Cook Children's Health Care System

Please view this letter to the editor in The Dallas Morning News. Re: “Cook Children’s clinics fall short, some say — Health centers meant to improve access working to rebuild trust with parents,” Monday Metro story. Cities lack community clinics for the same reason that also frustrates patients and clinic staff — lack of funding. Medicaid and Medicare are paid for with tax dollars. Both remain cash-strapped as increasing taxes is not popular. Voters say so at the polls. Most of my pediatrician colleagues won’t openly accept Medicaid as its rates are vastly lower than any commercial insurance reimbursement for the same care. Since most Medicaid patients are not old enough to vote, rates for the same level of care are also much lower than Medicare rates. Kids have no AARP or lobby advocating for their equitable access to care. Medicare patients are also limited in access to providers, albeit not as critically. Citizens over 65 maintain clout through their votes. Therefore, Medicare rates have remained (marginally) high enough to still entice doctors to accept it. My oral surgeon won’t take Medicare. Why would he if his calendar fills with commercial pay? I hear only one oral surgeon accepts Medicare in Tarrant County (at John Peter Smith). There’s no fix without tax increases. I applaud Cook Children’s for at least trying to help out by subsidizing clinics in areas of most need. Gary B. Strong, MD, Southwest Fort Worth Read More: https://lnkd.in/g5P4X5jf

Cook Children's Nurse Resident Briauna Gervais has a unique perspective on patient care. As a teenager, she battled Ewing's Sarcoma, a challenging experience that shaped her empathy and determination. During her treatment, Briauna found solace in the hospital's Creative Arts Program. Today, her artwork hangs in the halls, serving as a reminder of her journey and a source of inspiration for others. After overcoming her illness, Briauna pursued her passion for nursing. Her personal experience allows her to connect deeply with patients and provide compassionate care. #CookChildren's #NurseResident #CancerSurvivor #Compassion ?

Whenever his lower back started to throb, Triston Tate knew a full-blown pain crisis was about to hit as a result of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The pain would spread to his knee or arm, pulsing like a heartbeat. Prescription pain medication didn’t help. Episodes were severe enough to send Triston to the hospital on a regular basis. Not anymore. Thanks to a research study underway at Cook Children’s and other sites nationwide, Triston received a particular type of genetic therapy for people with SCD. It isn’t a cure – but for Triston, the therapy has been life-changing. His cycle of pain and frequent hospitalization has stopped. Read Triston’s story and learn about the RUBY Trial here: https://lnkd.in/gVAPPuNC

When spunky Lucy Garza woke up in extreme pain and unable to walk, her parents rushed to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth for answers. They weren't sure what to expect. Lucy, age 3, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). From entering the emergency department, to after two years of treatment with complications, Lucy was able to ring the bell. This is her story: https://lnkd.in/guD7BwWx #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth #EraseKidCancer

“We're not in this line of business for the profit. We are doing, and have always done, what's best for the children in our community.” ? Meet Jami, a dedicated case manager at Cook Children's Health Plan (CCHP). She's on the front lines, helping families navigate complex health care challenges. Her work is crucial, but it's at risk due to a Medicaid contract denial by Texas Health and Human Services. ? Read this story to find out why case managers like Jami are critical advocates for vulnerable child and families in our community: https://lnkd.in/gPxxe93F ? You can also learn more at https://lnkd.in/g2F5QRMi. #WeAreCookChildrens #protectcommunityhealthplans #nonprofithealthplans #MedicaidBenefits #TexasMedicaid

Newsweek has named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place. Meet Megan Chavez,MS,FACHE,CPXP, Vice President, Cook Children’s Experience ? Megan Chavez, protector of the Cook Children’s experience. It’s her job to strengthen trust between those giving and receiving care. That means she spends her days connecting the dots between the delivery of health care and the magic that happens when we see the world through the eyes of others and respond with respect, kindness and generosity. ? It’s a perfect role for a person whose favorite quote is all about the impact one person can make on another: “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” ? For Chavez, personal success is found in those magical moments of connection, big and small. ? “It’s when I see our employees caring for each other, either by reaching out when they see someone struggling or taking the initiative to rethink a process and change the way we work for the better,” Chavez said. “Or when I walk the hallways and see evidence in our physical spaces that the experience of our families and staff were front-of-mind when that space was designed. And when I see kids, regardless of disability or life’s challenges, playing and smiling because of our amazing employees giving their all so that a child knows they are loved and safe,” Chavez said. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gkQ4FtSA

