Week of March 17, 2025
Michael Garcia
Chief Executive Officer
Houston Methodist Sugar Land
The word I want to focus on this week is growth. I have two exciting updates to share with you and both showcase how the Houston Methodist hospital system continues to grow.
First, Houston Methodist Cypress is officially open today. The state-of-the-art, high-tech community hospital is one of the first of its kind. The hospital features cutting-edge ambient listening technology and artificial intelligence to enhance patient care. I had the privilege to visit the campus before the opening and it is impressive. Patient rooms are equipped with voice-controlled lighting and a button allows doctors to appear on screen in seconds. The innovation truly shows our commitment to leading the future of health care.
Closer to home, I hope you had a chance to read my email this morning about our upcoming Emergency Department expansion. Starting next Monday, March 24, we will begin seeing patients in phase one of our newly expanded ED. I want to thank every team member who played a role in making this happen. While there is still more work ahead with phase two of construction, this expansion marks an exciting step forward for our patients and community.
With this change, I want to stress an important update: the ED entrance is now for emergency patients only. Staff should no longer use this entrance. Instead, employees trying to access the main hospital can use the skybridge in Garage A or the Main Pavilion side entrance facing MOB 3. Please make sure to follow this new guideline to ensure seamless patient care.
Thank you for embracing these exciting new changes as we continue to grow.
Michael Garcia
Chief Executive Officer
Houston Methodist Sugar Land
St. Patrick's Day Photo Booth
We are lucky to have the best staff at HMSL! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today by grabbing someone you’re lucky to work with and snapping a photo at the photo booth! It will be set up across from Main Starbucks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with fun props. Click here for more information.
LifeMatters Webinar
LifeMatters, our employee assistance program provider, will host a training session called “Develop Your Empathy Muscle to Strengthen Relationships" at noon Thursday, March 20. Empathy is a powerful tool that can take any relationship to a higher level. If you’d like to learn more about how to build your “empathy muscle” and improve your relationships, this session is for you.
- Join the session here.
- Enter your name and email address.
- Session password: bYWMYxd5w33.
- Click "Join Now".
New Physician Joins HMSL
Dr. Brent D. Reed just joined the Houston Methodist Primary Care Group and is accepting new patients in Sienna. His clinical interests include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and men's health. If you see Dr. Reed, please welcome him to HMSL!
March of Dimes: Basket Donations Needed
Calling all units and departments to give back to our smallest patients! It's time for our March of Dimes fundraising campaign. Your department can donate a basket to be raffled off next month. Baskets are due to our fundraising chair Michelle Smith by Monday, April 14. Please email Michelle Smith with the basket's theme, approximate value, list of included items and your unit/department name. Baskets will be displayed from Wednesday, April 23 - Friday, May 9.
Joint Pain Seminar
Is joint pain holding you back from the activities you love? Thomas B. Rivers, M.D., Nish L. Shah, M.D. and physical therapist Kristine Neelon, all with Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Sugar Land, will host a seminar focusing on joint pain on April 10 at 6 p.m. in the Brazos Pavilion Conference Center. The event is free and the community is invited. Click here for more information, including how to register.
Bracelet Challenge
Don't forget the HMSL Bracelet Challenge ends Monday, March 31. You still have time to collect all 53 bracelets. Incoming chief nursing officer Sarah Fleming was on campus last week trading bracelets. Her “See-N-O” bracelets are now out in the mix too. Click here for a list of participating slogans. The purpose of this activity is to strengthen community by encouraging you to connect and interact with people across the hospital. Happy trading!
Books Supporting Your
Professional Development
Whether you are seeking career advancement or to become stronger in your current role, the HMSL Digital Library is stocked with ebooks and audiobooks that can help you be a stronger professional, leader and communicator. A few are:
- How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority by Clay Scoggins
- Do What Matters Most: Lead with a Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time by Greg McKeown
- Leader as Healer by Nicholas Janni
- Let’s Talk: Make Effective Feedback Your Superpower by Therese Huston
These are just a few of the nearly 150 titles available to you in the HMSL Digital Library via the Libby app. This resource is completely free to you. Simply log in with your HM credentials in lieu of a library card.
Avoid Personal Email on HM Devices
To maintain the highest level of security, it’s crucial for you to avoid accessing your personal emails and opening documents on HM-provided devices. Keeping personal and work activities separate helps protect both your personal information and HM data. Mixing the two increases the risks of accidental data breaches and can put our patient data and HM systems in harm’s way. Use personal devices for personal emails and browsing.
How to Code Your Employee Appreciation Day in LaborWorkx
Houston Methodist provides eligible employees with personal paid time off to celebrate days that are special to them. The days are called Employee Appreciation Day. If you are using your annual Employee Appreciation Day, use the code EADS in LaborWorkx. This code was formerly known as DEI.
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, March 17: Houston Methodist Cypress' Grand Opening
Monday, March 17: St. Patrick's Day photo booth. More information.
Thursday, March 20: DCP Payout
Thursday, March 20: LifeMatters webinar
Thursday, March 27: Houston Astros Opening Day Watch Party. More information.
Saturday, March 29: HMSL Friends & Family Photo Day
Monday, March 31: Bracelet Challenge ends. More information.
Thursday, April 10: Joint Pain Seminar. More information.
Monday, April 14: March of Dimes basket donations due
Friday, April 18: Good Friday
Wednesday, April 23 - Friday, May 9: March of Dimes fundraiser tables
Wednesday, April 30: Deadline to apply for Scholarship for Employees' Children
Thursday, May 8: 2025 IMAGINE Nurse Quality and Innovation Symposium. More information.
Friday, May 9: March of Dimes fundraising drawing
Saturday, May 10: Fort Bend County March for Babies. More information.
Saturday, May 10: Houston Methodist Family Fun Day
Tuesday, May 13: Patient satisfaction bonus payout
Monday, May 26: Memorial Day holiday
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Monday, March 17: Charley Crockett
Tuesday, March 18: Post Malone
Wednesday, March 19: Old Dominion
Thursday, March 20: Cody Jinks
Friday, March 21: Parker McCollum
Saturday, March 22: Brooks & Dunn
Sunday, March 23: Luke Bryan
Tuesday, March 18: vs. Washington Nationals
Wednesday, March 19: vs. New York Mets
Thursday, March 20: @ Miami Marlins
Friday, March 21: @ St. Louis Cardinals
Saturday, March 22: vs. Miami Marlins
Sunday, March 23: @ Washington Nationals
Monday, March 17: vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Wednesday, March 19: @ Orlando Magic
Friday, March 21: @ Miami Heat
Sunday, March 23: vs. Denver Nuggets
Wednesday, March 19: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Smart Financial Centre
Thursday, March 20: Papa Roach and Rise Against, Toyota Center
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up.
Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
-Michael Jordan
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.