Letters from our Patients and their Families

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Today I am here to see Dr. Shah and Leanne Whetstone. I wanted to share several observations. Every single person with whom I came in contact was friendly and professional, making my visit go exceptionally well. From Leanne, the X-ray technician, the front desk staff, the cafeteria workers to the lady at the gift shop, I am so impressed! Also, the hospital is very clean... throughout. Between COVID and construction I know this has been a stressful time for everyone at BWFH but your staff have been amazingly resilient. I am confident I am getting and will continue to receive exceptional patient care.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The person who performed my stress test was amazing. He was knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and informative. I was impressed with his depth of knowledge and the fact that he took so much time to explain things and answer my questions. The cardiologist was also helpful and friendly. I couldn't have been more pleased with the care that I received.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The care was outstanding. Dr. Shah was wonderful as was Dan the nurse who registered me. The nurse assigned to me in the post-op was phenomenal as well. Very caring, informative and kind. I don’t remember her name but she was most reassuring. The entire process was smooth and professional. I did have some anxiety, naturally, about the procedure, and the staff was very confident and supportive. I left with all the equipment I needed, including two pillows which the CNA put in my car for me! I highly recommend Dr. Shah and his team!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My PT is the best I have ever had. Kristen Benya is an excellent PT. In one visit I felt better. I am relieved and excited she can help me. She is the needle in the haystack. I am extremely grateful I have her as my PT.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I would like to sincerely thank Dr. A.M. Wagner. He met with me very soon after we arrived, putting my husband and me at ease. His engaging questions and conversation (and sense of humor) helped diminish my excessive anxiety about my injury. He proceeded professionally, detailing procedures, medications and his observations and continually checking in with me at each step of the assessment, numbing injections, suturing and simple instructions on aftercare. We left the emergency service with gratitude for the high quality of medical and personal care we received. It is actually a pleasure to tell you and many others about the positive experience we had! Thank you so very much!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The staff from check in to check out and everyone in between made my surgical experience and pleasant and positive one! There are so many people to thank from Dr. Spector and his right-hand woman, Alicia, who made this surgery a success! As well as everyone who took care of me and made this such a great experience were the following: Audi, Janet Rinne, John the resident, Kim the anesthesiologist nurse, Sarah, and in post-op, Jillian, Amanda and Rose were all so kind and helpful. I know I’m forgetting others as well but I want to thank them as well! Thank you all again!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My nurse Christine went above and beyond while I was in the ER recovery room. She showed such compassion and listened. Christine made numerous phone calls to move up my upcoming stress echo test and it worked. It can be difficult to get orders moved from one hospital to another, but she took the time and worked her magic. She even called me after I was discharged later that day to check on me and told me to call her if I had any questions. She said she was working until 7 and would be there to help with anything I needed. She truly was one of a kind!!!! THANK YOU, CHRISTINE!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Jared Wydysh is high level professional therapist, nice person, listening carefully to patient’s concerns and complaints. His skills and supportive attitude create a warm and comfortable atmosphere during appointments. Following his recommendations about home exercises helps me to improve my condition. I am grateful to Jared. I am lucky to be his patient.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Kyle has been fantastic. I am in nowhere near the kind of pain I was in a month ago and look forward to continuing my PT with him. Kyle has been professional, knowledgeable, informative and friendly. I have been in PT before, for various reasons, and all of the physical therapists I have worked with at BWFH have been great. The entire staff including the receptionists have been friendly and accommodating. Whenever I need PT, I look forward to coming to BWFH.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Outstanding staff, the best medical team I have ever experienced. From the first person I talked with all the way to the last. Supportive, caring, nice. Understood how anxious I was and how important it was for me to have my fiancé there when he could be. They were nice and helpful to my fiancé too! My doctor is top notch, the incisions were small and my recovery has been smooth so far. My doctor is knowledgeable and has the best bedside manner I’ve ever seen. I’m beyond happy with the service, the facility and the staff. Thank you so much.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

