Cook Children's Health Care System

Newsweek has named Cook Children's one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women in 2024. We're introducing you to some of the women who make Cook Children's such an amazing place. Veronica Tolley is living the American dream, but she has never forgotten her roots. Born in Acuna, Coahuila, a Mexican border town just south of Del Rio, Texas, she immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 2. “I have a picture that I love of me as a toddler right before my father moved us from Mexico to join him in Fort Worth,” Veronica said. “It reminds me where I came from and that the American dream and the potential that every child has in them is a real thing.” Veronica has called Cook Children’s her work home for her entire career. The little girl from Mexico and minimal means who dreamed of working in health care rose from office supervisor to practice manager to practice administrator to director to assistant vice president and now, Vice President of Primary Care and Specialty Services, overseeing operations for Cook Children’s Physician Network. Read more about Veronica's remarkable story here: https://lnkd.in/gQr-PdXk

When she was 12 years old, Chelsee Greer, D.O., was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. As she went through rounds of treatment at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth, she made up her mind that one day she’d work as an oncologist. A little over two decades later, Dr. Greer is living that dream in the same place where she received treatment. She now leads the Neuroblastoma Program at the Cook Children’s Hematology and Oncology Center. Dr. Greer is the first guest on Cook Children’s new podcast series, “Untold: The Stories of Cook Children's.” Learn about her episode here: https://lnkd.in/gzxrJrnd Read her incredible story here: https://lnkd.in/gm65RXhR #EraseKidCancer #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth #WeAreCookChildrens #UntoldStoriesofCookChildrens

Fort Worth is growing fast and so is the need for pediatric critical care. Read why we’re exploring options to expand our Fort Worth campus: https://lnkd.in/gGirSjUz

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