Week of December 5, 2022
Chris Siebenaler
CEO, Regional Senior Vice President
Reflection from Chris: A Year of Excellence
In 2022, I invited you to join me on the Performance Excellence journey to transform our hospital. I sincerely thank all of you that joined, whether it was through your daily huddles, submitting an idea ticket, or participating in a Kaizen. At our kick-off meetings in July, we began to see and hear insights, perspectives and experiences tied to Performance Excellence which elevated our ability to innovate, collaborate and improve.
As I have said all year, “Performance Excellence: Everybody, Every Day” means exactly what it says – every one of you plays a role in our work to be unparalleled. Using various elements of Performance Excellence, we’ve created a culture of change at HMSL – one that relies on your diverse voices and perspectives.
Reflect on what you’ve seen this year in your unit or department and across the hospital and think about your “why” and how Performance Excellence may develop in 2023. What will it look or feel like for you?
Now think of one word to describe why you think we need to keep improving in 2023.
Click the link here to quickly submit your word and the communications team will be designing a word cloud. It will be turned into a coloring poster that we will distribute in 2023 for each department’s breakroom.
Sweetwater Lab Changes
The Sweetwater Lab will move permanently, effective Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. Oncology patients will now go to the 2nd floor of the Cancer Center to have labs drawn. All other patients will go to MOB 3, Suite 240, to have labs drawn. Please keep this information in mind as you are seeing patients that need bloodwork. Click here for a helpful map.
Friday: Drop-Off Gifts
If you or your team adopted a child from Rainbow Room, it's time to drop off your gifts! We will host a come-and-go drop off event this Friday, Dec. 9 in Brazos B&C from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. where you can turn in gifts, enjoy Christmas music and grab a cup of hot cocoa. A flyer for the event can be found by clicking here.
Doctor's Day Thank You Notes
Help HMSL show our doctors our appreciation ahead of Doctor's Day 2023! Write a note to them by Friday, Jan. 6 and you'll receive an HMSL car shade as a gift. Click here for a printable flyer with a QR code to submit your note. Gifts will be distributed via your manager or director in early February. Please contact Selina Garcia for any questions.
Stay Active with Wellness
Join HMSL Employee Wellness for a special fitness challenge this month. "The 12 Days of Fitmas" will feature workouts, seminars and more. Click here for a schedule of events. You can also partake in a 30 minute walk around the campus on Thursday, Dec. 14 at noon. Click here for information and to sign up.
Celebrate Your Career Milestone!
Have you recently earned a promotion, new degree or otherwise hit a career milestone? You can now commemorate with festive photo frames! There are currently three on campus located in the Education office, at HR and the Marketing office. Soon, however, we will distribute more of these to be conveniently located around the hospital. While they won’t be in every unit, they’ll be close by when the cause for celebration arises. We also have matching virtual backgrounds for Teams, which you can find and download here. Happy celebrating!
Holiday Lights Discount
HM employees can receive a discount on regular priced adult tickets for Sugar Land Holiday Lights. Enjoy $2 off tickets purchased in advance and $4 off tickets purchased day of event (ticket prices increase day of event). To take advantage of this discount, log on to YouDecide (link located at top of newsletter). Click on the Events and Theme Parks tile and select Sugar Land Holiday Lights. If you have never used the site before, use the code MTH052 to register.
Convenience Corner: Houston Museum of Natural Science Discount
A reminder for you as you shop for the holidays that the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land is offering year-long memberships for 15% off for HMSL employees. This wonderful local museum is great for all ages. The membership allows you access to the Sugar Land location as well as the main location in Houston’s museum district. Here is how it works:
Membership purchases must be done at the Sugar Land location.
Discount is available on any level of membership, including the various family levels.
Employees must show their ID when purchasing.
While this offer is only good for HMSL employees, you are free to gift the membership to whomever you please.
This discount is good through Dec. 31, 2022.
We hope you take advantage of this great deal and are able to cross one more item off your gift list this year. If you have any questions, please email Eleanor Holmes.
CPAM Holiday Concert
The Center for Performing Arts Medicine will host its 2022 Holiday Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 13. The event will include musical performances by the Houston Symphony and the Houston Grand Opera, a special appearance by the Houston Ballet, art making tables, a photo booth, and the giant gingerbread house. It will take place in Caine Garden at HMH from 5 to 6 p.m. The event is open to staff and the public. All ages are welcome.
Did You Know: DEI Corner
Did you know there are DEI updates in the employee e-newsletter? At the very bottom of the newsletter is a link titled "DEI Corner." There, you can catch up on the latest Office of DEI news – from events happening across the system to important cultural holidays or even information about Employee Resource Groups. Recently, they even shared a link to the employee cookbook they created with dishes shared by staff system-wide. We encourage you to utilize this news as you can.
COVID-19 Pandemic
As local COVID-19 numbers continue to stabilize, we are moving to system-wide reporting of case numbers in the e-newsletter. Click here for the latest statistics.
PATIENT COMPLIMENTS
Wound Care Center Patient: "I am thankful that my wife found this treatment option for me. Without it, I am not sure if my wounds would have ever started to heal. I am feeling optimistic that they will heal because I have gotten great help and treatment from them."
Main 5 East Patient: "Methodist is a wonderfully run institution at all levels. I am amazed at the attention to detail."
X-Ray Patient: "I love the walk-in service for chest x-ray's! It was quick and easy for me. The tech was professional and efficient."
IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, December 9: Rainbow Room Gift Drop Off Event. More information here.
Friday, December 9: Employee health closes at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 14: BLS Course. Main B&C. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. More information here.
Friday, December 16: ACLS Course (1-day course; ED, ICU and NPs only) 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information here.
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Monday, Dec. 5: vs Philadelphia 76ers
Thursday, Dec. 8: vs San Antonio Spurs
Sunday, Dec. 11: vs Milwaukee Bucks
Sunday, Dec. 11: at Dallas Cowboys
Friday, Dec. 9: Gabriel Iglesias, Houston Improv
Saturday, Dec. 10: Sugar Land R&B Music Experience, ft. Monica, Xscape, Tamar Braxton, 112 and more, Smart Financial Centre
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
- Desmond Tutu