We are BACK to SCHOOL!!! Can you believe that we have moved right through summer? Before you know it, it will be all things pumpkin spice, the approach of fall, and Halloween! We have several things coming our way in the hospital, we moved back to the 4th floor this week and added telemetry to our scope of service, the NICU is opening on Sept. 2 and we are moving into our trauma journey. It takes a village to provide high quality, seamless care and your leadership team is so proud of you all. Each one of you has an impact at your point of contact with our patients and families, these touchpoints occur across the healthcare system and YOU make a difference. Don’t forget to sign up for your benefits, it is located in Workday.
Thank you for all you do!
Your Prosper Leadership Team
Congratulations Above & Beyond Award Winner, Walter Gibson!
It's our pleasure to announce that Walter Gibson, Chaplain from our Spiritual Care team, is the latest recipient of the Above & Beyond award! Nominated for his unwavering commitment to our patients and staff, Walter embodies the Cook Children's core values in every interaction. His remarkable story is a testament to the power of compassion and dedication.
"I would like to nominate Walter Gibson, our part-time chaplain, for the Above and Beyond award. Walter is only scheduled to work on Fridays (as he has another full time job) but there have been several times he’s been called in last minute on other days. He drops everything and comes to work with a smile on his face and a great attitude. Anyone who has met Walter loves his upbeat, positive approach to everything he does. He just has a way of making you feel happy around him.
"The very first morning he was in Prosper there was a patient death. Walter was so kind and caring with the family and staff, as if he’d been here doing this for years. He provided comfort and compassion that is unparalleled in the world we live in today. Everywhere he goes people light up when they see Walter. He doesn’t just believe in Cook Children’s core values, he lives them every single day."
Well-being Month & Open Enrollment
August is Well-being Month at Cook Children’s. It’s important to first take care of ourselves so we in turn can care for others. When we take time for personal and professional well-being it’s easier to find the energy and motivation to show up as our best selves each day. The best way to learn about everything happening in August for Well-being Month is to visit theWell-being Month Page on the Team Experience CookNet site. Links to register for classes, more details on activities and Well-bingo can be found here.
Open Enrollment for your 2025-2026 benefits has begun and will continue untilAug. 22. This is your opportunity to review and select the benefits that best meet your needs. To help you make informed decisions, we've compiled important resources and updates:
Each summer, our Junior Volunteers give back in a big way as they donate their time and energy serving our community. Last week, we had several of our Prosper Junior Volunteers spend their morning at Ronald McDonald House Dallas! These volunteers prepared and served breakfast to families with smiling faces.
The Cook Children’s Junior Volunteer Program provides a very rewarding experience, personal growth, and an opportunity to give back to the community. This program offers high school students who are interested in working with patients and families, and/or have a career interest in the medical or a related field, the chance to volunteer during the summer. Junior volunteers help with a variety of different projects, including escorting and wayfinding, entertaining patients and siblings through play and reading activities, and assisting with community events. If you are reading this, please email the code word “baseball” to Jane.Wilchak@cookchildrens for a chance to win a prize!
College Football Dress-Up Days
From Aug. 21 to 24, employees are welcome to wear their favorite college football attire, such as jerseys and accessories, to celebrate the start of the season. All attire must be dress-code appropriate.
Employees are encouraged to submit photos of their team or individual football spirit to teamexperience@cookchildrens.org to be featured on the Team Experience CookNet site.
Beat the Heat Treat: Aug. 20 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Join us for a Beat the Heat Treat event as part of Well-Being Month!Take a break, enjoy a cool treat, and spend a few moments connecting with your team.
Where: Behind the MOB in the physicians parking lot.
We want you to know how important you are to us and hope you take part in this event and other well-being month activities. Please share your photos from the event with the system teamexperience@cookchildrens.org.
Early Extended Hours Set at My First Rodeo Gift Shop
To better accommodate our night shift team, My First Rodeo Gift Shop is now opening early at 7 a.m. every third Wednesday. We hope this gives you a convenient time to shop!
Upcoming dates:
Sept. 17
Oct. 15
Nov. 19
Dec. 17
Bringing Smiles Through Stories
Thank you to the team at St. Martin de Porres Catholic School for their generous donation of books! Their thoughtful gift will fill our book carts and help provide comfort and escape for our patients at Cook Children's - Prosper.
Mask Fit Test: Dates in September
Occupational Health will be returning to Prosper for two days in September so that employees can complete their mask fit test.
When: Sept. 8 and 9.
Facial hair: If you have facial hair growth of more than ONE day or any facial hair that crosses the seal of the N95, the fit testing staff cannot provide your fit test. Please do not ask them to try to provide the fit test since that is in violation of federal OSHA regulations.
Our preference is for our Cook Children’s employees to be fitted by our Occupational Health Team. If you miss your appointment and are due prior to our next visit, please obtain a CareNow fit test authorization from the admin offices or housing supervisor.
Fit testing will be in the MOB specialty clinic building 3rd floor behind the administrative offices. Please be on time; do not schedule during your work hours.
If you have any questions, please contact the Occupation Health department.
And the winner is…
Congratulations to Sandy Wheeler and Fatimah Alsafar for spotting the code word in the last Prosper newsletter! They won ice cream from Andy’s Frozen Custard. Keep an eye out for future chances to win!
