Cook Children’s is a member of the Children’s Hospital Association consortium. Members of the consortium can purchase voluntary life and disability insurance plans through The Hartford. Because the consortium purchased a higher volume of insurance than originally anticipated, all participating hospitals received a volume discount on their premiums, which resulted in a “refund” to Cook Children’s from The Hartford. 

To put it even more plainly: We got a refund from our insurance broker, and we will be passing on the savings to employees enrolled in certain life and disability insurance plans. 

What this means: 

• For Bi-weekly Employees: You will not be charged for the supplemental long term disability and/or spouse life on your Nov. 22, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20 bi-weekly paychecks. 
• For Physicians: You will not be charged for supplemental life on your Nov. 30 paycheck. 

Your coverage is still in effect, you simply won’t have to pay for it on these paycheck(s). 

If you have questions, please contact AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org. 

Open enrollment for the 2024-2025 benefits year runs through Aug. 23, giving you the chance to update your benefit elections, change your participation in medical plans and more.

The array of options reflects Cook Children’s priority in supporting the health and well-being of our employees and families. Elections and/or changes will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2024.

The 2024-2025 Benefits Guide, found on CookNet, highlights several changes for the coming year. We streamlined our selection of medical plans to two -- a health reimbursement account (HRA) and a health savings account (HSA). We also consolidated our dental plans into a single PPO option. We have three salary bands now instead of four, and the ranges of the bands have changed.

Rising costs for health care resulted in higher premiums for our medical plans and vision plan. Know that Cook Children’s remains committed to finding the best offerings to keep our benefits affordable and advantageous in meeting your needs. For instance, we added Oshi Health, a virtual digestive health clinic. We also increased the number of counseling sessions you can receive through our Employee Assistance Program. That’s 10 counseling appointments per issue, per year, at no cost to you.

Our team in Human Resources encourages everyone to carefully read the benefits guide to make the most informed decisions possible. The guide addresses topics such as eligibility, medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, Teladoc, Fidelity retirement plans, leave, disability, life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), CareATC clinics, Occupational Health and additional resources for health and wellness.

PTO Sellback Open Enrollment will be a separate event. If you would like to sell back PTO hours in calendar year 2025, you will now be required to make this election through a PTO Sellback Open Enrollment in Workday. (PTO Sellback will no longer be included in the Benefits Open Enrollment.) The PTO Sellback Open Enrollment will be open Aug. 5 – Dec. 31, 2024. Any hours elected during this time can be sold in 2025 (once the hours have been accrued in 2025).

You can view your current benefits in Workday under Benefits and Pay. During the Open Enrollment period that extends until Aug. 23, you may modify your current benefit elections for the next year. For instance, you could add or remove dependents, or update your beneficiary information.  

Visit Workday to enroll or make changes, or call the Benefits Center at 833-938-4154, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday

Want to learn more?

Benefits vendors will be on hand at two Benefits Fairs to answer your questions. The events are Thursday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. -4 p.m. at the Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium and Friday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Medical Center-Prosper, Classrooms 1621/1622.

You’re also invited to attend one of our in-person Open Enrollment meetings:

·         Thursday, Aug. 8, 2 p.m. in the Family Support Meeting Center

·         Tuesday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m. in the Family Support Meeting Center

·         Thursday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. in the PAV Hochberger Auditorium

·         Tuesday, Aug. 20, 11 a.m. in the PAV Hochberger Auditorium

A recording of the presentation will also be available on CookNet.

It’s time to talk about benefit changes, look at your benefit needs and get ready to enroll. As we approach a new benefit year, our priority remains offering you rich, competitive benefit choices while enhancing your overall health and managing our collective health plan costs.

For more information and full plan details, see our 2024–2025 Benefits Guide, coming to your home soon.

Benefits Fair: Visit with our benefit vendors and learn more about the benefits available to you.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9, at Medical Center-Prosper, Classrooms 1621/1622

Attend an in-person Open Enrollment meeting to go over the changes for the upcoming plan year.

A recording of the presentation will also be available on CookNet.

