Cook Children’s Physician Network has earned silver recognition in 2025 from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine® organization.

The prestigious recognition from the country’s leading physician’s association honors health systems, hospitals, and medical groups that prioritize proven methods to reduce burnout and enhance the professional fulfillment of doctors that comes from patient care. Organizations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program are leaders in the national effort to transform health care work systems and address the root causes of burnout among care teams.

Cook Children's Office of Physician Well-being was established in January 2022 by system leadership to address physician burnout and promote professional satisfaction and well-being. Kirk Pinto, M.D., a CCPN pediatric urologist, and Sara Garza, M.D., a CCPN primary care physician, serve as Physician Well-being Advocates focus on this work.

“In the physician wellness space, the efforts and offerings of the AMA are invaluable,” said Dr. Pinto. “We have matured our program quickly using their resources. The Joy program is a national recognition of our efforts but, more important, it is an expert measurement and endorsement of our progress.”

Drs. Pinto and Garza were guests on an April 2024 episode of the Raising Joy podcast, and spoke about the signs and symptoms of burnout, its impact on doctors, families, and patient care, and strategies for prevention and management. They also sat down for an episode on the Untold: The Stories of Cook Children's podcast. Watch and listen here.

AMA Joy In Medicine

Burnout among U.S. physicians peaked at 62.8% in 2021 during the Covid pandemic, according to research. But thanks to strides made to address burnout at the system level, the national physician burnout rate ebbed to 45.2% in 2023. Despite improvements, physician burnout levels remain much higher than other U.S. workers. Continued efforts are essential to ensure doctors receive the support they need to thrive and achieve national health goals.

“Joy in Medicine recognized organizations are leading the gains made against the physician burnout crisis and help clinicians rediscover the deep rewards and joy that comes from helping patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “The AMA distinction honors each organization’s commitment to not only the health and well-being of the care team, but also to patients. Quality care ultimately originates from a positive and purposeful work culture where health care professionals can flourish both mentally and physically.”

Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 200 organizations across the country. Recognition levels are valid for two years. This year, a total of 109 health organizations nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, and support. Organizations that earned 2025-2026 recognition join a strong group of currently recognized organizations from the 2024-2025 program, bringing the currently recognized cohort to 164 recognized organizations.

Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.

By Juleann Cruz, Clinic Manager

The Cook Children’s North Carrollton Hebron office participated in The Colony’s Parade of Lights for the first time on Dec. 2. 

All of our doctors – Monica Beamer, M.D., Jonathan Corpuz, M.D., Richard Rivera, M.D., (as Santa) and Amy Stockhausen, M.D. --rode on our float.  The office staff and some of their family members had a great time handling out Cook Children’s light up sticks and light up balls. 

It was great to be out in the community representing Cook Children’s and to hear the kids yelling “There’s my doctor!” And they were so excited to see Santa. The best part was the looks on the children’s faces when we gave them the light up sticks and balls; it was pure happiness. 

It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season, and we are already looking forward and planning for next year.

Cook Children's Pediatrics Henderson 

By Andrea Davis, RN

“I really find joy in seeing the reaction the kids have when they are called back to a room. Just to see their face light up makes it all worth it. I wanted to bring some joy in this busy sick season. I put stickers on the floor knowing kids would hop from one sticker to another. 

It is even a bigger compliment when the parents are in awe. I used a piece of a box to make my awning for my gingerbread house. There are sheets of cotton that I used for snow. I also got some candy-themed balloons and wrapped them to make it look like candies. I even made a lab coat for a gingerbread man, a replica of Mark Jones, M.D. It is made out of felt. I made a stethoscope out of some craft foam. Also for the replica of Stephanie Ledezma, LVN and the gingerbread girls I made nurse hats out of craft foam. I covered our picture frames in the hall to look like windows on our gingerbread house!

I started decorating a few days before Thanksgiving. I would work on it whenever I had a chance. Most parents say “Wow! So festive!” We even had a patient of a different doctor that wanted to be seen in one of our rooms on our hall because they loved the decorations so much. 

I love using the Comfort Menu when I give shots so I feel like the decorations also help with the ease of the visit because it seems more magical. I came up with this idea from the crazy brain of mine because naturally I am a kid at heart. I was in charge of decorations my co-worker Stephanie pitched in to help with costs.”

Cook Children’s Center for Community Health

By Becki Hale, EdD., MA, RDH, Assistant Vice President, Cook Children’s Center for Community Health

For our department’s holiday celebration, Cook Children’s Center for Community Health volunteered at LVTRise Community Center. C4CH team members supported the weekly food pantry, sorted Angel Tree gifts, assembled oral health kits, and packed snack bags for children while they’re out of school for holiday break.  Our team is very excited to get to know our LVT neighbors and strengthen our relationships within this community.

