Important Payroll Processing Deadline Changes for Dec. 30 and 31
We want to make sure all employees see this important message from Payroll Services. Please click here to view this important information regarding end of the year payroll adjustments and timecards.
Join Us for Our Annual Holiday Extravaganza
Get ready for a festive evening of fun and holiday cheer at our annual Holiday Extravaganza. Join us from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, for a night of holiday activities, including a visit with Santa from 3 to 4:45 p.m., outdoor games, live performances, and a spectacular fireworks show. Plus, we have one more surprise to light up the sky, but you will have to attend to find out more.
Please tune in to the Cook Children's Facebook page at about 6:15 p.m. for a live stream of the fireworks show and festivities.
In exchange for your photo with Santa, please bring a new, unwrapped infant toy that we can share with our patients and families. Our patients' favorite infant items include: Wubbanubs, musical and light up toys, rattles, board books, shape sorters, and teethers.
Parking: Employees should please park in your regular designated garage. For other event attendees, please park in the 901 or Eighth Avenue and Terrell Avenue garages or in the surface lots on Pulaski Street and Humboldt Street.
Jingle Mingle at Cook Children’s
The holiday season is one of cheer, with fun and food at this special time of the year. Cook Children’s is excited to celebrate the season with our tradition of Jingle Mingle employee events. This holiday celebration for employees includes a buffet of delicious food, holiday music and an opportunity to gather and connect with colleagues. Share your holiday spirit by entering the virtual or in-person Feeling Festive contest.
Jingle Mingle, our holiday thank you to employees, includes a massive buffet of delicious food, and this year, it will be served up on eco-friendly flatware, dinnerware and even catering trays.
The spread of food, along with holiday music and an opportunity to visit with colleagues, is a tradition that has continued for more than 20 years. Recently, employees have asked for a more environmentally friendly way to dine. So, in response to that feedback, all products at the Calmont and Medical Center-Fort Worth locations will be fully sustainable and compostable, said JoAnn Williams, Manager and Executive Chef.
Employees are Invited to Participate in the Disability Self-Identification Survey
On an annual basis, Cook Children’s prepares an Affirmative Action Plan (AAP). The AAP contains statistical data regarding our workforce demographics. To assist in measuring this statistical data, we invite you to complete the three (3) question survey and self-identify as either, 1) a person having a disability; 2) a person not having a disability; or 3) I do not wish to answer.
The survey will be available on Dec. 16, 2024, for 15 days. Upon completion of the survey, please select “Submit”; then a message will appear on the screen stating, “You have submitted." If you have any questions, please contact Mekka Livingston (ext. 54132).
Your participation in the survey through Workday is voluntary. All survey responses will be kept confidential and maintained in separate files in Human Resources.
Prosper: Milestone Achieved: A Successful Start for Bariatric Surgery Program
We recently marked a significant milestone for ourBariatric Surgery Programwith the successful surgery of our first patient. This is an important step forward in providing life-changing care to our patients.
"We are incredibly proud of our team's hard work and dedication in bringing this innovative program to life," said Kanika Bowen-Jallow, M.D., Medical Director, Bariatric Surgery Program. "This successful surgery is a testament to our commitment to providing the highest quality care."
We extend our gratitude to every staff member involved in this groundbreaking journey. Your exceptional care and commitment have made this possible. We look forward to continuing to provide hope and healing to our patients in the bariatrics program.
Nursing Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality Council Video Screenings: Credits Available
Please join the Cook Children’s Nursing Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality Council on Tuesday, Dec. 10 for an educational offering focused on structural racism and bias.
The event will begin with a viewing of the video documentary “Everybody’s Work” (SHIFT, 2024) followed by small-group discussions, facilitated by Tracy Vang, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Sonia Kubecka, NICU Nurse and Council Co-Chair, and Valerie Shorten, NICU Nurse and Council member.
Participants will identify the influence of structural racism in the workplace and its negative effect on emotional safety, health, and patient/family outcomes. See the flier under Downloads on the top right side of the page for additional information.
There will be two video screening sessions on Dec. 10: from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
CREDITS: This video screening will offer CNE credits for nursing.
Many of us look forward to spending time with loved ones, indulging in treats, and exchanging gifts. However, for many people, this time of year can be a source of stress, sadness, and loneliness.
When you feel overwhelmed or full of despair, please know that we have resources in place that are just a phone call away. They are available to you to access or use to help coworkers and loved ones who may be struggling.
Get ready: Secure Chat will be live starting on Tuesday, Dec. 10. As Epic’s secure messaging platform, Secure Chat lives in the Electronic Medical Record and allows staff to message each other about patients.
This gives you a secure method to directly send non-urgent/non-emergent messages about patients and attach Protected Health Information. As such, Secure Chat is NOT a replacement for current state urgent/emergent workflows.
With this go-live, Secure Chat will be available in Epic on your desktop and in mobile apps Haiku and Canto. Rover devices will be updated with Secure Chat in April 2025.
As always, clinical judgment and situational conditions should dictate the appropriate method of communication. To help you know what communication method you should use and when to use it, please review this Secure Chat etiquette guide.
Please take a moment to review this tip sheet for an overview and watch this ULearn for a guided preview of Secure Chat.
