Connect Newsletter (Feb. 22, 2024)

Employee Town Hall Video: Watch Now

Please block approximately 30 minutes to watch our first Town Hall Meeting of 2024. We filmed this meeting due to the ongoing construction at Hochberger Auditorium, but we look forward to seeing you all in person again very soon. 

Today's meeting includes: 
• Elevate Every Experience: Patients, Families, Team, Quality & Safety 
• Patient Services Employee Survey & Our Continuous Listening Strategy 
• Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Opportunities & IDE/Health Equity Training 
• Human Resources: Common Review Date and New Performance and Development System 
• Foundation Report 

To watch the video, please click here. 
 

Join Us in Honoring and Remembering During COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day 
 

Beginning this year, Texans will observe March 4 as “COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day,” under a new state law, which establishes “a uniform statewide date to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Texans who played crucial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

At Cook Children’s, we want to honor all of our physicians, nurses, health care professionals, first responders, essential workers and others who worked tirelessly to help get to the other side of the most challenging time in our system’s history. 

We want to take this day as a chance to celebrate our heroes and memorialize the almost 95,000 people in Texas who died because of COVID-19 since March 4, 2020. We know many of you will be remembering loved ones, friends and coworkers. 

Please join us for a moment of silence at noon on Monday, March 4. In Prosper, Chaplain Amanda Payne Lindsay will lead a moment of reflection at noon.  If you are at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth, please join us at noon in the Atrium for a special ceremony, led by Jennifer Hayes, our Director of Spiritual Care at Cook Children’s. Throughout the day, please visit the Atrium and place a photo of a loved one or write something in memory of a loved one. Pins will be available throughout the day in the Atrium honoring our heroes. Please stop by, pick one up and wear the pins on this day. 

We ask that you respect the privacy of any patients who died during this time and not place any photos or identify them by name. 

Outside of Fort Worth, we ask that you coordinate with each other to make the day a memorable and respectful one as we celebrate our COVID-19 heroes. 

Thank you. We hope you know how valued and appreciated all of you are. 
 

Breaking the Ice, Building Bridges: Embracing Inclusion with Theatrical Flair
 

We're launching a brand-new initiative to make our workplace an even more vibrant tapestry of amazing people, where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered. 

But before we dive into the new ID&E/Health Equity Training in mid-March, we’re offering a unique pre-training event called "Breaking Ice." It’s a dynamic, award-winning theatrical program featuring talented actors and actresses ready to bring ID&E topics to life with drama, humor, music, and poetry. It’s guaranteed to be engaging and thought provoking. 

Here's what’s coming: 
• Six live shows on March 6, 7, and 8 at the Hochberger Auditorium at Medical Center-Fort Worth  
• Livestreaming available for those who can't make it in person. 
• 45-minute performances followed by facilitated discussions to get the conversation flowing. ️ 
• Award-winning program designed to spark open and honest dialogue, connect seemingly disparate issues, and ultimately pave the way for a more understanding and inclusive workplace culture. 

Hundreds of Cook Children's leaders have already experienced "Breaking Ice" in the fall. Hear what some of them had to say about the transformative power of this experience.

This is more than a simple presentation, it's an experience. It's a chance to laugh, learn, and grow together as we build a brighter future for Cook Children's, one where everyone feels seen, heard and celebrated. This is one event you won't want to miss!  More information, event times and how to register are here. 

VIDEO: Cook Children’s Named to No. 3 Spot on Forbes' 2024 “America’s Best Large Employers” Award List, Ranked No. 1 in Health Care and Social Services

We're bursting with gratitude and a touch of pride! Cook Children's just ranked No. 3 on the Forbes 2024 America's Best Large Employers list, coming in No. 1 in the health care and social services category.

This recognition means the world to us, but it's not just about the award. It's about our amazing people who connect the dots every day for the patients and families we serve.

Our culture provides moments of magic for all. It's a place where employees feel valued, supported, and deeply connected to our promise, our patients and families, and each other.

We hope you will check out this video with our President and CEO Rick W. Merrill.

Let’s celebrate!

Retail Pharmacy Remodel

The Retail Pharmacy located on the first floor of the Medical Center-Fort Worth is being remodeled beginning Feb. 26 and the work will last approximately six weeks. Patients are being directed to the retail pharmacy located on the first floor of the Dodson Specialty Clinics.  For Emergency Department patients, the prescription pick-up area will temporarily move across from Medical Records. 

