Week of May 27, 2024
Michael Garcia
Chief Executive Officer
Houston Methodist Sugar Land
Today, on Memorial Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this day. Memorial Day is a time for us to remember the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country. Their courage and dedication have allowed us to enjoy the freedoms we have today.
In the spirit of this solemn day, I encourage each of us to take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by these heroes, along with the family and friends who grieve them. It is our duty.
To our staff members who have served or have family members currently serving, thank you. We are proud to have you as part of our Houston Methodist Sugar Land family. I also want to take this time to remind our veterans and their families about the Veterans Alliance Employee Resource Group. I've met many heroes in this group and to say they are inspiring is an understatement.
A special thank you to our employees who are working during this holiday. It is a testament to the spirit of service here at HMSL.
Michael Garcia
Chief Executive Officer
Houston Methodist Sugar Land
Make Hurricane Preparations Now
Hurricane season starts this Saturday, June 1 and weather experts are predicting an above-normal 2024 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. The most important thing you can do now is get yourself, your family and your home prepared. Here are a few things to do now:
- 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. HMSL has a comprehensive hurricane preparedness and response plan. 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.
New HMSL Med Staff Manager
Debbie Smith-Dupigny has joined HMSL as the new manager of Medical Staff Services. Debbie brings over 16 years of experience, most recently serving as Manager of Medical Staff Services at The Woman's Hospital of Texas. She started last week, so if you see her in the halls, please welcome her. Click here to read her management announcement.
HMSL in the Media
HMSL Athletic Trainer Alyce Kessler was interviewed for an article on KPRC's website. Kessler, who just completed her fifth year as an athletic trainer, is contracted with Almeda Crawford High School in Fort Bend ISD. She answered questions about how local athletes beat the heat and how you can too. Click here to read the article. Thank you, Alyce for representing HMSL!
HMSL on the Field
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys hosted Nurse Appreciation Night on Tuesday, May 21 at Constellation Field. HMSL Childbirth Center director Cristina Martin threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Joining her on the field were members of her team including mother/baby nurse manager Amber Ross, Peyton Villarreal and Donna Timmer. Also at the game were several HMSL nurses who were selected for the Houston Chronicle's Salute to Nurses list, which highlights the top 200 nurses in the Greater Houston Area. Joining CEO Michael Garcia and CNO Janet Leatherwood were: Aneel Mohammed, Rosario Sullivan, Candy Salazar and Diane Anderle. Houston Methodist is proud to be the official health care provider of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
HMSL Welcomes New Physicians
Dr. Malika Stewart has joined the Houston Methodist Primary Care Group's Rosenberg clinic. Stewart is board-certified in family medicine, with clinical expertise in acute and chronic condition management, including cholesterol and diabetes. She has particular interests in preventive health care, children’s health and women’s health. Read more about Dr. Stewart here.
Dr. Prathibha Thomas has joined the Houston Primary Care Group's Sienna clinic. Thomas is board-certified in family medicine, with clinical expertise in acute and chronic condition management, including cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid concerns and diabetes. She has particular interest in preventive and women’s health care. Read more about Dr. Thomas here.
Financial Help Available for Employees with Storm Damage
Since last week’s storm, more than 1,400 employees have applied for financial assistance through the Employees Helping Employees program. If you were impacted by the storm, you can request financial assistance. Apply for a financial grant through the Employees Helping Employees fund by clicking here. Applying only takes a few minutes and may require photo or receipt documentation. Grant amounts vary based on the need and availability of funds. You can expect to receive an Employees Helping Employees financial grant within seven to 10 business days if approved.
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-workers' lives.
Talent Talk Tuesdays
If you want to get to the next level in your career, the new Talent Talks program is for you. If you have been at HMSL less than a year, schedule your 30-minute session with an HR Talent Consultant. They can help with resume building, interview coaching, mock interviews and career guidance. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 1-5 p.m.
Veterans Alliance ERG Honors Memorial Day
The Veterans Alliance ERG will have a Memorial Day Table display at each hospital, as well as JRB and Greenbriar thru Tuesday, May 28. A bowl of red poppy flower pins will be available for anyone to take. Wearing a red poppy flower or poppy flower pin symbolizes remembrance for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Excellence in Nursing Awards
Nominations for the Good Samaritan Foundation 2024 Excellence in Nursing Awards are now open. Please take a moment to nominate your incredible colleagues. You can use previous award nominations such as Daisy, Houston Chronicle, or Nurse Week Awards to name a few. If you need help submitting a nomination, email Magnet Director Whitney Adams. Once you write your nomination please send Whitney a copy for our awards database. The deadline for nominations is this Friday, May 31. Click here for more information.
