Cook Children’s Looks to Expand Medical Campus to Keep Up with Unprecedented Growth in Fort Worth
Did you know that Fort Worth is now the 12th largest city in the United States? The population was at 978,468 in, and as of July 2023, and with an estimated 59 people moving here every day, officials expect Fort Worth to hit the one million mark this year. The unprecedented growth in Fort Worth and surrounding areas have created a challenge for Cook Children’s and our Promise “to improve the well-being of every child in our care and communities.”
Cook Children’s is currently evaluating several options for an expansion of its Fort Worth campus, though no final plans have been made. The health care system hopes to gain the community’s support in re-zoning efforts for nearly six acres near Pennsylvania and Eighth Avenues. Construction is also expected to take place on the medical center’s existing campus.
“We’re looking at what we may be able to move from our current campus to the other side of Eighth Avenue,” said Spencer Seals, Vice President of Construction and Real Estate. “The goal is to make more room on our current campus for critical care services, which we direly need. While we don’t know exactly what that looks like right now, we’re evaluating our options to see what best serves the community, just as we have for the past 106 years.”
Fort Worth Magazine published an article on the expansion on Sept. 19. The article quotes Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System: "The needs of our community are growing, and so are we. We’re committed to being there for every child, which is why we're exploring opportunities to further expand our campus to better serve the children and families across Fort Worth and the other counties we serve.”
Quality Team Helps Connect the Dots for U.S. News Rankings
Strategies for process improvement are changing the approach Cook Children’s takes to the U.S. News & World Report rankings of the nation’s best children’s hospitals.
As we anticipate the announcement of the 2024-2025 rankings on Oct. 8, we're sharing recent steps we’ve taken at Cook Children’s to improve collaboration and communication across departments.
What’s the goal? To provide a framework for completing the annual U.S. News applications, promoting our top specialties when the rankings are announced, and enhancing the care we provide to patients and their families. Read more in an article in the Connect Newsroom.
Updates from Occupational Health
Flu vaccines: Flu vaccines are underway at locations across the System. Click here for drop-in Flu Fair locations and times or check with your departments for vaccination events. Did you get your flu shot at a location outside of Cook Children’s, such as your primary care physician or a pharmacy? Our new Enterprise Health portal allows you to upload your proof of vaccine documentation directly, instead of sending an email to Occupational Health. Navigate to “flu consent or exemption,” and click on the “already received vaccine” button.
Fit Tests: Cook Children’s employees who have patient or family facing contact must have a yearly respirator fit test appointment. There are times when a Cook employee’s job position changes, and the employee no longer has this patient or family facing contact. If you received a notice in your Enterprise Health portal that a mask fit is required, and you no longer have patient or family contact, please have your supervisor send an email to occhealth@cookchildrens.org. Include your name and employee ID number. Occupational Health will note your Enterprise record that a yearly mask fitting is not required for your new position.
Get Ready for Halloween Hoopla
Mark your calendars! Halloween Hoopla, a must-see live on-site Halloween costume and skit event is scheduled to take place from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31 outside Medical Center-Fort Worth. This event will be live streamed so that all employees are able to tune in and see the creative costumes and mini-plays by colleagues. Registration is open now! All participants must complete a registration form and follow the participant guidelines.
There are also virtual contest opportunities for all employees across the system to participate in the Hoopla fun! And employees can wear costumes to work Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, provided they are child friendly.
Alice Phillips, M.D., MPH, LSSYB, Medical Director for Ambulatory Quality and Safety, has provided some key discussion points to review when talking to patient families about why now is the best time to get a flu vaccine.
After receiving the vaccine, it takes two weeks to develop antibodies and have active protection from the flu. Waiting can delay that protection.
Children less than 9 years of age, who have never received a flu shot, need two doses. There needs to be a four-week window between vaccines so it can take some time to finish the vaccine series and for your child to be fully protected.
Your time is valuable and returning to your physician, clinic or another site can be challenging in our busy lives. The best time to get a flu shot is when you have the option to get it. If you plan on your child receiving, NOW is the time.
Year-end job evaluations are right around the corner, and some parts of the process have changed. For example … we’re using a new 3-point rating system for performance reviews. Also, no more anniversary-of-hire review dates. Changes like these are the reason we’ve created a brief newsletter to keep our workforce up-to-speed on Performance & Development (P&D) highlights. This resource, called P&D Digest, brings timely articles and links to your Cook Children’s inbox every other week.
Read the latest P&D Digest in the Connect Newsroom to learn more about performance reviews, as well as the upcoming debut of the Career Growth Plan tool in Workday. You’ll also find links to register for in-person and online training that covers the broad scope of our new P&D components.
PHOTOS: Striking Out Sepsis in Prosper
Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper held its first annual celebration of World Sepsis Day to serve as a reminder to staff to remain vigilant against sepsis. With lots of energy, conversation and connection, employees filled the room to “Strike Out Sepsis.”
The baseball-themed event displayed the collaboration of teams across the Medical Center - Prosper to identify and prevent sepsis cases, and actions to take when a patient is confirmed with the condition. Alongside information and education, employees enjoyed games, activities and of course, peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Go here to read more and view photos.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept. 15 to Oct. 15
Join Latinos Engaging, Advancing, Developing & Supporting Leadership (L.E.A.D.S.+) in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! To learn more about the background of this celebration and find community events and additional resources, please click here.
