Congratulations to Veronica Hoock, nurse in the CVICU, for being selected as the 2022 Employee of the Year for Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute (BGMC/GVI).
In her initial nomination for Employee of the Month for April 2022, Veronica’s coworker said that she is "such a positive, empathetic and compassionate nurse and colleague." She has been with Kaleida Health for 37 years and goes the extra mile during every single shift. She works night shifts in the CVICU and is loved by all of her patients. Veronica is an extremely caring nurse, is very professional and is dedicated to the organization and her patients.
Veronica is very involved with the organization. Her involvement includes, but is not limited to, helping out in unit activities and being on the planning committee of Schwartz Rounds. She uses her own time to go to each department to promote the Schwartz Rounds and is known as the rounds’ “hype woman.” She helps share the flyers in every department because she wants every employee at Kaleida Health to feel welcomed at a program that is aimed to help promote compassion in healthcare and support the workers at Buffalo General Medical Center.
Veronica is also an integral member of the Buffalo General Medical Center Patient Experience team. She provides valuable insight from the bedside and is a passionate patient advocate. She rounds to talk with her colleagues, to share information and to obtain feedback on important initiatives.
For the past 20 years, Veronica has traveled to Albany with political groups such as the CWA and Senior Action Council to speak with senators and assemblymen to advocate for needless IV medications administration ACT, safe patient handling and safe staffing ACT to be passed. Veronica also volunteers in the community for the Kids Clothing Closet, food distribution with The Genesis Center and the “Save Saint Adalbert Church” committee for fund raising.
Veronica’s patients have mentioned that she is kind, caring and is able to meet all of their needs. She is also extremely knowledgeable in the care of open-heart patients in the unit. A provider and past co-worker of Veronica described her as, “someone you can trust and someone you would like to take care of you.”
Thank you, Veronica, for all you do in caring for others. We are proud to name you the 2022 Employee of the Year for BGMC/GVI!