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In This Issue:
Christopher Nelson and his Surgical Oncology colleagues
One shining moment of 2010 for me is when I was transferred to the Surgical Oncology Department this past February. Since then, I have not stopped smiling, because I entered into a wonderful and friendly family who takes care of me more than they should. In fact, they nominated me for a PIE Award, which I am extremely grateful for. A heartfelt thank you to my new family: I love you guys!
Christopher Nelson Office Assistant, Surgical Oncology
Janet Nally Barnes, RN, JD, CPHRM
Executive Director, Clinical Compliance & Risk Management
Betsy Nabel and Edna Rivera
This has been a remarkable year for the BW/F community. I have been touched by many lives and continually reminded how special the BW/F community is. The attention and care you provide to our patients and their families are truly heart-warming.
One shining moment that represents many poignant moments for me over the past year occurred when I was invited to tour the Emergency Department. A very special old friend, Ms. Edna Rivera, greeted me. Edna, who has been with the department since 1970, quickly reminded me that we had worked together in the ED when I was a young medical resident back in the early 1980s. I noticed right away that her passion and devotion had not faded one bit in her 40-plus years at the Brigham.
Although she formally “retired” in 2009, Edna has stayed on part-time as an emergency services assistant, readily sharing her smile and love for BWH with everyone she meets. Her inexhaustible supply of warmth and comfort for patients and families is an inspiration to all of us. For me, it exemplifies what BW/F is all about.
I think often of Edna’s four decades of devotion to service excellence. She reminds me of what is so special about BWH, and seeing her that day, after all these years, is one of my shining moments.
Betsy Nabel, MD
President
In addition to having the privilege of working at BWH, I am also extremely grateful for the ongoing care received by family members at BWH. In particular, Dr. Christian Sampson is not only a remarkable surgeon but also has been incredibly compassionate as he has cared for my wife this past year. Thank you, Dr. Sampson!
Vincent McDermott
BWH Controller/Executive Director of Finance at Faulkner Hospital
Karen Griffin, left, and Ellen Pignatone, also of Correspondence
One of my proudest moments working for BWH was a phone call I received from a very grateful patient. She needed copies of her medical records on several occasions, and wanted me to know what a wonderful experience she had with Karen Griffin, manager of Correspondence. She wanted me to make sure I did not take Karen for granted, as she works very hard and is extremely customer service-oriented. I could not agree with her more. Karen is very gracious, working with patients, attorneys, insurance companies and other health care providers requesting copies of medical records. I was very proud to work for BWH and agreed with the comments made by this grateful patient.
Jackie Raymond, RHIA
Director, Health Information Services & Privacy Officer
I have worked at Brookside for 20 years as a primary care pediatrician, but I have never received a letter from one of my little patients. I received this letter (at left) in September.
It was so much more than a gift. It showed that a patient—a child—was thinking of me outside of this building. It showed that she was wondering what I thought about different things which were happening in her world. It showed her concern for me. In all the years of my work with children, which has been by definition a gift, I have never been granted such a connection with a 6-year-old’s world. I will remember it, and its author Ruby, forever.
Nancy Kahn, MD
Brookside Community Health Center
I don’t have one particular “shining moment” but I can tell you that I brim with pride when I think about my team, the Speech and Swallow Service. Not only is my team bright and extremely knowledgeable about the work that they perform, they all demonstrate tremendous compassion towards each patient. And, each and every one of my staff exemplifies teamwork, as they are always conscientious, thoughtful and willing to help each other out in times of crisis by providing morale, demonstrating flexibility and sharing skills and knowledge. So, every day, I have my shining moment as I see it in Lauren, Bridget, Lorraine, Adele, Maria, Elaine, Terese and Gandhy.
