Meet Truly Compassionate Nurse Practitioner, Benzy Thomas

This blog is part of a series highlighting Northwell Health’s Advanced Clinical Providers (ACP). Each Northwell Health employee was nominated by their leadership as an individual who exemplifies a Northwell Health value.

When Benzy Thomas joined the Northwell Health team at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, she had one goal in mind: to make an impact on the lives of her patients and the community as a whole. That was 2011. Now, nine years later, she finds herself making even more of an impact in ways she couldn’t even have imagined.

Today, Benzy functions as a DNP-prepared nurse practitioner leader, designing patient care experiences that impact outcomes and empowering dedicated team members who once stood in her shoes. She says, “I am able to bring a blend of clinical, leadership and organizational skills to the table that puts me in a unique position.”

For Benzy, working as a nurse practitioner at Northwell Health is full of inspiring moments, and being a part of her patient’s recovery is one of her greatest joys. “There is no better reward—that makes my day and that is absolutely why I do it, touching one life at a time,” she notes. But where there is joy, there are also often moments that are challenging.

When COVID-19 threatened the lives of so many, healthcare professionals were looked upon as the heroes that could help turn it around. Amongst those on the frontline was Benzy. She states, “I was directly involved in managing the COVID-19 cases. I will remember everything, but I don’t want to relive it.” And while these times were extremely difficult for Benzy and her team, with her positive outlook, she found a silver lining in it all. While caring for each of her patients and some through their near-death experiences, she recalls thinking to herself, “Family matters, my profession matters, life matters, truth matters.”

Having gained confidence in herself through a number of personal hobbies aside from her professional training, like traveling and acting, the stage was set for Benzy to succeed in healthcare. She adds, “I honestly love caring for people and making a difference in their lives.” That couldn’t be more apparent, especially in the way her fellow nurses and ACPs respond to her wealth of experience and knowledge. She says, “When I interact with nurses they appreciate the journey that I took to get where I am today. I strive to make every moment a teaching moment with the nurses, and at the same time inspire them to further their education so that they can be a vital component of future American health care services.”

At Northwell Health, there are many Nurse Practitioners like Benzy who are always in search of innovative ways to deliver the best care possible and care for the communities we serve. Benzy understands the value of collaboration and the power it holds in creating a transformative experience for Northwell Health’s patients and the healthcare community alike. She champions, “We are made for creating a better tomorrow than today, together as a team. Together we can achieve the impossible.”

Thank you, Benzy. Through your commitment, you are a perfect example of what it means to be a Truly Compassionate, inspired, and a driven ACP at Northwell Health.

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Growing a career as a leader at Northwell Health

For Nirva Matteis the key to success at Northwell Health has always been an eagerness to learn and grow. During her 10-year career here, Nirva has worked in multiple jobs and locations throughout the organization and has gained experience that has led her to become the senior administrative manager for the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Communicative Disorders at the Hearing and Speech Center.

As senior administrative manager, Nirva is responsible for the daily administrative operations of a multi- physician practice along with managing all non-clinical personnel and supporting revenue cycle, quality and service excellence initiatives. Excelling today as a leader, Nirva started her Northwell career as a food service worker at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) while obtaining her undergraduate education.

Growing at Northwell Health

From the beginning, Nirva has utilized a variety of different opportunities that Northwell provides to support her professional development. Classes at Northwell’s The Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) were an endless resource for her to learn new skills and participated in their Applied Leadership Effectiveness and Development Program which is a one-year program that is designed to develop skills and knowledge among current and emerging leaders. In addition, she also benefitted from Northwell’s tuition reimbursement program and earned her master’s degree.

But one of the biggest assets to helping her grow at Northwell has always been her mentors. “I have grown by leaps and bounds both professionally and personally as a direct result of my mentors ,” says Nirva. “Northwell does a fantastic job with encouraging team members to seek bigger and better opportunities within the organization. For that, I am eternally grateful.” From working on the Food & Nutrition team at NSUH to becoming a supervisor within the System Call Center, Nirva receives advice from her mentors that helped her flourish.

It was through her mentors and experience at the System Call Center that Nirva found out about the opportunity to work on the Otolaryngology team after falling in love with the way their work was improving lives. “Fielding thousands of calls for head and neck surgery and cochlear implant patients allowed me to gain insight on the challenges people face when dealing with life-changing diagnoses,” says Nirva. “My ability to empathize to create a memorable experience as a result catapulted.”

In addition, Northwell’s commitment to health equity and access to care for all members of the communities we serve is something Nirva feels strongly about. She feels she can make an impact in her current role in a patient-facing setting.

Nurturing the talent of tomorrow

As Nirva continues to grow her own career, she also has the unique experience of being able to help others follow in her footsteps. As an active member of the BRIDGES Business Employee Resource Group (BERG), which represents the cultural diversity across the organization, Nirva has enjoyed being able to expand her network and make long-lasting connections. “The BRIDGES BERG is a clear indicator that Northwell has its finger on the pulse of its employee’s aspirational needs,” says Nirva. Within the BERG, she’s been able to connect beyond her work location, creating a resource that spans the entire health system and fosters cross-functional collaboration.

And it’s these connections that Nirva believes are what makes working here so special. “Northwell is exceptionally skilled at identifying and nurturing talent. Our senior leadership mentors team members in a way that creates a pipeline of high-caliber, healthcare champions, ready to take on the challenges of an ever-changing industry. I am proud to be a part of the team responsible for revolutionizing healthcare as we know it. To play a small part in Northwell’s success is an honor.”

Are you Made for a career like Nirva’s? Join Northwell Health.

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An Appointment With: Ryon Andersen, AED, Finance, North Shore University Hospital

Over the course of his career at Northwell Health, Ryon Andersen has worked in a variety of positions, from his start as a physical therapy aide to his current role as associate executive director at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). His unique path from clinical to non-clinical professional equipped Ryon with the skills he needed to help him positively impact the financial and clinical operations of the hospital as an AED. Ryon’s career is also proof that there is not one straight career path to working in finance and operations within the healthcare industry.

Learn more about Ryon’s career path and how Northwell’s helping other professionals pursue non-clinical careers at Northwell in this month’s Appointment With.

What inspired you to move from pursuing a clinical career to a non-clinical career within healthcare?

I’ve always had an interest in community and public service which was reinforced when I joined my local fire department. While volunteering as a firefighter and EMT, I had the opportunity to assist Glen Cove Hospital with a disaster drill that was being run by their emergency department. This provided me with a small observation window into how a hospital operates. At the time my only knowledge was based on prehospital ambulance care. Further intrigued by the dynamics of providing care in a hospital setting, I decided to pursue a job as a physical therapy aide in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Glen Cove. I truly enjoyed working alongside the clinical teams and helping patients learn to ambulate after injury or surgery. As time progressed and college commitments increased, I transferred to work as a unit support associate for the critical care and telemetry units. This opportunity gave me good insight into hospital flow, nursing unit dynamics, and the admission/registration process. This transition was especially important because it was a clear indication of how NorthShoreLIJ (at the time) supported development. My managers worked with my schedule so I could attend classes while maintaining employment. Upon finishing my degree, I decided to apply the skills I learned from my science classes to a new role at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Working in the department of experimental immunology as a research assistant, I was responsible for laboratory benchwork and quantitative data analysis.

These three experiences allowed me to gain unique skills and insights while learning about the culture of the organization, they strengthened my desire to continue to grow within the system. Over the course of this circuitous pathway, I met many mentors who pushed me explore all facets of the system and to not solely focus on clinical opportunities. Because we are a healthcare organization, I believe early careerists generally assume the only career pathways are clinical, but that’s not true. Being exposed to the broader landscape of opportunities led me to pursue a role as a project coordinator in hospital administration at NSUH. This allowed me to combine my clinical operations experience and my analytical skills within a hospital. Settled into my new position over the last 9 nine years at NSUH, I’ve grown into the role I am currently in as Associate Executive Director.

What is it like to work in finance and operations within a large tertiary hospital? What role does an administrator in finance/ops play?

Working in financial operations in any facility is quite dynamic and different every day. Hospitals are a 24/7 operation, and the NSUH campus is a bustling city. Whether it’s developing strategic business plans and investment opportunities, revamping processes to increase efficiency, creating a culture of teamwork, or constructing a new building, the push and pull of competing priorities makes the day go quickly. Specifically, a business operations administrator should create strong partnerships with clinical leaders and help support them and enhance decision making. They should utilize their business/analytical skills to help set and inform strategy. That said, the number one job of all hospital administrators should always be patient safety, to provide as safe an environment for patients and providers as possible.

Can you talk a little bit about the creation of the HMP and MAP programs and why is it important to mentor young professionals?

The Healthcare Management Program (HMP) and the Management Associate Program (MAP) were created to expand the talent onramps into healthcare business operations. These programs give us the opportunity to amplify the boarder healthcare career opportunities message and further compete for top talent. Central to every organization, regardless of size or industry, is its dependence on attracting and training a capable workforce. People are at the heart of every company and the quality and engagement of these individuals dramatically impact the overall success of an organization. The programs are structured to give associates a holistic understanding of the business as well as the overall mission of Northwell Health.

Through project work, they have a chance to explore finance, operations, clinical partnerships, quality management, human resources, and patient experience. Additionally, the programs naturally foster great mentorship opportunities. Mentorship is a core component of MAP. It is one of the most important attributes of a successful leader, cultivating talent and growing others is essential for both the mentor and mentee.

What is one piece of advice for someone looking to get into finance and ops in healthcare?

There is no one point of entry into the field, healthcare finance and operations takes on many forms. Whether you are working in revenue cycle and corporate finance or procurement and facilities management, you’re on the playing field. Every career experience you have and opportunity you gain will shape who you become as a leader. Continue to value the skills developed and lessons learned until you ultimately attain your career goals.

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Vicki is still helping patients and learning new skills after three decades in nursing at Northwell

During COVID-19 there were many changes at each hospital to accommodate the increasing needs for patients. Many healthcare workers also went above and beyond to treat patients by leveraging their skills in different ways.

