Letters from our Patients and their Families

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I wanted to express my deep gratitude for the loving care and concern that I received upon my recent surgery. I definitely wanted the surgery to be done at BWFH, so I was willing to wait the time for the two surgeons’ schedules to be coordinated and time found on the OR schedule. BWFH has always held a very special place in my heart, and I knew the care and expertise I received would be top notch. My expectations were far exceeded. I wish to thank every one of you for your part in taking great care of me. There was little room for anxiety. Thank you. It was great to see and speak to so many of you who were a part of my career. BWFH has always been a family-oriented institution and I certainly felt that sense of family during my surgery. Thank you so very much. I believe that everyone who passes through the doors of BWFH will experience the same level of expert care and sense of peacefulness. Thank you.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I am very impressed with the ER at BWFH. I had four or five tests and was finished there in less than five hours, with a staff who were all lovely, efficient and courteous.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Chris, who did my overnight sleep study, was excellent in the sleep lab. Very informative, very professional, very thorough, really great personality. You’re lucky to have him working there. He’s very engaging with the patients and treats them very respectfully. Thank you.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

BWFH is to me the best hospital that I could go to for my mammogram. They are very knowledgeable. They always take good care of me and they make me very comfortable when I’m there. And I never have a problem and they really, really care for the person that they’re examining. And I thank you for being there.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Luke Montrose is my therapist and he has taught me so many different ways to strengthen my body, my mind and to take my time. His professionalism and his knowledge is second to none and I really appreciate the time he takes with me and how he explains everything and changes things when they don’t work. He’s excellent at what he does. Glad to have him.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Ginny, my nurse, was terrific. It was my first time at your infusion center and I was nervous. She explained everything to me and I was very comfortable after that.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Dr. Nakhlis and Dr. Pusic did an amazing job on my surgery and I am so grateful to them both for providing me with excellent care!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I found the receptionist very helpful, very positive and very friendly. And the technician that did my mammogram was just super. So, very happy with the whole experience. And the new facility is just beautiful. So, thank you very much.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

It is with great pleasure that I would like to praise the staff of the Orthopedics Center at BWFH, particularly Dr. George Dyer, PA Mallory Pingeton and his surgical, X-ray and administrative staff. Every single individual with whom I interacted at the Center was brilliant, compassionate and committed to my care. I underwent surgery with Dr. Dyer at the helm. Prior to and afterwards, every appointment—virtual or face-to-face—helped me understand the preparation, details and recovery of the surgery. Those certainly contributed to me getting through a very painful ordeal with as much healing and hope as anyone could. Right from our first meeting, Dr. Dyer explained my current status, the possible procedures and the realistic recovery discomfort. (I won’t use a more accurate descriptor of that discomfort!) In our last appointment, I thanked Dr. Dyer for his help and that of all the staff who surround him. He modestly said it is a team that works together for others. I think that aptly describes his work ethic as a stellar healer, leader and mentor. Please pass this praise on to him and his staff. We too often hear complaints about the competency or attitude of others. This is a perfect example of the opposite. Where there is excellence, it needs to be shouted out. I want to shout out for Dr. Dyer and all on his Orthopedic team. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

All of the BWFH staff that I encountered during my surgery were excellent. They were pleasant, courteous, professional, attentive and obviously very skilled. I was very nervous about the surgery, but realized quickly that I was in the best hands possible. I couldn’t have asked for more. The staff at BWFH made my stay as pleasant as it possibly could have been.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I’m really satisfied with the care that I’ve received at the BWFH Emergency Room. I’ve been coming here for years. I like the updates and the changes that have been made and the service has decreased the time in which you have to wait. The wait time is really low compared to other emergency rooms and so I’m really happy about that. They’re concise and they communicate well and thoroughly. I’m very pleased with the care that I received there. Thank you.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I just wanted to say that Stephanie O’Connor, RD, is the best member of my healthcare team. She is so enthusiastic and understanding. She totally gets what I’m going through and can relate my symptoms to things in my past. And that helps me cope tremendously. I’ve been doing much better under her care and I’m really grateful for her.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Elise Tarbox, RN, in the PACU provided outstanding care and kindness. She made me feel safe and if there was anything I needed, she was there for me. She checked my wounds and changed my dressings multiple times during the night. She assisted me to the bathroom. In the morning she made me tea and ordered my breakfast. At checkout, Elise took an extended amount of time to go over my discharge papers and answer all my questions. She also took time to converse with me to get to know me personally and make me laugh. I was kind of disappointed when I had to leave. All the doctors and nurses I dealt with that day were professional and courteous, but Elise stood out above the rest,

