Awards and Recognition

People often say that awards don't matter. But we think they do because they underscore our drive to always exceed the quality of care and service the families, patients and communities we serve expect from us. Throughout our continual change, rapid growth and more than 100 years of service, one thing remains constant: our Promise to improve the health of every child.

To live up to this Promise, we combine the art of caring with doctors and medical professionals who are committed to evidence-based practice, participating in leading clinical research and using the best available medicines and medical technology. And, of course, to ensure that we're doing all we can to provide safe, healthy communities where families can raise happy, healthy kids.

Our commitment to excellence is proven not only by awards, but also by the kinds of recognitions that earn these awards. Recognition that comes from our peers, the health care community and most of all, the patients, families and communities we're here to serve every day.

Among the 'Best' for 17 years!

2024

January 2024 - Cook Children's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has been presented with the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
January 2024 - Cook Children's Medical Center receives 2023 Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award® in Patient Experience – Ranks Top 5% in National Patient Satisfaction
February 2024 - Cook Children's Health Care System ranks number 3 on Forbes list of America's Best Large Employers for 2024
February 2024 - Cook Children’s Neurosciences Research Center award $2.3 million NIH grant to enhance pediatric epilepsy diagnosis
May 2024 - Cook Children's Marketing Department was awarded 1 gold and 3 silver Telly award for their outstanding videos in the categories of social responsibility, social impact, and public service and & activisim. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and works are chosen from over 12,000 entries from 6 continents and all 50 states.
May 2024 - Cook Children's has been honored with the prestigious Golden Deeds Award by the Exchange Club of Fort Worth. The recognition is given annually to a person or organization the club views as the city's most outstanding citizen that year.
June 2024 - Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President at Cook Children's Health Care System Theresa Meadows, BSN, RN, was listed on the Becker's Hospital Review list of "141+ women in health IT to know."
October 2024 - U.S. News and World Report names seven Cook Children's specialty programs among the best in the nation.

2023

January 2023 - Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper opens its doors to patients.
January 2023 - "We did it." Conjoined twin girls separated at Cook Children's Medical Center make history.
February 2023 - New institute connects the dots between 9 medical specialties by bringing them together under one roof.
February 2023 - Not just another building. The new Dodson Specialty Clinics expansion is designed with input from patients and families.
February 2023 - Major scientific discovery from Cook Children's Neuroscience Research Center precisely pinpoints the origin of seizures in children.
March 2023 - Cook Children's celebrates our 105th birthday.
March 2023 - Director of Family Support Services Jill Koss MS, Certified Child Life Specialist, earned the 2023 Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Child Life Professionals.
May 2023 - In a first-of-its-kind partnership, Cook Children’s Health Care System and JPS Health Network join forces to bring critical health care services to children and families in the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood.
May 2023 - Cook Children’s neuroscience research published in the esteemed neurology journal, Brain for second time this year.
June 2023 - U.S. News and World Report names five Cook Children's specialty programs among the best in the nation.
June 2023 - Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President at Cook Children's Health Care System Theresa Meadows, BSN, RN, was listed on the Becker's Hospital Review list of "116 women in health IT to know."
August 2023 - Cook Children's earns second place in Texas's Healthiest Employer Ranking for employee well-being efforts.
November 2023 - Paul Thornton, M.D., Cook Children’s world-renowned expert in rare endocrine disorder receives Fort Worth Sister Cities Global Impact Award.

2022

April 2022 - Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper Opens its Doors to Patients.
June 2022 - Cook Children's Medical Center is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in six pediatric specialties: Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Cardiology, Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pulmonology, Orthopedics and Oncology.
July 2022 - Cook Children's shines at 32nd Annual Society of Pediatric Nurses Conference.
July 2022 - New Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health at Cook Children's brings together nine specialties to provide seamless health care for children with neurologic conditions.
October 2022 - Cook Children's celebrates 16 doctors named as D Magazine 2022 Best Doctors and Pediatric Specialists.
November 2022 - Cook Children's climbs 20 spots in Top 100 Healthy Workplaces.