Vicki Weyhreter, a Northwell nurse for 27 years, and her team members at Huntington Hospital began to see changes on their PACU floor. Typically, the PACU floor is where the patients go to recover temporarily from anesthesia after surgery. With the pandemic and temporary suspension of many surgeries, the PACU floor was transformed into a COVID critical care unit and Vicki and her team members were there to help in new ways.

Embracing new opportunities for patient care

As a seasoned healthcare professional, Vicki has impacted many lives during her career at Northwell and began her career as a Registered Nurse at Huntington Hospital in 1993. Throughout her career, she spent 13 years in the Intensive Care unit, eight years in the Recovery unit, and recently spent time in the Interventional Radiology unit. She has been fortunate to have many opportunities during her career to learn new skills and develop professionally. Vicki looked at her newest assignment during COVID as another opportunity to grow and help care for the patients in the community.

This assignment could not be accomplished alone—it required a team effort. Vicki and other PACU nurses were joined by anesthesia and trauma surgeons and physician assistants. Everyone worked collaboratively to optimize their skills, learn new tactics, and go above and beyond for their patients. Their strength came from the compassion they felt for their patients, which is what kept them going during this difficult time.

Vicki described seeing their patients giving a thumbs up or sitting in a chair as “the best feeling of our day.” When a patient is discharged from their unit, the team comes together to cheer and clap as they transition out of critical care.

Although the PACU unit will never be the same to most of the team members at Huntington Hospital, saving lives and embracing teamwork to provide the greatest care for the patient remains the same.

Vicki and her team members are truly Made for This, exemplifying the importance of their role in helping others fight the virus, and giving hope to their patients. Are you Made for a nursing career at Northwell? Learn more about nursing at Northwell Health.

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Volunteering at a COVID-19 testing center in Manhattan was challenging yet rewarding

Written by: Chandra Bishun-Freeman, Senior Medical Assistant, Northwell Health Cardiology Upper East Side

My experience during the COVID-19 pandemic has been surreal yet terribly real. It has turned our world upside down. Life has changed — under different rules, protocols, even regulations. Like many others, this surreal experience started quickly for me.

For nearly every day of my married life, my husband would stop whatever he was doing to greet me at the door with a warm hello and a kiss when I came home. Our dog also sits patiently by the door, waiting to play. That was all gone in a matter of a few days.

Coming home after work, I run straight to the sink to wash my hands and change my clothes and shower. I greet my husband with an elbow bump. No more kissing or embracing. Our dog has to wait, sadly looking at me until I can give her attention. Since I was not sure if I was working with COVID patients at Northwell Health Cardiology, I followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to practice social distancing at home. Bringing the virus home was a real fear, especially working in health care and traveling on subways and buses.

I’ve been at this cardiology practice for more than seven years, where I’ve focused on providing high quality patient care and support to my coworkers. I am a health care professional and a team player. I did not have a shred of doubt about my role. It is our calling, even if it means working outside normal routines. And in early March, I volunteered to work in one of Northwell’s hospitals that was most affected by COVID-19.

In about a week, I was redeployed to Northwell’s COVID-19 Testing Center on East 76th Street for four weeks in April. I was grateful to work on the front lines despite being fearful for my wellbeing and potentially bringing the virus home. Trying to fall back on my professional training, I ventured out in mask, gloves and worked six days each week, taking the nearly empty bus and train to and from work every day. As odd as this might sound, this was the work that I desperately wanted to do.

At the testing center, we performed nasal swab and blood testing for COVID-19 serology antibodies. The newly formed staff at the facility started training for nasal swabbing by practicing on one another. I was nervous knowing that someone would be putting a long and thin swab up my nose. I was only thinking about the pain and discomfort. Suddenly, I was a patient and a swabber-in-training. Having a swab inserted was the most uncomfortable feeling, but a necessary evil considering the circumstances. Doing it myself allowed me to calm patients and perform the test with precision and efficiency.

Despite the oversized white suit (PPE), I was still fearful of catching COVID-19. Most seven-hour days were spent in an isolation suit, along with a mask, gloves and face shield. What I remember most is how much I had to breathe my own bad breath. Coffee, onions, a bit of everything that went into my mouth would become something I inhaled for the rest of the day. As a swabber, my role was to stand in a room behind a plexiglass separation/protection to perform nasal swabbing. We treated every patient the same — assume they have COVID-19. Some patients came in with a fever. Others were very flush in the face. I remember one patient said to me “please don’t stand close to me. I am coughing and sick. I might be COVID positive.” Every patient, every moment was a heightened state of stress, focus and engagement.

Three days into working at the testing center, my husband told me my color was off. Most likely, I thought, because of wearing a mask, recirculating my own exhale for more than 12 hours. In another week, I had symptoms — runny nose, achy body and a cough.

Still, I enjoyed every moment working at the testing center, especially my colleagues. We made the best of the situation, offering light jokes to keep in the right mindset. During the four weeks working there, I met people from all over the health system. Leadership from Lenox Hill Hospital brought Bombas socks for each employee one day. There were free bagel breakfasts each Monday at another site across the city. Many of the patients I saw at the center were appreciative and thankful of the work I was doing, too, even those who indicated they felt ill and might be COVID positive. Although they were hidden behind their masks I could see how they genuinely felt by just looking at their eyes.

The long hours can wear on you. Waking up early was a part of it, considering I took an early train and crosstown bus to get there. I also volunteered to work 12-hour shifts on Saturdays. After the first Saturday, which followed a 40-hour week, every bone in my body ached, only remedied by a warm bath with Epsom Salt and an 8 p.m. bedtime.

By then, the mild symptoms I experienced a few days earlier worsened. My husband told me he had diarrhea and shortness of breath. Anxiety rose as I now was tested and eagerly anticipated the results while staying home. He and I pretended everything would be fine. And each day, each email or phone call, he would ask “is that the test result?” Luckily, I tested negative, a stress relief like no other. My husband and I kissed and hugged for the first time in what felt like weeks.

I also earned a recognition award from Northwell for working the front lines. Even with the fear of risking my own life, the sweat trickling down my body in the isolation suit, working the long hours, riding the early morning trains alone, without an ounce of doubt I would do this all over again. It was the right thing to do. But, in honesty, it will take the effort of thousands of front line workers who work each day to mitigate the impact of this pandemic. It’s a challenge worth fighting.

Chandra Bishun-Freeman is a senior medical assistant at Northwell Health Cardiology Upper East Side.

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The power of teamwork from the U.S. Navy to healthcare recruitment

Teamwork. Loyalty. Problem solving. These are all traits that Michael Ellis, MBA, SPHR, learned in the military that he uses today as a manager in Talent Acquisition at Northwell Health. Serving in the U.S. Navy for 22 years, Mike developed both leadership and recruitment skills that have set him up for success as a Senior Chief Petty Officer and in the recruiting world.

Whether it was learning the vital importance of teamwork while being stationed on a nuclear submarine or learning to think quickly on his feet to identify solutions, the experiences Mike learned in the Navy were invaluable. “In the Navy, I learned how to be loyal to my country, my command and subordinates,” says Mike. “I bring that same level of loyalty to Northwell and the people that work with me. To be successful we all have to work together to achieve common goals.”

Mike has the opportunity to lead our Staten Island recruitment team in finding top talent that helps to deliver exceptional care to patients in their most vulnerable times. And Mike knows firsthand the power that healthcare heroes can have for patients. “I recently was that patient looking for help and had the kindest, most professional and knowledgeable healthcare workers taking care of me. I definitely feel a sense of wanting to give back. I wanted a career in healthcare because I truly want to help people.”

At Northwell, Mike is able to let his own talents shine, all while doing something he loves. “The interactions you have with hiring managers, candidates and the Talent Acquisition team makes this the best job around! It is rewarding to me to help Northwell grow by finding the perfect team members to take care of our patients.”

It’s also here where Mike’s able to combine his passions for giving back, recruitment, and the military within a united workforce that reminds him fondly his time in the Navy. “The Navy was a melting pot of cultures, and I had the opportunity to work and live with individuals who were all different. It has made me think differently about situations, our world and made me a better person, work colleague, husband and dad. At Northwell, I get to continue to work with amazing people from all different cultures.”

It’s a natural fit, and though Mike hasn’t been at Northwell long, he’s already seeing his future here where he is valued as a team member and a veteran. “Being at Northwell has made me feel at home,” says Mike. “There are a variety of resources for veterans to make the transition easier such as the VALOR Business Employee Resource Group (BERG), a dedicated Military and Veteran Liaison Services Office and a Veteran Talent Specialist to assist veterans during the recruitment process. I have made several friends with fellow veterans during my first three months at Northwell and it’s clear the camaraderie exists in the civilian sector.”

Explore our careers and discover how to leverage your veteran experience at Northwell Health.

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Fresh brick oven pizza adds to culinary experience at North Shore University Hospital

The idea of fresh brick oven pizza available within a hospital may seem like a dream, but it’s becoming reality at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). The recent opening of their pizza kitchen is one of the many ways Northwell’s culinary teams are advancing how the organization views food and nutrition as a critical factor for our team members, patients and their families.

Adding a Marra Forni Brick Oven to the NSUH kitchen was met with excitement by the Food & Nutrition team. Training was provided to ensure that not only could they master the pizza oven safely, but that they would have the skills needed to take pizza creation to the next level.

As part of their preparation, members of the culinary team took a trip into New York City to meet a master pizzaiolo, who took them through the process of making pizza in a brick oven. Learning firsthand from an expert allowed them to gain new skills that they could then share within the rest of the NSUH chefs.

Though developing the pizza kitchen took hard work, since it was introduced they’ve already seen appreciation for such a unique and delicious food choice available in the hospital.

“We received nothing but amazing feedback,” says Janisa Freycinet, executive chef at NSUH. “We are now serving about 250 pizzas a day and create different specialty pizzas that our chefs come up with twice a week.”