1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5 (Family Support Meeting Center)

2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8 (Family Support Meeting Center)

10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13 (Family Support Meeting Center)

9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15 (PAV Hochberger Auditorium)

11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20 (PAV Hochberger Auditorium)

To get access to NAVAN please email Travel Services. You will receive an email to activate an account.

If you have had access to TripEasy, our previous travel platform, you should have already received an email invitation to activate your NAVAN account. Please do so; if you did not get the invitation, please email Travel Services. TripEasy will be deactivated on April 19. Changes or cancelations of any active flight purchases and bookings in TripEasy must be made by emailing Travel Services. TripEasy fees will apply.

Here are more details on how NAVAN makes the travel booking process easy:

Booking business trips is a breeze.

• Mobile access on the NAVAN app.
• Access to global 24/7 365 live travel agents to assist with flight cancelations or delays.
• $25 trip fee, no matter how many versions.
• Earn NAVAN Rewards to save on hotels.
• Save your loyalty statuses for airlines etc. in NAVAN and earn points when you travel.

Book personal travel, too.

Enjoy the same benefits for your personal trips booked through NAVAN, including free access to discounted rates, personalized trip suggestions, expert travel agents, and more.

Get training on NAVAN.

In-person sessions: On April 17 through April 19, NAVAN representatives will be in Fort Worth to offer training sessions and to answer your questions. If you are a frequent traveler and book own travel or arrange travel for individuals, teams, or departments, we encourage you to attend.   

Each session is only 30 minutes long and limited to 10-12 people. Click here reserve your place. Here are the times:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 17: Rosedale Office Building, Conference Room 3402 or Room 3403 
• 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 18: Rosedale Office Building, Conference Room 3403      
• 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 19: Dodson Specialty Building, Conference Room 3B                  

Online training: If you can’t attend a training session, click here for a quick tour of the NAVAN platform.

Questions? 

Travel Services site on CookNet.

Phone: 682-249-2635

Email: Angela.Stanley@cookchildrens.org

Register for Tuesday, March 19 at 10 a.m.  or at 3 p.m. In this webinar, a licensed Medicare advisor from Medicare Choice Group will discuss:     

• Who is eligible for Medicare?
• The A, B, C, and Ds for Medicare plan options 
• The difference between Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplement Insurance 
• How to choose the best Medicare plans that meet your needs and situation 

Registration Instructions: Please complete all required fields to correctly register for the webinar. After clicking “Register” you will see the confirmation screen with the webinar details. You will receive an email from Zoom shortly after registering with the webinar details and links to join the webinar on the event date. If after 24 hours you do not receive an email, please email kaylee.dutter@medicarechoicegroup.com for assistance.

Workplace benefits at Cook Children’s give employees access to Occupational Health and CareATC for help with your health concerns. What’s the difference between the two sites? 

Here’s the easiest way to distinguish them: Occupational Health treats work-related injuries, while CareATC treats primary care medical needs including illnesses and chronic conditions. 

Occupational Health is located at 901 7th Ave., Fort Worth, next to the Terrell Avenue Garage. The Occupational Health team promotes the health and safety of employees in the Cook Children’s workplace through injury care, immunization programs and surveillance for chemical or radiation hazards. Additional services include: 

• Drug screens and other processing for new hires 
• Tuberculosis testing 
• Respiratory protection (mask fittings) 
• Leave of absence and return-to-work processing 
• Worker’s compensation management 
• Medications for business travel 

“Healthy workers are productive workers,” said Karen Mahoney, Manager of Occupational Health. “If they’re unhealthy and they can’t work, then that’s a detriment to the whole organization. Our goal is to keep everybody at work and keep them healthy.” 

You don’t need an appointment to be treated at Occupational Health for minor work-related injuries. Karen pointed out the most common injuries: 1) slips, trips and falls 2) overexertion from heavy lifting, and 3) bites, kicks or other injuries from patient behavioral violence. 

Employees also come to Occupational Health for monitoring, such as annual hearing tests for those in noisy areas; equipment for proper ergonomic setup at work stations; and accommodations for the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Bridget Page, Director of Occupational Health Employee Wellness and Employee Safety, said Occupational Health does evaluations to make sure workers are physically fit for the demands of their role – whether they lift heavy boxes in materials management, or work a desk job. 