2021

February 2021 - Cook Children's receives the fourth consecutive Magnet Designation for Nursing Excellence. Cook Children's Medical Center becomes the first freestanding children's hospital in North Texas and the 10th in the world to receive this esteemed recognition four times in a row.
May 2021 - Kanika Bowen-Jallow, M.D., is recognized by the American Pediatric Surgical Association, for making history as the 9th Black female pediatric surgeon in the U.S.
June 2021 - Cook Children's Medical Center is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in two pediatric specialties: Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology and Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery.
July 2021 - Cook Children's Emergency Department receives the Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association for exceptional and innovative performance.
July 2021 - Cook Children's Hyperinsulinism Center is named a center of excellence.
September 2021 - Cook Children's Health Plan receives accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
November 2021 - Grant Harris, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer is honored with inaugural Chief Development Officer of the Year Award by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

2020

February 2020 - For D Magazine's 2020 Excellence in Nursing Awards, Director of Nursing Research Mary Cazzell, PhD, RN, has been named to the list!
March 2020 - Fort Worth Business Press names pediatric anesthesiologist Michelle Craven Vinson, MD, to the 2020 Forty Under Forty class.
May 2020 - Michelle Dozier, 5 South nurse manager, receives the Barbara A. Larson Humanitarian Award from Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN).
June 2020 - Cook Children's Neurology & Neurosurgery team has made the U.S. News and World Report's list for an astounding 10th consecutive time.
July 2020 - Cook Children's life-saving ECMO Program has once again received Gold status from Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). This earned status is valid for three years.
July 2020 - Cook Children's Simulation Program has become the first free-standing pediatric hospital in the world to receive full accreditation in all five areas of evaluation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH).
August 2020 - Fort Worth, Inc. magazine lists the 400 most influential people in Fort Worth in its latest issue, which includes President and CEO of Cook Children's Health Care System Rick W. Merrill; President of Cook Children's Physician Network Britt Nelson, M.D.; Pediatrician Jason Terk, M.D.; Longtime Cook Children's Board Member Jerry Conatser.
September 2020 - Cook Children's NICU is one of the first in Texas to receive its second Level IV designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
September 2020 - CHILDREN AT RISK, a non-partisan advocacy group in Texas, has selected its Healthcare Heroes for 2020. We are proud to announce that Suzanne Whitworth, M.D, medical director of Infectious Diseases, has been chosen as the Fort Worth area winner.
November 2020 - Cook Children's 4 North Tower on attaining the Silver level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
December 2020 - Cook Children's has been named a Top Children's Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. This Leapfrog Top Hospital award highlights our widely recognized achievements in patient safety and quality.

2019

February 2019 - The Fort Worth Business Press' annual Healthcare Heroes Awards included Cook Children's Meredith Brooks, MD, MPH from Pain Management and Yvette R. Johnson, MD, Medical Director of our Nest Developmental Follow-up Center.
April 2019 - DFW Hospital Council's Employee of the Year is Cook Children's Security Services Investigator Matthew Hatcher.
May 2019 - Cook Children's earned Platinum Recognition during the National Hospital Organ Donation Campaign, sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Resources & Services Administration. The campaign was designed to encourage hospital staff and community members to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.
June 2019 - Cook Children's ranked in 3 out of ten specialties in US News and World Report's list of Best Children's Hospitals for 2019-2020. Cardiology & Heart Surgery #23, Neurology & Neurosurgery #49 and Orthopedics #38.
July 2019 - Fort Worth Sister Cities honored Cook Children's with their Global Nexus Award. This award is given to businesses that are connected globally and are good representatives of Fort Worth to the world creating commerce and a healthier community for all.
July 2019 - Cook Children's has been named one of Soliant's 2019 Top 20 Most Beautiful Hospitals in America. Such recognition is a credit to the meticulous work and care given to our campus by so many dedicated teams.
September 2019 - Cook Children's IS Department is once again recognized as one of CHIME Healthcare's Most Wired Program. CIO Theresa Meadows is named the winner of the 2019 Federal Public Policy Award for CIO Leadership by CHIME.
October 2019 - Cook Children's named a Talent Champion by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
October 2019 - Cook Children's achieved gold recognition by the American Heart Association's 2019 Workplace Health Achievement Index.
November 2019 - CIO Theresa Meadows is a finalist in the 2020 Dallas CIO of the Year ORBIE Awards. (Winners will be announced Feb. 20, 2020).
December 2019 - Cook Children's has 36 doctors recognized among the 2019 Texas Monthly magazine's list of Super Doctors.

