10,000 Conversations in Action!

A number of ACE participants from the Classes of 2018 and 2019 have already taken 10,000 Conversations for a test drive. Here’s what they had to say about it:

Rivkah Brenenson, Quality Improvement Manager, VNSNY Hospice and Palliative Care

 “I spoke with Maya Seidel, Enterprise Compliance Operations Manager. I learned about her career journey and what she enjoys about her current job. We also talked about how we each cope as mothers working outside the home with very young children.”

Bryan Campbell, IT Service Process Specialist, IT Service Support

“One of the conversations I had was with ACE alumna Tania Fairweather. I chose her because she is one of VNSNY Home Care’s Branch Directors, and I wanted to learn more about HomeCare HomeBase. I was able to provide guidance to Tania on which IT Service Desk different issues would go to, and I also learned about the numerous issues Tania experiences at the Branch Director level that prevent her staff from completing their tasks in HCHB. I took this back to our team, and as a result, our service vendor Unity modified their staff to have someone focus on the backlog of cases. Meanwhile, Tania and I now have a connection we can build on, for she knows that she can contact me for guidance on issues outside of HCHB as well.”

Ann Mary Ferrie, Associate Director, Public Policy and Government Affairs

“Recently, I met with Tamara Romero, Vice President of Operations & Execution for CHOICE. We took the time to give each other a brief overview of our teams, responsibilities, and current projects. The conversation not only led to a better understanding of what our respective departments do, but also provided an opportunity to discuss future collaboration opportunities!”

Samuel Jackson, Business Manager, VNSNY Research Center

“My first conversation was with Naomi Shinoda, Manager of Analytics for the Business Intelligence and Analytics Department. I was surprised at how much I learned from our conversation, given that I already knew Naomi and her department pretty well. I had a general understanding of what Analytics does, but I gained a much deeper understanding during our conversation about their current specific goals and their tools and methods (such as predictive risk modeling), as well as how the shifting landscape of reimbursement models and health policy has driven changes in their work and goals over the last few years. As a new manager myself, I was also delighted to learn about Naomi’s experiences building and managing a team. She gave me some great insights into the attributes she looks for in candidates, as well as managerial and leadership practices and resources.”

Julianne Kasinow, Enterprise Risk and Insurance Manager

“I’ve met with three people so far, and in each of my conversations, I gained a unique perspective of a different part of the organization. I’d like to highlight my conversation with Marzena Prozowska-Lambert, a Clinical Case Manager for Partners in Care. Marzena opened my eyes to the importance of empowering Home Health Aides (HHAs). Many times, the HHA is the individual that has the most consistent contact with our patients, which puts them in prime position to make a meaningful impact. At VNSNY, we want to ensure that all of our HHAs understand that the work they do is invaluable and that we would not be able to fulfill our mission without their consistent dedication!”

Mike Providence, Hospice Volunteer Training and Services Manager

“Through the 10,000 Conversations initiative, I’ve spoken with a number of colleagues with whom I had never interacted before. For example, Naomi Shinoda, Manager of Analytics in our Business Intelligence and Analytics Department, helped me understand what VNSNY’s business intelligence and analytics teams do, how they work together, and how their work impacts my work in Hospice. Because of our conversation, I’m investigating how the use of statistical modeling can impact volunteer placements and referrals.”

For more on the 10,000 Conversations initiative, click here.