The group also has spearheaded several events for employees, including a Sept. 26 virtual and in-person talk by guest speaker Annette Landeros, President of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and an Oct. 10 panel webinar featuring stories of the Hispanic experience. There are also special lunch menu offerings at Camelot Court and Over the Moon Cafe. Gather for Happy Hour Networking events on Sept. 19 in Fort Worth and Oct. 3 in Prosper.
Let’s come together to honor and recognize the vibrant heritage and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community.
Significant Safety Event Discussion
Join us for a Quality presentation byAnne Kirk, M.D., at 11 a.m. and at 3 p.m. on Sept. 25. Free food will be provided at each presentation! You will receive 0.5 hours of continuing education ethics credit for attending.
ICYMI: More Opportunities for Inclusion, Diversity & Health Equity Training
Hundreds of employees across the system have participated in Inclusion, Diversity & Health Equity online training in the spring. We took a pause for the summer, but the workshops are back this fall. You can sign up now for this 90-munite virtual course. Continuing education credits are available!
These workshops equip us with the knowledge and skills to:
• Recognize implicit bias and its effects on ourselves and others. • Understand how implicit bias and social determinants of health contribute to disparities in health care. • Develop strategies to mitigate implicit bias. • Identify tactics to promote equity for both patients and colleagues.
Think. Prepare. Act.: September is Preparedness Month. Make a plan with your household members. It could protect your life and the lives of those around you. When disaster strikes, city services may be cut off and local disaster relief and government responders may not be able to reach you. You need to have plans and supplies in place in case you need to make it on your own, at least for a limited time, no matter where you are.
Have a plan in case you are at work when disaster strikes. This can include having alternative child/adult care, transportation, and sleep arrangements, as well as a communication plan with your loved ones. Click on this link to fill in some information that will develop a pocket-sized emergency plan. It only takes a few minutes.
Be informed: During a disaster, it can be easy to become distracted by all the chaos going on around you. It is highly recommended that you check with your local jurisdiction for registration information to their Emergency Notification System so that you are aware of any emergencies or disasters that may arise in your area. For instructions on how to register for the Cook Children’s Alert System, our emergency mass notification system for employees, click this link on CookNet. In addition, there are other methods to staying informed, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All Hazards Weather Radio, Outdoor Warning System. Click here for a full list of resources.
Well-being Month: Winners, Photos & Continued Support for Your Well-being
Thank you to everyone who took part in Well-being Month in August. We held a variety of classes, learned about self-care and connection, enjoyed a treat with colleagues plus had fun with Well-Bingo.
Generosity: Collecting Items for Homeless People in our Community
It is time for our annual Homeless Initiative Program drive for those experiencing homelessness. We are collecting items from Sept. 27 to Oct. 25. Acceptable items must be new, and include: baby wipes, bath towels, hand towels, twin sheets and washcloths. Your generosity makes a difference! Click here for a downloadable flyer with drop off locations.
Respiratory Outpatient Clinic (ROC) is Now Open
The Respiratory Outpatient Clinic (ROC) is now open. This clinic, open each year from September to March, provides free services for patients with RSV/bronchiolitis who are referred by physicians and Advance Practice Providers from the Emergency Department, hospitalists, Urgent Care, and this year, the Fostering Health clinic.
Patients can receive care for up to seven days following their referral.Respiratory therapists from the Emergency Department provide patient assessment, education, and nasal suctioning education utilizing a Nasakleen device. Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. each day, in the pre-anesthesia area at Medical Center-Fort Worth.
Learn the Basics of Investing with Fidelity
What’s your ideal investment approach? Join the experts from Fidelity at a webinar on Thursday, Sept. 26, to help you identify your best path. The webinar will explain key concepts for investing -- asset allocation, diversification and more – to help beginners get started. Take the First Step to Investing:
As a benefit to Cook Children’s employees, you’ll earn 100 Personify Health Points (formerly Virgin Pulse) for attending. Points may be cashed in for gift cards through our wellness program.
What is a Peak Performer? A Peak Performer is a Cook Children's individual or team that goes above and beyond in the area of quality, safety and service for patients, families and each other! You can submit a nomination for an individual or team using these forms on CookNet.
Retirement Announcement for Philip S. Fuller, M.D.
Philip S. Fuller, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care Center, is retiring from the system in late September after 33 years of service to Cook Children’s. Thank you, Dr. Fuller, for your many years of dedication to Cook Children's Promise.
Dr. Fuller is a pediatrician who worked in primary care, the emergency department and urgent care over the course of his 33-year career with us here at Cook Children’s. His dedication to the art of medicine is evident in the way he cares for his patients. The wisdom he has imparted to countless physicians, APPs, and clinical staff cannot be measured. The loss of his presence here at Cook Children’s will be greatly felt. He embraces the Promise of Cook Children’s with his everyday actions and has left a lasting impression on those of us following in his footsteps.
Please join us in thanking Dr. Fuller for his tenure here at Cook Children’s. We wish him happiness in this next chapter of life.
Please join us as we celebrate Dr. Fuller’s retirement on from 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 27 at the Rosedale Office Building, Room 1102A. We encourage you to take a moment to send Dr. Fuller a farewell note or a congratulatory eCard by Sept. 26.
Mark your calendars! Halloween Hoopla, a must-see live on-site Halloween costume and skit event is scheduled to take place from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31 outside Medical Center-Fort Worth. This event will be live streamed so that all employees are able to tune in and see the creative costumes and mini-plays by colleagues. Registration is open now! All participants must complete a registration form and follow the participant guidelines. 
Talking with Patient Families about Flu Vaccines
Significant Safety Event Discussion
ICYMI: More Opportunities for Inclusion, Diversity & Health Equity Training 
Take Action for National Preparedness Month
