What's Your Pickle?

In support of the "Give 'em a Pickle" Customer Service initiative, selected Pickle stories will appear on a regular basis in The Inside Scoop.


I took a call from an outside contact who spoke glowingly of Sandra Joseph, Manager, Donor Relations, at the Foundation. She spoke about what a fantastic job Sandra did helping her and how she really went out of her way to provide information she needed. Although it required multiple emails & faxes, Sandra continued until the job was done. The caller couldn't stop singing the praises of Sandra!! Congratulations Sandra!

Kathleen Mulligan
Trinitas Health Foundation

Ray Siracusa of Facilities Management helped me as I was trying to deal with water pouring in from a broken drain during a storm. He volunteered to help me right away when he saw me trying to clean up the water and cover the electrical equipment nearby.

Kim Shafer
Respiratory Care

I escorted family members of a patient who was still in recovery to the room their loved one was to be moved into on 8 South. I gave them paper and pen to leave their loved one a note. They expressed their appreciation by saying, "You are all so nice in this hospital!"

Unknown employee

Maria Caro and Sandra Land of Sleep Disorders Center each went out of their way to help people who needed assistance. Maria helped an older woman who was trying to contact her son but had forgotten his cell phone number. Sandra also aided an older woman who was walking with a cane and catching her breath. Both employees helped these women by driving them home. They each deserve a "Pickle!"

Sleep Disorders Center Staff

While working on the 4th floor at Williamson Street, I distributed a whole jar of pickles to everyone I met, just to remind them of the importance of good customer service.

Unknown employee
Housekeeping

Charmain Salas of the Diagnostic Center hastened the return of a patient back to his room by taking him back up in his wheelchair instead of making him wait unnecessarily.
Unknown employee

Dorothy Low, RN, on the night staff in Pediatrics, took time at home to search the internet to find positive messages to create an "Attitude Is Everything " bulletin board, complete with colorful graphics, to encourage and support her co-workers.

Tara Clewell
RN, Nights, Pediatrics

Recently, I saw two older men walking to the Cancer Center. The son was pushing his father in a wheelchair for his treatment at the Center. They had left their car near the main entrance of the hospital and were concerned about being late for their appointment.

The son was very agitated, sweating, very tired, and he looked flushed. I offered to help them. I explained the situation to the Valet, requesting that the car not be moved. I then escorted the father and son to the Cancer Center. I obtained a complimentary parking ticket for the son so that he would not have to worry about paying for parking. He parked his car and was able to return to the Cancer Center to pick up his father.

I could not have seen a happier face! He was very
grateful for my help. It was a gratifying day for me.

Carmen Zambrano,
Administration

Brinnia Roa, secretary in the Sleep Disorders Center, goes out of her way to accommodate patients who schedule sleep studies. Often, there is a two-month lead-time for appointments.

There are many factors to consider with setting up appointments, especially those for children. When we have unexpected cancellations, sometimes as late as two hours prior to a study time, Brinnia immediately reaches out to other patients to see if someone can take advantage of an earlier appointment.

Nancy Gonzalez
Sleep Disorders Center

I recently drove a patient home who had no money for cab fare and no family available.

I also drove an out-of-state patient who visited our Emergency Department unexpectedly back to the airport to catch a flight home.

Cathy Tenore, RN
Emergency Department