May 2016
Carolyn
Ruef
,
CRNP
Infusion Center
Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Eastern Regional Medical Center
Philadelphia
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

I can start with the affirmation that the core, prestige, reputation and endurance of a community lay on the workforce at all levels. CTCA is the ideal place to come when you get hit with the news about your cancer. From the initial phone contact to the ride to the center, everyone is very helpful. Then you arrive and meet a whole troop of top experienced, nice, knowledgeable, caring, compassionate, dedicated, smart professionals. In the midst of it all, you find this one particular nurse who listens to you with her full self, who communicates with you open and honestly and who pays attention to details. All of the above and much more is Carolyn Ruef, CRNP.
Carolyn has very high human values. She is selfless, a quick problem solver, provides support, kindness, and compassion without being hard or intrusive. In my case, she has helped me understand my diagnosis. In a way, she is the bridge in between my illness and the doctors. I can mention numerous times that she's gone out of her way to achieve the best care for me. I was in Las Vegas and I ran out of pain medication. The local Vegas pharmacy said that I had to wait 2 days for my medication to be filled because it was a narcotic. I was in pain. I was scared. I felt stranded. I called Carolyn and she took it upon herself to reach out to the pharmacist. 30 minutes later, I had my medication. Carolyn does research in her spare time for me. Who knows how many hours she spends doing this for me and other patients. She was able to find me a resource where I could get a lower price for a medication that was very expensive. Once, I had a terrible digestive problem and I was trying to get home before a snow storm. She arranged for the emergency room doctor to treat me. She goes way above and beyond her usual duties. She reaches out to me at home to check on me. She is truly a wonderful person.
I have been fighting my cancer for 2 years, been treated at other hospitals and met very nice nurses, but Carolyn goes far beyond her duties to help everyone that comes to her department and that's what makes her different. Carolyn is exceptional. She is the epitome of what a nurse should be. She exemplifies greatness in her field.