Join Us for Our Clinical Job Fair! Are you a healthcare professional looking for a rewarding career? We're hiring! Date: September 10 Time: 3-6 p.m. Location: 4100 W. University Drive Prosper, TX 75078 Open Positions: RN Staff Nurse (Med-Surg, PICU, Surgical) LVN, ED ACT CST RN Clinic Nurse Medical Assistant LVN Clinic Nurse To secure your spot, sign up on Indeed beforehand. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with our team and explore exciting career paths. Bring copies of your resume. We look forward to meeting you! Indeed Hiring Event: https://lnkd.in/gN7WvbWU #jobfair #healthcarejobs #hiring #nursing #medicalassistant #careerfair #prosper

Cook Children’s operates seven Neighborhood Health Centers in the Fort Worth area, and two more are on the way. ? What makes these centers so special? They're all about providing top-notch health care – from checkups to dental care to behavioral health services, particularly for underserved children and families in our community. ? These centers are strategically located in neighborhoods where access to health care might be a challenge, due to factors like transportation limitations or socioeconomic status. By bringing our services directly to these communities, we're breaking down barriers and ensuring all kids have a chance to be healthy and happy. ? Read more about how our Neighborhood Health Centers provide a pediatric medical home to help kids have access to the services they need to thrive: https://lnkd.in/gH5byS_4

Newsweek has named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place. Meet Alice Phillips, MD, MPH, LSSYB, FAAP, Medical Director of Ambulatory, Quality and Safety, Primary Care Physician Cook Children’s Pediatrics Cityview. Beware of telling Alice Phillips she can’t, because it’s a sure sign that she will. As a young woman, Dr. Phillips’ parents discouraged her from becoming a doctor. Not because they doubted their daughter’s abilities, but because they were unsure how she would balance being a doctor while also fulfilling her desire to be a wife and mother. Today, Dr. Phillips admits their concern for her work-life balance wasn’t completely off the mark. It’s hard to juggle life as a wife, mother of two, a physician with a heavy patient load and a medical director at Cook Children’s. “Those cultural pressures for women are real, so we have to be aware of them,” Dr. Phillips said. Thanks to the support of her husband of 32 years, as well as Cook Children’s culture that equally values dedication to work, family and fun, Dr. Phillips found a way to balance it all, and her beloved parents were proud to witness it. Read More: https://shorturl.at/eEwua

Newsweek has named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place. Meet Stefanie Tanner, RN, Director of Nursing and Patient Care Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper. ? Stefanie Tanner knew she wanted to be a nurse when she was 8 years old. Back then she dreamed of working in a hustling and bustling emergency department. Today, she leads the entire team of nurses at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper, and counts it more of a joy than a job. ? “I often say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” Tanner said. ? In addition to her love for the profession, the people she gets to work with, as well as the kids she gets to care for, are what she values most about Cook Children’s. ? Having worked within the health care system for 16 years, Tanner brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the executive team at North Texas’ newest pediatric hospital. ? Tanner says she faced very few roadblocks rising through the ranks as a woman within the organization, given the amount of female leaders at Cook Children’s and the fact that nursing is a female-dominated industry. The real challenge, she says, has been learning how emotion and empathy influence communication in a profession filled with naturally empathetic people. ? Any hurdles she does face are met with an incredible team support approach and her faith in Jesus where she reminds herself daily to “Pray more. Worry less.” ? Cook Children’s – Prosper opened its doors in January 2023, but the pace required for getting a new facility up and running has yet to slow, and that’s the way Tanner likes it. ? “We have a lot of growth, so with that comes a lot of meetings, collaboration and discussions,” she said. “It’s super fun and never a dull moment.” ? In addition to her role at Cook Children’s, Tanner is a member of the faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington where she teaches the next generation of nurses. She’s also a wife and mother of two young boys, ages 9 and 5. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gQr-PdXk