Cath Lab Reopening
After two years of planning and nearly a year of renovations, Cath Lab Room 1 is now officially reopened. Interventional cardiologists Dr. Ellis, Dr. Koo and Dr. Wickramasinghe joined cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Patel, CNO Janet Leatherwood, cath lab director Emily McAfee, cath lab manager Jena Trahan, cath lab RNs and technologists, heart center RNs and others from the hospital for the celebration. The new cath lab room upgraded the x-ray system. And while the room is primarily used for EP cases, it can easily transition into a cath lab. Click here to read more about the upgrades.
Best-Led Companies List
Houston Methodist ranked No. 14 on the Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, honoring the Best-Led Companies in 2024. We were the highest ranked health care organization on the U.S. Large list of 50 companies.
The award is based on employee surveys. When providing a company review, employees are asked to rate several factors tied to their employment experience. These include rating sentiment around their CEO’s job performance as well as around senior management, among other factors. Specifically, when rating their CEO on Glassdoor, employees are able to choose from one of three options: approve, disapprove or no opinion of the CEO. Employees are also asked to share some of the best reasons to work for the company (pros), any downsides (cons) and are encouraged to provide advice to management. This award demonstrates the belief our employees have in our vision and our leaders.
New BRAVO Recognition: Caught in the Act
We encourage you to be on the lookout for your colleagues doing something special for a patient or visitor or helping a co-worker. Everyone appreciates being recognized; nominating a deserving colleague only takes a few minutes. Whether great or small, our actions make a big difference, and our employees deserve recognition. Also, they'll receive a prize for their work.
Our "Caught in the Act" nomination process is easy. Visit the BRAVO tile in MARS and click directly on the new "Caught in the Act" tile on the "Recognize" page for to nominate employees for their excellent work.
Hospital Week DEI Bingo Winner
Congratulations to the Houston Methodist Sugar Land winner in the Hospital Week Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Bingo Contest: Jessica Reed
The contest encouraged improved team unity and appreciation of the unique journeys we all travel by encouraging staff to learn more about their co-workers. Participants reached out to their colleagues to ask a variety of questions related to their background, heritage and life experiences to complete the bingo cards. The winners receive special Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) giveaways. Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest. We hope it offered a fun and enlightening addition to the Hospital Week celebrations!
Conference Highlights Sustainability Practices
The Office of Sustainability team recently attended the Practice Greenhealth CleanMed Conference in Salt Lake City. This yearly conference createed a platform for health care leaders to collaborate on new sustainability practices focusing on individual, community and planetary health. Dr. Faisal Masud, the Mary A. and M. Samuel Daffin Sr. Centennial Chair in Anesthesia and Critical Care, represented Houston Methodist at the conference, speaking about the sustainability initiatives in Houston Methodist’s ICUs. He also discussed how a greener ICU contributes to reducing waste, identifying patient care efficiencies and reducing carbon footprint.
Moonshot Composting Offers Employee Discount
Houston Methodist, with the help of Moonshot Composting services, has significantly reduced food waste at five of our hospitals. In total, we have diverted 206,414 pounds of food waste from landfills. Composting keeps food waste out of landfills and creates a rich soil additive that can be used in gardens and yards. To see each Houston Methodist entity participating in Moonshot Composting, please click here and scroll down to the bottom to select your desired location.
Houston Methodist employees can now enjoy the Moonshot discount. This allows you to start using its composting services at home. You collect food waste, and Moonshot picks it up. You can even request to collect the compost created for your own use. To learn more about this offer, click here.
May is Oncology Nursing Month. Oncology nursing seeks to reduce the risks, incidence and burden of cancer by encouraging healthy lifestyles, promoting early detection, improving the management of cancer symptoms and side effects throughout the disease trajectory, and leading the coordination of complex care needs. May is also the month we choose internally to recognize the entire oncology team. Click here to read about our oncology services and about others raising awareness or celebrating this month.
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, May 27: Memorial Day holiday
Monday, May 27: Employee Health Clinic closed
Tuesday, May 28: Performance documents available for self-evaluation for staff FPR
Friday, May 31: Nomination deadline for The Good Samaritan Foundation 2024 Excellence in Nursing Awards. More information.
Friday, May 31: Cancer Survivors Day Celebration
Saturday, June 1: Atlantic hurricane season begins. Supply checklist here.
Friday, June 7: Cereal Drive Drop off. More information.
Saturday, June 29: Houston Pride Parade sponsored by Houston Methodist
Thursday, July 4: Independence Day holiday
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Monday, May 27 - Thursday, May 30: @ Seattle Mariners
Friday, May 31 - Sunday, June 2: vs. Minnesota Twins
Tuesday, May 28 - Sunday, June 2: @ Las Vegas Aviators
Thursday, May 31 - Sunday, June 2: Houston Tattoo Arts Festival, NRG Center
Saturday, June 1: Olga Tanon, Smart Financial Centre
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Heroes never die. They live on forever in the hearts and minds of those who would follow in their footsteps."
- Emily Potter
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.