August 2018 Patient Letters

The following are excerpts from a few of the many recent letters, phone calls, and emails that we’ve received from grateful patients and family members. Together, they reflect the outstanding work done each and every day by VNSNY’s entire frontline staff.

Brooklyn—”As my term with Partners in Care has just ended, I wanted to let you know how delighted I was with the help of my home health aide Charmaine Forbes,” wrote a Brooklyn patient. “Charmaine was highly professional, smart and knowledgeable, and in addition, good company. She can figure out the patient’s needs and adapt herself to them. All of these skills are not easy—Charmaine was perfect! Thank you for sending her to us.”

Manhattan—A Manhattan patient emailed her appreciation for the care provided by physical therapist Richard Brooks. “I’ve been a patient of Richard’s for the last two weeks following my total knee replacement,” she wrote. “I wanted to let you know how incredibly helpful he has been to me. Richard is exactly the right PT I needed at this most difficult time. He picked up on my anxiety and welcomed my questions and concerns, and guided me through my exercises with support and persistence and motivated me to work hard. He didn’t coddle me nor did he push me beyond my limit. I was committed to working hard between our sessions, and I continue to be committed. My sincere thanks.”

Read Richard’s story about why this patient encounter went so well.

The wife of a Manhattan patient wrote a letter commending the work of Partners in Care Credit and Receivable Manager Mario Lozada, who assisted her with billing concerns both in person and over the phone. “I found Mr. Lozada to be respectful and knowledgeable, and patient and confident in his explanations,” she said. “He was accommodating and always answered my questions to my satisfaction. You have a valued employee in Mr. Lozada, and you are lucky to have him.”

“I had to say goodbye today to a very gracious person by the name of physical therapist Sheetla Gaitonde” wrote the wife of another patient. “Sheetla has been my husband’s PT for over a month. She did it with such simplicity—her manner and warmth made us comfortable and brought a smile to his face, and her attitude and patience showed her love for what she’s doing. I know her persona will take her a long way. She is a credit to the wonderful VNSNY.” The writer also thanked the staff of the VNSNY Call Center for “answering our phone calls with dignity and respect.”

“My doctor requested the services of VNSNY to monitor and bandage my leg,” wrote another Manhattan resident. “My primary nurse was Margaret Torres, who couldn’t have been nicer or more caring, and I also saw nurses May Templo and Maggie Wang who were just as able and pleasant. They not only changed the bandage but took an interest in me. I do miss those hard working nurses, and if anyone asked, I most certainly would recommend the services of VNSNY.”

The son of a Manhattan patient sent an email praising the work of nurse Kristen Wong and physical therapist Manuel Espino, adding that his father is “rapidly recovering from his stroke” under their care. “They deserve a twelve on a scale of ten rating,” he added. “Their professionalism exceeded our expectations.”

“I completed my physiotherapy last week and want to commend my physical therapist Justin Chilesky,” wrote another patient. “Put simply, Justin is a gem. He is a superb therapist but also is caring, compassionate, and constantly aware of whether I was up to completing the exercises. In addition, Justin made multiple helpful suggestions relating to my disabilities. VNSNY can feel proud to have him on its staff.”

Nassau—A Nassau resident phoned to express gratitude to physical therapist William “Bill” Kraupner for assisting in his recovery. “I’ve worked with many physical therapists, and he is the best,” the patient said. “I was impressed with his knowledge, patience, consistency, and pleasant personality. I’m very thankful for his help.”

Read Bill’s story about why this patient encounter went so well.

The daughter of a Nassau patient called to compliment the work of nurse Kerlie Michelle Belizaire, stating that she “loves the services of VNSNY” for keeping her father healthy and assisting in his healing.

A patient phoned to congratulate nurse Amy Schwalberg for going “above and beyond” as a “professional and caring nurse.”

Another Nassau resident called to praise nurses Maryse Pyram and Kathleen Zimberlin for their compassion while providing “outstanding excellence in care.”

Queens—A Queens patient phoned to express her gratitude for the care she received from nurse Rosanna Maslinski. She said that Rosanna was “superb” and “very helpful in my healing process,” adding that she was “a gift—always reassuring, knowledgeable and caring.”

The siblings of a VNSNY Hospice patient wrote a touching letter “to express our gratitude for the extraordinary professional care and, most notably, the deepest humane qualities of empathy and affection given to our treasured sister by your hospice team.” They thanked medical director Maria Ortega, who “established a relationship of warmth, generosity, and kindness that our sister shared with us with genuine pleasure and gratitude,” as well as nurse Luis Leighton for “bringing an intensity, focus, depth of concern and wealth of experience to her care.” The letter also went on to commend social worker Joel Karlin for serving as “a font of solace, wisdom, and merriment,” and Partners in Care home health aide Yvonne Gabriel for forming a strong and reassuring bond with the patient, as well as providing “proof that there are indeed angels in this world.”

Staten Island—The husband of a patient who recently underwent hip replacement surgery wrote to thank the “dedicated staff of VNSNY” for “totally exceeding expectations” after the operation. “Physical therapist and home care consultant Virginia Cadot was thoroughly familiar with and very helpful in our transition from hospital to home care services, which occurred seamlessly,” he noted. He also praised nurseEileen Baez as “a wonderful person, kind, very caring and alert,” and physical therapist Matthew Cutroneo as “highly skilled”—adding, “he examined and evaluated my wife’s abilities and then helped her move in a better manner to get her back to her normal daily lifestyle.”