Check Out These Patient Letters and Member Commendations!
Our VNS Health team members continue to prove how empathetic, resilient, dedicated and, really, how just plain amazing VNS Health team members are! The following are excerpts from a few of the many recent letters, phone calls, and emails we’ve received from grateful patients, members and clients as well as family members that reflect an outstanding consumer experience.
For patient letters and member commendations by geography, click on the area below:
Bronx
“I’ll never forget your caring ways.”
The granddaughter of a patient from the Bronx called in to thank nurse Sultana Alibasic for the exceptional support Sultana provided during her loved one’s end-of-life care. “Sultana, thank you for the care that you provided to my grandfather and family by extension,” she said. “Everyone, including my curmudgeon, yet lovable grandfather, felt you were beyond capable, compassionate, and kind. I’ll never forget your caring ways.”
“She was extremely supportive and amazing to my family.”
A hospice patient’s daughter phoned to thank nurse Fanny Sarker for being a true asset to their family during this transitional period. “Fanny was extremely supportive and amazing to my family,” the patient stated. “She was always available, present and felt very connected throughout the entire time.”
Brooklyn
“She did a wonderful job!”
A Brooklyn patient’s son called and expressed his appreciation for nurse Chantelle Rougier, who visited her father earlier that day. “She did a wonderful job with my father,” the son said.
“He was very supportive of my mother and had a very engaging manner.”
A patient’s adult child sent a glowing message about her mother’s physical therapist, Dr. Tarek Elsayed. “He was excellent!” the writer noted. “He was very supportive of my mother and had a very engaging manner with her during the session today. His concern for her was evident. He made some very good suggestions to her that would help to improve her mobility and she was very receptive to them. If I were ever in need of PT services, I would definitely want Dr. Elsayed to assist me.”
“He has healing hands.”
A patient phoned to commend physical therapist, Emad Eldin El Refaei. “Emad is really great at his job,” the patient said. “He has healing hands. I was very pleased with his work!”
“He maintained politeness and provided amazing service.”
A patient’s wife called in to compliment physical therapist, Hany Elmeligy. “Hany was a great help,” she commented. “He maintained politeness and provided amazing service.”
Manhattan
“Much love for all the people who work for your company.”
The daughter of a Manhattan patient sent a heartfelt note praising VNS Health as a whole and hospice nurse Alfred Sarte, in particular. “Alfred allowed me to care for my mom and was never intrusive or under-attentive,” wrote the daughter. “Everything was perfect from beginning to end. I am eternally grateful to your company and to the specific individuals assigned to my mom’s case. I will take you guys with me in my heart till I take my last breath. Much love for all the people who work for your company.”
“He offered comfort and excellent care.”
A patient’s wife called in to compliment hospice nurse Daniel McCarthy on his amazing work during her husband’s end-of-life care. “Daniel offered comfort and excellent care,” she said.
“Her upbeat attitude, support and encouragement spurred my husband on.”
The wife of a Manhattan patient wrote: “I want to let you know how much my husband, and I appreciate the great work that physical therapist, Milissa Mondestin did with my husband over the past few months. My husband is finally (!) nearing the end of his treatment for lymphoma, a totally unexpected diagnosis he received in June. Up until then, he worked out at his gym three times a week as he had for decades. However, after a three-week hospital stay and two more inpatient weeks for chemo treatment, topped off with an additional hospital stay in September due to COVID, he had lost 45 pounds and all of his strength. Milissa worked with him after his hospital stays and put him on the path to begin to rebuild. Her upbeat attitude, support and encouragement spurred him on. In fact, I jokingly asked her to move in, as her attempts to get him up and moving were so much more successful than mine. My husband still has a lot of work ahead of him to regain his health and physical strength and he will soon begin PT outside of our home. We are very grateful that Milissa gave him such a good start.”
“My nurse is very professional, nice, and always helping me.”
A patient called in to show her appreciation for clinical field manager, Nicola Amofa. “I want to give my thanks to Nicola,” she said. “She is very professional, nice, and always helping me.”
“He was not only good-hearted but also very patient and knowledgeable.”
A VNS Health Total plan member called to express her gratitude for the exceptional consumer experience that was provided by contact center agent, Stanley Maldonado. The member noted: “Stanley was not only good-hearted but also very patient, which I greatly appreciated, and knowledgeable enough to respond to my inquiries.”
“She was very helpful and efficient.”
Another health plan member phoned in a special thank you to contact center agent, Birmania Veras for being “very helpful and efficient.” The member added, “She made me feel as if she cares.”
“I want to tell you how wonderful Donna was.”
