NRMC FRIENDLY AND CONVENIENT

In case some of my readers have not noticed, I am very proud of Nevada. I often write about, brag about, and make occasions to talk about all the good things that I see in our hometown. I also feel the same way about our whole county especially the part around Ellis! You've read about my being identified by Elderhostel attendees as being from the town where Cottey College is located. All the PEO members nationwide know about Cottey and are proud of it.

You may remember that I have written about our beautiful Courthouse, the Carnegie Building, Crowder College, some of our historic homes, and new uses for older buildings. I could spend the rest of this column telling about things I am proud of, have written about or just have very fond memories of.

Today I want to tell you how much I appreciate our Nevada Regional Medical Center. As one who was born and had her tonsils taken out in the old Ammerman Hospital on West Cherry, in what later became part of the Farm and Home addition, I have seen the growth of our hospital facilities first hand. One of our children was born in the first Nevada City Hospital, which faces south Adams and is still used in connection with the Regional Medical Center. Other family members have been born or treated medically in each of the phases of the hospital. I still get a little confused as I walk the halls and try to remember just how it used to be.

Recently we have had the privilege of comparing our hospital with a larger one in a much larger city. NRMC wins hands down!

First, when we enter the doors here at home there is not only a handy information desk, there is also a directory helping patients and visitors find where they need to go. Then when patients go to Admitting, after signing in, there are comfortable chairs to sit in until the office workers are ready for you. When you go to the window to give them information, there is another comfortable chair, plus one for a person who may be with you. While you search for those tight- fitting insurance cards in your billfold, you have the desk in front of you which helps you get the papers organized. When this process is over, you are either given directions where to go, or someone comes to get you with a wheelchair or just to escort you.

In the big hospital in the big city there were no signs to help us find our way. When we did arrive at Admissions, we had to STAND in line while the two patients ahead of us were processed. Then we had to STAND while trying to get the cards from our billfolds and balance everything on a small ledge before the glass that separated us from the office worker. Then we were told to go to an adjoining area to sit and wait for someone to direct us. We were grouped with two other patients and their families to be escorted to Outpatient Surgery. Although obviously one of each group was headed for surgery and probably had nothing to eat or drink for 8-10 hours, we were WALKED for about 10 minutes to another waiting room that wasn't large enough to seat all of the three groups.

I will say that when we finally got to the medical personnel they were exceptional as the ones here in Nevada are also. But I hope we can stay at home the next time we need medical help. (I didn't even mention the traffic!)