Some of these creations from the NSUH chefs:

Penne a la vodka pizza
Hawaiian pizza
Buffalo chicken pizza
White pizza
Cauliflower crust pizza

As chefs within the healthcare industry, our teams also know the importance of quality when it comes to ingredients. By using only top-quality products, they’re able to ensure it not only tastes great, but that the pizza is as healthy as it is delicious. Using authentic ingredients like Caputo 00 Flour, Janisa developed the right dough and sauce recipe before training the other chefs inside the kitchen. Today they have around 10 different healthy toppings for patients to choose from, and a house-made pistachio pesto sauce has emerged as the top choice.

Kevin Dinh, an alumnus of the Culinary Institute of America, is the chef de partie of the pizza kitchen and helps ensure everything runs smoothly and correctly. Kevin uses his past experience working within pizzerias to prepare the fresh dough and works with the tournant chefs who prepare the sauces and vegetables. Together they’re helping to lead the way in healthcare culinary arts

“This is just the beginning of our innovative creations,” says Janisa. “Eventually we would like to do house breads, nann pitas, breakfast pizzas and in the future, have the pizza available in room for our patients.”

Bring culinary excellence and nutrition to the health care table at Northwell Health. Join our team.

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How Northwell Health used medical research in the face of a global pandemic

Northwell Health implements innovation and technology to lead the industry. One of Northwell Health’s most valued resources is its home of medical research, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. The Feinstein Institutes is comprised of more than 5,000 scientists and staff make groundbreaking discoveries in a number of areas such as, clinical trials, cancer, bioelectronic medicine and health outcomes. Researchers responsible for making key discoveries in autoimmune disease, sepsis, inflammation, and Parkinson’s disease, shifted their focus to help the fight against COVID-19.

As New York became the epicenter of the virus, the Feinstein Institutes went into action immediately. Within a month, Feinstein Institutes staff worked tirelessly to lay the groundwork to enroll more than 1,300 patients in seven clinical trials and programs. By collaborating with pharmaceutical leaders like Gilead, Sanofi and Regeneron, cutting-edge treatment was offered to Northwell Health patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

What’s worth noting here is not only the spirit of collaboration during a state of emergency, but the role medical research played in trying to find a reliable cure. As Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, CEO of the Feinstein Institutes notes, “Medical research will lead in our nation’s ability to reverse the fatal spread of viruses.” The Feinstein Institutes empowers its researchers and they are fully supported in their fields of practice where they are valued beyond measure. For Betsy Barnes, Feinstein Institutes investigator, the opportunities that have been available to her at Northwell have increased her industry knowledge and confidence in working around disease. So when it came to being called upon to help during a time of uncertainty around COVID-19, she was more than ready to begin research. When asked how it felt to know the impact of her work during a global pandemic, she explains, “It is a wonderful feeling to know I am able to apply my knowledge in a way that is beneficial to patients. We are doing everything we can to work quickly and collaboratively with hopes of producing knowledge that will cure COVID-19 and other health issues.”

The Feinstein Institutes partnered with the Mayo Clinic in joining a network that is working on novel, experimental therapy through the use of antibody testing for those who may have been identified with COVID-19, but are no longer asymptomatic. The incredible work wouldn’t be possible without the commitment its staff shares to delivering excellence. Excellence that inspires positive change for patients who trust Northwell every day. At the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Health Innovations & Outcomes Research, Professor Joseph Conigliaro, MD, gleams when speaking about his team. He says, “I am proud of the work my research team and I accomplished in such a short time for COVID-19 research – we are exhausted, but exhilarated and fulfilled in knowing conducting research is beneficial to patients in our health system, and to patients around the world.”

Working in the healthcare industry can be trying, especially when a global pandemic is added to the equation. However, with the leadership of Dr. Tracey and others who empower the imaginations of team members like Drs. Barnes and Conigliaro, the Feinstein Institutes will stand firm in their mission to produce knowledge to cure disease.

If you’re interested in career opportunities within The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, click here.

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An Appointment With: David Gill, AVP, Experience Strategy

Since David Gill, PHD joined Northwell Health in 2012, he’s been committed to making Northwell a great place to work by listening to our team members and ensuring they feel supported both professionally and personally.

Roles he has held during his tenure at Northwell include manager of Workforce and Patient Engagement, director of Talent Management and Engagement, and most recently, AVP of Experience Strategy, which he became in 2017. In this role, he is responsible for informing, designing and shaping a holistic experience for everyone in our organization.

David and his team’s efforts have helped elevate Northwell’s employee engagement, and today the organization is a Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®.

We sat down with David to discuss the vital work of our Experience Strategy team.

What is the Experience Strategy team?

The Experience Strategy team is focused on creating the best team member experience from hire to retire. Our team’s goal is to deliver a world-renowned team member experience by driving a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and well-being to empower our team members to redefine the future of healthcare.

There are three interconnected groups within the Experience Strategy team that bring the vision to life.

Listening and Insights is the team solely focused on always listening to team members by obtaining their feedback whether it is through an annual workforce and physician engagement survey, targeted listening sessions or even social media.
Strategic design is the team that leverages the results from our listening methods to build tools and resources for our leaders and team members to help create an environment that fosters engagement. An example of their work is the development and implementation of our Employee Promise, Made for this^™. This group had responsibility for rolling out the activities that exemplified what it is like to work at Northwell.
Awards and Recognition is the team that builds monumental experiences that reconnects team members to purpose while recognizing, and celebrating team members by telling their story. This group oversees our recognition programs like the President’s Award, the Innovation Challenge, the Truly awards, as well as Northwell’s myRecognition platform. They have the responsibility of infusing recognition within every stage of the team member’s career journey. Additionally this team manages our application process for Fortune 100 Best Companies to work for.

Why is employee experience vital to Northwell as an organization?

In 2013 Northwell established a goal of becoming a best place to work on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list as well as being at the 90th percentile for team member and physician engagement and patient experience based on third party measurement from Press Ganey. For us to achieve those goals, employee experience had to become a strategic imperative. We had to look at how we were understanding our team members’ needs and how we were providing them with the resources for them to be most successful in their career and then importantly, how we were recognizing them for all of the great work that they did on a day-to-day basis. It is essential to create an environment for employees/team members to feel that they contribute to something greater than themselves, have an opportunity to grow within their career, and feel like a valued member of the organization.

For Northwell, it is critically important to create an exceptional experience for our team members, because we want them to create exceptional experiences for our patients and customers.

In this critical time, what extra steps are your team and Northwell taking to make sure that our healthcare heroes on the front lines are feeling appreciated and recognized?

Amid COVID-19 at Northwell, we were hyper-focused on ensuring that our team members had what they needed. Specifically, we were focused on ensuring that our team members were aware of the bountiful resources available to them to support their holistic well-being. For example, the Emotional Resource Call Center, which was recently implemented by Total Rewards, provides one telephone number for team members to call to meet their well-being needs. If a team member would like to speak with a chaplain, a member of the wellness team, an employee and family assistance program counselor, or other behavioral health practitioners from the Stress Trauma centers, they can reach them through that call center. In partnership with many groups across the organization such as the Office for Patient and Customer Experience, Total Rewards, and Behavioral Health, we stood up Tranquility spaces at many of our facilities. These spaces were designed to build awareness, provide team members with an opportunity to receive a light refreshment, as well as a place of respite activities which are critical during this period.

Lastly, we cannot forget recognizing our team members for their bravery, for their compassion, and for the focus on making our communities well. The recognition efforts were done in strong partnership with the marketing and communications team, the Office and Patient and Customer Experience, the Employee Experience team and HR to provide collateral and support in the form of what we call clap in and clap outs—which are a show of appreciation for team members during shift changes.

What is on the horizon for employee experience at Northwell?

When I look to the future of employee experience and even specifically the work our team is doing, I look toward four focus areas, listening, growth and empowerment, well-being, and life-long affinity. By focusing on always listening to our team members and partnering to build a simple, transparent work environment, this creates trust in leaders and the organization. The employee experience team will capture feedback more frequently from team members, through other methods of listening, not just an annual survey. Genuine engagement can not occur without a focus on growth and empowering team members to be their best selves. The employee experience team will focus on education and hands-on experiences that provide leaders with the necessary skills to foster an environment where team members feel empowered to own their careers and feel psychologically safe to share their innovative ideas. Team members should feel that working at Northwell Health helps them be well. Well-being is the responsibility of all teams. The employee experience team will work on training leaders on how to engage their teams through recognition and appreciation. Lastly, the focus on lifelong affinity is building pride for Northwell, and the work that we do even after a team member’s career journey has ended. Specifically, the employee experience team will develop an alumni program that will keep former team members engaged and lifelong promoters of Northwell’s team member experience.

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Recognizing our Asian American and Pacific Islander team members on the front lines

Last month was Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and now is an important time to celebrate our AAPI team members who are working tirelessly as healthcare heroes on the front lines. Heritage months are vital in celebrating our backgrounds, diversity, and history. As America’s top health system for diversity on DiversityInc‘s ranking of Top Hospitals and Health Systems, Northwell Health is committed to not only recognizing our diverse team members but celebrating their cultures, history, experiences, and their contributions within our organization.

“AAPI Heritage Month means taking a few moments to embrace different elements of our population and using them to serve our community and health system,” says Chandini Daswani, Practice Nurse Practitioner at Lenox Hill Hospital. “Although we have a big family here at Northwell, everyone brings their unique and individual backgrounds, which we can use to enhance what we can offer to our colleagues and patients.”

Hear from our team:To celebrate, we asked some of our AAPI team members about the importance of celebrating AAPI Heritage Month and the work that they’ve been doing on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Throughout the pandemic, I have been working remotely since mid-March, and my workload has increased substantially due to the influx of COVID-19 related research ideas. I have also been working as a Volunteer Emergency Medical Technician in the NYC 911 EMS system since mid-March during my evenings and weekends.”

