Connect Newsletter (May 11, 2023)

Making Magical Moments at Work and Beyond

It's time! As a reminder, all employees (up through director) will receive a Magical Moment Bonus of up to $3,000 on May 12. Click here for the details. 

We hope you take this as an opportunity to make your own Moments of Magic. We would love to hear from you. Share with us what you plan to do with the bonus or send us pictures.  Email us at InternalCommunications@cookchildrens.org.

Thank you for your hard work and commitment. We appreciate all you do for our Cook Children's patient families and one another. We are grateful for you!
 

Have You Checked Out Our New CookNet? 

After months of working on the new CookNet, which had a soft launch last week, we're eager to hear your feedback. The process of revamping our intranet site into a more modern, user-friendly tool involved hard work and thoughtful input by several departments in collaboration with our outside partners.  For owners of legacy CookNet pages, please be sure to go in and transfer your information to the new site. Here's information on how to do that.

Meanwhile, join us in a huge standing ovation for the team members named here for their diligence in bringing this project to fruition! If there is another name or two who should be on this list, please let us know!

Special thanks to: Matthew Albers, Luis Barrera, Tina Baugh, Kindra Blackburn, Chris Blakely, Brenda Bland, Karen Blundell, John Breese, Jessamy Brown, Jeff Calaway, Darrien Carter, Charity Darnell, Steve Eckert, Rod Ellebracht, Daphne Gazdagh, Sara Garza, M.D., Amos Gikanga, Ami Gresham, Henry Havens, James Hendrix, Detavious Hill, Olu Ijaseun, Jennifer Kimberling, Rhiannon McDonnell, Travis Morrison, Amanda Mrstik, Kennedy Norman, Kirk Pinto, M.D., Pamela Rivers, Mark Rose, Chris Ryan, Bizu Shita, Cheryl Stewart, Lamesa Velazquez, Jared Wilson, and Aaron Wishon.

President and CEO Rick Merrill: Raising A Joyful Noise

Long before he became a health care executive, Rick W. Merrill was a West Texas boy with a guitar and a love for music. Today, he’s the president and CEO of one of the largest pediatric health care systems in the U.S., but music still holds a special place in his heart. 

On this extraordinary episode of the Raising Joy podcast, Mr. Merrill opens up about his love for songwriting, parenting children through challenges, and leading an organization with empathy and compassion. He also shares a song he wrote, which was inspired by Cook Children’s Joy Campaign titled, “Hope is Just a Breath Away.” 
 

Celebrating Nurses Week 2023

Drumroll please! Congratulations to nurses from across the System who were named Great 10 Nurses at a special ceremony on Wednesday. These nurses represent excellence in the art and science of nursing and all the winners have shown themselves to be role models, leaders, community servants, compassionate caregivers, and significant contributors to the nursing profession.

Recipients are: Lisa Bashore, Kristen Cook, KaLinda Evans, Sarah "Alli" Herring, Sherry Kuykendall, Emily Percy, Laura Portillo, Ross Richardson, Katelyn Terry, and Amelia Vinson. You can watch the ceremony here. (You must be on the network to view.)

In addition, we asked Cook Children's nurses to tell us all about why they became a nurse. We heard from several nurses, who explained how nursing is more than a job, it is a calling. Read their personal stories.

Burnout Survey Update

We wanted to update you on the continued burnout survey work being done across the System. Your feedback from the survey continues to guide us as we connect the dots between the important job that you do and the fulfilling work life we want each of you to experience each day. Please read the latest information on initiatives related to addressing burnout and stress.

Building Connections: Employee Appreciation Activities

We hope that you are enjoying all the activities planned this month to say thank you for everything you do for our patient families and one another. Are you ready to eat your fill at a Cookout? Don't forget – the Cookout at Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth is Friday, May 12, weather permitting. Have you checked out some of the recipes that colleagues are submitting for our Employee Cookbook? There is still time to provide a recipe that is special to you or your family. And don't forget to get tickets to Cook Children's Night at the Ballpark on May 19. Reserve your tickets today to cheer on the Texas Rangers as they take on the Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Field in Arlington. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Pictured: Cook Children's Home Health employees wearing various Cook Children's shirts in celebration of Employee Appreciation Month.

ISHAPED: Building a Better Bedside Report Together

It has taken almost three years to design, pilot, and fully implement a new process aimed at reducing errors during the bedside handoff – when important information about a patient is shared with team members coming on the next shift. Its name, ISHAPED, is an acronym standing for key elements in a standardized handoff process. The format guides a collaborative conversation aimed to ensure comprehensive sharing of information between the care team including nurses, the patients and families/caregivers. 

Read how front-line nurses used the Cook Children's values of Imagination, Safety, and Collaboration to launch a new system for patient care.

Webinar: Managing Behaviors That Challenge Adults

Tantrums, hitting, and biting are very difficult behaviors to navigate as a parent or caregiver. Join experts from Bright Horizons at 11 a.m. on May 17 to learn both preventive and in-the-moment strategies to provide little ones with positive guidance through these challenging times.

ICYMI: Workday Wednesday Newsletter

As we get closer to the summer launch of the new Workday platform, we are sending a special Workday Wednesday newsletter with the latest information you need to know to be up to speed. Every employee will be impacted when Cook Children’s implements the Workday platform this summer. Workday will change the way we view our paychecks, create expense reports, access tax documents, and much more. 

Now is the time to register for self-service training on ULearn. Here are more details about how to sign up.

Interviews Must Be Approved by Public Relations

If you are asked to do an interview about a pediatric health topic, please contact Cook Children’s Public Relations department before responding. Requests that pertain to articles, videos, podcasts, etc., must be vetted and approved by PR. By vetting interview requests, the Public Relations department can help protect the company's reputation, ensure that our messages are communicated effectively, and save time and effort. Send questions to social@cookchildrens.org.

One Minute of Silence at Noon on Friday, May 12

In honor of the victims of the shootings at Allen Premium Outlets mall, hospitals, and community members will observe a moment of silence at noon on Friday, May 12. 

The gesture will be an opportunity for North Texans to reflect on the loss of life over the past year from gun violence. Eight people were killed and seven injured during the shooting in Allen last Saturday, including three children. 

“The one-minute time frame on May 12 will be an opportunity to create awareness of the increase in gun violence in our community,” said Stephen Love, President/CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC).  “We would like everyone to consider what they can do personally to reduce this trend. What can we do to stop this public health crisis?’”

Congratulations Second Quarter Peak Performers  

As we celebrate all the winners for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 (January to March), please take a moment to read the nominations for each of them​. You can see what set them apart and why their peers, supervisors, and leaders may have felt they deserved this recognition. Congratulations to all our Peak Performers. You help us fulfill our Promise each and every day. (You must be on the network to access.)

Be Prepared: Stop the Bleed Training

Did you know that major bleeding can lead to death in a matter of minutes? Knowledgeable bystanders can implement quick bleeding control techniques before emergency help arrives. As part of National EMS Week, our colleagues at MedStar are offering a free Hands Only CPR, Stop the Bleed and Narcan Administration class from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, at their headquarters at 2900 Alta Mere Drive, Fort Worth. MedStar’s ambulance bus, or AMBUS, will be on display, and facility tours will be available as well. Register today to be more than a bystander – be a citizen responder!