2017-2018

September 2018 - Cook Children's Medical Center achieved a three-year accreditation by The Joint Commission (TJC) for September 2018 through September 2021 for both Hospital and Behavioral Health Care Programs. This accreditation means that we demonstrated compliance with applicable Joint Commission standards in all performance areas. TJC will conduct unannounced survey every three years to validation ongoing compliance with all requirements.
January 2017-December 2018 - Cook Children's began working on its centennial celebration in 2017, culmiating in a year of festivities in 2018. See our entire history and read, watch and hear stories from patients, families, doctors, nurses, staff, and community members.

2016

March 2016 - Cook Children's Medical Center received news that it had achieved Magnet^® designation once again for our nursing excellence and outstanding patient care. Our initial Magnet designation occurred in 2006, with our last re-designation in early 2011. Less than 8% of hospitals are Magnet designated and with less than 1% of hospitals receiving a third consecutive designation — we are among the best.
April 2016 - The National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) has re-accredited Cook Children's Comprehensive Epilepsy Program as a Level 4 Epilepsy Center for 2016 and 2017. This new Level 4 accreditation affirms that we have the professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest-level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.

2015

January 2015 - Cook Children's Heart Center has become the second Accredited Pediatric Heart Failure Institute in Texas and one of only seven in the country.
March 2015 - Cook Children's participated in Fort Worth's FitWorth challenge. At the conclusion of the challenge, we were presented an award by Mayor Betsy Price for being the organization with the most participants. That's right...826 Cook Children's employees registered and took part in the challenge across more than 80 teams.
April 2015 - Three outstanding nurses from Cook Children's were named as DFW Great 100 Nurses: Teresa Clark, Melissa Irving, Bernie Kelly and Elizabeth Leeper.
April 2015 - Cook Children's Comprehensive Epilepsy Program has been recognized by the Nation Association of Epilepsy Centers as a Level 4 epilepsy center. Level 4 distinction is bestowed upon centers that have the "professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest-level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy."
April 2015 - On April 24 Cook Children's received the Rosie Moncrief Wings of Hope Award from Fort Worth nonprofit, A Wish With Wings, in recognition of the compassionate and high quality care and treatment we provide to our patients.
May 2015 - Cook Children's Sleep Lab received a certificate of accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; recognizing their commitment to providing quality diagnostic services and the highest quality of care.
June 2015 - US News and World Report released its list of Best Children's Hospitals 2015-2016. Cook Children's ranked in 6 out of 10 specialties. Neonatology #24; Diabetes & Endocrinology #29; Neurology & Neurosurgery #32; Orthopedics #32; Cancer #40; Gastroenterology & GI Surgery #45.
June 2015 - Cook Children's Information Services team was named one of the 16 "new kids on the block" to Computerworld's List of Best Places to Work in IT; ranking at number 55 in the Large Company category. This list of top 100 companies is divided into Large, Midsize and Small categories.