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I consider your facility to be the most welcoming, warm, receptive, caring, confidential service I have ever received. And to me, it’s above and beyond what can be expected in today’s day and age. Even the clientele or customers were kind and helpful, opening the door for me, a handicapped person, as well as a doctor who was retired, jumping out to help me get back into my car. The physician was kind. He explained things. He was inquisitive, as he should be. And he made sure I had the appointments when I could make them. And he was very, very good. The staff was overwhelming.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Overall I had a great experience. The facility is clean and very modern. Staff is always friendly and kind. I’ve recommended this facility to friends who are about to have their first mammogram as I feel it’s a place that would make them feel comfortable. I just can’t say enough good about all the staff there. Leading up to my first mammogram I dreaded it based on the stories I’d heard about how painful of an experience it is but I have never found it painful or unpleasant and I feel strongly that’s all due to the staff.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Mohammed Issa, MD, has provided me with incredible care for the last four years. I have a very complex condition and he has treated me with great respect, concern and trust. I really feel as though we are working together as a team to tackle the challenges I face as a result of my condition. Dr. Issa has gone to great lengths to accommodate my needs, anticipate them and put together treatment plans so that other providers will know how to manage my care in the event of an emergency. Nate Beyer has also been a wonderful support over these years. He always makes himself available to help me schedule appointments and goes out of his way to be helpful however he can. I am so grateful for the wonderful teamwork.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The nurse who cared for me—Steven—was fantastic. He gave me a heads up at each point so I knew what to expect. He listened to what I had to say. He asked frequently what my pain level was and adjusted medication as needed—always keeping me informed about what was going on. He is an exemplary medical professional.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I have to say I was very impressed. I was very apprehensive about going to emergency room in a hospital, but I specifically chose this one because I thought it would be quieter and be better patient care than one of the hospitals downtown. And I was very impressed. From the moment I got there, everyone was extremely professional, responsive from waiting room to nurses, doctors. I was really impressed. So good work and I would definitely go back again.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I had three nurses during my stay: Kylie, Kristen and Jess. I can’t say that there was just one thing that they did. Everything that they did was super helpful. They were kind and compassionate, listened to everything I had to say, helped me with anything that I needed and they just made my stay there much easier to deal with, and they were just all great nurses. So I hope they get some recognition for that. You guys are lucky to have them.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My doctor was Dr. Sonja Foo, and I really liked her. She was thorough when she assessed me and she was very kind. Before she discharged me, she went out of her way to call my mom and make sure I had someone to take care of me at home. I appreciated that. Despite the ER being so busy, she made sure I was well cared for.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I am beyond grateful to my entire team before, during and after my surgery! I felt so safe and so blessed to have each one of you taking such amazing care of me… every single person came up to me and took the time to introduce themselves and explain what my surgery entailed and asked if I had any questions or concerns. Each of you were so patient and so friendly and supportive of me (and may I add how graceful you all worked so well together too!!!). The care and genuineness shown to me was absolutely impeccable! I am so appreciative beyond words to each and every one of you!!! The valet was so sweet, the woman at the check-in podium was so helpful and explanatory and there was even a woman who worked at the hospital who saw me and my husband (obviously a bit confused due to nerves) and went out of her way to walk us to the actual place we needed to be! I could go on and on… from the friendly and patient woman at the front desk who checked me in, to the nurse who took my BP, weight, heart rate, O2 levels and went on to explain them to me, to each and every single one of my nurses, doctors, techs and anyone else who was there with me that day... I will remember you all. Please know I appreciate and respect each and every one of you!! Thank you again for taking such remarkable care of me as well as my husband and my dad and in-laws who were also in the waiting room, along with texting my mom and my sons to keep them posted with my surgery!!! God bless you all and keep you safe!!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I can’t say enough about the terrific care I received from the nursing staff. All were competent, compassionate and attentive. I especially want to recognize the nurses in the extended recovery unit, Mike, who helped me when I first awakened, and Elise, who took care of me all night. Both made my stay as comfortable as possible and Elise was very proactive in addressing some difficulties I was having post-operatives. I hope that they can be commended for their excellent patient care.