Revised Mask Guidelines | Above and Beyond Award | Military Appreciation | Parking Lot Restriping | Focal Point Review
Week of May 23, 2022
Revised COVID-19 Mask Guidelines For Employees
Houston Methodist recently received further clarification on the CDC’s recommendations for masking in health care facilities, and as a result we must make a few necessary changes to our mask policy. Starting now, you should return to wearing masks in all public spaces within our patient care facilities, in addition to the direct patient-facing areas (i.e. patient rooms, procedure rooms, exam rooms and waiting rooms). We are also asking visitors and patients who enter our patient care facilities to wear masks and we are providing COVID-19 screening information at all entrances. This clarification comes at a time when we are seeing slight upticks in community transmission and the amount of virus in the wastewater. Thank you for understanding as we must remain flexible as the need for extra precautions changes regularly.
Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
The U.S. government is offering another round of COVID-19 tests at no charge. The postal service will deliver eight free tests to any household in the U.S. You can place an order for them here. You can always schedule an on-site test in the employee health portal on MARS.
Above and Beyond Award
The Employee Morale Committee awarded Nicole “Nicki” Olmstead with the May 2022 Above and Beyond Award. She was nominated after coordinating a personal pet visit for a SICU patient. Read what her nominee wrote about her and learn how to nominate a colleague in the future. If you missed the story about about this visit, you can read it here. Congratulations, Nicki!
Military Appreciation Month
The month of May honors our military service members with Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day. The Veterans Alliance ERG will honor our fallen soldiers in the Main Atrium from May 23 through May 31. Small toy soldiers will be given out as a remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and a poster will be displayed to read more about different military holidays. For more information about this ERG, email them here.
Reminder: Parking Lot Restriping
As of Friday, May 27, there will be two more phases left of the parking lot restriping project: the purple and blue areas on the map seen here. Please refer to the email sent by HMSL Facilities team about where you should park if this impacts you. Thank you for your help in ensuring this project goes smoothly.
Focal Point Review
The annual staff focal point review modules are available as of today, May 23. Employees will receive an email from the LMS to notify them that they are assigned to complete modules. The performance documents for self-evaluations will be available May 31. Refer to the complete FPR schedule for more details and deadlines.
Virgin Pulse Double Points
Beginning Wednesday, May 25, you can earn double points on Virgin Pulse doing certain activities. This will help you get closer to the 20,000 points needed to complete the DIY Health Track. Reading daily cards, tracking healthy habits and synching a fitness device will earn you double points from May 25 through June 1. For more information about the health tracks, click here.
PATIENT COMPLIMENTS
From a Main 5 West Patient: "I was very pleased with the care that I received in the hospital stay. One of the nurses, Ric, went beyond his duty to provide with me with the best patient care experience."
From a Brazos 4 Patient: "I wish I remember all my nurses and techs names they were amazing and caring. I would recommend Houston Methodist Sugar Land to anyone."
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, May 30: Memorial Day holiday
Tuesday, May 31: Performance documents available for self-evaluations in MARS
Wednesday, June 1: Atlantic hurricane season begins
Friday, June 4: Employee Health closed for staff meeting.
Friday, June 10: Evidence Based-Practice and Quality Improvement Workshop. This workshop is critical for RNs planning to apply for RN III. However, the workshop is open to all HMSL employees and requires manager approval to attend. More information here.
JUST FOR FUN DATES
Monday, May 23 - Wednesday, May 25, vs Cleveland Guardians
Friday, May 27 - Sunday, May 29, @ Seattle Mariners
Tuesday, May 24 - Sunday, May 29, @ El Paso Chihuahuas
Friday, May 28: Granger Smith ft. Earl Dibbles Jr, Bolivar Beach Club
Saturday, May 29: Keith Sweat with special guests Dru Hill, Silk, 112, Smart Financial Centre
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Did you know dogs can't read MRIs? But CatScan!