Connect Newsletter (Aug. 20, 2026)

Overnight AT&T Fiber Maintenance at Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth for Aug. 21

AT&T will conduct fiber maintenance serving Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth from midnight to 4 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21.

During the maintenance window, a limited number of communications services may experience temporary interruptions. The work is being performed overnight to minimize disruption to hospital operations.

Services That May Be Impacted

• Inbound fax services
• Most inbound external phone calls (excluding designated critical numbers)
• Cellular calling in basements, stairwells and elevators
  • Team members who need to make calls in these areas should use Wi-Fi Calling.
• Department radios used by:
  • Facilities
  • Security
  • Operating Room
  • Emergency Department
  • Parking
• SIM Lab services

Services That Will Remain Available

• Internal five-digit dialing
• Outbound phone calls
• Outbound faxing to the public

A campuswide pop-up notification will be sent approximately 10 minutes before maintenance begins as a reminder.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Service Desk at ext. 5-7999.

Building Psychological Safety Together: A Message from Our Leaders

Psychological safety shapes how we work together every day. It is key to collaboration, innovation, learning and exceptional patient care. Now that over 10,000 employees have completed the Psychological Safety 2026 System Competency in ULearn, we hope you will be more aware of interactions within our teams and speak up when it may be lacking.

As we continue this important journey, we thought it would be valuable to hear perspectives from some of our executive leaders. Matthew Carroll, M.D., Chief Quality Officer, shares:

“Psychological safety is the foundation of patient safety. When every member of the care team feels safe to ask questions, raise concerns, report mistakes, and respectfully challenge the status quo without fear, we create an environment where learning replaces silence, collaboration replaces hierarchy, and risks are identified before they become harm," he said. "A culture where every voice is valued is a culture where every patient is safer, every team is stronger, and excellence in care can thrive.”

Please click here for more information and a link to watch a Leader Message on Psychological Safety to hear additional leaders from across our organization share what psychological safety means to them and why it matters.

Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and included in our benefits are various maternity and parental related support.

On the right is a list of Lactation Rooms available for employees to utilize across the system.

Cook Children’s also has a virtual lactation program available for you. This program allows moms to schedule a virtual consultation with a lactation consultant in real time. Connect with a private and secure video from your home laptop, tablet or mobile device.

After your video visit, the summary and care instructions will be available to you via Cook Children’s secure patient portal website. Please know there is a cost associated with this program and insurance will not cover this cost. To see reimbursement options, visit the Maternity Booklet on SharePoint.

If you are pregnant or preparing for motherhood, we have an Early Steps Maternity Program with Quantum Health available for you. This program provides extra support and resources focusing on you and your baby.

For more information about maternity benefits, including parental leave policies, visit Maternity on the Occupational Health SharePoint page.

Well-being Month: Caring for You

August is Well-Being Month, and there’s still plenty of time to participate! Take a moment to focus on your well-being and check out these upcoming opportunities:

Beat the Heat Treat

Wednesday, Aug. 26
1:30–3:30 p.m. at the 750 Building
2-4 p.m. at the Calmont Office Building
Funds provided for all off-site and fully remote teams. Learn more here.

Grand Rounds with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation
Join us Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 8–9 a.m. as CMO Dr. Stef Simmons from the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation will speak on the national movement for the healthcare workforce’s professional wellbeing.

There’s Still Time to Register for a Self-Care Class!
Choose from two upcoming opportunities to pause, recharge and invest in your well-being:

• Gratitude is a Gift – In person at the Prosper Campus on Thursday, Aug. 27
• Vitamin BE: Using Mindfulness and Responding to the Present Moment – Virtual on Friday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m.–noon

Well-bingo
Find a work buddy or invite your team to join the fun with individual or team Well-Bingo during Well-being Month! Complete a variety of well-being activities, explore new ways to support your personal well-being, and earn a chance to win a gift card.

Don’t let Well-Being Month pass you by! Visit the Well-Being Month page to learn more about these opportunities and other resources available to support your well-being.

Share Your Content with Us

Do 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.

Check our CookNet calendar for more system-wide events and to find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.