The Wellness Team at UT Physicians found itself like so many departments having to pivot as a result of COVID-19. Instead of coordinating no-cost screenings and booths at churches, schools, and festivals, the team has come up with creative ways to support our health care workers and the local community in the midst of the global pandemic.
The team, led by Leslie Feld, manager of community relations and wellness services, has organized various efforts throughout the Greater Houston area to extend hope and smiles to the faces they’ve encountered along the way.
As part of their efforts, the Wellness Team hosted a pizza party for health care workers administering COVID-19 tests to patients at UT Physicians Multispecialty – Victory, one of UT Physicians’ drive-thru testing sites. They’ve also pitched in helping with prescreenings for patients at the UT Professional Building in the Texas Medical Center, walking patients through a series of questions prior to their appointments.
“We have received a lot of smiles and gratitude through the different things we are doing, but I will admit not being able to share hugs of thanks has been a real struggle,” said Feld. “It’s such an honor to thank those on the front lines and I’m thankful we’ve been able to help in meaningful ways.”
In addition to assisting those on the front lines, the team has been helping to spread cheer to children in the Houston area, delivering goodie bags filled with toys to local school districts for them to distribute alongside school lunches. They’ve also organized special drive-by parades for children celebrating their birthdays, giving each birthday boy or girl a UT Physicians-branded goodie bag utilizing a safe approach.
“During this unprecedented time, being able to do anything that will bring smiles to the children of Houston has been the most rewarding,” said Feld. “I’m filled with joy that we’re able to reach out to our community and let them know UT Physicians is still here and thinking of them.”
Feld and her team have been mindful to practice safe social distancing, using gloves and taking other precautions to ensure the delivery of fun and healthy activities for all of those involved.
“We’re taking it day by day and filling needs as they arise with this extremely fluid situation,” said Feld.