Occupational Health provides quick and convenient care for work-related injuries/illness so that employees can get back to their work area. “You’re still on the clock, you come see us, we typically have you in and out in about 30 minutes,” Bridget said. “If you needed medication, we can get medicines ordered to the retail pharmacy.” 

Services that Occupational Health is unable to provide include emergency care for chest pain, breathing problems or major injuries; treatment for illnesses such as sinus or urinary tract infections; management of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol; prenatal and maternity care or gynecology exams; birth control or narcotics prescriptions. 

Occupational Health and CareATC keep separate records but work collaboratively when employees need referrals from one site to the other. “Earaches, sore throats and sinus infections are acute care things that CareATC takes care of,” she said. “CareATC can also be your medical home to help manage your chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.” 

How to Access Occupational Health and CareATC

Any visit to CareATC is 100% covered by Cook Children’s when enrolled in the HRA or EPO plans. For those enrolled in the HSA1 and HSA2 plans, the cost for a diagnostic visit is only $10. Employees not enrolled in a Cook Children’s medical plan have access to acute medical care at CareATC for $10 per visit. 

For help with anxiety, depression, emotional trauma or other mental health concerns, two options are available. Employees can make an appointment through CareATC with one of two onsite therapists by going to www.careatc.com/patients , or by calling 1-800-993-8244. The second option is to call the Employee Assistance Program for up to six free visits. The EAP number is 1-800-395-1606. 

The CareATC Fort Worth-Henderson Health & Wellness Center is located at 500 S. Henderson St. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Appointments can be made on the CareATC mobile app, the Patient Portal at www.careatc.com/patients, or by calling 1-800-993-8244. 

Cook Children’s Occupational Health is located at 901 7th Avenue, Suite 4200. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.-5p.m. Contact the department at 682-885-3837 (or ext. 53837) or email occhealth@cookchildrens.org. 

Cook Children’s Infusion Center employees celebrated World Adoption Day on Nov. 9 by wearing special t-shirts and joining others across the globe in drawing a smiley face on their hands and sharing photos.

World Adoption Day is a day to “lift up all voices in the adoption community, to share your story, to reflect on your adoption journey, and to connect with those touched by adoption," according to WorldAdoptionDay.org.

Did You Know?

Cook Children’s Health Care System policy includes an Adoption Benefit to support and encourage families who seek adoption of children. You can be reimbursed for many adoption-related expenses, including adoption agency and legal fees. In addition, employees are eligible for up to two weeks of leave to complete the adoption, including for travel or court dates.

To put it even more plainly: We got a refund from our life insurance broker, and we will be passing on the savings to employees enrolled in the life insurance plans. 

What this means: 

• For Bi-weekly Employees: You will not be charged for the supplemental life, spouse life, or child life plans on your Sept. 29 bi-weekly paycheck. 
• For Physicians: You will not be charged for supplemental life, spouse life, or child life plans on your Oct. 31 paycheck. 

Your coverage is still in effect, you simply won’t have to pay for it on these paycheck(s). 

If you have questions, please contact AskBenefits@cookchildrens.org. 

Hello Cook Children’s Family,

We want you to know that your voices truly matter, and your feedback guides us in staying true to our culture and values.

Thank you to everyone who joined our recent Benefit Listening Sessions. Your feedback and ideas have been essential in shaping how we serve you and adapt our policies and benefits to match your needs and priorities.

Starting on Sept. 24, 2023, we're enhancing our bereavement policy by extending the leave from 24 working hours (as outlined in Policy No. HR120) to up to 40 hours. This change underscores our commitment to supporting you during challenging personal times while respecting your professional responsibilities.

This year, we’ve made a point to increase listening opportunities with employees, including our leaders and physicians. Your insights from these opportunities are driving these actions, and we will continue to make adjustments as we learn more from you.

While we can put some changes in place quickly, others need careful study and consideration. Just know that every choice we make is aimed at making your work environment better and more supportive.

As part of these efforts, we've recently moved away from the PACE performance reviews that have been a part of Cook Children’s for over 30 years. A new performance evaluation system is in the works, shaped by feedback from across the system.

