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Amityville, NY – HRHCare Community Health is pleased to announce that Samuel Palau, Regional Practice Manager at the HRHCare Maxine S. Postal Tri-Community Health Center at Amityville and the HRHCare Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Center at Wyandanch, has been awarded the January 2017 Planetree Spirit Award for Excellence in Patient Care. The HRHCare Planetree Institute presents these awards to employees who go above and beyond to make health care more personalized and create a warm and welcoming environment for all.
Samuel Palau has been a member of the HRHCare family since 2014 but comes from a long history of serving those in need. Graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BA in social work from Pontifices Catholic University in Puerto Rico, Mr. Palau also holds associate degrees in business administration and psychology, is certified in both New York and Pennsylvania for HIV and Hepatitis C testing, and has worked and volunteered for other organizations focusing on drug and alcohol abuse and elder care. Needless to say, his vast amount of diverse experience has served him well as a Regional Practice Manager at two of the busiest HRHCare health centers on Long Island. Known for his outgoing personality and great connections to the communities he serves, Mr. Palau always goes the extra mile to make sure that patients at his health centers get what they need. From working with pharmacies to get discounts on medications for those who otherwise couldn’t afford them, to calling patients who missed an appointment to find out why, he is constantly striving to resolve any challenges that might affect patients or staff. Recently, he worked with his team to increase the number of late night health center hours from one to four days a week. Since then, many other HRHCare sites in Suffolk County have followed suit.
“Samuel exemplifies leadership and goes above and beyond to ensure that patients are being cared for in a pleasant manner,” said Luis Almonte, HRHCare Human Resources Regional Representative. “He cares deeply about his health centers and makes sure they are always operating smoothly and efficiently. He is the embodiment of the HRHCare mission, always placing the needs of others first.”
When asked what separated HRHCare from other health care organizations, Mr. Palau replied, “We are highly accredited by the Joint Commission and the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and our care team understands and delivers our mission to patients on a daily basis. We listen to our patients.” In his spare time, he enjoys playing volley ball, dancing, and making traditional Puerto Rican food. “I think I’m a great cook!”
Planetree is the global leader in advancing patient-centered care solutions, integrating the technology of modern medicine with the healing dimensions of compassion, comfortable surroundings, shared knowledge and freedom to make educated choices. HRHCare has been an affiliate since 1996, one of the few Federally Qualified Health Center to be a part of this alliance. The HRHCare Planetree Institute was established in 2012 and provides state-of-the-art training to prepare staff in delivering passionate and personalized care. The HRHCare Planetree Spirit Award honors employees who have been nominated by their colleagues for going above and beyond to provide individualized patient care and enhance health care services in their respective facility.
