Kim Costa Kim Costa is currently a patient service representative in CMMC’s Hematology/Oncology Physician Practice and the Infusion Center. Kim has worked for the cancer program for ten plus years as currently serves as the lead patient service representative for the entire clerical team. By definition, Kim’s role involves management of the patient’s care from a clerical standpoint. Tasks that keep Kim very busy on a daily basis are: answering patient phone calls; scheduling patient appointments; coordinating appointments with other service lines departments and outside physicians; preauthorizing and precertifying prescriptions/exams to assure smooth payment of services for patients and the institution; collaborating with clinical professionals in the cancer program to best meet the needs of patients and families; and serving as a resource to all patients and staff. However, what sets Kim apart, what makes her special, and a true gift to the cancer program and all the patients and families she serves, is not only how competent she is a completing the daily tasks of her job but all the “extras” that Kim makes part of job. To Kim, working in the oncology/infusion center is more than just a job, more than coming to work and completing a series of “necessary” tasks. Her compassion for our patients is unmatched, and so often Kim goes above and beyond the call of duty to help, comfort, and assist our patients. * She persists, sometimes for hours, on the phone with insurance companies and other outside payers to fight for coverage for prescriptions, imaging studies, chemotherapy, and referrals to outside agencies so patients can get the best care possible…very often not taking “no” for an answer. * Without being asked, Kim has assisted patients in getting rides (sometimes on airplanes) to out-of-state appointments to larger centers for second and third opinions that very often would not occur had she not provided this assistance. ∙Always thinking of how to help fulfill the hopes and dreams of our patients, Kim helped “Make-A-Wish” come true, as a young breast cancer patient was able to vacation in Disney World, Florida with her husband and young son. And with this same patient, she worked diligently with the US Armed Services to get the patient’s father home from Iraq in order to spend time with his daughter in her last days. * Thoughtful beyond words, Kim is always thinking of ways to make life a little more special, a little more memorable for patients… Most recently, she arranged with the help of the Dempsey Center staff, namely Kerry Irish and Mary Dempsey, for a young patient with metastatic breast cancer to meet and dine with Patrick Dempsey during his recent visit to CMMC as the patient thinks the work he is doing here is admirable. And on that same note, Kim assisted Kerry Irish in getting a patient with end stage lymphoma to a John Deere tractor show in Iowa. A farmer all his life, it was this patient’s dream to attend this tractor show with his wife. The two attended the show with all expenses paid just months before his passing. All in all, Kim is an asset to CMMC Oncology’s team of caregivers. As well as being a top-notch patient service representative, she is a warm-hearted advocate, navigator, cheerleader, and friend to so many of our patients. Although never taking credit for her efforts, Kim’s work does not go unnoticed by the staff she works with and more importantly by the patients she serves. Thank you Kim!