Best of care
Keith R. Mushock
Friday, June 1, 2007
FOR THE PAST 19 years I have worked in an acute-care hospital setting in Topeka, providing treatment in all manner of emergencies from gunshot wounds to house fires to open-heart surgery patients. When I was told by my physician that I should have surgery for a hernia repair, I faced a decision regarding where to have the surgery as my insurer covered either facility, but of course my out-of-pocket would be doubled by choosing Newman Regional Health. My decision was based on follow-up care and NEVER have I been so well served on so many levels.
Exactly 23 hours into my recovery, I was progressing just as planned when my pain suddenly went off the scale and my incision line began to pressurize with a hemotoma from an arterial leak. In an amazingly brief time my surgeon had assessed my status, called ahead to notify the personnel of Newman same-day surgery and operating room of my emergency and “the team” had gone to work. No less than a DOZEN staff members juggled their early-morning plans to accommodate my impending return to the OR. Not to mention the other patients who had been scheduled in the room “my team” and I occupied.
While I realize my life was never in jeopardy, the intensity and more importantly the duration of that excruciating pain was ridiculously short-lived and I would presume my care rivaled the care Ronald Reagan received the day he was shot.
Obviously, I wish to express my deep gratitude to all those providers on all those levels and after reflection I’m simply going to echo a phrase I hear every Christmas Season.
“Shop emporia first — it’s good for all of us.”
Comments
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Posted by dayjob55 (anonymous) on June 1, 2007 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations Keith for surviving Newman's. Many people in Emporia go out of town or to Emporia Surgical Hospital because Newman's has a reputation of being the local morgue. When I had surgery at Newman's the emergency room nurses were laughing about the tick that was on the counter. Unfortunately Emporia Surgical Hospital wasn't an option at that time. Now that Emporia Surgical Hospital is an option I guarantee you that it is the option that I will always choose (or choose to leave town for my surgery). Emporia Surgical Hospital costs the patient no more in deductible or out of pocket expenses than Newman's does because the surgical hospital matches in network benefits whenever they are not the in network hospital. But most people in town aren't aware of that. The Surgical Hospital has 4 rooms (all private rooms) that are comfortable & spacious and the nursing care is top of the line. Most of the same surgeons who work at Newman's also work at the Surgical Hospital and the people who give anesthetic work at both places also. So you biggest choice is whether you want quiet, quality care or the noise & confusion of the county morgue. The choice is yours, but my health always would choose the Emporia Surgical Hospital.
Posted by MelissaE (anonymous) on June 1, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmmmm.
I wonder if Mr. Mushock has stock in Newmans or a relative who works there or is one of the board members? Or relative of a board member?
Why else would someone go out of their way to thank doctors and nurses for actually doing the job they are trained (and well-paid) to do?
This just reeks of trying to "one-up" the competition.
Or maybe it's some sort of insurance thing?
dayjob55--that is disgusting about the tick on the counter. It's not the first (and probably not the last) horror story I've heard about Newmans.
And don't even get me started on Terry Lambert. He likes to fire people who are higher-paid and seasoned in their profession so he can hire cheaper labor that's not so great.
M
Posted by savannah (anonymous) on June 2, 2007 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets think people...Try improving something you don't like or have a problem with instead of critical comments. You need your county hospital for many reasons and are lucky you have it here. Oh, and in case you didn't know or realize it...heres a news flash for you___ you will be taken to Newmans if you run into a problem at the surgical hospital. Soooo, if you want something to improve you might try going at it a different way. A more intelligent way. Work to improve, not to tear down. Someday, when you have a problem you may regret your decision if you don't.
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