Cook Children’s Pediatrics Grapevine

By Jesenia Valadez, Medical Assistant, Cook Children’s Pediatrics Grapevine

The Cook Children’s Grapevine office participated in the Grapevine Parade of Lights for the first time on Dec. 7. The Parade of Lights features more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands.

Vanita Shori, M.D. (dressed as Elsa), Andrea Rodriguez, PA-C (dressed as Anna), the office staff and some of their family members had a great time. 

Injury Prevention Team Volunteer Appreciation

By Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O.

Samantha St. John, Program Coordinator at Center for Community Health, and her team hosted a wonderful gathering for ALL Cook Children’s and community partner volunteers for the holidays. It was a great time and wanted to share with our colleagues what great things this group is doing for the community and Cook Children’s!

Staff of Cook Children’s Haslet celebrating the holidays

Holidays with the Prader-Willi Center team

Holidays with the Southlake Urgent Care Center

As a reminder, Cook Children’s changed its policy several months ago regarding when an appointment can be made for a child, following an active COVID-19  infection.

Patients can now be seen throughout the system 10 days after a positive COVID-19 test.

 Out of an abundance of caution, we do ask that families of severely immunosuppressed patients continue to wait for 21 days before making an appointment. Examples include children who are on active chemotherapy or recently received a transplant.

Otherwise, we are allowing patients to return to an appointment 10 days after they tested positive. This is a change from our former policy of waiting 21 days between appointments, and this change overrides all previously communicated guidance. 

 We have made this change, based on recent science that the “majority of the SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and 2-3 days after.

IMPORTANT:  If there is a compelling reason for the patient to be seen during the 10 days (21 days for severely immunocompromised) after a positive COVID-19 test, please make sure the patient and their family members wear a well-fitting mask and are in appropriate isolation while in the clinic.  Compelling reasons include such things as getting a cast removed, chemotherapy, new diagnosis of diabetes, or other things that, in the opinion of the physician, should not wait.

Please make sure that patients and their families wear their masks at all times during their appointment.  

Thank you to IT and the Epic team for adding this new policy into all current screening questions when a patient family visits Cook Children’s.

Click the images below for EPIC screenshots.

Meetings

• Please wear masks during meetings.
• Please consider going back to Zoom, or other virtual options, as much as possible.
• If it is critical to meet in person, please use your best judgment to keep staff safe. We ask that you consider the meeting space and the duration of the meeting.
• Please space out as much as possible, with a minimum of 3 feet.
• We ask that everyone in the room wear masks regardless of vaccination status.
• Please do not serve food or drink at any meetings at this time.

Masks  

• Please continue to wear masks indoors at all Cook Children's location, including professional buildings and offices. 
• We ask that all patients and their families wear masks at any Cook Children’s location.
• Please remind anyone who pushes back on these guidelines that we are caring for medically fragile children and we need to provide them with the safest place possible. Along with the COVID-19 vaccines, masks remain the most important way to protect ourselves against this virus.

Visitors

Inpatient

• We allow two  immediate family members at a time in the patient’s room between 8 a.m. - 8  p.m.. (visiting hours).  
• You must request visitor exceptions for more than two immediate family members.
• Siblings are allowed as long as everyone over the age of 2 wears a mask. 
• Immediate family members can trade out/take turns on a daily basis.  Banded primary caregivers can stay 24 hours/day.
• Immediate family members can switch out on the floors.
• Others can wait in areas such as the cafeteria/amenity areas on first floor only.
• We will no longer have visitors wear stickers.

Note:  This does not apply to the emergency room or end-of-life situations when more than two individuals may be needed, as well as exceptions made for clergy.. These situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Outpatients (including CCPN offices, Urgent Care Centers, Neighborhood Clinics, Dodson Specialty, etc.)

Please recommend to families that they only bring two people to a visit. However, we understand with the rising outdoor temperatures, we do not want to keep people in the car and it may be necessary to bring more than family members in for a patient visit. Please work with families to make sure they wear their masks and work to keep families 6 feet apart from one another as much as possible.

Waiting areas and room visits

• We ask that you remove any toys or play structures in waiting areas,  in an effort to prevent the spread of germs.
• If possible, please space out a total of 3 seats for families and a distance of 6 feet apart.
• Please get patients and their families in a room as soon as possible. Check them in and out in that room if you are able to do so.