June 2015 - In recognition of our exemplary support of our National Guard and Reserve member employees, Cook Children's Medical Center received the Freedom Award from the Department of Defense. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the Dept. of Defense to employers for their outstanding support of our Citizen Warriors (National Guard and Reserve members).
June 2015 &8211; Cook Children's has been recognized as a Fit-Friendly Worksite as a Gold Level Recipient of the American Heart Association's Fit-Friendly Worksites Recognition program.
July 2015 - Congratulations to our IS Team for being named a 2015 Most Wired Hospital for all that they do to maximize the capabilities of information technology to improve quality care and patient safety here at Cook Children's. Published by Health & Hospitals Network, respondents represented more than 2,213 Hospitals. This is our fourth year in a row to be named to the Most Wired list.
August 2015 - On July 31, the award for Outstanding Lead Organization was presented to Cook Children's Health Care System and Safe Kids Tarrant County (SKTC) at the biannual Safe Kids Worldwide Conference in Washington, D.C.
August 2015 - Cook Children's John and Jane Justin Neuroscience Center was recently recognized by The National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Partners in MS Care program as a Partner in MS Neurologic Pediatric Care, the first pediatric center in Texas.
August 2015 - The Commission on Accreditation of Air Medical Transport Systems conducted their third site survey of our Teddy Bear Transport team. The results are in and the well-deserved glowing review has granted this invaluable program full CAMTS accreditation through September 2018. This accreditation recognizes that the Cook Children's Teddy Bear Transport team is dedicated to getting the most medically fragile children and neonates to our award-winning medical center quickly and safely.
October 2015 - We are proud to announce that Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS), a national network of 80+ children's hospitals, has selected Cook Children's as the October 2015 Hospital of the Month for our dedication to patient safety, reduction in hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions.
October 2015 - In recognition of their tireless and collaborative work on child safety, Peaks and Ladders (Fort Worth Fire Dept., Fort Worth Fighter Charities and Cook Children's) is a nominated Award Winner of the 2015 J. C. Montgomery Child Safety Award. The J. C. Montgomery Child Safety Award was designed to recognize the importance of child safety, and highlight individuals/organizations in Texas working tirelessly to keep children safe.
November 2015 - We're so very proud to announce that we've been named one of the recipients of Press Ganey's Guardian of Excellence Award in the category of employee engagement for Cook Children's Health Care System, Cook Children's Home Health, Cook Children's Medical Center and Cook Children's Physician Network. This honor recognizes those organizations that reached the 95th percentile in a specific area.
December 2015 - The Leapfrog Group announced its 2015 Top Hospitals, a coveted list of hospitals that performed at the highest levels, nationally, based on Leapfrog's quality and safety standards. More than 1600 hospitals report on those standards through the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey. This year, 98 Top Hospitals are receiving this competitive distinction. Of those, 12 were recognized as Top Children's Hospitals, up from nine honored last year. This is the fifth time Cook Children's has been named to the list of top children's hospitals.

