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March 28, 2024

Letters & Commendations

VNS Health Patient Letters, Emails and Phone Calls and Health Plan Member Commendations

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August 2021 CHOICE Commendations

August 4, 2021–In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, VNSNY staff have demonstrated time and time again their ability to rise to the occasion and deliver an exceptional consumer experience. Here are excerpts from some of the numerous compliments we recently received from plan members thanking VNSNY CHOICE staff for a job well done. “Doing a Great Job” The daughter of a long-term VNSNY CHOICE member phoned to compliment Care Coordinator Rosemary Muldoon, explaining how Rosemary “has been doing a great job” handling her mother’s case over the years—demonstrating care and always following up with her. “Patient, Helpful, and Knowledgeable” The son of a member phoned the CHOICE call center to share some kind words about Member Experience Representative Anzhela Mingova, stating that she was “very patient, helpful and knowledgeable.” “Most Impressed” “I would like to give a huge compliment to Care Management Support Coordinator Toni Linen,” wrote the daughter of two

May 2021 CHOICE Commendations

May 21, 2021–In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, VNSNY staff have demonstrated time and time again their ability to rise to the occasion and deliver an exceptional consumer experience. Here are excerpts from some of the numerous compliments we recently received from plan members thanking VNSNY CHOICE staff for a job well done.         “I Highly Recommend Them!” A CHOICE SelectHealth plan member left a heartfelt, 5-star review on Google for several CHOICE staffers who have assisted her since her initial referral to VNSNY. “After receiving a very attentive call from [Clinical Evaluation Manager] Matt Staggs yesterday, I felt prompted to write this review,” wrote the member. “I was referred to CHOICE SelectHealth by Northwell Health, and I came to them as someone facing homelessness and depression. It’s been six months since then and all my medical concerns have been addressed through VNSNY and Northwell in a very

May 2021 Patient Letters

May 21, 2021–The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to prove the resilience and dedication of our entire VNSNY staff. 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 that reflect an outstanding consumer experience.         “A Wonderful Job of Caring” Bronx—The daughter of a Bronx VNSNY Hospice patient called to give special thanks to licensed social worker Alisha Freeman and nurses Judith Spencer-Thomas and Selina Stewart-Williams, all of whom provided hospice care to her mother. She added that VNSNY Hospice had done “such a wonderful job of caring,” first for her father—who was also a hospice patient years earlier—and now her mother. “We Are So Grateful” “I am writing on behalf of my late father, and my mother, as the superb work of your staff sustained the both of them throughout his final year

March 2021 CHOICE Commendations

March 4, 2021–In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, VNSNY staff have demonstrated time and time again their ability to rise to the occasion and deliver an exceptional consumer experience. Here are excerpts from some of the numerous compliments we recently received from plan members thanking VNSNY CHOICE staff for a job well done.    “Kind and Professional” The daughter of a CHOICE plan member called to thank Member Services Representative Christine Odom for an excellent job in assisting her mother, adding that Christine “took the time to explain all of the pertinent information regarding her mom’s request” while remaining “kind and professional.” Another CHOICE member phoned to praise Christine for listening, being professional and providing a solution to his concerns around a DME issue. “Professional, Humane and Nurturing” “Professional,” “humane,” “nurturing,” and “patient” were just some of the many words used by a CHOICE member to describe Member Services Representative Tyisha Austin

March 2021 Patient Letters

March 4, 2021–The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to prove the resilience and dedication of our entire VNSNY staff. 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 that reflect an outstanding consumer experience.      “My Mother was Prepared Spiritually and Emotionally” Bronx— “I am writing to let you know how much I appreciated the support given to me by nurse Sherma Wheeler and social workers Leona Abrams and Fernando Otero,” wrote the daughter of a VNSNY Hospice patient who recently passed away at the age of 103. “Each one gave advice and moral support to help me understand and process what my dying mother was going through, and what I could do to help her pass away with dignity and peace. They allowed me to be a part of my mother’s care in a loving and

October 2020 CHOICE Commendations

October 21, 2020–In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, VNSNY staff have demonstrated time and time again their ability to rise to the occasion and deliver exceptional service. Recently, the CHOICE team has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that their plan members have access to much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE). Here are excerpts from some of the numerous compliments we receive each week from members thanking CHOICE staff for a job well done. “We Couldn’t Have Gotten Through This Hard Time Without Our Angel” The daughter of a CHOICE member emailed to express her gratitude to CHOICE Nurse Care Coordinator Annelisa Purdie for making sense of her mother’s care options and for providing relief to her family. “In April, my 98-year-old mother was admitted to the hospital with coronavirus and pneumonia,” she wrote. “A few days later, the hospital wanted to release her back to her home, or to

October 2020 Patient Letters

October 21, 2020–The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to prove the resilience and dedication of our entire VNSNY staff in the face of adversity. 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 that reflect the outstanding work and courage our VNSNY staff demonstrates each and every day. “So Much Love, Understanding, and Supreme Patience… Courteous, Professional, and Responsible” Brooklyn— The children of a Brooklyn patient wrote two separate letters to thank home health aides Yolanda Colon and Bibi Sakaanat for providing care to their mother in her final days. “Despite the sadness and mourning we are experiencing upon losing our mother, we would like to take this moment to convey to you what an outstanding home health aide Yolanda is,” read one letter. “Yolanda treated her as she would treat her own mother. She gave her

July 2020 Patient Letters

July 9, 2020–The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to prove the resilience and dedication of our entire VNSNY staff in the face of adversity. 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 that reflect the outstanding work and courage our VNSNY staff demonstrates each and every day. Brooklyn—Physical therapist Irene Espartinez received praise from a patient’s wife, who called to thank her for “pushing my husband to heal— but never too hard.” The patient’s wife also added that Irene was “polite and accommodating beyond belief.” Manhattan—“My wife and I do not have the words to express our deep gratitude for your compassionate assistance and the wonderful efforts of all we encountered in connection with my ordeal with COVID-19,” wrote a Manhattan patient. “From your immediate response in sending our wonderful nurse, Jennifer McCabe, who correctly helped

July 2020 CHOICE Commendations

July 9, 2020–In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, VNSNY staff have demonstrated time and time again their ability to rise to the occasion and deliver exceptional service. Recently, CHOICE staff members have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that clients have access to much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE). Here are excerpts from some of the numerous compliments we receive each week from members thanking CHOICE staff for a job well done. A CHOICE member’s children sent an email thanking CHOICE Clinical Evaluation Manager Natalia Kaminer for the care she provided their mother during their father’s final days. “We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being such an advocate of our mother’s care during these difficult times,” the children wrote. “This has been very tough on her and the rest of us. We are all essential workers who need to report to work, and we can’t