Albert Cano, security operations manager
Albert Cano, security operations manager at the Mount Sinai-Harlem Health Center, and his team recently responded to a call concerning a disruptive and threatening patient who was causing a disturbance and refusing to leave without seeing their nurse practitioner. After several attempts to de-escalate the situation, a New York City police officer and Al helped escort the patient off site.
At the end of the day, the nurse practitioner involved in the incident approached the security desk, thanking them for their assistance. When the provider said she was concerned with walking to the subway alone after the incident, Al took it upon himself, after his shift ended, to not only escort her to the train, but also ride with her until it was his stop to ensure her safety.
Mary Walker, Assistant Director, Security, at Mount Sinai Morningside, says, “This display of humanity and service, above and beyond his duties, is nothing less than excellence of character. We thank Al for his continued service to our staff, providers, and patients’ safety; we are fortunate to have him as part of our team.”
Al has words of wisdom for his colleagues in health care. “When work becomes all consuming, we sometimes lose our focus on what is most important: empathy. If we treated everyone the way we treat ourselves, the world would be a heavenly place.”