Price Transparency
Get to Know our Staff: Kelsei Graham, Fracture Clinic

Get to Know our Staff: Kelsei Graham, Fracture Clinic

by | Apr 20, 2020 | Spotlight

What is your role at Scottish Rite for Children?  I am a nurse coordinator at the Fracture Clinic in Frisco. I coordinate the flow and care of patients who enter our clinic, as well as monitor patients during reductions. I also speak with pediatricians to help triage patients and manage any patient phone calls or needs. The Fracture Clinic has a morning walk-in clinic from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. for acute fractures, as well as afternoon acute slots and follow-up visits. Every day is exciting as we never know what will come through the doors. Not one single day is the same! This team is like a small family that works like a well-oiled machine. Each teammate has a key role in the clinic process – Child Life, nursing, cast techs, medical assistants, nurse practitioners and front desk staff.  
What led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here?  Before coming to Scottish Rite, I was a nurse at Children’s Plano for 10 years. Taking the opportunity here turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. Scottish Rite is truly one of a kind and it is such an honor to work for an organization who not only cares about their patients, but also about their entire staff. I have been here for five months.

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite? I love how every person is a team player and treats one another like family. My favorite part is how involved and visible leadership is – this is unlike anywhere else I have been, and I am truly proud to tell everyone where I work.      What was your first job? What path did you take to get here? My first job was a nanny. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was very little and always was the kid walking around with a first aid kit, taking care of everyone I could. I started internships my senior year of high school and after graduation, started nursing school at Texas Woman’s University. After obtaining my nursing license, I started my nursing career at Texas Health Plano as a NICU nurse. What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to spend time with my husband Jason, and daughters Hailey (10) and Emerson (6). We love being outside (walking, fishing, playing) and baking together. Our daughters are active in volleyball, soccer and jiu-jitsu – their activities keep us fairly busy on the weekends.       Three words to best describe you: Caring, loving, passionate   What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this? I would open my own gluten free bakery.   What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? I let my husband’s best friend take us on a flight over downtown Dallas in a tiny crop plane.
Child Life Spotlight: Empowering Children and Families to Master Challenges in Health Care

Child Life Spotlight: Empowering Children and Families to Master Challenges in Health Care

by | Mar 26, 2020 | Spotlight

As an organization, we are committed to treating the “whole child” – mind, body and spirit. Through our multidisciplinary team of experts, we make sure the patient is comfortable at every stage of their treatment. The Child Life department helps to achieve this positive experience and is a resource at the Dallas and Frisco campuses. Through this spotlight, we hope you will understand a bit more about the field of Child Life and learn how you can contact the department for your next visit.

What Is Child Life?
Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) focus on the social, emotional, developmental and educational needs of children and teenagers in the hospital setting. To help reduce fear and promote coping during the visit, a CCLS can provide the following services to your child:

  • Prepare and support the patient for medical procedures
  • Educate them about their diagnosis
  • Teach coping techniques to use during medical experiences
  • Engage in medical play
  • Provide outlets for self-expression
  • Support for brothers and sisters

Being Admitted as an Inpatient at the Dallas Campus?
Staying at the hospital can sometimes be stressful. Children may be nervous, worried, have questions and/or have behavioral changes prior to a hospitalization.

  • A CCLS will meet with your child on admission day to provide age-appropriate preparation for their hospitalization and answer any questions they may have.
  • Pre-admission tours are an extra service available to your child. These can be beneficial to help alleviate nervousness prior to admission day.

Here for a Clinic Appointment?
Coming to the hospital for a clinic appointment can be stressful, too! If your child is nervous or has questions about coming to their appointment, a CCLS can help prepare the child by answering questions as well as be present for the following:

  • Cast removal
  • IV placement
  • Lab draw
  • Surgery discussion
  • Joint injection
  • Radiology procedure (MRI, CT, ultrasound, VCUG, etc.)
  • New diagnosis
  • Brace compliance
  • Pin removal
  • Pill swallowing
  • Dressing change
  • Anything potentially stressful

Services at the Frisco Campus:

  • Two Certified Child Life Specialists
  • Work with patients who are seen in the Fracture Clinic:
    • Prepare patients for casting and procedures
    • Develop a coping plan
    • Provides support throughout casting
  • Sports Medicine:
    • Provides support throughout procedures (joint injections, suture removal, etc.)
    • Pre-op tours
    • Presence on surgery day
  • The team also provides their services to the following departments:
    • Rheumatology and Infusion
    • Orthopedics
    • Radiology
    • Orthotics & Prosthetics
    • Physical and Occupational Therapy
    • Day Surgery

Who Makes Up the Team?
Certified Child Life Specialists are professionals who are certified through the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). They hold bachelors and/or master’s degrees in child development, psychology or a related field. Their training includes a specialized internship in a pediatric hospital setting. Other team members include program coordinators, who have a background in child development and volunteers assist the activity coordinators in organizing patient activities in the inpatient playroom.