We've also been hard at work to provide you with the very best benefits possible. Here's what's coming in 2023-2024:

• For the second year in a row, no increases for medical, dental, and vision plans. Your contributions to these premium plans remain unaffected as we absorb cost adjustments.
• Virgin Pulse well-being program: Engage in health activities and earn up to $210 annually.
• Medicare Choice Group: Receive unbiased guidance as you approach Medicare eligibility for you or a family member.
• The number of dental cleanings and exams covered at 100% each year in both dental plans will increase from two to four annually. 
• Lower out-of-pocket maximums: Limits for individual and family coverage in our HSA1 and HRA Plans are reducing.

 Every decision we make is focused on creating a supportive and comprehensive work environment.

To each and every member of our Cook Children’s family, we extend our deepest gratitude. As we put these enhancements into action based on your invaluable input, we look forward to all that we can achieve as we work together.

With appreciation,

Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO, Cook Children’s

Workplace benefits at Cook Children’s give employees access to Occupational Health and CareATC for help with your health concerns. What’s the difference between the two sites? 

Here’s the easiest way to distinguish them: Occupational Health treats work-related injuries, while CareATC treats primary care medical needs including illnesses and chronic conditions. 

Occupational Health is located at 901 7th Ave., next to the Terrell Avenue Garage. The Occupational Health team promotes the health and safety of employees in the Cook Children’s workplace through injury care, immunization programs and surveillance for chemical or radiation hazards. Additional services include: 

• Drug screens and other processing for new hires 
• Tuberculosis testing 
• Respiratory protection (mask fittings) 
• Leave of absence and return-to-work processing 
• Worker’s compensation management 
• Medications for business travel 

“Healthy workers are productive workers,” said Karen Mahoney, Manager of Occupational Health. “If they’re unhealthy and they can’t work, then that’s a detriment to the whole organization. Our goal is to keep everybody at work and keep them healthy.” 

You don’t need an appointment to be treated at Occupational Health for minor work-related injuries. Karen pointed out the most common injuries: 1) slips, trips and falls 2) overexertion from heavy lifting, and 3) bites, kicks or other injuries from patient behavioral violence. 

Employees also come to Occupational Health for monitoring, such as annual hearing tests for those in noisy areas; equipment for proper ergonomic setup at work stations; and accommodations for the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Bridget Page, Director of Occupational Health Employee Wellness and Employee Safety, said Occupational Health does evaluations to make sure workers are physically fit for the demands of their role – whether they lift heavy boxes in materials management, or work a desk job. 

Occupational Health provides quick and convenient care so that employees can get back to the Medical Center. “You’re still on the clock, you come see us, we have you in and out in about 30 minutes,” Bridget said. “If you needed medication, we can get medicines ordered to the retail pharmacy.” 

Services that Occupational Health is unable to provide include emergency care for chest pain, breathing problems or major injuries; treatment for illnesses such as sinus or urinary tract infections; management of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol; prenatal and maternity care or gynecology exams; birth control or narcotics prescriptions. 

Occupational Health and CareATC keep separate records but work collaboratively when employees need referrals from one site to the other. “Earaches, sore throats and sinus infections are acute care things that CareATC takes care of,” she said. “CareATC can also be your medical home to help manage your chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.” 

Any visit to CareATC is 100% covered by Cook Children’s when enrolled in the HRA or EPO plans. For those enrolled in the HSA1 and HSA2 plans, the cost for a diagnostic visit is only $10. Employees not enrolled in a Cook Children’s medical plan have access to acute medical care at CareATC for $10 per visit. 

For help with anxiety, depression, emotional trauma or other mental health concerns, two options are available. Employees can make an appointment through CareATC with one of two onsite therapists by going to www.careatc.com/patients , or by calling 1-800-993-8244. The second option is to call the Employee Assistance Program for up to six free visits. The EAP number is 1-800-395-1606. 

The CareATC Fort Worth-Henderson Health & Wellness Center is located at 500 S. Henderson St. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Appointments can be made on the CareATC mobile app, the Patient Portal at www.careatc.com/patients, or by calling 1-800-993-8244. 

Cook Children’s Occupational Health is located at 901 7th Avenue, Suite 4200. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.-5p.m. Contact the department at 682-885-3837 (or ext. 53837) or email occhealth@cookchildrens.org. 