Timmy LiDirector of Clinical Research for Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital

“Recognizing and acknowledging that the AAPIs are part of the foundation of this great nation. I am a proud first-generation Filipino-American in this country. My role is to make sure that we promote patient safety while providing optimal dialysis treatments to our patients daily. During the pandemic, our team remains in full force, engaged and focused while we combat COVID-19 on our battlefield.”

Ryan GudaNurse Manager, Northwell Health Physician Partners

“COVID–19 has not changed my role and responsibilities as a front line worker, and yet it brings the best out of people. It is nice to celebrate the AAPI Heritage Month during this pandemic with kindness, hope and lots of love.”

Jessie LiangRadiology Nuclear Medicine, Plainview Hospital

“During this pandemic, I took care of sick patients on COVID-19 medical floors and in intensive care units. It has been challenging to treat a disease that is new to us while sorting through a myriad of the latest discoveries on a daily basis. It has been extremely gratifying to watch patients recover and be reunited with their loved ones. As a physician, this is my ultimate reward.”

Eric CuiPGY III Resident, Staten Island University Hospital

“I am honored to be part of the AAPI community because my background is what makes me a better physician. As an AAPI, I take pride in being a mentor to all of my residents and students and instilling in them the values that I developed and have been taught throughout my career.”

Razia Jayman-AristideHospitalist at Southside Hospital & Assistant Director for Ambulatory Clerkships at the Zucker School of Medicine

“I was given a huge opportunity to work in a team for the COVID-19 Remdesivir clinical trials as a research coordinator, mainly overseeing the Electronic Data Capture part. Sometimes it was difficult and upsetting to see patients going through a hard time, but I was happy to see them getting better. Working non-stop since March was physically tiring, but I believe it was worth it. I am happy to help fight the virus and be involved in improving healthcare.”

Hye Jeong JangResearch Coordinator, North Shore University Hospital

“Being a Filipino means we have a tight knit family and it broke my heart to see patients during COVID-19 without their families by their side. Thank God for the support of the hospital system where we were given the tools we needed to take care of our patients and our well being. We were able to take care of them the best way we could, and from the help of all the people around us we can overcome this pandemic.”

Zenaida OrfanelRegistered Nurse, Lenox Hill Hospital

“The heritage month is about being able to incorporate our culture and heritage into a multi-diverse society. It makes me feel proud because our contributions, achievements and successes are being recognized to help better our community, society and nation as a whole. Therefore, it is an honor and privilege to be a part of this organization.”

Norma BalceRegistered Nurse, Lenox Hill Hospital

“We recognized the contributions and influence of AAPIs to the United States. It is a celebration and also a great opportunity to learn more about the history and culture of AAPIs. I am proud that I am an Asian American.”

Zhao (Jalie) HuDirector of Financial Analysis, Orlin & Cohen Medical Specialists Group

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been an intense experience for me due to the numerous, urgent needs with COVID-19 related to clinical research and navigating regulatory pathways to use unapproved drugs and device products for COVID-19 patients. I feel that I have grown from these new challenges and developed new relationships with various team members throughout the organization.”

Ji-Eun KimDirector, Research Regulatory Affairs, The Office of Research Compliance/Corporate Compliance

diversity inclusion healthcare northwell

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Lab Professionals play an essential role in the fight against COVID-19

Northwell Health Labs has been at the forefront of innovative care before and during COVID-19. Our labs quickly established itself as a leader in processing COVID-19 tests, being the first with manual tests, and later automated testing processes. As the fight against COVID-19 evolves, so does the work of our laboratory teams. Today their focus has shifted to include antibody testing, a test that allows patients to see if they previously had the novel coronavirus.

To perform these vital tests for our communities, our laboratory team members have been working in new ways. Former laboratory technologists have volunteered to return to the floor to help meet increased testing volume while our phlebotomists have been working outside the labs at COVID-19 testing sites. The teamwork displayed has been endless as they work together behind the scenes to keep our communities safe and our clinicians informed.

Recognizing the needs in this unprecedented time, many lab professionals continue to go above and beyond to deliver care. Merissa Ashrafalli, a lab technologist in Diagnostic Immunology/Serology at Northwell Health’s Core Lab, even returned early from her paid family leave bonding time to help support the fight against the virus. “I returned early to help on the front lines during this critical time because my team needed me. Our patients are our priority. Many think of a specimen as just a sample, but that is someone’s family member.”

And her work in Serology has never been more vital as her team works to get COVID-19 samples processed in a timely manner while dealing with new testing platforms and new assay material. “Without our staff in Serology, testing could not happen,” says Merissa. “As a team we are all working and learning together in this fight.”

Serology professionals aren’t the only ones essential to the Northwell Labs. Phlebotomists play the important role of collecting the samples – the first step in getting a diagnosis so patients can receive the care they need. As part of the initial battle, phlebotomists like Amber LaGuerre, volunteered to work at the New Rochelle COVID-19 testing site, the first in the country.

“Being a part of the New Rochelle drive-thru was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Amber. “I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer because I knew it was my way to rise to the occasion and make a difference in this pandemic.” As the first testing site, the work of Amber and the other team members changed daily to ensure their testing would be as accurate as possible as the nation’s knowledge of the disease grew. It was their dedication, ability to adapt, and skills that helped make the site a success.

While Amber’s time at the testing site may have ended, she’s still working tirelessly to help patients get the care they need. As a phlebotomist with LabFly, Northwell’s mobile app that lets patients schedule blood draws at home, she’s bringing the testing process directly to our patients. “I know the work I’m doing is impactful no matter the setting I’m placed in, whether it be a hospital, nursing home, or a patient’s home,” says Amber. “Patients are more at ease being tested at home and I’m glad that we’re able to offer the convenience of LabFly to make the testing process just a little more comforting in a time of such uncertainty.”

Though work of our laboratory teams continues to evolve during the pandemic, one thing remains consistent: these healthcare heroes should be proud of the vital role they’re serving in defeating COVID-19.

“I am prouder than ever to work with Northwell Labs because I’ve seen lab personnel finally be recognized beyond the organization for the work we do,” says Merissa. “It is in these times that those who work behind the scenes get the thanks that is needed.”

“It’s very humbling to know as a phlebotomist my work is directly combating the fight against COVID-19,” agrees Amber. “The amount of gratitude I receive not only from patients, but people on the street that see me in scrubs throughout my shift, is a daily reminder of why I chose to be in healthcare.”

Join our laboratory professional heroes today.

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Behind the Mask: Working as a Respiratory Therapist during the COVID-19 pandemic

Written by: Drew Devlin, RRT, LRCP, Director, Respiratory Care / Sleep Lab / Pulmonary Rehab, Southside Hospital

To say that the respiratory care team was instrumental throughout the COVID-19 pandemic would be an understatement. Although the respiratory care team has always been critical in patient care, it was in this pandemic battling a respiratory virus that the team had a moment to shine, and that is just what they did. Our respiratory therapists have touched every patient in one way or another by providing oxygen, running blood gasses, participating in intubations, managing ventilators, transporting patients to CT scans, and from emergency rooms to other critical care units. We have also been part of the process to meet the challenges of converting noninvasive ventilators into units that were now able to provide invasive applications. This team has truly been front and center playing a large part in caring for our patients during this period in an innovative way.

As the leader of the respiratory care team, I am truly proud of the work they did and how they stepped up to the plate during this difficult time of need. In order to deliver care during the outbreak, the work of the team evolved quickly and continued to change throughout the pandemic. Essentially, our normal process and daily responsibilities were completely revamped to adjust to the high volume of patients and the level of care we were providing to our patients. New policies, processes and protocols were developed rapidly and the respiratory care team was able to play a crucial role in the strategy and development of the new responsibilities. With respiratory therapists being so vital due to the nature of the illness, it gave them a great sense of purpose to be able to step in and provide their expertise. These healthcare heroes were truly able to make a major difference.

Respiratory care team members used posters to leave inspiring messages to each other throughout the pandemic.

Throughout stressful work conditions and long hours, team members found moments of hope and motivation by standing united together. I watched as they came to work every day with pain in their eyes and concern in their hearts for their patients, their colleagues, and their families, and yet they continuously provided the best care possible. There was camaraderie and collaboration throughout the whole process, and they really showed each other what it meant to not only be a team, but a family. To keep our spirits up, we would take time to share positive results of patients and track successful outcomes even after they left our care. There was also constant communication through emails, text messages, and postings on the walls throughout the department including pictures of the team hanging up as a constant reminder that we were all in this together. I also looked for articles on motivation to provide to the team and had the Chaplin come speak to the team in an effort to provide hope during this difficult time.

As a team, we also tried to talk about our experiences and share what we were going through to help each other out and know that we were not in this alone. We also brought in additional resources in the form of respiratory therapists from outside of the organization, to provide extra support and helping hands. This also enhanced motivation amongst the team because there was a realization that we were in a global battle, us versus the virus, and our best chance was to have all hands on deck and work together as a united team with respiratory therapists from near and far. It was also comforting and reassuring to see frequent visits from the senior leadership team to see how the team was doing, ask if there was anything we needed and how they could assist in any way.

The whole respiratory team exceeded expectations during this time, and I know this experience has made them stronger and even better than before. Each and every person on this team is my hero and we always consider ourselves a team and a family. Together, through this experience, they rose to the occasion and I am proud of the entire team for the work they have done and the care they have provided.

Join the healthcare heroes on our respiratory care teams.

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Personal connections make a difference

Written by: Elisa Vicari, LCSW, North Shore University Hospital

Staying in touch with families of COVID-19 patients have strengthened bonds and helped provide compassionate care against the odds.

As a social worker in the Intensive Care Unit at North Shore University Hospital, I’ve become immune to people passing away. Death is an unfortunate part of the job because we are treating the sickest patients.

COVID-19, though, was quite different for me and my colleagues.

During the patient surge in late March, we were caring for otherwise healthy 20- and 30-year-olds who were unaware of their surroundings and had no business being intubated. These are previously independent individuals who have been abruptly put on life support. This is the heartbreak the coronavirus leaves.

