Patient Access Week
Patient Access Week is April 2 – 8. In the face of our quickly changing health care environment, there is one constant: Patient Access Services. The first interaction patients have with Houston Methodist often begins with PAS, which makes it so necessary to have a friendly and knowledgeable associate to connect with. PAS staff handle many aspects of a patient’s visit from scheduling, registration, financial counseling, receptionist, insurance verification and switchboard operators. During National Patient Access Week, we acknowledge and celebrate our staff in PAS for the work they do and for acting as special goodwill ambassadors to begin the patient’s journey of receiving unparalleled care in our facility.
Neurodiagnostics Week
Neurodiagnostics week is April 16-22. This is a small, but essential, department at HMSL. Our neurodiagnostic technologists often conduct EEGs to record electrical activity of the brain and nervous system. They also work to help patients identify patterns that could be contributing to life-threatening conditions like epilepsy.
Health Information Professionals Week
Health Information Professionals (HIP) week is April 17-21. This year’s theme is Health Information Powers Innovation. What an appropriate theme—considering the last few years during the pandemic. Innovation has skyrocketed since 2019 partly because they were on the progressive journey beforehand, but mostly because of the immediate need to continue services under very different circumstances. Across our sections of System HIM they have:
- Implemented a telecommute work program when possible
- Digitally advanced our coding workflow to promote accuracy
- Physically integrated our release of information services into the registration workspace to offer our patients a convenient, frictionless location for obtaining records
- Advanced our outreach to expectant mothers as well as offering a virtual means of registering their new baby’s birth,
- Started our path to point-of-care scanning – a concept of imaging paper while the patient is in-house and within just hours of creation.
These are only some of the highlights of what they have done. There is so much more to come!
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is April 23–29. This year we celebrate the 48th Medical Laboratory Professionals Week to recognize clinical and public health laboratory professionals for their contributions to the health of our communities. The theme for Lab Week 2023 is The Future is Lab. This year, we celebrate laboratory professionals who protect our future by skillfully adapting to meet today’s evolving patient care challenges with resilience, innovation, and expertise. Medical Laboratory professionals play an integral role on a patient’s health team. Lab staff have a special responsibility in the care of patients. While they may not provide care at the bedside, they provide accurate and timely diagnosis through reliable lab tests to determine the needed treatment.
Occupational Therapy Month
Occupational therapy (OT) is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to participate in daily living or live better with injury, illness, or disability. This is accomplished through designing strategies for everyday living and customizing environments to develop and maximize potential.
Occupational therapy assists people in:
- Achieving their goals
- Functioning at the highest possible level
- Concentrating on what matters most to them
- Maintaining or rebuilding their independence
- Participating in the everyday activities that they need to do or that simply make life worth living
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are experts in helping people perform the occupations they need and want to do every day.
HMSL currently has seven fulltime OTs and four PRNs.
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