As we embark on the open enrollment period for your 2023-2024 employee benefits, we would like to share some key information to guide you through the process with ease and confidence.

Enrollment Period: From now until Aug. 25, you have the opportunity to make your selections for the upcoming year's benefits via our user-friendly platform, Workday.

Accessing Your Benefits Guide:  At your home, employees will receive a newsletter and booklet with information about the 2023-2024 open enrollment. Please Note: The QR code and benefits website in those publications are not working.  To learn more about your benefits, please review the following PDFs:

• For a concise overview of essential information, please refer to the 2023-2024 Open Enrollment Newsletter by clicking here.
• For a more detailed exploration of your benefits, the 2023-2024 Open Enrollment Booklet is available here.
• If you belong to our esteemed Professional Staff (M.D., D.O., D.D.S., D.M.D.), the 2023-2024 Benefits information can be accessed here.

Your questions answered

Employees are invited to stop by to speak one-on-one with a member of the Benefits Team to ask questions related to benefits and/or open enrollment. The benefits team will be available the following dates/times: 

1-2:30 p.m., Aug. 21, Medical Center-Fort Worth, Atrium 
9:30-11 a.m., Aug. 22, Medical Center-Fort Worth, Atrium 
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Aug. 23, Calmont CE356 
8:30-10 a.m. and 3-4 p.m., Aug. 24, Medical Center-Fort Worth, Atrium 
 

Highlights for 2023-2024 include:

• No premium increases. All employee contributions, including those for medical, dental and vision, will remain unchanged for the second year in a row. While several of our benefit plans require cost increases, Cook Children’s has decided to absorb those increases on your behalf. This is one way we can show our gratitude for all you do, day in and day out, as you remain focused on our Promise of taking care of children and our communities. 
• Enrollment is now in Workday. Please review all of your and your dependents’ contact information for accuracy. If you change your medical or dental plan, be sure to re-select any dependents you wish to cover. 
• The Virgin Pulse well-being program helps you achieve your health goals with fun and engaging experiences and challenges. You can earn up to $210 per year for participating in activities that can be redeemed for gift cards, fitness accessories, and more. 
• Medicare Choice Group offers unbiased guidance and practical decision support to those nearing Medicare eligibility, assisting you with Medicare plan research and selection.
• The number of dental cleanings and exams covered at 100% each year in both dental plans will increase from two to four annually. 
• The out-of-pocket maximum is decreasing to $4,000 for individual coverage and $8,000 for family coverage in our HSA1 Plan and to $5,000 for individual coverage and $10,000 for family coverage in our HRA Plan. 

Thank you for your continued dedication to our Promise, and for being an integral part of the Cook Children's family. 

Maven offers:

• On-demand virtual appointments with Maven OB-GYNs, lactation consultants, doulas, mental health specialists, nutritionists, career coaches and more.
• Your own Care Advocate who can help you find care, navigate your health benefits, find the right in-network providers and more.
• Expert resources including virtual classes, helpful articles and community forums.

Maven is offered at no cost to all employees and their covered family members who are enrolled in a Cook Children’s health plan. To activate a membership, download the Maven clinic app or visit here. Enrollment in Maven is confidential.

Join Maven for a webinar on “Protecting your relationship from the stress of trying to conceive” from 11 to 11:45 a.m. April 26. Webinar Registration - Zoom

Every employee at Cook Children’s will be affected by the switch this summer from Lawson to Workday. Wonder how you’ll learn the new system? Training.

Curriculum and the approach to training will vary according to each employee’s role and responsibilities. Core users – primarily in Finance, Human Resources and Supply Chain – will receive more in-depth training than lighter users.

In our upcoming communications, we want to answer your questions so that everyone knows what to expect when Workday launches. Here are a few important Q&As:

What is Workday? Workday is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning software that specializes in applications for financial management (FIN), supply chain (SCM), and human capital management (HCM). It brings together the components we currently manage in Lawson and several other systems into one universal view. Whatever you do now in Lawson, you’ll be doing on Workday.

Workday will NOT replace Kronos. You will continue to clock in and out, submit PTO, approve timecards, and manage schedules in Kronos. Workday will also not replace Strata.  Strata will continue to be the system in which we do our budgeting and department-level financial reporting, variance analysis, etc.