TRAINING: Epic training is also providing hands-on demonstrations in various Cook Children’s departments and locations:
• Wednesday, Dec. 4 - PeriOp, South Tower, Main, and Prosper • Thursday, Dec. 5 – Prosper Night Shift • Friday, Dec. 6 – Emergency Department, Dodson Specialty Building, and Prosper/Fort Worth Night Shift
More training:
Sign up for virtual sessions on Tuesday, Dec. 3 and Thursday, Dec. 5 through ULearn here.
You can stop by Camelot Court from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 6.
Be sure to look for an Epic table at Jingle Mingle on Friday, Dec. 6 at Medical Center-Fort Worth.
Radiothon Phone Bank Volunteers Needed on Dec. 5 & 6
We are excited about our upcoming Cook Children’s Radiothon broadcasting live on New Country 96.3 and 99.5 The Wolf on Dec. 5 and 6. This is a two-day event filled with heart-warming stories from Cook Children’s patient families and staff encouraging loyal listeners to support Cook Children’s. This year, the phone bank will be back in the Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium.
If you would like to volunteer your time to answer phones and take donations, we would love for you to participate. Click here for available shifts.
A Reminder About Special Visitors to Cook Children's
We are excited that we will once again be hosting notable athletes, celebrities and others who generously give of their time to visit Cook Children's patients during the holidays. Please remember that these visits are for our patients.
The Child Life team works hard to organize these events so that every patient in the hospital has the opportunity to participate. As a Cook Children's employee, it is our responsibility to represent Cook Children's in a professional manner. None of us should approach the visitors, nor should we ask for autographs, photos, memorabilia or contact information.
Cook Children's values the relationships that we have created with these special visitors, and we are proud of the quality experiences we are able to provide for our patients and their families. Your cooperation in making this year successful is greatly appreciated.
Generosity at Work: Cook Children's Health Foundation
Baking spirits bright
This holiday season, enjoy delicious treats while helping our patients.
Cook Children’s has partnered with Leaves Bakery & Books to raise funds and awareness for kids fighting cancer in our communities. Makenzie, a Cook Children's patient, helped create the sweetest treat for your holiday season.
Purchase a “Mighty Makenzie’s Snickermallow” cookie to support research, clinical trials and treatments for patients at Cook Children’s Hematology and Oncology Center, where Makenzie is treated for Langerhans cell histiocytosis (a rare blood cancer).
Early bird pricing is about to fly away. Join us at The Blast, our annual 5k walk benefiting patients in our Hematology and Oncology Center on March 29, 2025. Together, we’ll encourage the fighters, celebrate the survivors and honor the butterflies who will never be forgotten.
You are invited to the next Significant Safety Event Discussion. During these presentations, we will discuss a recent safety event that occurred at Cook Children’s and share education that came from the event. The same presentation with discussion will occur at two times to accommodate employees working various shifts. For information about credit/contact hours, click here.
There are two ways to join in:
In-person at Medical Center – Fort Worth on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 11-11:30 a.m. and 3-3:30 p.m., in the Hochberger Auditorium. Click HERE to pre-register in ULearn. (Choose the “On-site” option.)
o There will be free food for the first 100 people at each on-site presentation.
o Pre-registration isn’t mandatory for the in-person event, but if you register ahead of time then it’ll appear on your calendar.
Live webcast: For those who work at locations other than Medical Center-Fort Worth tune in for a live webcast. To receive the link, click HERE to pre-register in ULearn. (Choose the “Virtual” option.)
If you are participating in the Practicing Excellence Pilot, these links will not work in ULearn so please search for “Significant Safety Event Discussion” to find the event in ULearn.
Generosity at Work: Collecting Donations of Ethnic Hair Products
The Black and African American Family Advisory Council is accepting donations of new ethnic hair care products for our patients and families who are in our care.
Donations of travel sized items are preferred, but the Council will happily accept all sizes of products.
The following ethnic hair care items are requested: wide-tooth combs and brushes, shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner or oil.
Donations may be dropped off from Dec. 5 to 25 at any of the information desks in the Medical Center-Fort Worth and Dodson Specialty Building.
Our People
Prosper: DAISY Award Shines on Haley Nelson, R.N.
We are so happy to announce that Haley Nelson, R.N., a remarkable med-surg nurse, has been honored with Prosper's first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. This international and prestigious award recognizes nurses who provide exceptional, compassionate care.
Haley was nominated by a grateful patient and family who were deeply moved by her dedication and empathy. The nomination letter said Haley got to know the patient’s personality as well as her illness, included her in the care plan and kept the parent informed and answered all her questions.
Teamwork: Epic IS Principal Trainers Serve at Tarrant County Food Bank
Epic Information Services Principal Trainers volunteered at the Tarrant Area Food Bank on Nov. 13, packing boxes, sorting food, and serving alongside other local organizations. The team wanted to make an impact for the children, families, and communities served by Cook Children's by helping to provide meals for those who need it most.
Shanna Combs, M.D.: From Ballet Dancer to Physician
In episode 5 of Untold: The Stories of Cook Children’s, we hear fromShanna Combs, M.D., a physician whose unique path from ballet dancer to pediatric gynecologist is as inspiring as it is unexpected. Tune in to hear about her early days in the world of dance, the pivotal moment that led her to pursue medicine, and her experiences training and practicing in the field.
You’ll also discover why Dr. Combs is so dedicated to caring for young patients and how she balances her medical career with her passion for teaching and mentoring.
Important Payroll Processing Deadline Changes for Dec. 30 and 31
Employees are Invited to Participate in the Disability Self-Identification Survey
A Reminder About Special Visitors to Cook Children's
