Diabetes educator Celia Chu-Diep has been referred to as the “quarterback” who skillfully helps her patients reach their goal line. This was the case when her patient, Orlando Feliz, recently was reclassified as prediabetic and was able to stop taking insulin.
Orlando’s A1c—the standard for measuring blood sugar management in people with diabetes—dropped from 10.2 percent to 7.2 percent over the course of several months and then even further to 6.3 percent. “It is amazing to see a patient with diabetes improve his/her glycemic control,” Celia says. “The sense of accomplishment transforms them into a new person. This is what I strive for with every patient encounter.”
When Orlando was concerned that he would not be able to pay for insulin until his health insurance kicked in, Celia introduced him to a CVS drug assistance program that provided him with an affordable one-month supply. After his health insurance became available, she recommended that Orlando begin using Livongo®, a free monitoring meter and portal available to eligible patients. He did so well that Celia suggested to his Mount Sinai Queens physician, Luke Janson, MD, that Orlando transition from insulin to oral medication. His diabetes is now controlled with metformin and glipizide.
Chef Miriam Zamparelli and her team at The Mount Sinai Hospital make daily rounds and work closely with clinical staff to ensure that patients receive meals that are nutritious and enjoyable. “We cook with the purpose of making people smile, feel better, more empowered, and secure,” she says. “It is a pleasure to work side by side our nurses, doctors, and all of our departments to reach a common goal—taking great care of our patients.”
Chef Miriam and her staff learn about their patients’ diets and preferences. When Chef Miriam learned that a patient from Germany was eating only a few items during her several-week hospitalization, she created a homemade dish of spaetzle, German egg noodles, to accompany a meal of grilled salmon and vegetables.
On another occasion, Chef Miriam surprised a young patient (and her father) from the South with a special breakfast of grits, one of their regional favorites. The mother of one patient recently sent Chef Miriam a thank-you letter for making her daughter’s hospital stay more pleasant, and wrote that her daughter was “totally healed.” Chef Miriam says, “The reward is the satisfaction of knowing you are part of these thoughts and feelings. That’s indescribable and priceless.”
“Patients see me before they see their providers, so it’s important that I set the stage for their visit. I try to make personal connections with patients and get to know their stories.”
Physicians who work with Lara Williams rely on her strong work ethic and eagerness to help patients. Her welcoming and positive attitude toward patients and co-workers puts them at ease and makes them feel cared for.
“We are all in this world together. So while we are here, let’s take care of one another.”
Earlier this year, Ashley Varriale arrived at a patient’s bedside in the Intensive Care Unit to begin a portable chest X-ray. “My patient told me I smelled so nice and that she wished she could shower,” Ashley says. “That evening on my way home, I stopped to buy her a bottle of the same perfume. She was so happy when I brought it to her the following day. She passed away a few days later. I am grateful to have been one of the last people to put a smile on her face.”
“Social workers support patients as they navigate the health care system and empower them to make informed decisions about their care.”
Linda Tiersten often leads her team through the most challenging situations. Her colleagues cite her as a role model who displays compassion for patients while working collaboratively with different teams to ensure that patients receive the support they need, even after they leave the hospital.
“I don’t think of transporting patients as a job. I think of it as an opportunity to help people in need. I love what I do very much.”
Gustavo Lopez was recently selected for the President’s Recognition Award at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s. His work, say his colleagues, exemplifies teamwork, empathy, transparency, creativity, and optimism. A patient recently wrote that Gustavo “is an excellent example of how all patient transporters should be.”
