Appreciation for Care Close to Home

Houston, MO— Texas County Memorial Hospital’s Care Close to Home was much appreciated by patient Louise Beasley after three separate weekend visits to the emergency room.

In April and again in late May, the attending ER physician, in agreement with William Errico, DO, family medicine physician, and John Harrington, MD, general surgeon, advised and admitted Louise to the hospital.

Louise arrived at the emergency room on a Sunday in April with abdominal pain and no other discomfort. A CT scan was performed, and she was treated for dehydration. The ER doctor chose to admit Louise, which was when Dr. Errico, her primary care doctor, stepped in and collaborated with Dr. Harrington, to diagnose the cause of her discomfort. Research by the physicians discovered a newer antibiotic medication to treat her condition, and after monitoring, Louise was released on Wednesday.

Her diagnosis was diverticulitis, a gastrointestinal disease characterized by inflammation of the diverticula or irregular pouches in the large intestine colon wall. Symptoms may include sudden or gradual lower abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, constipation, and blood in the stool.

Diverticulitis has become more common, and a person’s diet may be very important. Diet does seem to be the key to keeping Louise’s diverticulitis in check.

A late May weekend visit to the ER for similar symptoms prompted a stomach scope and colonoscopy, as well as inpatient monitoring.

The same newer antibiotic medication that was prescribed in April was prescribed again after a return trip to the ER in the early fall. However, this time, inpatient admission was not required.

Louise finds that diet is instrumental for her. She avoids foods with tiny seeds and consumes lots of vegetables, high fiber, and liquids. When the symptoms are prevalent, she chooses to maintain a “soft diet.”

She highly praised the consistency and quality of care provided by Dr. Errico, Dr. Harrington, and the inpatient nursing staff. The collaboration and teamwork between her doctors were most impressive. Louise was very appreciative of Dr. Harrington’s resolve to solve the issue and not subject her to unnecessary procedures or tests, as well as Dr. Errico’s true concern. It was obvious that they were working as a team.

“They were both so patient with me; doctors Errico and Harrington worked together to find out what was wrong and then move forward with treatment,” said Louise. “Their bedside manner was impeccable, and I was their only patient at the moment.”

Additionally, the care she received during her inpatient stays, including the clean, nice private rooms, the follow-up care by the doctors, the excellent nursing staff, the lab, and radiology, recognizing Shannon Bridges, were greatly appreciated.

“I appreciated the great care while being able to stay close to home; it was really a good experience,” Louise concluded.

For more information, contact TCMH at 417.967.5435 or visit us at www.tcmh.org.