Business Travel

Domestic

At this time, we are not placing any restrictions on business travel. We do encourage you to wear your mask while traveling, preferably an N-95 mask as the safest option.

International

We are not allowing any international travel for business.

As we continue to monitor community COVID-19 numbers, we will make any necessary changes to keep our patients, their families and each other as safe as possible.

Personal Travel

• You are no longer required to show any proof of a negative COVID-19 test after any personal travel (including air travel or a cruise). 
• It is not necessary to get tested 3 to 5 days after your return from any travel. 
• While it is not a requirement, the CDC does recommend test for anyone who is returning to the U.S. from a trip. 
• If you begin to feel ill or show symptoms of COVID-19 after  travel, please call the COVID-19 Center at 682-303-1661 or send  an email to COVID19OHS@cookchildrens.org. 

Thank you for your cooperation.

Recently, we’ve been able to relax our COVID-19 guidelines because of the decline in COVID-19 cases in our area and within our system. However, we must continue to take certain safety precautions for our patients, their families and each other.

Employee Information:

As a reminder:

• We require that outside guest speakers must be vaccinated in order to come on campus. The maximum for these events is 25 attendees.
• The only non-Cook Children’s employees allowed onsite must be here for a meeting or for training purposes.
• We are not allowing any employee family members or friends onsite to visit at this time. We must still limit the number of people on campus as much as possible.

Eyewear: 

For all patient encounters, you must wear at least a surgical mask and eye protection.

Goggles and N-95 Masks

Fully vaccinated employees:

• Are no longer required to wear goggles and N-95 masks for aerosol generating procedures (AGP) on inpatients who have tested negative for COVID-19. However, you must continue to wear surgical masks and eye protection. This applies to inpatients who are all routinely tested on admission.
• Are no longer required to wear goggles and N95 masks for aerosol generating procedures (AGP) in outpatients who have not been tested, but they have answered “no” to the screening questions for COVID symptoms and exposures.
• Are no longer required to wear goggles and N-95 masks for giving nebulized treatments in the outpatient setting. However, you must continue to wear surgical masks and eye protection for this procedure.  This procedure is not believed to produce much aerosol and is lower risk.

Employees who have received an exemption or are not yet fully vaccinated:

• You must continue to wear goggles and N-95 masks during all these procedures.

Screening:

At this time, please continue with all current screening questions/protocols for patients and their families entering Cook Children’s.

Drive-thru testing

The drive-thru for patient testing located on main campus are now closed.

Primary care practices and Neighborhood clinics continue to offer COVID testing to their patient populations during an office visit as needed. The Urgent Care locations are no longer offering COVID test only services but do continue to have testing available for any patient seen during their visit to a UCC if necessary. 

Patient and Family Visitation Information:

• At Cook Children’s Medical Center, two designated caregivers may be with each child while they are a patient in the medical center.
• This does not apply to the emergency room or end-of-life situations when more than two individuals may be needed. These situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
• All surgery and procedural areas at the medical center and Dodson ASC, including the main OR, surgery waiting areas, etc. will follow the two designated caregivers policy in place for the medical center.

At other locations, including Primary Care and Specialty Care offices, such as Dodson and the Infusion Center; Urgent Care Centers; Neighborhood Clinics; Outpatient Surgery Centers in Hurst and Prosper; Rehab; Home Health office, our guidelines are:

• Any two people from the child’s household may come with the patient to any appointments or visits. For example: mom and sister; dad and daughter; mom and grandmother.
• Those visiting our locations will be screened upon entering (temperature checked/symptoms of illness).

Thank you all for your cooperation to keep everyone safe.

With the declining COVID cases in our system and in the community, we will make the following changes effective immediately:

For Employees:

Testing for vaccine-exempt employees

• We have stopped routine COVID-19 testing of employees who have received a COVID vaccine exemption.

Goggles and N-95 Masks

Fully vaccinated employees:

• Are no longer required to wear goggles and N-95 masks for aerosol generating procedures (AGP) on patients who have tested negative for COVID-19. However, you must continue to wear surgical masks and eye protection for AGP.
• Are no longer required to wear goggles and N-95 masks for giving nebulized treatments in the outpatient setting. However, you must continue to wear surgical masks and eye protection for this procedure.

Employees who have received an exemption or are not yet fully vaccinated:

• You must continue to wear goggles and N-95 masks during these procedures.

For Patients:

Patient Testing

• We have stopped pre-procedure patient testing for COVID-19, unless the anesthesiologist, surgeon or proceduralist want the test. If anesthesia wants testing, this would ideally be done with a rapid test on the day of surgery.
• We will continue screening questions for COVID-19 symptoms and test for the virus if we receive a positive screen from a patient.
• If a patient is admitted after a procedure, they will need a COVID test upon admission.
• All admitted patients will be Covid tested, based on our current practice.

