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t m c » p u l s e | m a y 7, 2 0 1 4 37 C hildren's Memorial Hermann Hospital, together with the help of the Google Glass Explorer program, is enhancing the patient experience in a way never before possible. The hospital recently allowed kids of all ages to vir- tually "visit" the Houston Zoo, located across the street from the hospital, without ever leaving their hospital beds. "We are thrilled to be able to lever- age this exciting new piece of equip- ment to bring a virtual escape and some much needed happiness and distrac- tion to our youngest patients during their stay with us," said Susie Distefano, CEO of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. "The unique opportunity to team up with the Houston Zoo, using state-of-the-art technology to literally bring their animals to our bedsides, has placed smiles on countless faces." Patients at Memorial Hermann were among the first in the nation to partic- ipate in the highly exclusive Google Explorer program. This groundbreak- ing new piece of "wearable" technology allows users to easily take videos and pictures from a direct point of view and take part in video calls via Google Hangout, all in a hands-free, voice com- mand experience. Six-year-old Jayden Neal was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about a year ago and, since then, has been a regular patient of Memorial Hermann. "Because of Jayden's condition, we come to the hospital often," said Jayden's mom, Raquel Neal. "On our way to the hospital the other day, we drove by the Zoo and Jayden said, 'Mommy, I just want to go to the Zoo!' So, now that's all he's been talking about: getting to go to the Zoo after all!" Going forward, Memorial Hermann plans to continue in the Google Explorer program and identify the end- less opportunities for applications. For example, a new study released just this week indicates that Google Glass may help calm patients during surgery. Memorial Hermann is no stranger to breaking technological boundaries. The health system has made interna- tional headlines for its live-tweeting of major operations, including an open-heart surgery, a brain opera- tion, and the world's first live-tweeted Caesarean section. Pediatric Patients visit the Houston zoo Without Leaving the Hospital Thanks to the Google Glass Explorer Program Six-year-old Jayden Neal tours the Houston Zoo with Google Glass. (Credit: John Lynch, Memorial Hermann) H ouston Community College's Coleman College of Health Sciences and Houston Independent School District are partnering to train high school graduates to be certified pharmacy technicians through an inno- vative program at Jane Long Academy. The School of Pharmacy Technology teaches students the clinical and busi- ness skills they need to work alongside pharmacists and physicians. Students completing the four-year program receive certification as a pharmacy technician. Students in the Allied Health Futures program at Jane Long begin taking program classes as freshmen. After their first year in the program, they attend a "white coat ceremony" and receive their white lab coat to mark their achievement and motivate them to continue succeeding. The extra Pharmacy Tech Program offers High School Students Certification motivation is working. The first class of 75 has lost only two students, and many of the program participants are looking further ahead in their academic careers past high school and college to medical school and beyond. The first class of sophomores will begin taking college courses this summer, in phar- macy law and drug classification. "After the students graduate from high school, all they will need to do is finish their clinical rotations with HCC, take the national certification exam, and then they will be employable as a pharmacy tech," said Jeff Gricar, program director for HCC Coleman College. "Because of this partnership, these students will be credentialed for full-time employment with benefits when they are 18 or 19 years old, and ready for a career in health care." HCC Coleman College President Dr. Betty Young and HISD Jane Long Academy students at the White Coat Ceremony celebrating success in the pharmacy technician program. (Credit: HCC Coleman College) We are thrilled to be able to leverage this exciting new piece of equipment to bring a virtual escape and some much needed happi- ness and distraction to our youngest patients during their stay with us. — susIe dIsteFano ceo of children's memorial hermann hospital after the students graduate from high school, all they will need to do is finish their clinical rotations with hcc, take the national certification exam, and then they will be employable as a pharmacy tech. — JeFF gRIcaR program director for hcc coleman college