Our First Batch of 2023 Patient Letters and Commendations Feature Over 30 Team Members!
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
“Both are so lovely, very patient and caring.”
A patient in the Bronx phoned to praise the care provided by nurse Desiree Gibson and physical therapist Agnes Vidal. She described the employees as “both being so lovely, very patient and caring, and flexible with my schedule.”
“The service was exceptional and helped me a lot. I am very grateful.”
A patient called to say how thankful she was for the service provided to her by home health aide Karen Rolling. The patient mentioned that the service was “exceptional” and helped her a lot in her recovery. She added that she was “very grateful and satisfied with the service I received,” and to “give thanks to her supervisor for sending such a great person.”
“She is knowledgeable, empathetic, caring and compassionate.”
A patient’s daughter reached out to the manager of nurse Michelle Campbell to share her appreciation and immense gratitude for Michelle’s help. “She is very knowledgeable, empathetic, caring and compassionate,” the daughter noted.
“Thank you for all of your help!”
The daughter of a Bronx hospice patient called to express her appreciation for hospice nurses Fanny Sarker and Collette Bazin. “I want to praise nurse Collette for her assistance throughout my mother’s end-of-life care,” the daughter said. “She took over and made everything manageable. I also want to praise nurse Fanny. Thank you for all of your help!”
Brooklyn
“Just wanted to let you all know—I am one happy customer”
After receiving hip replacement surgery, a patient was assigned Feb Cortez as his physical therapist. In a social media post, he describes Feb as wonderful. “His energy, professional demeanor, his encouraging tone, and TOUGH exercises made physical therapy something that I look forward to at each visit,” the patient wrote. “Just wanted to let you all know—I am one happy customer!”
“I couldn’t do this without VNS Health!”
A hospice patient’s wife phoned to thank everyone at VNS Health who assisted during her husband’s end-of-life care—adding: “VNS Health helped to keep my husband out the hospital. I couldn’t do this without VNS Health!”
“She is really a wealth of knowledge.”
A Brooklyn patient called in to express her gratitude for social worker Yana Gaykov. “She was amazing and terrific!” the patient said. “Yana was very pleasant, wonderful, and a tremendous resource. She is really a wealth of knowledge.”
Manhattan
“Very professional, very patient, and so sweet and lovely!”
A patient from Manhattan sent in a lovely email stating how satisfied she was with physical therapist Gauri Shetye. “She is very knowledgeable, very professional, very patient and so sweet and lovely!” the patient wrote. “I could go on and on. I am sorry the therapy is only for three weeks! I have had a few experiences with VNS Health, and you never fail to excel!”
“I want to thank everyone for their kindness and help.”
A hospice patient’s wife called to thank everyone who assisted her through a time of fear and stress during her husband’s final days, especially nurse practitioner Jennifer Clarke. “I want to thank everyone for their kindness and help,” she said.
“She takes her time to get to know the client, she’s awesome.”
A Personal Care patient phoned to compliment home health aide Sepulveda Jeanette. “Sepulveda is a very good worker. She’s very understanding, and takes her time to get to know the client’s likes and dislikes,” she said. “Anytime I need a replacement, I will call for HHA Jeannette.”
“We are very grateful that she gave him such a good start!”
A patient’s wife emailed to note her appreciation for physical therapist Melissa Mondestin and her ability to get her husband into a better and healthier space. Melissa was assigned to the patient after he had spent time in the hospital recovering from chemotherapy, which caused him to lose much of his strength. “Melissa worked with my husband after his hospital stays and put him on the path to begin to rebuild,” the wife wrote. “Her upbeat attitude, support and encouragement spurred him on. We are very grateful that Melissa gave him such a good start!”
“She was an angel.”
A patient’s husband called in to share his wonderful experience with nurse Marcia Dubois. “Marcia Dubois is God sent,” he said. “She was an angel.”
“She made our lives better.”
A patient’s daughter called to compliment nurse Kelley Sheffey. “I thought I would let you know how much I appreciate Kelly’s level of professionalism,” she said. “She was so very kind. She made our lives better during that time.”
“You asked if I understood.”
While assisting a client over the phone, Contact Center Agent Kamiera Booker received a glowing compliment. “You are very thorough and provide extremely great customer service,” the client said. “You explained everything, you made sure you listened, you were patient and gave me time to absorb what you said, and you asked if I understood. You should be considered an asset!”
“She took her time and was so professional.”
