Everyday Interactions, Extraordinary Impact: Moffitt McKinley Hospital Celebrates a Year of Serving Patients
Moffitt McKinley Hospital opened its doors on July 31, 2023, with 1,000 team members,128 inpatient beds and 176 surgeries scheduled for the first week. For the past four years, architects, engineers, Moffitt team members, and patient and family advisors had been meticulously planning every square inch of the hospital to ensure all the details were perfect on opening day. The inpatient rooms were thoughtfully designed and set up. The family waiting areas were smartly decorated for comfort and convenience. And the clinical areas and surgical suites feature state-of-the-art technology such as an intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging system, a diagnostic CT scanner and two nuclear medicine cameras.
Many patients comment that the new hospital feels more like a high-end hotel than a world-class cancer center. But at the heart of this beautiful new space is the decades of surgical experience, research expertise and compassionate care that Moffitt has long been known for. Team members across every department have christened the new hospital with the Moffitt culture, spreading warm smiles, a listening ear and a helping hand to anyone in need.
From grand gestures to small tokens, every interaction made a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. Here, we look back at a few of those moments that defined the outstanding level of care provided at Moffitt McKinley Hospital in the first year.
Laura Bosselman
Manager of Patient Experience, Moffitt McKinley Hospital
Many days, I’m already at work by 4 a.m. because patients are arriving for surgeries from all over the state. Our team helps patients and families get their visitor badges and make their way to registration. After check-in, we personally escort each patient to the preoperative area. That lets patients know someone’s there supporting them through every step of their journey. Our commitment to care extends throughout the day, with our “comfort cart” that we take around the waiting areas to offer patients and families water, snacks, coloring papers, and even pillows and blankets. More importantly, we regularly check in and meet with patients and families in both the preop and postoperative areas to resolve any concerns and offer support. Collaboration is key, and we partner with social work and case management to ensure every aspect of the patient’s journey is handled with care. From the moment they arrive until they’re ready to leave, we’re there to support and comfort them.
Moment of Impact
I was assisting this incredible couple, and the patient was gearing up for surgery. While they were filled with a deep love, the couple hadn’t decided it was necessary to get married. Unfortunately, a complication arose, delaying the surgery. In a spontaneous decision, they chose to take the plunge into marriage. I guided the caregiver to the clerk of courts office with directions on the best parking, and she left the hospital to secure their marriage license. With a medical release arranged, the patient didn’t need to be physically present. Just before the patient was scheduled to return for surgery, the couple exchanged vows. Upon their return, I met them at the entrance with a congratulatory card ready to go. This experience really underscored the profound impact even the smallest acts of assistance can have.
Jose Pimiento, MD
Surgeon, Gastrointestinal Oncology
Most weeks, I operate two days. I come in around 6:30 a.m. to see the patients in the preoperative area to give them a brief update of what’s going to happen, answer their questions and make sure we are all on the same page. While they are being prepared for surgery, I usually round on any patients whom I have previously operated on and are in the hospital. We usually begin operations between 7:45 and 8 a.m. I love the new hospital because it is 100% focused on surgical disease. It’s a hospital that lives, breathes, speaks and eats surgery. All of the staff are uniquely prepared to take care of surgical patients. That means patients come in and have a unique, world-class experience. We have all the cutting-edge equipment we need in the operating room to make things go smoother and to help simplify complex operations. The communication in the operating room is excellent as the spaces were designed with teamwork and patient care in mind. The floors and rooms were designed to provide an environment to enhance postoperative recovery: long hallways, big windows, plenty of space for families and light everywhere. This facility is state of the art, and it is such a nice place for patients to recover.
Moment of Impact
I like to say that I don’t want to have a memorable case. Any operation day is extremely memorable for a patient — it changes their life, and we don’t minimize how impactful that is for them. But our goal as surgeons and as health care providers is that for us, it’s routine and uneventful. The expectation is that patients get excellent care every single time. We take care of you. We are here for you. This hospital is for you.
Jamecia Haywood
Specialty Shop Cashier, Food Services
Typically in my job, I come early in the morning and set up for the serving line. I set up the cereal, the oatmeal, the grits, getting everything ready for when we open at 7 a.m. After breakfast, we close down and set up for lunch. During breakfast and lunch, I serve patients, caregivers and co-workers. My favorite thing about my job is interacting with so many different people, so many different personalities. I have little conversations with everyone to see how everything is going, just to make their day better.
Moment of Impact
There was a patient’s wife who came in crying. I didn’t know the situation. So I asked if there was something that I could help with. I asked: “Do you want to have a little talk or anything?” She said no, she just wanted everything to go well with her husband’s surgery. I told her I would say my prayers and send love out to her and her family. She came in the next day and said: “You made my day better.” She said she didn’t even know how she was going to get through that day, but talking to me gave her a lot of hope. She said the surgery went well. I told her: “I’m praying for you guys. I just pray that everything goes well and that you guys return home safely.” She said she was so happy to hear that!
Caitlyn Barbieri
Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit
Moffitt has been the home of many firsts for me. It was my first nursing job after graduating in 2022, and I was one of the first ICU nurses to work at Moffitt McKinley Hospital when it opened. I work 12-hour shifts from7 a.m. to 7 p.m. three days a week. We see patients from almost all of the surgical specialties, but our biggest patient population is neurosurgery patients, especially when they undergo craniotomies. I love all the patients here, and being able to see them come in after surgery, then being able to walk out of the unit when they are discharged is a great feeling. Our entire team takes great pride in the unit, and we work together to overcome any challenges. It’s not always the best of days, but we always come together as one and stick together. We have seen a higher patient satisfaction at the new hospital —many patients tell us it looks like a hotel in here! We love seeing all the positive feedback and the cards and treats patients send us.
Moment of Impact
The patients always bring me back to work every day. There are days that don’t go how you plan, but little moments, like braiding a patient’s hair, that you don’t think are that impactful until you see it in their faces are what keeps me going. I had a patient who was in the hospital going on two weeks and was going back into the operating room. We were able to take him outside for10 to 15 minutes before surgery, and he was so grateful. He told us he hadn’t felt fresh air in weeks, and it felt so good and helped boost his spirit.
Dave Cowan
Maintenance Supervisor, Facilities
A day in my world starts with organizing our team first thing in the morning, making sure everyone has what they need. Everyone on our team is a subject matter expert. I’m a plumber by trade. We also have electricians, HVAC technicians and multitrade team members. We deal with whatever comes at us throughout the day, making sure everything is working properly and safe for patients and team members. As Facilities, we are also masters at seeing someone’s face and knowing they’re lost. We know the building better than anybody. So we always try to walk patients and family members the extra mile to make sure they get to their destination.
Moment of Impact
One day there was an elderly couple who were leaving after the husband had surgery and had been hospitalized for a couple days. They had a long drive ahead of them and found that their car battery had died. The valet had tried to jump it with their portable jumper but to no avail. The couple were distressed. They were worried about having to pay for a tow truck and possibly a hotel. I offered to use my truck and jumper cables to try to give the battery a good charge. With the help of an electrician on our team, we hooked up the vehicle and got it charging while the couple waited inside in the air conditioning. After quite some time, we got the vehicle started. The couple were so overcome with joy, the wife started to cry. All they wanted to do was go home, and we were able to get them on their way.
