Vol. 18, No. 3
Fall 2008
A Gift... Beyond the Gift of Life
12 Winthrop Specialists Named to New York Magazine’s 2008 “Best Doctors” List
Cancer Center for Kids Moves to a New Home
Friends & Benefactors Annual Reception
Winthrop Helps Postal Clerk Get Some Sleep
Winthrop: A Gateway to a Top-Rated Kidney Transplant Program
DiStasio Family Makes Donation to NICU
The Center for Advanced Care of Chronic Conditions
New Center for the Advanced Care of Chronic Conditions: Easing Patients’ Burdens through a Single Coordinated Plan of Care
Golfing for the CCFK
Annual Gala Celebrates Winthrop’s Passion for Care without Compromise
CCFK Families Celebrate Life
Unique Program Helps New Mothers Cope
Saving Lives in Bolivia
Winthrop’s New Welcoming Ambassadors
Tenth Annual Cancer Survivors Day Celebrates Life
Bay’s Big Bash Does it Again!
Spizz Family Supports CCFK
Pediatric Unit Receives Quilt Donation
Amanda Styles Cirelli Foundation Makes Generous Donation to CCFK
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Anyone who has ever been hospitalized
can identify with many of the emotions
that accompany the hospital experience.
Patients experience a range of
feelings – from anxiety to fear – and
many will have questions or
concerns as they settle into
an unfamiliar environment.
Wouldn’t it be comforting to
know that there is someone –
in addition to the members
of your expert healthcare
team – who is devoted to
welcoming you and working
to enhance your overall
hospital experience?
Specially trained
volunteers are doing just that
thanks to the new Welcoming
Ambassador Program at
Winthrop-University Hospital.
Through the collective efforts
of Winthrop’s Patient Relations
and Volunteer Services Departments,
with the support of Winthrop’s Nursing
Management team, this new program
has been implemented on nine of the
Hospital’s units with plans to expand its
scope in the coming year. The program
utilizes the warmth and caring of skilled
volunteers who have been carefully
selected to serve as ambassadors to
Winthrop patients, helping to ensure
that their needs are met during their
Hospital stay.
“The Welcoming Ambassador
Program supports Winthrop-University
Hospital’s goal to always promote a
culture of patient-centered care that
emphasizes compassionate and welcoming
care from the moment a
patient enters the hospital,” said
Barbara Kohart Kleine, Vice President,
Administration, at Winthrop-University
Hospital. “Winthrop is known for its
caring and concerned staff and this
program is just another example of our
staff at their finest.”
 Winthrop Welcoming Ambassador Theresa Torretto speaks with
patient Jesus Gomez.
The program helps to create a
special bond between patients and
Welcoming Ambassadors – a bond
that also carries over to members of
the healthcare team.
Upon admission to the Hospital
unit, patients are greeted by a
Welcoming Ambassador. The
Ambassador spends time familiarizing
patients with information that has been
prepared exclusively for them about the
Hospital as well as the unit in which
they will receive care. The Ambassador
also educates patients about select
Hospital programs and services such as
Pastoral Care and pain management.
The Ambassadors also devote their
time to visiting with patients. During
these friendly visits, Ambassadors may
chat with patients and lend an ear to
them, helping with any questions or concerns
they may have. The Ambassadors
can bring any of these patient needs to
the attention of the nursing management
staff for quick assessment, action
and resolve.
“Winthrop’s Welcoming
Ambassadors work closely with the
Hospital’s clinical staff to truly enhance
the overall patient experience,” said
Jean Zebroski, Director of Patient
Relations and Volunteer
Services at Winthrop. “The
Welcoming Ambassadors serve
as a liaison between patients
and the unit’s nursing management
staff, helping to ensure
that any issues are resolved
promptly and effectively.”
Since the Welcoming
Ambassador Program’s official
launch in April, feedback
from both patients and staff
has been very positive.
“The Welcoming
Ambassador Program adds
a different layer to patientfocused
care,” said Janis
Scocozzo, RN, Nurse Manager
at Winthrop. “We have received an
excellent response from patients who
feel at ease sharing their questions
with the Welcoming Ambassadors.”
The Department of Volunteer
Services is currently seeking volunteers
to support patients through the
Welcoming Ambassador Program.
Successful candidates must meet specific
criteria and complete a two-step
interview process with the Director of
Patient Relations and Volunteer
Services as well as a member of nursing
management. Successful candidates
will go on to receive comprehensive
training in volunteer services and on
the unit in which they will serve as a
Welcoming Ambassador.
For additional information
about the Welcoming Ambassador
Program and other exciting volunteer
opportunities at Winthrop, please call
(516) 663-2391.
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