Adding to the complexities of this situation, visitation was restricted and patients in our unit were unable to speak to their families. This didn’t sit well, so I adapted my practice and refocused my efforts to find a solution. A quick Instagram post asking my friends and followers for one iPad donation turned into more than 20 and about $11,000 in community support — the true power of social media. Their assistance has allowed us to set up every unit within the hospital and other facilities in the area with iPads, which have been critical to helping us connect with families.

Not everyone is comfortable going into patient rooms. It’s a personal choice that must be made, one that I did not struggle with. A social worker’s role is to connect and assist, and the iPads have opened new roads to make important video calls where we could show not just a patient’s condition, but the entire room and care team.

In the ICU, patients are mostly intubated. Finding close connections has been challenging. Instead, we have grown closer to families, FaceTiming with them every other day for status updates, learning nicknames, favorite songs and of their pets who await them at home. They’ve sent pictures so we can build collages and fill their rooms with love. I feel like I’ve become a part of these families just by holding the screen for them.

In some end-of-life circumstances, visitors have been allowed to see their loved ones in their final moments. We’ve been there to help them with personal protective equipment (PPE), addressing their fears and coping with their situation. Some are able to hold their family member’s hand for the first time in weeks. We are also assisting with funeral arrangements, which are very different than usual with increased wait times. It’s overwhelming, physically taxing and mentally exhausting. But it’s worth it. I couldn’t imagine being on the other side, watching the terrible images on the news of beds being piled up and not knowing if my loved one is OK. Showing families that our patients are in private rooms and we are helping them has given them tremendous comfort.

When patients fail, I feel it more than I used to because I’ve grown closer to them and their families. Our conversations aren’t just based on medical concerns, rather vulnerable situations that I’ve now been welcomed into.

It’s bittersweet. When things go well, they go well. But when they don’t, it’s devastating. At the heart of it, we deliver personalized, patient-centered and compassionate care, pandemic or no pandemic. COVID-19 may have tested our mettle and capabilities, but we have survived thanks in part to the camaraderie between us and families. We have all met this challenge with innovation, compassion and integrity. I really admire the people I work with who have stepped up. Teamwork is everything, knowing we will get through this together.

Elisa Vicari, LCSW, is a social worker in the Intensive Care Unit at North Shore University Hospital.

Explore social work opportunities at Northwell Health.

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Five non-clinical careers to explore within healthcare

No matter what your major is in school, there’s a healthcare job for you. While students may first think of the doctors, nurses, and other clinical professionals working directly with our patients inside our hospitals, there are also many non-clinical career opportunities that students can explore. From working in Human Resources supporting our team members on-site to helping produce our next television commercial, the wide variety of jobs available at Northwell Health may surprise you.

Take a look at some of the non-clinical careers you can explore within the healthcare industry.

Human Resources

Human Resources is a perfect job field for empathetic individuals who want to help to continue to make Northwell a great place to work. These problem solvers use their people skills and data to have a direct impact on the work environments within our organization. Our diverse HR teams manage benefits, compensation, talent acquisition, employee experience, compliance, and more as they work towards a common goal of promoting engagement, inclusivity, and a fair and happy workforce.

If you are interested in a career in HR, you may want to pursue a degree in human resources management, labor and industrial relations, health care or business management, or psychology.

Carpentry, Engineering and Construction

Trade skills like carpentry, engineering and construction are an important part of keeping our facilities running smoothly. In addition to repairs and refurbishments, our team members have the exciting task of building out our new units and hospital additions. And with Northwell constantly growing and evolving, that means plenty of opportunity to work on innovative projects within the healthcare industry while having a direct impact on the care our clinicians are able to provide.

If you are interested in a carpentry, engineering or construction career, you may want to pursue a degree from a trade or vocational school.

Revenue Cycle

Interested in a unique finance or customer service career that allows you to have an impact on patient care and experience? Revenue cycle may be the department for you! These non-clinical professionals perform a vital role within our healthcare organization by handling all billing and collecting of hospital receivables. From our customer service team members who are handling patient registration and patient financial counseling in our hospitals, to those working in non-patient-facing areas such as insurance verification or health information management, they’re working together to improve the experience of our patients and to secure financial strength for our organization to continue to grow.

If you are interested in a revenue cycle career, you may want to pursue a degree in health information management or healthcare, business or public administration and complete coding specialist or registered health information technician certifications.

Administration and Operations

If you’ve got a business-oriented mind and a talent for managing details, working in administration and operations is a great opportunity to explore. Working in healthcare operations allows team members to have a direct impact on how a hospital is functioning. From managing budgets to ensuring quality and efficiency, our administrators are ensuring hospitals and practices are running smoothly for both employees and patients. They also have the exciting opportunity to lead facilities with the development of new projects and programs that are improving processes, services, and experiences.

If you are interested in a career in administration and operations, you may want to pursue a degree in healthcare administration and operations, finance, business administration, or public health.

Marketing and Communications

Behind every social media post, press release, or television commercial, is our Northwell marketing and communications team. These non-clinical professionals work behind-the-scenes to help raise awareness of Northwell and the many services we offer to the communities we serve. Creativity and strategy are key within this team as their initiatives pique interest, engage, and build trust with our patients. Joining this team means working on Facebook Lives with doctors, developing branding for the organization, fostering public relations and much more.

If you are interested in a marketing career, you may want to pursue a degree in marketing, public relations, graphic design, or communications.

You don’t need to be a doctor or a nurse to work in the healthcare industry. There are many non-clinical roles that provide a career that’s equally rewarding both emotionally and developmentally. Every team member across our 72,000+ team members contributes to ensuring our patients and communities get the care they need to lead healthy lives.

Explore careers at Northwell.

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Beyond the PPE: Two nurses help patients and staff connect during COVID

Lulette Infante and Antonella Farrell, registered nurses at Northwell Health and lifelong friends, came together during the COVID pandemic to identify a solution for our clinical team members so they could maintain that personal connection during patient care. These two incredible nurses wanted to ensure that our patients would still be able to see the identities of our healthcare heroes, whose faces were covered by their personal protection equipment (PPE), so they created photo badges for our clinical staff to wear over their PPE.

The idea was prompted after reading a New York Times article featuring Cohen Children’s Medical Center’s Senior Vice President Dr. Schlein who acknowledged his gratitude to the frontline workers who saved his life from COVID, but he had no idea who they were because of their PPE. Thus, Project Unseen Heroes was formed so patients would be able to see the smiling, caring faces of our frontline workers.

A career journey that surpasses two decades

Both Lulette Infante, MSN, RN, CPON, and Antonella Farrell, BSN, RN, began their careers more than two decades ago as a student nurse intern from Adelphi University at CCMC in 1996. They advanced their careers at Northwell throughout their journey, holding a variety of roles and responsibilities along the way. Today, Lulette is an ambulatory nurse specialist and ambulatory administrator at Northwell where she focuses on quality and optimization for pediatric practices, and Antonella Farrellis is a pediatric Hematology/Oncology, pediatric sickle cell nurse coordinator at CCMC.

One small idea leads to big results

Lulette and Antonella first introduced the large photo badges at CCMC and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, receiving numerous positive responses from leadership, staff and patients. Lulette notes patients even commented, “so that’s what you look like!” Eventually they were able to guide other hospitals, including Northern Westchester, Lenox Hill, Huntington Hospital and even external hospitals such as Elmhurst Hospital, to develop photo badges for their team members.

“The staff is reporting back that they felt it is truly helping their patients now that they can see the smile behind the mask,” Antonella says. The staff has been sending Lulette and Antonella pictures of themselves in the PPE with their badges. Having the large picture badges enabled our frontline workers to maintain that personal connection while caring for their patients while being fully secured under their PPE at the same time.

“We could not even start without the incredible support we have received from our leadership and their commitment to continually enhance patient experience and promote compassionate care,” Lulette says.

Project Unseen Heroes was a success due to Lulette and Antonella’s teamwork. Patients feel more comfortable in the hospital seeing the badges on the nurses and doctors, knowing who is taking care of them.

Lulette and Antonella are true examples of Northwell Heroes. Are you ready to become a Northwell Hero? Join our team.

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Meet Truly Compassionate Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Regina Muir

This post is a part of a blog series highlighting Northwell Health’s Advanced Clinical Providers (ACP). Each Northwell Health employee was nominated by their manager as an individual who exemplifies Northwell Health values.

Regina is no stranger to delivering care within Northwell Health’s network. Having started her career in 1985 as an RN in the Pediatric ED at Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) she has grown her career alongside Northwell’s growth as an organization throughout the years, becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (NP). As a seasoned healthcare professional impacting the lives of others for over 25 years, Northwell continues to provide Regina with the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Skills that would be essential during the COVID-19 crisis.

Before the pandemic, a typical day for Regina meant examining children prior to surgical procedures and developing a plan of care for them. As the volume of surgeries decreased, Regina knew it would take another level of commitment and compassion to continue to make a difference. With her scope of practice as a Pediatric NP limited to patients aged 21 and younger, Regina volunteered to work temporarily as a registered nurse so she would be able to provide care during COVID-19 to adult patients.

Many team members took on reassignments across the network but Regina notes that regardless of the role that was asked of the staff, each understood the value of their place on the team. “I knew that I worked with an amazing group of people but I had not realized the strength and compassion of our team,” says Regina. As an RN, Regina worked first in the ED at LIJ Medical Center and then on the medical floors to help with increased patient volumes.

Maintaining the same level of compassion from her work as an NP, Regina went above and beyond with her colleagues on the medical floors to create a comfortable experience for patients in need of care by setting up a cart filled with basic items for care such as deodorant, wonderful smelling soaps and lotions, lip balm, among other items, to help patients feel more comfortable and at home. “We added to the cart as we found items patients needed like extended phone chargers so the patients could charge their phones from bed and earphones so patients could block the noise and sleep. I watched my colleagues do so many wonderful things,” says Regina.

The collaborative and helpful spirit of the team members would continue beyond the hours they were needed to work. Building bonds with their patients, Regina and her team members would text to check in on them and even show up to see patients off to rehab or be discharged on their days off. When one patient was discharged after 45 days in their care, Regina and her unit organized a red carpet to see him off.

