I want to let you know that Sandi at the Rock Creek Oncology department does an amazing job. She works in the back office as the Oncology Care Coordinator. I have Multiple Myeloma cancer and have to have frequent appointments, treatments, and medications ordered and refilled on a regular basis. I have recently started a new treatment plan for this disease since I have had a relapse which brings on many new questions, timing of treatments, and scheduling. In a situation like this, it brings on new stress, anxiety, and many new questions for the patient. With that said, Sandi has a wonderful way of making a stressful situation calming. She is an ultimate professional and caregiver but has humor and a constant positive attitude and helps the stress of the situation be bearable. She makes me feel at ease and opens the line of communication. She understands that I am still working and trying to get the treatments, medications, appointments, and understand the new process that I need without it being overwhelming for me. Sandi responds to my KP messages in a timely manner, personally makes phone calls to me to help me understand and stay calm, and never seems put out or annoyed with my questions, and trust me I ask a lot of questions to make sure I fully understand when and how to take my prescriptions, what to expect from treatments, what type of over the counter medications I should have on hand at home in case of diarrhea or constipation, what type of lotion to use. Just to name a few.

One example (but trust me there are many more that I could tell you about her) that sticks out is I was in the Oncology dept in a chair receiving treatment. My husband went to her desk and she was not in. Another nurse asked if she could help and my husband told her we needed to place a refill of a prescription that has to be ordered through the Kaiser Specialty Pharmacy and we get with Sandi to get the ball rolling. The nurse said she would leave Sandi a message since she was not in that day. Believe it or not, within two minutes, Sandi called me on my cell phone. Since I was receiving treatment at the time I was whispering to her on the phone to avoid any disruptions. Sandi then said to me "okay, we'll whisper" and she whispered on the line just like she would have been sitting next to me. This totally made me feel at ease and I giggled. Sandi told me once I had my labs done again if the blood was all on track that she would send it to my Oncologist to sign off on and the prescription would be ordered. I went and got labs done the next week. I notified her once I got them done and she personally kept watching for the results to come through so she could get the process rolling. Guess what, she followed through as always and got it done.

I certainly hope that Sandi will get the recognition that she so greatly deserves. She is one in a million to your facility. Her humble personality is incredible along with her dedication and knowledge. She actually cares about the patient. Sandi treats me like I am the only patient and trust me I know that she has to deal with hundreds of patients on a regular basis. Her professionalism and calm presence made my chemo process a less frightening experience.