What’s changing? The way you view your paycheck and manage your personal data, for instance. Workday tools can be used on any mobile device with an internet connection. Benefits, purchase orders, inventory tracking, expense reporting, recruitment and job postings … all will look different with Workday. 

Tell me more about training. Rhiannon McDonnell, Director of Clinical Informatics & IT Training at Cook Children’s, encourages all employees to make time for the training beginning in May.

“There is so much more that Workday can do! It’s aesthetically better, intuitive, mobile and takes us off of paper for processes like reimbursements,” Rhiannon said.

Training for the average Workday user will be offered on Zoom at a variety of times in May and June. Employee Self-Service lasts one hour; Manager Self-Service lasts two hours. Courses will include demonstrations of the most common processes, such as looking at your paycheck and changing your address.

Meanwhile, staff in HR, Finance and Supply Chain can expect a deeper dive. Instructor-led classes, e-learnings and labs will be provided for role-specific training.

Like with any new system, there will be a learning curve at first. That is why it is important to complete training as it will help ensure a smooth transition. Be on the lookout for a schedule posted on ULearn on April 10.

The team is currently creating a library of step-by-step tip sheets and instructional videos, to be posted in coming months on CookNet. After implementation “there will be at-the-elbow support and drop-in labs for questions,” Rhiannon said. “We will have your back as Cook Children’s makes this transition to this great product!”

Thank you to the teams in Supply Chain, Finance, HR, and IT for working to meet the milestones for this exciting change coming to Cook Children’s.

Whether you’re a parent of a young child or caring for an aging adult, balancing work and caring for a family member can be a challenge when the unexpected happens and you still need to get to work.

Holidays, early school release days and early morning meetings – all can cause a breakdown in your normal child or adult care arrangements. As an employee benefit, Cook Children’s offers Bright Horizons Care Advantage, a service that provides reliable back-up child and elder care when you need it.

Cook Children’s subsidizes this program to ensure it is affordable to you. Bright Horizons offers up to 10 uses of services per year for a child or adult or elder relative. You can take your loved one to one of its centers for just $15 per child or $25 per family per day.

In-home care (for people who are well and mildly-ill) is $6 per hour. Bright Horizons makes all the arrangements with a care provider you can trust, so you can get back to work.

Here is how to register:

1. Go to backup.brighthorizons.com.

2. Click on the ‘Sign Up’ link to get started.
3. Enter username: cookcares and password: care4you to create your own account.
4. You can book back-up care at the last minute or up to 30 days in advance.

Call 877-242-2737 for 24-hour assistance.

Bright Horizons offers additional services available to you to purchase.

Get free access to a comprehensive database of self-pay services: nannies and sitters for evening and weekend care; senior care resources, planning and referrals; pet sitters; household help; test prep and tutoring; and more. You can review background checks of caregivers at no cost, as well as optional advanced checks at discounted rates.

For regular child care, you can receive preferred enrollment access at many Bright Horizons centers, including a registration fee credit. Get tuition discounts and waived registration fees at additional child care centers nationwide.

Cook Children’s partners with Kids' Place, a child development center managed by the professional staff of Bright Horizons, to provide onsite childcare for Cook Children’s employees. It is located just across the street from Cook Children's Medical Center, at 901 Southland Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104.

To learn more or schedule a visit or speak with the center, please call 817-566-7806.

If you are already enrolled and need to contact the center directly, please call 817-335-2755.

Webinar: Tackle Debt and Understand Your Credit Score 

·         9 a.m. session register here

·         3 p.m. session register here

As an employee benefit, you’ll earn 100 Vitality Points for attending the webinar. Points may be cashed in for gift cards through our Vitality wellness program.

If you’re struggling with fatigue, the providers at CareATC are here to help.

Shital Chavda, M.D. says exhaustion is common for people who work in health care systems. She says the stress and “go-go-go mentality” in hospital settings contribute to physical and mental fatigue in employees.

“They’re doing their job and when they go home, the stress can follow them while trying to spend time with their family, play with their kids, make time to prepare a healthy dinner,” Dr. Chavda said. “And, depending on how it is handled, it can contribute to the development of chronic medical problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.”  

