Dear Editor:
In our society today we are quick to complain, but we are slow to commend. For four days, I had been very ill and I decided to go to the hospital. On route, I was thinking about lineups, grumpy staff, sick people and overall poor conditions. My experience was anything but this!
Upon arrival at the Lions Gate Hospital emergency department, a volunteer pleasantly ushered me to where I needed to sit. Within minutes a really sweet triage nurse who seemed genuinely concerned for everyone took my vitals and attached them to my care card and asked me to wait for the nurse to call me.
Next I was admitted by a nurse and admission clerk who seemed to be making the best of a chaotic morning and again seemed to genuinely care about my situation. I was then asked to wait in the waiting area off in the corner with a mask (suspected pneumonia). Wearing the mask was sad as people looked at me as a threat to their health. Fortunately I was ushered off for a chest X-ray quite quickly.
Upon my return I had a spot in the "raz" room with an easy chair. I sat and relaxed feeling very comfortable that I was receiving care and moving towards getting better. Within minutes the doctor arrived. Simply put, my discussion with him was the greatest experience of my life with a health-care practitioner. He spoke with bedside manner like Sean Connery, listened like Oprah and talked to me about solutions and medications like Steve Jobs, educating me along the way. I left with a plethora of medication and a swagger in my step because he instilled belief in me. Belief I would be OK.
Please take a moment daily, weekly, or monthly and reflect on the positive experiences you have had. Tell everyone. Most importantly tell the person. I will be writing a letter to the emergency department. Once you take these moments to reflect you will feel great! Now, next time you are ready to criticize or complain about something bite your tongue. It won't kill you and there is probably a really good reason things aren't going well. You will also feel good about this in the end.
Dave Kitchen North Vancouver
