Sandra Thomas
Medicaid Fiscal Administrator
New York
It was my distinct privilege to work with Ms. Gomez for a number of years in a Medicaid Fee-for-Service Program, COBRA CM specifically, which mandated a comprehensive reach enabling the addressing of all manner of client-related issues.
The nature of COBRA CM required service-delivering staff to mediate, manage and advise in matters including HIV/AIDS and all the related health and psychological impact of that specific syndrome, as well as the frequently accompanying issues of: mental health, domestic violence, poverty, immigration, (frequently requiring a professional-level of fluency in the Spanish language) health/nutrition, child-rearing issues and medication/health-related compliance. I mention this to alert the reader that this type program required attending staff to be able to address a multitude of client-related issues impacting general wellness; COBRA CM service-delivery was not a “one note” discipline.
As for my personal experience, working with Ms. Gomez, I remember, distinctly, the weekly Clinical Case Conference(s) which I regularly attended. These meetings were facilitated by Ms. Gomez as Assistant Director of Clinical Services, who always deftly directed group discussion in a constructive and “remain-on-point” manner.
My professional role was that of Medicaid/Fiscal/Administrator which afforded me a perspective on client-issues looked-at from a different direction from that of the “Social Worker” approach. I attended these weekly conferences as an Auditor/guest, yet Ms. Gomez always prompted me to add my unique, frequently divergent, viewpoint so as to create, for the group, a more layered “reveal” to the case-study under-discussion. I always left these meetings with a feeling of renewed value to the program. I over-all and greatly appreciated the intonation that my thoughts were relevant to the comprehensive truth of the presentation.
Therefore, it will always be my belief that Ms. Gomez will approach all professional issues in a manner which invites and encourages full disclosure of truth, rather than allowing a patronizing, dismissive and superficial version of same to prevail.
I am proud and very grateful to have had the partnership I shared with Ms. Gomez, and am very sorry that I no longer have that same opportunity.
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Ordinarily, I would present testimonials from clients. As I wrote in the "About" section, my work has been with the psychiatric population (as well as those with less distress) which requires confidentiality.
I look forward to having your testimonial from our work together.
