The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, a national leader in in providing compassionate care to patients and caregivers, has named Randi Kaplan, LMSW, director of the Arthur D. Emil Caregiver Support Center at Montefiore, the National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year (NCCY). The prestigious award goes to people  who display compassion, and establish mutual trust and respect with families involved in healthcare decision-making. The award was presented yesterday at the 21^st Annual Kenneth B. Schwartz Compassionate Healthcare Dinner, where Randi was honored amongst 2,000 healthcare leaders, clinicians, patients and family members.  

Randi Kaplan is the co-founder of the Arthur D. Emil Caregiver Support Center at Montefiore, the first and only center of its kind in New York City that provides a quiet, private place for people to relax during a loved one’s hospitalization. The Center delivers emotional support and practical assistance to every person who walks through its doors, successfully connecting them  to the breadth of resources within Montefiore and the community.

“What I hear most about Randi from caregivers, patients and staff is that she is their angel,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president & CEO, Montefiore Medicine. “Not a week goes by where I don’t receive an email or handwritten letter from a patient, family member or even colleague, about how Randi is their strength and partner in care. She leads with her heart, and when she says being at work is the best part of her day, she means it.   Randi embodies what makes Montefiore special: she puts people first every day. ”

The Caregiver Support Center at Montefiore opened its doors in April 2016. Since that time, it has become one of the most sought after destinations  in the hospital. More than 30 volunteers, many of whom are former Montefiore patients or who had family members  cared for at Montefiore, are invaluable resources for patients, caregivers and providers. The Center has been recognized nationally by the Caregiver Action Network, the nation’s leading family caregiver organization, as one of the "25 Best Practices in Patient and Family Engagement." Volunteers have also been honored by the United Hospital Fund.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized as the 2016 National Compassionate Caregiver of the Year.” said Randi Kaplan. “Being a caregiver is not a job to me, it is my calling, and I feel fortunate enough to fulfill my purpose to give care.”

The NCCY Award is made possible through the generous support of Optum and Modern Healthcare.