A patient’s husband sent in a beautiful email on the behalf of their home health aide, Donna Sims, who assisted during his wife’s end-of-life care. The husband recounted a heartfelt moment shared between Donna and his wife in the final hours of her life that left him with peace and much relief that she was gracefully cared for. “I want to tell you how wonderful Donna was on the day my wife died.” the husband wrote. “On the day my wife died, she came to work her shift and announced ‘It’s a beautiful day. We are going for a walk.’ We got her dressed and Donna took her out in the newly purchased wheelchair. She took her out to the East Side Promenade, where she looked at the river, the dog run and her neighborhood. When they returned, she was clearly very happy, waving to me from the hallway as we prepared to take her into the apartment.” The husband added, “Two things are clear to me: Bonnie would not have had such pleasant final hours without Donna, and I would have been a mess if she wasn’t there to help.”
“Job well done!”
A patient called in to commend contact center agent, Mei Yi Mei on a job well done during their session earlier that day. “My interaction with Mei today has provided a better understanding of my injury and what I need to do moving forward,” the patient said. “Job well done!”
“My nurse was excellent.”
A Manhattan patient praised nurse Lindy Antoine-Crute, saying, “My nurse, Lindy, was excellent yesterday.”
Nassau
“He did an excellent job, the best I ever had!”
A patient in Nassau County called our CCSS to compliment physical therapist, Job Becerra. “Job did an excellent job, the best I ever had!” he stated.
“She is a very good physical therapist.”
Another Nassau patient phoned to say that physical therapist, Tamara Jacobs “was very helpful” and that she “is a very good physical therapist.”
Queens
“She did an amazing job and went above and beyond.”
A Queens patient called expressing her gratitude for the care provided by physical therapist, Lissy Lau. “Lissy is responsive, reliable, professional, and motivating to her patients while maintaining good communication and a positive attitude,” she said. “I injured myself and Lissy spoke to the doctor and helped the doctor understand what I was experiencing. She is very knowledgeable on injuries and care, as well as being extremely pleasant and empathetic. Lissy did an amazing job and went above and beyond.”
“He is very knowledgeable and comforting.”
Another Queens patient called to compliment nurse, Julius Ryan Padilla. “He helped me during my first knee replacement, which led me to request him for my second replacement due to his commitment, personal attention, and responsiveness,” she explained. “He is very knowledgeable and comforting, and went above and beyond to treat me with care. He is very professional and I highly recommend him.”
“She is a ray of sunshine!”
A patient phoned in to thank her nurse Debra Feehan for all the work that she does taking care of the patient and her husband. “Debra Feehan is a ray of sunshine!” she said. “We are so happy to have her.”
“I am very happy with the hospice services.”
A patient’s daughter called to thank her mother’s hospice nurses, including Mirella Jagessar, Olga Aylarov and Berkis Oken. “I wanted to express my gratitude for Mirella, Olga, and Berkis and all the nurses who visited my mother, for always being so kind and supportive,” she stated. “I am very happy with the hospice services.”
“Thank you to everyone on their amazing work.”
A patient’s daughter called to compliment the Queens Hospice Care team for keeping her mother comfortable throughout her care. “I want to say thank you to everyone on their amazing work during my mother’s end of life—especially nurse Cindy Yang,” she said.
Westchester
“She is absolutely wonderful.”
In an email sent by a patient’s wife in Westchester, the wife praised home health aide Brenda Asumada for her understanding manner. “Brenda is absolutely wonderful even when my husband can be very difficult,” she wrote, “and I wouldn’t know what to do without her help.”
“Thank you so very much.”
Another Westchester patient wrote to say, “Doretta Galasso is the most wonderful nurse I’ve ever had, both in and out of the hospital. Thank you so very much for making her my visiting nurse.”
“He made each session a positive experience.”
In a handwritten note sent to our Westchester office, a patient highlighted the amazing work done by physical therapist, Jerome Tan. “After a total knee replacement, I was fortunate to have Jerome as my home physical therapist,” the patient wrote. “To have someone like Jerome provide the care and direction needed during this post-op period was for me a most uplifting experience. Jerome was an excellent instructor. After the first visit, I could feel the difference in my ability to push through the pain in order to achieve the results needed. He thoroughly explained each exercise and took the time to have me understand the benefits it provided. Jerome’s attitude was a key element in my recovery. He provided the encouragement I needed to get to the next level and made each session a positive experience.”
Here are some messages that were posted on the VNS Health Facebook page.
“I’m forever grateful for everyone I met during my mother’s illness … the nurses were Heaven-sent. I’m amazed by their commitment and compassion. Thank you all and may God bless each one of you.”
“You all are something special. I’ve posted before but am doing it again. My Dad had VNS Health during his stay with us. Your compassion and help during that time was wonderful. It was many years ago, but it’s something I will never forget. I thank you again and will make sure everyone hears about your dedicated staff.”
