Connect Newsletter
Aug. 12, 2025 |
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High Five for Magnet: Nursing Excellence in Action We are excited to share a major milestone in our Magnet journey. We’ve officially received notification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center that our Magnet document has been fully accepted with no deficiencies. This is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of the outstanding work happening across our organization. The next step is the Magnet Site Visit, which is scheduled for Sept. 22 – 24. During this visit, three Magnet Appraisers will be on-site to engage with teams across all the practice areas included in our document. The purpose of this visit is to validate and celebrate the incredible work described in our written document. The appraisers will connect with nurses and interprofessional team members across all roles and settings to hear their experiences and to see how we live out Magnet principles through our culture, outcomes, collaboration, and commitment to excellence in patient care. You can explore our Magnet document and all the different topics and stories by visiting this webpage.  Staff Notice: Magnet Recognition Program® Site Visit
Your organization has applied to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for the prestigious Magnet designation. The Magnet designation recognizes excellence in nursing services. - You have an opportunity to participate in the evaluation process and are encouraged to do so. We will be coming to your hospital Sept. 22 – 24, 2025, for a site visit.
- Comments may be e-mailed or mailed to the Magnet Program Office prior to the site visit. Your comments are confidential and never shared with anyone in your organization. If you choose, your comments may be anonymous but must be in writing.
- There will also be time set aside to speak with the appraisers during the site visit. Time, date, and location of the meeting room will be provided by your organization.
- Your comments must be received by Sept. 12, 2025.
- Your organization has submitted written documentation for the appraisal team to review. The information is available to you for review on the Cook Children’s Magnet Recognition Program SharePoint.
Email: magnet@ana.org |
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 New Cook Children’s Online Store is Live!
Get ready, Cook Children's fans. Our new online store is live. Click here to be among the first to visit. All your favorite Cook Children's gear is just a few clicks away. Whether you're hunting for cozy apparel, awesome gifts, team uniforms or even Peaks the Dragon® merch, your orders will deliver straight to your home or office. How cool is that? Our goal? To make Peaks and Cook Children’s logoed gear available for everyone – staff, patients and families alike. A few key points: - The store was created in partnership with Marketing to create items that are high quality, represent our brand and will last during your whole career at Cook Children’s.
- Our vendor, AO Swag, is located in Coppell, and fulfills all orders. If a customer has a problem with their order or would like to make a return, questions can be directed to customerservice@aoswag.com.
- Another feature of the website is Kidprints, which was created in partnership with the Woman’s Board and the Creative Arts Program to have birthday, holiday, and all occasion cards available featuring patient artwork. Each piece was designed by a Cook Children’s patient, and all proceeds raised benefit the Creative Arts Program.
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 Microsoft 365 (M365) Rollout: The Latest
The move from your old email service to Microsoft 365 (M365) is underway. You will receive an email with instructions before your designated group moves so be on the lookout for this informative communication. We want to be clear that the instruction sent to employees for the M365 email integration is not Phishing. The email is sent by Information Services. We hope the blue header at the top of all future emails with this content will help avoid any more confusion. As part of this transition, we are moving from Exchange 2016 to cloud-based M365. This change brings enhanced access to Microsoft Office tools online, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, along with limited access to OneDrive for file creation, sharing, and collaboration. In addition to email and calendar services in the cloud, the M365 team includes: - New Microsoft 365 desktop applications
- Options for accessing email on mobile devices
Additional details, training resources, and support information will be shared in an email when your group is going to be moved. Estimated dates of the groups moving will be communicated. Please watch your email. Thank you for your continued support as we modernize our tools to better support collaboration and productivity. |
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 Benefits Team Hosting In-person Q&A Sessions
The Benefits team will host in-person Q&A sessions to answer any questions you have about open enrollment. Come visit us at the Medical Center-Fort Worth in the Family Support Meeting Room A during the following times: - 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 13
- 10 a.m. – Noon, Thursday, Aug. 14
- 9 a.m. –12:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 18
You may also Contact the Benefits team at AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org with any questions. To learn more and to see this year's Benefits Guide, click here. |
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 Website Update For Parking Garage Communication
We have added new tabs about how to get to the Eighth Avenue and Terrell Parking Garage and the Terrell Avenue Garage (901) to help our employees as they make their way to work. It is highly recommended to plan ahead for your commute and allow extra time to reach your destination and report for your shift at your scheduled time. To ensure you know the most current traffic updates, please bookmark this page. It is updated often and includes major street closures, pedestrian sidewalk closures and any potential reroutes. For more general information on the growth and development across the system, visit our "We're Growing” page. |
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 New Sepsis Screening Algorithm
Clinical staff: A new sepsis screening algorithm is live for the PICU and inpatient units (CVICU and NICU not included). Please click here to view a quick slide deck about this sepsis algorithm and earn 0.5 hours of CME ethics credit if you complete the evaluation at the end. You can access the Inpatient Sepsis Algorithm here. To read more information on the changes made to the algorithm, click here. |
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 Begin with You and Be Well!