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My nurses were outstanding. Cody, Agnes, Anastasia, the CNA Tammy, I cannot say enough about the quality of care, the thoughtfulness. When they come into the room in the middle of the night, they dim the lights and come in quietly. They were absolutely wonderful. I just worry that I’ve left out somebody’s name. Every single person that I dealt with was fabulous. I was so happy. It was wonderful.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Dr. Earp and her team are the best. Dr. Earp is a rockstar and everyone who works with her reflect her. I have absolute confidence in her and her team. It is a great, relaxing feeling. I will always go to her if I need help.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Everyone was professional, courteous, empathetic, respectful and went out of their way for me. From the porter to the nurses to anesthesia to the surgeons, everyone was wonderful. The young man who admitted me and started my IV was thoughtful, calming and very skilled. He truly calmed me down during the pre-op admission. Jennifer stayed with me the entire time. She anticipated my needs, made great suggestions, used humor and was very encouraging. She watched me like a hawk and made me feel safe and listened to. Dr Shah and his team, including anesthesia, as always were the best. And when I was being discharged, the porter actually got me coffee and carried it all the way to the front door for me, told me about his life and job here and helped my husband get me settled in the car. It appears everyone loves their work at BWFH. Most of the people I talked with have been here for many years.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I would like to comment with regards to Dr. Issa and the nurses that always treat me with kindness and understanding and always explain the procedure that I am going to receive on that day. I appreciate them all. I appreciate all that you do for me and treatments that I receive allow me to feel so much improvement. At times, the treatment can be so painful. Dr. Issa always takes the time to listen. In my opinion, he’s the best doctor I’ve had in pain clinic. He knows my disease well and he knows how to treat it. If anything unusual arises, he always has an answer and, if for some reason, it’s more difficult, he takes the time to look at other resources. I truly do appreciate the staff at the pain clinic and I do appreciate all the help and all the listening they do to me. The nurses always return my calls in a very timely manner and always relay information that I may need from Dr. Issa about medication that I may need. And they always take the time to explain to me how they may interact with my other medication. I have a lot of respect for all of the team at the pain clinic and I would like to thank them for all the help and support they give me.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My experience at BWFH has been excellent. Every experience I’ve had has been very professional and I don’t know how you can make any improvements. I think everything is great. My surgery went extremely well. The care at BWFH is exemplary. Even the food was pretty good. So I have to say I would definitely tell people to go to BWFH and if anyone wants to find out about surgery or any care that they need at BWFH, I would highly recommend it.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I want to say that I have been a patient at BWFH for a number of years and it’s amazing because I have never encountered even one individual who had a negative attitude. Everyone has great customer service and is positive and makes me feel welcome. I would say that that’s not common and so you must have a great corporate culture that everybody is happy over there. The other thing is I had a recent appointment in radiology and the receptionist was extra nice. I mean above and beyond. The man who actually did the test was also equally nice.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The person (Sydney) who conducted my mammogram was one of a kind. My experience with her during my mammogram was unique in that her instructions, kindness and abilities were above and beyond any previous mammogram I have had in the past. Sydney, in my opinion, should be teaching others in her field how to preform mammograms. Thank you and I hope you let Sydney know how much I appreciate her!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Dr. Dyer is one physician in whom I would place my utmost confidence. His skill and compassion created a sense of well-being for me upon our first meeting. Now, after my second surgery with him, I can say that I would not hesitate to recommend to either family or friends that they seek his knowledge, dedication and ability. He is a tremendous asset to your facility.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I would like to single out nurses Anne Marie Costello and Tess Moore who provided my pre- and post-procedure care that was worthy of a king. I cannot possibly say enough good things about their professionalism, courtesy, attentiveness, compassion and competence. If you can keep employees like those two angels in human disguise, BWFH has a bright future indeed.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Christopher, my sleep technician was excellent. He was courteous. He explained everything so that I was extremely comfortable as each part of the procedure happened. I can’t say enough about him. He was wonderful.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Julia in pre-op, Elise in the Extended Care Unit and Dr. Kudsi all made this procedure so smooth by giving superior care, having excellent knowledge, inimitable bedside manner and personalities on top of it all! I didn’t come into contact with anyone, from check-in to check-out, that wasn’t exceptional. Very noticeable was the cooperation between staff members and their truly apparent caring for one another. It made for a wonderful atmosphere of a team all working hard together with the same mission. Kudos to every last one of them! I am so grateful for my great care.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

