accomplishments and contributions you have made in the past year. The deadline is July 5. Please review these tips on how to complete the evaluation. View the FPR schedule to be aware of the entire FPR timeline.
2024 HMSL Nursing Scholarship
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? Applications are now open for the 2024 HMSL Nursing Scholarship. Part-time students can receive up to $6,000, and full-time students up to $12,000 in scholarship funds for the school year. Click here to apply.
Listen to Quality Time Podcast; Earn CE Credit
The Quality Time with Dr. Schaal podcast promotes quality and patient safety through engaging conversation with expert clinicians, researchers, physicians, industry experts and thought leaders. It is also now an accredited continuing medical education course for physicians. Visit Quality Time with Dr. Schaal Podcast - Online CE Courses to listen and earn 0.50 credits per episode. Houston Methodist is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians nationwide.
Compressed Gas Tank Safety is Everyone's Responsibility
Below is a quick reminder of how to safely and properly store compressed gas in areas throughout the hospital. If you find an unsecure compressed gas tank in any area of the hospital, please immediately take the compressed gas cylinder to any tank storage area. These tank storage areas can be found on each inpatient unit, as well as designated outpatient areas such as the Emergency Department, Radiology, Cath Lab, Infusion Center, Heart Center and other areas with approved tank racks.
Employee Gift is Eco-Conscious
All eligible employees received a Houston Methodist-branded Back Country cooler to celebrate National Hospital Week. This cooler is made from recycled polyester, also known as rPET, a polyester made from plastic bottles. Polyester is one of the main components used to produce clothing and various fabric items, and its usage is predicted to increase as time goes on. Recycled polyester melts down existing plastic and turns it into a new polyester fiber, giving life to plastic materials that would otherwise go to a landfill. When you use this eco-conscious gift this summer, we hope it encourages you to think of new ways to care for our planet at home and Houston Methodist!
Conference Brings Together Health Care Leaders
Last week, Houston Methodist and the Office of Sustainability participated in the Practice Greenhealth CleanMed Conference in Salt Lake City. This yearly conference creates a platform for health care leaders to collaborate and innovate on new sustainability practices, focusing on individual, community and planetary health. Houston Methodist was represented at this conference by Dr. Faisal Masud, who spoke about the sustainability initiatives in the Houston Methodist ICUs and how a greener ICU plays a part in reducing waste, identifying patient care efficiencies and reducing carbon footprint. We are thrilled to continue collaborating with Dr. Masud and other health care leaders to develop sustainability standards that other organizations can follow.
Men’s Health Month is celebrated every June. The goal is to encourage boys and men to take charge of their health by implementing healthy living decisions. The month is all about encouraging the men in your life to eat right and exercise, plus raising awareness of preventable health problems. Click here to read about others raising awareness or celebrating this month.
IMPORTANT DATES
Saturday, June 1: Atlantic hurricane season began. Supply checklist here.
Friday, June 7: HMSL Mental Health Awareness Day. More information.
Friday, June 7: Cereal Drive Drop off. More information.
Tuesday, June 11: Employee watercolor class. More information.
Wednesday, June 19: Juneteenth
Friday, June 21: HMSL Blood Drive. More information.
Saturday, June 29: Houston Pride Parade sponsored by Houston Methodist
Sunday, June 30: Agreement submission deadline for employees who telecommute
Monday, July 1: New PTO accrual limit begins
Thursday, July 4: Independence Day holiday
Friday, July 5: Deadline to complete self-evaluations
Friday, July 19: Deadline to apply for 2024 HMSL Nursing Scholarship. More information.
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Monday, June 3 - Wednesday, June 5: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Friday, June 7 - Sunday, June 9: @ Los Angeles Angels
Tuesday, June 7 - Sunday, June 12: vs. Oklahoma City Baseball Club
Saturday, June 8: Pandora and Flans, Smart Financial Centre
Sunday, June 9: Badshah, Smart Financial Centre
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Either you run the day or the day runs you.”
- Jim Rohn
Join The HMSL-CEO Corner Facebook Page
If you are an HMSL employee, you can join the employee-only Facebook page. Join us as we celebrate promotions, graduations, hospital events and more! Click here to join the fun.