This visit was a great experience. Right from the intake person to the one that helped me out the door. All of the people assigned to me were professional and very helpful. I want to say thank you to all concerned. Robert Leslie was the sweetest male nurse that I have ever had. Pam and Janet were extremely thoughtful, helpful and answered my questions. Louisa and I had a very enjoyable conversation while she was waiting on beds to move. Dr. Nakhlis did an amazing job. Dr. Patel introduced himself to me and said I would see him around and would help me if I needed anything. Now anesthesiologist Andrew Star, what can I say! He was something else. He made me feel so at ease that I wanted to hug him. He is the first anesthesiologist to have a personality and was not just business talk and walk out! You have a GREAT new person on board with him. Karen, the nurse that gave me my riding/walking papers was so polite and kind. You need more of her. Again, I am thrilled to have had the crew that I had. I love each and every one of them and wish them all happiness in their chosen field. THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

All members of the intake, patient care coordination team and Dr. Simpson himself were beyond courteous and professional—and most importantly, I could tell they cared. I unfortunately do not remember his name, but I did speak with a fellow who was responsible for patient logistics/coordinating for the ER wing, from anything from find available beds to updating charts. After speaking with him, it turns out we were both from the same area This stellar member of your team really stood out to me for being as highly considerate and thoughtful as he was detailed. Further, I encountered only positive and driven ER team members and this really helped my mood during this hard time. The combination of care and caring I experienced here was truly exceptional.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Dr. Issa and his staff are amazing. Because of his care I am so much better and able to enjoy my life with safe, movement with much less pain.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I have been to this unit for colonoscopies/endoscopies many times. I have never had anything but a great experience. The nurses have always been wonderful and this time was no exception. I’m a nurse myself so a tough critic but nothing to complain about here. Thank you for your wonderful care!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My experience at BWFH was really exceptional. I thought every single person that I came in contact with showed that they cared and also just did their job with the highest amount of professionalism. There wasn’t a single time when I thought I had a question that it wasn’t answered before I even asked it, really just terrific. I stayed overnight and every nurse, every doctor, every follow up was really outstanding. So I can’t thank everyone enough.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My pre-op nurse Sue was absolutely fantastic. I was so calm waiting for the procedure because of her. Before she put the IV in, she numbed the area and I never felt a thing. That has never happened to me before. I can’t say enough about the care I received at BWFH. Thank you.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My regular hospital is Newton-Wellesley Hospital. As a matter of urgency, they were able to schedule my test at BWFH. I’m grateful for the number of facilities that MGB has, for the convenience of this particular appointment and the cooperation between the facilities. Great job.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Kristen Benya is by far the best PT I’ve ever had: knowledgeable, patient, efficient, skilled, caring, smart, hard-working, funny, truly gifted—can’t say enough positive things about her. I’d be her patient forever if I could. She is always well organized, tweaks my program constantly to make it most effective and is consistently upbeat and supportive. Her knowledge and creativity are impressive; her kindness and engaged outlook reassuring; her enthusiasm for her work and the wellbeing/improvement of her clients always present. You are very fortunate to have her, and I hope you will do everything possible to retain her. She has made an enormous difference in my recovery and in my life. Thanks so much, Kristen!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I had been to BWFH once before for a CT scan, and then been elsewhere twice. I chose to return to BWFH because the staff is so kind and caring and makes an old lady feel comfortable. I am very grateful for that.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Dr. King and her team were outstanding. From the first consult through the surgery process, I felt fully informed and supported. I feel so fortunate to have the team that I do. I am so grateful for everything.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The new breast center had a very inviting atmosphere, extremely efficient staff and technician, energizing music selection in waiting room and the view from the window was breathtaking! Truly wonderful experience!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I don’t remember specific names but everyone I came in contact with was super kind, caring and helpful. I’ve never been to the ER before and I’ve mostly heard horror stories, but that was not my experience. It went very smoothly and I was seen way faster that I had anticipated.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I was treated with kindness and felt cared for from the minute I walked in!! Everything was explained to me numerous times by numerous nurses to make sure everyone was on the same page at all times. Every nurse I had the pleasure of meeting/taking care of me was beyond nice and they went above and beyond to make my upcoming procedure less stressful! I would recommend this hospital to all because of their caring and knowledge staff.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I was delighted to have the exceptional care that I did receive. Having stayed overnight, I felt that the education that I was given by Kathy and Jessica was amazing and I needed to have that extra time so as to integrate and become familiar with the medication protocol. Dr. Fitz’s team and protocol were remarkable! Thank you so much for a remarkable experience!