As COVID-19 positivity rates drop to single digits in our local counties, effective today, Cook Children’s is making the following changes in our mask policy. Please see the guidance below.

Taking Off The Mask:

ALL Fully-Vaccinated Employees, who are symptom free and without recent COVID-19 exposure, can now take their masks off while inside any Cook Children’s space where patients and families are not allowed.  

When To Wear The Mask:

Those Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated: We ask that you wear an FDA-approved surgical mask at all times (unless eating or drinking). This is a change from previous guidance, where non-vaccinated employees were required to wear an N-95 mask at all times.

For All Employees: Face masks are still required for all individuals (including visitors), regardless of vaccination status, in any location where you may come across or interact with a patient or patient family. If there’s any chance of this happening, you must keep your mask on.

N-95 Masks: Please continue to wear your N-95 masks and eyewear  in any required situations such as an aerosol-generated procedure or when a patient is suspected or tests positive for a disease where a mask is required (COVID-19, TB, etc.)

For Patients Who Are at Cook Children's For Procedures, Who Have Positive Screening Questions For COVID

• Test for COVID-19.
• Wear an N-95 mask and goggles for the procedure.
• Cancel the test if the patient has symptoms.

What’s Next?

From the beginning of the pandemic, we have kept the safety of you, our patients and their families at the top of mind in every decision we made. We will continue to monitor the situation as we look for ways to return to normal.

Click here for an FAQ that will answer more of your questions. 

As COVID-19 positivity drop to single digits in our local counties, effective Monday, March 14, Cook Children’s is making the following changes in our mask policy. Please see the guidance below.

Taking Off The Mask:

ALL Fully-Vaccinated Employees, who are symptom free and without recent COVID-19 exposure, can now take their masks off while inside any Cook Children’s space where patients and families are not allowed.  

When should I wear my mask?:

Those Who Are Not Fully Vaccinated: We ask that you wear an FDA-approved surgical mask at all times (unless eating or drinking). This is a change from previous guidance, where non-vaccinated employees were required to wear an N-95 mask at all times.

For All Employees: Face masks are still required for all individuals (including visitors), regardless of vaccination status, in any location where you may come across or interact with a patient or patient family. If there’s any chance of this happening, you must keep your mask on.

When do I wear an N-95 mask?

Please continue to wear your N-95 masks in any required situations such as an aerosol-generated procedure or when a patient is suspected or tests positive for a disease where a mask is required (COVID-19, TB, etc.)

Will exempt employees continue to require weekly testing?

At this time, we will continue to require weekly testing. We will look at our COVID infection rate among non-vaccinated employees in a couple of weeks and re-evaluate the situation.

What if I have had a recent COVID-19 infection or exposure?

• Masking is required for anyone with recent COVID-19 infection or exposure.
• If you have had a recent exposure to someone with COVID-19, you should mask while in any Cook Children’s location until it has been at least 10 days from the exposure.
• If you have had a recent COVID-19 infection, you should mask while in any Cook Children’s location until it has been at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms (or date of positive test, if no symptoms), even if cleared to return to work by employee health.
• If you are immunocompromised and had a recent COVID-19 infection, you should mask while in any Cook Children’s location until it has been at least 20 days from the onset of symptoms (or date of positive test, if no symptoms), even if cleared to return to work by employee health. 

What does it mean to be fully vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated are those who have completed two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of J&J. Booster doses are strongly encouraged. If you have received a booster, please make sure Occupational Health knows and you have supplied them with proof.

Could we return to wearing masks full time at some point in the future?

Yes. Nothing is guaranteed with the pandemic and we repeatedly have seen a rise in numbers with the introduction of a new strain. We will monitor the situation closely, with your safety and the safety of our patients and their families at the top of mind.

What if I don't feel comfortable taking off my mask?

• Anyone who prefers to continue to wear a mask at all times, for any reason, should feel free to do so.
• We ask that you continue to take care of one another and that you act on good faith with the new mask guidelines. Please be honest about your vaccination status with coworkers. Respect each other. Never harass, ridicule or bully another colleague who chooses to continue to wear a mask.

How does this impact meetings?

We ask that you sit 3 feet apart from one another. Those who are vaccinated may remove their masks during meetings. If you are not vaccinated or you feel more comfortable, please continue to wear your mask.

In one-on-one meetings, you may both take your mask off, as long as you are both fully vaccinated.

Can we go without masks outside?

Fully vaccinated employees can take their masks off outside.