You know something is being well done at a facility when the much sought-after surgeon (Omar Kudsi) takes the time to give me and my daughter-in-law his phone number, take all of our questions, exhibit incredible knowledge and personality and call to my family after the surgery to report on the procedures done and findings. There was not one thing he could have done better. He is a Super Star!

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The ERU recovery unit was a terrific place to recover, and everyone was so helpful. It was very personal and comforting. My congrats to this new way of post-surgical recovery. Thank you. It was even better than a private room.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

My visit to BWFH was wonderful. Even though I had an injury to my hand, the doctors and nurses were exemplary. Professional, kind, warm, thoughtful and as a patient I felt like I was their only one. BWFH is one of the best hospitals I’ve ever been to. Thank you to all the people that helped.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I’d like to give a special praise to Dr. Matthew Carty who performed my surgery. He’s just kind and informative and made me feel safe and taken care of. And to my nurse in recovery, Carolyn, she was outstanding. She was kind. She was gentle. She was present. She made sure that I was okay, that I didn’t need pain meds or that if I did need pain meds and that I was healing correctly and doing okay quite frequently. And she did it in a very calm and quiet manner so that I could rest as well. I had another nurse, I don’t remember her name, when I first came out of surgery and she was amazing and gentle as well. Overall, this was a really good experience.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I was on Dr. Olga Cantor and Dr. Justin Michael Doyle’s service and they were 10 out of 10. I’d give them 20 out of 10 if I could and the staff and the anesthesiologist were also exceptional. Everybody on the med floor, in the PACU as well, all exceptional. But my surgeons absolutely should have praise for their skill and their attentiveness and their compassion. I couldn’t recommend them higher. Thank you.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

I was treated very privately, very comfortably and very knowledgeably. I would recommend this place to any of my friends and I have done so as well as my relatives. I had an excellent experience from testing to surgery to recovery. The nurses especially were outstanding. Of course my doctor was the best ever, Dr. Groff. Thank you.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

Everyone that I dealt with there were extremely helpful and personable. My nurses did everything to make me feel comfortable and cared for. The communication that was given to my family covered every step of my surgical process which help ease their anxiety. I cannot thank your entire staff enough for making a very stressful time for me and my family a much less stressful situation. Thank you all.

Dear Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital,

The care that I received from beginning to end was exceptional! My husband was impressed with a personal call from Dr. Kantor when the surgery was over. Honestly, I was impressed with everyone, from checking-in with receptionists, to nurses and doctors during my pre-surgery procedure, to the nurses and doctors involved with the surgery. Everyone was fabulous, professional and compassionate through and through.

Posted 6/1/24