Temporary hours of operation for both retail pharmacies during this time will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. To pick up prescriptions on weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays, families will be directed to the Dodson P1 Garage and helped by a pharmacy team member. Convenient curbside pickup will also be available at 701 Sixth Ave., Fort Worth.

Patient Safety Awareness Week Activities March 10 - 16

Sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Patient Safety Awareness Week is a worldwide annual event to promote education and awareness around patient safety in the health care field. Though much work has been done to improve health care outcomes throughout the world, medical harm unfortunately remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Because of this reality, IHI continues its work to prevent harm while also recognizing the progress already made. 

To celebrate in 2024, the Center for Patient Safety (CPS) has chosen a theme that aligns well with our Promise at Cook Children’s: Safer Together. Remember: we connect, we collaborate, we elevate! To provide safe care, everyone involved must connect and collaborate around our universal goal of Zero Harm. This includes clinicians, care providers, patients, and their families. Our planned 2024 Patient Safety Awareness Week activities aim to remind us of this. You can expect a special Pediatric Grand Rounds presentation, a related Quality Quick Topic presentation, a virtual story-sharing contest, and more. We not only want the week to be educational, but as IHI reminds us, a way to celebrate the work you already do to ensure a safe experience.  

To get started, we are launching the Cook Children’s Patient Safety Awareness Week virtual contest on Monday, Feb. 26. Click HERE to navigate to the webpage on Cooknet, where more details will be shared on that day. We can’t wait to hear about your Safer Together moments of magic.

Please e-mail zeroharm@cookchildrens.org with any questions about Patient Safety Awareness Week activities.
 

Now Open: 2024 Presidents' Scholarship Applications

Since 2008, Cook Children’s has been helping to foster the collegiate pursuits of employees’ children each year through our Presidents’ Scholarship program. 

In keeping with our Promise, Cook Children's created the Presidents' Scholarship to establish a legacy for health care through academic advancement. 

The application process is now open. Read more and download application forms on the Connect Newsroom.

Employees Care Donors: Why I Give

“I enjoy giving to helping others. I think it’s great that we can choose different areas to give. Sometimes it is personal needs, equipment or kids camp. Employees Care is just another way to show we care!” 
—Ashley Wieberg, Research Administration Office 


“To see a smile on a child's face is priceless and if I can make a child's wish come true, I’ll gladly do it every time.” 
—Johnnie Davis, Food & Nutrition Department 

Employees who donate $1 or more per pay period, or a one-time donation of $15 or more are eligible to receive an Employees Care T-shirt. Employees who become hOUR kids donors (donating an hour of pay or more each pay period) are eligible to receive an Employees Care T-shirt and 40 oz. tumbler.

To make your donation, visit the Employees Care page on CookNet.

Cook Children's Secures Large NIH Grant to Enhance Pediatric Epilepsy Diagnosis

For the first time in 105 years, Cook Children’s is the recipient and primary institution for a $2.3 million research project grant by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Awarded for a study initiated and led by Christos Papadelis, Ph.D., Director of the Neurosciences Research Center at Cook Children’s, the grant will fund research using a combination of cutting-edge imaging techniques to better identify the location of seizure origin in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Read more on Checkup.

Connecting Through Traditions: Celebrations Of Our Cultural Diversity

Happy Lunar New Year from Peaks the Dragon. Did you know that 2024 is the Year of the Dragon in Chinese and certain Asian cultures? To show his excitement, Peaks stopped by Medical Center-Fort Worth to wish everyone good fortune and pass out coloring sheets for our patients, siblings and visitors. View photos here. 

For Black History Month, Cook Children's employees who attended or worked at one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs, are wearing their favorite gear. HCBUs are public and private institutions established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They were established to provide Black people with access to education during segregation. Today, there are about 100 accredited HCBUs and enrollment is open to all students. 

For the week of Feb. 20, members of Black fraternities and sororities are also wearing their favorite gear. Did you know that the pioneer Black Greek Letter Organizations are known collectively as the National Pan-Hellenic Council or the “Divine Nine?”

Figure Out Your Credit Score with Help from Fidelity

This month’s webinar from Fidelity focuses on key points for understanding your credit score. And you’ll hear about different strategies for paying down debt. Join the experts from Fidelity on Tuesday, Feb. 27, for a virtual session geared to help you take control of your finances.

Tuesday, Feb. 27, Webinar: Tackle Debt and Understand Your Credit Score (30 minutes)

Register for 9 a.m.

Register for 3 p.m.

As a benefit to Cook Children’s employees, you’ll earn 100 Virgin Pulse Points for attending the webinar. Points may be cashed in for gift cards through our wellness program.