New family room service plan

Food Services is demonstrating Exceptional Care, Exceptional Service by implementing a new family room service plan for patient families. Most family members don't want to leave a sick child even to eat, so the new voucher system will allow them to order meals from the Café at Children's and have them delivered directly to the bedside.

What's cooking?

The Center for Young Women's Health (CYWH) is proud to announce their second edition of their Quick and Easy Recipes for Teens cookbook. The beginner cookbook has 120 recipes with detailed nutrition information analyzed by Children's nutritionists, health guides and several vegetarian and ethnic recipes. All of the proceeds support CYWH programs. Click here to order.

A summer Blizzard for Children's

Thousands ate Dairy Queen Blizzards on Miracle Treat Day in August to support Children's. Dairy Queen locations donated the proceeds from every Blizzard sold to the Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for 170 pediatric hospitals in North America. Proceeds from 18 local locations are still being tallied. Last year's event raised $20,055 for Children's.

Open enrollment

Fall is here, which means the Benefits Annual Enrollment Period is just around the corner. Changes made during this year's annual enrollment are effective January 1, 2009. The few changes that are being made this year will simply enhance the current program. Open Enrollment highlights:

• A new Dental Basic Plan provides a lower-priced premium option than
our current Dental Plus Plan.

• A new Retiree Medical Savings Account provides the opportunity to save money for medical expenses during your retirement years.

• A last chance to enroll in long-term disability coverage without evidence of insurability.

• A new debit card for use with your 2009 Health FSA account

Week of October 19: Watch for your enrollment packets in the mail. These personalized packets will provide all the information you need to make the best benefit choices.

October 24 to November 7: This is the online enrollment window when you have the opportunity to make new benefit elections. With the exception of the Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, if you do not make a new election, you will keep your 2008 coverage at 2009 rates. If you wish to participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts, you must re-enroll in these plans each year.

October 24: Meet the benefit vendors at the Benefits Fair at Longwood Hall.

October 29: Meet the benefit vendors at the Benefits Fair in Waltham.