Meet Our Child Life Team
Ashleigh Kinney, L.C.S.W. (Director, Child Life) – Dallas
Andrea Brown, B.S., CCLS – Dallas
Molly Bass, B.S., CCLS – Dallas
Mellina McCormick, B.S., CCLS – Dallas
Ashley Hargrove, M.S., CCLS – Dallas
Morgan Brinson, M.S., CCLS – Dallas
Dulce Rubio, Child Life Program Coordinator – Dallas
Remington Rosene, Child Life Program Coordinator – Dallas
Laurie Hamilton, M.S., CCLS – Frisco
Marissa Willis, B.S., CCLS – Frisco

How to Contact the Child Life Department?
As a parent or caregiver, you can request that any staff member contact a Certified Child Life Specialist to meet with your child during their appointment.

To schedule a visit with a Certified Child Life Specialist or a pre-admission tour, please contact the Child Life department.

Dallas
214-559-7795
child.life@tsrh.org.

Frisco
469-525-7187
childlife.frisco@tsrh.org

Learn more about the Child Life department.

Get to Know our Staff: Ron Prater, Security

Get to Know our Staff: Ron Prater, Security

by | Feb 10, 2020 | Spotlight

What is your role at the hospital? 
I am a security officer and work to provide a safe environment for our patients, families and staff.
 
What led you to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children? How long have you worked here?
After being discharged from the U.S. Marines, I learned about an opportunity to join the security team at the hospital. I’ve been here for 18 years. 
 
What do you enjoy most about Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children?
I love that I am able to have interactions with people from all over. As a security guard, I am usually the first person a patient or family sees, so I feel kind of like an ambassador.
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
My first job was in the car prep department for Toyota. I went from college to the Marines (for eight years) and then to the hospital.
 
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Anything with sports – especially football. I also enjoy track & field and fishing.
 
Three words to best describe you:
A big deal.

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
I would be either a football or track coach. 
 
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
When I was in the Marines, I jumped out of airplanes.

Hometown Heroes: Leticia Desaloms

Hometown Heroes: Leticia Desaloms

by | Jan 16, 2020 | Press Coverage, Spotlight

Once a week, Leticia Desaloms pops popcorn at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and since 2011, she has volunteered 1,728 hours. Leti says it’s important that she gives back to the hospital because it gives so much to every patient.

Clarice Tinsley of FOX 4 recently Leti and her desire to serve the hospital in this “Hometown Heroes” segment.

Watch the full story here.

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Chetna Godiwala, Rheumatology

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Chetna Godiwala, Rheumatology

by | Nov 18, 2019 | Spotlight

What is your role at the hospital? 
I am a researcher for the Rheumatology department. I specifically work on the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) registry. The CARRA registry seeks to understand the epidemiology, outcomes, etiology and biology of pediatric rheumatic diseases such as systemic supus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile dermatomyositis.
                                                                                 
What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite Hospital?
I enjoy hearing about the success stories that have happened since the inception of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. I take pride in working at a hospital that gives the best care to its patients, with or without their ability to pay. I believe that every child should have the best childhood regardless of the medical diagnosis. And being part of the Scottish Rite Hospital team definitely helps make this a reality for our young patients!  
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here? How long have you worked here?
My first job was tutoring kids while I was in high school and college. Teaching has always been a passion of mine. The moment that I am able to help a student understand a concept is the most rewarding for me. This translates to my job today at the hospital. As a researcher, I am helping kids and families affected with rheumatoid diseases by collecting their outcomes to prescribed medications and correlate with their disease activity so we can one day find a cure. I have worked here for almost three months, and I have enjoyed every moment!
 
What are you currently watching on Netflix?
I am currently re-watching episodes of New Girl. The cast has a great chemistry and I’m always up for a good laugh.
 
Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?
If I were to swap places for a day, it would be probably with anyone from the TV show Friends. I love each of the characters and it would be kind of fun to hang out at a coffee shop all day.
 
What is a fun or interesting fact about your hometown?
I have lived most of my life in California. Not only is it my hometown, but also the home of Walt Disney Studios. My sister and I had Disneyland passes while we were in college and I would go almost monthly with a different group of friends. My favorite thing was to watch the show World of Color during the winter months, while drinking hot chocolate and eating their amazing churros. If you haven’t been yet, you must check it out. That combination is amazing for the California winter months.
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not working? 
I love to get a good workout in and spend time with my husband, family and friends. My husband and I also love traveling together. Our next destination is Spain in May 2020 and we absolutely cannot wait. I also am a certified BollyX instructor, which is a HIIT workout.