“The PST ACPs did many things for patients but most importantly they made a personal connection, finding out about them, their history, and their family,” Regina says. And though there were extremely challenging moments as some patients lost their fight against COVID, the team still found ways to rally and provide each patient with the best care possible.

Northwell offers unique opportunities for each employee to learn and grow, and for someone as compassionate as Regina, it’s the perfect place to be. Regina says, “I am so proud to be an ACP at CCMC, and at Northwell. The past few weeks have truly made me appreciate how special my colleagues and Northwell are. We have met so many exceptional team members who work in a variety of roles here. They are truly ‘Made for this.’” All of us are proud of Regina, a Truly Compassionate ACP!

If you’re Made for working with a team of exceptional advanced clinical providers, explore our ACP opportunities at Northwell Health.

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How a new team delivers hope to COVID-19 patients at Northwell Health

Northwell Health has taken action to find ways that help deliver exceptional care to its patients affected by COVID-19. As many healthcare organizations search for ways to improve patient outcomes during this difficult time, Northwell has trained and equipped its teams to do that and more. One example of this is the formation of its Prone Teams.

Proning is a technique used to help patients breathe easier by changing their body position. As most patients rest on their backs while in the care of nursing staff, the Prone Team carefully places COVID-19 patients on their stomachs, allowing more air into the body and increasing oxygen levels into the lungs. As this technique is used in the operating room on a daily basis for certain surgical procedures, our Perioperative teams were chosen to help spearhead Prone Teams across the organization.

Comprised of perioperative RNs, surgical technologists, perioperative assistants, and physical therapists, our Prone Teams worked to safely turn and position patients into both the prone and supine positions and trained other team members on proper positioning. Implementing this new team during the COVID-19 crisis has proven how Northwell can meet even the biggest challenges with innovative thinking and utilize all team members’ skills to provide care.

Meet some of the team members from the Prone Team making a difference every day.

At Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC), the Prone Team features Christina Raccasi, an RN who joined Northwell as a graduate in 2018 and is currently a perioperative registered nurse. While new experiences always have initial challenges, Christina quickly overcame it due to the support and environment she works in. She states, “Caring for patients in a way that was outside of my comfort zone and training was a scary thought at first, but since many of the Prone Team members are from the operating room, we felt confident in our established teamwork as we work together so regularly.” Beyond just positioning, the Prone Team members deliver care in other ways outside of their usual scope in the OR, helping to protect patients with padding for bony prominences, lip moisturizer, and skin barrier cream.

Joined with Christina in the fight against COVID-19 is Dolores Reisert, Senior Administrative Director II of Perioperative Services, who helped form LIJMC’s Prone Team and shares the same sentiment. She states, “The teamwork among the perioperative and the ICU units is so inspiring and I am so proud of how this team was developed and trained so quickly. The Prone Team has been an asset in this important endeavor in trying to help our patients fight this terrible virus to aid them in the road for recovery.” Dolores joined LIJMC in 2015 with over 32 years of Perioperative experience, and even still, she is able to find more ways to advance her career and develop as a leader within her practice at Northwell. Today, she presently oversees six areas at LIJMC, the Operating Room, ASU, PACU, Endoscopy, Surgical Annex, and Central Sterile and has proven to be an incredible asset to the teams under her leadership.

Over at Huntington Hospital, OR Supervisor Jose Gonzalez’s leadership has proven itself to be equally as valuable to the Prone Team he oversees. While Jose’s usual day-to-day means ensuring the operating room runs smoothly, he stepped up to help lead Huntington’s Prone Team and trained additional team members to support the team and ensure it was running Monday through Sunday. His know-how made him a perfect leader for the team, and much like Dolores and Christina, the experience he brings to the room is what gives Northwell so much confidence in its ability to come out on top of this pandemic. “It’s a surreal feeling walking into these units and being thanked by the ICU team members who work tirelessly around the clock with critical COVID positive patients,” he says. He adds, “My team and I have been honored to be able to help our patients. Even though our patients are vented and may never get to know who we are, they have become our family.”

Each of these members play a role that, at the top of the year, they had no idea they’d be playing. Yet, because of their commitment to care, they have adapted and discovered new skills within their fields that will help heal our communities and bring new hope to the patients that entrust Northwell Health with their lives.

Explore careers at Northwell Health.

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Delivering moments of peace on the front line with Tranquility Tents

As the rest of the nation stayed home to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, our healthcare heroes at Northwell Health continued to come in each day, fighting against the outbreak on the front lines of our hospitals. Their unwavering dedication and commitment to keeping our communities healthy had them delivering compassionate care, no matter the circumstances.

Seeing firsthand the tireless work of our team members, Northwell leadership immediately understood the importance of reflecting that same compassion back to our team members to meet their mental, physical and emotional needs. Working in health care, so much of your day can be devoted to giving to others and forgetting to take time for yourself. Our Employee Engagement team partnered with Human Resources, Wellness, Chaplaincy and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) teams across our health system and created Tranquility Tents at all of our hospitals to give team members a place to press pause.

These Tranquility Tents are designated spaces for our team members to find moments of peace and reflection, to recharge as they continue to push through these days to care for patients who need it the most. Beyond offering respite, these centers provide access and information for all the resources Northwell has to support them through this unprecedented time. Whether it’s a tired nurse looking for a quick recipe to make dinner after a long shift or a team member in need of 1:1 counseling with a behavioral health representative after a loss of a patient, Northwell’s Tranquility Tents have what they need.

EAP members are on site to help team members talk through what emotional support they might need along with providing printouts of the diverse resources offered. Wellness posters provide new tips each week including meditation guides, recipes and stretching suggestions to ensure our team members are taking care of themselves physically as well as emotionally. The Chaplaincy team performed blessing of the hands, hosted prayer circles, and created prayers and messages to deliver words of encouragement and to connect with team members spiritually.

“The Tranquility Tent started as an idea and a vision from our corporate HR partners and has truly taken on a life of its own in terms of providing emotional, mental, physical and spiritual support for our healthcare heroes,” says Lisa Khavkin, VP of Human Resources at Huntington Hospital. “They have become a place our team can rely on to find a shoulder to cry on, a place to pray, to stretch, listen to music, or paint a stone to memorialize their feelings. While the journey is still ahead of us all, the tranquility tent has become a place of solace and healing.”

Along with support resources, our Tranquility Tents also offer opportunities for team members to take self-care moments. From hiring a barber to give haircuts to arranging for live music to be played, our Tranquility Tents are becoming safe havens for team members to feel good together.

Other activities at the tents may include:

Gratitude Rock Gardens: a therapeutic exercise for team members to reflect on what they’re thankful for during this time, memorializing their thoughts and gratitude while painting rocks to add to the site garden.
Nametag Making Stations: where team members can design their own nametags to help bring a human element back to their personal protective equipment (PPE).
Message of Hope Boards: a reflective exercise for team members to add inspirational messages while reading the heartfelt sentiments other team members have left behind.
Color by Number Art Installations: that are allowing our Northwell team to ‘leave their mark’ by coloring in this interactive art piece. This small moment of art therapy will also transition into a lasting legacy of the impact they’ve had as the art is displayed at each site upon completion.

As we move forward as an organization from fighting against COVID-19 to recovery, these spaces will transform to continue to provide the resources our team needs. “Tranquility spaces will become permanent places within our facilities to enhance the recovery and resilience of our team members. We must continue to adapt our offerings to meet the needs of our team members” says David Gill, AVP of the HR Employee Experience team. As part of this commitment to support, a well-being survey was sent to all our team members to gain insight on what they need not just today, but in the future. This feedback is being utilized by a well-being work group that will continue to evolve the resources available to ensure our organization feels engaged and together.

Though our team members are facing an unprecedented battle on the front lines, we know that we can heal and move forward to a brighter future Truly Together.

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Five reasons why you should choose a Perioperative career at Northwell Health

Perioperative services at Northwell Health are growing fast, and with growth comes a wide range of career opportunities. For qualified nurses looking to enter the field, perioperative careers offer a unique chance to be hands-on and collaborate with other dedicated health care professionals working together to have a direct impact on the lives of their patients. While there are many reasons for joining Northwell in a perioperative career, we’ve provided five reasons why this path is a great decision for anyone looking to make an impact in nursing.

You’ll learn new skills with the most innovative technologies.

As new technologies emerge and the need for more advanced care grows, Northwell provides many opportunities to learn new skills, utilizing state-of-art-technology so perioperative nurses can ensure the highest quality of care for their patients. The latest technology can improve outcomes with greater precision and less invasive procedures, and therefore, increase recovery times, especially in robotic surgery, which has become a trusted method for many of our surgical procedures including cardiac, GYN, ENT, thoracic, neurosurgery, heart and liver transplants, and many more.

Your skills and knowledge will grow along with your career opportunities.

At Northwell Health, perioperative nurses have access to unlimited clinical resources and educational opportunities designed to help them advance their careers. Nurses can engage in peer learning, career progression and certification programs that encourage their growth and provide support at every level in their journey. Just ask Karen Rowan, MSN, NPD-BC, CNOR, director of System Perioperative Education at Northwell. As an RN in the operating room, she was happy in her career, but she felt there was more she could do. She wanted to use her skills to teach so when the opportunity presented itself to be a clinical nurse educator, she took it.

Making a move into an educator position presented her with opportunities that would prove to be a catalyst in her success. “This position allowed me to participate in leading the OR fellowship, orientation program and simulations,” she says. Northwell also gave her the opportunity to present two podium presentations at two national conferences. “I have the opportunity to share my passion of perioperative nursing with nursing students,” she says. It’s not only the students who benefit from Karen’s passion, the OR Fellowship is a great opportunity for both new grad nurses and floor nurses looking to get into perioperative careers. And the patients do as well, making her career journey even that much more rewarding. Karen and her Corporate Perioperative Education team continue to build unique educational opportunities and experiences for new and existing perioperative nurses

You’re Made for delivering award-winning care.

