When Maria first started in the Chronic Pain Center she brought a true sense of caring and positivity to the department. There are so many patients she has reached out to and helped there is not enough time to write about it. There was one patient who was falling through the cracks in the healthcare system. She needed things ordered for her home to help her to be able to function at home that are more PCP-related than chronic pain. Maria reached out to the PCP office to get the patient the help she needed.

Her care also extends to family members. She had a brother-in-law with a severe case of covid, then complicated by a CVA, and numerous other issues, the outlook was bleak. The physicians kept trying to encourage his wife to make him a no-code. His wife did not want to give up. Maria helped coordinate his care in Ohio by contacting physicians and therapy here in PA and was able to get him moved back to PA. He has made a remarkable recovery.

Another patient at Mercy had sent a message stating his pain was in a flare and was reaching out to his physician not only because of his pain but because recent actions on his part were causing severe psychological issues. Maria checked his chart saw numerous red flags and wasted no time contacting his physician. The physician gave her instructions for the patient, and she immediately contacted the patient and spoke with him to a great extent. At the end of the conversation, she said "we have all been broken at some time in our lives, and reaching out is the first step to getting help".

Maria does not back away from a potentially difficult situation but dives right in to provide optimum care. I have heard her defuse so many patients by staying completely calm and then turning the situation around... Her kind and caring attitude make every patient she greets feel important. Maria is a true asset to the Pain Center and the Pain Center is blessed to have her.