2014

March 2014 - Cook Children's ECMO Program receives the (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization)ELSO's Center of Excellence Award.
March 2014 - Primary care pediatrician Jason Terk, M.D., and Vice President of Facility & Ancillary Services Stan Davis named as part of Fort Worth Business Press' 2014 class of Healthcare Heroes.
March 2014 - Cook Children's Medical Center received "Approval with Commendation" from the Texas Nurses Association as a provider of continuing nursing education. Only 19 of the 159 continuing nursing education providerships in the state received a commendation.
April 2014 - DFW Hospital Council recognizes Kat Davitt as a 2014 Employee of the Year and Cameron Brown receives the Community Service Award.
June 2014 - US News and World Report released its list of Best Children's Hospitals 2014-2015. Cook Children's ranked in 7 out of 10 specialties. Cancer #35, Cardiology & Heart Surgery #46, Diabetes/Endocrinology #28, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery #38, Nephrology #49, Neurology/Neurosurgery #37 and Pulmonology #28.
June 2014 - Cook Children's received the "Spirit of Enterprise Award," the highest award given to a company by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.
July 2014 - The Texas Medical Association granted Cook Children's Accreditation with Commendation for 6 years for our CME Program. The highest recognition possible for our CME Program.
July 2014 - Institutional Investor magazine's 12th Annual Hedge Fund Industry Awards recognizes the hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, investment consultants, endowments, foundations, family offices, corporate funds, public funds, sovereign funds and rising stars that stood out for their performance innovation, achievements and contributions to the industry in the past year. Cook Children's was recognized as the Health Care System of the Year.
July 2014 - Once again Cook Children's was recognized by Hospitals & Health Networks as Health Care's Most Wired. We are among only 12 organizations in Texas to make this national list, which is determined by the Most Wired Survey conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corp., AT&ampT, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and the American Hospital Association; congratulations to our Cook Children's IT department for its inclusion as one of Health Care's Most Wired.
July 2014 - Ann Smith has been selected as the recipient of the National League for Nursing Award for Outstanding Leadership in Workforce Development. Dr. Mary Cazzell nominated her and additional letters of support were submitted by various colleagues. The outcomes of Ann's innovative approach to Cook Children's nurse residency has earned her this award and has provided us with numerous other opportunities to be recognized on a national scene.
July 2014 - Cook Children's CME Program has been awarded "Accreditation with Commendation" from the Texas Medical Association for a six year term. "Accreditation with Commendation" is awarded to organizations that go beyond compliance with the basic standards for accreditation by engaging within their healthcare environment and displaying the values and attributes that have the highest impact on physician practice and patient outcomes. This is the second time Cook Children's received this accolade under Dr. Peter Lazarus' leadership. It places Cook Children's amongst the highest performing CME providerships in the country.
November 2014 - Cook Children's ECMO Program receives the (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) ELSO's Center of Excellence Award.
November 2014 - For the sixth year in a row, Cook Children's is named one of the Top 100 Places to Work in The Dallas Morning News. We have the distinction of being one of only 12 companies to make the list all six years. Out of the thirty top large companies, we are ranked #16, are the highest ranked Fort Worth-based company and the only pediatric health care system on the list.

2013

February 2013 - For the second year in a row, Cook Children's has been named a National Top Workplace by Workplace Dynamics. We ranked number 37 nationwide among 872 organizations with more than 1,000 employees that participated in regional top workplace programs around the country.
February 2013 - Rick W. Merrill received the Healthcare Executive of the Year Award and Dr. Paul Bowman received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Fort Worth Business Press' Annual Healthcare Heroes event in February.
April 2013 - Cook Children's has received the 2013 Way-Paver for BPOC (Bar-Code Point of Care) Award from the TerraPharma Project. This award recognizes contributions that have helped clear the path to a safer point of care through bar-code technology.
June 2013 - USNews and World Report released its list of Best Children's Hospitals 2013-2014. Cook Children's ranked in 5 out of 10 specialties. Cancer #38, Diabetes/Endocrinology #31, Neonatology #24, Nephrology #30 and Neurology/Neurosurgery #46.
July 2013 - Cook Children's was recognized recently Health Care's Most Wired. We are among only 12 organizations in Texas to make this national list, which is determined by the Most Wired Survey conducted in cooperation with McKesson Corp., AT&ampT, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and the American Hospital Association; congratulations to our Cook Children's IT department for its inclusion as one of Health Care's Most Wired.
August 2013 - The American College of Surgeons and the Texas Department of State Health Services notified Cook Children's Medical Center that it has been re-designated as a Level II Trauma Center.
September 2013 - National Research Corporation has selected Cook Children's Medical Center as a recipient of its 2013 Path to Excellence Award. Recipients were selected based on their achievement within categories that patients have identified as being most important to the quality of their care. Cook Children's was one of two Top performing children's facilities, meaning we had the highest percentage of patients rating us a 9 or 10. A true sign that our focus on patient- and family-centered care is making a difference.
September 2013 - Our Medical Center's Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine received accreditation from the College of American Pathologists in recognition of the excellence of services being provided and the high standard of care.
November 2013 - For the fifth year in a row, Cook Children's is named one of the Top 100 Places to Work in The Dallas Morning News. We have the distinction of being one of only 16 companies to make the list all five years. Out of the thirty top large companies, we are ranked #13, are the highest ranked Fort Worth-based company and the only pediatric health care system on the list.
December 2013 - Cook Children's received the Cheers Award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) in recognition of our Bedside Medication Verification (BMV) program.
December 2013 - Chief Technology Officer, Jim Stalder was named to Computerworld's 2014 Premier 100 list.

