Unparalleled Connections | Your "Why" | Community Ambassadors | DAISY Award | Shoe Drive | Food Coupon | International Celebration | Back-to-School
Week of August 29, 2022
Unparalleled Connections for an Unparalleled Future
Based on feedback from the most recent Pathway to Unparalleled (PTU) 2022 program, we want to continue to focus forward together. One of the commitments we made during the program was to continue to provide opportunities to build meaningful connections with each other.
Starting in September, we will be offering in-person sessions led by our senior leadership team. These sessions will be a different format from Pathway to Unparalleled. Our leaders will be sharing personal stories about their journey and the connections that have helped them along the way. You will also get the opportunity to share your story with fellow colleagues. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend one of these sessions.
How to register for sessions:
- Click here to find a session on LMS.
- When you select “Assign to me” and then “Register Now," the various sessions will appear under a heading called “Available Classes”
- Click “Register Now” on the session of your choice.
We look forward to connecting with you at a session!
On a Roll With Performance Excellence
August is in the books and it is safe to say Performance Excellence has hit the ground running. The last two months have been a whirlwind. Take a moment to see just all that we have done:
- 10 kickoff sessions spanning 10 hours
- 894 employees attended
- 560 video views
- 28 “Why” testimonials shared
- 157 Idea Tickets submitted
This is impressive and shows your commitment to this important initiative. In the coming weeks you will hear more about one of the most-used tools in Performance Excellence. It brings structure, goal setting, communication and more chances for improvement in your unit and department. Stay tuned for more!
Knowing Our "Why"
"Performance Excellence takes a village. We all have a part in making Houston Methodist the best place to receive care and to work at. Our efforts could be illustrated like passing a baton. Each runner does their part to win the race. Performance Excellence is a win-win scenario. The patients, staff, community, and facility all benefit."
- Michael Fine, Patient Access Analyst
What is Your "Why?" Part 2
Community Ambassador Program
HMSL’s Community Ambassador program hosted the second and final orientation for the first class of ambassadors. Roughly 40 HMSL employees and volunteers are educated about the oncology services we offer here and are also trained in compassionate communication when it comes to sharing about our services. Thank you to everyone who led the Community Ambassador Program team to this successful launch, along with oncology services staff for your contributions to the orientations. If you are interested in being in the next class of community ambassadors, please email Eleanor Holmes.
DAISY Award Winner
Mary Thottasseri, BSN, RN, is the winner of HMSL’s 33rd DAISY Award. She was awarded in her unit, 6 West, for her compassionate care and dedication to her patients. Click here to read what her nominees wrote about her. Congratulations, Mary!
Successful Shoe Drive
Thank you for your generous donations to our back-to-school shoe drive in support of Rainbow Room. Collectively, HMSL donated 50 pairs of shoes to the organization, which serves children in the Fort Bend area that are under the care of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Thank you for your continued support of HMSL's community partners.
50% Off Farmer's Fridge
Have you had the chance to try the new Farmer’s Fridge food option on campus? It’s a refrigerated vending machine that serves delicious salads, wraps and more. They are offering HMSL employees a 50% off deal good for this week only. Find that coupon code by clicking here and enter it when paying for your order. Bon Appetit!
International Day for People of African Descent
The United Nations (UN) designates August 31 as International Day for People of African Descent. The designation was established in 2020 and will be observed for the first time this year to encourage understanding and dialogue regarding longstanding structural inequalities that impact millions of people across the African diaspora.
The Black Ties for Culture ERG was created to encourage, acknowledge and cultivate stronger “ties” among Black employees and incorporate the unique culture into the Houston Methodist family. Click here if you are interested in joining the Black Ties for Culture ERG.
Read this week's DEI Corner via the link at the bottom of the newsletter.
Convenience Corner: Back to School Resources
School is back in session! You can save money and be prepared for unexpected childcare events and healthcare curve balls as school begins just for being a Houston Methodist employee!
- Sign up for back-up childcare. If your regular childcare falls through or you have to work on an upcoming school holiday, you can access a network of high-quality back up care solutions for your children (or elderly family members). Visit Bright Horizons and use the username HoustonMethodist and the password Benefits4You.
- Schedule a dental cleaning and eye exam for yourself and for the kids. You can use your FSA card to pay the vision co-pays and physicals as well as your eyeglasses and contact lenses.
- Find a babysitter or an after-school nanny from Care@work by posting a babysitting job.
- Join the MOMs (Moms of Methodist) employee resource group. You’ll connect with other mothers who work here and share information. Email momsofmethodist@houstonmethodist.org to join. This group is open to all parents.
- Get a discount on a new laptop or PC for your student. YouDecide offers employee discounts from Apple, Dell, HP and Lenovo. If you have not used YouDecide before, register online via the link at the bottom of the newsletter and use the code MTH052.
- The compassionate care we give our patients in our work each day is available to you when you fall ill yourself. There are many resources you can utilize if you are under the weather, such as HM Virtual Urgent Care, HM Same-Day Clinic and an easy-reference link on how to choose care when you are sick (and how much it will cost).
Pandemic and Outbreak Resources
COVID-19 Pandemic
We continue to monitor the current uptick of COVID-19 cases at HMSL. You can see the latest numbers by clicking here.
Monkeypox Outbreak
Click here to see the Clinical Resource Guide for clinical guidance on the response to the monkeypox outbreak.
PATIENT COMPLIMENTS
Main 4 East Patient: "I received very good care from everybody involved with my surgery. From all the nurses & all the the doctors. Very professional. They were all good at what they do. Thank you everyone."
OR Patient: "The nurse staff and doctors were excellent during my care. I especially want to thank Nurse Yasmin. Please know she did a wonderful job making me feel comfortable and going over things with me before the end of her shift through the transition for my procedure."
Ultrasound Patient: "Quin, the technician, was very informative about the test that I did. Overall, the staff was very helpful from registration to the end of the test."
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, August 30: Optimize Your Eye Health. Hosted by Employee Wellness at 12:15 p.m. Topics include eye health risk factors, prevention and treatment of vision-related diseases and tips for healthy eye maintenance. Click here to register.
Friday, September 2: The Future of Transplant Conference: Increasing Awareness to the Underserved. Hybrid Conference. Click here for information.
Monday, September 5: Labor Day
Friday, September 16: Sepsis Symposium 2022: Novel Landscape of Sepsis. Hybrid symposium. Click here for information.
Friday, September 30: No Harm Wound Care Council's 9th Annual Wound Care Conference. 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Brazos Conference Center. Earn up to 4 CEs. Click here to register.
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Tuesday, August 30 - Wednesday, August 31, vs Texas Rangers
Friday, September 2 - Sunday, September 4, vs Los Angeles Angels
Tuesday, August 30 - Sunday September 4, vs Albuquerque Isotopes
Tuesday, August 30: Goo Goo Dolls, Smart Financial Centre
Thursday, September 1: Kid Cudi, Toyota Center
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Making a choice that is 1% better or 1% worse is insignificant in the moment. But over the span of moments that make up a lifetime, these choices determine the difference between who you are and who you could be."
- James Clear, "Atomic Habits"