I recently had an ailment that needed to be dealt with by the medical community and this is my experience dealing with the employees of Interior Health at The Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie.
Last week I was suffering from that dreaded cold/flu bug inundating the Valley this spring and, as previously happened, my tonsils decided to jump in to the act as is their track record.
Friday morning I realized that my next course of action was the Hospital to deal with this nonsense and as the average person, I guess was a bit unsure about my endeavour and somewhat uneasy feeling about attending. Not sure where these feelings and ideas come from but I believe I'm not alone with them. Enter the Emergency ward and was greeted immediately by a nurse standing in the hall and was whisked off to begin the process of healing, so far so good. With a quick triage assessment it was off into the E-unit to see the attending doctor of the day. After being made comfortable as one could be within the unit. The doctor shortly appeared and began with the diagnostics. With the general line of questioning I had opportunity to have input as to the process to be utilized in the healing process. Had a quick discussion as to my history and was allowed to reiterate some passed experiences and medications used and that had worked previously. The doctor immediately started with I.V. antibiotics on a regular eight hour schedule to get control of said situation and then turned me loose with an assessment scheduled for the next morning. Wow under 90 minutes. Great!
Saturday started with an assessment! You’re going to Cranbrook was the doctor’s response. Great, some minor surgery for me today. That’s all right, the skiing is probably no good today anyways, I tell myself. Yes I would have gone skiing if I could have.
Go to Cranbrook and after a quick bit of paperwork I find myself in the Emergency ward that is busier than a club on a Saturday night. As I take up as little space as possible in the corner waiting for the surgeon who is attending to me but presently on his return from Creston where he has delivered a lecture today. A busy day regardless! The staff and doctor on duty somehow find time for me and I am just amazed as I watch the organized chaos that is the E ward and it left me speechless. If society on a whole could be as efficient, what a place it would be. Not even going to comment on the Government and the things they could learn from this community of professionals. So after a little observation time in the unit my doctor shows up and honestly within 30 minutes of his arrival he has dispensed my annoying problem and I have been give some medication and prescriptions and am on my way out the door believing that it will be not as busy in Fernie and I can get back on my scheduled routine of I.Vs.
Hit Fernie relieved to be back between the mountains and walk into the Emergency and to my dismay the circus that was the Cranbrook Emergency has followed me back to the Emergency ward here in Fernie. Sitting once again in the corner trying not to get in the way, one of the girls sees me and reassures me that she will get to me momentarily. Watching again as the people of the ward do their thing I can say nothing but impressive. So I left the ward after touching base with the nurse who had noticed me earlier and told her I would be back after it had calmed down, not sure that she could have answered such a silly question as to when things would get back to normal anyways. Kind of dumb on my account.
So let’s skip ahead to today and the fact that I am feeling like a new man. I am off the scheduled I.V. and on oral medication now working on getting my surgery scheduled ASAP and would like to once again thank all those involved. With all I have had opportunity to observe over the last few days I only wish that we could all work with the dedication and professionalism I have had opportunity to witness.
And so a big shout out to the doctors, nurses, paramedics and ambulance attendants.
James Lattimer
Fernie