2012

February 2012 - Cook Children's Health Care System is again named to the Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks. This marks the fourth straight year we've been in the top 100 and remain the only free-standing children's system to make the list.
February 2012 - Cook Children's received an Excellence in Community Service Award from the Texas Hospital Association in recognition of the success of our Neighborhood Clinics as a medical home for homeless and underserved children.
February 2012 - Cook Children's Homeless Initiative was one of 10 programs from across the country named a Program of Excellence by the Hospital Charitable Service Awards. This national award recognizes outstanding commitment to serving others and for setting new standards of excellence for giving back to the community. Out of a vast field of applicants, 197 nominees were chosen and the field was narrowed down to 38 finalists. Ultimately, Cook Children's was of 10 Programs of Excellence honored.
May 2012 - Cook Children's has been recognized as a National Top Workplace by Workplace Dynamics. The list of National Top Workplaces was determined based on employee feedback at large companies that were surveyed last year. We were one of 315 companies on the list from all different types of industries. Approximately 60 health care organizations made the list, with only 8 from Texas. Cook Children's was one of 45 companies designated as a company with "very high levels of organizational health."
May 2012 - Cook Children's received Gold Tier recognition from The Joint Commission for reaching 95% employee flu vaccination rate during the 2011-2012 flu season.
June 2012 - US News and World Report released its list of Best Children's Hospitals 2012-2013. Cook Children's ranked in 6 out of 10 specialties. Cancer #40, Diabetes/Endocrine #33, Neonatology #18, Nephrology #30, Neurology/Neurosurgery #28 and Pulmonology #40.
September 2012 - Our kidney transplant program was awarded the Silver level distinction by the Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice. This award recognizes excellence in transplantation as determined by post-transplant survival rates, transplant rates and mortality rates for kidney, heart, lung, liver or pancreas transplants. Our kidney transplant program is one of only 44 programs in the nation to achieve silver level distinction; making it one of the top 45 transplant programs in the U.S.
October 2012 - Cook Children's was named to Modern Healthcare magazine's annual "Best Places to Work in Healthcare." Out of the nineteen large companies ranked, we were ranked #9. Overall, we ranked number 61 out of the top 100 and we are the only exclusively pediatric health care system on the list.
November 2012 - For the fourth year in a row, Cook Children's was named to The Dallas Morning News' "Top 100 Places to Work." Out of the thirty large companies ranked, we were ranked #6. We are the only non-profit in the top eight; we are the highest ranked Fort Worth-based company and the only pediatric health care system in the top twenty five.
December 2012 - For the third straight year, Cook Children's Medical Center has been selected as a Leapfrog Top Children's Hospital. This distinction is only achieved by an elite group of hospitals that meet the nation's toughest standards for safety and quality, through prevention of medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures and reducing hospital readmissions.

2011

October 2011 - For the second year in a row, Cook Children's Pediatric Surgery Center in Plano, TX, was awarded the APEX Quality Award by CTQ Solutions. Awardees were determined by excellence in patient satisfaction and delivery of care.
October 2011 - Children's Miracle Network Hospitals honored Cook Children's Teddy Bear Transport Team with a 2011 Miracle Achievement Award in recognition of their exceptional accomplishments and notable work in their field.
November 2011 - For the third year in a row, Cook Children's was named to The Dallas Morning News' "Top 100 Places to Work". More than 1,100 companies were considered for this list. Out of the large companies ranked, we are the only non-profit in the top ten, the highest ranked Fort Worth-based company, the only healthcare system in the top fifteen and ranked number 6 out of the 25 top large companies.
December 2011 - For the second consecutive year, Cook Children's Medical Center is one of 65 hospitals from around the country named to The Leapfrog Group's "Top Hospitals" list for delivering the highest quality of care. We are one of eleven children's hospitals and the only hospital in Texas on this prestigious list.

