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In This Issue:
From left, Mairead Hickey with Yllka Varfi and her nominators Patricia Olech and Justin Precourt at the ceremony.
During the holiday season, it is not unusual to find Yllka Varfi playing her violin for patients and their families on Shapiro 6 East.
“Music does wonders for the heart,” said Varfi, who was a violinist in her native Albania and joined BWH in 2005.
As unit coordinator, she is always willing and available to lend a helping hand to make the unit run smoothly.
“You can always find her answering call lights, helping patients and families any way she can and keeping calm in an often chaotic environment,” said Justin Precourt, BSN, RN, nursing director of Shapiro 6 East and 7East/West, in Varfi’s nomination form. “She welcomes patients and visitors with a smile and is willing to go above and beyond to make sure everyone’s needs are met.”
For her commitment to patients, their families and the teamwork she exhibits everyday, Varfi was presented with the first Administrative Support for Patient Care Areas Award last month during a ceremony hosted by the departments of Nursing and Patient Care Services. The award, which drew 25 nominations, was created this year to honor employees who provide administrative support to units in Patient Care Services.
“You play a key role in our overall mission to provide the best care,” Leo F. Buckley Jr., executive director for Business Services for Patient Care, told the packed crowd in the Bornstein Amphitheater. “You are the staff members who are very often the first people to greet family members as they enter the patient care areas of our hospital.”
After receiving the award, an emotional Varfi thanked everyone for the support. “This award is the result of not only my own diligence, but also the continuous, kind support that I receive everyday from other members of my unit and throughout the hospital,” she said.
During the ceremony, Buckley announced the creation of an ongoing effort to support the achievements and the career goals of Patient Care Services administrative staff by offering classes, forums and other educational opportunities. In addition, the department’s unit coordinators and business specialists will have the opportunity to earn their certification through the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators, which will verify their professional competency and enhance their career options.