We want to provide a quick update for you regarding this year's Care Share Bonus. As a reminder, our goal is to maintain the performance from FY 2022, and we are currently just short of meeting that goal.
Cook Children’s Health Care System has once again been recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, earning five rankings in the U.S. News and World Report's Best Children’s Hospitals list for 2023-2024!
These Cook Children’s specialties were named among the top programs:
Pediatric Cancer - #30 in the nation Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology - #31 in the nation Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery - #36 in the nation Pediatric Orthopedics - #40 in the nation Pediatric Pulmonology and Lung Surgery - #48 in the nation
Congratulations to each of these deserving programs! We are grateful for our dedicated physicians, nurses and staff members who deliver the best patient care every day.
We have some great news to share with you! As part of the Cook Children's Modern Workplace project, we are introducing Microsoft 365 to make your work life even better. Microsoft 365 is a set of tools that will help you connect and collaborate with your colleagues in a modern and efficient way. Visit the site here.
With Microsoft 365, you have access to new collaboration tools that saves you time and makes it easier to work together securely, no matter where you are. You are able to easily access and share data and files, which means you can work on projects with your team more smoothly.
This initiative brings in the latest Microsoft programs for email, calendar management, document storage, instant messaging, and video conferencing. These programs are up to date to make your work life much easier and more productive.
The site provides regular updates and important information about the project. You will also find helpful resources like Quick Start Guides, training materials, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to assist you along the way. We will continue to add new resources, so make sure to check back often!
We believe Microsoft 365 will greatly enhance our communication and collaboration capabilities. We hope you are as thrilled as we are about this exciting development. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready for a more connected and collaborative work experience.
Our series on the Cook Children's values continues. Today we are spotlighting how our amazing nurses are able to live our values every day in their special role by highlighting the value of Safety.
At 18 years old, Nguyen Ha, BSN, RN, began volunteering in the Pharmacy at Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth. After spending time interacting with nurses while delivering medications, Nguyen immediately knew nursing was his calling. Nguyen cares for children on the medical/surgical floor with conditions ranging from RSV to flu. He says the most rewarding part of his job is seeing the children improve and go home. “I work to the best of my ability for every single patient and love the people I work with,” Nguyen said.
If anyone is having an especially hard day, Nguyen says the team steps in wherever they can from admitting patients to helping with medications. “Everyone who is involved with the patient care, including the Environmental Services staff who clean the room, plays a part in getting the children healthier,” Nguyen said.
As Nguyen works to earn a pediatric nurse practitioner degree, his goal is to stay at the hospital: “I think I’ll spend the rest of my life at Cook Children’s."
Currently, the internal career site is not available to employees until Workday access is rolled out to everyone on July 1. If you are an internal candidate, please do not try to apply through the external Workday interface or the Careers page on cookchildrens.org until then. We will provide more information after July 1. Thank you!
The one-stop shop Workday site is now live on CookNet!
Cook Children’s Kronos cost centers announcement.
Key Supply Chain dates you need to know.
How Workday elevates the employee experience, and the opportunity to get to know LaKami Bryant, VP, Revenue Cycle and Enterprise Applications.
Important: Verify information in Workday prior to first paychecks.
Freeze dates.
An archive section to help you get caught up on anything you may have missed.
Prosper: Our Experts Remind Adults to Double Check the Backseat for Children
Every year, children in Texas are prone to vehicular heatstroke. So far this year, eight children have died of vehicular heatstroke across the US, including a 4-year-old boy in Houston.
This week, Cook Children's and the Prosper Fire Department teamed up to remind parents about the dangers of hot cars. First responders showed a live demonstration at Cook Children's Medical Center-Prosper to simulate a 911 call and emergency response for a child left in a hot car.
After the demonstration, Emergency Department Physician Meena Guirguis, M.D., and Prosper Fire Chief Stuart Blasingame spoke to the news media about heatstroke and what to do if you see a child alone in a vehicle.
Reminder: Take Action by Friday, June 30 on Occupational Health Requirement for Tuberculosis (TB)
As we prepare to move to the Workday human resources platform and the temporary absence of a performance evaluation process to monitor Occupational Health annual requirements, we have put in place a system to help ensure that employees are being compliant with these requirements.
We have added a Tuberculosis (TB) Questionnaire to everyone’s annual ULearn required courses. Everyone must submit a new form via ULearn during June 2023 and again in June 2024. If you answer YES to any of the questions regarding symptoms or risks of tuberculosis, you will need to emailOcchealth@cookchildrens.orgfor an evaluation.
All patient-facing staff are required to complete respiratory mask fit testing every 12 months. Please schedule this through theOccupational Health pageon CookNet in a timely manner. (Navigate to the Quick Links on the right side of the page and find the document “Respiratory Protection & Mask Fitting.”You must be on the network to view it).
Mask fittings will now take place at Occupational Health, 901 7th St. Suite 4200, Fort Worth. If your department is outside of Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth, including employees at Cook Children’s Medical Center-Prosper, a mobile mask-fitting team will continue to travel to your location for completion each year.
Employee completion of these requirements will be monitored through ULearn and supervisors will be notified if their staff are not compliant. Human Resources and Occupational Health will obtain a list of non-compliant staff at the end of June and those individuals will be contacted.