Cook Children’s contracts with CareATC to provide enhanced access to primary care services at multiple locations for no charge or a reduced cost. Dr. Chavda and Cassandra Muff, FNP-BC provide care at the CareATC Health & Wellness Center at 500 S. Henderson St., less than a mile from our medical center. Both providers specialize in seeing Cook Children’s employees and their covered family members ages 18 and up. In addition to the Health Center on Henderson, members also have access to four other CareATC locations across the DFW metroplex.

Any visit is 100% covered by Cook Children’s when enrolled in the HRA or EPO plans. For those enrolled in the HSA1 and HSA2 plans, the cost for a diagnostic visit is only $10. Employees not enrolled in a Cook Children’s medical plan have access to acute medical care for $10 per visit.

Fatigue can lead to headaches, inattention, lack of focus, weight gain and other health challenges for health care workers, Cassandra said. “We are here to make sure each individual feels great and is able to not only perform their best at work, but benefit from good health in their personal and family life.”

Fatigue can also be a symptom of anxiety, depression or unresolved conflicts. Alicia Hooper, LCSW offers therapy at the CareATC Fort Worth-Henderson Health & Wellness Center as part of the Employee Assistance Program benefits at Cook Children’s. Employees have access to six free counseling appointments per issue they are facing.

If fatigue has impacted your ability to care for yourself or others, Alicia invites you to come for a visit. “We can’t pour from an empty cup,” she points out. Set up a session with Alicia by calling the EAP main phone number, 1-800-395-1616.

Appointments with Dr. Chavda or nurse practitioner Cassandra at the Fort Worth-Henderson Health & Wellness Center can be made on the CareATC mobile app, the Patient Portal at www.careatc.com/patients, or over the phone by calling 1-800-993-8244. 

What steps can we take to feel less fatigued?

·         Talk to your doctor. Persistent fatigue can lead to or indicate diabetes, heart disease, anemia, thyroid disease, sleep apnea or other conditions that require medical attention. 

·         Be sure to mention if fatigue increased after starting a new prescription. Blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, diuretics and other medications can contribute to fatigue. 

·         If needed, talk to a counselor about any mental health concerns, which can cause or worsen fatigue. Prioritize your mental well-being.

·         Talk to your primary care provider about increasing your physical activity. Exercise can help boost your energy levels and reduce fatigue.

·         Watch what you eat. Highly refined carbs, cookies, juice etc. can cause sluggishness when the “sugar high” wears off.

·         Reduce caffeine. It’s a short-term fix for low energy.

·         Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

For videos, locations and more information about Cook Children’s partnership with CareATC, go to Cook Children's (careatc.com).

CareATC can be your home for acute medical services, preventative screenings and management of chronic conditions – with same-day appointments available – for no more than $10 per visit.

Cook Children’s contracts with CareATC as an employee benefit offering affordable primary care, convenient locations and prompt scheduling. There are five locations in the North Texas area, including one near Cook Children’s Medical Center.

“CareATC makes it as easy as possible. There’s less wait time, and you can get in a lot quicker,” said Shital Chavda, M.D., who works out of the clinic at 500 S. Henderson St., less than a mile from our hospital. “It takes a lot of that burden out, making it more accessible.’

Dr. Chavda and Cassandra Muff, FNP-BC, are the providers at the Fort Worth-Henderson location. Since opening in December 2020, the partnership has served more than 2,500 Cook Children’s employees and their covered family members (spouses and adult dependents). Many individuals come to CareATC for screenings, sick visits, diabetes and cholesterol management, and other needs in-person at the clinic or virtually. 

Any visit is 100% covered by Cook Children’s if you are enrolled in the HRA or EPO plans. For those enrolled in the HSA1 and HSA2 plans, the cost for a diagnostic visit is only $10. Employees not enrolled in a Cook Children’s medical plan are still allowed to use these benefits for $10 per visit.

Appointments are required and can be made on the CareATC mobile app, the Patient Portal at www.careatc.com/patients, or by calling 1-800-993-8244. Established patients may schedule virtual visits by computer or phone. Same-day appointments are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To get started, activate your CareATC patient account by visiting www.careatc.com/activate or downloading the CareATC app and following the prompts. It's important that each eligible member aged 18 and older creates his or her own account. For more information, visit careatc.com/cc.