2010 and earlier

In December, Cook Children's Medical Center is one of 65 hospitals from around the country named to The Leapfrog Group's Top Hospitals. We are one of seven children's hospitals and the only hospital in Texas on this prestigious list.
In November, for the second year in a row, Cook Children's is named to The Dallas Morning News' "Top 100 Places to Work for 2010", making us the top healthcare employer in the DFW Metroplex. Out of the large companies on the list, we are the only non-profit in the top ten, the highest ranked Fort Worth-based company and ranked number 7 out of the twenty top large companies.
In September, for the first time, Cook Children's is named to Modern Healthcare magazine's list of "Best Places to Work in Healthcare". Ranked number 83 on this national list of 100 outstanding healthcare employers, Cook Children's is the only exclusively pediatric health care system, one of six employers from Texas and ranked number 27 out of 38 large employers.
The Cook Children's Pediatric Surgery Center in Plano, Texas, was among only 22 winners nationwide to receive the 2010 APEX (Attributes for Patient Excellence) Quality Award, which is given by CTQ Solutions.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center has honored Cook Children's Medical Center with Magnet designation, a coveted award of excellence in nursing care. The recognition means Cook Children's nursing services ranks in the top 7 percent of the nation's hospitals.
The medical center is home to the Cook Children's Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center, the only EMS-designated pediatric trauma center in Tarrant County, Texas. More than 100,000 patients visit the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Center for treatment each year.
Cook Children's Medical Center has achieved Level II Trauma designation from the American College of Surgeons and the Department of State Health Services. With this distinction, Cook Children's Medical Center is now only one of nine such facilities in the state of Texas.
Cook Children's has been named as the Best Local Medical Center by the readers of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in its annual Reader's Choice Awards, published on Friday, July 30, 2010.
Cook Children's Medical Center is supported by one of the country's largest pediatric transport programs, which brings more than 2,200 children to the medical center annually, primarily for critical care. Services include ambulance, helicopter and fixed-wing airplane transportation. Cook Children's pediatric/neonatal transport team is one of only a few children's transport teams in the world that is certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS).
Cook Children's was the only free-standing pediatric health care network in the country to make the 2010 Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks (IHN), which ranks the most highly integrated health care networks. Cook Children's ranked No. 74.
Cook Children's Medical Center and Cook Children's Home Health complies with the highest national standards for safety and quality of care to repeatedly receive the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval.
In 2009, Medical Center President Nancy Cychol was named Regional Champion and Cook Children's was named a Gold Medal Hospital for organ donation advocacy and program by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Cook Children's is the first independent pediatric hospital in the United States, and the only children's hospital in Texas, to offer a comprehensive movement disorder program that includes deep brain stimulation (DBS).
Cook Children's houses the first dual intraoperative MRI (using the IMRIS technology) in the world. This innovative suite opened in February 2007 and increases the accuracy in complex neurosurgical procedures, such as brain tumors and epilepsy cases.
Cook Children's Epilepsy Program, one of the leading and most comprehensive pediatric epilepsy programs in the country, is a dedicated Level 4 pediatric epilepsy center, the highest level defined by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, and is capable of performing the most complex epilepsy related surgical procedures.
The Cook Children's Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant and Apheresis Center is designated as a Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) institution. At the time of the designation, Cook Children's was one of 150 facilities in the United States and Canada that holds this accreditation.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation selected Cook Children's Medical Center as a 2009 Quality Care Award recipient.
On Feb. 16, 2009, an 18-year-old girl received the 700th bone marrow transplant at Cook Children's.
In 2009, The Dallas Morning News Top Places to Work list ranked Cook Children's No. 23 overall and is the top ranked Fort Worth-based company, the only health care system listed in the top 40 and the highest ranked not-for-profit on the list.
Cook Children's records approximately one million patient encounters each year through its medical center, specialty clinics, neighborhood clinics, physician offices, outpatient settings and home care.
Cook Children's was the first pediatric hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to offer whole-body hypothermia treatment.

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