Jill Koss Earns Distinguished Service Award
Jill Koss, MS, Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), Director of Family Support Services, recently accepted the 2023 Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). Jill gave an award acceptance speech in front of colleagues at the ACLP Child Life Conference, in recognition of her efforts to help Cook Children’s patients just be normal kids in the hospital.
Please read more about Jill and her incredible accomplishments during her career at Cook Children’s, which started back in 1991. Many congratulations on this honor Jill! We are proud of you.
Taking Care of Your Joints: Hinge Health
If back, joint, or muscle issues are holding you back from everyday activities, Hinge Health can help. The programs are available at no additional cost to you, and Hinge Health makes it simple to address pain without drugs or surgery.
Sign up here for Hinge Health’s back and joint pain programs. You’ll receive a kit by mail. Once you’re enrolled, Hinge Health will create a personalized care plan just for you. From there, your personal health coach or physical therapist will guide you through exercise therapy in the Hinge Health app. Plus, it takes only 45 minutes per week, so it easily fits into your schedule.
Hinge Health also has a new Women’s Pelvic Health Program for pregnancy and postpartum, to improve bladder control, and more.
Give Hinge Health a call at (855) 902-2777 with any questions. Participants must be 18+ and enrolled in a Meritain medical plan through Cook Children’s Health Care System.
Benefit Spotlight: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Coaching and Work-Life Services
Life presents us with challenges at work and at home on a daily basis. You do not have to face these challenges alone. Cook Children’s employees and their spouses have access to a digitally-enabled Employee Assistance Program (EAP), designed to help reduce stress and keep you healthy.
EAP benefits are available to all employees and their families at NO COST to you. The program offers confidential advice, support, and skills training to develop your resilience, stress management, and mental fitness. You can access services by calling the toll-free number 800-395-1616 and speaking with a care team member, or accessing the website at uprisehealth.com/members. You can also download the Uprise Health app on Google Play or the Apple App Store. Create an account with your email and the access code: cook.
You’re invited to pick up a piece of delicious fruit at a giveaway event hosted by the Healthy Me Wellness Program. Choose an orange, banana or apple. We know that eating healthy is important for both your physical and mental health. Fresh fruit is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can help you stay energized and focused throughout the day.
Stop the Bleed Class: You Are the Help Until Help Arrives
Cook Children's employees are encouraged to sign up for a Stop the Bleed class on July 30 or August 31 to learn the basics of bleeding control.
No matter how fast professional emergency responders arrive, bystanders will always be first on the scene. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, so it is important to quickly stop the blood loss. People nearest to someone with life threatening injuries are best positioned to provide the first care. Stop the Bleed is a grassroots national awareness campaign and encourages bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. The training includes techniques such as the use of direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquet application.
The class will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Pavilion Classroom 3 at the Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth.
It's nearly time! Open enrollment for employee benefits will begin on August 7 and run through August 25. This will be your opportunity to learn about all the benefits offered by Cook Children's, review your current benefits, and make changes, if needed. Please keep an eye out for detailed communications regarding employee benefits options in the coming weeks.
New Command Center Open to Coordinate Emergency Response
We are really excited to show off the newly-constructed dedicated command center space. The donor-funded space will be used as the central hub of operations in any sort of emergency event or disaster response, such as a bad weather event or an influx of patients into the Emergency Department.
This is a dedicated space that is operational 24-7, and it can be activated any time, day or night. The Command Center will serve as a central location to manage our response as a hospital and as a health care system.
Here is a day brightener that'll get your toes tapping! Sir Earl Toon from Kool & The Gang came by Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth to sing and dance with us for Make Music Day. Here’s a video of an adorable patient, who busted a move during “Get Down on It” – a throwback to 1981! Check it out here.
Retirement Announcement for Trang Le, Radiology Registered Nurse
Trang Le, Radiology Registered Nurse, Radiology-MRI, is retiring from the system on Friday, June 30 after 27 years of service to Cook Children’s. We encourage you to take a moment to send Trang a farewell note or a congratulatory eCard by June 29.
Retirement Announcement for Brenda Glenn, Admission Specialist
Brenda Glenn, Admission Specialist, Admitting/Registration, is retiring from the system on Friday, June 30 after 34 years of service to Cook Children’s. We encourage you to take a moment to send Brenda a farewell note or a congratulatory eCard by June 29.
Cook Children’s Health Care System has once again been recognized as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, earning five rankings in the U.S. News and World Report's Best Children’s Hospitals list for 2023-2024! 
Our series on the Cook Children's values continues. Today we are spotlighting how our amazing nurses are able to live our values every day in their special role by highlighting the value of Safety.
Every year, children in Texas are prone to vehicular heatstroke. So far this year, eight children have died of vehicular heatstroke across the US, including a 4-year-old boy in Houston.
Jill Koss Earns Distinguished Service Award
Here is a day brightener that'll get your toes tapping! Sir Earl Toon from Kool & The Gang came by Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth to sing and dance with us for Make Music Day. Here’s a video of an adorable patient, who busted a move during “Get Down on It” – a throwback to 1981! 
Trang Le, Radiology Registered Nurse, Radiology-MRI, is retiring from the system on Friday, June 30 after 27 years of service to Cook Children’s. We encourage you to take a moment to send Trang a farewell note or a congratulatory 
Brenda Glenn, Admission Specialist, Admitting/Registration, is retiring from the system on Friday, June 30 after 34 years of service to Cook Children’s. We encourage you to take a moment to send Brenda a farewell note or a congratulatory eCard by June 29.