August is Well-being Month at Cook Children’s. It’s important to first take care of ourselves so we in turn can care for others. When we take time for personal and professional well-being it’s easier to find the energy and motivation to show up as our best selves each day. The best way to learn about everything happening in August for Well-being Month is to visit the Well-being Month Page on the Team Experience CookNet site. Links to register for classes, more details on activities and Well-bingo can be found here. Well-being Speaker Series: - Jennifer Zientz, University of Texas at Dallas, Center for Brain Health – Brain Health & Well-being in a Fast-paced Work Environment
- 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12, live in Hochberger Auditorium or via livestream
- Sarah Bentz, MA, LPC-S – Surviving & Thriving in the Sandwich Generation
- 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug 14, live in Hochberger Auditorium or via livestream
Visit the Well-being page on CookNet for more details and the livestream link. Well-being Classes: - Nicole Porter Webinar: Train Your Brain for Habit Change
- EAP Lunch & Learn: Self-care for Health Care Professionals
- Vitamin Zzzzz: Getting the Rest You Need
- Health & Stress Management: Making the Connection
Beat the Heat Treat Events Join us for a special treat to beat the heat this August! The Fort Worth Campus will host their event on Wednesday, Aug. 13. Visit the Well-being Month Page on the Team Experience CookNet site for more information. Well-being Events & Activities: - Personify Health app: Learn more about the app and how it can help you with your well-being goals. There’s a chance to win a gift card for signing up in the month of August. Or if you’re already signed up, there’s a chance to win a gift card after you complete a Journey of your choice in the Personify Health app. Visit the Well-being page on CookNet for more details.
- Well-Bingo: Find a work buddy or invite your team to do Well-bingo and take part in a variety of well-being activities and the chance to win a gift card. Go to the Well-being page on CookNet to download your bingo card to get started!
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 Our Pet-scription for Happiness
When we leave our Cook Children's campus, our pets may be the ones who greet us when we get home. Each week, we're showcasing all the pets who make us better humans, with videos featuring photos of pets that have been submitted by you, Cook Children's employees. We will be posting these videos periodically, so if you do not see your pet right away, they will be showcased in a later video. Help us show some love to our furry friends at home. Click here for this week's video |
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Don't Miss Events in August This August we have lots of fun events happening across our system. Please view our list of events happening this week, below. To view more events coming up visit the calendar on CookNet. - Aug. 12 - 2-3 p.m. - Brain health: Integrating Wellbeing into a Fast-paced Work Environment in-person at the Hochberger Auditorium or watch here for the live stream.
- Aug. 13 – 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. - The Benefits team will also host in-person Q&A sessions Medical Center-Fort Worth in Family Support Meeting Room A.
- Aug. 14 - 11 a.m. to noon - Sandwich Generation: Not in My Bucket, in-person at the Hochberger Auditorium or watch here for the live stream.
- Aug. 21 -24 - Employees are welcome to wear their favorite college football attire such as kjerseys and accessories to celebrate the start of the season. All attire must be appropriate for family and patients.
- Employees are encouraged to submit photos of their team or individual football spirit to TeamExperience@cookchildrens.org to be featured on the Team Experience CookNet site.
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Share Your Content with UsDo you have any tips, ideas or content you would like us to know about? We want to hear from you! Please view our SharePoint site and email us at InternalCommunications@cookchildrens.org. To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website. |
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