“PJ” Pamela Pangjen Su, MS, CCC-SLP
Coordinator, Speech and Swallow Services
James Mink
In the Consult Services section of the Pathology Department, I deal with a lot of very sick people. Occasionally I work with patients more than once in order to help get their diagnostic material sent out for consults at other institutions. One patient in particular was always a friendly voice on my phone, and was pleasantly surprised whenever I remembered him. One day last spring, I saw a man slowly but steadily moving down the hallway. When he reached our offices, he introduced himself. I was delighted to finally meet this patient and told him so, shaking his hand as he held on firmly, looking me in the eye. And that was all. He just wanted to say hi, and introduce himself in person. I was moved by that handshake for days afterwards, especially after I was informed of his grave state. He died about a week later. I found a website for his memorial service, and wrote about my phone dealings with him, and that one handshake. A few days later I was contacted by his wife, brother and daughters, who said that he spoke highly and often of BWH and all they had done for him. I realized then that I was part of an institution that will always put patient interaction first, and that we make a huge impact on patients and their families; it is the kind of impact that can make a man with less than a week of life in him make a long trip just to shake our hands. It was a moment that made me proud to have my job, and to work for this hospital.
Consult Services Administrator, Department of Pathology
Connie Mason
A 10-year volunteer, Connie Mason comes in every weekday morning to deliver flowers from the gift shop to BWH’s sickest patients, as well as to BWH’s healthiest patients: those who have had a new baby! In remembering the shining moments of 2010, I believe that when Connie delivers the arrangement to each patient’s room, she is a “shining” star that brightens up the room with a huge smile on her face and her genuine love for making the person feel special during their stay.
Donna M. Cutillo
Executive Assistant, Partners HealthCare
This year, a patient came down to thank me for always being so nice and helping her on several occasions with some of her needs, and she also wanted to let me know that she received her new heart. I was brought to tears along with her, after we gave each other a big hug. That is what makes my job here so rewarding: that I can assist patients with a friendly smile, listen to what they have to say and guide them to what they need.
Cheryl Cantalupo
Clinic Secretary, Watkins Cardiovascular Clinic B
Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center
Edward Arndt and two young patients in Haiti
It was a profound moment in my nursing career to be a member of the BWH team that traveled to Haiti following the earthquake. Partners In Health staff saw to it that we were safe and well-cared for, and that we were able to do the work we had set out to do. I am very proud to be a member of the BWH community, and extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to represent our institution in this way.
Edward Arndt III, MS, ACNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational Health
4 Comments
I love to bring a smile to an elderly person. I care so much for them because of my grandmother and because of how my mother raised me. She told me that someday I will get old and that I should always treat people as if they were your own family. I love to bring a smile to someone mostly whom is elderly because that maybe the last time you see them smile. Bwh gives me that opportunity and that is the first thing that I aim for. I do it proudly. Thank you.
I was unreachable when my husband, a Boston firefighter, was brought to the ED after being slightly injured at a fire scene. By the time I found out about it he had already been released. I had no concerns though as I knew that the ED team here is THE BEST!!! I thanked Dr. Pozner the next day via e-mail and was pleased (but not surprised) to receive a very warm personal response.
I have been here sine 2008 and have found a family in the BPG practice. The best moments are the smiles and appreciation from the secretaries, nurses, medical assistants to the doctors. I have never worked in a place where coworkers hug daily ...its truly a family away from home. I love my BPG-ers.
I am blessed to have a secretaries in BWH's Spanish Clinic, Lucia Cardenas, and Julie Santiago. These 2 ladies are BWH's stars. Each of them compliments the other. Lucia is the secretary for Spanish Clinic and she pretty much runs the entire clinic. The patients adore her. She always has a plesant smile and a compasionate ear for patients. Lucia is the poster child for Patient First! Julie is a Secretary for the Jen Center who is Lucia's back up when she is not available to work. One particular evening Lucia could not come into work and Julie did not get the message that Lucia was out, and now the clinic was unattended. It was not unattended too long, because Julie was on her way home when she recieved a call from one of her colleagues who said that there was no one to work the front desk. After 8 hours of working in the Jen Center, Julie turned her car around and came back to clinic to work another 4 hours in the Spanish Clinic. I was so touch by her dedication to the staff and patients. I just had to share her wonderful story about 2 dedicated stars of BWH.
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