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Doctor James Adam Greenberg is very nice, very friendly, very helpful. He explained everything for me before I decided to do surgery. He is a best doctor. The nurse and other doctors are very friendly. The hospital is very clean. I love everybody here. Thank you.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The techs were so patient, kind and caring during my visit. Tracey and Cathy were so supportive and understanding of my nerves and could not have been more wonderful. They even asked me for my favorite music and played it to calm me. Their support during the testing and procedure made all the difference. Tracey even held my hand and spoke to me during the process to comfort me. Please recognize these two amazing women for the huge difference they made for me during my unnerving visit that morning!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Everyone was amazing, considerate and so pleasant. I dreaded the visit at first but by the time I left I felt that I had gotten such great care.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My therapist was amazing. James Manna treated me with courtesy and respect and he made sure that I was doing good. I went in, I saw him before for physical therapy. I was about to do surgery and he encouraged me to try a little longer and it has been months and I have not felt the pain, at all, and now, he is helping me and I’m not completely all the way there, but with all the material that he has been giving me and instruction and checking to make sure I’m doing it right. Today was my discharge and I’m very confident that everything is going to work out fine.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Blessings to all the medical staff during and after my visit in Emergency. Their dedication to such demanding and critical care is truly appreciated. May God bless them and provide them with the extra help, support and assistance they need to make their lives better. It takes lots of caring, patience, courage, understanding and love of others to perform their duties. The EMT and Fire Departments were so kind and efficient as well. Thank you BWFH and staff for the services and support you have provided for me and for others over the years. I appreciate all of you! May God bless and keep you all in His care. With thanks from a happy and grateful patient.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My experience at BWFH was over and above anything I have experienced at a hospital before. The courtesy and respect that was demonstrated to me was wonderful. I also noticed members of the staff being very courteous and respectful to each other. This made me feel even more comfortable in a difficult situation. I want to give special thanks to the staff at the desk on the 5th floor who told us about the Arnold Arboretum. We had a couple of hours between procedures and spent 1 1/2 hours there. How wonderful to be walking in nature in the middle of the city while awaiting surgery!!! Thank you to all the staff at BWFH!!!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The receptionist who checked me in was very friendly, fully explained everything in plain language, she asked if I had any questions, booked my appointment for next year. I was very nervous but with her compassion and friendliness it helped me to relax. She was AWESOME!!! The technician Kerri who did the mammogram was awesome, she explained everything, made me feel at ease. I am so happy I had her as my technician. She is AMAZING!!!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The reason why I drive to BWFH to have mammograms on an annual basis from the Cape is due to the professionalism of staff at all points. The other reason is for the timely response in regards to the results of the mammogram. I wish to thank the center staff and everyone who makes the process streamlined.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional care and experience I received during my surgery at BWFH. The commitment to patient well-being displayed by my entire care team was truly commendable. From the very beginning, I was greeted with genuine warmth and enthusiasm, creating a positive and reassuring atmosphere that persisted throughout my brief stay. Though I may not recall every name, I cannot overstate the exceptional professionalism and kindness demonstrated by each member of my care team, for the names I do recall: Audi: Provided clear instructions and friendly support upon my arrival. Nurse Robin: Ensured I understood every step of the process and made me feel well-informed and at ease, fantastic personality. Dr. Rosoff: Displayed exceptional expertise and a reassuring demeanor that significantly eased my concerns. A very relatable doctor from a patient perspective. Anesthesiologist Kimberly: Explained everything perfectly, and even took the time to wheel me into the OR. Nurse April: Ensured my recovery was smooth and uplifting with her heartfelt care and encouragement. She even took the time to call me that I had forgotten my glasses and then followed through to get them mailed back to me. Rose: Displayed a personable and caring attitude that made my departure from the facility a pleasant experience. While I’m missing a few names, please know that the entire team’s efforts did not go unnoticed. The dedication and efficiency displayed by everyone I encountered were instrumental in making my experience at BWFH a truly positive one. I commend the senior leadership and the entire team for their seamless coordination and dedication to providing an outstanding patient experience. BWFH operates like a well-oiled machine, and this is a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved, from top to bottom.