TITLE: Honoring the professionals serving pediatric oncology patients at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin.

SUMMARY: Honoring the professionals serving pediatric oncology patients at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Every hour of every day, the nurses and medical support staff of the world render lifesaving care to those in need, and at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, the professionals with the Children's Blood and Cancer Center and in the Pediatric Oncology Wing (4 North) have dedicated themselves unceasingly to the well-being of patients and families; and WHEREAS, The unit is staffed by a team of registered nurses and nurse practitioners who balance skilled clinical practice with a high level of attention and respect for their patients' needs; in addition to assisting with all aspects of treatment, nurses instruct parents on how to properly care for children at home, and at times they serve as a much-appreciated pillar of support for families coping with a range of emotions; their work often requires them to retain their composure in stressful and physically taxing circumstances, and their services are in demand throughout the day and night; and WHEREAS, The continuum of care provided at the hospital relies as well on the expertise of pediatric dietitian specialists, who are responsible for determining the specific dietary needs of each child; furthermore, clinical assistants and respiratory therapists monitor blood pressure, body temperature, and other vital signs around the clock, a task that is critically important in detecting fevers in patients who are immunosuppressed; together, these individuals strive to ensure children every advantage in fighting and overcoming their disease; and WHEREAS, Child life specialists are on hand to help families, including the siblings of patients, to manage feelings of anxiety over the illness and hospitalization of a loved one; trained in the areas of child development and psychology, they endeavor to ease the concerns of younger family members in appropriate terms and to make them as comfortable as possible during their visit; they also offer compassionate assistance to children undergoing difficult procedures, and they plan events, such as birthdays and holidays, that can serve as a welcome respite for those facing long-term stays at the center; and WHEREAS, Social workers likewise play a significant role in guiding families through this difficult experience; serving as a liaison between parents and the health care system, they locate appropriate resources, whether financial or other social services, and make travel arrangements if a patient requires treatment at a different facility; and WHEREAS, These distinguished professionals deserve high praise for the work they perform, without which the delivery of care at Dell Children's Medical Center would not be possible, and they may take definite satisfaction in knowing that their efforts have helped countless children on the path to healing and recovery; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby extend sincere gratitude to the staff of the Children's Blood and Cancer Center and the Pediatric Oncology Wing (4 North) of Dell Children's Medical Center and commend them for the great diligence and expertise that they bring to their duties; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the staff as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Geren Straus Gonz lez Paddie Allen Guerra Parker Alonzo Guillen Paul Alvarado Gutierrez Pe a Anchia Harless Phelan Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phillips Anderson of McLennan Herrero Pickett Ashby Howard Price Aycock Huberty Raney Bell Hughes Raymond Bernal Hunter Reynolds Blanco Isaac Riddle Bohac Israel Rinaldi Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Keffer Romero, Jr. Burns Keough Rose Burrows King of Hemphill Sanford Button King of Parker Schaefer Canales King of Taylor Schofield Capriglione King of Uvalde Schubert Clardy Klick Shaheen Coleman Koop Sheets Collier Krause Sheffield Cook Kuempel Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simpson Crownover Larson Smith Cyrier Laubenberg Smithee Dale Leach Spitzer Darby Longoria Springer Davis of Dallas Lozano Stephenson Davis of Harris Lucio III Stickland Deshotel M rquez Thompson of Brazoria Dukes Martinez Thompson of Harris Dutton Martinez Fischer Tinderholt Elkins McClendon Turner of Collin Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Harris Fallon Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farias Miles VanDeaver Farney Miller of Comal Villalba Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Vo Fletcher Moody Walle Flynn Morrison White of Bell Frank Mu oz, Jr. White of Tyler Frullo Murphy Workman Galindo Murr Wray Geren Naishtat Wu Giddings Nev rez Zedler Goldman Oliveira Zerwas Gonzales Otto Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1852 was adopted by the House on April 16, 2015, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House