What about visitors to Cook Children's?

The non-Cook Children’s employees allowed onsite must be here for a meeting or for training purposes. We ask that anyone invited to come on to Cook Children’s property is fully vaccinated.

We are not allowing any family members or friends of employees onsite to visit at this time. We must still limit the number of people on campus as much as possible. 

 Monoclonal Antibody:

Key points to remember: as of this writing, supply is critical and may have reached zero.

1. Sotrovimab is the only monoclonal antibody with effectiveness against the omicron variant. Click here to read this referencing article. 
2. They are now only using Sotrovimab at the regional infusion center. However, currently the infusion center is out of antibody. If it becomes available again, we can still refer patients via the website : New Order (stateoftexasinfusionhotline.com)
3. Cook Children's is currently out of  Sotrovimab.
4. Please do not send patients to the Cook Children's Emergency Department for this, without speaking to the Infectious Diseases physician on-call. 

Criteria for using Sotrovimab:

1. Patients have to be unvaccinated, or under vaccinated, or not believed to be able to respond to the vaccine.
2. Patients must be actually infected with the virus. We would not use this for post exposure prophylaxis now. 
3. After the first two criteria are met, cases would be individualized by calling the Infectious Diseases doctor on-call.
4. The Infectious Diseases team will review logistics of Remdesivir in outpatients after we run out of Sotrovimab. Hopefully we won't have to.

NIH risk stratification is being used by the infusion center, when they do have Sotrovimab available.  You can call the infusion center to check availability.  1.800.742.5990

There are other treatments that may be available, or hopefully, become more available.

Health care professionals are likely to encounter many questions about the safety of participation in school sports during the pandemic, as well as the need to clear athletes to return to play after COVID-19 infection. For detailed guidance, please refer to the AAP Interim Guidance Return to Sports and Physical Activity. 

Additionally, please click here to find a chart that summarizes the guidance regarding clearing athletes to return to play.

Pharmacy checks the state ordering portals daily and provides updates to the Command Center.

We want to provide you with some quick information, regarding the treatment of COVID-19.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the use of two antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 cases: Molnupiravir ) from Merck) and Paxloid (from Pfizer).

Pharmacy is working directly with the TDSHS in obtaining both Paxlovid and Molnupiravir. Due to the limited stock both medications are allocated by state and region. Pharmacy has completed all the forms and provided all the supporting documents to be eligible to receive the medication but is waiting further communication from TDSHS as to when we will receive an allocation for our region of the state.

Pharmacy checks the state ordering portals daily and provides updates to the Command Center.

Paxloid

Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms or about 88 pounds) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Paxlovid is available by prescription only and should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset. 

Paxlovid is not authorized for the pre-exposure or post exposure prevention of COVID-19 or for initiation of treatment in those requiring hospitalization due to severe or critical COVID-19. Paxlovid is not a substitute for vaccination in individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination and a booster dose are recommended.

Click here to read the full FDA news release.

Click here to read an FAQ on the Emergency Use Authorization for Paxlovid for treatment of COVID-19.

Molnupiravir

The FDA also authorized Merck’s molnupiravir, to treat Covid-19 "for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate." Molnupiravir is not authorized for use in patients less than 18 years of age.

Click here to read a fact sheet for health care providers for the EUSA for molnupiravir.

FDA Issues List of PCR tests that may not accurately detect the omicron variant

The following tests are NOT being used by the medical center. This information is to keep you informed.

The FDA recently released a report that states that omicron has mutation that may cause some COVID-19 tests to miss the variant. The FDA states that the tests may not accurately detect the omicron variant and may provide a false negative result.

“The FDA's analysis to date has identified certain EUA-authorized molecular tests whose performance may be impacted by mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant. These tests fall into two categories, as described below: those that are expected to fail to detect the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant, and those that are expected to detect the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant with a specific gene drop out detection pattern.” the report reads.

Tests expected to fail to detect the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant (as of 12/27/2021)

Due to the inability of these tests to detect the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant, the FDA recommends that these test should not be used until this issue of these tests’ inability to detect the omicron variant is resolved:

·       Meridian Bioscience, Inc. Revogene SARS-CoV-2

·       Applied DNA Science Linea COVID-19 Assay Kit

Issues Resolved: Tests Previously Expected to Fail to Detect the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant

These tests have been modified or otherwise have addressed the issue of their inability to detect the omicron variant:

·       Tide Laboratories DTPM COVID-19 RT-PCR Test

Click here to read the full report.

Please familiarize yourself with the options and side effects in order to safely prescribe to your patients.