Week of November 7, 2022
Official Health Care Provider of the World Series Champions!
The Astros are the 2022 World Series Champions! Houston Methodist is honored to provide care for the two-time champs! We hope everyone enjoyed the game this weekend and cheered hard for our guys! Today, our hospital lights will be illuminated blue and orange to celebrate. The celebratory parade begins at noon and can be watched on most local news channels, which are channels 8, 11, 12 and 13 on hospital TVs. A congratulatory banner will be hung in the main entrance of the hospital next week and you will see special HM advertisements across the city as we join in sending our deepest congratulations to our Astros!
Election Day is This Week
Tuesday is Election Day. Houston Methodist supports the right for all employees to vote. It is important that you arrive at the polls informed. For those who live in Fort Bend County, you can click here to see sample ballots, poll locations and more. For employees who live in Harris County, you can find that information by clicking here.
Performance Excellence: Your Biggest Improvements
A reminder that we want to hear your department or unit’s biggest process improvement! It doesn’t matter where it came from – a top level improvement priority, an idea ticket, a daily huddle, a kaizen or just a conversation with co-workers. And no matter how big or small, we want to hear about the issue you saw, the idea you had and what your team did to fix it. For example, after expressing that nurses spent more than an hour administering medication on floors in a given shift, 4W teamed up with the Pharmacy team to cut the time down to 53 minutes. This saved each nurse roughly 10 minutes per shift just on medication administration. The team continues to work and aims to cut the time down by another 10-15 minutes. This is an incredible achievement in our work to be efficient and effective in all that we do.
Your manager will be bringing this up in a huddle and submitting on behalf of the group. Each manager will submit on behalf of their department by November 13. Entries will be considered for a video featuring some of the best process improvements of 2022.
Honoring Our Veterans
A sincere thank you to all of our staff who have served in our country’s military. Veterans Day honors all American veterans who served honorably during war or peacetime. In celebration of Veterans Day, please join the Veterans Alliance employee resource group (ERG) and the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) in-person or virtually for a ceremony Friday, Nov. 11, from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Bush Atrium in Walter Tower at HMH.
United Way Campaign
Dr. Boom recently announced the kickoff of the 2022 United Way campaign. Our fundraising goal as a system is $300,000. We have made it easy for you to donate via payroll deduction. You can read more about it in Dr. Boom’s message here. Thank you for your commitment to our community.
Rainbow Room Adopt-a-Child
HMSL is excited to partner once again with Rainbow Room to sponsor children’s Christmas lists. You can adopt a child as a department or unit by filling out this form. Once you are contacted with a child’s wish list, please hold on to gifts. This year, we will collect gifts in a fun and different way than previous years. Stay tuned!
OR Skills Lab Now Open
The OR Simulation and Skills Lab is now open. The lab will serve as a designated space to review important topics and skills related to the OR environment. Different concepts will be addressed through weekly skills stations with simulated scenarios. Skills lab sessions will either be set up for independent use or guided by a facilitator. Small group simulations will also be conducted quarterly to further assess and strengthen staff competency. The lab will cater to the needs of all OR personnel and other departments that may find the space beneficial for ongoing staff training. The lab is located in the OR, Room # M25010, near the staff lounge. For questions, please email Kat Russo.
Open Enrollment This Week
Open Enrollment begins this week on Thursday, November 10. There are quite a few changes to enhance your benefits for 2023. Please click here to read more on these benefits and what next steps you must take. Open Enrollment closes Dec. 2. If you have any questions regarding Open Enrollment, you can click here to email HR Hub.
HM Service Standards
At the beginning of 2022, we revised our Service Standards and launched an interactive learning program, HM Service Standards Program, to all Houston Methodist employees. Starting on Dec. 1, the training will be reassigned with a 30-day deadline for completion to all employees who are incomplete with this training. Please complete this course at your earliest convenience. Click here for more information.
New Managers at HMSL
Esther Schinzler has been promoted to Marketing and Communications Manager. In her new role, Esther is responsible for ensuring that marketing strategies and tactics support the hospital’s strategic plan and drive preference and volumes. You can read more about her career here. Congratulations, Esther!
Janan Sackllah has been promoted to Manager of Quality. In her new role, she will oversee risk, accreditation, patient safety and performance improvement outcomes. You can read more about her career here. Congratulations, Janan!
World Diabetes Day Event
Nov. 14 is World Diabetes Day. Stop by the World Diabetes Day Fair to learn more about the many aspects of diabetes by talking with health care specialists and interactive booths. This event is open to the public, so feel free to share with patients, friends and family members as you see fit. Click here for a sharable flyer.
Convenience Corner: Family Photo Day
Don’t forget about Family Photo Day this weekend! Local photographer, Kelley Sweet, and her team are offering digital family portraits for only $35! In the spirit of generosity this holiday season, we are opening reservations to non-immediate family members (e.g. siblings, cousins, etc.) of HMSL staff.
To register, please click the background of your choice below and reserve a spot. If you are sharing this offer with family, they must include your name and job title in the comment section.
We hope you and your family take advantage of this amazing offer, which is convenient and affordable. With a quick turnaround, your family will have a wonderful memory to share in time for the holidays.
For any questions, please email Rashna Barge.
Support Services and Medical Staff Services have departmental weeks to celebrate! These departments are crucial to the patient experience at HMSL. You can read more about them and others celebrating this month by clicking here.
Pandemic and Outbreak Resources
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.
Monkeypox Outbreak
Click here to see the Clinical Resource Guide for clinical guidance on the response to the monkeypox outbreak.
PATIENT COMPLIMENTS
Breast Care Center Patient: "Roxy was great and as gentle as she could be. Lisa T. and Easila were very nice, friendly and accommodating."
OR Patient: "The entire medical staff were friendly and professional. They went beyond my expectations."
Brazos 4 Patient: "The care while I was there was excellent. Staff was very respectful. Tell all your staff to keep up the good work that they do."
Main 5 West Patient: "I highly recommend Houston Methodist Sugar Land. They care about you and treat you with dignity and respect."
IMPORTANT DATES
Thursday, November 10: Open Enrollment and 100% PTO Sell begin
Thursday, November 10: Night Shift Governance Council meeting. Main Conference Rooms A & D, 7:30 a.m. Virtual option here.
Saturday, November 12: AHA Heart Walk. Join Team HMSL here.
Saturday, November 12: Family Photo Day at HMSL. Sessions available for $35. Read more and register here. Questions? Email Rashna Barge.
Tuesday, November 15: PALS Classes. Education Conference Room. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information here.
Thursday, November 17: Bring your donation for Magnet's Thanks-and-Giving to the Clinical Education office. More information here.
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Houston Astros World Series Celebration Parade
Monday, Nov. 7 @ Noon
Sunday, Nov. 13: @ New York Giants
Monday, Nov. 7: @ Orlando Magic
Wednesday, Nov. 9: @ Toronto Raptors
Saturday, Nov. 12: @ New Orleans Pelicans
Friday, Nov. 11: Chaka Kahn, Arena Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 12: An Evening of Soul with Patti Labelle, Smart Financial Centre
Saturday, Nov. 12: Casting Crowns, Toyota Center
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
- Aristotle