Year after year, Northwell Health is recognized for the care our team delivers to patients. Northwell was the first in the nation to receive the Network of Excellence in Robotic Surgery designation from Surgical Review Corporation. Our cardiac surgery programs have been ranked by the Department of Health (DOH) among the best in New York State with cardiology programs being recognized by Healthgrades as America’s 100 best heart programs. And beyond the award-wining care for our patients is the award-winning care for our team members! This year, Northwell ranked as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®,” the only health care provider in New York State to do so in 2020.

You’ll have strength in numbers. Teamwork is what we’re all about.

No matter the discipline, each role within Northwell’s organization works together to accomplish the same goal, to redefine health care. You’ll gain support across a collaborative network of team members, from surgical technologists and registered nurses to physicians, physician assistants, anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and even central sterile processing technicians. The dedicated team’s combined experience means the delivery of groundbreaking outcomes for each patient that comes through the doors, and you’ll play a vital role.

Your career will be guided and supported by leaders who inspire your success.

As Kelly Cifu, MSN, RN, and Vice President of System Perioperative Services, explains, “The perioperative leaders at Northwell are committed to continual improvement, teamwork, achievement, and obtaining the best results possible for our patients.” The result of that is double fold as it also impacts the careers of those delivering care. Take Kelly for example. She started her career 15 years ago in the operating room and today she oversees 18 perioperative sites within our network. During her career journey, she gained critical support and mentorship from her leaders who created a trusting, collaborative environment that positioned her for success.

Join Northwell Health today and discover how your perioperative career can be the start of something great.

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Emergency room nurse helps patients recovering from COVID-19 feel right at home

When you think of excellent patient care, endless opportunities, and extraordinary teamwork, Northwell comes to mind. Ashley Sells, a registered nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital in the Emergency Room, exemplifies all of these qualities. She continually practices outstanding patient care and teamwork and especially during the critical times of COVID-19. It is during this time where Ashley went above and beyond for our recovering patients to help them feel at home by starting a “Pick-Me-Up-Pillow” fundraiser.

Ashley’s career journey

Ashley started her nursing career with Northwell eight years ago at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) as a medical surgical nurse, where she served for one year before transferring into the Emergency Room fellowship. Ashley spent two years at LIJMC there before transferring to Lenox Hill. “It was always a dream of mine to live in New York City and work in an ER and Lenox Hill was my ultimate goal,” she says.

Throughout her years at Northwell, Ashley has made a positive impact on leaders and team members as her career has developed. “I am proud to work for an organization that promotes self-growth. Personal input and ideas are always welcome, and leadership continues to assist on any way that they can,” she says. Ashley’s favorite thing about working in emergency medicine is that there always is the ‘unknown’ factor and an element of surprise. She states that, “Every day is a new day, a new learning opportunity. As a nurse, I am challenged each day that I step into work.”

Putting patients first always

During COIVD-19, Ashley took the initiative to raise money selling pillows to help patients feel as comfortable as possible while on the road to recovery. She was inspired by an unfortunate situation when her colleague was diagnosed with COVID-19 and was then admitted into the hospital. She wanted her colleague to feel as much like home as possible while recovering, even down to the pillow she was using. That prompted Ashley to bring her two of her own pillows.

“A simple pillow made her day!” Ashley says. After her colleague was discharged, she donated the two pillows to another patient who was in need. “After recognizing that a pillow could put a smile on a patient’s face, I developed the “Pick-Me-Up-Pillow” fundraiser in hopes that every patient could have the same opportunity to have a comfortable pillow while fighting COVID-19,” she says.

“We often say that the little things make the biggest difference,” Ashley says. Ashley’s fundraiser has raised $5,000, enabling her to purchase 1,200+ pillows that were delivered to Lenox Hill Hospital patients. “This initiative has made me feel proud. This is something that I was personally able to accomplish because of the generosity of others,” Ashley says.

Ashley’s work embodies the Truly Compassionate care that Northwell values. “The outpouring of support our community has shown during this time has been so valued by the Northwell staff. The endless food donations, the letters of encouragement, the 7 PM clap has truly helped to motivate and inspire our team,” says Ashley.

Ashley is a healthcare hero, showcasing her willingness to go above and beyond for our patients. Are you Made for nursing careers? Join our team of heroes.

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CNO Corner – A conversation with Marianna Vazquez

Marianna Vasquez, MSN, RN, NE-BCI, began her Northwell Health career at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJMC) as a medical/surgical registered nurse. From there she grew her skills, both clinically by working as an ICU/CCU nurse, and as a leader. At LIJMC, Marianna felt empowered as a nurse to embrace her leadership skills and encouraged to develop as she progressed from assistant nurse manager to nurse manager and into director roles.

Through the years, she oversaw multiple areas of specialty, which gave her the confidence and knowledge to be ready for the next opportunity. She became Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Plainview Hospital in 1998, and added the title ofCNO of Syosset Hospital in 2003. As CNO of both hospitals, Marianna continues the Northwell spirit of empowering her nurses, “To this day, I learn something new daily and am always inspired by our staff.”

Read more from our CNO Corner interview with Marianna.

1. What makes working in a community hospital unique?

Having many years of experience in a tertiary hospital, I thought the community hospital might present different opportunities and challenges. Both were true! Our connection to the community and each other is tangible. Many of the staff feel like family, and in a smaller community setting everyone knows your name. Many of our team members are also members of our community, so Plainview or Syosset Hospital is their family’s hospital.

2. What exciting initiatives are planned for Plainview and Syosset Hospitals in 2020 and beyond?

Plainview and Syosset Hospitals are currently on the Magnet® journey. Creating a healthy work environment where staff can be empowered to achieve their professional goals is part of the Patient Care Services strategic plan. Through frontline leadership at the bedside initiating and driving practice change, our nurses as well as our patients and their families benefit.

In 2021, we are also anticipating the opening of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Plainview Hospital. Construction and planning is underway currently and positions have been posted internally for ED and Critical Care nurses to apply. As part of their transition, these nurses will undergo 16 weeks of education to prepare for our first cases. This is an example of how staff have career mobility while remaining at a community hospital. The entire hospital is energized by the Cath Lab opening, and the ICU, ED and eventually telemetry services will be impacted by the new program.

Syosset Hospital continues to provide world class orthopedic care and they are Joint Commission certified in knee, hip and spine surgery. These achievements exemplify the high level of excellent care provided at Syosset Hospital.

3. What are some ways nurses at Plainview and Syosset Hospitals have gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Plainview and Syosset Hospital nurses are “Made for this” and the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has only shined a spotlight on essential workers. We’ve seen our nurses demonstrate their caring, compassionate and competent care like never before. Regardless of how weary they might be, they still rally for their colleagues and patients. Some nurses have also taken the time to connect patients and families via FaceTime, which is an especially vital form of communication with visitors currently not allowed at the hospitals.

4. How do Plainview and Syosset Hospitals support their team in growth and development?

Northwell Health has two great resources: The Institute for Nursing and the Center for Learning and Innovation. These institutions offer orientation and new programs on getting education for self-development. In addition, team members receive continuing education days to utilize for conferences and online learning. Plainview and Syosset Hospitals also have access to our own on-site SIM lab which we use for nursing education and in collaboration with the Medical residency staff. All of these opportunities are sought after and encourages our nurses to participate.

5. What makes Northwell Health a great place to work?

At Northwell Health, excellence has no finish line, and as a result we attract professionals who are committed to innovation and execution of best practices. Elevation of one’s practice to improve the life of those we serve is valued.

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Braving uncertainty during uncertain times

Written by: Cassidy Toben, Assistant Nurse Manager, Emergency Department, Lenox Hill Hospital

Northwell Health is proud to spotlight our front line health care workers. See how Northwell clinicians – doctors and nurses – are responding and working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read their stories here.

Cassidy Toben, RN, finds a new niche as COVID-19 forces health care workers to shift roles

As an assistant nurse manager, I’m lucky to have the opportunity to inspire and motivate our nurses and staff, really coach them through their nursing journey. And during the COVID-19 crisis, my role has shifted, transitioning into even more administrative responsibilities.

I’m not always in the rooms with COVID patients, and there’s a sense of guilt that comes with that. Togetherness and camaraderie are built within nurses. It’s our calling — caring for another as if we are the patients we are restoring to health. Leading my team is also a calling, one that I’ve relished during this situation.

Since COVID-19 reached our doors at Lenox Hill Hospital, we’ve bundled care, limiting the number of people and trips in and out of patient rooms. What you might do in a few trips, you do all at once now.

On tough days, and there have been many, one of my nurses will need me to serve as a sounding board to vent about harrowing experiences, or to cry with them about a lost patient. Being this support system is critical to their well-being. We all share the burden and have a stake in this.

I went into nursing to save lives and to help people. But, you realize quickly that you can’t save everybody. That’s really humbling.

The scariest day during this experience came at the end of March. New York was just hitting its peak and COVID-19 patients arrived at alarming rates. One patient was talking to us and seemed pretty stable. About an hour later he coded. Everybody ran to his bedside. Then about 10 minutes after that, a patient on the other side of the emergency department coded — everyone ran to that bedside.

Then a third patient needed resuscitation.

I took a step back and, while watching every one race to the bedside, thought to myself, “Wow, the teamwork here is really inspirational.” The compassion that they showed to the patients, to each other, it eased my fears that day. We have each other’s backs and we support each other. We take care of our patients and we go home. Most of us go home alone. We don’t get to hug our parents. We don’t get to see our families. So, we’re really in this together.

But worry does come over the staff. Patients begin to remind you of your family — many times you’re acting as their family, with visitation suspended in hospitals. And then you worry about your own family, and then yourself.

(Deep breath)

My first symptoms started on March 26, a curious cough that would lead into fatigue and shortness of breath. My husband and I decided it would be safer to stay together than risk exposing anybody else in my family. Still, the thought of getting him sick caused so much anxiety that I started having nightmares. I dreamt that I got him sick and he was dying, because that’s what we were seeing each day. And any health care worker can tell you that they have that exact same fear. It’s not about me. I can handle me. But I don’t want to hurt the people I love.

