Thomas Berko
September 2025
Thomas
Berko
,
ADN, RN
5 North
University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus
Baltimore
,
MD
United States
Thomas did a remarkable job forging an empathetic and trusting bond with the patient throughout his night shift.
I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for RN Thomas Berko of our UMMC Midtown Campus 5 North nursing staff.
Overnight, RN Berko and I together cared for a complex patient on 5 North.
This patient is a young patient with sickle cell disease suffering from an acute vaso-occlusive crisis. The patient was experiencing uncontrolled pain despite receiving significant amounts of analgesia til that point.
Thomas did a remarkable job forging an empathetic and trusting bond with the patient throughout his night shift. He and I talked many times, as I modified her regimen first by changing medication, then by changing frequency, then by changing dosage. His communication was clear and concise, and he also escalated the matter appropriately when needed.
While I spent time with the patient at her bedside, she told me RN Berko was extremely dedicated, kind, and timely with all medications, and that made her feel that our team really cared for her. She told me she trusted me, and I felt the nurse-physician partnership in this challenging case allowed for that trust to be built overnight.
It is not the first time I have noticed excellent clinical care by Thomas, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share this patient's feedback and congratulate him for delivering an improved clinical outcome and improved patient experience. The patient also shared that patients like her with sickle cell disease often feel misunderstood, as they require more pain medicine than the usual patient. I observed the arc from extreme patient frustration to comfort and gratitude.
Thomas consistently sets a role model behavior at work that we should all be proud of, and last night he beautifully demonstrated his commitment to the core values of UMMC Midtown Campus through his care. If I were a patient, I would feel safe with him as my nurse.
Overnight, RN Berko and I together cared for a complex patient on 5 North.
This patient is a young patient with sickle cell disease suffering from an acute vaso-occlusive crisis. The patient was experiencing uncontrolled pain despite receiving significant amounts of analgesia til that point.
Thomas did a remarkable job forging an empathetic and trusting bond with the patient throughout his night shift. He and I talked many times, as I modified her regimen first by changing medication, then by changing frequency, then by changing dosage. His communication was clear and concise, and he also escalated the matter appropriately when needed.
While I spent time with the patient at her bedside, she told me RN Berko was extremely dedicated, kind, and timely with all medications, and that made her feel that our team really cared for her. She told me she trusted me, and I felt the nurse-physician partnership in this challenging case allowed for that trust to be built overnight.
It is not the first time I have noticed excellent clinical care by Thomas, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share this patient's feedback and congratulate him for delivering an improved clinical outcome and improved patient experience. The patient also shared that patients like her with sickle cell disease often feel misunderstood, as they require more pain medicine than the usual patient. I observed the arc from extreme patient frustration to comfort and gratitude.
Thomas consistently sets a role model behavior at work that we should all be proud of, and last night he beautifully demonstrated his commitment to the core values of UMMC Midtown Campus through his care. If I were a patient, I would feel safe with him as my nurse.