The power of small

[AndyG]

My folks divorced years ago.


Recently , my mother had surgery and complications at a large, regional medical center - she came close to death but made it and was released a little over a week later-they were competent enough but the blood clots could have been anticipated better (melanoma associated clots are a given) and the size of the big machine she was in meant multiple buildings and some inherent ineffeciency, as well as a constantly changing staff. Not evil. Just the nature of the beast.

My dad fell apart last friday- stroke, mini stroke, uti/staph infection, diabetes, partially blocked arteries preceded by drastic weight loss and high PSA numbers and cancer markers-

We took him to a local , small town hub hospital - it has been amazing-he got more tests and results and follow up treatment in a few hours than she got in a week...they watched him like a hawk and made every adjustment needed as they learned more-

He is a very sick man, but this experience was as good as we could expect.

Moral- small size can be an advantage in business- a fly can walk on the ceiling because of it’s size. An elephant can never do that.

In a Wal Mart world moving everyone toward self checkout, a small business can still thrive by giving better personal service.

 

[flyinfish]

Sounds like he's in good hands. Hang in there and wishing you and your folks the best!

 

[AndyG]

Sounds like he's in good hands. Hang in there and wishing you and your folks the best!

Many thanks. My compassion for the elderly and those that care for them will forever be stronger.

 

[AndyG]

My answer to self checkout - “ I didn’t come in here looking for a job”

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Agree

For the first time in my life I've found a medical clinic where I actually trust the doc to know what he's doing. It's part of a big network so I get the tech benefits of being able to log in and view test results, message my doctor, etc, but his office runs like a small business. I was dealing with some acid reflux and antacids prescribed by another doc were giving me cardiac side effects. He did a full workup right there, thyroid labs, ekg, brought me back the next week to do an echocardiogram, in house and much less expensively than a hospital or independent cardiac imaging office. It all came back normal so now I not only know my heart is in good shape, I didn't inherit my dad's hyperthyroidism, I shouldn't use Pepcid, and I walked out with a natural supplement based on licorice root that was more effective than antacids AND didn't make my heart pound out of my chest while I was trying to go to sleep.

 

[AndyG]

Agree

For the first time in my life I've found a medical clinic where I actually trust the doc to know what he's doing. It's part of a big network so I get the tech benefits of being able to log in and view test results, message my doctor, etc, but his office runs like a small business. I was dealing with some acid reflux and antacids prescribed by another doc were giving me cardiac side effects. He did a full workup right there, thyroid labs, ekg, brought me back the next week to do an echocardiogram, in house and much less expensively than a hospital or independent cardiac imaging office. It all came back normal so now I not only know my heart is in good shape, I didn't inherit my dad's hyperthyroidism, I shouldn't use Pepcid, and I walked out with a natural supplement based on licorice root that was more effective than antacids AND didn't make my heart pound out of my chest while I was trying to go to sleep.

This is a perfect example of the difference that someone slowing down and being thorough can make. And I can’t think of any field that is needed more in than medicine.

At the same time I know they are up against a vastly complex job- One doctor wrote that medicine and medical care will never be as simple as we like it to be- But his entire book was geared toward not losing this in the process.

Sort of like I tell my construction workers- This is supposed to be home improvement.