Eileen Cespuglio, Manager, CHOICE MLTC Assessment Unit
“I am absolutely dedicated to the mission of this organization, so I’m very goal-oriented and focused on keeping the wheels turning and moving us forward.”
Eileen has had many roles over the course of her career, all of which allow her to do her job—and connect with her colleagues—from varied, valuable vantage points. “I’ve worked as a discharge planner, a medical-surgical nurse, a staff developer/educator, a team manager, and a clinical manager. I worked for the CHHA. I even worked as a visiting nurse for VNSNY,” she says. Her cumulative experience amounts to a solid foundation for her current role—ensuring that her nurses are equipped with everything they need to know in order to enroll consumers to become members in VNSNY’s CHOICE MLTC and CHOICE Total MAP plans. “I’ve been at VNSNY for 23 years and I am absolutely dedicated to the mission of this organization, so I’m very goal-oriented and focused on keeping the wheels turning and moving us forward,” she says. “I believe in the long-term goal of reaching out to everybody in New York and ultimately other states as well—because that’s how great we are. I really believe that.”
Her most rewarding moments are when she’s able to change the mind of a patient or caregiver who might have been hesitant about joining a CHOICE health plan, either due to misconceptions, to lack of understanding, or to an expectation of more clinician hours. “I love enlightening people and addressing their concerns,” she explains. “It’s not just about an aide showing up for three hours—it’s also about all the other services in our plan that will keep you well and decrease your risk for hospitalization, and about the nurses who will help you navigate the system so you’ll receive the best possible care while you remain safe in your home and your community.”
As for challenges, Eileen not only doesn’t dread them, she thrives on them. “When one of my nurses comes to me with a problem, I tell him or her, ‘I hope it’s a good one because I’m bored of the usual ones!’,” she chuckles, noting that a little humor can go a long way in breaking the tensions associated with a challenge—and hence can help them resolve it, together. “My nurses are professionals and I have very high expectations for them, but they also know that they’ll have the utmost support from me when they’re stuck in a situation,” she says. “We’ve built a dynamic team that understands the core values of our organization and embraces its legacy. This has been a fantastic ongoing journey, and one that I look forward to continuing in my endeavors.”