A patient called to compliment nurse Cecila Reclusado following their time together that day. “Cecila took her time and was so professional. She did exactly what the doctor ordered,” the patient stated. “I am very pleased with her.”
“He is truly a professional and passionate about his work.”
A patient’s husband left a lovely note on Facebook for physical therapist Sean Sullivan after receiving care from him following her knee surgery. “I would especially like to express our deepest gratitude to Sean,” the husband wrote. “He helped my wife get through this difficult time with his kind and compassionate bedside caregiving approach. He is truly a professional and passionate about his work.
“I want to say thanks for her insight and support.”
During her mother’s final moments, a patient’s daughter received phone support from Contact Center Clinical Specialist Wanda Lopez. In a follow-up call, she explained how Wanda provided much relief in a time of immense stress. “Wanda explained carefully what my mother needed to be comfortable and suggestions of care,” she said. “I want to say thanks to Wanda for her insight and support.”
“I have the highest praise for his professionalism, dedication, and tenacity.”
A patient’s daughter sent in a lovely letter to express her gratitude for physical therapist Algyn Duran throughout her mother’s care. “My mom looks forward to his visits and never complained about the treatments and exercises that Al used with her,” the daughter wrote. “He was always very cordial and cooperative with me. I have the highest praise for his professionalism, dedication and tenacity in working with my mom.”
“Everybody at VNS Health has been beyond caring.”
A hospice patient’s daughter called to thank everyone that she encountered at VNS Health during her mother’s end-of-life care. “Everybody at VNS Health has been beyond caring. I am so appreciative,” she said.
Long Island
“She has gone above and beyond.”
A Nassau patient phoned to express her satisfaction withhome health aide Elizabeth Childress. “Elizabeth has gone above and beyond what it means to be a caregiver,” she said.
“I really appreciate her for all the work that she has done.”
Another Nassau patient called to share that she has been in better spirits after meeting with social worker Dolly Garcia-Willix. “I havebeen doing so much better,” she noted. “I really appreciate Dolly for all the work that she has done.”
Queens
“She is exceptionally good and caring. I am very grateful.”
A Queens patient called to share her satisfaction and thank VNS Health for matching her with home health aide Yvette Blair. “She is exceptionally good and caring,” said the patient. “I am very grateful for the service that I received from Yvette.”
“She is wonderful!”
A patient’s daughter called to compliment home health aide Ara Shamim for assisting with her mother’s care, stating, “My mother is doing much better with Ara. She is wonderful!”
“This is the best organization. Everybody has been so good to me!”
A patient’s husband called to say how grateful he was for everyone he encountered with VNS Health during his wife’s care—specifically hospice nurse Luis Leighton and social workers Silvia Castillo and Diane Basner. “This is the best organization,” he added. “Everyone has been so good to me!”
“Thank you all.”
“I’m forever grateful for everyone I met during my mother’s illness,” wrote the daughter of a Queens hospice patient. “The journey was long for everyone, but the nurses were Heaven-sent. I’m amazed by their commitment and compassion. Someone always showed up regardless of the hour. Thank you all and may God Bless each and every one of you.”
“He shows empathy and care.”
Physical therapist Reylito Pamarada was complimented by a patient recovering from surgery. “Reylito has been encouraging and supporting,” the patient noted. “He takes pride in his job and shows great empathy and care.”
“Very proactive and supportive.”
A husband and wife residing in Queens sent a “huge shoutout” to nurse Sang Ramos for embodying “the best of home care provider services.” They added that Sang “takes her time with the patients and is very proactive and supportive.”
Staten Island
“She was marvelous!”
A Staten Island patient called to compliment physical therapist Claudia Distefano following their interaction earlier that day. “I wanted to say thank you for my physical therapist today. She was marvelous!” the patient said.
“She had a wonderful way about her.”
A patient’s wife called in to praise hospice admissions nurse Amy Urciuoli, who had visited her husband the day prior. “I wanted to say thank you to nurse Amy—she was beyond fabulous,” said the wife. “She made us feel secure in their decision to bring my husband home from the hospital. She was caring, and she had a wonderful way about her.”
Westchester
“Thank you for such a pleasant experience.”
A Westchester patient phoned to thank physical therapist Daniel Holand for a memorable time while working together. “I enjoyed the interaction that we had,” the patient said. “I highly recommend Dan for physical therapy. Thank you for such a pleasant experience.”