The staff at Cook Children’s are urged to come in for checkups and care to prevent minor irritations from becoming bigger issues.

“If you tweaked your knee running six months ago and have put it off and don’t come to see us until you can’t walk right and perform normal daily activities, now you’re looking at a potential surgical problem,” Cassandra said. “Same thing with abdominal pain. If we don’t evaluate that and find the cause and the fix quickly, then it can escalate to an ER visit or a hospitalization. It’s much easier to take the time to figure things out in the beginning than to deal with the consequences of ignoring it.”

Mental Health Services

Employees at Cook Children’s can also take advantage of free counseling sessions available through the Employee Assistance Program. Benefits include six sessions per incident, per calendar year for employees, their adult dependents and minor children. 

Alicia Hooper, LCSW, offices out of the CareATC Fort Worth-Henderson location and is available to work with adults, couples and adolescents ages 12 and older.

Schedule an appointment with Alicia by calling the EAP main phone number, 1-800-395-1616. If this is your first time contacting the EAP, you will create an employee profile before speaking with a case manager. The wait time for an appointment varies, but you can usually be seen within two or three weeks.

“Pick up the phone and call. They may be able to get you in today,” Alicia said. She wants to help her clients acquire healthy coping techniques to deal with stress, depression, grief or other mental health challenges. Regular appointments are 50-minute sessions. 

Alicia’s in-person hours mimic the CareATC clinic’s hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She urges everyone to utilize this Cook Children’s benefit. Don’t allow an emotional struggle to fester and potentially escalate. 

“If you are struggling, if you have had thoughts that are alarming to you -- thoughts that you've never had before or thoughts that you've been living with for a really long time -- if you are feeling anxious and unsupported,” make the call, Alicia said. “Recognize that we can't get help if we continue to just go along like everything's OK.”

By Jean Yaeger

In a 2021 survey by the American Psychological Association, 75% of essential workers, including health care personnel, said they needed more emotional support than they received during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We experience burnout and we experience compassion fatigue. And then we have the complications of having a workforce that has been severely hampered by COVID and by other challenges as the workforce changes,” said Alicia Hooper, a licensed clinical social worker at the CareATC site at 500 S. Henderson St., near Cook Children’s Medical Center.

In an effort to prioritize mental health, Cook Children’s provides each employee with up to six free counseling sessions per year, per issue (such as depression or anxiety) per year. Alicia offers counseling for employees and their dependents ages 12 and older, as well as couples therapy.

She urges Cook Children’s staff members to utilize this benefit to recharge their mood and learn some healthy coping techniques. It's not a sign of weakness to seek out therapy that supports mental well-being, she pointed out. Alicia uses a collaborative approach that catalogs the strengths of her clients and focuses on specific solutions to the struggles they face.  

“It's not about me telling you what to do,” she said. “It's asking the right question that helps you remember the processes in your life that have been helpful, and identifying those processes that haven't been helpful. From there we create a framework for moving forward with intention." 

What sorts of issues come up in 50-minute therapy sessions? Every topic from school shootings and mass violence to the tension and fear of COVID-19 disruptions. Other topics might include home and work relationships, loss, motivation, and life transitions. Alicia is a listener who wants to help her clients unpack how their mood is impacting their personal and professional lives and their sleep and eating routines. She finds it gratifying to serve health care professionals.

“I really enjoy working with first responders, with individuals who have been on the frontline. I like the idea of being the helper for the helpers,” Alicia said. “I would say that I'm a fairly hopeful person. I believe that people can change and that every day people have the ability to make new choices that reflect their values and their needs in intentional, mindful ways.”

Even though cost and location can often be barriers to appropriate mental health care, Cook Children’s has made this benefit accessible for our employees by providing a nearby and comfortable private setting at the CareATC Fort Worth-Henderson clinic. Alicia adds: “And really, it’s free. Why not try it?” 

Alicia’s in-person hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Schedule an appointment by calling the EAP main phone number, 1-800-395-1616, to get started with an employee profile. The wait time to be seen is normally two to three weeks.