Because of Mr. Matthew “Mattie” Brooks, I have renewed positive thoughts about the care and culture of the VA Health Care System. I had good experiences overall starting in the emergency room, radiology, the neurology team, and all of the 5A nursing staff.

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A patient's experience: She had not been in a hospital in over 15 years due to negative experiences. Mr. Brook’s caring and thoughtful treatment had given her hope and re-established trust in the VA System and culture. The patient stated, “he was a light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel. I cannot say enough about his positive nature, professionalism, and genuine caring nature. He truly represents everything a nurse needs to be and what I needed at that particular moment in time as it set me at ease." She highlighted the following scenarios that made Mr. Brooks stand out amongst his peers: "He explained anything and everything (in a professional manner), including tests and bloodwork, and validated that I truly understood what it meant for me. He has a wonderful sense of humor which helped make her feel more trusting of the situation I was in. These are just a small set of things Mr. Brooks did for me and I thank him for allowing me to trust again."

The patient also took a moment to recognize our Food and Nutrition partners as well on the quality and taste of the food. Mr. Brooks clearly demonstrates great dedication to duty, the organization, and the care of the patient. He continuously goes above and beyond with every patient and exhibits all the ICARE values.