After two weeks of being ill, I returned to work. I still struggle to sleep, but now it’s our patients that I worry about. It’s also really rewarding to see that our staff has risen above a lot of the challenges, remaining positive at every corner. So, even on days when I’m operating on little sleep, I come into work feeling like we can succeed. We are together and we’re going to get through it.

Luckily, the situation has improved — the volume in the emergency department has slowed. People are staying home, and we’re now on the right part of the curve. Devastation has turned into hope. We’ve lost a tremendous amount, people we know, grandparents, friends. So, we must remember those who are lost and work through each day with positivity.

In a time where it’s hard not to think about yourself and your family and worry about getting sick, people are still thinking about each other here. That is just absolutely incredible. It makes it all worthwhile, providing purpose and an unrelenting desire to help another.

That’s what nursing is truly about.

Cassidy Toben, RN, is an assistant nurse manager in Lenox Hill Hospital’s emergency department.

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Written by: Colleen Conaty BSN, RN-BC, Float Team, North Shore University Hospital

Behind the Mask: Working as a Float RN during the COVID-19 pandemic

Being clinical professionals, we were excited and honored to be a part of history by saving lives – but we could not have anticipated what the next weeks would bring. Though it was unlike anything we could have imagined, my team managed our small unit like champions. As the first designated unit, we were also the first to use personal protective equipment (PPE). We then used our experience to start the education process to teach others how to don and doff PPE properly. From respiratory therapists and environmental service workers to doctors and advanced clinical providers the float team was there to educate them all. We wanted to make sure each member of our North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) team would be able to fight this battle safely.

As the need for more COVID units arose, we opened our unit happily to the ICU nurses who expanded their services to care for patients. We showed them where our supplies were kept and oriented them to our unit so they could take care of the sickest patients. The float team’s challenge was then opening two brand-new units and our nurses, PCAs and CSAs, proudly came in on days off to help support our patients. Every time a manager would ask for more staff many volunteers would offer each time – all to make sure our team members weren’t going to be overwhelmed.

We are still fighting, but the most amazing thing I’ve noticed over the past weeks isn’t just the amount of lives we’ve saved, but that everyone is still smiling. My team carries on with the same smiles and laughs they’ve always had, sending each other heartfelt messages throughout the day. Come to one of our units at any time and I guarantee you’ll hear uplifting music playing from our nursing stations. You’ll find a busy nurse still making time to go room to room with an iPad, helping our patients to FaceTime their family. A few happy tears are shed when we learn a patient has been discharged or when we hear “Here Comes the Sun” play overhead, and celebrating that a patient gets to live because they won the battle – that we won the battle together.

I have never seen strength like this in my lifetime. Though these times are dark, this team has brought light into this world and shown me what it means to truly be a hero. Working aside these people has been the privilege and the honor of a lifetime. Float team, you are saving lives every single day and going through one of the hardest times, arguably of our lifetime, and you’re facing it with positivity. I am so proud of you all and so proud to call you my float family.

Are you Made for an exceptional nursing career like Colleen’s? Learn more about nursing at Northwell Health.

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Setting the table for impactful culinary careers and extraordinary care

At Northwell Health, our culinary departments are built on providing the same standard of service that’s expected in the care we give our patients. With our hospitality-driven approach and our professionally-trained culinary staff, the work we do in the kitchen is essential in our quest to deliver patient satisfaction and redefine health care as a whole. One of the hospitals leading the charge is Huntington Hospital.

Teamwork is imperative, and the staff at Huntington Hospital thrive on teamwork, passion, and dedication. Just ask Sarah Ohlinger, Director of Food and Nutrition and Chief Clinical Dietitian at Huntington Hospital, “We truly believe that when you are surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.” When it comes to elevating care and improving patient outcomes, it’s the work of the collective that makes all the difference.

Our culinary teams work closely together to directly influence the course of our patients’ journey towards better health. Highly skilled dietitians collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide our patients with the latest evidence-based research to assist in improving patient outcomes. The dietitians then work alongside the chefs, diet techs and management team to execute new recipes and ensure that they meet guidelines for therapeutic diets. Then it’s time for the chefs and cooks to bring these recipes to life.

However, the work of the team doesn’t end there. Diet clerks are the voice of the department, handling hundreds of calls a day, and speaking directly to patients to obtain their orders. Our food service workers are the face of our department, delivering meals to patients in under 25 minutes with a smile and a kind word.

Northwell’s commitment to advancing the industry is evident in Huntington Hospital. In just three years, Huntington Hospital went from being ranked in the 16th percentile to being ranked in the 93rd percentile in the country, per the Press Ganey Quality of Food Scores., There’s so much that contributes to that success.

For example:

Replacing dinnerware with bone china and high-quality flatware.
Using freshly sourced, seasonal and locally grown ingredients whenever possible.
Conducting meal rounds on a weekly basis to meet with patients to understand how we can best serve them.
Being the first in our network to convert to an In-Room Dining model similar to hotel room service.

With meals like homemade blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast and roasted cauliflower flatbread pizza for dinner, it’s no wonder our patients’ faces light up when their meals are delivered.

Providing support during the COVID-19 pandemic with food and nutrition

When it came time to modify the dining experience in the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Huntington was ready to join the fight. Clinical Registered Dietitians work daily with the interdisciplinary team to optimize nutrition support for increasingly complex critical COVID patients who are fighting the virus. This is especially vital as research indicates that adequate nutrition can decrease the number of vent-dependent days and the mortality rate. The team transitioned to a modified meal delivery service to limit disruptions to the nursing staff. They worked together to create an abridged COVID menu to help lower staffing needs while accounting for the nutritional needs of our patients during potential shortages of enteral supplies.

This passion for using food to heal goes beyond the meals delivered to our patients. Chefs worked daily to make free homemade healthy snacks to fuel caregivers while they work on the front lines. Get well cards have been added to patients’ meal trays in hopes to help brighten their days and let them know that Food & Nutrition is available to provide support. When Meals on Wheels came to a halt during COVID-19, Huntington’s Food & Nutrition and the Quality Department filled the gap with the launch of “Mobile Meals,” a program where volunteers deliver meals produced and packaged by the culinary team to continue a life-sustaining service to homebound senior citizens in the community.

“Our team recognizes the important role food plays in the healing and recovery process,” says Sarah. “Food can help heal, and in the hospital setting, it can comfort. We are proud to serve our patients, caregivers and community members.”

If you feel you have the qualities needed to lead a fulfilling career in culinary services at Northwell Health, apply today.

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Joining the fight: Meet Alison Laxer, MD

Northwell Health is proud to spotlight our front line health care workers. See how Northwell clinicians – doctors and nurses – are responding and working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read their stories here.

After graduating early from the Zucker School of Medicine, Alison Laxer, MD, is entering the effort to care for COVID-19 patients.

March 25 is a day I will never forget. Not because I celebrated my birthday with my family, but because I learned something that would change my life forever.

Late that Wednesday evening, I received a message about a Zoom virtual meeting with Lawrence Smith, MD, MACP, dean of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, where I was well into my fourth year. We usually don’t have meetings with the dean like this, but under the current circumstances, anything was possible. Dr. Smith told us we are graduating early and have the option to join the fight against the coronavirus.

My parents, who are both physicians, were nervous. And rightfully so. Who would want their child to voluntarily be exposed to COVID-19? But they understood and would’ve taken the opportunity to do the right thing if they were in my situation. We are physicians after all. This is what we signed up for.

My boyfriend, Alexander Smith, MD, who is also in my class, had similar feelings about the decision — he said we can be a part of history. We both decided independently, and it was never a question of if to do it, but when do we start?

The truth is, I will start in a few days. I finished virtual training earlier this week. Fear. Excitement. Concern. There’s a wide range of emotions flowing. We know we won’t see our families. We know we should avoid highly populated places like grocery stores. But we also know that we can help make a difference for so many struggling with the pandemic.

They say your fourth year of medical school is supposed to be a glorious time. Alex and I had plans to go to Europe, then the Caribbean, then to my cousin’s home in Chicago. It was supposed to be a time to really relax and rest before starting my residency at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. It’s strange that I will be spending this time at a hospital rather than a beach. But if this is what is needed, I’m going.

To say I’m scared would be an understatement. This is something we have never done before and I think I’m more nervous about not being very helpful. I know Northwell has plenty of personal protective equipment. And I can see the camaraderie among staff who are celebrated and sharing their experiences in the media. I just want to play my part.

This virus has touched so many lives. I never thought being a doctor was a hazardous profession, not like a firefighter or policewoman. But we will be exposed and our mission has never been greater. Hopefully, this will encourage more people to go into medicine.

Alison Laxer, MD, is a recent graduate of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine. After assisting in the fight against COVID-19, she will assume her pediatric residency.

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Meet Truly Compassionate Nurse Practitioner, Benzy Thomas

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Growing a career as a leader at Northwell Health

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An Appointment With: Ryon Andersen, AED, Finance, North Shore University Hospital

What inspired you to move from pursuing a clinical career to a non-clinical career within healthcare?

What is it like to work in finance and operations within a large tertiary hospital? What role does an administrator in finance/ops play?

Can you talk a little bit about the creation of the HMP and MAP programs and why is it important to mentor young professionals?

What is one piece of advice for someone looking to get into finance and ops in healthcare?

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Vicki is still helping patients and learning new skills after three decades in nursing at Northwell

Embracing new opportunities for patient care

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Volunteering at a COVID-19 testing center in Manhattan was challenging yet rewarding

Written by: Chandra Bishun-Freeman, Senior Medical Assistant, Northwell Health Cardiology Upper East Side

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The power of teamwork from the U.S. Navy to healthcare recruitment

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Fresh brick oven pizza adds to culinary experience at North Shore University Hospital

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How Northwell Health used medical research in the face of a global pandemic

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