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Compliments to the team that came up with systemic improvements—no changing room and lockers, only a half-johnny for breast imaging because that’s all that needs covering, highly efficient check in (I did mine online before arriving, so almost no waiting for technician) and the most pleasant receptionist experience ever. Also re scheduling. I was late for my original appointment and had to reschedule. Someone gave me an excellent appointment that I had not been offered at first. I am just super impressed with the team and procedures and the friend who drove me to the appointment was astonished at how quickly I was greeted, seen and released. It is also brilliant to schedule the next mammogram before going in for this year’s appointment—no chance to forget to schedule for the following year. I’m thrilled that a doctor recommended I schedule BWFH for mammography when I first arrived in MA. It was a great, great referral. Also, parking not very expensive because appointment involved almost no waiting and someone was at the exit gate to assist with payment of parking fee. I am delighted by the entire experience.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I’ve had a few very poor experiences in other big health organizations, recently moved to the area, easy to get a new provider, make urgent apt when needed, easy to have all my appointments, tests and blood work scheduled. Care team has been attentive and supportive. This is how healthcare should be.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart to the entire staff. I was anxious about undergoing surgery and feel very grateful to have had such a lovely, intelligent, dedicated and caring team of professionals taking care of me. As a fellow healthcare professional, I know how diligently, tirelessly and selflessly we must work to provide the best care possible. I truly felt everyone at BWFH was committed to passionately fulfilling their duties on all levels during my stay. I was especially very pleased with the care in the pre-op room as I watched many nurses go above and beyond to provide emotional companionship, diversion, additional thoughtful measures, etc. to patients who were anxious. I am very passionate about holistic care—patients should be treated first and foremost as humans, with respect and dignity and not just a “patient,” “name, DOB” or a MRN, so to speak. So, thank you all for providing holistic care—please keep doing what you’re doing!! I hope everyone knows how appreciated they are!!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Thank you for treating me with compassion, kindness and respect throughout my stay at BWFH. Thank you to the team of medical professionals, nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians who were a constant source of comfort and knowledge during this extremely stressful medical episode. Thank you for saving my life!

I arrived at BWFH’s ED. Within the first hour of being there, the team of medical professionals in the ED had taken my history, were running tests to identify the cause of my ailment and started me on medication to treat the condition. Part of my history included the fact that I was watching the Bills-Giants game and was very frustrated in Josh Allen’s performance when my symptoms started. This is important and why I’m sharing this Bills reference is because every BWFH medical professional assigned to my case would introduce themselves and then comment about me being a Bills fan. This demonstrated that not only did they take the time to read my medical history/notes, they were connecting with me as an individual and not just another “patient.”

I ended up being admitted to the hospital later that evening and transferred to 6 North. Once on the 6th floor, I met with Dr. Mehdi, and was impressed that he thoroughly read through my medical record (not only the ED notes) and yes, we did discuss the Bills game. The next morning things escalated while I was brushing my teeth. What I remember, once I came to, was Annie Bossy reassuring me that it was going to be okay and telling me everything that the medical team was doing. I remember Drs. Gopal, Lara and Bhatt introducing themselves, evaluating me and forming a plan for treatment. I remember Jessica (an ICU nurse) playing Madonna’s “Borderline” (a reference made by one of the nurses to my blood pressure) on her iPhone in an attempt to calm me down as they were transferring me to the ICU because she inherently knew I was scared. While I was in the ICU, I received tremendous care from the entire team (Jessica, Yoko, Happy, Hollis, Paulina, Janice, Ryan, Gino, Eddy, Dr. Rose and everyone else I left off). I cannot emphasize enough how impressed, thankful and grateful I am to have been treated by the incredible professionals at BWFH!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I have never had surgery or care through BWFH previously and am so appreciative that both my surgeon and BWFH were recommended to me after my diagnosis. Dr. Nakhlis was wonderful both during my pre-surgery appointment and on my surgery day. She was kind, listened intently to any concerns and thoroughly explained my type of cancer and care and treatment. It was evident in the hospital that she has an excellent relationship with the nurses and her team as well. She personally visited me during recovery and further explained how the surgery went and follow-up. I could not have asked for a better surgeon than Dr. Nakhlis. I also want to thank the doctor and staff who did the seed implantation prior to surgery. This was the most worrisome for me and they calmed all fears with their manner and care. The nurses in pre-op were wonderful. They were very friendly, took great care of me and made me very comfortable emotionally and physically while I waited. Dr. Nakhlis’ team in the surgical unit was as caring and professional as the others and I am grateful that I chose both Dr. Nakhlis and BWFH for my surgery.

Posted 11/28/23