Marie Totari
April 2015
Marie
Totari
,
BS
Med/SUrg/Tele
Upstate University Hospital
Syracuse
,
NY
United States
I received a beautiful letter from a family member of a patient who passed away on our unit. The staff took excellent care of the patient and family. The family member complimented staff and stated that Marie "took up saying the Lords' prayer with the priest when I was too emotional to continue". Marie takes the extra time to make the Patient Experience a positive one. I was so impressed with Marie for enhancing the experience by saying the Lord's prayer when the family was too emotional to continue. This is an experience that really touched the hearts of the family. See attached letter. I am writing on behalf of the family of a former patient who passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 26th.
My 86 year old father had been admitted via the Emergency room to your hospital very late on 1/16/2015. I arrived from Florida on 1/18/2015, and was there every single day until my dad passed away.
I am a small business owner, serving clients in 10 states. I understand how important it is to make clients feel satisfied. And let's face it, patients and their families can be some of the most difficult to please due to the emotional side of their stay at your hospital. Every single person that I encountered was absolutely exceptional. The entire staff should be commended for their professionalism, kindness, compassion, and dedication. From the security officers where I entered who greeted me with their warm smiles and hellos, to the food service staff ordering my dad's meals who made us feel cared for, you all went above and beyond.
I wish I had the wherewithal during my sleepy vigil to write down the names of the staff on 3rd floor West. I will never, ever forget all of you. Michelle Garcia was an absolute Godsend. Her knowledge and patience astounded and calmed me. Jim was an absolute delight, even taking the time to explain medications my mom should be taking in a way that made her resume taking her prescriptions. (This is something her own Doctor could not get her to do). Marie, the nurse who took up saying the Lords prayer with the priest when I was too emotional to continue. Suzanne Wheeler, Nelly, Courtney, and the entire team of social workers who coordinated things with Medicaid and Hospice with compassion and efficiency. Father Peter Major, Chaplain Greg, and the Deacon who administered communion and the blessing and anointing of the sick for my dada, and prayed for me the day my father was dying. The entire crew that works in the cafeteria who were always so pleasant that I looked forward to my little breaks I took there. I hope every single person gets a chance to see this letter.
In a world where there is so much strife, and in a place where there are so many suffering- every single one of you should know that your smiles, your hearty good mornings, your hand on my shoulder, your tenderness with my father, your patience in explaining everything to my family- it mattered. You made a difference. You made a journey that was scary and sad into something that was compassionate and understood.
I will never forget the kindness you all bestowed upon my family. Bravo to all of you. You are all heroes. I left that hospital a little better off knowing it was all of you who had a hand in my father's care in his final days.
My 86 year old father had been admitted via the Emergency room to your hospital very late on 1/16/2015. I arrived from Florida on 1/18/2015, and was there every single day until my dad passed away.
I am a small business owner, serving clients in 10 states. I understand how important it is to make clients feel satisfied. And let's face it, patients and their families can be some of the most difficult to please due to the emotional side of their stay at your hospital. Every single person that I encountered was absolutely exceptional. The entire staff should be commended for their professionalism, kindness, compassion, and dedication. From the security officers where I entered who greeted me with their warm smiles and hellos, to the food service staff ordering my dad's meals who made us feel cared for, you all went above and beyond.
I wish I had the wherewithal during my sleepy vigil to write down the names of the staff on 3rd floor West. I will never, ever forget all of you. Michelle Garcia was an absolute Godsend. Her knowledge and patience astounded and calmed me. Jim was an absolute delight, even taking the time to explain medications my mom should be taking in a way that made her resume taking her prescriptions. (This is something her own Doctor could not get her to do). Marie, the nurse who took up saying the Lords prayer with the priest when I was too emotional to continue. Suzanne Wheeler, Nelly, Courtney, and the entire team of social workers who coordinated things with Medicaid and Hospice with compassion and efficiency. Father Peter Major, Chaplain Greg, and the Deacon who administered communion and the blessing and anointing of the sick for my dada, and prayed for me the day my father was dying. The entire crew that works in the cafeteria who were always so pleasant that I looked forward to my little breaks I took there. I hope every single person gets a chance to see this letter.
In a world where there is so much strife, and in a place where there are so many suffering- every single one of you should know that your smiles, your hearty good mornings, your hand on my shoulder, your tenderness with my father, your patience in explaining everything to my family- it mattered. You made a difference. You made a journey that was scary and sad into something that was compassionate and understood.
I will never forget the kindness you all bestowed upon my family. Bravo to all of you. You are all heroes. I left that hospital a little better off knowing it was all of you who had a hand in my father's care in his final days.