Knack for Coordinating Care

For some, a job is simply a way to earn a living, to pay their bills. For Maria Latrace-Wochna, it"s a higher calling. As director of patient access services for Beth Israel Medical Center, she assists all of the facility"s patients's from emergency room intakes to surgical cases's who are admitted to the 700-plus-bed hospital. â??My day can cover anything from a woman in labor to I.C.U. care, Latrace-Wochna said. Her goal is to ensure that every patient is placed in the right unit. â??Grouping patients with similar health issues and needs helps the medical staff treating them, making everything from physician rounds to administering medication more efficient, she said. Beth Israel Medical Center is one of the crown jewels of the city"s hospitals, and the people who come through its doors are as diverse as New York itself. â??Patients are number one, Latrace-Wochna said. â??I like to think of them as my customers. It"s a privilege to take care of them. Latrace-Wochna is always there to help in any capacity. She once even arranged a wedding for a terminally ill patient, complete with sparkling cider reception. â??It was her last wish, she said. â??I wanted to help honor it. A reflection of her professionalism and deep sense of care, Latrace-Wochna was named the 2006 recipient of the â??Wholeness of Life Award. The honor is given each year to one Beth Israel staff member who shows exemplary commitment to delivering compassionate care while meeting the spiritual needs of patients. Prior to her role as director of patient access services, Latrace-Wochna was the nurse manager for the inpatient hospice and palliative care unit. She has also worked in the medical intensive care and gynecological units, and as a nurse recruiter's positions that are light years away from her first career as a legal secretary. â??The itch wasn"t there to stay. Something was missing, she said. â??The hours are longer here, but the job is more satisfying. With an hour-and-a-half commute from Marlboro Township, N.J., to a job that frequently requires long hours and multitasking, Latrace-Wochna makes good use of her downtime. Relaxation starts before she arrives home. â??I know every take-away place, from sushi to pizza, in Penn Station, she said with a laugh. â??I always grab [a] snack and a newspaper and use the ride to catch up on things. Once home, family life becomes a daily reminder of Latrace-Wochna"s good fortune. Time spent with her husband Raymond, their two daughters Erika, 18, and Caitlin, 16, and the family dog, help recharge her energy. By the next morning, Latrace-Wochna is ready for the day. â??I have an amazing job, she said. â??I"m in charge of everything from birth certificates to death certificates, and many functions in between. I love serving this community.