OUR PROMISE: Knowing that every child’s life is sacred, it is the promise of Cook Children’s to improve the health of every child in our region through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury.

March 2010 | Issue 146

Transforming the way Cook Children’s does businessWe are excited to announce that our

organization has begun an effort that will optimize and transform the way we do business. We have purchased a new state-of-the-art software tool from Lawson Software Inc., which will provide us with needed flexibility for changing business requirements and provide us with capabilities leading to improved system performance.

This wonderful tool will help to make significant improvements in terms of data access, reporting accuracy and streamlined business practices. It will enable us to automate several manual processes and functions resulting in improved efficiency and work flow. Ultimately, it will enhance our ability to manage and streamline essential processes in purchasing, payroll, human resources and

financial management. Since this will impact all of us, we want you

to help the project team come up with a name for this initiative. We are asking employees to provide their submissions via email by March 24 to Claire Murtha at Claire.murtha@cookchildrens.org.

Once the potential names have been received, the project team will narrow down the list to three names that will then be voted on -- by you.

In early April, we will announce the project name that received the most votes and identify the employee who made it possible. The winner will receive a

Starbucks gift card. We hope you’ll participate in this fun contest!

Please be assured that this is the first of many communications to keep you informed of progress, training and other exciting details.

focus

Employees Care Campaign concludes with stellar resultsOne word perfectly captures how this year’s campaign turned out - AMAZING! Consistently, you’ve

proven that Cook Children’s employees put our patients first and here is more proof.A total of 1,259 employees (27.12 percent) pledged an estimated $597,752, which was a marked

23.19 percent increase in participation over last year. The number of High-Five Club donors saw an even more dramatic increase of 41.15 percent or 243 employees this year.

Here are the participation percentages for all the companies:

Health Care System: 49.21 percent Home Health: 34.38 percent Health Plan: 33.75 percent Medical Center: 26.81 percent Physician Network: 15.31 percent

Don’t forget a special Coke Float ‘Thank You’ Hour is being held on March 23 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Medical Center Atrium for employees who gave to this year’s campaign. Members of our leadership team will be there to greet, serve and thank you for giving back to Cook Children’s.

Time to let our nurses know they’re greatNominate a Great 10 Nurse today

Do you know a nurse at the Medical Center that has made a difference? A nurse that makes all these puzzle pieces fit together? Here is your chance to recognize them with a Great 10 Nurse nomination. All nominations must be received by Friday, April 2.

Each year, during Nurses Week, our Nursing Department recognizes our very own Great 10 Nurses who have positively impacted nursing and the lives of our patients. Visit Announcements on CookNet to access the nomination form.

Don’t miss this chance to acknowledge their ‘great’-ness.

Caring - Giving - Integrity - Safety - Collaboration - Innovation

Cardiac team shows its heart in EthiopiaOnly a few weeks into the new year, a

group of 22 Cook Children’s staff members reached out to help a part of the world in need. For five days in late January, this caring cardiac team journeyed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the goal to address the heart issues of children and young adults in that area.

During their time at the Children’s Heart Fund of Ethiopia Cardiac Center, this team performed 14 cardiac caths and 12 heart surgeries. For more than two dozen patients, this trip meant the world but equally as important, the team used the occasion to address a larger issue -- medical professionals in desperate need of training to perform more complex cardiac procedures.

By sharing their years of expertise as much as possible in the relatively short time, the cardiac team could best prepare the Ethiopian doctors to provide improved care long after their visitors returned to Fort Worth.

Visit www.star-telegram.com/2010/02/14/1968417/cook-childrens-cardiac-team-helps.html to read more about this trip as featured by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Front row: Waverlee Williams, RN; Kathy Grieser, RN; Ryan Tibbal, RT; Sheila Guinn, RN; Rosa Boyett, RN; Teresa Holland, MD; Karen Meinershagen, RN, CRNA; Shawn Franz; and Vin-cent Tam, MD. Middle row: DeDe Shannon, RN; Jeanie Stakes, RN; Genia Crowder, RN; Treva Downs, RN; Ed Rojas, RN; James Hailey, RN; and Mark Barb, RN. Back row: Kelli Scheiden, RN, CRNA; Benjamin Siu, MD; and David Dawson, RN.

Retirement plan sessions this AprilAll employees are encouraged to attend one of the many 30-minute sessions scheduled throughout the

system that will detail important changes to our retirement plan options. The basic change focuses on our current fund line-up and probable choices you may need to exercise.

Please note that Fidelity will continue as the retirement record keeper and the employer matching contributions will remain the same. Physician Network doctors are also encouraged to attend.

Location Date TimesHochberger Auditorium

Thursday, April 1 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 2 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 7 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 8 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 9 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, April 14 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 16 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 21 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 22 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.

Home Health Tuesday, April 13 8 a.m.

Thursday, April 15 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 20 Noon

South Hills Friday, April 9 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m.

Friday, April 23 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m.

Burnett Plaza Room 681

Monday, April 5 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m.

Tuesday, April 6 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m.

Monday, April 12 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m.

Monday, April 19 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m.

Have you told a doctor thanks lately?

March 30 marks the twentieth anniversary of the designation of National Doctors’ Day. For their contributions to the health and well-being to their patients, this special day gives us the occasion to thank each of them for their caring service.

Send a personal “thank you” message to a Cook Children’s doctor for they care they provide.

Visit CookNet > employees services > National Doctors’ Day to send your thank you.